Free Bare Witness by Katherine Garbera

never wanted a woman more.
    “Has Anna heard anything?” Justine asked.
    “Not yet,” he said.
    He closed the gap between them. The lights outside the hut were the kind that didn’t cast a shadow, so they were both utterly exposed. He didn’t mind. Not really. Physically, he wasn’t hiding anything from her. And he knew instinctively that Justine wasn’t, either. She wasn’t the kind of woman to use subterfuge.
    “Then what are you doing out here?”
    “Following you.”
    “That’s dangerous.”
    “I think you can keep me safe from my enemies…besides, we’re at the security compound.”
    “I wasn’t referring to your enemies.”
    He arched one eyebrow at her. Maybe he wasn’t the only one spoiling for a fight. “Are you threatening me?”
    “Of course not…I’m just saying there are dangers everywhere.”
    “I know that,” he said, thinking of his own life. As a kid he’d thought having money would ensure that he’d be safe. But then Piper had come along, and he’d realized that he’d always be vulnerable.
    God, he missed that little girl. He absolutely needed for her to be safe. And waiting here…was killing him.
    “Sure you do,” Justine said.
    “Wait until you have a kid, and then talk to me. You have no idea how vulnerable that makes a man.”
    Justine froze. “I had a kid sister…I do understand what you mean.”
    “What happened?”
    “She…she and I lost touch.”
    There was more to this story than she was saying. He could see that and he wanted to keep pushing, but his gut said that now wasn’t the time.
    “Recently?”
    “No…a long time ago. Let’s go back inside and see if Anna has found anything.”
    “I thought you needed to breathe.”
    “I can’t do that while you’re out here.”
    He touched the side of her face; she tipped her head to the side for a second, leaning into him, and then seemed to realize what she’d done and stood up straighter.
    “Nigel, you make me crazy.”
    “Good,” he said, leaning down and claiming the kiss he needed. It was the only thing that felt right at this instant. She didn’t melt against him, but then Justine wasn’t really the melting type of woman. Instead, she caged his head in her hands, holding on to him as she tried to take control of the kiss.
    He let her. At six-four he was a big man, and most women just naturally let him take the lead, but that wasn’t in Justine’s makeup. And as she angled her head and thrust her tongue deep into his mouth with blatant sexuality, it was all he could do not to grab her waist and draw her to him, lift her off her feet and wrap those slender legs around his hips so he could go where his cock demanded. He needed to have her wrapped around him.
    Completely at his mercy.
    He took control of the kiss, thrusting his tongue back into her mouth and sweeping his hands down her back. He cupped her butt and lifted her off her feet. She gasped. He felt it, and for a second he thought she was going to knee him, but then she wrapped one thigh around his hips and let him take her weight.
    He held her to him and plumbed her mouth, sucking at her lips and tasting her. Tasting her courage and her femininity and craving more. He couldn’t get enough of this one woman, and that never happened to him.
    Was it simply the danger? The fact that they’d faced death together that made him want her like he’d wanted no other? Or was it something more?
    Hell, why was he trying to think when his dick was influencing him? Maybe this was nothing more than a raging case of lust. She was different; she was hot and she was a challenge.
    He tried to find her skin underneath her T-shirt, but it was tucked in and there was an arsenal strapped to her body. He groaned.
    She pulled his shirt from his waistband and he felt the touch of her small hands against his chest. He looked around for privacy. He carried her to the side of the Quonset hut, turning so that her back was against the side wall and they were out of view