Page 25 of The Knight

Flashlight beams bobbed above them, cutting through the damp air.

Abe grabbed hold of her and pulled her down behind a large rock, positioning himself over her, shielding her body with his own

She was sandwiched between hard volcanic rock and the solid presence of his body. The contrast was absolute—cold stone at her back, and the living warmth of Abe pressed againsther front. The unexpected intimacy of their position made her breath catch.

Abe’s breath brushed across her cheek, warm and slightly ragged. “They can’t see us here.” His lips were so close to her ear, the vibration of his words danced across her earlobe.

“Are you sure?” Her eyes closed of their own accord as sensation cascaded through her.

“As sure as I can be.” His voice was a low rumble that triggered raw heat low in her belly.

She had always prided herself on her focus, her ability to remain rational and clear-headed. It was her strength, her shield against the emotional fragility that had destroyed her mother. But Abe was derailing her in ways she hadn’t believed possible. And seemingly without even trying.

The voices faded.

But their dwindling presence allowed her to focus once more on the man pressed against her. The ones whose muscled arms bracketed her, his body a living shield.

“They’ve gone. Let’s not lose our advantage. The exit will take us back to the road?” His hand took hers once again as he released her. Cool air rushed her exposed skin.

She nodded, grateful for the distraction.

We need to move and escape.

So, what did it say about her if part of her wanted to stay in that moment just a little longer, safe in the cocoon of Abe’s protective embrace?

14

Abe wiggledhis knife blade in the car lock, feeling for resistance.

“Isn’t this stealing?” Freya hovered anxiously beside him.

It had taken them twenty minutes to hike back to the cars. He’d been right. They had disabled his car by cutting the fuel line—simple, quick, and almost undetectable until it was too late.

“They cut the fuel line. I’m guessing they also blocked the ignition system too, just in case,” he muttered, concentrating on picking the lock of the fake police car. “You got any better ideas?”

Their pursuers had not returned yet. They were still out there, combing the area. But time was running short.

“No,” she admitted, hugging her arms around her. Her jacket was ridiculously thin for this weather, and the bluish tint on her cheekbones bothered him more than he liked. He needed to get her warm—fast.

The lock clicked, and Abe held his breath, waiting for the blare of the alarm.

Nothing.

Maybe it was his lucky day. God knows he was due some luck.

He yanked the door open.

The alarm screeched into life.

“Fuck.” He grabbed Freya’s arm and shouted over the blaring alarm. “Get in!” He lifted her by the hips and tossed her into the passenger seat, slamming the door behind her. By the time he rounded the car and slid into the driver’s seat, her face was pale through the window.

He launched himself under the steering wheel, fingers moving fast as he pried open the paneling. Damn, it had been too long since he’d done this.

“You know how to hot-wire a car, too?”

He grunted as he scraped plastic from the wire with his pocketknife.

“Is that what you teach you in?—”

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