Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 84085 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84085 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
“Say it out loud,” Will pressed, clearly enunciating each word.
“I’m worried about your safety,” Charlie spit out. “I’m worried about you getting shot. I’m worried there aren’t enough of us to keep you safe. I’m worried that even after we’re done in Argentina, all I’m going to do is bring danger and violence into your life. I’m worried that you’re going to get tired of all the blood and bullets and danger. You’ll get tired and leave—”
Will grabbed Charlie’s face with both hands and pulled him into a long, deep kiss. Within seconds, the panic that had started to spiral out of control in his chest was dissolving and he was relaxing into his wonderful man.
After too little time, Will pulled back enough to lightly nibble on Charlie’s lower lip. “Do you think I’m not worried about you getting shot or blown up?”
“I know, but I’ve been trained for this.”
“Doesn’t mean it can’t happen. Look at Ed and West. They’re professionals, and they still got hurt.” Will’s voice was surprisingly calm and sweet despite the topic. “I don’t like the idea of you getting hurt, but I also know that you’re doing an amazing thing for a dying man—something no one else can do. I also know that this kind of insane shit makes you happy. I want you happy, dearest.”
That one endearment threatened to liquify Charlie’s brain. It wasn’t fair. He’d been called all manner of strange and clichéd endearments over the years by his other lovers, but Will was the only one to ever whisper that word to him. Those two syllables falling from those perfect lips made him stupid. He’d agree to anything Will said, and his lover knew it.
Charlie could feel his expression soften as he stared at Will. “It will be an adjustment. I just got you back. I’m not willing to do anything that would cause me to lose you again.”
“We’ll take things slow,” Will reassured him.
“That reminds me. You were slated to finish up your time in Argentina about now anyway. What were you planning to do after this? Did you have another gig lined up?” He was only too happy to change the subject. He didn’t want to think about losing Will to violence or his own stupidity. Let him just wallow in this happy moment a little while longer.
The laughter in Will’s eyes showed that he knew exactly what Charlie was doing, but he let him. He settled his head on Charlie’s shoulder and shrugged. “I didn’t have anything lined up or specifically planned. I figured I would just head to the US and visit with my family for a bit while I looked for a new job. It’s been almost a year since I was last there.”
“You don’t sound too excited about that idea.”
Will made a noise that lacked all enthusiasm. “I’m not. Just tired of the guilt.”
“So, if I were to kidnap you and take you off to some island where no one could find us, you wouldn’t have a problem with it?”
Will chuckled and turned into Charlie, sliding his arms around his waist. “I would not have a problem with that at all. In fact, I—”
Charlie stiffened and held up one hand, halting Will’s words at the sound of a car pulling into the driveway of the house. There should be only one person outside their immediate group who knew how to find them, but they couldn’t be too careful.
“Go in the house,” Charlie murmured. He pulled free of Will as he jumped to his feet. He grabbed the handgun resting in the holster snuggled against the small of his back. He automatically chambered a round and started toward the side of the house to check to see who had arrived.
Charlie was next to the building when he realized Will was following him instead of going inside as he’d instructed. He glared over his shoulder at the doctor, but Will returned the nearly snarling expression.
“It’s just Soren, right?” Will countered.
“Possibly not,” Charlie grumbled. He continued to the front, not wanting to argue about it now. At least the others were likely to have heard the car, and Kairo would be checking it out as well. No matter what, he and Will were going to have a very long discussion about following orders for his safety and the safety of the entire team.
As he reached the front of the house, he spotted a dark-navy sedan he didn’t recognize. However, the man standing next to the open driver’s side door with a killer tan was well-known to him.
“Sorry to disturb your vacation,” Charlie called out as he lowered his gun to his side.
Soren’s head whipped around, and a wide grin spread across his face, replacing the look of worry. “I’m hoping you’ll make it worth our while.” Soren then followed the direction of Charlie’s narrowed gaze and sighed heavily. “Put the gun away, Angel.”