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My eyes scrunched again. “You expressed a fairly low opinion of them.”
He shrugged and smiled. “Part of the Unit 23 persona.”
“It appeared to be solely for my benefit.”
He nodded. “Brand, if you aren’t intimidated by me at this point, you have no business participating in this mission.”
“Your goal was to intimidate me?”
“Damn straight. There isn’t a person in either family who’s met me and isn’t. That includes both dons.”
“Got it.”
“Now that you’ve wrapped things up with Nemesis, I suggest you get your arse back to London and enjoy every minute you can with Penelope in the same way I plan to do with El. And about Christmas, Saint’s wife, Harper, is everything he isn’t, but he worships the ground she walks on.” He stroked his beard. “Interesting metaphor, given she’s a vicar. Anyway, no need to run interference. If the day comes when I do kill him, it’ll be somewhere other than El’s flat.”
“Understood,” I repeated, even though I didn’t and, again, didn’t want to.
25
BUTTERFLY
Once we were back in London, Brand announced we’d be leaving in the morning and returning to New York.
“Has something happened?” I asked.
“I have eleven more days with you, and I don’t intend to spend it in someone else’s flat. This way, we’ll be home well before Christmas, with plenty of time to celebrate it the way I’ve fantasized we would.”
“Forgive me for asking this, but are you allowed to leave?”
He smiled. “I cleared it with Nemesis.”
“If you’re doing this for me…”
“I’m doing this for us, Butterfly.”
“I have to admit, spending Christmas at home sounds really nice.”
He put his arms around my waist and pulled my body flush with his. “I plan to make the most of every minute we have together.” He pressed his hardness between my legs.
“Starting now?” I asked.
“There are sixteen thousand minutes, give or take, between now and my deployment. I have a request for when we get home.”
“Okay,” I murmured.
“We spend as many of what’s left naked.”
I giggled. “I’m all in.”
“I love you, Butterfly.”
“I love you, Michelangelo.”
While I typically slept on flights, this time I didn’t. The little time we had before Brand had to leave was ticking by too quickly as it was. I wouldn’t waste it sleeping when I could be gazing into his eyes, talking to him, and just holding his hand.
I hadn’t asked how long he thought he had to be in Italy. I doubted he knew. My asking would only increase his anxiety and remind us both what was coming far sooner than we wanted it to.
The other thing I hadn’t done was let the tribe know we were returning to the States earlier than we thought. If Brand wanted to see Tara, his mother, or father, I’d certainly understand. What I wouldn’t do was make plans with anyone else. My parents especially.