Page 23 of Her Selfless Warrior (Omega Sky)
Kostya shook his head. “Lark, you’re wrong. We have a job to do and we do it—it’s just that simple. I came to this country as a political refugee. America took me and my sister in after we lost our parents.”
He paused as he saw the soles of his father’s shoes when the monsters dragged him out of the house. There had been a hole near the big toe, his blue sock poking out.
“Kostya?” Lark’s voice was soft.
“America is my home. I love my country; I could think of no higher purpose than serving her. I’m not a hero, I’m a soldier.”
Lark reached over and put her dainty hand on top of his. “We’ll just have to agree to disagree.”
Kostya wasn’t a stupid man, he wasn’t going to let an opportunity slip by. He turned his hand over so that their fingers could tangle. “You ready to leave?”
Her eyes searched his. “A kiss, nothing more.”
“I keep my promises.”
“I know that, Kostya, that’s why I’m here.”
He ushered her out of the restaurant and tipped the valet when he brought his Bronco to the front. Kostya tilted his chin to the kid who nodded, then Kostya opened the passenger door and assisted Lark in. He headed back to the Hilton where Lark had made her reservation. He waited for her to start a conversation and when she didn’t, he didn’t bother to try either.
He pulled up to the front and gave his keys to yet another valet, then grabbed Lark’s luggage before quickly joining Lark at the front entrance.
“Aren’t you going to check in?” he queried when she bypassed the reception desk.
“I already did online. They arranged for my phone to be my key card.”
“Slick,” he said as he pressed the button for the elevator. “Gideon would love to know about this technology.”
Lark grinned up at him. “I’ll bet you a steak and lobster dinner at the Kimpton in D.C. that Gideon knew about this technologybeforeit was put into use,” Lark teased. She unbuttoned her coat and took it off.
“I’ll take that bet.”
“You really think that Gideon didn’t know about that?” Lark sounded surprised.
“No. Now that you mentioned it, you’re absolutely right; of course, he did. I just liked the sound of us having another dinner at a hotel.”
Her laughter rushed over him like an Atlantic wave during a summer heatwave, welcoming and refreshing. The elevator door swooshed open. He walked a little bit behind her, admiring how the blue-colored dress molded to her thighs and ass.
She stopped in front of a room and waved her phone in front of the lock. He watched as the green light showed and she opened the door.
“We’re going to go into your room so I can set your things down,” he told her.
Lark nodded.
He turned on the lights, ensuring everything was in order, before setting her suitcase on the provided rack. “I assume you want your backpack on the desk?” he asked.
She nodded again.
“Am I allowed to see you again tomorrow?” he asked as he positioned himself in front of her.
Lark nodded a third time.
“Are you going to ever talk again?” he teased.
She started to nod again, then cleared her throat. “Yes.”
He smiled slowly and reached up to cup her cheek. Her pulse was beating wildly in her neck and he stroked over it with his thumb. Her skin was so soft, that the fall of her hair felt like silk as it drifted over the back of his hand.
“What time should I be over?” he asked quietly.
