Page 43 of Stains of Desire

"I don't know where Interpol wants to send me, but I—"

"You aren't going unless we agree."

"How—"

"We're going back to camp to eat breakfast. If Dirk catches anything, eat it so you have protein in you. I'm going to figure out what Interpol expects us to do. Once I know those details, I'll tell you. Whatever the situation is, if either of us isn't comfortable with it, you aren't going. And it sounds like we already know that you aren't going to be, so give me some time to figure out the best way for us to get you somewhere safe."

"Won't the others try to stop us?"

"Leave everything to me."

"Isn't it more dangerous for me to stay here if Interpol is coming? Shouldn't I go now?"

"Interpol will send a plane. There won't be anyone else arriving. And we have time. Don't worry about this. When the time to leave comes, we will go."

Instead of calming her, my words seemed to bother her more. I stroke her cheek. "Why do I feel I said something wrong?"

"You didn't. I just...what about your job?"

"Let them fire me."

A line forms between her eyebrows.

"I promised you I would find your daughter and get you to safety. I won't go back on my word."

Her eyes glisten, and she blinks. "Why would you risk your career? You just met me."

"When I stepped on the plane in Norway, you became my responsibility. I didn't know anything about you or what the situation was. But I took an oath to rescue those who need saving. It's a promise to safeguard those who can't protect themselves. I didn't pledge to follow an organization blindly or deliver hostages to other unsafe places." I lean so close to her, my mouth is an inch away. "And if I'm going to lose my job, it's a bonus it's for someone like you."

She swallows hard then glances at my lips, and when she gazes back to my eyes, there's fire and need blazing in her green orbs. And not just to get her out of whatever this situation is but for me. I see it. It's all she has to do. One look, and I forget to hold back. I fist her hair, sink my lips onto hers, and tug her close to me.

Her fingers slide up my chest. She grasps my flesh while slipping her tongue against mine, following my slow pace, which is different from the urgent flicking of the night before.

She obeys so well. I don't even need to order her.

My erection grows against her stomach.

This is torture. I need to get her somewhere alone, away from here.

She moans into my mouth, and her pert breasts heave against my chest. It riles my inner beast further.

I need to stop. There's too much to figure out regarding her safety right now.

Other men haven't treated her right and forced her to be with them. You need to make things clear with her.

I end our kiss and murmur in her ear, "You remember what I said last night about stop and no?" I tug on her lobe with my teeth, too tempted to resist, before locking eyes with her.

"Yes," she breathes.

"It's always the rule. You say no or stop, whatever we're doing at that moment ends. I will get you to safety and find your daughter, regardless of what happens between us. Do you understand me?"

She tears up again and nods.

I kiss her forehead and hold her close to me, wanting to keep her next to my body forever but knowing I have to figure out our current situation. "We need to get back to camp."

"Okay."

I pick her back up and palm her head to my chest to protect it from the brush then step through the last part of the trees. I carry her over to the fire. The others are making pancakes. Dirk is in the woods, seeing what he caught in his traps.