Page 123 of Fighting With Light

“What?” I ask her, not sure what else she’s trying to ask.

“Well, I was just wondering if this is what we will always do.”

I study her for a moment, and she takes another bite.

“As in you…want to come to all my surfing competitions?”

Aelia stops chewing and tilts her head. “Well yeah, if that’s what you want to continue doing…”

I smile at her. “Honestly, I hadn’t really thought about it. I do like looking for you on shore.”

“I’ll wear my red bikini so you can see me from the water.” She winks and I cough, knowing exactly which one she’s talking about, as she scoops cereal into her mouth.

“Um, more people know me here and, babe, there are kids, and…”

“I won’t wear that one. I have another red one,” she says with amusement all over her face.

“Does it cover your ass? Because when you wore the other one in Portugal, I could barely concentrate. All I could think about was some dude ogling you, and then I’d have to lose my competition and gouge his eyeballs out with a spoon, which is not good for my career.”

Aelia drops her spoon in her empty bowl.

“No, Tarzan, that would not be good for your career, and yes, this one covers my butt, I promise.”

“Good,” I grunt.

She rolls her eyes and puts the bowl in the sink.

“I’m going to go take a shower,” she says, passing me.

“Be there in a minute.”

I finish my cereal and grab an apple, taking a bite on my way to the back deck. Collapsing on a chair, I listen to the waves. I missed them. It’s dark out, and only a sliver of the moon is present, and it feels like a blanket of calm right now. The only way I could bury what I was feeling was by compartmentalizing, and now I need to let it go.

We were in Colombia for barely forty-eight hours, but it felt like months. I still haven’t totally caught my breath after seeing someone threaten Aelia’s life. I know she can handle herself, but I want to protect her. She deserves to have someone stand in front of her no matter what, and I am that man. I will be her champion.

She’s lived so much of her life alone. I want to be that man for her, and I hope the love between us is enough to sustain what is likely to be a nasty fight. Neither of our fathers will take this laying down. It will more thancertainly put an even bigger target on all of our backs, may even get someone killed, and that is the last thing either of us wants.

“Liam?” Aelia calls softly from the living room.

“Out here, baby,” I call.

I look up at her silhouetted figure barely lit by the moon and a shiver rolls down my spine. God help me, I love this woman.

“I opened your present,” she says.

“Do you like it?” I ask her.

“Yes, thank you. Better question, doyoulike it?” she asks. The little robe that came with the set sits over her shoulders. I reach for her hip and feel the soft silk under my hand.

“You already know the answer to that question. You’re fishing, princess.”

She giggles. “Maybe. Why are you sitting out here? I thought you were coming to bed.” She steps up closer to me and I grab her wrist, tugging her into my lap. She rests her head on my shoulder as I rub my hand up and down her warm thigh. I think I could stay here forever.

“You smell like mountains and blood,” she says.

I chuckle and kiss her cheek. “Mmm, you smell so good,” I growl into her neck and inhale sweet cherries.

“Well, get your fill of smells now because I’m getting off your crusty lap.”