Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Thirteen

Marlowe sat on the edge of the bed in Kendric’s room and bit her thumbnail nervously. He’d been so upset by her suggestion. And while she understood that meeting with Ian could be dangerous, she needed to make sure he couldn’t steal any more artifacts, couldn’t put any other archaeologists in such life-changing danger.

And she needed to clear her name.

She had no doubt she could get Ian to talk. Even if he suspected she was working with the cops, he’d still want to know what she had planned. He was also arrogant enough to think he could outsmart her—but he was wrong.

For now, Marlowe was more concerned about Kendric. He hadn’t been able to look at her before storming out to the balcony. She’d wanted to go out there to soothe him, try to talk to him, but JJ had said it would be better if he went.

So now she was stressing. She’d heard the two men come in from the balcony, then the front door shut. Was Kendric still mad? Would he give her the cold shoulder? Would he yell and insist that she was being an idiot?

She didn’t think so, but then again, she hadn’t known him all that long. Definitely not long enough to know how he reacted when he was really pissed. She wasn’t afraid of him; Kendric would never lay a hand on her in anger. But she didn’t know if he’d give her the silent treatment or flat-out refuse to even consider her suggestion. Either of which would hurt beyond belief.

She heard a noise at the door, and her head flew up. She didn’t have time to do more than stand before Kendric was there, pulling her close and wrapping his arms around her, holding her tight.

She sighed in relief. She wasn’t sure what his mood was, but the fact that he was touching her, holding her, she hoped was a good sign. She buried her nose where shoulder met neck and inhaled deeply. He always smelled so good. Even when they’d been sweaty and dirty while trekking across Thailand and Cambodia, his scent always seemed to calm her.

After a moment, he pulled back. “We need to talk.”

Ugh. No wonder guys hated when women said those words. They sounded so ominous. But Marlowe nodded. They did need to talk.

However, instead of talking, he reached for the hem of her shirt.

Too surprised to protest, she lifted her arms and let him pull it over her head. His actions were quick and methodical, not sexual in the least, but it had been so long since they’d been intimate, just standing in front of him half naked made her nipples tighten and her core begin to weep.

His lips twitched when he noticed her nipples, but he didn’t pause as he unzipped her jeans and pushed them over her hips. Marlowe let him undress her, standing stock still as he removed her underwear as well.

When she was completely nude, he nodded to the bed behind her. “Climb in.”

Feeling off kilter, Marlowe gladly got under the covers and watched as her husband removed all his clothes as well, then joined her.

He immediately pulled her into his arms, and Marlowe smiled as she snuggled into him.

“Much better,” he sighed. “I’m not happy about this,” he continued without beating around the bush. “I don’t want you talking to the asshole who got you locked up.”

“I know,” Marlowe told him, and she did. If Kendric had his way, he’d make sure she never had to talk to anyone who’d ever done her wrong in the past. She knew that as well as she knew her name. But she needed to do this.

“I trusted him,” she said quietly. “There weren’t a lot of Americans on that dig site, and it was nice to have someone from back home. He was funny and enthusiastic, and I enjoyed talking to him. Discovering what he did was a huge shock. I never would’ve expected it from him. I think that’s why I gave him a chance to right his wrong. If I’d caught anyone else with those coins, I would’ve turned them in immediately. But Ian is so young. I really thought if he had a chance to think about what he’d done, and the potential consequences, he’d realize what a huge mistake he was making and fix it.”

“He didn’t,” Kendric said unnecessarily.

“Yeah. That’s why I need to do this, Kendric,” Marlowe told him. “What he did was so wrong, it’s not even funny. He stole part of a country’s history. He undermined the work of every archaeologist on that site. And . . . he stole the confidence I had in myself, and my ability to trust my instincts when it comes to people. I need to get that back.”

“You don’t need him to be able to do that,” Kendric said.

Marlowe wished he was right, but she needed to see this through. Wanted to have a hand in making Ian pay for what he’d done. She believed in karma, but sometimes it needed a little help.

“He’s arrogant,” she said. “After getting away with stealing those coins, he’s going to think he’s invincible. And having me call him will be a huge shock. I’m sure he thought I’d be gone forever, and even if I did get out of jail, he’d have already sold the coins and there’d be no proof of what he’d done.

“I thought about it while you were talking to JJ . . . and if I demand a cut of the money from the coins, he might not suspect I’m working with the police. And if I threaten to turn him in if he doesn’t agree, he’ll think he’s smarter than me. He’ll think since he got rid of me once, he can do it again.”

“I don’t want him within ten feet of you,” Kendric said in a low, harsh tone.

“I don’t want to be within ten feet of him,” Marlowe agreed. “He scares me. I mean, I thought I knew him, and look what he did. I’m hoping that with one phone call, this nightmare will end. I mean, I’m not naive enough to think it’ll be easy. But I still think that if I piss him off enough, he might mess up and give something away. That it’ll be my turn to send him to prison. Please, Kendric. I need to try.”

Her man sighed and stared up at the ceiling.

Marlowe waited, giving him time to mull over her argument.

Eventually, he said, “If we do this, it’s on my terms.”

“Okay,” Marlowe agreed immediately.

“You won’t take any chances. Won’t tell him where you are. Will say only what we discuss ahead of time, from a script. You’ll tell him our terms, then be done.”

“All right.”

“I mean it, Punky. No changing the plan once it’s in motion. No thinking you can get more info if you drag things out. Your idea is a good one. You’ll tell him you want a cut of the money he’ll get from the sale, and in return, you’ll forget about him and he’ll forget about you. Understand?”

“Yes, Kendric.” Marlowe couldn’t believe he was agreeing. She loved him even more at this moment than she did before. Which was kind of hard to believe, because she already loved him a hell of a lot.

“I can’t lose you,” he said in a tortured tone. “Not after I just found you.”

“You aren’t going to lose me. I’m right here. This is going to be over before you know it,” she said, crossing her fingers that she wasn’t lying.

Now that it looked like she really would be talking to Ian, Marlowe was a little nervous. But knowing Kendric and his friends had her back made the entire thing a little easier.

He rolled then, and Marlowe squeaked in surprise as she stared up at him. “Be careful!” she scolded. “Your back—”

“Is fine. I’m fine. And I want to make love to my wife in our bed. In our home.”

Marlowe practically melted under him. “Yes. Please.”

“So polite,” Kendric said with a mischievous grin. “There’s something else I want, that I didn’t get a chance to do before.”

“What’s that?”

Instead of answering her verbally, Kendric’s smile widened before he leaned down and kissed her. But he didn’t linger. He kissed her neck. Then her collarbone. Then he suckled one of her nipples as he lightly pinched the other.

Marlowe inhaled sharply and arched her back.

He kept moving down her body, kissing her belly before ultimately settling himself between her legs. Marlowe looked down and saw him staring up at her as his hands caressed her thighs. “You liked my fingers on you. Let’s see how you like my tongue.”

She didn’t get a chance to say anything before he’d lowered his head and proceeded to drive her absolutely out of her mind. She writhed under him as he licked and sucked and sent her flying over the edge embarrassingly quickly.

Marlowe had only had one other man go down on her, and it hadn’t felt anything like that.

But Kendric didn’t stop. He continued to tease her clit with his lips and tongue, even when she whined that it was too sensitive.

When she was sweaty and boneless after two enormous orgasms, he finally made his way back up her body, kissing every inch of skin along the way.

He was smiling as he hovered over her. “Love seeing you like that,” he told her, before kissing her once more. Marlowe could taste herself on his lips, and with any other man she would’ve been embarrassed or weirded out. But with the man she loved, nothing seemed awkward.

“Like what?” she asked, when they paused to take a breath.

“Mussed,” he said with a grin. Then he reached between them and lined his cock up to her pussy. “You ready for me?”

“I’m always ready for you,” she said without hesitation, widening her legs, inviting him inside.

Before she could blink, he was settled deep. She sighed. He felt so good, filling her in a way no one ever had.

He closed his eyes and took a breath through his nose. When he opened them again, he said, “You’ve gained some weight since you’ve been here.”

Marlowe froze. She didn’t think he was complaining, but it was a little weird to talk about her weight in that moment. “Um . . . yeah?”

“You started your period again yet?”

Licking her lips and trying to control the blush she could feel blooming across her cheeks, she shook her head.

“If you want, I can start wearing condoms . . . to protect you.”

Oh!That’s why he was commenting on her weight.

Marlowe couldn’t imagine not having him bare inside her. She liked how he felt. Loved when he came deep within her body. But was he changing his mind? They’d talked about kids, but maybe now that they weren’t on the run, he’d decided that was crazy?

“I can see your mind working a mile a minute. I still want to get you pregnant,” he said bluntly. “There’s nothing I want more than to see you round and glowing with our baby. But things moved really fast with us. If you want to wait, I’m okay with that too.”

“No,” she said quickly. “I don’t want to wait.”

“Excellent,” he said.

“Although there’s no guarantee,” she warned.

“I know. But we’ll have fun trying,” he said with a grin as he began to move, slow and steady, in and out, making Marlowe gasp and moan with pleasure.

At one point, she voiced her concern about his back again. In response, he moved faster, took her harder, and any concerns she might’ve had flew from her mind.

Marlowe had thought making love with him the first time was the best she’d ever had, but she’d been wrong. Being with him now, safe and comfortable, was much more exciting and fulfilling and erotic.

He made love to her, teasing her body until she was begging him to let her come. Without making her wait another second, he held himself inside her as she flew over the edge. Just like before, he seemed to crave the feeling of her rippling around his cock.

As soon as she relaxed, he began to fuck her hard, murmuring words of love and how beautiful she was, until his orgasm overcame him and he spurted ropes of come deep inside her body.

He lowered himself on top of her for a few seconds, catching his breath, then rolled and clutched her to his chest.

Marlowe wanted to protest, tell him that he shouldn’t be bearing her weight because of the wounds on his back. But she loved this position. Lying bonelessly on top of him, with Kendric still inside her. It reminded her of the first time they’d made love in that barn. Only now she didn’t have to worry about dirty hay or being interrupted, and there were no animals eating noisily all around them.

“I love you,” she mumbled into his chest.

His arms tightened, and she felt his cock twitch inside her. “I love you too,” he returned.

Marlowe kissed his neck and sighed contentedly.

“I will do whatever it takes to keep you safe,” he said softly.

She lifted her head. “What?”

“When you talk with Ian. I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure things don’t go sideways. And that goes for life in general too. I’m going to be a pain in your butt. You’re going to think I’m overprotective, because I am. I won’t be controlling, you can be friends with whoever you want, go wherever you want. You can get whatever job you want, or no job at all. I don’t care. But I’m probably going to be texting you constantly, making sure you’re okay, asking if you need anything. And when we have kids . . . ?”

He shuddered slightly, then kept speaking. “I’m going to go completely overboard. We’re talking background checks on their babysitters, coaches, teachers. Nothing and no one will hurt what’s mine if I can prevent it.”

Tears ran down Marlowe’s cheeks.

Kendric looked alarmed. “Shit! Don’t cry, Punky. I’ll try to keep a lid on it, but I’ve never loved anyone the way I love you, and the thought of anything happening to you makes me crazy. And kids are so vulnerable. I don’t want them ever questioning their dad’s love for them. I’m going to screw up, I know I will, and I’m terrified that I might do or say something to turn them into psychos, but I’ll still do my best to be the kind of father and husband you’ve always wanted.”

“Kendric,” Marlowe said, bringing a hand up to rest on his cheek. “You already are the husband I’ve always dreamed about.”

He turned his head and kissed her palm.

“And I’m okay with you being protective, as long as it goes both ways. When you’re on a job, I’ll probably text incessantly to make sure you haven’t been crushed under a huge tree. When you go on your hikes, your clients will think I’m the psycho for always checking up on you.”

She smiled. “Lord, we’re sappy,” she finished with a shake of her head. “The Army’s gonna take away your Special Forces patch.”

He chuckled, and Marlowe felt it from the inside out since they were still connected in the most intimate way a man and woman could be. “They can have it. I don’t care.”

“Did you . . . are things okay with you and JJ?”

“Yeah. Did you think they wouldn’t be?”

“Neither of you were happy when he went out to talk to you. Was he really mad that you were doing the rescue missions?”

“He wasn’t thrilled,” Kendric admitted. “But we talked, and I told him about how I’d been feeling . . . and about my nightmares.”

“And?”

“He admitted he has them sometimes too. Said the four of us probably should talk more about what we went through on that last mission, and the stuff we’re going through now. And he’s not wrong.”

Marlowe loved that for him. “Good.”

“Although I haven’t had any nightmares since I’ve been home.”

“I know,” Marlowe said calmly. They’d had that discussion earlier, and she was thrilled and relieved that he’d been sleeping so well. She’d expected his bad dreams to continue, at least occasionally.

“You can’t ever leave me,” Kendric said seriously. “I think you’re a blocker or something. Having you in my arms keeps the demons at bay.”

Marlowe wasn’t sure about that, but if he wanted to think so, she wouldn’t argue again. “Okay.”

He smiled. “That was easy.”

She shrugged. “I’m right where I want to be. Why would I protest?”

“I love you,” he said.

“And I love you back,” she returned immediately.

Kendric palmed the back of her head and gently pushed her down, so her cheek was resting on his chest once more. “Sleep, Punky.”

“What if I’m not tired?”

“You’ll need your strength.”

“For what?”

“For later when I want you again.”

“Is this normal? I mean, I didn’t think most guys could go more than once a night.”

He laughed. “It’s not nighttime. And I don’t know about most men, but for me, with you? It’s completely normal. I would live inside you if I could.”

Marlowe snorted. “Not sure that’s practical.”

One of Kendric’s hands moved down her back and squeezed her ass. “Don’t care.”

She giggled with a small shake of her head, then snuggled deeper into him.

“For the record?” he said after a moment.

“Ummmm?” she murmured, feeling sleepy after all.

“You taste delicious, and I’m gonna be eating you out a lot.”

Marlowe’s face heated once more. But since she loved every second of his mouth on her, she wasn’t about to complain. “Can I try that sometime? Going down on you, I mean?”

“Anytime you want, Punky. Although I don’t need that from you.”

“But I want to give you as much pleasure as you give me,” she protested.

“You already do. Go to sleep, Marlowe.”

“’Kay.” It didn’t take long for her to fall into a deep sleep. She’d been stressed while he was talking to JJ, then exhausted by his lovemaking.

She’d somehow found herself married to the man of her dreams. She had new friends, her brother was safe, and soon she’d make Ian West pay for what he’d done. Life was good.

Better than good.