“Then you should.” There was no disappointment in his voice that she wanted to sleep, no judgment.
She eyed him, taking in the way the muscles in his upper arms and chest stood out with him leaning his weight back on his hands. He looked sexy and strong and even a little dangerous sitting there not four feet away. Too far away, she thought, sliding closer. Liam watched her, unmoving as she came closer, his eyes still hidden by his shades but she could feel his gaze riveted to her.
She paused a foot from him, suddenly wanting to erase the distance between them. Maybe she wasn’t ready to jump back into a serious relationship with him, but she needed to touch him and feel his arms around her, even for just a little while. “Only if I can use you as a pillow. And a blanket,” she added, tugging his hoodie tighter around her. She’d missed him so damn much.
He sat up immediately, his posture alert. “I’d love to be your pillow, but especially your blanket,” he murmured, lifting one heavy arm in invitation.
There was no way she would refuse it.
Liam bit back a groan when Honor snuggled up beside him and curled against his side with her head resting on his chest. He lay back against the blanket and closed his eyes, the relief rushing through him so intense it made his throat tighten in gratitude.
Burying his nose in her hair, he inhaled her clean, fruity scent. She sighed and cuddled closer, her hand resting over his heart, which was beating hard against his ribs. He wrapped both arms around her and gathered her close, savoring the feel of her, the warmth of her body along his mixing with the heat of the setting sun and the gentle splash of the waves against the rocky shore.
So far everything had gone better than he’d ever hoped. She’d blown him away with her willingness to forgive him and move on, and now that she’d reached out to him like this all he could think about was having her back in his life on a permanent basis again. He’d meant every word he’d said to her today. If she took him back he’d bust his ass making sure she never felt neglected or taken for granted by him.
Her breathing slowed and deepened, her body growing lax as she fell asleep in his arms. It was the most humbling gift she could have given him, her trust after all he’d put her through.
She jerked awake when his cell phone started buzzing about ten minutes later. The ring tone told him it was someone from work calling. Cursing under his breath, he rolled slightly, still keeping one arm around her as he grabbed the phone and answered. Honor sat up but he still didn’t let her go, listening to his commander’s voice telling him to come in to base for a briefing.
Ending the call, Liam put the phone down and sighed. “Gotta head in to base,” he said apologetically.
Honor was frowning in concern. “Everything okay?”
He nodded. “Not sure what it’s about, but it’s probably to do with the training tomorrow.” Either that or the security situation tomorrow just got real. His gut said the latter. He wouldn’t say anything to her unless he had hard evidence though.
Honor got to her knees and reached for a container of fruit. “I’ll help you clean up.”
Much as he didn’t want his time alone with her to end, he didn’t have a choice. They packed everything up and he got the 407 ready for the flight back. He touched down and shut off the engine just as the sun sank behind the western trees lining the small terminal, casting a deep golden light over everything. It gilded Honor’s hair and face, made her eyes glow as she smiled up at him. She was so beautiful she took his breath away.
“That was the best date I’ve ever been on,” she told him over the sound of the slowing engine.
“Yeah, I had a good time too.” By far the best part had been holding her on the beach. He wished they were still there right now.
Before he could say anything else or decide whether to reach for her or not, Honor popped her door open and slid out. The drive back to her place was quiet, but not tense. It felt right being with her like this, comfortable and familiar. They fit, just like he’d always known they would. And if he was reading things right, she was leaning towards moving forward with him.
Don’t push, he reminded himself as he turned into her townhouse complex. Last thing he wanted was to spook her now when he was so close to gaining her trust.
In her driveway he turned off the truck, intending to help her out and walk her to her door. He was cutting it close time-wise right now for the briefing so he couldn’t stay anyway. But when he started to unbuckle his seatbelt, she stopped him by placing her hand over his. Glancing up, the tension slid out of him when he saw a soft smile on her face.
“It’s okay, I don’t need you to walk me in.” She slid her hand back and he had to stop himself from grabbing it. Her smile widened. “I had a really good time today. If you were to ask me out on a second date, chances are good I’d say yes.”
He returned the smile. “As soon as I’m back, it’s on.”
Her eyes flared with longing at his words and an answering bolt of heat lanced through him. Oh yeah, things were definitely looking up for him. “Can’t wait.” Leaning toward him, she placed her hand on the side of his face.
Liam froze and forced himself to stay still as she leaned in and put her mouth on his. The moment their lips touched he slid a hand into her hair, his fingers flexing restlessly, his body coming alive under that simple kiss. Her lips were full and soft and oh so sensual against his. He kissed her slowly, softly, letting her lead this time. She pulled back way too soon, leaving him achy and edgy. “See you soon,” she whispered.
Not trusting his voice, Liam only nodded. She slipped out of the truck and he watched her walk to the door where she paused to give him a sultry, mysterious smile before waving and disappearing inside.
“Oh God, please let this training exercise be over with fast,” he muttered to himself as he started the engine. He’d gone too long without her already. He wasn’t sure he could handle even one more day apart.
This time he wanted it all, including his ring back on her finger and for Honor to take his name. They belonged together. He wanted the whole world to know she was his.
Chapter Eighteen
In a dim, underground room beneath a professional building in Peshawar, Safir pushed aside the plate containing his half-eaten dinner. He was too amped up to eat or sleep.
Footsteps on the concrete stairs had him tensing. He drew his pistol and aimed it toward the bottom of the staircase, heart thudding.
“It’s just me,” Qasim called out.
Safir kept his gun where it was, waiting until he could verify that his friend was alone and not under duress of any sort. Sliding the pistol back into its holster, he scanned Qasim, seeing a radio in his hand. Alarm punched through him. “Did you turn it off before coming into the building? Did you take the battery out of your cell phone?” He couldn’t help the urgency in his voice.
“Yes and yes,” Qasim answered calmly as he stopped at the bottom of the stairs. He took in the dim, dingy space before settling his gaze on Safir. He frowned when he saw the half-full plate next to him. “You’ve barely eaten or slept for the past three days.”
Safir waved his concern away. “Don’t lecture me.”
“Are you worried someone will try to poison you?” Qasim asked, a hint of sarcasm in his tone.
The thought had crossed his mind but he wasn’t about to admit it because he knew Qasim and all the others thought he was slowly losing it. Since the drone strikes he’d become increasingly mistrustful and he’d heard that the men whispered he was becoming paranoid like Rahim had been. He felt it happening too and didn’t know how to stop it. Whenever he tried to sleep he always jerked awake at the sound of a deafening explosion and the smell of burning flesh in his nostrils. Whatever it took to remain safe and undetected, he’d do it. At this point he was more concerned with his own safety than anything else.