Page 48 of Deadly Betrayal
“Kaden!”
The shout from a distinctly familiar voicecame from the left. Jake was moving toward them. Engaged inconversation with McAlister, Nic had his back turned.
Kaden put a hand on Azita’s lower back toguide her. As soon as he touched her, she gasped. He pulled quicklyaway and apologized again. Sweet Jesus. He couldn’t keep his damnhands off her for two minutes, could he? “My friends are overthere.”
Azita’s cheeks were flushed a sweet pink; hisown had to be fire-engine red. Fuck, he should have worn the damnmakeup. And he’d better remember that last night had been anaberration. Azita’s body had been overrun with adrenaline from herinjury and lack of sleep. What she’d done, the things she’d said—hehad to forget all of it. She wasn’t his, and never would be.
They crossed the mess hall and joined Jake.Kaden gave the man a hug, along with a hearty pat on the back.“Glad to see you’re in one piece.”
“McAlister’s taking good care of us.” Jakeangled his head and examined Kaden’s hair while he scratched hisown shaven cheeks. “Hmm… you look good as a brunette. Still can’tpull off a beard though.”
Kaden cuffed him lightly on the side of thehead. “Fuck you, kid.” With his darker coloring, Jake could easilygrow a thick beard in days, and he’d always teased Kaden about hissparse growth, going so far as to call it peach fuzz. He’d onlysaid it once. Kid learned fast when there was a fist in hisface.
“Jake, this is Doctor Azita Seraj,” Kadensaid, recalling how she’d enjoyed being addressed that way.“Khanom, this is Jake Reynard, my business partner andfellow bodyguard.”
Jake started to hold out his hand, thenquickly dropped it and nodded his head instead. “It’s a pleasure tofinally meet you, Doctor.”
She smiled, meeting his gaze in a mannerunlike many of her fellow countrywomen. “Thank you for helpingKaden come here. But did you not have a third companion?”
“Oh yeah.” Jake reached out and tapped Nic onthe shoulder. “The guy who made it all possible.”
Nic excused himself to the man he’d beenchatting with before standing up and turning around. When he did,Kaden heard Azita’s gasp loud and clear. Her eyes went so round,the irises looked like blue suns in a white sky. “Oh Allah,” shesaid, her voice unnaturally high and breathless. “You… you are NicLamoureux.”
Nic cut her his world-famous Hollywood grin.“At your service,khanom.”
A squeal escaped Azita’s lips despite thehand clasped over her mouth. An honest-to-Godsqueal.Bastard had been in the country only four days and already he’dlearned the right words to charm the women.
Kaden rolled his eyes. “Here we goagain.”
Azita continued to stare in wonderment at theexquisite man standing before her. She was acting like aschoolgirl, but she didn’t care. Nic Lamoureux stood several inchesshorter than Kaden, and his shoulders weren’t nearly as broad, yeteverything about him was beautifully proportioned, down to hisnarrow hips and long legs. His face was a work of art: dancing blueeyes, straight nose, perfect white teeth, square jaw, all framed byshort dark hair. He looked even better in person than on film. Andyet…
She stole a glance at Kaden, who eyed herwith pained patience. As near-perfect as Nic was, looking at himdidn’t make her stomach flip, her palms sweat, and her breastsharden until they felt so full she longed for relief. Only one manhad that effect on her, and right now, that man was definitelyamused. Did he think she was attracted to the movie star? Sillyman. Nic might play a soldier in movies, but Kaden was the realthing. Kaden was the only man brave enough and strong enough tohelp her, and that made him more beautiful than the movie star withthe glorious smile.
Kaden arched a brow.
Mortified at being caught daydreaming, Azitatightened her headscarf under her chin before speaking. “It is apleasure to meet you too, Mr. Lamoureux. I have enjoyed your filmsvery much.”
His rich voice flowed over her like a warmbreeze. “I hadn’t realized they were available here, and call meNic.”
“The black market thrives in Afghanistan…Nic. DVDs of your films are a hot commodity.”
“Good to know.” He pulled out a chair.“Please, have a seat.”
Her breath quickening, she scanned theseating arrangements. How should she handle this? A woman did notsit next to a man who was not family. Granted, she’d obliteratedthat rule last night when she’d slept curled in Kaden’s arms.Warmth heated her belly, and she stole another glance at herAmerican soldier. He was watching her reaction, ready tointervene.
With a small nod, she took the proffered seatbetween Kaden and Nic. The other man, Jake, sat across from themalong with another who, by his uniform, was currently in themilitary, although he didn’t speak German like the others here.Kaden introduced him as Sergeant McAlister, the team leader ofNic’s military escort.
As the conversation picked up around her,Kaden lowered his head and whispered, “Everything okay?”
A shiver skittered up her neck as his hotbreath seared her. While Nic’s voice was like a warm breeze,Kaden’s was like a sandstorm that tore through her and left onlydevastation in its wake. Since his sudden appearance at the clinicthree days ago, she’d been an emotional mess, and last night haddone nothing to remedy that. Hands in her lap, she pretended toarrange the hem of her tunic while taking the opportunity to closeher eyes and breathe in deeply.
Big mistake!
Kaden’s masculine scent filled her nose,setting off a string of mini-explosions in her bloodstream.
Under cover of the table, his hand landed onher thigh. Its weight steadied her, reminded her that he washere—her protector. After taking several long in-and-out breaths,she met his gaze. “I will be fine. Thank you.”
“Hungry? I can get you something.” Everyoneseemed to be eating sausages, which were likely pork-based. As sheopened her mouth to politely refuse his offer, he added, “I’m surethey have chicken or beef.”
