Page 91 of Knox

“We will.” He turned, meeting my eyes. “We have to.”

I moved closer, pressing my palm against his chest.

He covered my hand with his, holding it tight. “One more mission, and we can breathe.” He brought my hand to his lips, kissing my knuckles.

I wrapped my arms around him, resting my cheek against his chest. “You’ll find her tomorrow. Bring her home safe. If you don’t, I’ll join you on the second sweep.”

His lips tipped into a small smile. “That’s a plan.”

We lay back in silence for a long moment, my head still on his chest.

“I’m going to stay,” he said. “I want to be here on the island with you. I’m going to run my mother’s business and build a life surrounded by the community and people I love.”

My breath caught at the sound of that precious l-word.

Knox turned in my arms, cradling my face. “It’s too soon to think it, way too soon to say it, but I think I’m falling in love with you, Sloane Mercer. I don’t want to be anywhere you’re not.”

A wide smile broke across my lips. “Say it again.”

He grinned. “You like that?”

I nodded. “I was halfway in love with you the night you taught me those self-defense moves. It’s been a quick downhill slide ever since.”

Knox laughed, delight dancing in his brilliant blue eyes. Then he kissed me. Gently, then deeper, until thinking became impossible. He rolled me beneath him, cradling me as if I was cherished, smothering me in adoration. He kissed me slowly, until I was senseless with need. Then, he made love to me until we were both spent of every last care.

He stroked a thumb against my stomach as we fell asleep twined together. My heart soaring into the clouds.

Somehow, someway, in the midst of lethal threats and constant terror, I’d fallen completely, irrevocably in love with Knox Hawthorne.

And against all odds, he felt that way too.

Dawn broke soft and pink over the sound. I watched from bed as Knox dressed for the search. Tactical pants. Dark shirt. Boots laced with practiced efficiency. Each movement deliberate, controlled, a warrior preparing for battle.

I pulled up the sheets to cover my bare chest, exhaustion and satisfaction tangled with lingering worry in my system.

“You’re staring,” Knox said, glancing at my reflection in the mirror as he checked his gear. He put his dog tags on for one last mission.

“Would it help if I said all my thoughts are dirty?”

A ghost of a smile crossed his face. Gone too quickly, replaced by grim determination. “A little.”

I grinned.

“Colton and Archer are meeting me at the staging area.” Knox crossed to the bed and sat on the edge. Morning stubble shadowed his jaw, and exhaustion lined his eyes despite the few hours of sleep we’d managed. “You’ll be okay here? I can have Colton stay with you if you’re still feeling uneasy. That would be completely normal after all you’ve been through.”

“I’ll be fine.” I sat up, keeping the sheet tucked around me. “Walter’s in custody. I’m safe now, and I’m looking forward to telling the FBI any tiny detail I can recall if it means saving that woman and getting justice for the others.”

He nodded. “Lock the doors anyway.”

“I will.” I reached for his hand. “Just find that woman, Knox. Bring her home.”

He cupped my face, thumbs brushing across my cheekbones. “That’s the plan. I should be back by early afternoon. I’ll come here when we break for lunch. If we go out again afterward, I’ll take you with me.”

“I’m counting on it,” I said. “But I’m praying you find her long before. Promise me you’ll be careful.”

“Always.” Knox kissed me until my toes curled.

The alarm on his phone chimed, breaking us apart.