Adair leaned into Bennett. “She’s a good mom.”
Leaping back when the bacon spat, Lana shoved her burnt fingertip in her mouth before shaking it off. “Crazy woman, that’s what she is. But, well, Skye’s pretty worth it, so we can go without her this time.” She glanced to Blayk and winked, “Besides, we’ve got this guy to take her place.”
Cringing, Blayk snagged a piece of undercooked bacon from the pan and wolfed it down. “Hell no. I mean, I’ll be happy to take down Calloway, but don’t ever imply I’m even close to a hunter.” He shivered in disgust.
Bodie came in behind Astrid, rubbing a hand over the back of his neck and grinning as he said, “Famous last words.”
They ate breakfast in peace, teasing and joking like today was going to be like any other. Although, Adair had to laugh, she supposed it was for them.
Keeping to the shadows with Adair while the others loaded up the boats, Blayk reappeared from the common area where he’d crashed on the sofa last night, carting the clanking bag he’d carted from Paris. “Bennett.”
“Yeah?” Bennett answered as he strolled into the common area after loading up the boats.
Blayk pulled a dented shield from the bag and passed it to him. Without a word, his gaze darkened as Bennett accepted it.
Strapping it onto his arm like it belonged there, Bennett’s movements were slow, hesitant, as he accepted it back. Cheeks heavy, the corner of his mouth quirked up in a curious smile. “I thought it had been lost in the fight.”
Blayk nodded. “Can’t say why I took it. Souvenir or something.” He cleared his throat and moved down the hall, keeping to the shadows.
A pit of worry brewing in her gut, Adair hollered to him, “Be careful, okay?”
Blayk saluted. “Back at you. Stay out of sight.” Taking a long inhale, he grabbed the door and sprinted out to his boat, immediately ducking out of the light.
She turned back to Bennett and watched while he tested out the shield and strapped his sword to his back. His gaze finally sweeping up to hers, he grinned. Hooking his free hand in her belt, he tugged her close and enfolded her into his arms, his shield blocking any imaginary foes that threatened behind her. Pressing his lips to hers, he lingered, savoring. Heat licking through her veins, she melted into him.
Releasing her, he rested his forehead against hers. “Not going to ask me to be careful?”
She snorted. “No.”
“What?” he teased, yanking her tighter against him.
“I would hate for you to have to lie to me,” she taunted.
Nipping at her lip, he grinned. “Never.”
Framing his face with her hands, she met his gaze, shared his smile, and kissed him again. “But I will ask you to please try to come back to me.”
“Always,” he said, deepening the kiss.
Ending it long before she was ready, he stepped back, flashed her a wink, then hopped in the boat with Blayk. Studying his movements, his swiftness, his strength, his absolute lack of fear, she watched him duck out of sight while Ryan fired up the engine and pulled away.
The rest of the team piled into the other boat, keeping a clear path for her. Moving swiftly through the light, she felt the golden burn singe her skin, goosebumps prickling in response. With a swift hop over the water, she landed in the boat and dove into the cabin, out of sight. In the distance, Bennett, Blayk and Ryan’s boat was already fading from sight, the penetrating sun blinding her from watching through the narrow window.
At the driver’s seat of her boat, Astrid stood with Bodie as they whispered private affection to each other. Envy tugged at Adair as she thought of how many times Bennett had looked at her with his rich chocolaty eyes, trailed his lips along her collarbone, or said the words he knew she’d never say in return, not worrying that he’d never hear them back. Vann rechecked their weapons, his focus unshakable. Lana leaned back into the seat and absorbed the moment, her hair whipping about in the wind.
***
“Think Calloway will wait for me to reach Tromos, or he will want to nip at my heels every step of the way?” Bennett asked as he peered through the porthole, while Ryan drove the boat through the rocky graveyard after hours of navigating the area, checking for spies.
The pristine white beach the customs agent had described came into view, exactly the location his father had pinpointed. Damn, this would be a great spot to take Adair, bring a picnic, make love on the warm sand. Just the two of them. In the moonlight, of course. Well, and if it weren’t the doorway to Tromos. And if Calloway weren’t lurking about somewhere.
Answering from his seat at the microscopic galley table, Blayk shrugged. “I’ve never known him to be patient, so he won’t stay in the shadows for long.” Pausing, he glared out the tinted window and said, “But he also will want to save his own hide, so he’ll keep his distance if there is any potential risk to life or limb.”
Bracing his gait as they pulled onto the beach, Bennett smirked. “Which is why he put you in charge of changing me.”
“It’s a dangerous business, and he’s far too chickenshit to change anyone himself. Not saying I didn’t mind the task. I mean, there’s an inherent thrill in the risk of it, but I got pretty good at it, thanks to his cowardice.”
“Pegged you as the sidekick, huh?”
