Page 51 of Kyle

With nothing more than a lift of his brow he climbed into bed next me. I might’ve been a tad more appreciative than I should’ve been when he didn’t ask me if I was all right. I didn’t want him treating me like I was some crazy woman he had to check in with every five seconds to make sure I wouldn’t freak out.

But the truth was, I totally wasn’t okay. But it had nothing to do with fear and everything to do with him being shirtless and abso-freaking-lutely hot bare-chested. Well-defined pecs and a six pack graced his front and I wanted to ask him to turn around so I could verify his back was just as muscular, but I didn’t. Only because I was afraid that would be a little weird—but I had no problem staring at him as he got into bed.

Kyle rolled to his side facing me, propped his elbow on the bed to support his head, and stared at me.

His gaze was disconcerting and I braced when he opened his mouth. “Tell me about what happened after you left Amisha’s.”

Not at all what I wanted to talk about while Kyle was lying next to me with his shirt off after he’d told me straight out he felt the same way I did and wanted to explore those feelings. Then he’d led the conversation to sex, and as embarrassed as I’d been, his candor and openness made it easy for me to be honest in return. I was worried about a physical relationship. How could I not be? But I trust Kyle to take us where we needed to be.

“Do you really want to do this?”

“Want to? Fuck, no. Do we need to do it? Yes.”

“And if I don’t want to talk about it?”

“Then we shelve it for another day, but I’d strongly try to persuade you to get it all out now so it doesn’t fester.”

On a heavy sigh I told him everything; from taking the girls to the new orphanage, to the drive back to Dili, about my fear when I knew something was wrong with my driver. I was as honest as I could be about all my thoughts and feelings. I told him how my ribs had been injured, being chained below deck. The interrogation by the Italian guy, getting slapped over and over again because I wouldn’t tell him Kyle and Declan’s name.

Kyle didn’t interrupt me once, but he didn’t have to verbally tell me how he was feeling. His features did the talking for him. They’d turned stone-cold when I talked about being chained and slapped. But gentled when I promised I hadn’t given his name. He let me ramble and get out what I had to. I felt safe for the first time in a very long time. And not just since being rescued from the boat, or since the rebels had invaded my village. Maybe for the first time in my life.

“Did anyone violate you?” His question took me off-guard and it took me a moment to understand.

“Are you asking me if I was raped?”

“Yes, sweetheart, that’s what I’m asking.” His tone was gentle and his voice just above a whisper.

“No, and no one tried.”

Kyle nodded but his features were unreadable.

“You wanna try to get some sleep? We have about four hours until we have to get ready to go to the airport.”

“You okay?” I inquired.

“No. And since we’re starting what’s happening between us off with complete honesty, I’ll tell you straight up, I boarded that boat knowing I was going to end every man’s life aboard. I felt no remorse in doing so. Had I known the details, I wouldn’t have made it as painless for them as I did. And here’s some more honesty for you, I wasn’t feeling all that generous seeing as the woman who’d captured my attention had been kidnapped, so I didn’t go easy.”

I was speechless. I couldn’t form words as I tried and failed to process what he’d told me. Never had anyone ever been on my side, cared about my safety, protected me. No one, not ever, so I didn’t know how to process that, either. I couldn’t begin to understand how it was possible this big, strong, good-looking man would drop everything to come to my aid. I just knew it felt good he had. I knew it felt like my heart was beating out of my chest and I didn’t want this feeling to go away.

“I don’t know what to say,” I finally spoke.

“Nothin’ to say. But you also should know what you’re getting into with me. My job takes me lots of places, dangerous places, where dangerous men mean to do others harm. It’s my mission to make sure that doesn’t happen.”

“I assumed that was the case,” I whispered.

“Assuming and knowing are two very different things. Can you handle that?”

“Knowing what you do for a living? Yes. Knowing that you’ll be facing off with dangerous men? That part will scare me, but I think I can handle it.”

Maybe. Kind of. Sort of. The thought of Kyle putting himself in danger scared the hell out of me, but it was who he was. Hadn’t he just done that very thing to rescue me? It was a huge part of why I admired him. What attracted me to him, his bravery, his willingness to help those who couldn’t help themselves. I understood that calling. I appreciated it. And as much as it freaked me out, I’d do my best to handle it.

“Thank you for your honesty.” Kyle brought our hands to his lips and he kissed my fingers.

“Do you feel it, too?” I blurted out.

“Yeah, sweetheart, I do.”

Thank God he understood what I was asking because I wasn’t sure if I was questioning the intense connection I felt, or the sparks when he did something as simple as kiss my hand.