Remy exited and pulled the bedroom door shut.
“Uh, yeah,” Constantine said as he appeared at the top of the stairs. “That loud whoop-whoop-whoop you heard a few moments ago was the chopper landing.”
He hadn’t heard it. He’d been too busy exploding inside of Jacqueline and hearing her cry out his name. “Right. The chopper. Jacqueline is just grabbing a few more things, and she’ll be out.” He had his bag in his hand. All he’d needed to do was pluck it from the closet. Remy always kept a go-bag at the ready. With his life, it paid to be prepared.
Constantine squinted at him. “Shit.”
“Problem?”
“Oh, I think we both know there is a problem.” His lips tightened as he pointed an accusing finger at Remy. “You’re gonna break her heart.”
“That’s the last thing I want to do.”
“Then maybe try keeping your dick out of—”
The bedroom door swung open. “I’m ready,” Jacqueline announced, a little breathlessly. Her hair fell in tousled waves and her lips were swollen and pink from his mouth. She also had the faintest red mark on her neck.
Seeing it, Remy stiffened.
Jacqueline glanced at the two men. “Am I interrupting? Were you saying to keep out of something, Constantine?”
Constantine choked. Covered his mouth. Coughed. “That ship has sailed. Clearly. Probably on its way to Europe right now.”
She just looked confused. And freaking adorable.
Constantine coughed again. “In case you missed it, too, the chopper is outside.” He swung away and headed back down the steps. “Oh, and I took care of locking away your art while you were busypacking, Remy. You’re welcome.”
Remy reached for her bag. “I’m sorry,” he said, voice quiet as his eyes lingered on the small mark he’d left on her neck. “I never meant to hurt you.” His fingers brushed over hers.
A little line appeared between her brows. “You didn’t.”
“I left a mark on your neck.” A mark on her body. Hell. He was no better than Preston. He should have never,everhurt her. “It won’t happen again.”
“A mark?” She let him take the bag, and her fingers rose to flutter around her neck. But she didn’t seem upset. Instead, she smiled. “Does it look like the one I gave you?”
He had no idea what she meant.
Then her fingers slid along his neck and lingered over his racing pulse. “Because it’s right here, and you know what? I’m not sorry it’s there. Maybe I wanted to give you something to remember me by.”
Like he’d ever forget her. She was going to haunt the rest of his days.
“If I don’t apologize, then you don’t, either.” Her fingers brushed over his neck once more. “You don’t have to look so sad, I promise, you didn’t hurt me.”
Sad?Had she just said he lookedsad?
But…
Maybe he was sad. Because he’d just realized that soon, he would be giving her the safe life she wanted once more, and there was no place for someone like him in her world.
But I can make sure her world is as safe as possible.That was the one thing he could do. He could eliminate the threats to her. When it came to threat elimination, that was an area in which he excelled.
“I’ve never ridden in a helicopter before,” she confessed as they made their way outside. The chopper waited in the clearing near the front of the cabin. Lights shone from it, illuminating the area. “Is it weird that I’m a little bit scared?”
“Nothing about you is weird.” As far as he was concerned, she was pretty damn perfect. “But you don’t need to be scared. I’ll be with you every second.”
“Promise?”
He inclined his head and helped her into the chopper. Before he could jump in after her…