Page 154 of Carnal Urges
“I will. I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
I give her a final squeeze, then let her go and turn to Kage. “Take care of her for me.”
“You know I will.”
“And thank you.”
He glances back at Declan, and his voice gains a dark edge. “Don’t thank me yet. This isn’t over.”
Nat warns softly, “Honey.”
I kiss his rough cheek and try not to smile. Declan opens the passenger door for me, and I hop in.
“Seat belt,” he says gruffly, his eyes locked on mine.
I missed you, too.
We pull away without a shot being fired. I watch Nat and Kage receding in the side mirror and wonder how this tale of friends, lovers, and enemies will play out without one of us eventually getting hurt.
Honestly, I don’t think it’s possible.
In a story as twisted as ours, someone always dies in the end.
FORTY-TWO
DECLAN
On the ride to the airport, neither of us speaks. I watch her from the corner of my eye as she looks out the window at the city lights passing by, but I don’t press her to talk. She’s in her head, working on knots. I know better than to interrupt her.
The moment we’re in the cabin of my jet, I pull her into my arms and kiss her deeply.
She responds by making a small sound of relief and sagging against me, as if her knees are giving out.
I fist a hand in her hair. She clings to my shoulders. We kiss in hot desperation until the airstairs fold up and the cabin door closes. Then she opens her eyes and stares deep into mine.
In a breathy voice, she says, “So you’re a spy for the U.S. government.”
“No. I’m a spy for the Irish government.”
She takes a moment to digest that, blinking slowly in surprise. “A double agent?”
“More like a free agent. Nobody knows what I’m really up to.”
After an astonished pause, she exhales a slow breath, shaking her head. “That explains a lot.”
“So it’s settled, then.”
“What is?”
“We’re getting married.”
After a beat, she hides her face in my chest and dissolves into laughter.
I caress her hair and smile. “Where should we go on our honeymoon?”
“Where’s the closest insane asylum?”
