Page 88 of Colombian Chemistry

She pulled down her sunglasses and raked my shirtless body with a fiery gaze. “I didn’t mean that view. I meant this view.”

I laughed as I finished my walk toward her, then snagged her around the waist and bent her backward into a kiss as powerful as my love for her.

“Oh, you did miss me,” she said between kisses.

I pulled her back up to standing. “You have no idea. That’s the longest we’ve been apart since we got you out of that compound in Colombia.”

She twisted her lips. “You’re right! I think we’ve only spent two nights apart since then. Well, until this week, that is.” She furrowed her brow. “You gonna tell me what made you leave your wife at the research camp early?”

She pointed her finger at me, and the diamond on her wedding ring flickered in the sunlight.

“Soon,” I said with a smile. “First, another kiss.”

I let my lips do what they were created to do... kiss her long and hard and then kiss her some more.

In the year since we’d busted Irene and her dad out of that cartel compound, I’d barely left her side. Even when she went back to Harvard to finish up her doctorate, I’d tagged along with her. It had been strange returning to the States, something I never thought I’d do, but nothing in this world would stop me from being with Irene, and nothing in this world would make me stand in the way of her dreams.

Instead, I’d had to face the ghosts that haunted me. Acknowledge they weren’t real. After a lifetime of looking over my shoulder and never settling down, never getting comfortable, it had felt impossible to shut it off. But being with Irene forced me to face my own demons, just like being with me forced her to face her fears. It was time to accept that part of my life was over. I could relax now. Bid goodbye to the days of living as a spy and say hello to the days of being Dr. Irene’s adoring husband, Marcus.

“Well, you missed a lot.” She let out a sigh. “My father and I had a major breakthrough in our research. Really mind-blowing stuff. We are so close to getting the formula right. I can just feel it, Marcus!”

I listened for ten minutes while she went on a tirade of mumbo jumbo I’d never in a million years understand, but I’d never stop her. Just seeing the joy on her face as she spat out calculations and statistics was enough to keep me glued to her every last incomprehensible word. When she finally got done, she let out a sigh.

“So, you see? We’re so close!”

“Absolutely, baby. Any day now.”

“And it’s all thanks to that money we stole from the cartel. Without it, we never would have gotten the funding to get started. And now investors from all over the world are begging to get on board!”

“And you and your father are going to let me and Wes vet them before you sign on with anyone, right?” I arched an eyebrow.

She laughed and nodded. “I swear my father will never make a move without your approval again.”

“Good. As much fun as it was to get back in action for a little while, I’d rather get my action now right here with you.”

Irene waggled her eyebrows at me and reached out for my hand. “I missed you, Marcus. Promise you won’t leave me in the jungle without you for four nights again. That was too long.”

It was too long. I hated being apart from her for even a second. And it wasn’t just because I liked to make sure she was safe out there. I’d taught her everything I knew about survival in the jungle, and she was now proficient enough in self-defense that there weren’t many people who could get the jump on her. No, it wasn’t that I had to guard her anymore, but that still didn’t mean I liked having her out of my sight.

I loved her, and that meant never wanting to be apart.

But I’d had a good reason to exit early and return to our little homestead.

“It was too long,” I said as I squeezed her hand. “But I promise you’ll appreciate why I did it.”

She furrowed her brow, but I ignored her and started walking her down the path through the fields surrounding our farm. We’d bought this place so she could be close to the Amazon for research but far away from the Colombian cartel. They weren’t a threat anymore, and Wes had listened to chatter for months to make sure they didn’t mention Irene and her father after the Los Lobos had taken over, and finally, after hearing nothing about them, we deemed it safe. But that still didn’t mean we wanted to be anywhere near that kind of danger for her again.

We’d picked the safest, most beautiful little town in Brazil, found this old plantation, and turned it into our little home. I still had an arsenal of weapons stashed, several emergency escapes, a panic room, perimeter alarms, and a security system Wesley had set up to be unbreachable, but I doubted we’d ever need it. We had peace here. I had peace. Something I never imagined was possible for someone like me.

“Almost there,” I said as I turned the path toward the fields out back. “Close your eyes.”

She did as I said, and I guided her as we finished our walk. I stepped behind her and wrapped my arms around her waist, resting my chin on her head.

“Okay. Open your eyes.”

When she did, I glanced over her shoulder so I could see the look on her face.

Her eyes widened in surprise as her mouth fell open. “Is that? No... it can’t be. Is it?”