“There is no ‘we,’ Emily. I’ve already told you too much. It ends here.”
“It’s my life you’re talking about, Devlin. My conscience. My career. Everything I’ve ever worked for.”
“We’re not talking about your life. We’re talking about your death.” Something dark and frightening flashed in his eyes. “I want no part of that. Do you understand?”
“I’m not going to sit around and do nothing while these people continue to torture and maim and murder. I’m involved, damn it.”
“What do you suggest?”
“I don’t know!” To her horror, her voice cracked on the last word. She knew it was the fatigue tearing down her defenses; she was so exhausted she couldn’t think straight.
Because she didn’t want Zack to see just how close she was to a meltdown, she turned and started for the bathroom. She was almost there when a strong hand landed on her shoulder and spun her around.
“I don’t want anything to happen to you, Emily. Before I can keep you safe, I need your cooperation.”
She could feel the tears building and fought them valiantly. Emily didn’t cry often. She’d always seen tears as a sign of weakness. But she was tired and scared and in so far over her head she didn’t know what to do next. She didn’t know who to trust.
“I can’t stand the thought of those men dying because I didn’t do anything to stop it,” she said.
“This is not your fault.”
“I’m part of Lockdown, Inc. I’ve worked at the Bitterroot facility for three years.”
“You had no way of knowing what they were doing.”
She wanted desperately to believe him, but in some small, unreasonable part of her mind she’d already taken responsibility. Blinking back tears, she met his gaze levelly. “I’m going to be involved whether you like it or not.”
“You don’t know the extent of this. Damn it, you don’t know what you’re getting into.”
“I know enough. I will not stand aside and let it happen. I can’t do that any more than you can. I need to do this,” she whispered. “Please. Let me help you stop this.”
“Why, for God’s sake?” he shouted.
“Because I need to be able to live with myself!”
He stared hard at her for a long, uncomfortable moment. The only sound came from the wind tearing around the window, the occasional ping of heat from the woodstove.
“Emily…”
In the next instant, the dynamics of the situation capitulated. Zack’s expression changed from strained to slightly baffled. Intensity burned in his eyes as his gaze swept down her face and stopped on her mouth. Suddenly she was keenly aware of his proximity. That he was tall and muscular and devastatingly male. That her senses were humming with a tension that had nothing to do with Lockdown, Inc. and everything to do with the man standing so close she could hear the hiss of his breath.
She stared at him, wanting to deny what she knew would happen next. Something that was every bit as dangerous to her as the men chasing them but in a very different way. Her intellect told her to turn and walk away. It reminded her that she should be concentrating on the mystery and not this man who seemed to put her under a spell every time he touched her.
But Emily’s heart betrayed her intellect. When he leaned close and set his mouth against hers, all thought of pulling away and doing the right thing evaporated as the pleasure sank in and went all the way through her.
Need pulsed when his arms went around her. Heat surged when he pulled her against him. His body was like hot steel against hers. She could feel the hard ridge of his arousal against her cleft, sliding and seeking…her. Desire flashed, then spread like wildfire. She could feel it leaping though her body like flames, burning her, frightening her with its unleashed power.
Emily had had two serious relationships in her life. But nothing she’d ever experienced had prepared her for the way this man kissed her. Or for the way her body responded.
Her arms went around his neck. As if by its own accord, her body shifted against his shaft.
An instant later he shoved her to arm’s length. The action startled her, breaking the spell of her desire-induced haze. His hands were tight around her arms as he stared down at her, his pupils so dilated they looked black.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” he said sharply.
She blinked, stunned as much by the unreason able question as by his angry tone. “I could ask you the same thing,” she replied, equally sharply.
Releasing her abruptly, he stumbled back, staring at her as if he’d just realized she was a danger to him. “I’m going to take a shower,” he said.
“Devlin—”
“Get some sleep.” Turning away from her, he crossed to the bathroom, stepped inside and slammed the door behind him.
Chapter Eleven
Zack didn’t bother with the hot water. Not that the cold water was helping much. He’d been standing beneath the spray for going on ten minutes and his erection was showing no signs of abating anytime soon.