Page 27

A fter defeating Torres and announcing to everyone that Knox and I are in love, the gang wants to celebrate.

We go to a restaurant overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, eat far too much food, drink even more wine and spend hours talking and laughing.

Ryland and Saint join us and bring along their wives, Harper and Mia.

It’s the first time Addie has met her brother’s wife and they immediately hit it off.

Harper is pregnant and Addie is thrilled she’s going to be an aunt.

When I mention Torres fell out of the helo with the emerald, Addie smirks.

“No, he didn’t have the emerald,” she replies with a mysterious smile.

“But I saw it,” I insist.

“We lured him in with the real emerald, then I swapped it for his fake one. Did you really think I’d let him get away with the real one?”

“My sister is a master magician when it comes to sleight of hand tricks,” Ryland confirms.

“You’re pretty good with your hands, too,” Harper adds with a naughty smile, and we all laugh.

“What can I say? Mom taught me well.” Addie flips her long, blonde hair over a shoulder. Then she reaches into her bag and pulls out the huge, green stone. “Time to return this beauty to its rightful owner.”

Ryland arches a surprised brow. “You’re not keeping it?”

“No, brother dear, it’s not mine to keep.” Ryland nods, and I can tell he likes her answer. In fact, he looks damn proud of her. “We will be returning it to its rightful owner, the Princess.”

“Princess?” Linc echoes then lets out a snort of disbelief. “What princess?”

“The one who needs a bodyguard. Of course, I immediately suggested you, Linc.”

“Hell to the no,” he grits out, sitting up straighter.

“With Detective Vaughn sniffing around, it can’t hurt to add a few legit jobs to the books,” Addie says, and Linc merely grunts.

“Seems odd that a princess wouldn’t have her own guards,” Brighton states.

“I don’t have all the details,” Addie explains, “but, we’ll find out when we return the gem.”

“What’s the problem, Linc?” Ryder asks, voice teasing. “Big brute like you would be perfect for the job.”

“Because I don’t babysit spoiled rotten brats,” Linc states, stubbornly crossing his muscled arms.

“I highly suggest you give it a try,” Saint murmurs, kissing Mia’s temple.

“Nik!” She swats his tattooed arm, pretending to be offended. “Are you inferring I’m spoiled?”

“Nope. I would never suggest such a thing.” He gives his wife a slow, sexy grin and she visibly melts.

As I look over the people gathered, new friends and old, I realize my family has expanded. Yes, some are missing, but my circle is growing, and that brings me a sense of happiness and peace I feel to the depths of my heart and soul.

Knox doesn’t leave my side and rarely releases my hand. When I speak, he gives me his full attention, listening to each word that comes out of my mouth as if it’s the most important thing he’s ever heard. He makes me feel…adored.

And that is something I’ve never felt before.

At some point, Knox and I wander onto the outdoor patio overlooking the dark sea. The smell of jasmine fills the salty air and pink bougainvillea grows over the railing. Leaning back against Knox’s firm chest, I look up at the big, white moon and smile like only a woman in love does.

“I’d steal it for you,” he murmurs at my ear, lightly flicking his tongue along its curve.

“The moon?”

“The moon, the sun, the stars. Whatever you want.”

His arms wrap around my waist and he nuzzles my neck as his fingers splay across my stomach. I can feel his arousal pressing into my lower back.

“I just want you.”

No statement has ever been more true. Knox makes me happy, content and so incredibly hopeful. I cover his hands with mine and sigh. For the first time, I know what it means to feel utterly complete.

“Are you ready to leave?” he whispers, voice husky and full of need.

“Yes,” I tell him softly.

∞∞∞

“Yes!” I scream, grinding down, taking every single inch of Knox’s cock as deeply as possible.

I’ve never been so uninhibited before when it comes to sex, but he makes me feel free.

Like I can be my authentic self without fear of being judged.

Plus, he likes it when I’m loud and encourages me to be vocal.

His hips lift off the mattress, cock thrusting up, stretching me more than ever before, and my orgasm hits hard, blasting me off into the stratosphere. As I collapse forward, he arches up, growling through his release.

“Oh, my God.” For a long moment, I can’t move, can’t think. All I can do is sprawl onto his chest and pant as my inner muscles quake with little aftershocks.

“Holy shit,” he rasps, his fingers threading through my hair. “That was—”

“Otherworldly,” I finish, and he lets out a low chuckle.

When I’m finally able to lift my head, I look into his amazing sapphire eyes and curl my fingers into his shirt.

We didn’t even take the time to get fully undressed, just pulled jeans down and ripped underwear out of the way.

Our bodies came together fast and furious.

I’ve never felt such potent desire or been so consumed by need.

We’re still staying at The Man’s safehouse and will leave Spain tomorrow. I don’t think anyone is in a hurry, though. Torres is dead and Addie’s team has the emerald. And, I got my man. Life couldn’t be more sweet.

I glance over at my torn panties hooked on the corner of the nightstand and drop my face, burying it in his soft Henley. He tugs my hair, lifting my head, forcing me to look at him again.

“No more running, okay?” he murmurs.

“No more running,” I agree, lifting up and moving off him.

He presses a quick kiss to my shoulder and slips out of bed to dispose of the condom.

Meanwhile, I pull the sheet up over my lower half and sigh softly.

So many things are spinning through my mind and I’m starting to think about the hard questions.

Like how do we make this work when we live in different cities and—

“Hey,” he says, interrupting my doom-filled thoughts as he slides back into bed, “stop overthinking.”

“I can’t help it. It’s what I do.”

“Okay, you want something to think about, some new things to ponder? Well, how about this? I love you and you’re mine. End of story.”

I smile, his words a balm on my scarred heart. “Are you sure?” I ask playfully. “I can be hard to handle.”

“Bring it on,” he challenges. Our fingers lace and he turns my hand over, lightly tracing his thumb in small circles over my palm. Very quietly, he asks, “Who hurt you?”

I’ve never talked about my humiliating time with Shane before. Not to anyone. But I know I can trust Knox with all of my secrets.

“He was in my Top Gun class,” I say, allowing myself to completely open up for the first time. Surprisingly, it doesn’t hurt like it used to. “Shane Murdock, standout pilot, and total dick in every other way. I stupidly fell for him.”

“I hate him already,” Knox grumbles.

“He was my first and last real relationship, and it wasn’t a good experience.”

“Why not?”

I meet his curious blue gaze. “Because he wasn’t you.”

“Are you trying to butter me up for another orgasm?” he teases, but then quickly sobers, knowing I need his support. Needing him to be my anchor if I’m going to tell this story.

Releasing a soft breath, I let it all out. How I unwittingly fell for his charms, believing all of his pretty lies. And, how it all crashed and burned after I walked in on him in bed with another woman.

“He blamed me,” I say softly. “He said I was bad in bed, too high-strung and controlling. The truth is, he fooled me into thinking it was all my fault. That because of my lack of passion, he had to go elsewhere. And, the sad thing is, I believed him.”

“Oh, sweetheart,” Knox murmurs, squeezing my hand, “he was a first-class bastard and he knew exactly what he was doing. He gaslighted you. Because you, Hunter, are the most passionate woman I have ever known. Excuse my language, but whether you’re flying or fucking, I’m left in awe.

You do everything with such zest and enthusiasm. Don’t ever doubt yourself again.”

“Thank you for helping me open up again,” I whisper. “You’ve taught me there’s more than one way to soar, Knox.”

“I’m glad.” His voice is pleased, content, but his smile fades. “Now I understand your hesitation and why my charm scared you off. But, if we’re being honest, I wasn’t always like this.”

“Like what? A devastatingly handsome heartbreaker?” Even though I’m joking, he doesn’t crack a smile. “Tell me then. What did you used to be like?”

“I was a poor kid who wore clothes from Goodwill. Whose parents worked long, endless hours and relied on food stamps to feed their six kids. I shared a bedroom with five sisters until it was deemed inappropriate, and then I slept on the lumpy couch. I met Addie by sheer luck, and she and her mom Angel took me under their wing and taught me the art of the heist. I never looked back, never regretted any choice I’ve made… until now.”

“Why now?” I ask softly.

“Because being a thief requires checking your conscience at the door and, dammit, you remind me a good man doesn’t do that. He should possess kindness, loyalty, courage…and honesty. I promise I’m working on it.”

He just listed all the things I said impressed me the first time we snuck into Torres’ Marbella mansion. And now, knowing how he grew up, I can understand why he’s done certain things. How he wound up on this path.

A fierce love swells up within me. I can picture him as a little boy wearing ill-fitted clothes, a latch key kid who slept on the couch, and my heart nearly breaks.

“He also should take care of his woman.” I release his hand and run my fingers through his hair. “And you do an excellent job of that.”

I’m trying to lighten the conversation, but he’s so serious.

His gaze locks onto mine. “What do you see when you look at me?” he asks.

It’s the second time he’s asked me this question.

“I’ll always be straight with you,” I say carefully.