Her eyes widened even more. “Oh my God, you were going to poke around, weren’t you?” In a huff, she started to turn away.
He caught her, then trapped her smacking hands behind her. Irked that she thought so little of him, Leese growled, “Let’s be clear on something here.”
Uncaring that he’d hampered her with his size and strength, she snapped, “I won’t be a part of your suicide.”
That was one insult too many. Leaning down, Leese said an inch from her face, “Just because I’m holing up here with you—to keep you safe—don’t expect me to run from them. Because, Catalina, I can promise you that’s not going to happen.”
Temper sent her voice higher. “You won’t have to run if you don’t get within shooting distance!”
Irritation deepened his voice. “How damned incompetent do you think I am?”
“I didn’t say you’re incompetent!”
Only slightly mollified, he asked, “Then how do you figure I’d get myself shot?”
She tightened her mouth. “You’re too naive to realize how bad they are.”
Oh hell no. In a deadly whisper, he repeated, “Naive?”
“Yes!” She struggled against him, but finally stopped to glare. “Man-to-man, sure, you can beat up any one of them. But you won’t get that chance because they don’t play fair. You’re not familiar with guys of their caliber.”
“Why don’t you enlighten me?”
As if challenged, she snapped, “Fine.” Nose up, brows down, she said, “I’ve been around them much of my life. They’re well-dressed, well-paid, articulate thugs hired by the elite to solve problems in any way necessary. Not a one of them has a conscience, they’re completely ruthless and, as I’ve recently learned, they’re capable of anything, including cold-blooded murder.”
“You think I didn’t already know that?”
“I...” Doubt darkened her eyes. “I don’t know.”
“No, you don’t. You definitely don’t know me well enough to presume I’m that dumb or helpless.” Leese arched her a little closer. “I do know my job, damn it.”
“Your job includes taking insane chances?”
“My job is taking care of you.”
They stared at each other, him frowning, her doubtful, when sudden awareness arced between them. Leese felt her soft breasts pressed to his midsection, her slender thighs aligned with his. Her eyes were big and bright, her lips soft, parted.
With a catch of her breath, Cat’s attention dipped to his mouth. Watching her anger melt away all but singed him.
By small degrees she rested against him, her breath warm on his throat, her body easing into his. Leese didn’t move, didn’t even breathe...until she touched her lips to his, barely there, ultrasweet.
Every emotion—anger, annoyance and that powerful protectiveness—merged into consuming need. He forgot about what was smart or professional.
On a groan, he released her hands to gather her as close as he could get her, taking her mouth in a devouring, out-of-control kiss. Her arms immediately came up around his neck in full participation. She welcomed his tongue, stroked back with her own, every bit as frenzied.
Without really thinking about it, Leese clasped her waist and hoisted her up to sit on the counter, then pressed her slim legs apart to step between them. She didn’t break the kiss, but she did lock her ankles behind him.
On autopilot, blind with lust, he anchored one hand to her ass and rocked her against his straining erection. With the other hand he found her left breast. Small, firm but soft...perfect.
Freeing her mouth, she moaned and dropped her head back, her eyes closed, her lips now swollen.
He liked that reaction a lot, especially since it mirrored his own. Using his thumb, he strummed the tight nipple pressing through her bra and shirt.
Her fingers clenched on his shoulders and she drew a ragged breath. So sensitive. So hot.
Letting the anticipation build, Leese kissed his way along her jaw and down her throat, nudged aside the neckline of her shirt to kiss her collarbone, then dipped down and lightly bit her nipple through the material of her shirt.
“Leese,” she whispered, sounding a little desperate.
He wanted her out of the shirt, right now, so he could get to her bare skin. He slipped both hands under the hem, and his cell phone rang.
They both froze.
Damn. He had a near-lethal boner, but he could guess who was calling.
As much to himself as her, he said, “I’m sorry.”
She swallowed audibly...and her legs fell away, freeing him.
Leese stepped back, then made the mistake of looking at her. Jesus, she looked beautiful when turned on—blue eyes dark, skin flushed and hair mussed.
Breathing too heavily, Leese cupped her cheek, brushed his thumb over her heated skin, then, with extreme regret, he turned away to answer the call.
CHAPTER SIX
CAT COULD BARELY think beyond the disappointment and, yup, embarrassment. Good grief, she’d all but molested Leese. The ringing of his phone had brought her crashing back to reality and she’d realized she had him locked to her with her legs around his waist.
Not that he’d been complaining.
She touched her lips while staring at his broad back, seeing it expand with his every heavy breath. God, the feel of him—those delicious, defined muscles in his shoulders and biceps, the way his thighs flexed as he moved against her, the strength in his abs... She closed her eyes and remembered how hard he was all over, how he’d tasted, how good he smelled...
“Sahara, hi. Everything okay?”
Sahara? Cat opened her eyes again, and found Leese watching her with piercing intensity. He had his cell to his ear, but his scrutiny flustered her all over again.
Hopping off the counter, then quickly steadying her rubbery legs, she asked, “Everything okay?”
He nodded. “Sahara, Cat’s concerned. I’m going to put you on speaker.”
After pressing the screen, he set his phone on the bar and went back to watching her.
“All went well,” Sahara said, her voice chipper. “We did have a tail, but lost him.”
“She drives like a demon,” Justice said in the background.
That got Leese’s attention back on the phone. “I thought you were driving.”
“She made me pull over!”
Sahara laughed. “He’s a cautious driver and that’s not what was needed.”
“By cautious, she means I didn’t scream through red lights, drive against traffic or take turns so sharp the SUV nearly rolled.”
“Calm down, Justice. You survived.”
“Barely,” he groused.
Starting to grin, Leese looked at Cat again.
She couldn’t blunt her own smile, but it faded as she asked, “Was it Tesh following you?”
“It’s possible,” Sahara started to say.
But Justice interrupted. “I didn’t see any damn tail! I swear, I think she made it up just so she could play speed racer.”
Leese laughed outright.