Free Lethal Consequences by Elisabeth Naughton

arm tightened around her back, dragging her even closer into the heat of his body.
    “Easy,” he whispered, his warm breath fanning the skin near her ear. And his scent—citrus and pine—filled her senses, making every inch of her skin tingle. He was hard everywhere, his arm holding her tight around her back, his muscular chest pressing into hers, his massive thighs cradling her hips, even his—no, she had to be imagining that—his thickening cock pushing into the softness of her belly.
    He couldn’t possibly be turned on right now. Not with everything that was happening. Not when they could be caught and killed at any minute. Besides, he wasn’t interested in a thin, weak schoolteacher who had to be freaking rescued all the time. He was interested in tough, kick-ass, sexy women, like Chantal.
    He kissed you.
    True. But she’d kissed him first. He’d obviously just been being nice because she’d surprised him.
    He chased after you, not Chantal.
    Maybe. But only because he’d felt guilty for being caught.
    He told you the moment he opened that door and saw you, it was the happiest moment of his life.
    Memories mixed with that little voice, messing with her head, screwing with her emotions. She couldn’t deny there was something between them—or at least there had been before all of this. But if he’d wanted her so much, why had he picked Chantal up in that bar? Why hadn’t he come to see her once in the last three months? She’d invited him—several times—and each time he’d had an excuse for why he couldn’t visit.
    “I think they’re gone.”
    Landon’s warm breath and whispered words pulled Olivia back from her frazzled thoughts. Slowly, he drew his hand away from her mouth and eased back a few inches. Olivia looked up, hoping to see something in his eyes that would confirm she was right and that the little voice didn’t know what the heck it was saying. But when her eyes met his, the air caught in her lungs, and her skin grew hot and tingly all over again. Because she didn’t see strategy in his eyes, or focus, or even determination that he’d get them out of this alive like he’d claimed. She saw desire burning in those dark pools. The same desire she suddenly felt.
    She pulled herself away, needing the space, needing to think. What she really needed to focus on was what they were going to do next, not on some stupid emotion that didn’t even matter anymore. She swiped her sweaty hands on her jeans and nodded toward the stairs. “Don’t think we can go that way anymore.”
    “No, we can’t.” He looked around. “There’s gotta be another set of stairs on the other side. Come on.”
    He took her hand, and she let him even though she knew better. His palm was wide and warm, and his long fingers engulfed her small hand. He led her out from beneath the stairs, back into the small corridor, and around to the opposite side of the building. They were in some kind of basement or bunker area. The air was cool and dank. Large wooden barrels were scattered throughout the hallway. The high windows she’d seen in her room had to be only slightly higher than ground level.
    They found a ladder that disappeared into darkness. Landon left her standing at the base while he went up to check. Her anxiety shot up again, but unlike the last time, no sound echoed anywhere close. Nothing in the halls or above their heads. Seconds later, Landon appeared, motioning her to follow. “Bingo. Come on.”
    Her fingers closed along the metal rungs, and she climbed behind him until fresh air washed over her face. She drew in a deep, invigorating breath and kept climbing. At the top, Landon reached for her hand and hauled her up. Dirt and pebbles crunched under her tennis shoes as she pushed to her feet. Clouds passed over the full moon, but there was enough light to see they were in the courtyard of some Mediterranean style villa.
    “Stay quiet,” he whispered. “There are probably guards.”
    So much for being