Page 96 of Relentless

“There’s a loose rock in the stone wall behind me.”

“Can you reach the rock without turning around?”

She shook her head.

“Which rock?”

“The one that has natural markings in the shape of a tepee. Pull the rock out straight and reach into the small opening.”

Liam studied the wall behind her and spotted the rock. “I see it.” He slid his phone away and knelt in front of her. “How sore is your lip, Piper?”

“Not sore enough to deter me from sharing a kiss with you. It’s good cover, after all.”

He laughed and pulled her close to his chest. “Kiss me, sweetheart.”

Piper wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her lips to his. Her kiss was gentle and sweet, filled with the tenderness of her heart, and made him fall further in love with her. He was the most blessed man on the planet to have this woman in his life.

Dragging his attention back to the matter at hand, he let Piper take control of the kiss while he reached for the rock. Liam worked it loose and removed it. With his arms wrapped around Piper’s waist, he used her body for cover and shifted the rock to his left hand.

He tilted her head to a different angle to see the interior of the opening. A white envelope or package protruded from the back of the crevice.

Liam pulled the package free. He lifted his mouth enough to whisper, “I have the package. It’s small enough that I’ll slide it into your front pocket.”

Piper inched closer to him. “Go ahead.” She initiated another kiss, this one hotter and deeper.

When she flinched, Liam eased back to alleviate the pressure on her injury. He maneuvered his hand between their bodies and slipped the package into Piper’s pocket. “Keep kissing me while I replace the rock.”

Her lips curved. “Such a hardship,” she teased and dived back in for another kiss.

Liam called on years of discipline drilled into him by the Marines and Fortress to concentrate enough to position the rock in the same place. Once he’d finished, he took a minute to fully concentrate on Piper.

Liam broke the kiss and shifted his weight to his haunches. Piper’s swollen lips, heavy-lidded eyes, and flushed cheeks made him smile. “Let’s get out of here.” The sooner he had Piper in a safe place, the better. Liam’s gut told him that trouble was coming for both of them before long. He hoped they were ready.

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