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Her heart lurched to a stop, and she closed her eyes, certain that her ears were playing tricks on her. It couldn’t be. He couldn’t have risked his life to go back to Afghanistan to save Afsoon. But he had. Afsoon and his family were safe. Her heart was hammering so hard. There wasn’t a day that didn’t go by that she didn’t miss Kodiak. Sure, they’d texted back and forth several times, but she found it so painful, she had dropped off her communications almost three months ago.
She held back her emotions as they clogged her throat and Afsoon told her of their trip from the deadly city of Kabul to the border crossing where Australian officials fast-tracked him out of Pakistan. Afsoon and his family stayed for an hour, and as they headed to the door, Kaiya said, “I don’t think I would be alive today if it wasn’t for you, Afsoon. The terror at the gate that day was overwhelming. You were so brave and so selfless in getting me out. I don’t have words to thank you for what you did. Butthank youfor saving my life. I’m so relieved to get a chance to tell you how much it all meant to me. I hope we can stay in touch.”
He gave her a sly smile. “Oh, we will. I am now working at the AFP in counterterrorism to help your government stop attacks.”
“That is great news.” She hugged him hard and after he left, her legs suddenly trembled beneath her. A wave of stunning reaction slammed through her, the emotion too intense to hold in, something raw breaking inside her.
She couldn’t go on like this…without him. She couldn’t. Kaiya clenched her teeth against the sharp sense of separation, the ache in her growing heavier. She would have to find a way to get to him. She was in love with Jayesh Lyta, and she wasn’t going to waste another moment missing him as if a part of her soul was gone.
* * *
Kodiak setthe flowers on Sakira’s grave. His father’s funeral was over, but although his family left, he walked over to his sister’s grave. He had gotten the call late at night several days ago. His father had been killed in prison. He immediately flew home to support his mom and sisters and bury their father.
During the past few days, he had talked to his mom, and his sisters, gotten out how he’d been feeling, all the residual anger and guilt releasing from him. By the time he had purged his heart, they were openly weeping, stronger than ever as a family. His father was dead, and he would no longer hold any threat over them. They could all begin to heal.
He brushed leaves off her gravestone, and for the first time, all he could do was remember everything about her life. Her laugh, her kindness, her joy of living. He remembered and celebrated her life and their relationship. Sakira’s life was about more than her suicide. Her final act didn’t define her life. He rose, finally at peace both in his mind and his heart.
He turned, and Kaiya was standing there. For a moment, he thought he was dreaming. He just stared at her, his chest getting tight.
She took in a ragged breath. “The last time I was in Alaska, I made a terrible, stupid, dumbass mistake.”
“Is that so?” he murmured.
Her next ragged breath sounded too much like a sob for him to endure, and with his resolve evaporating like smoke, he caught her wrist and turned her into his arms, gathering her up in a fierce embrace.
Drawing a deep breath, she slid her arms under his open jacket and around his back. “Yeah, don’t get a big head, but I came back for you,” she whispered, her face wet against his neck, her voice breaking. “It seems that I’m having a difficult time living without you.”
Tucking her head tighter against him, he savored the silky disorder of her hair, a flicker of amusement surfacing. “Don’t you know, Kaiya, I always get a big head around you.”
He got an unsteady laugh, and he hugged her tighter. Kaiya’s voice was a little stronger when she responded. “I remember very well.”
He waited until he felt her begin to relax, then he eased his hold and lifted her face so he could see her eyes, sobering. “Now that we’ve settled that. Why don’t you tell me how you found me?” he said, his voice gentle.
Her black lashes matted, her mouth not quite steady, she looked at him, her eyes shining with a kind of light that made his heart swell. She stared at him a moment, then in a husky voice said, “Well, it seems that the FBI has a database.”
He frowned, his heart getting even more full. “How did you get access to an FBI database?”
“I’m their new consultant for the AFP and Europol, here on a special VISA. I’m planning on applying to become a US citizen, and eventually join the FBI as an agent. So, when I found out from Hazard that you had come home for your father’s funeral—I’m sorry, by the way—I looked up your family, asked for two weeks to get settled, and flew here.” She ran the backs of her fingers over his jaw. “It’s a specially formed position that the director was all too happy to fill with me. I’ll be based out of Chesapeake, Virginia.”
Ah hell, he thought. All his dreams had just come true. Catching a handful of hair, he tugged her head back, dead sober as he looked her square in the eyes. “That’s a stone’s throw from Virginia Beach. It was almost as if you planned it that way, huh?”
“Yeah, funny how that worked out.”
He pulled her into a tight embrace and rested his head against hers. He wasn’t sure what they were getting themselves into, or how they would come out of it, but he was sure that he wanted her in his life. He let his breath go. “I love you, Kaiya, and I will do everything I can to keep you with me. I’m aware how much you had to sacrifice to come here to be with me, uprooting your life and career?—”
She covered his mouth with her hand. Her eyes got dark, the pulse point in her neck beating, and she gave him a smile that he felt all the way down to his toes. “It was no hardship, Jay, none at all. I love you so much that there is no alternative for me.” She took his face between her hands, lightly stroking his cheekbones with her thumbs. Then she brushed a soft kiss against his lips. “I happen to have a hotel room if that’s something that interests you.”
It wasn’t long before they were alone and naked in her room on her bed.
He could barely breathe as she pushed him back, rising up on her knees, her expression solemn. She straddled him, settling against his erection. She touched him everywhere. The absolute comfort in her touch made his throat cramp up, and he closed his eyes, experiencing such a surge of emotion that he was damned near upended by it. Opening his mouth against hers, he ran his hand up her back, urging her toward him. But she didn’t yield. Instead, she smoothed her hands down his shoulders and across his chest, her mouth moist and warm as she brushed her lips against his nipple. The jolt of sensation made him grit his teeth, and he sucked in his breath when she touched it with the tip of her tongue. Gripping her arm, he opened his eyes and looked down at her, his vision hazed with sensation as she continued with her slow, soft exploration.
Dragging her mouth lower, she slipped her fingers around his hard, throbbing dick, his face contorting in an agony of sensation, his whole body going rigid as she gently, slowly, softly ran her hand up and down his shaft. Then she lowered her head, and he closed his eyes and ground his teeth together, her touch setting off a chain reaction that made him stiffen and groan. And with a blinding surge of sensation, he gave himself up to her moist, questing mouth.
Nothing mattered. Nothing but her and that’s how it would be for the rest of their lives as they lived and loved, pledging everything they had for their happily ever after.
EPILOGUE
Rose stoodin the empty room her husband had just cleaned out. He was moving his weights to the basement, and they were turning this room into a nursery. She slipped her hand over her rounded stomach, now seven months along. Iceman had spent every moment he wasn’t deployed with her, a residual of her kidnapping, she was sure.
