Kid woke up, momentarily disoriented and confused about where he was, until his sleepy vision and mind cleared and his surroundings came into focus. This wasn’t his hotel room…no, the scent of smoke in the air, the fact that he wasn’t lying down and his body felt heavy. The scent of this place stirred his senses, feminine, delicate, delicious. With a low exhale, he turned his head and glanced to his side.

Paige was fast asleep, snuggled up against him like he was her favorite pillow. Her silky black hair was tousled over his shoulder and down his arm, her hands curled against her face. Even in sleep, she was a paradox. While she’d been confident and assertive last night, now she looked vulnerable and sweet.

He wondered at her independence, at how she seemed to like to be alone. Was that how she’d felt when she was growing up. Was she afraid of relying on one particular person too much, even for something as simple as tenderness and a warm, secure embrace? Or was he reading too much into her actions?

She had three brothers whom she raised to be men. As he continued to watch her sleep, he wondered if he’d ever figure her out. All those facets and layers that showed him that the person she presented to the outside world wasn’t necessarily who she was inside.

That kinda hit him in the heart.

The usual male occurrence in the morning was tight against the zipper of his jeans and waking to Paige didn’t help it one bit. Paige twitched, then stirred, gradually coming awake. She blinked slumberously, her lashes still weighing heavily with sleep.

“Morning,” he murmured. She looked up at him and sighed.

“Kid Chaos,” she whispered softly. Then she slid up closing the barely there, intimate space between them. Settling her mouth over his, she ambushed him, took him down with nothing but her hot, moist mouth.

He made a low, indistinguishable sound as he kissed her back. She clutched at him, and he grabbed her around the waist and pulled her across his hips. When she straddled him, intimately and fully aligning her body against his, he groaned, soft and deep, his dick thickening and pressing hard against the jeans. He caught her jaw, his hand sliding around the back of her neck, over her soft, satiny nape, his fingers tunneling up into her hair, holding her, his tongue sliding into the warm, honeyed depths of her mouth.

And sliding again, exploring, taking her with a kiss again and again while she moved those beautiful hips against him. He held her tighter, kissed her harder, his heart starting to pound—because she let him. She more than let him. Damn, for such a solitary little thing, she was so sweet, turning into him, her lips so soft, her tongue sliding over his. She made a sound deep in her throat, and he knew he was in trouble, hands down, no holds barred—and he loved it, the heated thrill of it, the chase, anticipating the hot, hot sex of discovering a woman for the first time, the excitement of taking her clothes off—the way he wanted to take Paige’s clothes off and just get into her.

Yeah.

He slanted his mouth over hers more fully, taking more of her, taking everything he could get, all the sweet surrender and every soft sigh.

She rocked against him, and his eyes almost crossed. The torture of it aching all the way down to his tight, engorged balls.

Her cell phone went off, and they both froze as if cold water had been thrown on them. He swore, viciously. She stopped kissing him and lifted her head, her mouth swollen, her face burned by his beard.

He was pinned to the sofa, his body rigid with the need for her aching through him. She gasped softly, her breath hot against his mouth. He closed his eyes to gain control.

They both trembled, the need rippling out, hers vibrating against his body. “Fuck it. Just fuck the whole damn world,” he growled.

He held her as she reached for the damn instrument of his sexual destruction and frustration.

“Hello.” She listened, the need draining from her face. “Is he all right? I’ll be there in fifteen minutes.” She disconnected the call and threw it to the sofa. “Oh, Ashe,” she murmured, softening against him and running her fingers up through his hair. “I think we’re in trouble here.”

He tightened his arms around her and buried his face in her neck, breathing her in, filled himself with the warm and lovely scent of her skin. “You feel so damn good.”

“You do, too.” She sighed. “I guess this is going to be an issue.”

He nodded. “Yeah, babe, from where I’m sitting, I don’t think it’s something easily ignored. We can talk about it later. You need to go?”

“Yes, that was Juan from work. He said Cris came back from an errand looking really upset. I want to make sure he’s okay. Also, I could possibly get you a job as a guide since Juan dislocated his shoulder from his last trip down, and Cris has him on office duties.”

“That’s a good idea. Get me into the fold.”

He groaned softly when she moved. He couldn’t help it. She came back down on him. Which was both wonderful and tortuous. She looked so upset. “I’m sorry. Should I…” She moved again, and he bit back a curse.

“Wait,” he gritted out and grabbed her around the waist, standing. He held her against him. “Oh, this is so much better.”

“No, what would be better is if you were riding me right now.” She had her arms around his neck. He loved the way she met his eyes.

“I’d like that, too. I’m sorry about your…”

“Hard-on? No need to be sorry there, ma’am. It’s working as intended.”

“I can vouch for that.”

“It’s all because of you.” He tortured himself by letting her slip down his body. She stepped back. “I should get a shower.” She was looking at his mouth. Sweet Jesus, his eyes closed on a silent prayer. And the answer was…yes. He wasn’t sure he wanted it to be no when he felt her hand on his face, tracing his jaw to his bottom lip.

Could this be the biggest mistake of his life, and if he stopped running from commitment, might he find it?

His eyes opened, and he felt as if his chest was too tight. What? He hadn’t run from commitment. Where the hell had that thought come from? He was committed to the Navy and to both women he’d loved. Fuck that. What?

He had no doubt where the two of them were going to end up—hot and naked and all over each other. He didn’t see any way around it.

His gaze was riveted to her eyes that roamed over his face. She was well aware of it, too.

He was so doomed.

He brought his hand up to her face and gently cupped her cheek, then leaned sideways and pressed his mouth to her temple, just to feel the softness of her skin—and she was soft, incredibly, seductively soft, so female. He slid his mouth lower, closer to her ear. Her hair tickled his skin. He breathed her in again, that woman scent, one-hundred percent pure female; a deeper, unnamable essence that was simply, irrevocably her.

He breathed her in, letting his mouth roam even lower, down to the delicate angle of her jaw and the tender skin of her throat. Moving back up, he nuzzled his face into the curve of her neck and his satisfaction deepened. She was trembling, her pulse fluttering, and she was cupping his face tenderly in her hand, her palm brushing lightly against his just-there beard.

He’d won her last night, through strength and cunning and skill. Fought for her and won.

He was completely in chaos, not here in this place, not like he’d been in other places, at other times—but he’d still won her and he wanted to claim what he’d won.

He lowered his mouth to hers and gave himself up to the biggest risk of his life. It was the sweetest thing he’d ever done—to sink into her kiss, to feel the texture of her mouth beneath his, absorb her. The smell of her was like a balm to his soul, soft skin, warm scent, sweet woman sighing in his mouth and firing him all the way up. He pulled her close, loving the feel of her, the life of her.

It had been too long since he’d done this, lost himself in a woman.

With a soft exhalation, he gave her a nudge toward the bathroom. “We’d better go, now, babe, or we won’t be going for some time.”

“Ashe.” Was all she said, and he liked that there was regret there.

“Shower, now,” he whispered. “I’m going to run to the hotel. I’ll meet you at the office.”

She nodded.

And he was already gone. Out the door, down the cute path between the palm trees and to the street. The boots he wore were quite nice and unlike the borrowed clothes, he decided he would keep them. He made it back to his hotel room in record time, stripped, showered and ran an electric razor over his face.

He donned cargo pants, T-shirt, and an open shirt over the top, then a light jacket. He wished he had his nine mil. Then he was back out the door to the street. He eyed the church where they had cut through the cemetery to get to her little cottage.

As he reached Going Down Wilderness Excursions, he saw her coming down the street. He waved to her. She looked good in her jeans, boots, a light jacket over a deep brown sweater that only made her tiger-eyes pop.

She handed him some fruit and a doughy cake. “I stopped at the market,” she said. Her eyes went over him before he opened the door for her.

They stepped inside and Juan, his arm in a sling said, “He’s in his office. He hasn’t come out.” When he spied Kid he said, “Hey man, Juan.”

“Ashe,” Kid responded with a smile and a handshake.

“This way,” Paige said. “Thanks for calling me.”

When she got to Cris’s office, she knocked. “Come in,” he said. She pushed the door open and Kid walked in behind her.

“Paige, I told you to take a couple days off,” he scolded. “You had quite a scare yesterday. I wanted you to have the opportunity to rest. What brings you into the office against my orders.”

“You. I heard you were upset. Are you okay?”

“Never better,” he said in a forced cheerful voice, but Kid could see he was lying. He could smell the fear on the guy.

“Cris, you can always count on me,” she said, and he could see that she was completely sincere. Cris’s features softened, and he smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. He was spooked, royally spooked.

“Of course, I know that, Paige, but everything is fine.” He looked at Kid. “How are you, Ashe? You had just as much of a scare. This was supposed to be your vacation. I thought you’d be doing some sightseeing.”

“No, I heard that you were looking for a guide. I can do the job for a bit if that will help you out.”

He mulled it over, giving Ashe a scrutinizing look. “We can talk about it. I want to make sure you know the drill, and can handle the job.”

“Of course.”

He talked with Cris while Paige went out to the front office to do some work. When they were finished, Cris was happy to have him on board. “So, Ashe, what do you do for a living?”

“I’m in the Navy.”

Cris’s brows rose, but it wasn’t because he was surprised. It was almost as if he knew Kid would say that.

“Special Operations?”

“Why do you ask?”

“The way you handled yourself with Paige, your reflexes. A split second too late, and she wouldn’t be here.” That made his gut tighten. “I’m in the teams. I’m glad I was there to save her. She’s special.”

“That she is. Thank you for helping us out.”

Kid nodded and rose. “I will see you tomorrow.”

Cris nodded looking preoccupied. “You have family, young man?”

“Yes.”

“They are precious.”

“Yes, they are.”

Cris nodded once more, then turned back to his computer.

Kid exited the office and when Paige saw him she came around the counter. “I’ll see you later, Juan.”

He waved with his good arm.

“Why don’t we get a bite at the hotel? Then we can discuss your reports.”

“All right,” she said as she followed him down the cobblestone street. “About last night and this morning.”

“Intense,” he said, giving her a side glance, her hair caught the breeze and fluttered. He wanted to touch her.

“I don’t really have time for relationships in my life, but I could make room for something temporary while you’re here.”

“Yeah, I get it. Distance is a bitch.”

“Don’t get me wrong. I live in San Diego, so that’s not a problem. I just need to focus on my job, even more so when I get the promotion.”

He nodded. “Totally get it.” He felt the need to say, “I’m gone a lot, Paige. It’s not an easy time for anyone who’s waiting for me at home. I’m focused one-hundred percent on what I do. It’s primary in my life. I don’t apologize for that ever. You always have to suck it up and do what needs to be done. It goes double for my private life.”

“Just as long as we’re clear, Ashe.”

“You know, my friends call me Kid.”

“Do they?”

“Well,” he shrugged, “my guy friends.”

“Are you uncomfortable with me calling you by your first name, too personal?”

“No.”

“All right, it’s interchangeable then.”

They went into the hotel bar and Kid ordered them each a meal once they were seated. A beer for each of them after asking her preference. He raised the bottle. “To keeping it simple,” he said.

She nodded and clinked his bottle.

“You have some baggage then?”

“I think it’s a good idea we’re keeping this casual. I’ve had some breakups that have been pretty tough. He told her about Caitlin, the memory old but his emotions a little rawer since Mia gave him the boot.

Paige leaned forward. “I’m so sorry. Man, that must have been so hard.”

“It was, but it’s old news. I just don’t want to be one of those guys who doesn’t give you an honest answer to a question.”

“Well, isn’t this cozy.”

Anderson’s snide voice cut across the conversation. “Bryant,” Paige said by way of greeting and Kid fully expected him to move on, but instead, he pulled up a chair.

“So, we haven’t had much time to converse, my young friend.”

Kid took a sip of his beer, his jaw clenching. “I’m not your friend,” he said succinctly. “This is a private party,” he added.

“Yeah, I bet it is,” he said giving Paige a suggestive look making Kid’s irrational anger at this guy form into a ball in his gut. Anderson sat back. “Had a little trouble at the warehouse last night. Two drug dealers stirring things up. Cris was pissed, but I calmed him down.”

Paige glanced at Kid. “Drug dealers?”

“Yeah, put the moves on Dean and took both him and Reggie down. Pretty slick moves for a street rat, huh?”

Kid gave nothing away. His deadpan was iron clad.

“So, what are you doing with your life, Ashe?”

“This and that,” he said. “I help people for a living.”

“Do you? And what does that entail?”

“Long hours and dedication.”

Anderson smirked. “You didn’t follow in your old man’s footsteps? You know, being a hero for a living, like a SEAL maybe?”

“Why don’t you go outside and play hide and go fuck yourself. I’ll stay here and count to infinity.”

Paige reached out and put her hand on his forearm. This guy was an asshole, and he was fishing. Ashe flashed him a grin and took a sip of his beer. He set his bottle down and looked at Paige. “Let’s go.”

“I’m sure all you’ve heard about your dad were great things. Maybe you should live in the real world. I can tell you who he really was and his lack of total commitment.”

Kid stood and grabbed Bryant by his shirtfront and got into his face. “I don’t give a flying fuck what you have to say about my father. I’m not interested.” He shoved the guy back into his chair.

But before he could take a step, Bryant threw a punch that knocked Kid back against the table, cracking his back against the chair behind him. He ducked the next one and came up swinging, punching Anderson so hard in the jaw, he reeled back. The man had forty pounds on him, but when he came charging back toward Kid, he pushed off with his legs and planted his feet in his chest, drop-kicking Anderson hard enough for him to end up on this back, dazed. From his position on the floor, Kid saw a blur, and did a quick, powerful kick-up using his hands and lower body, landing firmly on his feet, then backflipped to avoid the first blow by Anderson’s lackey. He turned to engage the blond man, immediately remembering him from last night. He took some punishing blows to his face and mid-section. Without hesitating, Kid got under his guard with lightning quick moves and, with one shot to the temple, he went down as Anderson recovered and came at him again.

That’s when the bartender got a hold of Anderson and the manager of the hotel screamed at them to stop. Well, he was screaming the whole time, but Kid was getting double-teamed and couldn’t exactly respond. Bryant held up his hands and pulled out his wallet, shoving money into the manager’s hand. Apologizing left and right, stating it was just a little misunderstanding. Kid didn’t let his guard down until Anderson helped Blondie up from the floor and they exited the bar.

The manager came up to Kid and said, “I’m sorry, Mr. Wilder, but you must vacate the premises. We can’t tolerate this kind of behavior from our guests.”

“Damn, I’m sorry. I’ll clear out.”

* * *

Outside, Bryant turned to Dean. “Well?”

“It’s him. Same moves, same agility and lightning speed. This guy is trouble, Bry.”

“That means the woman who was there was most likely Paige,” Anderson bit out. “Look into them both. I want to know everything about them down to the brand of their underwear. Use our contact in DC.”

“You got it.” They took a few steps and Dean halted Bryant with a hand to his shoulder. “Can I have her when the time comes?” He licked his lips. Dean was one of his former colleagues, but he was one sick son of a bitch. That’s why he kept him around.

“As long as she dies.”

“Oh, she will. I promise.” He wheezed out a soft, maniacal laugh. “How about the SEAL?”

“No, leave him to me. Ashe Wilder needs to be schooled about who his father really was, and what reality is all about.” Bryant smirked. No one, not that pathetic girl or Pete Wilder’s wet behind the ears kid was going to stop him from saving his ass from the Golovkins.