Page 55 of Stains of Desire

10

Axel

Penelope hasn't said much.Neither have I. My mind is spinning over what to do so she doesn't feel guilty about us. I want her to have no doubts about my intentions. Rescuing Millie is my top priority. But so is she. And I won't compromise finding her daughter because of my infatuation with her.

From time to time, I glance at her, studying her expression, and it tugs on my heart. She's worried and grappling over us. I can see it. When it becomes almost pitch black, the demons haunting her are still visible on her face.

"This is as far as we go tonight," I tell her.

Nerves replace her worry. I'm not sure why I can read her so well, but I can. It's not something I've been able to do with other women unless I've known them for a long time. But everything seems escalated with Penelope—my attraction toward her, how I can see what she's feeling, and the growing insistence in my heart she's different. The need to take care of her, not just now but forever, is pulling at me. I've not felt it before. But it's there, and I can't ignore it.

She's worried about what's going to happen tonight between us.

I step in front of her and wrap my arms around her. "Hey."

She bites on her lip and slowly tilts her head up.

"The last thing I want is for you to feel like this."

"I'm fine."

"No, you aren't."

She sighs.

"All we can do is move forward. Every step we take toward Honduras is a step closer to finding Millie."

"Honduras?"

"Yes. Sorry, we didn't discuss where we are going. My buddy from the Marines, Tinker, lives in Omoa. He can get us passports."

"Where are we going after Omoa?"

I tuck a lock of her red hair behind her ear then drag my finger down her neck.

Her chest heaves up, filling with air. Heat fills in her green eyes, and her face flushes slightly.

Everything about her is gorgeous.

She's still nervous about being with me.

She hasn't told me no or stop.

"We'll assess the situation and figure out our next move when we get there." I can't help it. I tug her closer, dip down, and kiss her.

She freezes.

"I still haven't heard no or stop from you." I palm her head and kiss her again. "But this also only works if you kiss me back." My other hand drops to her ass, and I squeeze it. I put my lips on hers again. This time, she responds by gliding her fingers into my hair. I pull her into me as close as possible.

Unlike the urgent way I usually kiss her, I take my time, waiting until she parts her lips before I slide my tongue in her mouth.

When her body finally relaxes, I say against her lips, "That's better. I missed you."

Her lips twitch. "I've been next to you for hours."

"No. You were in worry land." I slip my hand into her shorts, cup her butt cheek, and stroke it with my thumb.

She furrows her eyebrows, and a line forms between them.