Page 10 of Savage Ruin
I gasp in disbelief. “Seriously? You want to watch a spy thriller? We’re practically living in one right now.” A picture from the condo flashes in my head. “Are you the one who has all those spy books in the condo?”
He shrugs defensively. “I like intrigue and action. Do you want to watch it or something else?”
I hold in the laugh threatening to burst out. One because laughing hurts right now and two because I don’t want to hurt his manly feelings. “Absolutely. Let’s see if we can pick up any good tips.”
He narrows his eyes, but presses play on the movie. He positions me along his side, so I can comfortably see the screen, but having his half-naked body so close to mine obliterates any thought of comfort.
Tense, I lie there barely breathing in and out for at least a half hour, feeling every hard line of his warm chest against me, but his eyes never waver from the screen. My body slowly relaxes, curling into his until a dreamless sleep claims me.
CHAPTER6
HENLEY
Mateo wakes me the next morning. I immediately glance to my right, but the only indication Thiago slept beside me is the masculine smell drifting up from the sheets. His pillowcase is even smooth.
Unable to lift my arms high, I settle for a basic shower, but the thought of going another day without washing my hair is driving me crazy. Walking slowly into the bedroom, I finger the ends of my dry and very dirty hair and eye the man in front of me. “Mateo, do you think you could help me wash my hair?” Silence greets me, and I frown. Looking up, I raise an eyebrow.
“Sorry, distracted. Seeing you half-dressed is becoming a favorite look for me,” he reveals, his voice husky. “Yes, I’ve got a plan which should work. If you lie on a lounger outside, I can wash your hair as it hangs off the back. Hopefully, it will be easier on you because you won’t have to hold yourself up or lean over a counter. But let’s get you dressed first.”
Such a small thing, but the fact he’s already thought of a plan to wash my hair makes me smile.
He grabs one of the t-shirts off the bed and helps me slip it on.
I look down. It’s a Green Day t-shirt. “Were you a big fan?”
When he looks puzzled, I point to the front of the shirt.
He smirks. “Actually, Grayson is the fan. I must have picked up one of his shirts.”
The mischievous gleam in his eye makes me nervous, but I refuse to ask. If he stole one of Grayson’s favorite shirts, he can pay the consequences. I’m not getting involved.
Instead of the intense desire I felt when Thiago undressed me last night, this morning’s session with Mateo is full of fun and flirty moments. Soft caresses, a peck on my shoulder, and a wink when we’re done.
Once we get outside, he helps me sit on the lounger, then slowly lowers it to an almost flat position. My head rests on the back edge and my hair hangs over. “Have you ever done this before?”
After gathering his supplies, he pours water over my hair to soak it. “Mmm, why don’t you relax and let me concentrate?” Warm palms smooth shampoo on to my hair first, then strong fingers slowly work it into the strands. When they start massaging my scalp, my eyes close, and I sigh.
For the next however long, the world zooms out of focus, and I luxuriate in the feeling of complete bliss encompassing my entire body. Only the occasional murmur from Mateo to turn my head one way or the other penetrates the semi-aware state I’ve embraced.
A shadow eclipses the sun, but before I can open my eyes, his lips find mine for a long, unhurried kiss. It’s sensual and yet, relaxed, stirring up the briefest of embers without fanning them into a flame. He pulls back and I open my eyes and lock onto his warm brown ones.
“Thank you. It was wonderful. It’s been a long time since I’ve fully relaxed.” My normally husky voice is deeper than usual.
“My pleasure. Let’s get you up into a sitting position,” he rasps. After raising the back of the chair, he gathers his supplies and takes them into the house.
A few minutes later, we’re sitting in the sun, letting my freshly washed hair dry, when I bring up my late-night discussion. “Thiago and I had a chat last night about finding the rest of the SEI traitors, but I need your help to execute it.” I explain the idea, then proceed to give him a list of items I’ll need. “If you can get a few additional clean laptops, the search will go a lot faster. Do you have anything here? If not, I can order some to be delivered tomorrow.”
It's as if I threw a switch. Mateo’s mood shifts from lighthearted to focused in a nanosecond, and for most people, it would probably feel abrupt, but I find comfort in the familiarity of it.
“I’ve got a couple here I use for testing. I can wipe and reset them pretty quickly.” He pauses. “And I also have your laptop. I grabbed it from the hotel room before the police could get there. I’ll get it for you, but you must promise to also rest, or Thiago will have my head.” He gives me a stern look.
“I promise. Nothing more strenuous than pecking at a few keys,” I retort but with a smile. It’s nice to have someone worried about me.
He raises an eyebrow in disbelief but finally leaves to get the laptops.
While he’s gone, I pick up my phone and contemplate interrupting Cruz’ mission to send him a text but decide a short one can’t hurt. “Thiago showed me the video from the warehouse. Thank you. I’ll sleep better knowing.”
“I’ve always got your back, even when I’m not around. Text if you need anything,” Cruz replies quickly, making me smile.
