Page 42 of Lethal Illusion

“Do you think they’re gone?”Sloane whispered when she didn’t think she could stand it a second longer.

Reaching up with one hand, Navarre widened the gap in the thatch that concealed their presence and peered outside.“I think so.Stay here while I check.”

It amazed her, how he managed to slide out of their shelter while barely disturbing any of the materials he’d used to construct it.Seconds passed, and she heard…nothing.No gunshots, or shouting, or sounds of a scuffle—nothing to give her an indication as to what was going on.

She waited.And waited.The minutes felt more like hours, and it took every last ounce of her willpower not to call out Navarre’s name.She needed to know whether he was okay, needed to know whether the danger had passed.If her nails weren’t so filthy, she would have already bitten them down to the quick.

At last, just as her patience had reached its end, she heard him say, “It’s clear, Sloane.You can come out.”

Navarre removed the remaining patch of their shelter, and she squinted at the sudden influx of light.Eager to get out, she gripped the hand he offered, and he hoisted her up as though she weighed nothing.

“Thanks.”Her leg muscles felt sore and stiff, no doubt the result of hiking all over creation yesterday.She brushed the dirt and debris off her body, knowing she wouldn’t truly feel clean until she took an hour-long shower, and maybe dipped her body in Purell.“Are you sure they’re gone?”

“Positive.The cocky bastards didn’t even bother to cover their tracks.I spotted them halfway down the ridge before I turned back.”Navarre stared down at her, concern in his eyes.“Are you okay?Your hands are shaking.”

“Am I?”She glanced down at her trembling hands, surprised she hadn’t noticed.

“Adrenaline rush.”

He said it as if that explained everything.She’d have to take his word for it.Life-or-death experiences weren’t a part of her daily routine.

Gently, he gathered her into his arms, and the strength of his body, the scent of his skin, felt so right it ached in her bones.She softened against him, grateful for the comfort he offered, and her breath left her in a sigh.He rubbed soft circles up and down her back, and little by little, the jumbled knots of tension in her body unraveled.

If given the choice, she would have stayed locked in his arms forever, but eventually his hold on her loosened.

“Better?”he asked, his voice a low murmur.

“Yes.Thank you.”She glanced up, meeting his gaze, and it felt as though time froze.There was so much fire in his chocolate-brown eyes, so much restrained passion.It made her a little light-headed.And at that moment, she would have given anything to feel his lips on hers.

He raised one hand to cup her face, the tips of his fingers sliding into her hair, while his thumb caressed her cheek.His lips parted.Damn, he was close.Only a few inches separated them.But he didn’t move closer, not even a bit.Instead, he blinked, blinked again, and drew his hand away.

Sloane made a sound to convey her frustration.She needed more,needed him, and she sensed he felt the same way.Throwing caution to the wind, she stood on her tiptoes, linked her hands around his neck, and kissed him with everything she had.

Every muscle in his body stiffened for a second or two, just long enough for her to question the wisdom of her actions.If she’d misread his feelings, things were going to get seriously awkward.But then a low, rough rumble rose from deep in his chest.He angled his head, his tongue sliding over the seam of her mouth, and she opened for him, sighing because it felt so right.

His scent surrounded her, so familiar after last night, but now it mingled with the taste of his kiss to create an intoxicating combination.His arm snaked around her, drawing her close, and she could feel the undeniable proof that he was into this as much as she was.

“This is wrong,” he murmured against her mouth, but kept kissing her as though he needed her as much as he needed air.His mouth was firm, his tongue slick against hers, while his beard stubble grazed her skin in a way that made her wonder how it would feel against other parts of her body.The space around them crackled with energy, something new, and untamed, and so very powerful it energized every cell in her body.

“You don’t want this?”she said on the heels of a gasp.

“That’s not what I said.It’s just…”

However he meant to finish that sentence dissolved into a series of long, slow, drugging kisses that wiped all rational thought from her mind.

Her hands drifted down from his neck to his chest, and the feel of hard muscle beneath her flattened palms drove her desire even higher.A curl of heat unfurled inside her, starting low and spreading like wildfire, until it felt as though the only thing on earth that could possibly quench it—

Navarre tore his mouth away from hers as if he’d just been burned.His chest heaved with ragged breaths, his eyes wide and unfocused.

“I’m sorry,” he said, his voice frayed at the edges.“I don’t know what the hell I was thinking.That shouldn’t have happened.”

It took a few seconds for the words to register in her mind.“What?Why not?I liked it.I’m pretty sure you did too.”

His expression twisted, torn between anger and something far more dangerous.“What I like is irrelevant.I’m supposed to protect you, not maul you like a horny teenager.”

“But I enjoyed the mauling.”

“That’s not the point.”He raked a hand through his hair, leaving some strands sticking up at odd angles, and she barely contained the urge to smooth them down for him.

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