Free Harbour of Refuge by Aliyah Burke Page A

to ‘closed’ before heading back to the till and counting out the money. “Thank you for the invite, but I—”
    “Wait, you’re going to leave me to fend for myself? She’ll eat me alive.”
    She snorted. “She’d sure like to try. I have a feeling you can more than handle yourself, Enzo. I’ve seen you work a crowd.”
    “What does that mean?”
    She shook her head. “Nothing.” It wasn’t her business how he acted.
    “Come with me,” he offered.
    “I don’t think you want me with you. All those women who will be after you might not approach if I’m there.”
    He didn’t speak, just stared at her.
    Finally it sank in. “Oh, you…you don’t want them after you?”
    “Nope. Why would you think I would?”
    “You had four women on your arms at the party in Monte Carlo.”
    “Tonight I’ll have one. Don’t need any more than you. Don’t want any more.” He moved closer to her and nuzzled the side of her neck. “Don’t let me be raw meat in a shark frenzy.”
    “So you need me to save you?” She would ignore the fire in her veins. She would .
    “Please.” He nipped her earlobe. “I’ll make it worth your while.”
    Her heart pounded out of control as her mind created all kinds of scenarios in how such an offer would play out. She swiped her tongue over her lips.
    “Promise, Halyn. All kinds of worth it.”
    Okay, it was official, he could tempt the devil into giving up his kingdom. She sunk back into Enzo’s strong body. “I’ll go with you.”
    “An angel.” He skimmed his hands over her hips. “You, sweetheart, are an angel.”
    “Not really, because I plan on collecting.”
    “And here I thought your friend was upset because of your small-town values. What happened to them?”
    “Make no mistake, I still have them, I just don’t have a problem with sex and like it.”
    “No sex until marriage, what about that?”
    She couldn’t stop herself stiffening even had she tried. “If that were the case, we wouldn’t be having this conversation would we? Because Monte Carlo wouldn’t have happened.”
    “I, for one, wouldn’t change Monte Carlo for anything.” His whisper warmed her from the inside out.
    Patting his arm, she manoeuvred free to finish counting her money. They closed up the shop, then walked through town to her bank where she dropped off the deposit before they headed for their vehicles. As he had the previous night, Enzo followed her home.
    He waited for her after her shower, making himself at home on her bed. Seeing him there as she walked from the master bath drew her up short. Damn man didn’t have the right to look so good. He reclined against her headboard, shoes off, legs hooked at the ankles as he thumbed through a book she had by the bedside. She loved her bedroom, but this man improved on it considerably.
    “Comfy?”
    He peered at her from over the top of the book. “Getting there. I’d love you beside me, without clothing on.”
    Sounded pretty good to her too. She shook her head with a sigh. “Have to get going.”
    “Can I change your mind?” He put down her mystery and prowled towards her.
    Probably . “No. Besides, you were the one who agreed to go.”
    He boxed her in against the wall and nuzzled her neck. “You smell so good, Halyn. I just want to lick here”—a flick of his tongue—“and here”—another flick—“and here.”
    She whimpered as his teeth grazed along her skin. So weak, she was so weak. Halyn tilted her head to the side, granting him easier access, and he took full advantage. He was so hard, so there. She gripped the sides of his shirt and clenched to keep herself upright.
    “We have to get going.” The words were forced out, along with a slight mewl.
    She really didn’t want to go. Well, not to the dinner. She wanted to go along with what he was doing.

Chapter Six
     
     
     
    Enzo tracked the woman who walked from the car ahead of him. He’d spent a wonderful time over the past week with Halyn, when she