“You’re feeling optimistic, aren’t you?” she said aloud, laughter in her voice.

His fingers found her hair, wrapping a length around his fist. He gave a gentle tug and made an effort to find his voice. “That’s a challenge, woman, and all good soldiers find a way to meet a challenge.”

He felt her laughter in his mind, that soft, melting molasses that just poured in and filled him with happiness. How had he ever managed without her?

“I wasn’t challenging you, Sammy. I’m not certain I’ll ever be able to walk again,” she pointed out. “I think I have skid marks inside.”

Alarm spread instantly. “Did I hurt you?”

“You know you didn’t, but we were a little on the wild side. I’m definitely going to be a little sore, but I’m perfectly willing to give up walking.”

Again her laughter poured into his mind. That soft, sensual sound could bring a man to his knees.

“I don’t think we have to go that far,” Sam said, careful not to let his voice shake with emotion. She was a dream he feared he might wake up from all too soon.

“Thank you for remembering to protect me, Sam,” Azami said. “I do want a child, but I want to go into it with both of us knowing what we’re getting into. I can go on birth control. It’s just that I never thought I would need it.”

He turned toward her, elbow on the bed, his head propped in his hand. “Didn’t you think you’d eventually sleep with someone?” Even as he said it, his mind rejected the idea. He put his free hand on her bare stomach, fingers splayed wide. He nearly covered her entire abdomen with his large hand.

Her long lashes swept down, veiling her expression. “I am never around men long enough to get to know them. You and I had an unusual and unexpected connection.”

Her suspicious tone irritated him. “Don’t say one word about Whitney. He doesn’t belong in our bedroom,” he warned sharply.

“I wasn’t going to.”

“But you were thinking it. My connection with you is not purely on a physical level. Whitney can manipulate pheromones, but he can’t make a man fall in love with a woman. He can’t make him want to protect her.” He caught her chin and lifted it, forcing her gaze up to his. “I want to wake up every morning with you beside me. I want to laugh with you. Fight with you. Grow old with you. This—you and me—isn’t about lust, Azami.”

“I know that,” she admitted, reaching to stroke a caress down his face. “I do, Sam. It’s just so—unexpected. When I flew out here, a man was the last thing on my mind.”

“Should I expect one of your brothers to try to take my head off with his sword tomorrow?”

“Why would you think that?”

“You’re in my bed, Azami,” he pointed out.

“You asked permission.”

“To marry you. To court you. Not to sleep with you.”

“I make my own decisions, Sam. They know that.” She smiled at him, that mysterious smile that said so many things. “They know better than to try to tell me what to do.”

“That’s a relief.” He smirked a little. “I wouldn’t want to have to fight a relative.” He forced himself to sit up. “I’m going to run you a bath. I don’t want you sore.”

“You don’t have to do that.”

“Yes, I do.” He leaned over to brush a kiss across her mouth. “We’re not done. I have a lot more to show you. You need to soak and get some sleep first though.” Already he could feel the first stirrings of need moving through his mind.

Azami stayed on the bed, staring up at the ceiling, a bemused expression on her face while he dealt with the condom and started the bathwater running. She turned her head toward him as he came back to stand in the doorway. She looked beautiful, sprawled out on his bed, her long hair everywhere, a little drowsy, her lashes long and her mouth sinful. He was having fantasies about that mouth.

“You know that your friends will try to talk you out of marrying me once they realize you’re serious,” she said. Her voice was very quiet, very matter-of-fact.

He stiffened. “They know you’re not working against them, Azami. They accept that you’re a GhostWalker. Anything you’ve done to take down Whitney is no different from what we do. We’re in a fight for our lives, for the lives of our children. They’ll not only accept you but welcome you. You’re an amazing weapon.”

She smiled at him, serenity on her face. “That has nothing to do with what I’m saying. I’m certain they’ll all get used to having me provide information, support, and even tactical help when needed.”

“Why would you believe they would have an objection to you?”

“They love you. That was very evident to me when you were hurt. All of them hovered around the room these past few days, continually checking on you. I heard them asking Lily if you needed blood, anything at all to help. They will try to talk you out of marriage to me out of love for you.”

He went to her, lifting her off the bed to hold her close to him. “You make me happy, Azami. I’m happier than I ever thought I could be. That’s all they’re going to care about.” He carried her to the bathroom.

She brushed her hand over his face. Her fingers trailed over his jaw and the stubble there, conveying tenderness in that small touch. “Silly man. They will not understand why I don’t show you affection publicly. And I cannot. It’s against my nature.”

“I put a little of that oil in the water. It seemed to have some kind of healing agent in it and I thought it might help,” he said as he let her feet drop into the water.

Azami wrapped her hair up, tying the thick mass into a knot on top of her head before sinking gratefully into the hot, scented bath. “Thank you, Sam, this feels wonderful.”

“Two things, woman,” Sam said, watching as she leaned her head against the taller backrest, relaxing completely. “First, I have no doubt that if I ever needed a public display of affection, you would provide for me. I can’t see that happening. I have every confidence in your feelings for me. Secondly, we have telepathy. I intend to use that shamelessly when we’re out in public. Our relationship is ours. I like it that way.”

“You’re a remarkable man, Sam,” she said, her lashes drifting down. “You really are. When I’m in your mind, I feel your strength and confidence. Your intelligence. I fell in love with that immediately.” Her lashes lifted, her eyes meeting his. “I didn’t think I would find a man as good as my father. He was a fierce warrior, yet gentle and kind. He was gifted and yet humble. He raised my brothers to be the same.”

“And you, Azami, he raised you to be the same.”

She smiled. “That’s a huge compliment, Sammy. I’m not always as kind and gentle as I would like to be. I have tried to put my anger at Whitney aside and go after him for the right reasons, but it isn’t always easy.” Her eyes darkened. “It didn’t help that he was willing to sacrifice you to an enemy for his own gain. He claimed he would have a man in place to kill you the moment the diamond is in his hand, but you know he wouldn’t. You would suffer torture the moment you are in the hands of Ezekial Ekabela. Whitney wouldn’t chance sending one of the men in his private army. He can’t afford to lose too many more. They’re enhanced, but they all have failed the psyche tests and eventually they’re going to short-circuit.”

“I’ve run into a couple,” Sam said.

“I feel sorry for them,” Azami conceded. “They give up their lives, thinking they’re going to get something extraordinary. He gives them good salaries, far more than they can ever make in the military, but they have to ‘die’ on a military mission and give up their lives with family and friends to serve him. In the end, they lose everything.”

“He promises them a woman,” Sam told her.

She nodded. “I know. I’ve studied his tactics. I’ve been trying to find his connections to the military and the White House and sever them, but as fast as I cut one tentacle, he seems to grow another.”

“You have to remember Peter Whitney is a billionaire. He is considered by many to be the world’s most renowned scientist. Few people are aware of his experiments. He has political connections everywhere. He supported candidates and charities, and has research facilities all over the world. His connection to the military goes way back. He went to school with many of the people now running things.”

“His daughter has his money, doesn’t she?” Azami asked. “She inherited it when he supposedly died. He never came out of hiding to claim he was alive.”

“No, but he’d already siphoned off hundreds of millions to untraceable accounts. Believe me, he has no money problems. And he’s so entrenched in the military, he can still land his planes at any military base around the world.”

“I couldn’t draw him out, not even to meet with us about the satellite,” Azami said with a small sigh. She yawned, covering the gesture with her hand. “Every single time I get a fix on his location, he’s gone by the time I get there.”

“He moves between his facilities and he’s got several that are nearly impenetrable. That doesn’t mean we won’t stop him, Azami. We’ll get him.” He crooked his finger at her. “Stand up, honey. You’re going to fall asleep in the tub.”

She complied, pulling the stopper to allow the water to flow out. Sam wrapped her in a towel and lifted her out, drying her thoroughly before working the knot out of her hair so it could fall free down her back. He buried his face in the silky mass.

“I love your hair.”

She smiled up at him. “You always make me feel beautiful, Sam.”

He hugged her tight. “You are beautiful. Hell, woman, get a clue.”

She snuggled against his chest. “I’m glad you think so.” She put her arms around him and held him tight. “You know I can’t help being protective of you, Sam.”

He laughed and scooped her up. “I feel the same way toward you.” But he heard that little caution in her voice. She was serious about something and didn’t think he was going to like it—which meant he probably wouldn’t.

He carried her to the bed and tossed her onto the mattress, coming down beside her and dragging up the covers. “Just say it.”

“Do you think General Ranier is working with Whitney?” When he remained silent, she lifted her hand to his face. “I ask because he appears to be some of the time, but I can’t be certain. Would he betray you to serve Whitney?”

Sam swore to himself, detesting that he couldn’t give her a straight answer. “General Ranier is a patriot. He loves his country and has dedicated his life to serving it.”

She continued to look at him, not saying a word, yet answering him very eloquently with her silence.

Sam pulled her close, kissing her hard. “Go to sleep, baby. I’m waking you up in an hour or so.” He kissed her again, his throat aching. “Just go to sleep.”

CHAPTER 15

Sam kept his eyes closed, afraid if he opened them, he would know everything had been a drug induced illusion. His hand reached out and beside him, the bed was empty. His heart skipped a beat and his mind rejected the idea that making love with Azami had all been a dream. For a moment, he was the young boy in the darkened doorway, terrified of moving, of breathing even, because the world would come crashing down.

He inhaled, and her fragrance still lingered in the room mixed with their combined scents. He’d made love to her three times, waking her again and again and still, it wasn’t enough to sate him. He wanted her again with every bit as much intensity and passion as he had the first time. There was no doubt in his mind, he would always feel that way about her.