“What makes you think they do anything at all?” she quips, eyes sparkling with amusement.
“Based on the cover, as a consumer, I’d have to expect he has to do something other than flexing his muscles.”
Joslyn laughs and pulls her legs up, wrapping her hands around her shins. She grins. “As a matter of fact, you’re a lot like some of the men in these books. Bossy, alpha, overprotective, and extremely great in bed.”
“I am not bossy,” I growl with mock offense.
“A little.” She holds her hand up, forefinger and thumb about an inch apart.
“I am great in bed, though,” I admit as I puff my chest out. “In case you’ve forgotten, I’ll prove it to you again tonight.”
Joslyn rolls her eyes, knowing it puts her ass in danger of connecting with the palm of my hand. But it’s too cute to call her on the carpet on it. I know exactly how much she loves what I do to her.
“I’m grateful for your overprotective quality, though,” Joslyn says, her smile turning soft with a tint of sadness to it.
“I would think it would make you happy, kitten,” I say, taking her hand in mine. “You know I will never let anything bad happen to you.
Her gaze roams my face, her smile curving a little deeper. “I know that.”
“Never,” I reiterate, leaning in closer to her.
“Never ever?” she asks softly, head tilted in wonder.
It’s a question asking for a commitment. While we’ve only been reconnected for a brief time, the void of those twelve years seems to have vanished for me.
Has it for her?
I reply to her question, making a promise I have no qualms in giving. “Never ever.”
Her hand jerks reflexively in mine, but I just tighten my grip. She regards me with wide, questioning eyes. I can see deep within… she’s afraid to believe in what I just proclaimed.
“Joslyn.” My voice is gruff, laced with emotion and a distinct understanding I don’t know how to put this all into words. “I hate you’re going through this but fuck… part of me is glad. It’s what led you back to me. And we’ve realized that big mistakes were made long ago, but I think we’ve both realized we never moved on after we broke up. That has to mean something.”
“No,” she agrees with a smile. “I never moved on.”
“I sure as fuck didn’t,” I mutter before bending my neck so I can brush my mouth across hers. When I pull back, I make sure her eyes are on me for what I’m about to say next. “You’re it for me, Jos. It was always only ever you. And here you are again—mine—and I’d be a fucking fool to let you go.”
“Oh, Kynan,” she murmurs as tears fill her eyes. “I don’t want you to let go. I don’t want to let go. It’s so funny… I’ve never been more scared or vulnerable in my life, and yet—especially these last few days—I’ve never been happier. I’ve fallen in love with you all over again.”
“Christ,” I mutter, the enormity of those words washing over me. Jerking her into my arms, I settle her in my lap. “I love you, too, kitten.”
I remember back to the first time I’d heard words of love from her beautiful lips. It was in the lobby of the Jameson offices in Vegas. Joslyn had chosen to pass on a movie deal that would require her to move to Los Angeles. She didn’t decline because of me, but because it didn’t feel right to her. Her passion was singing, not acting, and it was the first time she’d ever defied her mother.
She came straight to Jameson, we declared our love for each other, and I promptly moved her into my apartment. Three days later, Joslyn broke it off with me after her mother showed her the fake investigative report.
Just a few days after that, she was living in Los Angeles and doing the movie she didn’t want to do.
“How are we going to make this work?” Joslyn asked. “I mean… apart from the lunatic who is after me, we live on opposite sides of the continent.”
“I expect we’ll be traveling a lot, kitten,” I reply with a smile. “Let’s dispatch this fucker first, then we’ll get busy figuring things out.”
“Okay,” she says with what I’d term to be a dopey grin. I don’t see a single line of stress caused by this fucker who has been terrorizing her. It’s beyond exhilarating I can cause that level of happiness within her, despite everything that’s going on.CHAPTER 24Joslyn“Your chariot awaits, milady,” Cruce says in the worst British accent I’ve ever heard. He smiles rakishly as he opens the passenger door.
I glance at my front door, see Kynan watching us as he leans against the doorjamb, arms folded over his chest. He shakes his head and smiles before disappearing inside. Some guy is coming to interview with him this morning for a position at Jameson, so he’s not joining us.