Page 149 of Savage Hearts
He chuckles. I take that as a no.
“What were you guys talking about in Russian?”
“Mostly business.”
“Did he tell you how he found out about me?”
“No. I asked if it was the man he sent me to in New York to help me find Declan, but he said it wasn’t. Said it was a dead man, an old friend of his who knew everyone and everything.”
“Adeadman? Does he spend a lot of time on a Ouija board talking to spirits?”
“I didn’t understand it, either, but Pakhan said he wanted to introduce me to him.” His voice drops. “Now that he’d met you.”
“Me? What do I have to do with anything?”
“I don’t know.”
“This is all very strange.”
“Yes. Especially the part where he told me to take a vacation.”
I lift my head and look at him. “A vacation?”
“A month off,” he replies, nodding.
“Has he ever given you time off before?”
“Never.”
“Don’t you think that’s odd?”
“I do.”
“So what are you going to do about it?”
He smiles. “Take a month off.”
A dangerous thrill goes through me, like I’m standing at the edge of a perilously high cliff, looking down. Aiming for nonchalant, I say, “Where will you go?”
His smile is indulgent. “Look at you, trying to act innocent. You know exactly where I’ll go.” He presses the softest of kisses to my lips. “And with who.”
“To the cabin,” I whisper, kissing him back. “With me.”
Rolling on top of me, he takes my mouth in a deep, hot kiss, curling his hand around my throat as he does it. “Yes, with you,” he says, voice husky. “My mouthy little captive.”
I wrap my arms around his back, shivering in delight at the feelof his big, strong body against mine. “Your wrinkled gray tissue someone left in their pocket too long.”
“My stubborn fighter.”
“Your homeless deer mouse with the tiny fang-like tusks.”
“My world.”
It’s said in a murmur as he gazes deep into my eyes with a look of adoration.
I swallow, my heart beating faster. “Can I say something now?”
“No.”
