Page 43 of Guarding The Phoenix: Vol. 2

“Update on the ship, Mateo?”

“Just got an image of the ship from two minutes ago. It’s still sailing south, southwest and following the drone.”

“Good. Chase, the moment we’re clear of the harbor, I want you to lay on speed and get us as far north as possible over the next two hours.”

“Not to worry. This big girl is in good hands.” Chase captained the yacht like he had been piloting it for years instead of days.

We slunk out of the harbor, and didn’t pass another vessel. Chase laid on the speed once we were ocean bound. The next two hours, we spent in virtual silence with Mateo monitoring radar and Chase sailing, while I circled the outer decks with night vision goggles, checking to see if we’d been followed by a ship with radar cloaking capabilities.

Before I went up to relieve Chase from command, I brewed a pot of coffee in the galley. Axel and Kylie were asleep in the bedroom. Lucky bastards. Although after everything, I was glad Kylie slept. The last few days had been the most stressful for her. We were used to this type of nomadic, dangerous lifestyle.

I headed back up with coffee for myself and Mateo. We’d be up the better part of the night. But it would be worth it to put as much distance between us and them as possible. I didn’t want us docking for two days unless necessary.

“Get some shut eye. We’ll rotate duties with six-hour shifts. Get sleep. No fucking Kylie, even if she begs for it. I need you alert.”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah.” Chase left the deck.

I slid into the vacated seat and took over the controls with a sigh. It was going to be a long night.

Chapter fifteen

Northward Bound

Kylie

Thenextmorning,Ilifted bleary eyes as Gideon slid into bed beside me. “What’s going on?”

“Go back to sleep, babe. It’s just shift change.”

“But what about Santos? Is he trailing us?”

Gideon wiped a hand over his tired expression. “So far Santos took the bait. We won’t rest easy until there’s a thousand miles between us and them. It’s not for you to worry about though.”

“Of course I’m going to worry, Gideon. And it’s not just me I’m worried about. You guys are pushing yourselves.”

He smirked. “It’s sweet that you’re worried about me.”

“But I do worry about you.” I cupped his stubble roughened jaw. “Santos is a really bad man. I’d be heartbroken if anything happened to you because of me.”

“Now you listen to me, babe.” He shifted onto his side facing me. His gaze bore holes into my eyes. “If something happens to any one of us, it’s not your fault. That’s on Santos’s head, not yours.”

“But if it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t be in danger to begin with.”

“Bullshit. This is what our job entails. We’re retired Marines. We don’t have normal jobs or normal lives. And me and the guys are good with it.”

“What if I’m not okay with it?”

He scowled as if shocked by my declaration. Then yanked me against his hard body and slammed his mouth over mine. I went from half asleep to my body incinerating from the inside out.

He plunged his tongue inside, tangling deep with mine. I clung to him. Dug my nails into his firm chest and held on tight. He pulled me tighter, wrapping me up in his arms.

Red hot desire pumped through me. I wanted this man with a hunger like no other. I wanted all four of them. If wishes came true, I would keep them all. I never thought after the brutality I survived I would ever want another man, let alone four.

I wrapped my legs around his waist. And moaned at his hard cock pressing against my sex. He’d stripped off everything but his boxer briefs before joining me in bed and I wanted them gone.

I rocked my hips, rubbing my drenched slit against his shaft.

At his feral growl, I nipped his bottom lip. He tore his mouth away. “Minx.”

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