Each second she was unprotected and out of his sight as he searched the house felt like an hour. He couldn’t deny the relief that washed over him when he returned to the car where she waited and found her sitting there, just as he’d instructed, safe and sound behind the wheel.
“All clear,” he murmured, as he opened the driver’s side door and helped her out.
She met his gaze with a disgruntled glance, then followed him back to the villa in chilly silence. When she reached for the light switch near the kitchen door, Scythe caught her hand and stilled it.
“No lights for now. It’s the middle of the night, and we don’t want this place lit up like a beacon if anyone’s watching. It was risk enough driving up here together at this late hour.”
She nodded, slowly withdrawing her fingers from his loose grasp. The warmth of her skin lingered against his palm, sending heat licking up his arm, through his veins... into the distracting thickness at his groin.
“Go on,” he commanded her curtly. “Get settled and try to rest. I’ll handle things on my end. I need to get the tactical equipment from the car, and I plan to set up some surveillance points around the property before sunrise.”
She nodded, but remained standing in front of him. Too damned close for his peace of mind. “There’s a small guest room down the hall from the master bedroom. I didn’t know to prepare it for you ahead of time, but it’ll only take me a few minutes to—”
“No.” His sharp reply cut her off. “I won’t be sleeping more than a few minutes at a time while I’m on this assignment, and I sure as hell don’t plan to get comfortable in a bed.”
Least of all in one just steps away from hers.
“Fine.” Her lips pressed flat as she stared up at him. “I was only trying to help.”
“Don’t bother,” he snapped. “I can take care of myself. I’ve been doing it for a long time.”
Finally, she retreated, moving back a step. He almost breathed a sigh of relief that she was going—but then instead of pivoting away, she crossed her arms over her breasts and advanced on him, pinning him with a glare.
“Is this how you treat everyone who tries to show you a little kindness? I know I agreed to do what you asked while you’re here, but do you plan to scowl and bark orders at me the whole time?”
He scrubbed his hand over his face in frustration. What had happened to the Chiara he’d met six weeks ago in Matera? While he wouldn’t have described her as meek, he hadn’t seen this kind of fire in her then. That Chiara had seemed so vulnerable. Fragile with fear and uncertainty.
Sure, he had admired her obvious devotion to her son, and he’d seen the kindness that radiated from her. He had appreciated her beauty more than he had a right to—that part of her had been impossible to ignore or to forget in all the time since. How many times had he been tempted to venture out to Potenza just for another glimpse of her? How many times had he woken from fevered dreams where he had Chiara naked in his arms, moaning in pleasure?
Christ, too many to count. But he’d resisted, knowing a delicate female like Chiara would crumble in his ungentle hands like a dried rose petal.
This woman before him, her warm brown eyes flashing, pert breasts heaving with her indignation, was someone else entirely. And damned if he didn’t want this new Chiara even more.
He’d been brought in to protect her, yet all he could think about right now was how sweet she must taste. Not what he’d come here to do.
She took his silence as an opportunity to press further.
“I don’t know why you agreed to watch over me when it’s obvious you’d rather be doing anything else. But like it or not, it appears we’re stuck with each other for the time being.”
“Yes, we are,” he agreed. “So, do us both a favor and try to pretend I’m not here.”
She balked. “You can’t be serious. When’s the last time you looked in a mirror? You’re not exactly easy to miss.”
Neither was she, and he realized the idiocy of his suggestion as soon as he said it. Still, he hoped his gruffness would push her away, if only for his peace of mind. He had numerous things to do yet tonight and arguing with Chiara wasn’t going to get any of them done.
All it was doing was making him twitchy with the need to silence her, even if he had to do it with his own mouth on hers.
“I’m not going to walk around on eggshells in my own home, Scythe. And no matter what you say, I’m not going to forget for a second why you’re here. My life is in your hands. Do you think that means nothing to me?” She expelled a short laugh. “While we’re on the subject, did you actually think I would’ve driven off and left you here to die alone if there had been trouble when we arrived?”