my finger over his chest, slowly outlining his eye of the triangle tattoo. The eye is the most realistic-looking tattoo I've ever seen. "Your entire life is dangerous. Can you honestly tell me it doesn't make the blood in your veins pump?"
He clenches his jaw and looks over my head.
I drag my finger to his Celtic shield knot tattoo. "Your tattoos are all symbols. This one means protection. Your eye of the triangle means intelligence, vigilance, and enlightenment." I slide to his Honor tattoo with the butterfly underneath it, sprawled across his chest. "And here we have honor amid transformation or change."
"How do you know what my tattoos mean?"
I shrug. "I studied the meanings. They fascinate me."
"You did?"
"Yes."
"But you don't have one?"
"No. I never knew what would represent me. But everything you stand for is clear." I glide back to the eye in the triangle and press on the teardrop under it. "This means you've killed someone. You don't put it on your face, but you still display it on your body."
He firmly holds my chin and tilts my head up. "Emilia, you are not a killer. I don't want you to be one now or ever. I would never want you to be in a position you had to think about it, either."
"I don't want to kill. But my point is, you thrive in danger. You wouldn't be living if you didn't have it. So am I wrong to feel something besides fear when it's present?"
He lowers his voice. "There are other ways to experience life, ma belle."
"Do you want me to be afraid all the time?"
"No."
"It's one or the other, Malin. There's no in-between."
He closes his eyes and breathes deeply a few times.
I pull his head down. "Do you not want me if I'm no longer scared? Hmm?"
He opens his eyes. "Of course not."
"Isn't a woman who's brave sexier than one who's a coward?"
"You've never been a coward."
I take the back of my fingers and caress his cheek. "I was. I don't want to be one anymore. Can you understand my need to change?"
He sighs. "Yes. But who you are, deep down, promise me you won't throw her away."
My heart skips a beat. "Promise." I kiss him, happy to be wrapped in his arms.
He pulls back and tucks a lock of my hair behind my ear. "If Kalim is looking for us, we're going to have to do our best to avoid him."
I glance across the river. The water is rushing quickly, and I'm not a good swimmer. "How deep do you think it is?"
"Probably not over my head."
My butterflies anxiously flutter. You can do this. It's just a stream.
"Ma belle, can you swim?"
"I haven't a lot. I typically doggie paddle."
His lips twitch.
I elbow him. "It's not funny."
"What if you put the backpack on your back, and I give you a piggyback ride?"
"The current looks strong."
He nods. "It is. But we should be okay. It isn't very wide."
"What is it? Thirty feet?"
"If that."
I take a deep breath and smile at him. "Okay, I'm ready."
He chuckles. "Let me get everything in the backpack."
"Won't it all get wet?"
"The bag is waterproof."
"Well, isn't that convenient," I tease.
"Yep." He packs our clothes and the blanket and zips it up. "Ready?"
"Yeah. I'm kind of digging the naked movement we have going on."
He checks me out quickly. "So this is your first adventure being naked in the outdoors?"
"Yep."
He steps closer to me. "I'm a little sad we're going to have to put clothes on when we cross the river."
I shrug. "I vote to run around the jungle all day naked with my sexy, dirty old man."
"Hey!" He slaps my ass playfully. "I'm the only one who gets to call me an old man."
I laugh softly.
He holds out the bag to put over my shoulders. "Time to go, sunshine."
I slide my arms through. Malin tightens the straps and clasps it around my waist.
I turn. "How do I look?"
French words roll out of his delicious mouth.
I lick my lips and smirk. "I'll take that as I look good?"
"You're a sexy little kitten in camo."
Heat rises through my cheeks. I take my hair, twirl it into one piece, and tie it into a bun.
He pats my ass cheek. "I think you'd look hot in a lot of things."
I bite my smile. "If there's anything else you want me to wear, just let me know."
He brushes his lips on my forehead. "Come on, my little vixen."
We step into the cool water. I stay behind Malin and put my