Page 54 of Silk Shadow

"I'm fine, Robert. Don't worry. Please tell Emily I'm okay."

"But where are you?"

"I—I'm not sure. Mexico, I think."

"Jesus Christ, what are you doing there?"

"The fishing trawler brought me here. But Viper and Phoenix rescued me."

"Viper? The bodyguard?" She heard the incredulousness in his voice, along with more than a touch of irritation.

"Yes. I just wanted to let you know I'm safe. I'll call you in the morning."

"Wait! Izzy, where are you now?"

"I'm tired, Rob. I have to go, but I'll call you back in a couple of hours. Don't forget to tell Emily I'm okay." And she cut him off.

"You didn't tell him where you were?" Viper held her hostage with his eyes, probing.

She shook her head. "No way, I didn't want him sending a SWAT team after me. Robert always goes a bit overboard when it comes to me." She smiled softly. "I'm safe here with you and Phoenix. We'll have plenty of time to answer questions once we're back home."

He didn't immediately respond, just looked at her thoughtfully. She was too tired to try to decipher his thoughts.

"Let's get some sleep," she said.

He lay down next to her. Heat radiated off him, along with a clean, masculine scent that stirred her senses.

He switched off the light, plunging the room into darkness. The heavy drapes blocked out the encroaching dawn.

"Viper?" she whispered.

"Yes." He didn't move.

"Will you hold me?"

Silence.

"Please," she pleaded. "Hold me like you did on the boat."

Without waiting for him to reply, she shuffled over and rested her head on his chest. His robe had fallen open and a smattering of chest hair tickled her cheek.

He felt so good.

She wrapped her arm over his stomach, rock-solid beneath the robe, and snuggled up to him. After a long moment, he adjusted his arm and wrapped it around her.

She sighed. This was perfect. Just what she needed.

Within seconds, she'd fallen asleep.

CHAPTER 23

Viper held Izzy as she slept and tried to relax, but it was downright impossible. Her damp hair tickled his chest, soft and golden. She smelled wonderful, fresh and clean, and he wanted so much to kiss her.

She was snuggled into him the way a girlfriend might, her arm loosely draped over his stomach, her leg over his. It was perfect.

It was torture.

He'd rather face a night of waterboarding than endure this.

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