Page 23 of Hunted By the Cartel

Rowan bit his lip, his eyes flicking to the ground. "I know," he murmured. "It's just... we can't stay here forever. Eventually, they'll find us. I wished we could stay here so we had a good place to do what we want."

I knew he was right, but the thought of leaving this place, of putting Rowan in danger again, made my heart twist. We went through so much and I didn't want to put him at risk again.

I wanted to keep him safe, to protect him from the cartel and the dangers that lurked in the outside world. I knew the cartel was hunting us and wouldn't give up until they found us.

But I also knew that we couldn't stay hidden forever. We needed a plan, and I intended to come up with one. I was good at that, so I knew I was going to think of something.

"We'll figure something out," I said, my voice soft as I reached for his hand. "For now, let's just enjoy this moment of peace. We don't get much of that, after all."

Rowan nodded, his eyes downcast as he squeezed my hand. "I know," he whispered. "It's just hard not to worry. Plus, worrying is kind of like my obsession. I'm always worrying about something."

I understood his concern, and my protective instincts kicked into overdrive. I wanted to shield him from the world, to keep him safe from the dangers that awaited us.

But I also knew that we couldn't stay hidden forever. After all, staying in one place meant that the cartel would eventually find us.

We had to face the world eventually, and when we did, I would be by his side every step of the way. There was no other way it could be done.

"Come on," I said, a mischievous glint in my eye. "Let's go somewhere else. I know just the place."

Rowan's eyes widened, a hint of surprise flashing across his face. He didn't think I was going to think of a plan so soon.

"Where are we going?" He questioned, sounding curious.

I smirked, feeling a rush of anticipation at the thought of what was to come. "You'll see," I said, taking his hand and leading him deeper into the forest. "It's a surprise. You're going to love it."

As we ventured further into the woods, the trees towering above us, Rowan's eyes widened at the sight of a small cabin nestled among the trees. "Is this...?" He trailed off, his voice filled with wonder. I didn't need to answer his question. He already knew this was the place I was talking about.

I nodded, a sense of satisfaction washing over me. "It's my friend's place," I said, my voice soft. I had some good memories of this place. "He owes me a favor, and I intend to collect. I'm a debt collector, after all."

Rowan's cheeks flushed, a mischievous smile playing at the corners of his lips. He understood what I meant.

"Oh?" He asked, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "And what kind of favor are we talking about? Is it something I'm going to like?"

I smirked, my gaze raking over his form. I could never get tired of seeing him. It was addictive.

"You'll see," I murmured, my voice dropping to a husky whisper. He loved every time I did that. "But first, let's get comfortable. I know how much you want to do that."

Rowan's breath hitched, his eyes darkening with desire. I could already smell his arousal.

"As you wish," he whispered, his cheeks tinged with a hint of pink. He was burning on the inside, thinking about every single thing we were going to do.

We stepped into the cabin, the warm glow of the fireplace casting soft shadows on the walls. The space was cozy and inviting, and I knew it was the perfect place for what I had planned. I didn't even have to tell my friend I was going to come. We didn't have time to do that, anyway.

"Make yourself at home," I said, my eyes never leaving Rowan's face. "I'll be right back. I have something to do."

Rowan nodded, his eyes never leaving mine as I disappeared into the kitchen. Even though I wasn't far, he already missed me.

I could feel his gaze on me as I rummaged through the cabinets, searching for the supplies I needed. I loved the way he was watching me, his eyes taking in every part of me.

My heart pounded in my chest as I prepared, my body thrumming with anticipation. I was slightly anxious, just thinking about the next things we were going to do.

When I returned, Rowan was standing by the fireplace, his eyes shining with equal parts desire and apprehension. I knew he was nervous, but I intended to show him that there was nothing to fear. Once I was inside him, he would feel as though he was in heaven.

I set the supplies down on the table, my eyes never leaving Rowan's face. What would I be doing if I wasn't looking at him all the time? I didn't know how to begin to answer that question.

"Are you ready for this?" I asked, my voice low and husky. He shivered right after hearing my words.

Rowan nodded, his breath coming in short gasps. "Yes," he whispered, his eyes never leaving mine. "I trust you, Diego. There is nobody I trust more than you right now."

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