Page 76 of Afraid to Hope

“We did,” Connor said. “We were coming in for beers.”

Zach stared his cousin down. “But we decided against it.”

A waitress materialized next to the table, asking if anyone wanted anything else to eat.

“I’ll take some baklava please,” Natasha said. “Bane?”

“Nothing for me, thanks. Connor? Zach?”

“We’re going to leave you two to your evening,” Zach said.

They said their goodbyes and left.

Bane asked the waitress to take a picture of Natasha and him before they left. “I can’t have this camera with me and not use it, right?” he said quietly when she shot him a questioning look. “Say cheese.” He grinned at Natasha and pulled her next to him, then smiled for the camera. The waitress took a few photos and handed the camera back to Bane. He scanned through the pictures in the display screen with Natasha, then gazed deeply into her eyes. The couple in the photos looked genuinely happy, as if they truly belonged together.

“Winner takes all tonight, sweetheart.”

His deep Indiana drawl and not-too-subtle promise made her body hum. “I’m all in.” She smiled.

Natasha and Bane headed toward their hotel, passing by the quiet vendor stalls lining the sidewalk in front of the restaurant.

“We’ll visit thesoukand other shops tomorrow,” she said and followed up with the nightly phone call to Emmet.

“We have a fish on the hook. ART has fielded several phone calls. Stay alert.”

“That’s good news. I’ll let Bane know.”

“Talk with you tomorrow.”

Bane frowned when his phone vibrated. “Emmet.”

“Brilliant.” Emmet huffed. “Apparently Natasha relayed my message.”

“I crashed without charging it.”

“I see,” Emmet said, his tone conveying otherwise. “There was no charger in your vehicle?”

“Natasha’s. We were streaming music through her phone. My portable was in my bag. It won’t happen again,” he said and meant it. It was a mistake, one that could have cost them. “I don’t need to be chastised by you. We’ll talk tomorrow. Night.”

Beware of the ghost.

Natasha eased out of Bane’s arms and slid on his tee, which hit her midthigh. She opened the doors that led to a lovely balcony and stepped out. It was late. She yawned and stretched, exposing more of her skin to the cool night, then wrapped her arms about her middle and considered their surreal predicament as she gazed at the diamonds sparkling in the deep indigo sky; they had successfully engaged the American. In the distance, the back half of the Jeep was just visible, softly illuminated by an overhead light in the private parking lot.

Natasha pivoted. Bane had spread out on his back, taking up most of their bed, slumbering away, his Glock loaded and on the nightstand. Her SIG was under her pillow. She stared at this bigger-than-life man she had only known for days, this man her soul had known forever.

Natasha traced the Fatima on her wrist. Bane had kissed it earlier, then drawn it into his mouth tenderly, his glowing eyes watching her as he pumped deeply into her. She had cried out, her body quaking and shattering deliciously.

Only after he emptied himself into her did Bane stop nibbling. “Soul to soul,” he had whispered, panting, and then kissed her tattoo again. She had nestled into him, sated for now, their pounding hearts returning to normal. Bane had kissed at the juncture of where her neck met her shoulder, his hand splaying her belly, making Natasha feel cherished and protected. Safe.

“You’re my heaven, beauty,” he had breathed in her ear.

Natasha had swallowed her surprise and blinked moist eyes, realizing Bane was her heaven as well and that she had fallen in love with him. She pressed her lips to the Fatima on her wrist and prayed silently.“Let no sadness come to my heart. Let no trouble come to my arms. Let no conflict come to my eyes. Let my soul be filled with the blessing of joy and peace.”

Natasha closed the balcony doors behind her and secured them against entry. She pulled Bane’s tee off and slid under the sheet, naked again, trying not to disturb him.

But Bane clearly sensed Natasha and turned on his side, reaching out and hooking her around her hips, drawing her against him, spooning her. He buried his face in her hair and inhaled, then breathed out. “I love you, Nat.”

I love you too.Natasha’s heart smiled and her soul filled. She was asleep in minutes.

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