Free Operation London by Elle Hansen

to his lips, brushing the soft skin with his brusque stubble . "I was worried," he said simply, his black eyes smoldering. He intended to let her know that he had been concerned and it didn't bother him at all that she set her mouth in an annoyed twist as a response. "Do you have a cell phone?" he asked.
    "Of course . Why?" Why?  Why was she acting like it was fourth grade again, boys against girls, phys. ed. tug of war?
    "Because I would like to ask if I could have the number," he said, one large brown hand settling protectively on her upper arm . His thumb made hypnotizing circles on her skin. "For safety reasons only. I will even give you mine," he grinned.
    "I don't know if I want you so close so fast," she said solidly, squaring her gray eyes at him.
    "I think you're a little late for that, nina," he answered, pulling her body closer to his. He bent down so his mouth was against to her ear, his breath hot on her neck. "Nine one four, seven eight four, two five two five."  
    She jerked her cell phone out of her purse and pounded the number in.
    "Nine one four, seven eight four, six six four four," she snapped with unnecessary aggravation.
    Miguel's eyes closed for less than a second before he smiled at her and nodded, beckoning her in.
    "You aren't going to put it in your phone or write it down or something?" Ava asked, bristling at his calm headshake. "I don't give my number to a guy more than once."  There was warning in her tone, a sharp metal edge to her voice. Few women not related to him had ever dared to use a voice like that with him. It was unbelievably arousing.
    "I don't forget things I want to remember," he insisted with a simmering smile, then pointed to his head. "All up here, Ava . I keep all the important things up here."
    With that he pulled her into the gym and spread his well-muscled arms wide, inviting her to enjoy the view of Piper's House of Pain from the inside.
    Ava drew her breath in. From just one look she could tell that this was not the kind of place that catered to amateurs or mere body builders. There were many people in uniform milling around, creating an air of an official training base or a boot camp. And there were few machines. No aerobic bikes, no whirl pool, just bodies learning to move and move well.
    Miguel pointed her to the women's locker room and went to change himself . Luckily Ava never traveled without workout clothes. In her line of work she had had to keep in top condition, and she had often been forced to sneak time in instead of regulating any kind of schedule.
    Miguel leaned against the wall, preparing to have to wait an excessively long time for Ava to change . He was surprised when she exited the dressing room mere seconds after he had. He was absolutely shocked when he saw her in her work out clothing. It had been a long time since any woman had created such a powerful rush in him.
    She wore very short cotton shorts with the waistband rolled down over her flat, toned tummy . Across her firm, attractive little backside was writing that proclaimed, "Edmonds High School." A tight navy blue cotton tee with no sleeves hugged her pert breasts and Miguel had to look down what felt like three minutes of legs before he hit her feet. She looked unassuming, healthy and gorgeous. He loved the whole package, and was having a difficult time peeling his eyes away from her.
    Focusing on her eyes was no better . Her hair had been bound high on top of her head in a ponytail, and it left her face exposed completely. Her slightly upturned, almond shaped silver eyes flashed at him. Cheekbones a model would envy were enhanced by peachy skin. He noticed that she had a smattering of freckles across her impish nose, and it twisted his heart in his chest with simple pleasure. He desperately wanted to lose himself in the lush beauty of her wide lips, to bury himself in her creamy skin, to trace the line of freckles on her nose.
    Shaking his head to clear the dangerously carnal images that were