Page 11
ELEVEN
Kane
There’s a storm raging outside, but inside my mind there’s a calm I’ve never known.
Maybe it’s the release. All the built-up tension of wanting something… denying myself.
Then having it. Having her.
Shifting, I look down at Eagle. Bathed by firelight, warm, tucked beneath my arm, her head resting on my shoulder. Her hand on the eagle tattoo.
My heart is in a state of shock. Why does she feel like home?
“Kane?” she whispers.
“What is it, sweetheart?” I rasp, my throat full of pins and needles. “You okay?”
“I just needed to make sure I wasn’t dreaming.”
God. “I’m here. Not going anywhere.”
She mmmm’s and squeezes closer, trapping my leg with hers.
I’m swamped by emotion that crowds into my throat. No matter how many times I swallow, it stays there. Growing.
Staring at the ceiling, I stroke her back until she’s asleep again. Until the fire grows cool, and I face the inner battle. Break the connection and get up to stoke the fire, or…
Roll over and take my sweet angel again.
Yeah. That’s what I want to do.
No. She’ll be sore. I made sure she was ready, but I was too rough on her. But, god, when Eagle and I hit our stride, our sex is going to be wild and rough. I just know this based on the way Eagle is in everything she does.
It’s one of the things I’ve always loved about her. She’s passionate. About school. About every class she takes. Even passionate about running on the treadmill. Everything she does, she pours her heart and body into.
Now I need to know what she really wants from life, because I’m going to make sure she gets to chase that dream like wildfire.
A flash of light crosses the windows, making my rambling thoughts slam closed.
What was that light?
It’s been a while since lightning flashed, but this feels wrong.
My sixth sense starts to needle under my skin. “Sweetheart, I need you to get up.”
“What?” Eagle yawns. “Is something wrong?”
“I don’t know yet.” Sitting her up, I reach for her clothing, getting her ready before I pull on my jeans.
It’s raining hard, the windows a blur of water and rain. But I can feel it. Not it. Someone.
“We’ve got company.”
Eagle gasps, fumbling with her clothing, her voice going up. “Who would be here?”
“It’s okay. Whoever it is, I’ll handle it. I’m more than equipped to deal with them, but I want you to go into the kitchen, out of sight. Arm yourself with a knife.”
She jerks on her shirt, shimmies into her jeans, eyes wide with concern.
Boots clunk on the porch. As a knock rings through the cabin, I’m going out the back window, taking advantage of the element of surprise.
Paul McKenna, the new guy on our security detail, and the fucking prick—Charles—are standing on the porch shaking out their coats when they realize I’ve got a gun pointed at them.
After momentarily looking shocked, Eagle’s father tries to save face by seeming undeterred.
“Well, well.” Paul says, glaring at my bare chest as his mouth compresses into a frown. “Looks like you’ve been cozy in my home.”
I’ve always disliked the man. Never trusted him. But right now, I fucking hate him because he’s been psychologically abusive to my Eagle.
“What do you want, McKenna?”
He glances at Charles. “We’re here because Eagle is leaving with Charles for a trip. He couldn’t wait for you to bring her back. Because?—”
The blood pressure in my veins is stratospheric. “Eagle isn’t going any fucking where.”
Charles blinks at me with disbelief as he puffs up in his designer raincoat. “She’s going with me to France. My jet is waiting at a private airstrip nearby. As soon as this storm passes, we’ll be?—”
Charles croaks, clawing at his throat when I lock my fingers around his skinny neck.
“Eagle isn’t yours and never will be.”
Paul’s mouth is hanging open. The new guard, Tice—a former SEAL also—holds up both hands. A satisfied grin cants on his battle-worn face. “You do you, man. I’m here for ya.”
“She decides where she goes and when.” I shove Charles into the wooden rocking chair so hard the legs bust. In a tangle of broken wood, he flops backward off the porch, landing in a gigantic puddle. As he squeals like a little pig.
“Now,” I turn to face Paul McKenna. “I’m sending a truck to get Eagle’s belongings.”
His face flushes like an eggplant. “She’s not moving in with you!”
“Didn’t say she was. Eagle’s going to live wherever she wants. I’m sure as hell hoping that’s with me, but that’s her call.”
“You want me to live with you?”
Eagle’s voice makes me snap to attention. Our gazes lock, the knife falls from her hands, and she lurches forward, wrapping her arms around my waist.
“I promise to treat you like you deserve to be treated.”
She nods against me, tightening her arms. “I know you will. And I’d love to move in with you, Kane. There’s nowhere else I want to be but in your bed.”
“Wait a fucking minute!”
Paul’s arms flail out to the sides when Tice snatches him up by the collar of his coat, frog-marching him off the porch.
“See ya around,” Tice calls as he shoves Paul—spitting mad—into the company SUV.
Charles, covered in mud, hair hanging limply down his face, scuttles to the car, slamming the door once he’s inside.
“Let’s go back to bed, sweetheart.” I scoop Eagle up, kissing her neck. “We’ve got a lot to talk about.”