I awoke with a start as the plane jolted forward and we landed. Peeling my tongue from the roof of my mouth, I surveyed my surroundings. I stifled my yawn before frowning when I noticed the blanket that had been draped over my body to my shoulders.
I was cozy under the warm blanket and drowsy enough I almost didn’t notice the warmth under my cheek. That was until I realized the warmth had a steady heartbeat and an even breath. I jerked upright and sucked in a sharp breath. Embarrassment washed over me as I shoved the blanket off me as if it burned me.
“You looked cold.” Leo’s deep voice washed over me as my dream came to the forefront of my memory. I was definitely not cold now as heat flushed threw my entire body. I nearly moaned at the throbbing between my legs as I glanced over at my once lover.
He had that stupid half-grin on his face as he looked me over. Could he see how hard my nipples were from beneath my bra and tee? I nearly panted as he readjusted himself as if his pants were too tight.
Don’t fucking look, don’t fucking look, don’t you dare fucking look, I chanted in my head over and over again as I strained to keep eye contact and not look at the bulge I knew was just out of sight.
It was like my stupid eyes had a mind of their own when they glanced down. His hand was dangerously close to that bulging zipper. He caught my glance in that direction and his hand clenched down on the tightened denim. I sucked in a sharp breath as I diverted my eyes.
I forced myself to face forward as the plane slowed further and we approached our gate. I heard his chuckle as if he knew exactly the type of reaction he was having on me. Then the creak of the armrest between us as he leaned into my space.
“Sorry, I couldn’t stop it from the moment you laid your head on my shoulder. Then you started making all those moaning sounds and I almost exploded right here in my pants. Like a fucking teenager the first time they touch breasts. Almost scared the flight attendant.” His teasing voice flowed right over my ear, sending shivers down my spine.
The sound that left my throat was somewhere between an indignant screech and a choking cough. His chuckle as he receded into his seat made me violent.
“Oh,” I grumbled as I balled up the blanket still in my lap and chucked it in his face. “Shut up!” I hissed.
He let the blanket hit him in the face before throwing his head back and laughing. I could feel that deep laugh reverberate through me. So much that I had to bite my lower lip to keep from grinning.
What was wrong with me? I just had a sex dream about the last time Leo and I had been together. While snuggled up to him! Maybe it had been the smell of him that brought back all those memories. Or maybe it was just being so close to him in general.
“I’m sorry,” Leo howled as he held his stomach. Like I was the punchline to his own personal little joke.
I felt my face redden as he continued laughing. He hadn’t known the dream was about him. A wicked thought struck me and it was out of my mouth before I could think to reel it back in.
“No, I’m sorry. I should have tried to stop the dream about Liam from turning me on so much. I guess it was just fresh in my memory.” I shrugged as if I didn’t have a care in the world.
I should’ve left Liam out of it, but he just happened to be the only man I could think of. My list of love interests was sadly lacking.
Being with Leo those years ago had sexually awoken me. I hadn’t known sex could feel that good until him. The sad thing was, even though I had been shown this whole new way to enjoy someone else’s body, I hadn’t wanted to since that last time.
My mentioning of another man quieted his laughs quickly enough. I didn’t have to be looking at him to know he was staring at the side of my head with heat in his eyes. I risked a glance in his direction and I learned I wasn’t wrong. Although, there was something more than just heat in that gaze. There was also jealousy swirling in those creamy eyes.
His jaw clenched as he stared at me. When he leaned in toward me again I didn’t back down. We were almost nose to nose when he spoke. “Careful, Princess. You shouldn’t tease me like that if you don’t want to get reacquainted with my cock.” His breath brushed over my lips as he whispered the words.
I swallowed heavily as I held his gaze. I would not back down. He had been the one to fuck up, not me. I tsked as I pressed my breasts out a little further than necessary. I nearly smiled as I watched his gaze divert there.
“Pity, you already had your chance to keep me acquainted with your cock. But, you fucked that up. You don’t get a say in who I decide to spread my legs for anymore.” I tried to turn away from him at that but he gripped my neck too quickly for me to move.
He wrapped that tattooed hand around me and squeezed ever so slightly. My eyes nearly rolled back into my head as I saw the fire lit deep within his own. He brazenly licked my lower lip before speaking. My panties were officially toast as I felt the flood of arousal there.
“The things I plan on doing to that foul mouth of yours,” he rumbled against my lips as he spoke. I felt a whimper rise from within me as his hand started to lower to my breast when someone cleared their throat.
I jerked away but Leo still leaned toward me. He couldn’t even be bothered to look at the flight attendant. The skank from earlier scowled down at me with a crease between her perfect eyebrows.
“The captain announced first-class could now deboard. Do you need help with your carry-on … again?” she asked almost bitterly.
I opened my mouth to say something snarky about where she could shove my carry-on when Leo gripped my upper thigh with his big hand. My lips tightened but I didn’t look at him. Instead, I watched the woman’s gaze follow his hand, jealousy flaring in her eyes. I almost grinned at that.
“We have it handled. Thanks,” Leo said from beside me before unbuckling my belt. His fingers grazed against the part of me that was still throbbing as he did. My sharp inhale did not go unnoticed.
When the flight attendant gave a fast nod and walked off toward the economy seating I hissed and quickly stood. I grabbed my bag from the overhead bin and tried to bolt toward my freedom when Leo gripped my upper arm, forcing me to meet his hard gaze.
“You may not like the fact that I’m the one you’re here with, but you’re going to listen to me. We are now in a different country, a more dangerous one at that. You will listen to me at all times in regard to your safety. I don’t give a fuck how mad you are at me. Shit could go wrong at the drop of a hat and I need to know you will take my direction, for your own safety. You do not go off by yourself for any reason. Always wait for me, call me and I will come for you. I can’t have anything happen to you. Do you understand?” he finished with a calm voice that raked on my nerves.
I rolled my eyes, but rather than answer him, I gave him a flamboyant salute. I watched his jaw tick before I showed him my backside once again.
I didn’t fake myself into thinking he actually cared about me. He had been hired by my parents to find my brother. They had probably paid him a little extra to watch out for me as well. That’s all I was to him—a payday. All I had ever been to him.
****
I looked down at the little paper I’d scrawled the address hastily on. Looking back up at the run-down apartment building in front of Leo and me, I frowned. This was the place Tanner had last been tracked to.
We rented a car right out of the airport and drove here in silence. Leo navigated the clustered streets of Cartagena like he could do it in his sleep. I had never been to Columbia before so the drive had been enlightening, to say the least. It was like a completely different world.
Most of the homes we passed were little more than run-down shacks. The homeless littered the streets enough to rival the stray dogs. I couldn’t help but feel sad for these people.
“You’re sure this is the right place?” I asked quietly, not bothering to look away from the window.
Leo shuffled a few papers before pushing them back into the center console. When he didn’t answer immediately I risked a glance in his direction. He gripped one of the pistols he’d kept in his checked bag before slipping it into the holster under his shirt. He clicked the safety off the other gun and primed it to fire before he put it in the glove compartment. When his gaze met mine there was nothing of the playful lover I once knew. Now there was only a cold professional.
“My contact down here seems to think so. I’m going to go up and talk to whoever is in that apartment and find out when they last saw Tanner. Isabelle seems to think he hasn’t been here for a few days but we’ll see what this guy says,” he explained in a calculating way.
I assumed Isabelle was his contact here in Columbia. I tried to ignore the spike of resentment at the mention of the other woman’s name. I didn’t know this woman from Eve, but that didn’t stop that stupid bitterness from climbing up my throat and taking root.
It was ridiculous, this reaction I was having to Leo. I couldn’t understand the sudden need to mark my territory like an animal. He wasn’t mine to claim and he never had been. I needed to get over the silly notion that he’d been as celibate as I had these last three years. A guy like him had probably left a string of satisfied women in his wake everywhere he went.
Nodding, I gripped the door handle and started to open it. Leo immediately lunged for the door and slammed it back into place. I scowled at him. “What are you doing? Let’s go.” I gripped his wrist to pull him away from the door handle but he didn’t budge.
“You’re staying in the car,” was all he said before he locked my door.
“The hell if I am,” I seethed as I glared harder at him. He gave me a serious look before he spoke again.
“We don’t even know what we’ll find up there. Tanner more than likely isn’t even here. I’m just going to ask this guy a few questions and then we will head to the resort,” he offered by way of explanation. I continued to stare at him, my grip still firm on his wrist.
He sighed. “Look, I know what Tanner means to you, Emy. We’re going to find him and I promise when we do, you will come with me. But right now, I’m not going to be able to do my job if I’m worried about you. Just … stay in the car this time. Please.” His eyes softened for the first time since the airport and so did a little of my resolve.
I released his wrist and slumped back into my seat. He seemed to drop some of the tension in his shoulders as well.
“Fine,” I said, “but if you’re gone for more than ten minutes, I’m coming up there,” I threatened.
His half-smile caused me to look away from him. Every time I saw it, he broke the cast around my heart a little more.
“I wouldn’t expect anything less, Princess.” He chuckled before he opened his door. “Stay put and use it if you need to,” he said as he pointed to the glove compartment. He shut the door behind him and walked toward the building that had seen better days.
I locked the doors before my gaze followed his receding form as he entered the building. I watched people in my surroundings eye me warily. They seemed just as leery of me as I was of them. I knew Leo left that gun for me, but I prayed I wouldn’t have to use it. Just as much as I prayed that Tanner was here and he was okay.