Page 9 of The Hero’s Bride (Unbreakable SEALs #2)

She mulled over the information, coming back to the first thing mentioned.

A fiancé visa. If Mason thought she’d be upset by his offer to sponsor her, she couldn’t imagine how he felt.

He was essentially tying himself to a woman he didn’t know who might as well have trouble stamped on her forehead.

Her throat was suddenly dry. How could she ask that of Mason or accept his generosity?

“Thing is, Thalia,” Sully began talking and she glanced over at him. She’d almost forgotten he was in the room. “After ninety days if there’s no progress on the case or an alternative hasn’t been worked out, a wedding will need to take place.”

She turned her gaze away from Sully to search Mason’s face. “Are these the lengths you go to for any mission?”

“This mission isn’t official, so we don’t have the backing of the United States Navy. That means we have to get creative with our solutions.” Mason’s entire focus was on her, and she did her best not to squirm under his laser-like gaze.

A trickle of blood landed on her tongue, and she realized she’d been biting her bottom lip.

If only she and Mason could have this conversation alone, she’d be much more comfortable asking him what was on his mind.

How he felt about the entire situation. It wasn’t that she didn’t trust or like Sully, but if Mason was offering to take this burden on his shoulders, he was the one she needed to speak with.

“You probably have a lot of questions.” Mason’s deep voice dropped an octave, as though he spoke the words for her alone.

She nodded. “Maybe…” Thalia glanced between Sully and Mason again and absently licked her bottom lip. “We could talk for a few minutes.”

If Sully was offended, he did well concealing it. Mason stood and held his hand out to her. “Sure thing.”

She placed her palm in his and it was hard not to notice how his warm, rough skin engulfed her.

Actually, there were many things she’d noticed about him, like how the camouflage tactical pants stretched over heavily muscled thighs.

Or how his shirt covered his broad shoulders and chest. Mason turned at the first door, leading her over the threshold and into the room she’d be taking for the night.

Mason hesitated. “Is it okay if I close the door?”

“I trust you,” she murmured. Light hit his eyes, and his chest expanded with a long intake of breath.

His body had certainly made her take notice, but it was his face that captured her attention the most. A fascinating contrast between hard and soft from his square jaw covered in auburn stubble, straight nose, and sharp cheeks to eyes that reflected kindness when they were aimed at her.

Mason closed the door and crossed the space, sitting beside her at the end of the bed. The mattress dipped with his weight, and the air in the room seemed to thin. She hadn’t spent much time around men but couldn’t recall a time she’d felt breathless due to the proximity of one.

“I know this is a lot to ask,” Mason began but her incredulous snort made him pause.

“A lot to ask? Of me? You’re offering to tie your name to a woman you don’t know who has dangerous men following. That’s a heavy burden to take on. I can’t ask you to do this for me.” She placed one hand on the mattress and angled her body toward him.

“A minute ago, you told me you trusted me.” The deep rumble of his voice seemed to reverberate through her body, sending tingles spiraling through her chest. “I can’t fully explain it, but I trust you, too.

” He mirrored her body, angling to face her more fully.

“The moment I saw your picture, I knew it was my Thalia who was in danger, and I nearly crawled out of my skin waiting to get to you.”

My Thalia. Those words made warmth hit her chest. The closest thing to an endearment she’d ever received. Being so close to him, processing his words, all with his shower-fresh scent mingling in the air, made it difficult to fill her lungs.

He lifted his hand slowly and smoothed a strand of hair away from her face.

“I might not know the small details of your life or the things you like and dislike, but I do know the most vital things. You’re willing to help others without a thought to your own self-preservation.

You’re brave and have a nurturing spirit.

So, when you say you’re a heavy burden, nothing could be further from the truth.

I’m worried about your feelings because I don’t want you to associate me with all the people in your life who have tried to control you or make decisions on your behalf. That’s not what I’m trying to do here.”

She pinned her gaze on him, unsure of how to respond.

It wasn’t like they’d have a real relationship, and while she was honest that she trusted him, there was a small voice inside her screaming that his true colors might show once he had her under his thumb.

She licked her dry lips. “I need to know what you’d expect from our arrangement.

” Her voice came out in a croak, and she hated the fear that wrapped around her words.

“Jude will probably need to provide some pictures of us together and a statement from each of us about our intent to marry.”

Nerves bubbled inside her, but she refused to let her gaze drop to the floor when she asked the next question on her mind. “Will we? Marry, I mean, if the ninety days goes by?”

His eyes softened. “I will marry you, Thalia.” It was no declaration of love, but the earnest expression on his face had her swallowing past the thickness in her throat.

“If you decide you can’t go through with it, we’ll find another way.

If we get married and you apply for citizenship and decide you want a divorce…

” A strange look passed through his gaze, but it was gone so quickly, she thought she must’ve imagined it. “I’ll give you that, too.”

She hesitated, releasing a slow breath. “And what would you expect me to give in return?”

His expression went hard. “Nothing you don’t give willingly.

This is important, Thalia. What do I expect?

Your honesty and I hope your friendship.

I don’t know what the next few months will look like, but I do know I don’t want anything physical to happen between us because that’s what is expected of a couple, or you think that’s what I expect.

I would never force myself on a woman. When we’re engaged though, real or not, I will be committed to you. Faithful.”

“Mason,” she whispered, touched by how honorable he was.

“I wouldn’t want to hold you back from a woman you might actually want to spend your life with.

I appreciate your generosity more than you know.

If this is the only way, you have my word that I’ll release you from the arrangement as soon as possible.

If you change your mind, I’d never hold it against you.

” She could envision the type of woman Mason would fall for.

Someone who carried themselves with confidence.

Who knew exactly what they wanted and had the courage to go after it.

She was not that woman. At times, she’d been made to feel barely human.

It was no wonder that Mason’s suggestion had struck her so hard.

She had nothing to offer and no means to take care of herself except her ever-present drive to survive.

Mason opened his mouth to speak, then closed it again, sealing off whatever he’d been about to say. It seemed he might be regretting his decision already. After a moment, Mason picked up both of her hands and leveled his gaze over their clasped fingers. “We’ll figure it all out. Together.”