Mine to Keep (NOLA Knights #3) - Rhenna Morgan Page 0,59

head. “You are right. Clarity is important. We will deal with that. Now.”

He stepped away, leaving an emotional gully between them.

Her heart practically swan-dived into it, disappointment, hurt and more than a little anger swirling in her belly. Hard to justify the latter, though. After all, she’d been the one to lay the boundary. It wasn’t fair to be pissed at a guy who actually listened—even if a part of her hated how easily he’d agreed.

“Are there any other locations we should search?” he asked, the epitome of a respectful businessman.

“No. If we didn’t find anything in his room, there’s nothing to find.”

“Then is there anything you need before we go?”

Her pride would be nice to have back. Maybe a rewind button so she didn’t have to live with the memory of how greedily she’d clung to him. She shook her head instead. “I’m good.”

A small smile played on his lips, a knowingness in his eyes she couldn’t quite figure out how to process. “No, vozlyublennaya. You are not good. But you will be. I will see to it.”

Chapter Thirteen

His brother was right. Roman had fallen victim to assumptions. Had drawn conclusions based on external evidence alone and surmised a lack of interest on Bonnie’s part. That the connection he’d forged with her the night she’d curled tightly beside him had been nothing more than a temporary human need for comfort. Why she’d acted indifferent since then, he couldn’t say. Perhaps Kir had been right about that as well and she simply didn’t know how to make her interest known. Perhaps it was outright fear of rejection or assumptions on her own part as to how their family operated.

But she wasn’t indifferent. Far from it. The kiss they’d shared and the way she’d fought to keep him close after they’d been interrupted had irrefutably proven it. She hadn’t just responded to his touch and his kiss. She’d ignited for him. Unfurled the way a roaring fire licked hungrily against the sky.

He wanted more of it. Wanted to feel those questing hands of hers on his skin and explore her curves for days.

He exited the highway and turned onto St. Charles, his home and the chance to be alone with her once more—free of distractions and surrounded by comfort—beating at his patience.

Now that he thought about it, it was before the kiss that her pretense had fallen. The moment she’d turned from her father’s closet and found herself toe-to-toe with him. It’d taken a second—all of a swift, indrawn breath for the platonic facade to shatter. She’d trembled against him. Had refused to meet his stare until he’d forced the issue.

And fuck if he’d ever forget the impact when he saw her eyes. Wide. Her pupils dilated and the green around them deep as the towering spruce trees from his homeland. He doubted she even realized how naturally her lips had parted for him.

But he’d taken the chance. Had thrown caution to the wind in a most uncustomary way and reveled in her taste. In her moans and the soft press of her breasts against him.

Every second had been worth it. And as soon as the garage door was down and the security system armed, he had every intention of indulging in much, much more.

In the passenger seat, Bonnie sat silent. Not once on the drive home had she tried to engage in conversation or deflect whatever emotions held her almost immovable with her typical snarky remarks. He’d confused her with his words before they’d left her father’s house. Accepted that she’d likely interpreted them to mean he would not engage again in any physical contact. Whether it made him a mercenary of the cruelest nature or not, he planned to use her confusion—her faulty conclusions and her natural inclination to expect the worst-case scenario—to his advantage. If she thought he’d accepted distance, cornering her in his room where he could make the truth unequivocally known would be that much easier.

She was his.

His to provide for. His to protect.

His to keep.

The second he’d kissed her he’d known it. Felt it on the most primitive level, all the whispered clues given by his instinctual self from the day he’d met her instantly roaring with certainty.

He punched the garage door remote and pulled into the drive. He’d barely put the gearshift in park when her hand curled around the door’s latch and jerked it upward. “I’m beat. Gonna call it night.” She slid out of the seat like the hounds of hell were