“La verdad. I always want the truth, no matter how ugly it may be.”
Craving his heat, I scooted back the slightest bit, moving closer to him. Somehow knowing what I wanted, he wrapped his free arm around my belly, careful not to put pressure on my bruised sides and stroked my hip with his fingertips.
I relaxed at his welcomed touch.
“I’ve sort of been stalking you, Guapo,” I said, spitting out the embarrassing confession before I could second-guess myself. “I’m a stupid puta, I know, but after I robbed you, I wanted to see you again.”
I sounded ridiculous.
“Tell me why.”
The smile in his voice was unmistakable.
Cheeks on fire, I shrugged a lone bare shoulder. “Because when you saw my bruises…” The comb stilled. “It seemed like you cared.” I ground my back teeth together and chuckled humorlessly. “Dios mío, I truly am demente.”
He leaned forward, pressing his massive chest against my small back. Holding me a little tighter, he hovered his lips an inch from the shell of my pierced ear, making my belly somersault. “You’re not demented.”
He was full of it.
The way my feelings for him had morphed so quickly was proof that I had a few mental screws loose. Then again, how could they not change? James had taken care of me without question, maybe even saving my life in the process.
But it wasn’t just that—not wholly—that had begun to transform my emotions so quickly I feared I’d get whiplash.
No, it was witnessing first-hand how much he loved Hendrix, the same son he’d abused when he was chest-deep in two addictions that nearly stole his soul, and how remorseful he seemed to be for his actions, along with the way he’d helped me care for mi Little One without asking for anything in return.
“As I’ve said before, you’re not crazy,” he repeated, commandeering my attention once again. “Your heart just recognized what was taking place even though it took your mind longer to catch on.”
Hadn’t he said the same about himself?
Wanting him to continue speaking, I turned my head and nuzzled my face against his jaw. “Is that so?” I whispered, crippling exhaustion setting in. “And what did my heart realize was taking place?”
His lips found my jaw. “Fate.”
“Fate.” I paused. “Is that what you think this is?”
Resting the flimsy comb on the mattress beside me, he grasped my hips in his hands and turned me so that we were face to face, our exhaled breaths mixing with one another.
Cupping my chin, he leaned forward, dipping his face closer to mine. Just like before, my heart raced, galloping away like a racehorse intent on winning the Triple Crown.
“It is.” The corner of his mouth tipped up in a beautiful smile that I’d never tire of seeing. “And it’s best not to fight it either, you’ll get one hell of a headache.”
“I’ve been fighting all my life.” And I had. From being born three-months premature to being forced into a life I’d never wished to lead, I’d been battling against whatever the universe had thrown at me since my first breath. “Not sure I can stop now.”
“I don’t expect you to, and I’ll never ask you to either.” His reply surprised me. “Only thing I’m concerned with is doing the one thing I know I’m meant to. And that’s—”
“Saving me,” I finished for him.
Again, he nodded. “Si.”
I loved it when he spoke bits of Spanish to me. Enthralled by the way it rolled off his tongue, I needed to ask where he learned it. With his deep Southern drawl, it was obvious he’d lived in Georgia all his life.
Unlike me, he wasn’t an immigrant.
“You can help save me,” I whispered, placing my palms on his solid thighs. “You”—along with Maddie—“can help save my girls too, but first, there’s something else I need you to do.”
His thumb caressed my skin, awakening something I’d never experienced before. And that something? It felt an awful lot like how I imagined burning desire would.
“What are you waiting for?” he asked. “Tell me, and I’ll give you whatever you need. I guarantee it.”
Anxious and more than a little hesitant, I inhaled. “Will you kiss me again? I’ve never invited such a move, but—”
My lips fell silent, my tongue unmoving when he slid his brawny hand into my clean hair and pulled my healing face to meet his.
Then, with his firm lips taking possession of mine in the space of a single heartbeat, he gave me what I’d asked for without reluctance.
Just as he always would.
Seventeen
James
Pins and needles.
I was on both as I stood at the foot of the bed, eyes locked on Carmen’s worried expression as she held my cell to her ear, listening intently to whatever Faye was saying on the other end of the call. Worried that she’d try to bolt the minute their conversation was over, I readied myself to block any swift exit she may have attempted.
It was a worry I needn’t have.
That stress-relieving realization was clear when my pretty little pixie lowered the phone seconds later, ending the call after what felt like forever. Blowing out a breath, she turned to face me, a sad smile on her beautiful face.
“Mi chicas are okay for now,” she whispered, fat tears rolling down her cheeks that were now regaining their natural luster. “Chiquita is gone with the bastardo on a drug run, and Little One is staying with Faye until she returns.”
Shaking her head in what I knew was frustration, she bit her bottom lip hard before releasing it once more. “Chiquita shouldn’t be with him. Not ever,” she said, small jaw clenching. “But believe it or not, her being at his side is better than her being out on a date with whoever.”
A humorless chuckle fell from her lips.
“That sounded awful. If you knew how evil el—” Pinching her lips into a thin line, she pulled in a quick breath, eyes widening before mine. “But at least he won’t allow anyone to hurt her. Not while she’s
