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Falling in line behind him as he took off again, she remembered something. “When I first woke up after you rescued me, you said you had been undercover in a drug cartel, yes?”

“Yeah, I did.” He pointed to the ground on his right side. “Watch your step. There’s some scat.”

Avoiding the brown lumps of feces from a large animal, she continued, “But if they were a drug cartel, why were we there—my cousins and I and the other women?”

He glanced over his shoulder with a grimace.

“Because drugs aren’t the only crimes bastards like that deal in to line their pockets—drugs, human trafficking, child pornography, guns, and anything else that they can make money on.

Nothing is off limits to most of them. Although, every once in a while, we come across a crime boss with scruples, but it’s rare. ”

They walked in silence for a few minutes, then Darius asked, “Princess, did you really mean what you said earlier? About being ostracized if it’s revealed what happened to you?”

Her eyes widened as she stared at his back. “Yes! Please, Darius, you cannot tell anyone—”

“Shh, Tahira. I’m not going to tell anyone. That’s your secret, and I will take it to the grave if I have to.”

Relief filled her. “Thank you.”

A few moments passed before he spoke again. “What if you married, your secret was not revealed, and somewhere down the line, you got a divorce? Would you be able to marry again? Is divorce even allowed in Timasur?”

“Yes, divorce is allowed in my country, but it is not as easily done as it is in the United States. I would be allowed to marry again, and my lack of virginity would not be a problem. Why do you ask?”

Darius stopped short and spun around. “What if you and I got married?”

* * *

The words continued to tumble out of Darius’s mouth before he could stop them. “I would keep your secret, and we could divorce a few months later. Then you’d be free to marry a man you fall in love with and not have to worry about not being a virgin.”

Tahira’s jaw dropped as she stared at him as if he had five heads and was speaking in tongues. Her eyes were even bugging out. Yeah, he’d shocked the shit out of her. Well, that was only fair since he’d shocked the shit out of himself too.

Ever since she’d cried herself to sleep in his arms, his mind had been spinning out of control.

He cared for her. Somewhere during the time he’d first been assigned to be her occasional bodyguard, she’d become more than a client or an asset.

She’d become a friend, and Darius would do anything to help a friend in need.

But suggesting marriage? Yup, that was definitely a first for him.

He’d never come close to asking a woman to marry him, not even Sara Ainsley who he’d dated for over eighteen months five years ago, and here he was proposing to Tahira—sort of.

It was probably far from the “down on one knee” proposal she’d dreamed of having all her life, but from where he stood, she truly believed that would never happen now anyway.

He had to be insane. There was no way she would agree to this, and it was probably just making things worse for her and super awkward between them.

Still, he couldn’t seem to stop himself from continuing.

“Look, I know it sounds crazy, but think about it. No one would ever have to know it’s a marriage of convenience and that we never had sex.

We could stay in Clearwater Beach. After a few months, we’ll say that we made a mistake and we’re getting a divorce but staying friends.

Then when you want to get married for real, you’re covered.

Your husband will know going in that you’ve been married before, so he’ll know not to expect to be . .. to be taking your virginity.”

When her fingers covered her mouth, he finally stopped rambling and waited for her to say something.

She shook her head. “Why? Why would you even suggest that? Why would you do that for me?”

At first, he thought she’d been offended by his unexpected offer, but then he saw a mixture of disbelief and gratitude in her watery eyes.

Closing the distance between them, he gently cupped her cheek and thumbed away a tear that had fallen.

“Why? Because you’ve experienced something no woman on Earth should ever have to, Princess.

I can’t imagine what’s going through that pretty head of yours and how you’ll deal with the aftermath of what happened to you.

But if I could do this one thing to help you heal and have the happy life you deserve with a man you love someday, then I’m willing to do it.

It’s one less thing you have to worry about. ”

“But—but, I do not ... I do not understand. What—what would you get out of it?”

“I said no sex, and I meant it, sweetheart. I wouldn’t expect that from you.

Not after what you’ve been through. You save that for the man you fall in love with.

As for what I would get out of it—I’d know I did the right thing to help a friend.

That I helped save her from the anguish she would be facing if the truth came out or it was assumed you lost your virginity by choice just to have some selfish bastard tell that to the world.

I can’t put you through that, and I can’t have you believing you’ll never get married for real. Let me help you, Princess,” he pleaded.

Darius knew they needed to get moving again, but this was important. The more he stared into her glistening eyes, the more he knew this was the right thing to do. Despite his earlier uncertainty about the plan, he didn’t want her to say no.

“You are not dating anyone? There is no one who will be heartbroken if you do this for me?”

He smiled. “No, I’m not dating anyone, and there’s no one out there pining for me. Someday I might get married for real, but probably after I retire from Trident. For now, I want to do this for you, okay? Will you let me?”

Seconds ticked by before Tahira took a long, shaky breath, before slowly letting it out.

Rising on her tiptoes, she placed a soft kiss on his cheek.

“Thank you, Darius. You do not know how much this means to me. If you are really certain about it, then, yes, I will accept your help. Just promise me that if you change your mind, you will let me know.”

Leaning down, Darius brushed his lips across her forehead. “Then it’s settled. Now, let’s get the hell out of here.”