“I’m sorry,” he blurted.
Olivia’s face filled with disappointment, the moment clearly over. Damn, he could relate.
“It’s okay,” she offered quickly. “It’s not your fault.”
Jake’s gaze fell over her. Even in the dark, he could tell that Olivia’s lips were red and swollen from their kiss. He gently caressed her plump bottom lip. “I shouldn’t have knocked you down so hard earlier when we were taking cover.”
Olivia’s brow creased and shook her head. He lowered his hand when she began speaking.
“No, it wasn’t you. I was already bruised. From before.” She broke eye contact as her voice trailed off.
It took Jake a moment to process her words before understanding hit with an unforgivable force. “Scarface?” he asked gruffly.
Olivia nodded.
Jake murmured a curse, but then clamped his jaw shut. He looked away, needing to get a grip on his emotions. Reaching to his side, he grabbed his pocket-sized LED flashlight from his bag.
When he felt as though he could speak without scaring the hell out of her, Jake said, “Show me.” He grimaced. Ok, so maybe he wasn’t as calm as he thought.
“It’s nothing, Jake.”
Olivia started to move away, but he held her still by pressing the palm of his other hand against her lower back. Jake was used to their battle of wills. He also knew how to win them.
“Show. Me.” The look he gave, coupled with his serious tone, allowed no room for argument.
Resigned, she raised the left side of the shirt. Jake thumbed the light on and moved his head around to get a better look.
He hissed a breath of air through his teeth when he saw the nasty bruise covering Olivia’s ribs. Jake had been given plenty just like it over the years, and knew exactly how she’d gotten hers.
He gently probed the tender flesh. She flinched, but his experience told him they were most likely just badly bruised and not broken. Still painful as hell, though. When he spoke again, Jake couldn’t hide his disgust.
“He kicked you?” Olivia closed her eyes and nodded. Jake felt sick. “Jesus, baby. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have—”
“It’s okay.” She cut him off as she scooted free of his embrace. This time, he let her go.
Not making eye contact, she spoke too quickly. “It was my fault. I shouldn’t have kissed you. Not even sure why I did. Adrenaline, probably. Don’t worry. It won’t happen again.”
Jake was surprised at how much the idea of never kissing her again hurt. He also hated the embarrassment she was clearly trying to hide. None of that mattered, though, because despite what Olivia just said, it would happen again. Just not right now.
“Not your fault,” he soothed. “But you’re right. It probably shouldn’t have happened. Not here.”
Olivia looked over at him briefly, the hurt in her eyes fleeting before nodding her head in agreement.
Fighting the urge to say to hell with it all and make that second kiss happen sooner, rather than later, Jake held his arm out for her again, “Come on. We both need to get some rest before tomorrow.” When she didn’t move, he added, “I promise I’ll behave.”
Jake knew the minute Olivia was asleep. Listening to her deep, even breaths, he tried to process everything. He still couldn’t believe he’d found her alive, let alone had her wrapped snugly in his arms.
And that kiss? What the hell had he been thinking, kissing her like that? He was supposed to be worrying about getting her out of the jungle alive, not making out with her like a horny teenager. But goddamn, the woman could kiss.
For far too long, Jake had wondered what it would be like to touch those soft, sweet lips to his. To feel his tongue slide between them. To taste her.
He’d tried to talk himself out of it, but then, Olivia had looked up at him, her eyes so full of sweetness and lust, and he’d lost all self-control. Until he’d squeezed her side. If not for that, Jake had no doubt things would have gone much further than a fabulous make-out session.
When he saw where that fucker Cetro had kicked her...God, just thinking about it made his blood boil. It also brought him back to his original question. What the hell had he been thinking?
When they got back to Texas, they’d figure out a way to have an actual relationship. He’d deal with the concerns surrounding his job, and do whatever it took to ensure Olivia was kept safe while he was away.
The world was a dangerous place. Jake knew better than anyone that life could turn on a dime. He refused to waste more time pretending he didn’t want more with her.
He ignored the twinge of guilt twisting in his gut as he thought of her brother. Knowing the way Mike used to be about his sister, Jake wouldn’t be surprised if the guy came back, just to kick his ass. That was fine with him. Olivia was worth it.
Leaning down, he kissed the top of her head again before resting his cheek against it as he’d done earlier. His smile faltered when that little voice gave him a good smack on the back of his head.
Who the fuck are you kidding? When Liv finds out what a lying, deceitful bastard you are, it will destroy her.
This time, Jake punched the invisible ass right back. He would find a way to work it all out. They were meant to be together. That was clearer now, more than ever before.
He’d been given a second chance to make Liv his, and was going to do whatever it took to make her see she belonged with him.
Chapter 10
A soft sound woke Jake a few short hours later, and it took him a moment before he realized the sound was coming from Olivia. He sat motionless as he waited for her to settle again. After a few seconds of silence, Jake had just started to relax when she moaned again.
It wasn’t just the sound that got his attention
