Page 160 of Enigma: The Complete Collection
“Was that Henry’s father?”The suspected mob boss of New York City.
Isaac hears the accusation in my tone I didn’t mean to express. “Don’t ask questions you don’t want the answer to, Isabelle. I don’t want to lie to you—”
“Then don’t. Tell the truth.”
Over my interrogation, he pulls away from me so swiftly, air blasts my face. When he strides to a vehicle housed under a white cover in a wooden garage attached to the cabin, I quickly follow after him.
“Who were you talking to?”
The low-hanging sun catches the dust filtering in the air, making it look like fireworks exploding in the darkening sky when he yanks off the car cover. “It was Henry GottleSenior.”
The distress that's been plaguing my stomach the two weeks returns stronger than ever. “Why were you talking to him?”
Anger flashes across Isaac's face. “Stop interrogating me, Isabelle. You’re not on the job.”
“I’m not asking for my job. I’m trying to protect you—”
“You don’t need to protect me! It’s not your job to protect me!”
“Yes, it is!” My angry voice reverberates through the dense forest. “It’s my job to defend you as honorably as you’ll defend me.” I step closer to him until our heaving chests battle for space. “You said you protect the people you love. It’s no different for me. I love you, Isaac, so I’ll protect you with everything I have until I take my last breath—”
Before I can comprehend what is happening, a set of delicious lips seal over mine. He attacks my mouth so savagely, my feet lift from the ground. They curl around his waist when he pins to his car by his crotch. He kisses me senseless, holding nothing back until I’m struggling to remember my name, much less what we were arguing about.
After inching back, he rests his forehead against mine. The uniqueness of his eyes hits me full force from his closeness. They’re so beautiful, yet trouble. “Trust me, Isabelle.” His low tone indicates his statement is more a plea than a demand. “I’ll tell you everything when I can, not when I’m forced.”
When I nod, the vibe immediately changes from my submissive response. I’m not meaning to be a brainless bimbo. I’m just not up for more fighting. Furthermore, he asked me to trust him. I can’t do that and interrogate him at the same time. I also can’t think straight when he kisses me as he did.
“You do realize, one day, I’ll be strong enough to fight my attraction to you.”
“No, you won’t.” His brow curls high as he shakes his head all cocky like. “Just like me hearing you say those three little words. It will forever take my breath away. It will never get old.”
I think my heart just burst.
After cupping his jaw, I kiss him gently, relaying how much his words impacted me. My heart swells even more when he allows me to guide the pace of our kiss. That’s a huge step for a man as dominant as him
By the time I pull back, I'm breathless and giddy, emotionally high from the raw passion displayed in our kiss. “I love you.”
Smiling, Isaac gathers my hands in his jawline, kisses each palm, then places them over his heart.
Now I'm certain my heart has burst.
We stand across from each other in silence, no words needed to express our strange kinship. I never believed in soul mates, but as I stand across from Isaac now, I’ve never believed in something more. He completes me, he’s my other half, and as I said earlier, I’ll do anything to keep him safe.
A loud clap of thunder interrupts our love-filled stare-down. It came from the clouds above our heads that have made the sky so dark—it seems a lot later than it is. When my eyes float over the classic- looking convertible Isaac pinned me to earlier, I shake like a leaf. It reminds me of a car James Bond would drive, and it’s sexy with its top off, but I’m petrified of storms.
I dart my eyes back to Isaac. “Can we put the top on before we leave?”
He smirks a delicious smile before shaking his head. “You can’t drive a classic with the top on.”
His eyes hold the same glimmer Hugo’s did when he told me all about hisbaby.
“Is this yourbaby?”
He nods again, his smile picking up. “A 1963 Aston Martin DB5.” His voice is higher than usual since his fondness for his car is filtering through his tone.
When he runs his hand along the curved front fender, jealousy makes itself known with my gut. I have no reason to be jealous when he murmurs, “She rides menearlyas good as you do.” He snickers at my reaction, loving the quick clench of my thighs. “Come on. Let me take you for a ride.” He opens the passenger door before dropping his eyes to mine. “Then perhaps you can take me for one.”
Wind whips up my hair when Isaac maneuvers his car through the winding roads at the foothills of the mountain. For the past forty minutes, his concentration remained focused on the road, but I’ve caught the occasional glance he directed my way. He’s loving me sitting shotgun in his baby as much as I’m loving the chance to witness all sides of his personality. He’s in his element, and the sexiest I’ve ever seen him.
