Page 48 of Dangerous Mission

When the door slams behind her, I unglue my feet and go after her.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Oh my freaking goodness.

Breathe. Walk. Keep moving.

Legs shaking, heart skipping, I step into the house and fall back against the washing machine.

I don’t know what is happening to me. I’m hot. I’m cold. I’m pissed, I’m alarmed. I’m…disoriented.

The total effect is not a good feeling. If the doctor examined me right now, he’d cancel the dive. No way he’d let a crazy person suit up and go into a cave under fifty feet of water.

I need to get myself under control.

When the door flies open, I close my eyes and groan silently. In the next heartbeat Scout’s in front of me.

Too close.

Warm, with the scent of masculinity and rain lingering on him.

But all he does is breathe heavily. At me.

This fires up my attitude.

“It’s kind of small in here for a grumpy King and an irritated peasant.”

He looks up at the ceiling of laundry room and mutters, “Fuck.”

“Is that the only word you got? Because if you remember…”

When he lowers his gaze to mine, his pale blue eyes are more alive than I’ve ever seen them.

My complaint is instantly stolen.

Along with my ability to draw in a breath.

When he reaches up and touches my cheek with the back of his knuckles, my breath returns in a rush and my sanity shoots out of the top of my head like a bottle rocket.

His fingers brush lower, down my neck.

Time freezes. His touch is so shocking that every single one of my muscles, tiny to large, are locked up. As if by moving even the smallest amount, I might shatter whatever is happening.

Finally, a quiver moves through me.

My toes curl in my boots.

The way his gaze is locked on his hand makes my throat sting with emotion.

I‘ve never felt a more charged moment in my life.

Heat curls off his fingers, sinking deep into my hungry skin—so hungry for his hand, it’s a kind of desperation.

Raspy, he speaks in a low tone. “I can’t believe you.”

What? “Me?”

“Yeah, you, AriaKane.” He emphasizes the last word.