I grabbed for the phone, but he kept it from me. “No, I don’t. Give me that.”
Ignoring me, he said goodnight to my friend, promising he’d called if I died and I’d call if I survived. He hung up and threw the phone into my bunk, then leaned in like he was planning to examine me.
The thing was, he looked so damn cute, all mussed from sleep, heavy-lidded and warm, I couldn’t handle it. My hands went to his cheeks, urging him down while I brought my mouth up to meet his. His frozen surprise was only momentary before he kissed me back, warm tongue, soft lips, frustrated groans.
We hadn’t done more than kiss in over a week. We’d made out the night before in the back lounge, but the sound of Mo stumbling to bed had us jumping apart like two teenagers who’d been caught by our parents. I still didn’t understand quite what was happening between us, though I did know he made me feel safe and my chest ache with longing. I knew I didn’t want to have another relationship in the shadows, but Santiago and I weren’t anywhere close tobeingin a relationship.
His lips broke from mine, both of our eyes cracking open. His brow pinched in concern, and his fingers touched my forehead with tentative strokes.
“Are you okay? You’ve already got a bump.”
“I’m fine.” I tried to prop myself up on my elbow, but he gently urged me to lie back down. “You’re so damn bossy, Santiago. I don’t have a concussion, I just conked my head.”
“You don’t need to get up. Lie there.”
I pressed my hand to his chest, sliding up to curl around his neck. “Come lay with me.”
“You sure?”
“So sure.” I scooted back, giving him room to climb in.
He stretched his body alongside mine, reaching behind himself to close the curtain and secure it. It didn’t afford us much privacy, but I didn’t plan to roll around naked or anything. I’d missed his arms around me and his mouth on mine.
Rough fingers stroked my cheek. “Hey.”
“Hey, yourself. I can’t believe you heard me whack my head.”
He chuckled. “Well, I was half-asleep, listening to you and Haven talk, then there was a big thump, and I was out of my bed in a flash.”
Warmth radiated from my chest. “I’m not so sure about the eavesdropping, but the rest is sweet. And you’re lucky you didn’t whack your own head while you were playing the hero.”
His face grew serious, his normal resting state, and he cupped my cheek. “I’m sorry I was listening in, but I like hearing you talk to her. You’re so happy, and it does something to me the way you have each other’s backs. There’s no competition. You really like each other.”
“Well...yeah.” My mouth quirked. “We’re different enough, we’ve never competed for the same things. I mean, I’d pound her into the ground if wewerecompeting.”
With a half-smile, he pressed his lips to mine. Oh god, I loved when kisses started with smiles. It was like being infused with the other person’s joy. Santiago’s joy tasted like bergamot and loyalty. His lips were generous and patient, molding to mine, tasting me, kissing me with tenderness I hadn’t seen coming.
I fell into him, curled into his arms, holding him as he held me. His beard tickled me, rubbed against the delicate skin of my lips. I’d be red tomorrow and have some explaining to do, but it’d be worth it.
“I like you,” he said against my lips.
For the first time, I could admit out loud without being fearful that I liked him too. “Same, Santiago.” I slid my fingers through the back of his hair and sighed. “Why don’t you keep kissin’ me?”
He did—he kissed me slow and sweet as we sped down the highway. I couldn’t say what country we were in, but it didn’t matter. The way Santiago kissed me, I wasn’t even sure we were still on an earthly plane. We might’ve been floating off somewhere celestial or immersed beneath leagues of inky ocean.
My hand slipped beneath his T-shirt, tracing the lines of hard muscles contracting under my fingertips. He was smooth in places, covered in hair in others. Wide and thick, he made me feel small in his arms. Being small had never been a goal of mine, not really, but I couldn’t get enough of Santiago’s arms wrapped around me.
In between kissing, we shared a whispered conversation. He told me about his phone call with Diego. I told him a little more about Scott Porter’s campaign against Haven. He admitted to being homesick, I admitted the same. Only his home was with his family, and mine...well, Haven, Liam, and Theo were my family now.
“Do you think you’ll talk to your parents again?” he asked.
“Maybe.” I rubbed my thumb along his kiss-swollen bottom lip. “They’d have to come to me. I won’t bend to be who they want me to be. I’ve settled into who I am, and though I might evolve, I’m not changin’. If they come back when I get married or have babies, I’ll welcome them. If they don’t come back…well, my happiness is not contingent on makin’ up with them.”
He breathed a heavy sigh, stroking a hand over the top of my head. “Marriage and babies, huh?”
I snorted. “One day. Not any time soon. I figure those are the kind of things that’ll lure my family from their hidey hole. Right now, I’m just a girl in her rebellious phase.”
“If they only knew. They’ve never seen you play?”