Free Seal of Surrender by Traci Douglass Page A

going to happen!”
    He gave her a road–weary stare and flashed a fatigued smile. “I got connecting rooms for safety. The last thing you need is a bunch of mercenaries bursting into your room in the dead of the night and hauling you away. With me present, I assure you such things won’t happen.”
    â€œWhy? Because you’re just that tough?”
    â€œNo. Because I’m just that good.”
    They reached their floor and walked the hallway to their respective rooms. Irena opened her door and tossed her bag inside then glanced back over her shoulder to find Chago’s intense gaze zeroed on her.
    â€œI’m not like him, Irena. I will keep you safe.”
    â€œMaybe I want someone to believe I can protect myself.”
    â€œI do, querida.”
    Chago disappeared into his room and the door clicked shut behind him. With an exhausted sigh, Irena followed suit.
    After locking the door behind her, she unpacked and turned on the shower, letting the room get steamy before she stepped beneath the spray to wash away the day’s grime. The water turned cool after only a few minutes and she hurried through a quick shampoo and rinse. Clean and drowsy, she emerged and pulled on her favorite pair of flannel PJs before collapsing into bed. Irena fell fast asleep, visions of a contentious, dark-haired warrior filling her dreams.
    â€¢ • •
    Chago stuffed the last of his clothes into the closet, his senses attuned to the woman behind the connecting door. He hadn’t been prepared for the way his body reacted to her or the tangled mess of confusion that made him want to spank her one second and kiss her senseless the next. Fuck it all. He didn’t need emotional complications at this juncture and he certainly wasn’t looking for more than casual sex. Something told him sex with Irena would be anything but casual.
    Damn Divinity and her agreement. If not for her promise of retirement, he’d have been long gone from this vexing mission and the woman at the heart of the trouble. He’d traveled this rocky road before and the path only ended in soul-crushing despair.
    He dumped his toiletries onto the bathroom counter and found his mind wandering once more, despite his wishes. What forces compelled her into such a dangerous career? While he admired her drive to help the less fortunate, war zones were no place for women. Disgruntled, he flipped on the shower and stripped. Madre Dio, he was beat.
    After a quick check of the locks, Chago padded naked into the steam and immersed himself under the hot water. His knotted muscles relaxed while he scrubbed clean and his resolve returned. No more women. Period.
    Bath complete and mind clear, he dried off, did a quick shave, then discarded his wet towel and climbed into bed. He drifted to sleep amidst images of a white-haired angel who smelled of flowers and kissed like the devil’s own temptress.
    His slumber felt like only seconds.
    Bang. Bang. Bang.
    Chago squinted open an eye and struggled to discern the source of the infernal noise.
    Bang. Bang. Bang.
    The amount and angle of light streaming in from the windows indicated it was now morning. He checked the nearby clock for confirmation. Nine-thirty. Shit.
    â€œMr. Chago, sir. Are you awake?” A polite, accented voice called to him through his hazy consciousness.
    He jumped out of bed and raced to peer through the door’s tiny oculus. A thin black man shuffled in the hall.
He cracked the entrance and scowled out the opening, cognizant of his nudity. “Oui?”
    The mystery visitor had a patronizing smile cemented in place. “Your fiancée sent me to fetch you.”
    â€œMy fiancée? I’m not — ” He remember the registration and halted. Fuck
.
The guy must work for the hotel. “Please let her know I’ll be down in a minute.”
    Exactly a quarter hour after he’d tumbled from bed, he exited his room. The guy still waited for him