“Mmm?”
She gasped as he slid his tongue deep inside her body, sending a shiver over her. It was hard to think whenever he touched her, but this she couldn’t forget about. “I heard the League was stepping up their efforts to go after Sentella members, especially the High Command”—Kere was one of their five leaders—“and that the Caronese Grand Counsel has tripled the reward he’s offering for your capture in particular, and quadrupled the one for your death. He’s ruthlessly determined to end our Resistance and assassinate all of us in leadership roles. You are being extra careful, aren’t you?”
“Always.”
Good, because she knew she couldn’t live without him. The thought of his being hurt…
She choked on a sob.
“Hey,” he breathed, sliding up her body to cup her cheek. “Shh… no tears, Zarya.” He brushed his lips against her cheek to kiss away the tear that had fallen. “They’re not going to get me. I swear it to you. I’m not afraid of the Grand Counsel or anyone else.”
“I know. I’m being stupid. I’m so sorry.” The last thing she wanted was to taint or spoil what little time she had with him.
“Never apologize for loving me.”
She nodded as she struggled to stop her tears. But it was so hard. It seemed like everyone she’d ever loved had been violently ripped out of her life. Most of them right in front of her. “I’ve buried too many people I care about to lose you, too.” She’d worn their blood on her clothes and had watched as the life drained out of their bodies…
Her own brother had died in her arms…
“You won’t bury me, Z.”
Yeah, because his enemies, who were too numerous to count, would probably blow him into so many pieces there wouldn’t be enough left for a ceremony.
At times, she wished she could have fallen in love with some businessman or cook or anyone who didn’t live in their violent world.
But fate hadn’t been that kind to her.
She loved one of the three most wanted men in all the universe. The other two being his closest friends.
If one of them went down, it would most likely take all three. Don’t think about it. But it was so hard when all she could see was Kere lying dead on the ground.
“The League raised the bounty on your head, too.”
“It’s okay, Z. I knew the minute they posted it. They’re not going to get me, either. I promise.”
That was what her father had told her, over and over again. And where was he?
In his grave. Ruthlessly murdered by his own best friend.
Kere rolled over onto his back and pulled her on top of him. She savored the feel of his hard body under hers as he teased her lips with his. He was nothing but a solid wall of scarred muscle. Scars that reminded her that no matter how strong he seemed, he wasn’t invulnerable or invincible.
Terrified of losing him, Zarya breathed in his warm masculine scent. He always smelled delectable and that went a long way in soothing her fears and terror.
She dragged her fingers down his whiskered jaw. “You need a shave.”
“I thought you liked it when I let my whiskers grow.”
That was because he did things to her with those whiskers that always set her on fire.
Her smile died as she touched his back and found…
Was it a bandage?
“You’re wounded?” Pulling him to his side, she ran her hand over the coarse material and found where it was wet with fresh blood. The smell and feel of it was unmistakable and undeniable.
“It’s not bad. Just a flesh wound.”
Was he serious? It was an awfully large bandage for a mere flesh wound. “Shot?”
“Stabbed.”
“Oh my God!” She scrambled off his hips and forced him to roll over so that she could gently probe his wound with her fingers. “I wish I could see it.”
“Nothing but sutures to see.”
She gentled her probing so that she wouldn’t hurt him, but it bothered her that she had no real idea how big or deep it was. “Was it an assassin?”
“Yeah.”
“Where?”
“My back. Obviously.”
She rolled her eyes at his sarcasm. He could be so damned impossible at times. “No, goofball. Where were you when he struck?”
“Coming out of a restaurant. The crowd was thick and I know better than to get distracted. It was stupid and it won’t happen again.”
But it’d already happened. A few more inches and it would have punctured his lung and killed him. The mere thought of it made her light-headed and shaky. “Where’s the assassin now?”
“Hell’s gates most likely, though I guess there’s a slim chance he might be in paradise.”
She flicked her fingernail at his bandage. “You’re not funny.”
“Zarya, it’s all right.” He rolled back over and pulled her into his arms. “It’s why I wanted to see you. Why I’m here with you tonight when I’m supposed to be halfway across the universe. It made me start rethinking some things.”