Chapter 17

Blair stuffedher hand in her pocket, grabbing the key to her flat before slipping it into the lock and twisting it open. The door swung inward, revealing a wedge of wooden floor against gray walls. She stepped inside, tossing a few items onto the small side table off to her left before ushering Walker in.

He placed their rucksacks against the wall, eyeing her warily as she closed the door, then locked it. He held up his hand — signaling her to stay as he removed his weapon then struck off. Obviously clearing her flat. Not that she blamed him. After everything they'd been through, she didn't trust anything or anyone, either.

She peered out the narrow window, scanning the shadows until she was convinced no one was hiding in the darkness, before easing back — finally relaxing once Walker had returned and given her the all-clear.

Not that she'd let her guard down. God knew how many agents Montgomery had milling around, waiting to exact revenge on the person who'd toppled their boss' empire.

At least, she hoped she'd toppled it. Leland had made it sound that way, even with McClaren still in the wind. But Blair knew, firsthand, how politics worked. And with Montgomery's ranking… He could easily end up being more useful to the establishment in some alternate role, than if they locked him up and tossed the key.

A chance she'd take because at least, for now, it was over.

Walker leaned against the wall, arching a brow when she met his gaze. "Making sure we weren't followed?"

She simply shrugged. "No different than you checking out my flat. This is London. Trouble lurks everywhere."

"Pretty damn sure London's ranked one of the safest cities in the world, sweetheart."

"And yet, full of wankers."

He chuckled. "Maybe you just run with the wrong crowd."

"If that means being a loner and only ever trusting my sister, then, yeah. Do you know how many men I've allowed through that door?"

"Do you really want me to answer that? Because I know what I want to say, but it would be foolish to think the men in this town haven't been doing their best to break that thing down."

"Zero."

"Zero?"

"Well, one, now, I guess."

Had he growled? Made some kind of purring noise? "Are you saying, I'm the first?"

Blair sighed, closing the scant distance between them before running her finger along his chest. Loving how his muscles jumped from the simple touch. "You're my first in a lot of ways. Are you hungry? Thirsty? Or do you just want to get to the part where we strip each other down, hop in the shower, then sleep for the next ten hours straight?"

"Definitely option three." He dipped forward and gathered her into his arms, wincing when she must have rubbed against one of the many bruises or cuts scattered across his body. "That was your room at the end of the hallway, right?"

"X marks the spot, soldier."

He grinned, then he was off. Striding along the corridor then into her room. He continued to the bathroom, placing her on the counter before stepping back. Five seconds flat, and he was naked. Had turned on the shower, gathered towels, and spun back to face her. Another few seconds, and she was nude, too. Just the weight of expectation looming between them.

Walker tsked, testing the temperature of the water before taking her hand — helping her into the tub. He didn't try to take advantage of the situation. No lifting her up and hilting himself inside like he'd done at his place and in that shack. Just him softly washing her skin, then tugging her into his embrace.

She rested her head against his chest, doing her best to ignore the patchwork of purple, as she breathed him in. Savored the moment, knowing the real world would intrude far too soon.

Walker didn't talk — didn't ask her if she was ready to get out — just stood there, holding her. As if he needed the time away from reality, too.

The water was starting to cool before she was finally able to step back — smile up at him. A twist of the taps and they were out, wrapping those towels around themselves. His hand in hers, they headed for the bed — sliding beneath the sheets a heartbeat later.

Walker gathered her against him, snorting when she tried to tell him she'd hurt him. That his chest looked like a battlefield. "You've got lacerations and bruises and fucking bullet grazes, too. So, how about we agree to ignore them, tonight."

"Right up until I elbow you in the ribs in my sleep."

"That'll be hard when I intend on holding you, just like this, all night long."

God, she loved him.

"Promise?"

"Promise. Sleep. We'll talk in the morning."

How did five little words sound so ominous? Get her heart pounding faster? Or, maybe that was just being pressed up against Walker. His chest as a pillow. His arms holding her tight. She wasn't sure if she managed to stay awake longer than a minute before she blinked, squinting against the sun streaming in through the curtains. And judging by the shadows laced across the floor, it was well after sunrise.

Walker hummed, kissing her forehead as he drew her even closer. "It's only nine. Leland said we could meet him at SIS headquarters at noon, so, we have time if you want to get some more sleep."

She kissed his chest, loving how his breath caught, his heart rate kicking up beneath her palm. "I can think of a dozen other things I'd rather do. And seeing as we're both already in my bed… naked."

Walker tsked, just like he had last night, then scooted back so she could sit next to him, his back wedged against the headboard. "Not so fast. First, we need to talk."

"Can't we talk after you make me scream? Like when we were in your bed?"

"Armed men hadn't tried to kill us when we were in my bed."

"Old news, yeah?"

"Blair…"

She huffed, settling in beside him. "Fine, we can chat it up, first."

He shook his head, taking a moment to look around her room. As if he was uncovering her secrets simply by noticing the color of paint on her walls. The way she stacked the books on her nightstand. "I like your place. It's…"

She arched a brow. "It's, what? Neat? Sterile? Not full of holes the way I imagine your flat is?"

"I was going to say soothing. That it has a simple elegance about it. Just like you. And for the record, Stone had some of the other guys clean up the worst of the mess for me, and board over any windows. So, it's not a big deal. But yeah, the lack of obvious gunfire is refreshing."

"I'm sorry. About everything. The wet squad. The mission. But mostly, for not asking for your help in the first place. Which, I know I already said in that hut, but I need you to know, I mean it. That if I had it to do over, I would have asked you to have my back."

"I'll always have your back, sweetheart." He paused, looking her dead in the eyes as he brushed his thumb along her jaw. "If you want me to."

And there it was. His subtle way of asking if she'd meant everything she'd said. If she really did love him and wanted a future with him. Or if it had all been a product of the situation. The adrenaline of the mission.

Blair pressed into his touch, smiling up at him. "Of course, I want you to have my back. Always. I said I love you, Walker, and I meant it. In fact, you're the first person I've ever said that to, as well. But it might not be as simple as me packing a few bags and jetting back to Montana. This thing with Montgomery… It could have ramifications."

"Is that your way of saying you want to stay in MI6? Because you don't have to be the only person making concessions. I'm sure I can find some form of work over here, if London's truly home. I just need to know that you want there to be a future. That there's an us."

And just like that, everything settled. The doubt. The worry. Gone.

Blair shook her head, feigning disbelief. "Are all Americans this daft? I said, I love you. What do you think that means if it doesn't clearly indicate there's an us? And no, I don't want to stay in MI6. I've had enough deception for one lifetime, thank you. And regardless of how it all plays out — how many rubbish agents they gather up — there'll always be that uncertainty hanging over every mission. If, maybe, this bloke is one of Montgomery's loyal prats who somehow escaped the cleanup. Not that I know what I'll do in Montana, but… I'm sure I can find an agency in need of my expertise."

She leaned in and brushed her lips across his. "Preferably with the only team I'll ever trust. Especially, when Montgomery was right last night. McClaren's still free, and as long as he's breathing, he'll be a threat. One I don't want biting you in the arse because he's gunning for me."

Walker stared at her, eyes wide, mouth slightly open, as if he was still trying to process all the words, before his lips lifted into a stunning smile. He nuzzled her nose, staying close when he could have eased back. "McClaren can try all he wants, but he's never going to get you. And that's a promise. Besides, Leland said he's at the top of Interpol's most wanted list. That they already had leads. If McClaren's smart and wants to stay out of jail, he'll disappear and forget he ever met you."

Walker grinned. "Unlike me. Being stuck with you, and all. And I'm pretty sure we can arrange having you as part of the team. Though, Stone might need medication to handle the stress of having both sisters on the payroll. But, he'll get used to it. So, why the hesitation last night when I asked if you wanted to head back to Montana?"

Blair sighed, resting her forehead against his. "I just wanted to see what SIS had to say before getting anyone's hopes up. They've been known to be unreasonable, at times."

"Pretty damn sure they don't want an international incident, either. And there's the part where their director was a traitorous douchebag. I can't help but wonder how poorly that would reflect on the entire organization if it were to get leaked."

She inhaled. "You wouldn't."

"I absolutely would. And, thanks to some discrete messages, courtesy of Leland, they know it. So… taking them out of the picture, what do you want? Because I'm serious. If London's home, I'm all-in. I don't care where we live, who I work for, as long as I have you."

"You'd really leave the Brotherhood Protectors? Leave Corbin and Booker and Montana? For me?"

"I'd walk through hell for you. Fight the devil, himself. Moving to London? That seems pretty benign."

Warmth spread through her chest, and she realized, that for the first time in her life, she was truly happy. That she'd definitely found that home she'd been looking for.

"How about a compromise?"

He gave her a long, slow sweep. "I'm listening."

"You swear to make love to me until Leland's practically breaking down my door, and we'll head back to Montana the moment this whole shit show's cleared up. Where we'll stay. For those fifty years you promised me."

Walker glanced at his watch. "For the entire two and a half hours?"

"What's the matter, soldier? You all show and no go, as you Yanks, say?"

"Oh, sweetheart, how you'll be begging for mercy by the end of it. And yeah, I can get on board with that compromise. So, take a breath. It's the only one you'll get before your ass is mine. For all fifty of those years."