Page 82 of Dangerous Rhythm

Many of their kisses were fueled by passion and need, but this one was just soft strokes of lips against each other. It sent slow, burning tingles under her skin.

Lina brushed her hand over the soft fuzz of what was left of his thick tresses. She’d longed to run her fingers through them many times years ago every time he’d played his guitar quietly in a corner somewhere.

“I’m sorry I butchered your beautiful hair.” She placed her forehead against his. “It hurt me to buzz it off.”

“It’ll grow back.”

“You don’t know how many times I wanted to pull you by the hair on that first tour when we met,” she said.

Curtis chuckled. “From frustration?”

“Yes.” She smiled. “And from lust. I imagined you doing many wicked things to me.”

He pulled back so he could see her face. “No way. That first year, you barely looked at me. And if you did, the look on your face was more of disdain than lust.”

“Oh, I disdained lusting for you,” Lina honestly told him. “I thought myself better than your groupies. Better judgment, better control. I did not want to want you. I didn’t want to want any man. I didn’t have the right to feel for any man.”

“Lina,” Curtis said her name, understanding her thought. “You punished yourself too harshly.”

“And you’re not?” she said. “You still feel guilty for taking your family from their homes.”

“I do,” he agreed. His face turned serious. “That’s something I need to talk to you about. I’ve been thinking about this for days.”

The change of the vibe made Lina study Curtis closer. “What is it?”

Curtis looked out at the now darkened sky. “I want to go home.”

Lina sighed. “I know, Curtis. But—”

“I can’t keep running. I’m done fearing what the Stilettos might do to me.” He looked at her. “I want to start a new life with you, and we can’t do that until we face this problem head-on.”

Lina understood where Curtis was coming from, and she wished it was that simple. “The Stilettos are not the type of problem you can easily face, Curtis. The police need to—”

“Do you have faith the police will get the Stilettos off my back soon?”

The direct look in his eyes asked for no sugarcoating.

“No,” she said. “Marcus didn’t have favorable news on that front.”

“You talked to Marcus?” Curtis frowned. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I wanted to come to you with good news, and I had none. I’ve been thinking of ways to get you and your family home,” Lina said, regret in her voice. “I know this is hard—”

“No. Being here with you, meeting your family, has not been a hardship at all, Lina.” Curtis laughed, though with little humor. “I’m not complaining about that. I just don’t want us to keep looking over our shoulders.

“I saw how you always watch the crowd while we were out today. While I was enthralled by the goods in the market, you kept vigilant, making sure I was safe.” Curtis cupped her facein his hand. “I don’t want that for you, Lina. I don’t want you always having to protect me.”

Curtis watched the smile bloom on Lina’s face. She covered his hand on her face with hers and kissed the inside of his wrist.

“I don’t think you have any choice, Curtis,” she said. “I’ll always watch over you.”

His heart was awash with the warmth of her words. Lina might not have said the L word just yet, but he felt it just fine.

“I feel like that should be my line.” Curtis grinned.

“Your masculinity isn’t so fragile that you don’t feel right having little, tiny me protecting you, do you?”

“First—and I say this in the most flattering sense possible—you are not tiny. You’re a freaking sexy Amazon warrior,” Curtis pointed out. “Second, I never have a problem with you protecting me, except I also want to take care of you and protect you from anything that might hurt you.”

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