Free Inescapable by Saskia Walker Page A

fluttering, an ache of need flaring at her core as words flashed through her mind, words she and Adrian had exchanged. Her libido had been well and truly triggered, and she was only pulled out of it when she felt cold water splashing over her hand. She groped for the tap. She hadn’t even realised the kettle was full to overflowing.
    Adrian reached across her, dropping his stick to the floor as he took charge and turned off the tap. “It’s my fault that you’re here,” he said as he straightened up. “I’ll never forgive myself for that. No more teasing. I promise.”
    She shrugged. It wasn’t really his fault; it was an odd twist of fate. “No, it’s okay. It’s just…weird. This is not what I expected.”
    She tried to pull herself together while she put the heavy kettle down. Looking over his shoulder, she saw that Seth had gone. She stared at the empty doorway, desire kindling her whole body. Both of them were attractive men, and now she’d inadvertently got herself involved with them both. “This situation is going to take some getting used to.”
     
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    “I understand that, believe me. “ He stroked her shoulder, and she had to resist the urge to move closer and take the physical comfort he offered, trying not to let everything she had told him swamp her. “I’ll try to make this as easy as possible for you,” he added.
    She forced herself to nod, but deep down she knew what she wanted, and she didn’t want easy. Which was just as well, because this felt as awkward and complicated as it possibly could be and more.

    * * * *
     
    Back off. Don’t get involved, Seth told himself.
    It was his policy when it came to women and he repeated it to himself as he strode down the hallway, returning to the room where he’d spent the night in order to clear his head. Get a grip , he told himself. He’d known she was trouble as soon he’d met her, and yet he couldn’t resist. Last night was a mistake, but something about the way she’d looked at him made him lose perspective. It had made him want to taste her and see her lips part in pleasure.
    She was different to other women, that’s why. She hadn’t gone all fluttery-eyed on him.
    Instead, she’d stood up to him, and for some reason that difference meant he’d lost the ability to resist. “Contrary bastard,” he muttered to himself.
    The door clicked closed behind him, and he looked around the guest room, remembering how he’d helped his stepfather decorate the place the summer before he’d left for his police training. His old room was at the top of the house, but he hadn’t been up to his parents flat because he felt it was best. He had to stay close to the witness at all times. That was his priority. Why did that seem like task and a half, when it included Miss Hotpants?
    When he’d caught sight of her talking with Adrian, in broken whispers, so intimate and close, it had been a timely reminder. She was here because she was a secondary witness, and that was because she was involved with Adrian. He’d had no right to get involved, even though she’d kissed him, and it was a big mistake.
    He shook his head. He couldn’t afford the brainpower to even think about it; he was supposed to be working out a way to expose Emery Lavonne in the safest way possible. He had to let his chief know they had a viper in their nest, but he couldn’t put the witness at risk while doing so. It had occurred to him that Lavonne might expose himself, given time.

     
     
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    Stephen Ward, their chief, was a clever man. He’d figure out the nature of the reason for the unorthodox behaviour in regard to the witness. It was just a matter of time.
    As long as he had the witness safe, that was his primary concern.

     
     
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Chapter Seven
    The witness protection division was in chaos. Emery Lavonne stalked in, using the chaos as cover for the fact he was late. As he did, he caught sight of one of his fellow officers jogging out of Stephen Ward’s office,