The Paper Swan(105)

“I’m on it,” he replied. “Go look after your girls.”

“I will. And Rafael?” Damian turned to him. “Are you all right?”

Rafael nodded and dropped the gun. “I’m just glad I got here when I did.”

“I owe you one. Big time.”

“You saved my life twice, Damian. I simply returned the favor. Two for two. Accounts balanced.”

“There were three of us. Don’t tell me this screwed up your brain cells, Mr. Mathemagician.”

Rafael attempted a smile, but were were all too shaken up. “Tell Sierra I want a rematch when she’s ready.”

“Game on, Rambo. But I have a feeling she’s still going to kick your butt.”





DAMIAN AND SIERRA WERE TOSSING peanuts into each other’s mouths.

Crunch. Crunch Crunch.

Crunch. Crunch. Crunch.

“Oh my God. Would you two stop that? It’s driving me insane! We’re never going to get this place ready.” I swept up the stray peanuts rolling on the floor.

We were at Damian’s island retreat, getting it ready so Rafael and his fiancée could honeymoon there.

“You know you don’t have to lift a finger.” Damian took the broom from me and set it aside. “I can have a crew come in and fix up the place in no time.”

“The man saved our lives, Damian. It’s the least I can do.”

“Clean is clean whether you do it yourself or hire someone to look after it.”

“You used to insist I do the chores around here.”

“That’s when I thought you were a self-entitled princess.”

“And now?” I linked my arms around his neck.

“Now I want you fully focused on other tasks.” Lifting one hand, he slipped his fingers under my shoulder strap and kissed the small, puckered scar.

I nudged him gently and motioned to our rapt audience. Sierra was watching us as if we were her favorite movie.

“Sierra—”

“I know, I know.” She cut Damian off. “Go read a book. Do you know how many books I’ve read this week? You guys are always kissing.” She made a face, but I caught her grin before she left.

“This bedroom is way too crowded for the three of us.” Damian went back to nuzzling my neck. “I’m thinking we could use an extension. Maybe a second storey.”

“Or you could sleep in the shack.” I trailed my nails down his back.

“Keep doing that and I’ll carry you off there right now.” One large hand tightened around my midriff.

“Not now,” I said, extracting myself from his grip. “When she’s napping.”

“She never naps,” Damian growled.

“Unless she’s tired.”

“Right.” He grinned and grabbed my hand. “Let’s go tire her out.”



Damian came out of the ocean, skin glistening in the sun, and walked towards me. I wished there was a longer stretch of beach between us because I could watch him forever. He was molded bronze in motion, hair wet and wild from his swim, sand sticking to his feet. He plunked down on the towel beside me and leaned over to kiss me. Salty drops on warm lips.

“She’s a bundle of energy,” he said.

I put my head on his chest and we watched Sierra jump the waves.

“I can’t see,” I said, after a while.

“I can’t help it,” he replied. His erection was blocking my view.

I laughed and handed him a bottle of sunblock. “Another twenty minutes and she’ll be all worn out.”

“Flip.” Damian straddled my back and started working the lotion in. “I have a wedding gift for you. I was going to surprise you with it, but I need your input. I bought some property in Paza del Mar. The site of the old warehouse.”

“The one you blew up? Where El Charro and his men died?”

“That’s the one. I want to build something good there, something worthwhile.”

“What did you have in mind?”

“How would you like to expand the work you do in Valdemoros? A permanent facility where you can employ some of the women you work with, when they get out. They can help you fulfill your orders and you can focus on training and education. You can still hold your workshops in Valdemoros, but you’d have a bigger base. There’s nothing to stop you from going international. I already have a shipping network in place. You can put some of the profits towards the charity you had Nick set up and use the rest to your discretion. Fair wages, women’s shelters, clinics, education programs—” He stopped rubbing lotion on my back and froze. “Skye?”