Free Running Hot by Helenkay Dimon Page A

are you talking about now or sometime in the future to celebrate ending Tigana?”
    Both. “I need to work off this extra energy and get back in control.” She was half-ready to rip off her clothes and throw him on the mattress.
    Maybe he knew because he just stood there and stared at her, his gaze not leaving her face.
    She stared back.
    Just as he started to lower his head, a ripple moved through her. She shoved a hand against his shoulder. “Don’t think that I always break protocol like this.”
    â€œI don’t care if you do.” He ripped his shirt out of his pants and whipped it over his head, revealing miles of tanned muscled skin.
    â€œYou’re taking off your clothes.” Not the smartest thing she’d ever said, but it was out there and she couldn’t snatch it back.
    â€œRight. You’re the boss, remember?”
    A shot of regret nearly knocked her over—not at making the pass but at wanting him this much in the first place. Her mind should be on the assignment, not on his chest.
    She’d buried this part of her for so long under a pile of work and professionalism that taking it out now made her twitchy. “This isn’t—”
    His hands went to her arms, and he brushed those palms up and down, soothing her. “Do you want me?”
    She couldn’t lie. He had to feel it in the tremor shaking through her. “Yes.”
    â€œThen stop justifying not working this very second and enjoy. It won’t make you less of a professional.”
    That was exactly what she needed to hear. “Okay.”
    His hands stopped at her elbows and he dragged her in closer until the heat of his body radiated against her. “You’re a stunning woman, and we’ve been circling each other for days. Honestly, your ability to handle weapons only makes you even hotter in my eyes.”
    The words spun through her. They felt so good. So right. “Not the way I would say it, but okay.”
    â€œYou want me. I sure as hell want you. We need to lay low until it gets dark and we can hide our movements better.” The corner of his mouth kicked up in a smile filled with promise. “And, for the record, there is nothing sexier than a woman who goes after what she wants.”
    He meant it. She knew it with every cell inside her.
    Screw being overly safe.
    Her hands trailed up that bare chest to his shoulders and the sexy dip between his collarbone and the base of his neck. “You’re not like the rest of the CIA guys I’ve met.”
    He closed one eye as his arms wrapped around her waist. “For the next hour, how about you forget where I work and concentrate on me?”
    â€œThat shouldn’t be hard.” Not with his body rubbing against hers and his erection pressing into the vee between her legs.
    â€œMe wanting you.” He kissed her neck. A line of light biting kisses up to the underside of her chin. “Me kissing and tasting you.” His lips moved over her cheek.
    â€œYes.” She didn’t have any breath so she wasn’t even sure if she said the word out loud.
    â€œMe inside you.” The intensity of his gaze matched his words. “I can pretty it up but I want to—”
    â€œSay it.” She didn’t need fancy words. Didn’t want them right now.
    â€œFuck you.”
    The words, so rough and sexy, vibrated through her. Then his mouth covered hers, and she couldn’t say anything. Couldn’t think. The kiss, so hot and deep, had her heels lifting off the floor. Every fear and worry fell away as heat washed over her. The touch of his skin, even the pucker of a scar she felt under her fingertips on his back, soothed her.
    Ward was a warrior. He fought and would die for his country. She took that same vow. Different country but same devotion. They both believed in something enough to risk everything. Other men said it. From him, she believed it, mostly because he never gave