“Because I’m a bloody idiot.” I kissed her, hard, holding the back of her head with one hand while the other held her arse.
It had been four days since I was inside of her, and I needed her like a man starving. “Come,” I said, lifting her onto the pool deck and then hoisting myself out of the water. My rock-hard cock strained for release inside my swimsuit. Kensington cupped it with her hand.
We dripped water on the floor of the lift as I pushed her up against the back panel and ground myself against her.
When it stopped on the top floor, I carried her into the bedroom. There were eyes everywhere; I knew because I put them there, but Kensington’s naked body was for mine alone. I closed the blinds throughout the suite.
Our bodies were chilled from the pool’s water. I turned on the shower and led her inside once it was warm. “Put your hands on the wall.”
She complied, and I removed her swimsuit. I turned her around in the warm water and pressed her back against the tile.
After removing my own suit, I lifted her again and entered her with one thrust. Kensington cried out as I pounded into her, and her wetness engulfed my cock.
I kept her in bed the rest of the afternoon, pleasuring her body again and again. Every so often, I’d run warm water in the jetted tub and let it soothe us.
“I couldn’t imagine a place more perfect,” she said as we watched the storm clouds roll in over the sea. “It looks so ominous, almost dangerous, and yet here we are, safe and warm.”
From where I sat, I could see the cemetery where Celestina rested, but I couldn’t feel her presence. I hadn’t for days.
Kensington was swirling the water with her hands. Her, I could feel. Her soft skin, her warm heart, and her troubled mind.
“Is there something you want to ask me?” When she shook her head, I nipped her ear. “Do not lie to me, my darling.”
She turned her head enough that she could look at me. “Marta said there was a baby.”
I closed my eyes, knowing Kensington could feel my pain. “Yes,” I whispered.
“I’m sorry, Cortez.”
I shook my head, and a tear fell down my cheek. For every moment I mourned Celestina, I mourned our unborn child twice as much. I knew it was a boy, not because a doctor confirmed it, just because I knew.
He would be the same age as my brother’s oldest son. I’d never told anyone about the baby. I sensed my mother knew, but she’d never said anything either.
The only person who had known Celestina was pregnant at the time of her death was Marta, and I wasn’t upset with her for telling Kensington. I can’t say whether I ever would have or not. That she did know, soothed me, though.
“Can I ask you something?”
I looked into the warmth of her amber eyes. “Anything.”
“Do you want to have children someday?”
If anyone other than Kensington had asked, I would’ve said I didn’t see myself becoming a father. Or maybe it wasn’t “other than her,” maybe it was before her.
“I would like that very much. What about you?”
“If you had asked me that a few months ago, I would’ve said I didn’t see myself becoming a mother.”
I kissed her cheek, unable to hold in my laughter.
“What? Is that funny?”
“Not at all, it’s just that I thought those same words, almost exactly. How do you feel now, my darling?”
“I worry that I wouldn’t be good at it. You know, because of Kiki.”
“But you aren’t Kiki’s daughter. You’re Bea’s.”
“I know we’ve talked about that, but do you really think I was influenced more by my grandmother than my mother?”
“In every way.”
“What makes you so certain?”
“If I were to meet you and Kiki at the same time, same place, I wouldn’t guess you are related at all. You’re nothing alike. You don’t look alike, and you certainly don’t act like her.”
“She always seemed like an annoying older sister. One I didn’t have to see very often.”
“What about your father?”
She was swirling the water with her hands again. “He has a good heart, albeit a selfish one.”
“It is good you recognize it for what it is.”
“Kiki was pregnant when they got married. They were engaged for a year, so it wasn’t as though I was the only reason they got married. But sometimes I wonder if she hadn’t been pregnant, if he would’ve gone through with it. From what Gran Bea told me, it wasn’t long after, that his career took off.”
“How many would you want?”
“Children?”
“Yes.”
She shrugged and laughed. “I don’t know.”
“Come on. You thought of a number. Say it out loud.”
“Four.”
“Why four?”
“Four bedrooms.”
“Ah. I see. We could have more if they shared rooms.”
“Good point.”
I expected Kensington to balk, but she didn’t. She didn’t even flinch. Was it possible that this could be my life? Could happiness truly be close enough for me to touch?
Kensington turned her body and faced me. She put her hands on my face and looked into my eyes. “Yes, it truly can be.”
19
Kensington
Teagon sat down next to me with her plate of breakfast foods. “The two of you are so happy, it’s bloody annoying.”
“Agreed,” muttered Casper from the other end of the table.
“I won’t apologize for it.”
Teagon covered my hand with hers. “I was joking.”
“I wasn’t,” said Casper.
“Ignore her,” my best friend whispered under her breath. Casper got up and left, which didn’t bother me in the least.
“Is it really necessary for her to be here?”
“That isn’t my decision, Kenz.”
“Maybe I’ll talk to Cortez about it.”
“If he refuses, understand that it’s only—”
“For my protection. I understand.” I looked over my shoulder to make sure no one else was in the room with us. “Have you met the others?”
With wide eyes, she nodded slowly.
“And?”
“I’m considering his offer to leave MI6 and come work for him.”
“Seriously? Why? I mean, I know why, but…you know what I mean.”
She put one hand on her hip. “Yes, Kenz, what you mean is I’m a catch.”
“I’d say.” I threw a handful of blueberries into my mouth. “What about it, then? Would you?”
“Maybe. It shouldn’t matter, but the pay he offered is quite good.”
“Why shouldn’t it matter? If it’s your job, you should be paid your worth.” I shook my head. “Says the person who’s never held a job in her life. Ignore me.”
“No, you’re right. It isn’t that MI6 doesn’t pay well; it does. It’s just that going private appears to pay better.”
“What about meeting the others made you say you’re considering a change?”
“Oh, right.” She looked over her shoulder like I had. “Kenzie, have you seen them?”
“Them?”
“The other two agents Rile put on your detail.”
“I thought there were four.”
“There are, but two seem to be a couple, sort of. They fight like one. Anyway, it’s the other two men I’m speaking of.”
“I’ve only seen them from a distance.”
“You know I have no interest whatsoever in Rile, right?”
I scrunched my eyes. “Yes, but why would you preface it with such a statement?”
“Because he’s bloody hot, that’s why.”
“True.”
“These other two are hotter. Way hotter.”
I smiled and winked. “I find that impossible to believe.”
“For you, maybe, since these gents are under thirty.”
I slugged her arm.
“So…hot, eh?”
“One more than the other, but gawd.”
“Maybe you’ll get your next best kiss ever soon.”
She shook her head. “Not a chance. We’re working, but when this is over, who knows?”
My face fell, and I couldn’t hide it.
Teagon put her hand on my arm. “What?”
“I said ‘soon.’”
“Yeah?”
“And you said not a chance.”
“Oh, I see. You took that to mean that this won’t be over soon.”
“Doesn’t it?”
“I guess there’s no way of knowing. At least not yet.”
“Can’t someone just lock Konstantine up? Or can’t I get a restraining order or something?”
“Not a lot of good that would do, and no, he’s got diplomatic immunity.”
“Why? He’s not a diplomat.”
“Respect for a previous monarch, I guess.”
“So he can behave like a lunatic and just gets away with it? Surely, King Ferdinand could’ve done something.”
“You know how it is.”
“What does that mean?”
“Diplomacy. Politics. Looking the other way when it comes to royals.”
I suppose I did. Although I was glad to see some comeuppance as of late. Particularly with my one “cousin” who fraternized with the sex slave trafficker. He might not be in jail, but he had certainly become persona non grata.
Teagon swiped a handful of blueberries from my bowl. “What about after, Kenz? What happens between you and Rile?”
“I don’t know,” I said barely above a whisper. Should I tell her we talked about kids?
“Buenos días,” said Marta, coming off the lift.
“Good morning, Marta,” I said, standing to hug her. “Welcome back. Did you have a nice holiday?”
She shrugged and got a sad look. “As nice as it can be now, I suppose.”
I felt like someone had punched me in the stomach with all their might, and grabbed the kitchen counter to steady myself.
“I’m sorry, Marta. I didn’t realize.”
She patted my cheek with her palm. “You have nothing to be sorry for, sweetheart. It does my heart good to see Cortez happy again.”
“See you later, Marta!” called out Teagon, motioning me toward the lift. “What was that about?” she asked once the door closed behind us.
“Celestina was Marta’s daughter.”
“How…” She shook her head. “You scare me sometimes.”
I felt ill and wrapped my arms around my stomach. When we got to the fourth floor, I followed her into the bedroom and flopped on the bed.
“Are you okay?”
I buried my head in the pillow. “I don’t think so.”
A few minutes passed before Teagon or I spoke again.
“Kenz?”
I turned my head to look at her.
“What about Konstantine? I mean, could you…did you know…”
“What he was thinking?” I thought about the way I felt that night when we were at the bar and how I’d known intuitively not to cross him. Was it because I was reading something someone else might not see, or was it just what I’d witnessed with others?
“Could you?” she asked again.
“I’m not certain.”
“What about me? Do you know what I’m thinking?”
“It’s too disturbing. I block you.”
Her eyes opened wider.
“I’m kidding. Gawd, Teag. It’s not an all-the-time thing. And it isn’t necessarily knowing what someone is thinking. It’s a combination of reaction and body language and intuition.”
“There’s no way you could’ve known that Rile’s deceased wife was Marta’s daughter.”
“No? Not even when a look of sadness came over her face and she said, ‘as nice as it can be now’? Honestly, I think that was mainly intuition.”
“It’s interesting to think about, yes? Do you have a sixth sense, or are you just really good at reading people? Whichever it is, Kenz, it’s unnerving.”
I stood and shook my arms and legs. “I need some exercise, and you do too if you want to impress these hotter-than-Cortez guys you were talking about.”
“Thanks a lot, mate.”
“Come on, let’s go do something. I’m going crazy just sitting around.”
We went for a swim, and then I ran on the treadmill while Teagon lifted weights.
“That didn’t help,” I grumbled.
“How far did you run?”
I looked over at the display on the treadmill. “Five miles.”
“If that didn’t help, I don’t know what will.”
I wiggled my eyebrows. “I do.”
“Can’t help you there, girlfriend.”
“I can,” said Cortez, coming around the corner and scaring the bejesus out of me. He walked over and put his arm around me.
“I’m all sweaty.”
“The way I like you best,” he whispered, licking my neck.
“That will be my cue to leave. Thanks for the workout, Kenz.” She looked at Cortez and, when he nodded, walked out of the workout room.
“I’m sorry I’ve been too busy to spend time with you today.”
“Don’t be. It isn’t up to you to entertain me.”
“I like entertaining you very much.” He wiggled his eyebrows like I had.
I smiled and sat down on one of the lifting benches.
“Something is on your mind.”
I wiped my sweaty face with a towel. “Do you know that, or are you guessing, or do you already know what I’m thinking?”
He sat next to me. “I can tell there’s something on your mind because you seem tense. I cannot read your mind, Kensington. When I know what you’re thinking, it’s because you want me to. Even then, it’s a feeling.”
“Sometimes, I think I hear your words in my head.”
“Yes, it can be that way.”
“Doesn’t it make you crazy?”
“It isn’t any different than when you and I are talking. I can choose to still my mind and listen to what you’re saying because I very much want to know. There are other times there’s a great deal on my mind, and I’m not paying attention the way I should. It’s the same for everyone, I think.”
“It’s just that you hear more than only what people say.”
“Not always. But back to my question, Kensington, is there something on your mind you’d like to discuss with me?”
I looked down at my feet, thinking that I was going to need a new pair of running shoes soon. “I feel like I’m in limbo.”
“I understand. When can you get back to a life that feels more normal?”
“I’m not sure I know what that even means. Not since Gran Bea died. It’s just that I’ve never been someone who needed round-the-clock security. My grandmother did, and it was second nature to her.”
He was quiet, thoughtful, and I appreciated that he wouldn’t give me an off-the-cuff answer.
“I wish I could read your mind right now.”
Cortez smiled. “I am conflicted.”
Not what I expected. “Why?”
“I very much like having you here.”
I felt my cheeks flush. “I like being here.”
“But you wish you could have more freedom.”
“Doesn’t everyone desire to go for a walk alone?” I picked my foot up from the floor and rotated my ankle. “Or buy new running shoes when they need them?”
“We will take care of as many of your desires as we are able to. Some will be easier than others.”
The one question I wanted to ask, I couldn’t bring myself to. I was too afraid of his answer.
Cortez took my hand and pulled me to my feet. He put his arms around me and stared into my eyes. “I want you to be here with me because it’s where you want to be, not because you have to be.”
“That’s what I want as well.”
“Know that I am doing everything i
n my power to make that happen.”
20
Rile
By the end of January, I knew Kensington was restless. No matter how hard she tried to hide it from everyone else, she couldn’t possibly hide it from me.
I had taken her to the same bistro for her birthday where I took her on Christmas Eve. When I told her to make a wish and blow out the candles, she gave me an idea I’d been painstakingly working to make happen.
As far as the von Habsburgs, I was frustrated by the lack of information regarding Otto’s recovery since I was certain that questioning him about his attack would lead to a revelation about why his cousin seemed obsessed with Kensington.
The diplomatic immunity Konstantine enjoyed meant law enforcement was unable to hold him after an arrest. Within hours, he was a free man.
As was so often the case, it then fell upon those same authorities to keep the victim—in this case, Kensington—a virtual prisoner in order to keep them safe.
I hoped the surprise I had planned for her would raise her spirits. It took a tremendous amount of planning, including making arrangements with my father to use his plane, given the distance I intended to travel.
Prior to that, it took a lot of convincing—and more than a lot of money—to make sure we had the entire island to ourselves.
With everything now in place, we were slated to leave on the first of February. All that was left to do was inform Kensington.
I found her sitting by the infinity pool, reading a book. When she set it in her lap and looked up at me, I leaned down and kissed her.
“There’s something on your mind,” she said, winking.
I sat down beside her when she scooted over on the chaise. “I have a surprise for you.”
Her eyes lit up.
“We’re taking a trip.”
“Are you going to tell me where?”
“I’d rather keep that a surprise as well. However, I want to reassure you that we are not going to America.”
She laughed. “As long as you’re not taking me back to Kiki’s, I can wait. Should I pack?”
“Yes. Plan for balmy weather.”
“I like it already.”
When I leaned forward and kissed her again, she put her arms around my neck. “Thank you, Cortez.”
Riled (The Invincibles Book 4) Page 12