Page 17 of Escaped (Snowbound with a Stranger #3)

Revelations

Eli

“You’re what?”

Erin’s mouth opened as though it was inviting me to invade her soft, warm places. I might have, too, had I not still been both injured and residing under her brother’s roof. It had been far too long since I’d crushed her flesh against mine, let alone taken her in hand for acting out of line. We both needed that again.

“I’m in love with you.”

It was good to say the words, to finally untangle the knot of emotions I’d been experiencing and tell her the way I felt.

“I thought you’d like to know.”

“My God, I...”

Her lips curled, but it didn’t seem as though she could get her response out.

“That’s not what I expected you to say!”

Encasing her hand in mine, I squeezed her fingers.

“It’s the truth, and since you know everything else about my past already, I want you to know that too.”

“Eli.”

She closed the distance between us, throwing her arms around me and crushing her body against mine.

“Ow!”

I winced playfully, glad for her show of affection, yet all too aware of how tender my shoulder still was.

“Oh, I’m sorry, sir.”

She leaped back, eyes wide as she appraised me.

“In my giddiness, I forgot you’re in so much pain.”

“Don’t worry, little girl.”

My uninjured arm rose, my fingers smoothing her hair from her face.

“I’ll take a little pain for the woman I love.”

“You love me.”

Stepping in closer, she glanced up with a warm smile.

“That’s huge, sir.”

“Yes, it is.”

The strength of my feelings was the most amazing thing. I’d lived on my own and in my own head for so long. I’d assumed that would always be my fate. The transformation Erin had brought into my life was almost inconceivable.

“I know it’s early days, but thank you.”

Her delicate hands rose and pressed gently against my shirt.

“I’ve been thinking for a while now that I was falling in love with you, but what with being kidnapped and you getting shot… there never seemed to be a good time to tell you.”

“There’s now,”

I suggested cheekily.

“This moment is the only one that’s promised.”

Despite the contentment swelling in my heart at the sight of her, it was Baron’s face that flitted to my mind. His fate cemented my point. He might have been older than me, but he would have expected to live out the rest of his life in peace and comfort. That was until Hawkins’ goons had come calling.

“You think?”

Her smile was mischievous.

“That this is the time to tell you?”

“I do.”

I hadn’t seen the playful version of my little girl for a while. Hawkins’ intervention had put paid to that, and inevitably, she’d been mourning for her mother ever since we’d arrived, but despite my pain and all the loss we’d suffered, I was relieved to see her return. Erin had saved me, not only back in the bunker when she’d wielded the gun, but she was still saving me right there in Owen’s kitchen. She’d resurrected a piece of my soul that I’d assumed was lost forever, and with her nurture, the essence of me was nearly whole again.

I was nearly whole.

“Is that an order, sir?”

Her voice was quiet, presumably in an attempt for her words not to carry to where her brother was, but it didn’t matter. The moment wasn’t about him or anyone else.

It was all about us.

“Oh, yes.”

I liked where she seemed to be heading. It was probably the most relaxed I’d ever seen her, her gorgeous green eyes sparkling as her fingers splayed at my torso.

In the midst of so much misery, it was easy to overlook not only how attracted to her I was, but how much I liked her. There was still so much I needed to find out about my little girl, but the small, extraneous details of her life didn’t seem so important. Not compared to what we’d already been through and survived. Not compared to what we felt for each other.

“That’s definitely an order, little girl.”

“Well, in that case…”

She rose to her tiptoes, grazing her lips over my stubbled chin.

“I should tell you that I love you too, sir.”

“Say it again.”

I’d watched her lips convey her sentiment, but somehow, it didn’t seem real.

She couldn’t love me, could she? A self-confessed assassin with a God-complex just wasn’t lovable.

“I said, I love you.”

She was more serious that time, her smile fading as she searched my face.

“Even after what I’ve told you?”

I didn’t know why I was disputing the point. I’d wanted to tell her how I felt, and there’d been little expectation she’d parrot the words back. Hearing them, though, was surreal.

“Yes. Even then. I want to know more, sir. I mean, you’ve broken the rules by telling me anyway, so you might as well share everything.”

She laughed softly, and my hand fell to cover hers at my chest.

“I’ll tell you everything.”

I had nothing more to lose by being guarded with her. Erin already knew enough about me to land me in serious hot water with the authorities. Vulnerability was still a new sensation to me, but being with her made me want to try to be a better man.

“But not here. As soon as the plans for the funeral are made, I want to go back to Niantes and collect our things. We can talk there.”

I glanced back over my shoulder, concerned for the first time since Owen had left that he might be standing in the doorway. I didn’t care if he knew how I felt about his sister, but I couldn’t afford for anyone else to know about my murky past. Especially someone I didn’t trust. What I’d already had to infer to answer his questions was bad enough.

She nodded as I turned back.

“I agree. Not here, but do you think you’re strong enough to go back to Niantes?”

“I’m getting stronger every day,”

I assured her.

“We have to go back, little girl. Not only is our stuff there, but there are ghosts to lay to rest, too.”

I regretted my choice of vocabulary immediately.

“Chelle, you mean?”

Her brow furrowed.

“We’ll find out about her, yes, but that’s not what I meant.”

Damn my poor choice of words.

“I was technically in charge up there, little girl. What happened to James and Miles is on me. I have to deal with that.”

“What happened isn’t your fault,”

she started.

“They didn’t listen to you.”

“But still, it’s on me.”

I’d spent my life enjoying impunity and avoiding taking responsibility for my actions, but alongside my newfound vulnerability came a determined sense of honesty. For once, I needed to do the right thing. That was what being a better man meant.

“Okay.”

She pulled in a breath.

“And I do need to know what happened to Chelle.”

“I know.”

“Owen wants the car we brought off his drive too.”

Her tone was hesitant.

“He knows it’s stolen.”

“Right.”

The idea of Owen knowing anything more was disconcerting, but I had to hand it to the guy. Without him, I’d have been in trouble.

“We’ll have to dump it somewhere. I doubt Hawkins will be reporting it stolen any time soon.”

“No.”

She bit her lip, apparently still remorseful for what she’d done, though without her, we’d both probably have been goners.

“I know you don’t know Owen well yet, sir, but he only wants to help me.”

“I don’t know him.”

I’d never been one for family, so the idea of having her brother loitering in our relationship didn’t enthrall me, but for her, I’d endure.

“But I trust your judgment, little girl.”

“Thank you.”

Her expression, which had been so sullen after the talk of Chelle and Hawkins, softened a little.

“I won’t say anything to him about you or your history. I hope you know that, sir.”

“If I didn’t know that, we’d have left by now.”

I winked at her, enjoying the giggle the gesture provoked.

We both knew I’d been in no fit state to go anywhere, but I liked how she played along, regardless.

“He seems like a decent guy, but yeah, there are things about me that need to stay private.”

“I understand, sir.”

Her free hand rose to motion a zipper at her mouth.

“My lips are sealed.”

“Thank you.”

My gaze fell to those lips, considering stealing a kiss until a new thought occurred.

“So, if he’s such a good guy, why were you so worried about leaving me alone with him?”

Heat bloomed on her cheeks as though she’d been hoping I’d forgotten about her earlier behavior, but she should have known better. I didn’t forget anything.

“I don’t know.”

Her gaze fell guiltily.

“And that’s the truth, sir. I just felt as if I needed to be in here with the two of you.”

“To moderate?”

I chuckled.

She blew out a breath.

“Were you worried that I’d tell him his sister is a kinky deviant who enjoys it when I spank her?”

My tone was wry.

“Shhh.”

She glanced anxiously around me to check the coast was still clear.

“He doesn’t need to know about that.”

“Oh, I agree.”

I had no intention of sharing the details of our sex life with anyone, let alone her brother.

“But what bothers me is the way you didn’t feel you could trust me.”

Raising my hand, I hooked a finger under her chin and insisted she look at me.

“You can trust me, Erin.”

I’d trusted her with so much of my history. She knew things about me that no one outside of the profession had ever known. The fact that she didn’t seem to share the sentiment sliced at me more than I wanted to admit.

“I know.”

Her hand lowered and she wrapped an arm around my middle.

“I do. I just felt out of control. I got flustered and I panicked. I’m sorry.”

“I thought you liked not being in control?”

My tone was intentionally sardonic.

“Only with you,”

she whispered, almost coyly.

“And that’s all new to me, sir.”

“And the lie about the florist?”

My finger relaxed at her jaw, stroking the side of her soft skin. She was so beautiful, yet every time I offered her the praise, she seemed uncomfortable, as though no one before me had ever told her.

“Why was that necessary?”

“It wasn’t.”

Her eyes fluttered closed.

“I should have just trusted you with Owen and dealt with the florist myself.”

The fact that she’d owned her mistake gave her more integrity than most of the men I’d ever worked with.

“It’s okay.”

Hell, who was I to even judge her? One harmless untruth was nothing compared to the things I’d done.

“I just want you to know I’m here for the truth, little girl. Even if it’s uncomfortable.”

Erin was like the sun, and with her entire focus fixed on me, I basked in the warmth of her attention.

“I know. Thank you.”

She moved toward me as if she wanted a kiss, but I held her back.

“Oh, and one other thing.”

My lips twisted as I imagined her face at what was coming next.

“I am going to spank you for that lie just as soon as I’m up to it.”

I couldn’t fucking wait for that day.

“Okay.”

The flush of heat at her face deepened, and relenting, I allowed her back into my embrace.

“I guess I deserve that.”

Closing my arms around her, I held her until Owen’s voice splintered our serenity.

“How’s that tea coming along?”

He sounded skeptical from the doorway and, releasing Erin, I found him leaning against the frame, arms crossed.

“It’s almost ready.”

Darting away, Erin returned to the kettle without meeting his gaze.

“It’ll be the best cuppa you’ve ever had.”