He pulled her close and held her; placing tender kisses against her face, her neck, anywhere his lips found skin.
Enjoying the way her body convulsed around his fingers, he didn’t withdraw his hand. He was heavy and throbbing with his need for her. Yet the realization that he’d disclosed a part of himself he’d rather have kept hidden was a wedge between them.
“Are you okay, Lux?” Josh asked, angry with himself that he’d revealed his jealousy at her being with other men. He knew his feelings were hypocritical but he couldn’t help how he felt.
She didn’t answer and he knew she wouldn’t when he felt the wetness of her tears against his neck. “It’s going to be alright. I promise everything will be alright,” Josh assured squeezing her even tighter. She was where she belonged, with him, back in his arms; and this was where she would stay.
Chapter 8
“I hope you know where you’re going,” Josh grumbled for the umpteenth time. Since their encounter in the bough of the tree, Lux had yet to look at him. If he spoke to her, she either respond with her back to him or fixed her eyes, as best as he could tell, on his nose.
It troubled him that she refused to tell him anything other than she knew a place where they would be safe. The men who’d been following them were incapacitated, at least for now, but Josh knew their time was limited.
He had left them far enough apart to ensure they’d have difficulty releasing themselves from the intricate binds of long, green fronds he’d secured them with. That he’d also kicked their asses before knocking them unconscious also helped. However, they were professionals and that meant they were probably resourceful.
Lux now wore his shirt which at least offered some protection from the chill in the early morning air. But he was most concerned for the grimace of pain due to her insubstantial footwear. She’d refused his offer to carry her to ease her way with a finality he didn’t dispute.
Gritting his teeth in annoyance, Josh knew he couldn’t allow her stubbornness to continue. She was hurting and he wouldn’t stand for it. “Luxandria!”
Looking over her shoulder at him calling her name; for the first time she met his eyes.
“We’re here,” she said quietly and pointed towards a house.
Preoccupied with her pain, Josh wrenched his eyes from the stubborn woman and looked around. He didn’t see anything special. Still surrounded by trees, on closer inspection Josh detected an intensity of the smell of the briny ocean.
She faltered as though now that they were within touching distance of their final destination, her energy deserted her. Her legs gave out. Before her body touched the ground, Josh scooped her into his arms.
Her lack of protest told him how tired she was, having used the last bit of her energy to lead them to this place.
“Why won’t you let me in? All I want to do is help you. Don’t you know I would do anything for you?” He only felt free to utter the words because the moment his arms were around her, she fell asleep. Josh wanted to believe her willingness to succumb to slumber so quickly, was because she knew he would keep her safe.
Striding forward, he saw the house she’d indicated before her lapse into sleep. He also saw other houses in the distance, but they were set far enough apart for their occupants to be of no concern to him. His gaze roamed the area in rapid movements until he committed his surroundings to memory.
With his precious cargo in his arms, Josh turned the door handle. Pleased the house was unlocked so he wouldn’t have to disturb her; he walked inside, even as he wondered about security.
The house wasn’t large. Once inside he saw tiled floors and whitewashed walls that he knew would give relief from the heat of the Caribbean sun. Josh took in everything as he moved further into the house.
Moving to the first door he encountered, he went inside. It was a bedroom. Lowering Lux onto the bed, he straightened and spent some time making her comfortable.
When he finished, he stood back and watched as she turned onto her stomach still fast asleep. Wanting nothing more than to curl up beside her, but he knew that wasn’t an option. Turning away, he made his way out of the house and down to the beach. Once there he pulled out his cell and looked at the screen, it was almost dead. He just hoped he had enough juice left to make one more call.
****
Something woke her. Unsure what is was, Lux turned over onto her back and waited. Her stomach growled and she had her answer. That and the fact that she needed to use the bathroom in a hurry. She immediately knew where she was, but it took her a few moments to reason why. At the sight of her carnival costume, everything came rushing back including the fact that Josh was somewhere around.