He shut me up yet again with another deep kiss. I had to admit his method was effective. It was impossible to speak when someone’s tongue was in your mouth busy licking yours. He was also a really good kisser. I was content to let it go if he was. We needed to sleep at some point tonight.

“Thank you for championing me, kitten. It is very much appreciated, but I need to get off this train for the moment, okay?”

“Sure. We can.”

“I just don’t want you to run fleeing for the hills, if he starts up more fuckery. As long as you believe I am doing everything I can to protect your work here, as well as your safety when you’re in London or with me, then I’m good.”

“Then I’m good too. And don’t forget about my dad, the MetPol chief. If this Park Jin-ho fucker tries messing with me he’s in for a world of hurt and pain he’ll never see coming. Rob Hargreave has zero tolerance for fuckery of any kind. My dad is a major hardass.”

That earned me a full-on laugh from Ivan, which sounded so good coming from him, it made me laugh too. “I imagine he is, being related to you,” he said, seeming much more like himself again. “It must be a family trait because you’re a bit of a hardass yourself, Miss Hargreave.”

“I hope that’s a good thing.”

“I told you earlier that I’d change nothing about you, Gabrielle, and I meant it.” He took my chin in his hand and spoke very close, his green eyes flashing down at me. “Nothing at all.”

I nodded up at him, feeling suddenly shy, which made no sense considering everything we’d done and discussed together up to this point. It felt like we’d known each other for years and years instead of just two months.

“Come here and let me hold you.” He settled in with me under the covers, tucking me right up against his big body on my side where his arm could support my head. It felt really nice being held by him, and while he was still a stranger in many ways, there wasn’t a trace of awkwardness. Yes, we had lots to learn about each other still, but it was the level of solace we seemed to share with each other that made this all feel very familiar and comforting with him. We did click as Ivan had told me once. It was almost as if our bodies went through the motions on autopilot, knowing what to say, and what to ask, and when to stay quiet. Where to touch, and when to move, and when to be still. It was weird and yet felt so very normal, like we’d done this a hundred or even a thousand times before. I felt him press his lips to my hair and just keep them there.

“I really am very sorry about today.”

“But it wasn’t your fault, Ivan.”