“Anything?”
“Anything.”
“Like I once peed in Chaos’s Mountain Dew?”
“Oh, my! Crikey, you didn’t. Not that. Boys!” She tried to push away from him.
Zeke laughed and hauled her back against his chest. He kissed her to stop her sputtering and then asked against her lips, “You really … fancy me?” His gaze was so open and trusting. Mia knew she had his heart and prayed she would never hurt him. She had no idea how their future would work, but she loved him. Heart, body, and soul.
“I fancy you, Captain Zeke Hendrickson. I love every bit of this huge body of yours and your huge heart as well.”
She was surprised to see his eyes were a true blue and they were bright. Surely the tough captain wouldn’t cry, but maybe …
He kissed her instead. “I love you, Mia,” he murmured against her lips. Then he was kissing her and there was no more time for talking.
Talking, bantering, healing from old wounds, and even pledging devotion would have to wait. Kissing Zeke took precedence over everything right now.
ChapterFifteen
Zeke woke to a loud pounding, his phone buzzing on his hip, bright sunlight streaming through the windows, and a beautiful woman drooling on his T-shirt.
He smiled at Mia. The pressure of her was perfect in his arms. Just perfect. That pounding, his phone, and now the calls of, “Cap, Cap!” Those could go away.
He tried to gently lift her and set her to the side, but she stirred and looked at him with black-rimmed eyes and hair poking up everywhere. “Zeke.” She groggily laid her head back down on his chest.
“Cap!” It was Lewis’s voice. Lewis didn’t call him “Cap.” He snootily called him “Captain America.”
“Go away!” Mia yelled back.
The knocking and calling out stopped. His phone didn’t.
“At least they’re alive,” another voice said. Charlie, probably.
Zeke laughed. “I’m coming.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead, slid out from under her, and stood.
“No,” she begged, grabbing his hand, staring up at him with those incredible dark eyes. Even with makeup smudged under them, they were perfect and powerful. “Don’t let them in. They’ll ruin it all. They’ll ruin our love.”
Zeke smiled at her, but her words made his gut churn. “It’ll be okay.”
“Will it?” Mia looked nothing like the polished professional he’d met two days ago. She was even better. He liked that she could let down her guard and that she wanted his reassurance. Maybe even needed it.
He bent low and kissed her. “I’ll make sure it’s okay. Do you trust me?”
“Yes,” she admitted, biting at her lip and making him just want to kiss her. They’d kissed a lot last night. A whole lot. He’d absolutely loved everything about last night, their touch therapy, their kisses, most especially their declarations of love. He had no idea how to stay close to her, but he couldn’t lose her. His long and exceptional career and loyalty to his country and men had always been his top priorities. Not any longer. Mia. She was top for him.
“Okay.” He trailed his fingers along her soft cheek. “We’re going to make this work. How could I ever find another woman whose touch doesn’t repulse me?” He was trying to joke, but it was actually true. She was unique and perfect. Perfect for him.
Instead of laughing, her eyes got intense. She grabbed his hand and pressed a heated kiss to his palm. He loved her touch more than he loved fighting. “You promised me touch therapy every day.”
“I did.” He squeezed her hand.
“Cap.” Thor’s voice. “It’s great news. Can you open the door?”
Zeke helped her to her feet and kept his hand in hers. Touch therapy every day. How could he have promised that? How could he come through? He had until the end of the holidays to figure it out.
He led her to the door, unlocked and opened it. Lewis, Charlie, and Thor all stood there. Charlie and Thor were grinning. Lewis looked … less ticked off than usual. His phone had stopped buzzing but it started again.
“Me?” Thor asked the other two.