Chapter Eleven

“Everyone on your team this quiet?”

“No, not even close.” He smiled as he envisioned his friends and teammates. “Don’t get me wrong, Xaria. I’m more than capable of having fun.”

A sexy and husky chuckle emerged from her. “I have no doubt about that. Sorry to say where I’m taking you has no strip…um…gentlemen’s clubs, casinos, or anything of the sort around.”

When you take me where I long for you to, you can bet your life it won’t have a damn thing to do with clubs or casinos. Closing his rucksack, Aidrian tsked. “Making more assumptions of me?” He looked at her, taking in the slight flush to her cheeks. “Besides, if that were what I longed to do, I wouldn’t be asking to go back out to Antarctica.” He winked at her. “I’ll toss in a pack of cards for down time.”

The way her mouth curved up sent his mind down a path he’d barely managed to leave a few seconds ago. How the hell will I behave myself, even if it’s one week?

She stood and smoothed her hands down the legs of her jeans. “Maybe you should bring two packs. You may need to burn them to keep warm.” Xaria headed for the door. “Let’s go shopping,” she said once she got there.

Aidrian shrugged and grabbed his wallet, making sure his ID was in there, and cell phone. Double-checking to make sure he had his room key, he swiped his jacket off a chair and slid over his shoulders. “Lead the way.”

Xaria watched Aidrian decide between several types of socks. She could see other women in the store watching him as well, and it made her long to claim him. It’s not like I can blame them. The man is just too damn fine.

“Something bothering you, súl glas?” Aidrian’s powerful silvery voice flowed over her from behind. Xaria’s gaze snapped back to where he’d been. Gone. And she’d never seen him move.

“If you tell me what the problem is, I’ll do my best to fix it,” he promised.

She shuddered at the pure sexuality in his tone. I want to beat these whores for even lookin’ at you! Xaria fought for sanity. She’d known him for a day; this was no way to act.

“No problem,” she murmured and denied the desire to lean back against his marbled chest.

He stepped closer. Her skin tingled, nipples tightened and her pussy gushed when his body pressed against her. She barely contained her whimper of desire when his breath skimmed the back of her neck and his arm reached past her to briefly touch a pair of sunglasses.

“If you say so. Your expression shows otherwise.”

“Does it now?” she questioned.

“It says so much, súl glas, so much.”

Xaria felt a loss when his body stopped touching hers. “Guess I shouldn’t play poker with you, then.”

His warm presence surrounded her again. “Oh, I’d love ta play poker with ya. That would be a most delightful way to spend an evening with you.”

Xaria turned to face him. Her heart lodged in her throat. Aidrian was much closer than she’d anticipated. She couldn’t move, for the sunglass tree was behind her; so unless she stepped into the handsome SEAL before her, she wasn’t going anywhere. With a sharp inhalation, the rugged masculine scent he wore so well almost intoxicated her.

Two can play this game. Xaria licked her lips and slid her hands in her back pockets before grinning. “Wow,” she drawled. “I know much more…um…entertaining ways to spend an evening.”

A smile spread across his face and he skimmed his gaze over her. “Oh, poker can open the doors too many wonderful…” he trailed off and tilted his head slightly, “amazing experiences. It’s all in how you play.”

Her legs didn’t want to work. They trembled as his obsidian gaze burned her. Never in her life had she felt such an immediate attraction to a man before.

“Is that so?”

“We could always find out,” he said smoothly.

Somehow that sounds very much like a promise. And she was okay with that. Very much so.

“We could,” she agreed. “Are you done shopping?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Good. We need to go. Our plane will be leaving soon.”

“Plane?”

‘’We’re heading out tonight. Spend the night at a station and trek out in the morning.”

Indecision was on his face for about two seconds before it smoothed away. “Okay.” That was all he said before going to pay for his items.

Walking back to the hotel, she noticed he kept checking his cell; and although his expression didn’t change, it wasn’t hard for her to discern he wasn’t pleased.

“Everything okay?”

“Not sure. I’m waiting to hear from mah sister. She went to Perth but she’s nae told me she’s ar-rived.” He shook his head and closed his phone.

“She usually calls?”

“Aye.”

His concern was palpable. “Do you have other siblings?”

“She’s my mah only one.”

“I’m sure she’s fine,” Xaria said, placing a hand on the arm of his black leather jacket.

“I dinna trust the man she’s with.” He took a deep breath. “Not much I can do from here.”

She smiled. “You’re a good brother. Your sister wouldn’t probably like you following her around all the time.”

Aidrian chuckled. “Probably not.”

They rode in silence up the elevator. As they exited the car, she stopped when his hand settled upon her arm.

“Yes?” she asked over the pounding of her heart.

“Your room or mine?”