Absolution (Honor Guard 1)

The shower turned off. Something hit the floor, clattering across the linoleum, and he cursed. Probably the toothbrushes. Biting back a sob, she rolled to her side, putting her back to the door. She squeezed her eyes shut, concentrating on keeping her breathing even.

Maybe if he thought she was asleep, he would crawl into bed with her to hold her tight, like he used to. If he thought she was asleep, maybe he would feel safe caving into his emotions.

The door opened behind her. She counted to three between each breath, careful to keep her face relaxed even when she sensed his shadow over her. Any second now, he would kiss her forehead or tuck a stray hair behind her ear.

Like he used to.

He shut off the light and crawled into bed behind her—as far away from her as he could manage without falling off. On top of the damp covers.

She fought back the tears stinging behind her closed lids.

***

Joseph lay on his side, propped up on his elbow, resisting the urge to awaken Eva. The morning sun filtered in past the shades, bathing her in a soft glow. Her hair lay across her pillow. Her eyes looked swollen, as if she’d fallen asleep crying.

Had she?

Anger still controlled his emotions, helped him feel as though he hadn’t had his heart crushed by the woman sleeping peacefully across from him. Why should he care if she felt the need to be upset? He’d treated her like she wanted…a good lay.

Fuck it all to hell and back. She asked for it, she got it. If she found the sex lacking, she had herself to blame. Sighing, he left the bed and pulled on his jeans, eager to make a phone call in privacy. He grabbed his gun and his prepaid cell, and after ensuring the key remained in his pocket, he crept out the door. Shirtless and barefoot, he padded out to the hallway to punch in Hugo’s cell number.

After three rings, Hugo picked up. “Hello?”

“It’s me. I’m not staying on long for fear of being tracked. How is the timeline going?”

“Is she okay?” Hugo asked, ignoring his questions.

Joseph ground his teeth, taking a deep breath. The man couldn’t even answer a f**king question when asked directly. No wonder Eva frustrated him so much. She’d learned from the best.

“She’s fine. I don’t know how much more I can take of being stuck in one room with her, though.” She’s breaking my heart each time she opens her pretty little mouth.

“Suck it up, boy. This isn’t about you,” Hugo snapped.

Joseph gripped the phone tighter. “You’re the one who wouldn’t let me explain what happened last month. It’s your fault she can’t handle being around me.”

“I’m glad I did, too. She doesn’t need a loser like you in her life,” Hugo retorted.

He ground his teeth together, resisting the urge to plow his fist through the wall. What an arrogant ass**le. “Listen, Hugo—”

“The meeting got moved up after all the violence,” Hugo continued in a no-nonsense way. “I told the frontrunner I demanded to speak to his boss, or I’d send my file of all our secretly recorded conversations to the authorities.”

Joseph whistled through his teeth. “Why don’t you just paint a target on your forehead?”

“Anything to move this along quickly. I need Eva to be safe. From them…and you.”

The door to their room clicked closed, and Joseph jerked around toward the sound. He ran a hand through his hair and grimaced. Shit, she’d heard him. “I have to go,” he told Hugo on the phone. “Too dangerous. I’ll call later.”

“Wait! Can I—”

Joseph hung up, smiling at the mental image of the man glaring at his phone, sputtering in anger. The small things in life felt too damn good to give up.

With a sigh, he entered their room. She sat on the edge of the bed, glaring at him.

Why did she have to look so damn good?

***

Eva scowled. He smirked and slipped his phone in his pocket. Her gaze dipped to admire his bare chest before she reined her wayward thoughts in. Still, she couldn’t help but remember how good his skin felt against hers. Asshole. She watched his muscles ripple when he closed the door.

He turned and studied her with a resigned expression. “What did I do now?”

“If you’re so miserable, why don’t you sit in the corner and ignore me? Go in time-out or something.” She tried to hide the hurt feelings behind a snide tone, but feared she’d failed. If only she could find the right words to make him see she wasn’t rejecting him. She just needed some time to process all the new information he’d shoved down her throat.

Was that so much to ask for?

“If I needed to, I would.” With a blank expression, he leaned back, one shoulder resting against the wall, his arms crossed. “If you don’t want to hear a private conversation, then don’t eavesdrop.”

“I wasn’t spying.” She shot to her feet, advancing on him. “I wanted to see if you were still here or if you’d left.”

“You should know better than to think I’d shirk my duties.”

“Is that all I am to you now, a duty?” She shoved his shoulders, and he stumbled a bit before righting himself. “Some stupid assignment you’re forced to handle?”

Stubborn silence. Reaching toward her, he picked her up, placed her out of his path, and walked to the pile of clothes resting by the door.

He shrugged on his T-shirt and faced her. “What am I supposed to say, Eva? What do you want from me?”

“I don’t like you being so cold. So distant,” she said as she fiddled with the hem of her nightie. “Why does it have to be all or nothing with you?”

He growled and stalked toward her, seeming to double in size the closer he got. With her chin tilted up and her face squared to him, she stood her ground.

“I haven’t been anything but what you asked for. You asked me to make love to you. I did. You told me you didn’t want a relationship. I said fine. I give you sex. You complain it isn’t enough. It seems to me you’re the problem here, not me.” He snatched his shoes off the floor, shooting her a dirty look.

“Are you running out again in the middle of another fight?” she taunted, not wanting him to leave. So, she’d spat out the first thing that popped into her mind, sure to make him angry enough to stay. Maybe he’d be so angry he’d shut her up with a kiss. And she could continue the pretense of her not wanting him. Or his kisses. “I don’t remember you being so cowardly before.”