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“That’s my guess.”

“You’re usually right. Damn you.”

“Does it pain you so much to say so?” he asked. He crowded my space and every time he did, I was blown over by a rush of desire that was totally inappropriate.

“Yes. I’ll never say it again.”

He fingered my face, tracing the various injuries that no longer bothered me, but they continued to drive him crazy. I liked that a little bit too much. “My bet is you will. One day.”

“Don’t hold your breath.” I laughed but the sound was bitter.

“I’m sorry about Marco’s friend.”

“I am too. Thank you for keeping him safe.”

Jago continued stroking my face. “He’s a good young man. He’ll make a damn good soldier. One day. After college. Maybe.”

I tilted my head. “Oh, he’s going to college now?”

“With encouragement, I hope that he’ll choose an education over this life.”

“You shock me.”

“I do? I’ll take that as a compliment.”

At least I could be playful. I jabbed him in the stomach. “You should. I won’t give out but so many.”

He took our drinks away, placing them on the kitchen table. I watched his actions, laughing softly to myself at seeing the bowl of fruit. Apples and oranges. Bananas and a pile of grapes. When I snagged a juicy grape, he lifted his eyebrow.

But when I pressed it against his lips, he chuckled, but accepted. Before chewing, he gathered me into his arms, capturing my mouth.

I pressed my hands against his shoulders, almost instinctively pushing him away. Wanting this was bad. Or so I’d wanted to tell myself.

Yet his hold was warm and inviting, forcing me to relinquish the grip of fear. I rolled my arms around his shoulders as he pushed the grape inside my mouth. Using my tongue, I slipped it back into his. Finally, he crunched down on the sweet fruit, never releasing his hold on my lips.

Kissing him was a pleasure, maybe a sin, but I wanted to taste him and feel him close to me.

Jago managed to ground me, another startling reflection of the woman inside who’d always searched for a hero.

I’d found one and he certainly represented the bad boys everywhere with flair.

The kiss was as sweet as the juiciness of the grape.

At least at first.

But when he kept his firm hold on my mouth while raking his hand across the bowl, I sputtered into the kiss.

Fruit was tossed in every direction and I was able to catch some of the carnage as he laid me on the table. He pushed his body between my legs, which I promptly wrapped around him, intertwining my feet.

The intimate action became much rougher, needier.

Hungrier.

I kissed him as if this was the last one we’d experience, our souls melding together as he thrust his tongue inside.

Everything was so off kilter, but in the strangest of ways, being with him was right. As if I’d found my soulmate. Maybe I’d think differently in the morning, but for right now, I was content with sharing the moment.

He dominated my tongue, sucking on it while grinding his crotch against me. The feel of his throbbing cock had the same effect it always did. I was euphoric while chastising my longing.