Free Hot Rebel by Lynn Raye Harris

he had it. But everything was there, and she’d taken out her phone and programmed in the numbers they gave her.  
    He laughed. “Fine, whatever. But calling first might make getting away easier.”
    Nick shoved his hands in his pockets as they faced each other. The driver started the car, and she knew it was time to go. But she didn’t want to turn away from Nick, didn’t want to get in the car and watch him fade into the distance.  
    It wasn’t like her to feel this way at all, and that was just the cue she needed to force herself to turn and walk away. Ridiculous to feel any sort of attachment simply because they’d known each other a lifetime ago in a simpler world.
    She pulled open the car door and started to duck inside. But her gut churned.  
    Driven by some emotion she couldn’t name, Victoria turned and walked back over to Nick. He was frowning at her when she reached up and pulled his head down. She pressed her lips to his cheek, felt the roughness of his stubble and breathed the smell of him—sand, spice, and cool water—deep into her lungs.  
    “Thanks for saving me,” she said, her lips close to his ear.
    She started to step away, but he caught her close and turned his head, his lips meeting hers. The contact was shocking—and delicious in a way she hadn’t anticipated. She’d been kissed before, but this… this was better than any of those kisses had been.
    His mouth was soft and hard against hers, his hands firm on her hips as he held her against him. The kiss was hot and tame all at once. Simultaneously the most arousing and most chaste kiss she’d ever had. He didn’t force her mouth open, didn’t thrust his tongue between her lips—he just kissed her hard and thoroughly before setting her away from him and taking a step backward.  
    And, God, she wanted his tongue so badly now. Wanted to feel it sliding against her own, stroking her senses higher.
    But the kiss was over and he was looking at her, his jaw firm and a hard look in his eyes.
    “You’re welcome,” he said, and it took her a moment to remember that she’d thanked him for saving her.  
    “I… I have to go.” Her cheeks flamed as she said it because he knew she had to leave as well as she did. The car was running, and she’d left the door open. She took a step backward, and then another.
    Then she turned and got inside the car, determined not to look at him again. But she failed because she looked up, her gaze clashing with his right as she closed the door. And she didn’t look away as they drove off. Nick didn’t move from the spot she’d left him standing in.
    It was only when the car turned and he was out of sight that she remembered how to breathe.
    *   *   *
    She’d imagined the whole thing. It was the only explanation. Victoria lay in her bed and pushed her hair off her face. The air conditioner wasn’t working right, and the room was hot. She lay on top of the covers in a pair of tiny panties and a tank top and stared up at the ceiling fan whipping overhead.  
    There was no way she’d kissed Nick Brandon. No way she’d felt the hard muscles of his body, the solid pressure of his thighs against hers, the mildly disturbing hardness between them. No way in hell.
    She closed her eyes and bit back a moan. She always slept alone, but for once she wished she had company. And not just any company. Victoria pressed her eyes tight and tried to rid herself of the vision of Nick Brandon watching her drive away.
    The house was silent, which meant that Ian was asleep or working alone. Only a few operators stayed here at a time when they weren’t on assignment. Others were quartered in different hotels or rentals nearby.
    She’d been nervous when she’d walked into the house today, but Ian hadn’t seemed in the least surprised to see her.  
    “You don’t look like someone who’s seen her long-lost sister,” he’d remarked.
    Victoria kept her purse close, her fingers itching to wrap around the butt of her