“Reinforcements are on their way. They’ll be fine.”
“But—”
“Alegria!” he yelled back, “this was the plan. Now stop.”
When they were several miles from the compound where she had been held, Mantis pulled the vehicle to the side of the road, got out, and opened the back passenger door. “Come here,” he said, and she climbed out.
r />
He pushed her up against the side of the SUV, grasped the back of her neck, and covered her mouth with his.
Alegria threw her arms around him, kissing him back so hard it hurt. Their tongues warred against each other, and she heard Mantis growl.
“I love you so fucking much.” He put his hands on her bottom and lifted her up until her legs encircled his waist. “Never again, Flygirl.”
“Never what?”
“I’m never letting you out of my sight again.”
“Mantis—”
“Say my name.”
“What do you mean?”
“Tell me you love me, Manon, and say my name.”
“I love you, Gehring.”
“Forever?”
“Forever.”
“I’ve learned something very important in the last year.”
She smiled. “What’s that?”
“I don’t want to live this life without you beside me.”
“Mantis—”
“Say my name.”
She leaned forward and kissed him. “Gehring, I don’t want to live my life without you by my side either, although there may be times we have to be out of each other’s sight.”
“Says who?”
“Doc, for one.”
“Screw him. We’ll quit.”
She shook her head and brought her mouth to his again. “Kiss me,” she murmured. “Kiss me hard.”
Mantis kept her pinned between him and the SUV, their mouths grinding against each other’s until they saw the lights of another vehicle in the distance.
Chapter 31
Dutch