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“No doubt, but I’m directing the production tonight, so relax and enjoy the sexual tension.”
“That’s a contradictory statement, but well-behaved it is.”
Laughing, she turned in his arms. “Thank you for all of this.”
“We were due for some romancing, and a night in a luxury hotel gives us just that.”
She slid her hand into the opening of his robe and pressed her hand against his chest. “I could be sitting in the back of your truck drinking wine out of a can while we watch the sunset and be blissfully happy. It’s the company, not the location.”
“And being in my company is enough.”
“Always.”
“Even though I’m just a dented soldier?”
“I couldn’t imagine anything better because I’ve never seen a clean, shiny sword that won a war.”
“True enough.” He slipped his hand inside her robe. “Can I ask you a question?”
“Sure.” Stealing herself, she didn’t know what to expect.
“How did you remain so calm when you had a gun pointed at your heart. Most people would’ve freaked out, but you behaved like you were having nothing more than an irritating conversation.”
She stepped back and pulled her robe tighter. “I think a part of my brain is probably broken. The first decade of my life was spent in fight or flight mode. Cortisol ran as thick as blood through my veins, and I’m guessing it permanently affected my chemistry. I don’t get frightened by the same thing most people do.” She pushed her foot across the deep carpeting.
“Am I making you uncomfortable?”
She hitched her shoulder. “I’m self-conscious about it and a little worried that you’ll think I’m too broken to love.”
“Not in one million fucking years would I ever think that.” He swept her into his arms and carried her to the bed. “You are perfect. As is. You didn’t shrink away from my broken bits, so please believe I’m capable of the same. I only asked the question so I could better understand you.”
“Okay.”
He tipped her chin up. “I love all of you.”
She nodded and moved deeper into his embrace. “Are you sure about that? My brain calculates odds and, more often than not, decides the risk is worth it because something bigger is at stake.”
“I couldn’t be more certain. And believe me, I understand how that assessment works because that’s what I did when I was down range.” He shook his head. “But if you could be open to recalibrating your calculator, I would appreciate it. Because, like I told you the other day, there is no life without you in it.” He pressed his hand against her chest. “Your heart is the biggest place I’ve ever been in the world, and I would like to do everything possible to have you around for as long as possible.”
Swallowing, she studied his large, scarred hand. “If you ask me for a match, I will give you a wildfire. I don’t know how to love small, so I hope you’re ready because I plan on showing you just how big a blaze I can create.”
“Bring it.”
Hearing a solid knock on the door, she slid off his lap. “To be continued.”
“I can’t wait.”
She gave him a sassy smile. “Me either.”
TWENTY-FIVE
Kismet was a mysterious thing. The word implied that the outcome was predetermined, and individuals had no say in their destiny.
Teague didn’t believe that. Mysterious forces might’ve engineered their crossing paths, but neither he nor Tancy was a puppet in some preordained love story.
They had chosen one another out of the eight billion people on the planet. Consciously. And with great thought. And he thought that was pretty freaking spectacular.
So was the way their bodies and soul connected when they shut the outside world out. “It feels like it’s been forever.”
