Tempted & Taken (Men of Haven #4)(105)
“Because they are loyal to me. Because they will travel with me to America.” He met Beckett’s stare head on. “But mostly because they respect the way you take care of your own.”
Jace sipped his scotch and eyeballed Sergei over the rim. “Sounds like your relocation plans are a little less hazy these days. Got someplace in particular in mind?”
A satisfaction that surprised Knox slipped across Sergei’s face. “New Orleans.”
More than one set of eyebrows popped high and Danny whistled. “Man, that’s a hot town.”
Sergei shrugged. “It has character. Good food. Good music. Warm.” He looked to Knox. “And close enough I can aid my family if they need me.”
“Think we’ve proven we’ve got family covered,” Axel said with a chuckle. “Though, you’ll be screwed twenty ways to Sunday if you don’t show for Christmas now that Levi’s claimed you.”
Sergei spied Levi back on the dance floor with Anna and his half-smirk popped back into place. “If he wants me there, I will not disappoint him.” He met each man’s eyes one at a time. “But my debt stands. If you need me, you need only call.”
The newest song ended and a swell of applause rang up to fill its void.
Before it died away, the band’s sultry female singer said something in Russian and the crowd parted.
Darya stood waiting in the center of the dance floor, Yefim standing beside her and holding her hand, waiting to hand her off to her husband.
Sergei tilted his head, his attention solely on Darya. “I believe the time for formalities and business is over.”
Hell, yeah it was. No more pomp and circumstance. No more interruptions. Just him, the music and his wife. He stood and buttoned his tux, pride pushing his shoulders back and leaving him ten feet tall. “Brother, I believe you’re right.”
*
Darya had thought San Diego was heaven on Earth. She’d been wrong. Maui was the real paradise.
Especially with Knox.
On the horizon, the sun glowed a beautiful gold, no more than a half hour from touching the turquoise water. Late afternoon clouds billowed above it, blending with the warm rays to paint the skies with mango, purples and soft blue.
More content than she could ever remember being in her life, she watched another day slip into night, comfortably nestled close to her dozing husband in their cabana on a private beach. For a man who’d once struggled to find sleep, now he did it easily. Only waking in the middle of the night to indulge them both in the sweetest intimacy. As if he realized they both needed the reminder they were alive and very much together. Safe and making their future together.
The wind danced against her skin, gently streaming her loose hair across her shoulders. Overhead, the white linen cover that had shielded her fair skin from the sun’s powerful afternoon rays gently wavered and the ocean lapped soft against the powder white sand.
Yes, this was heaven.
But then anyplace with Knox would be the same.
She lifted her head off his chest and smoothed her hand along his bare sternum. Beneath her palm and his Haven tags, the wolf he’d had tattooed above his heart stared back at her, solemn but beautiful. It had taken hours for the artist to complete it, but she’d sat with him throughout it, honored not only by the permanence of the mark, but the fact that he so proudly wore it. Her mark. Her heritage, now blended with his.
Never in her life had she considered taking such a step of her own, but watching him had changed her viewpoint. Now, the simple quote she’d once kept mounted above her kitchen sink lay coiled forever in graceful script around one wrist.
Dream as if you’ll live forever. Live as if you’ll die tomorrow.
From the day she’d heard Knox’s name, she’d known he’d be a part of her dreams. The foundation for her future. She’d just had no idea how much.
“You’re watching me again,” Knox mumbled without opening his eyes.
She loved his sleepy, grumble voice. Deep, rich and thick with wickedness. “If your brothers saw you this still and so long away from your keyboards, they’d accuse me of brainwashing you.”
His lips curled in a lazy smile and his eyelids lifted. In the setting sun, his eyes matched the gray tones of the softer clouds overhead. “They know better.”
She cocked her head. “Know what?”
He cupped the side of her face, his thumb dragging tenderly along the edge of her jaw and his gaze softening. “That I don’t need it anymore. The code kept me entertained. The hacks gave me challenge. But at the end of the day, all I wanted was something of my own. Someone of my own. No need to build something new or break through a wall, when you’ve already got perfection.”
Her stomach pitched and swirled to match the birds singing over the ocean, and her heart grew so light it was a wonder it stayed rooted in her chest. “You don’t want to build anything new?”
He grinned and his eyes twinkled. “Do orgasms count? Because I’m pretty inspired to build plenty of those.”
Boy, was he. From the time they’d boarded the plane in St. Petersburg, he’d made her pleasure and comfort paramount in all things. Totally indulgent in his sometimes overbearing alpha way.
But she loved it.
Dream as if you’ll live forever. Live as if you’ll die tomorrow.
It was right there. Winking up at her from her skin and offering encouragement. Daring her to bridge the one topic she’d been too nervous to bring up. But this was Knox. Her husband. Her foundation.