Hot Mercy (Affairs of State Book 2) (44 page)

“I want to be with you too,” she whispered. She reached up to gently stroke her fingers across the shadow of beard along his jaw, and he didn’t pull away. “I did, Sebastian. I still do. But the world is a huge place, and we each have so much to do in it. Don’t we?” she added even more softly.

He stared at her for a long moment, processing this. Then, as if unable to restrain himself any longer, he pulled her in, enfolding her in his arms. “We do,
querida
.”

She pressed her cheek to his chest, breathing in the scent of him—all male, all Sebastian. His heart thrummed in her ear. “May I stay the night with you? Please.”

“Of course.” He leaned down and kissed her long and hard. When he at last drew back, she saw in his eyes that he’d made a decision. “Will you do just one thing for me?”

“What?” she asked, her voice trembling.
Please, God, let me be able to give him something.

“I still want you to wear the Hidalgo ring,” he whispered between her lips. “If not now, as soon as we can be together. Just don’t say no. Think about it.
Por favor
?”

“I don’t need to think about it,” she said. His face started to darken, the fragile light fading from his eyes. She felt mean. “Because,” she continued before he could release her, “I already know I want to wear it and be with you.” She touched his face with both of her hands, pressed her lips to his. “When you have done what you need to do for your country and, if I’m asked, I have made one or two more contributions to the world’s security—that will be our time.” Never had her heart felt so light, yet so full in the same moment. “Until then, I will wear and cherish your family’s ring. . . and wait for you, for us.”

He smiled tentatively. “Good. Yes. And you will be very, very careful?”

“That’s a second request. You said one.”

He gave her an astonished look, opened his mouth.

“I’m kidding,” she said, laughing although she felt tears brimming. “Of course I will be careful. Of course, my darling.”

His hands were shaking as he reopened the drawer, removed the box and opened it. When he slipped the ring on her finger, she smiled. It felt so right. It even fit. “Yes,” she said.

“Yes what?” He shook his head, looking puzzled for a moment before it dawned on him. “Oh! I thought it was obvious. In my head I’ve said the words a hundred times.”

She laughed softly, and smiled. It was the first time she’d ever seen him flustered.

“Please. Marry me, Mercy.”

“Yes,” she repeated. “
Si
, Don Sebastian.”

It was she who then took his hands and led him to the immense bed that looked as if it had stood in that same magnificent room, in that ancient hacienda, for as long as this house had existed in the valley of his ancestors, beneath Father Sun and Mother Moon. Slowly, tenderly they undressed each other until she wore only a glistening ruby on her finger and he stood before her, his bronzed body sculpted in the image of his ancestors. Her Sebastian: a rich blend of mestizo blood—Spanish Conquistador, Yaquis and Tarahumara Indian—made all the more mysterious by the impossibly vivid blue eyes of his North American grandmother. He smiled down at her, his gaze, not to mention his aroused body, spreading warmth through her.

Then he lifted her in his strong arms and tenderly laid her on his bed. He stretched his body over hers. “Now,” he said, “we make love. And tomorrow we begin making a better future for our countries.”

Dear Reader:

I hope your journey with Mercy and Sebastian in this second novel in the Affairs of State series was as thrilling for you as writing it was for me. If you like, why not join them again for Book #3:
Mission of Mercy
(available in the spring of 2015). Mercy doesn’t yet realize it, but she’s about to be called in as an expert for a famous cold case—the largest art theft ever in America, unsolved for over two decades. She’s rescued her mother, but can she now save Rembrandt? His priceless painting, that is. Nobody loves art more than Mercy. But is a painting worth putting her life on the line? And to what lengths will Sebastian go to watch her back—when being with her may mean either blowing his cover or facing prison?

Meanwhile, I’d be honored if you chose to review any of my novels on Amazon, B&N, Goodreads, or anywhere else you enjoy hanging out with other lovers of fiction. I do Book Club phone visits when I can’t physically be with your group. (To reserve a date, just ask: [email protected].) And feel free to connect with me and let me know your thoughts about this series. I love hearing from my wonderful readers!

Wishing you many exciting reading adventures!  Kathryn Johnson

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