Page 81 of Hunted to Be Mine
I laughed. It startled both of us. “That’s terrible.”
His smile flashed for real, brief and bright. “We all make sacrifices for the mission.”
My amusement faded. The reality of where he was going settled back in. He noticed and set down the phone, stepping closer.
“Hey.” He touched my arm. “We’ve been over this. I’ll be fine.”
“You don’t know that.” My voice shook.
His hands came up to frame my face. “Selina. Stop.”
I closed my eyes and leaned into his warmth.
“You trust me, right?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“Then trust me to do this. Trust me to come back.”
His thumb slid across my cheek.
“How long will you be gone?” I asked.
“I can’t be sure.” He stepped back and reached for the earbud. “I’ll keep the radio open.”
I nodded. “Okay. But if anything—and I mean anything—feels off, you stop. Promise me.”
“I promise.” He tucked the earpiece into his pocket. “I’ll put it in once I’m clear of the hotel and call you.”
It was happening. He was leaving. I’d be waiting and listening, useless if something went wrong. The thought turned my insides.
I watched him gather his gear, double-check the room’s security, and head for the door.
Before he could reach it, I caught his arm and pulled him back to me. His eyes widened. I rose on my toes and kissed him. Hard. Not a goodbye. Orders to return. My fist caught the front of his hoodie and held.
When we broke apart, my breath was uneven. I pressed the second earbud into his palm and folded his fingers around it.
“Don’t you dare die on me,” I said, my voice rough. “I won’t forgive you.”
His smile was small and real, his eyes softer than I’d ever seen them. “Yes, Doctor. I’ll follow orders.”
I let out a shaky laugh. “Since when?”
He brushed his thumb over my bottom lip. “Since they started coming from you.”
We held on a second longer. Then he gently eased free and slipped into the hall. The door closed with a soft click that landed too loud in the quiet.
I stood where he left me. The room felt colder. Emptier. I looked down at the phone in my hand, my line to him for the next few hours.
At the window, I pulled the curtain back a sliver and watched the street. Five minutes later, he stepped out of the hotel in a bulky brown coat that was, in fact, spectacularly ugly. Despite everything, I smiled.
I waited until he disappeared, then slid in my earbud and brought the burner close.
“Testing, one, two, three…” I kept my voice steady.
Silence stretched for three long seconds. Then his voice came through, clear and close.
“I hear you.” The connection was clean, like he was right beside me. “And Selina? I will always come back.”
