Page 60 of Vaquero
She could only nod and mumble, “Ah huh.”
He turned back into an efficient operator then, swiftly lifting her into a sitting position as he gathered their gear. Meg found herself once more cocooned between his thighs, her back to his very rigid front. This man wanted her and she wanted him. She would’ve helped pack what was left of the ammo and weaponry if his cock hadn’t pressed hard and temptingly lethal against the extreme small of her back. The way his body moved confidently around hers was a heady thrill. She wanted to lean back into him, just absorb him into her soul. Never let him out of her sight.
But Julio was a man of his word. He finished packing before she came to her senses. “I can carry you,” he said when she hadn’t made a move.
That snapped her out of her daydream. “Umm, no. I’m a little slow, but I’m, umm capable. Let’s not keep our fearless leader waiting.”
It took her a minute to get in the best position to climb down. Julio held onto her elbow until she’d backed off the branch and caught her footing on the next branch down. By then, he’d shouldered all the gear, but for once, Meg didn’t protest. She couldn’t deny that her left side had grown weaker during this marathon day. The last thing she needed was to pass out again and have to be carried fireman style across any of these guys’ shoulders. Charlie’d love that.
Hell, no.
When she was close enough to ground level, she jumped the rest of the way and stuck a three-point landing just to prove her point. Okay, so she wobbled a titch on impact, and that three-point turned into four. But she’d done it, by hell, and she’d done it on her own.
Lifting to her feet, she shot Charlie her best evil-eye. The gloves came off. “You’re an ass. So what if I passed out? I’ve been on my feet for—” She honestly couldn’t remember how many days she’d gone without sleep. “A long damned time! And my ass is not big.”
“Figures you’d argue about the size of your butt instead of what’s most important,” he shot back at her, grinning like a jerk. There was a definite twinkle in his eye when Julio landed behind her. Charlie gave Julio an appraising once over. “You coming with us, Juarez, or do you still haveworkto finish here?” Innuendo laced his question.
Meg turned on Julio then. In the frenetic pace of getting here in time to save his life, then fighting those bad guys who wanted the ICBMs, she’d lost track of precisely who he worked for and why he’d come to Brazil. Like Charlie had said, it surely wasn’t for her. Julio belonged to a United States Senator. He was Sullivan’s man. Not hers. Of course, he was leaving. Oz was dead. The warheads were safe. Why would Julio hang around?
Without breaking eye contact with her, he took a deep breath and told Charlie, “One job ends, another begins. When will you make land?”
“The carrier? Not for another month or two. Captain’s on maneuvers now that Venezuela’s falling apart. But Hotrod can fly anywhere you need to go. Just say the word,” he jerked his thumb over his shoulder like a hitchhiker, “and you’re outta here.”
Dazed, Meg took a step toward Julio even as her heart sank. Oh, crap. He needed to report to his boss. He might even have to do that in person. He was leaving. Of course. He had to. It took all her willpower not to run into his arms and kiss him. Tell him she cared. That she’d be lost without him. That she didn’t want him to leave. Not now when they were just beginning to know each other.
But she was not a whiny, sniveling woman who cried when she didn’t get her way. She’d seen firsthand the difference between a wife or girlfriend who truly loved her man and those shallow, selfish bimbos who lied, cheated, and destroyed their men’s morale soon after they deployed. Too many Dear John letters had left solid, confident warriors shattered when they’d needed their loved ones’ support the most. She refused to be like those airheaded women.
Trying her darnedest to keep her trepidation from showing, she faced Julio head-on. If he had to leave, then so be it. She’d be faithful to him no matter how long his next job took. Or the next. She would wait, and she’d keep him supplied with care packages and letters, texts, or whatever he needed while he was gone. Meg wanted to say those things out loud, so he’d know what to expect. But did he seriously want to spend time with a banged-up, hairless, gimpy woman?
His gaze never strayed. What was he waiting for? More sarcasm from Charlie?
Meg ran her tongue over her bottom lip. Despite the moist, tropical heat, her lips were always dry. Lifting a finger, she scratched the length of her nose. Finally, she summoned enough saliva to actually make her throat work. “I need to get back to my kids,” she said, giving him a way out.
Deliberately and slowly, his head rotated from side to side. “No, Meg. Your kids are in good hands, or you wouldn’t have left them. You need downtime. R and R. You’re notWonder Woman.”
No, what I need is you.
Charlie snorted. “Gawd, I don’t have time for this shit. Let’s roll, people.”
Julio stretched his arm to her, her gear bag dangling off his fingers. “Think you can carry this now?”
She nodded, taking hold of the strap, but he didn’t let go. Instead, he used it to tug her into his comfort zone, right where she ached to be. Yet she held back from nestling into the steel traps of his arms. He might not welcome displays of public affection. It would break her heart if he pushed her away.
“I can’t promise you forever, Meg,” he murmured under his breath, his sharp eyes on Charlie’s, Hotrod’s, and Hazelton’s backs as they began the hike to the helo. “But I’d like to explore what’s happening between us. That is, if you feel the same way I do.”
Her head bobbed. “I do. Yes. B-b-but don’t you have to check in or something? Won’t you have to leave?” Darn! She couldn’t stop stuttering!
“Yes, I need to speak with Senator Sullivan as soon as possible.” Julio released the bag, nodding for her to follow the others. He fell into step at her side. “But it’s customary for operators to take time off after extensive operations, especially prolonged engagements. I’ll contact Sullivan as soon as we’re aboard. I’m sure he’ll understand. The problem then will be privacy.”
That sounded like he meant to stay with her. Meg hip-checked Julio, she was so relieved. But he didn’t budge like she’d expected. When she bounced off that manly hip, she nearly tripped over her feet. Julio caught her before she biffed it. Man, this guy was solid, and she was falling for him.
“Leave that to me, Agent Juarez,” she replied, her voice rough, and her heart climbing back up into her throat. “I know a guy.”
Julio cocked his head at her, his dark eyes smoldering. He was one scrumptious, capable, delectable warrior, walking with her, not with the guys up ahead. Not even trying to keep up with Charlie or Hotrod. Julio had purposefully hung back to walk with her.
The gravel pit with its cacophony of still roaring flames, pops, and soaring whistles, along with those hellish smells, was behind them. Hotrod was ahead, leading the way with Hazelton and Charlie on his six. The Blackhawk would soon come into view. Meg hurried as fast as she could, needing to get back on the helo and aboard ship before she bowled Julio over and had her way with him.
“Will I have to kill him?” he asked as they walked, the slightest smile curling his lower lip. “That guy you know?”
“Oh, my gosh, no. Not Lucas, I mean Corpsman Giacomo. He’s watching over Dom. Just wait until you see that little boy. He’s remembered how to smile, and he’s being treated, and he’s in good hands, and…” And she was babbling. Embarrassed, she finished with, “But you need to rest, too. If you’re like me, you can’t remember the last time you slept. Right?”
A shadow passed behind his eyes. “True, but I have a feeling sleep will be welcome this time.”
She wasn’t sure what that meant, but the fact that he meant to stay with her, even for a little while, sent crazy little sparks wiggling up her spine into her bare scalp. Goosebumps prickled her shoulders. Meg simply... Could. Not. Wait!
