“You really are sweet, Strike.” I lean forward just a touch, giving him another good look. I even fiddle with the button that’s straining right between my breasts.
His eyes glaze over again. He’s almost too easy.
I’m worried that if he glances back, he might see Grim.
“I would absolutely take you up on the offer of an escort, but I know how busy you are and how important your job is. I’m sure you have far more important things you need to do. I can manage, and then we’ll hook up later.” I wink at him.
He nods, finally lifting his gaze to mine. “That sounds really good. I need to catch that rogue shifter. You need to be careful out here, Katie.”
“You’ll get him,” I tell Strike, then I smile at him. “A strong, capable officer like you? I have no doubt.”
“I’ll call you a little later,” he says. His eyes drop one more time to my breasts for a beat or two. He actually licks his lips. “Bye, Katie.”
“Bye, Strike.”
He walks back to his vehicle, turning to look at me with a goofy smile on his face. Then he climbs in and drives away.
The moment his vehicle disappears around the corner, I heave out the biggest sigh of my life.
My body is shaking from the adrenaline coursing through my veins.
We wait a full minute; neither of us moves. Then Grim climbs back into the passenger seat.
He looks pissed. No. Worse than pissed. He looks absolutely furious. His jaw is set, his eyes are blazing. His whole body seems to bristle with tension.
When his gaze drops to the tops of my breasts, still on display, his expression becomes almost feral. His eyes darken up a whole lot.
It was a close call.
He must be pumped full of adrenaline, too.
“Let me check the map,” I mutter, almost to myself. I need to double-check those checkpoint locations. I have to be very quick. I just need to get us out of here. I buckle up and start driving.
“Where are you going?” Grim growls.
“We need to get ourselves out of here just in case the Security Forces guy comes back. He’ll get suspicious if I’m still sitting here.” I keep my voice steady despite my racing heart. “We also can’t go back that way because he might be there. I have to look like I’m going home to fetch my purse, remember? I’m going to find somewhere to park so that we can plan our route home.”
He grunts, buckling up. I glance his way, and he still looks angry. His jaw is so tight I’m worried he might crack a tooth.
About a minute later, he turns to me. “You’re not going to go out with him, are you?”
Say what?
Surely he knows it was just an act?
“No, of course not.” I keep my eyes on the road.
“It sounded to me like you were attracted to him.You’re so big and strong,” he mimics my voice, making it high and breathy.
Is he for real?
“I’mnotattracted to him and, no, I’mnotgoing to go out with him.” I shake my head in disbelief. “That was all an act.”
“Good. Because he was an asshole.” Grim’s voice is rough. “He couldn’t keep his eyes off your tits. Such a prick!”
“How would you know?” I glance at him. “You were under a blanket.”
“I fucking know. I have eyes. Your breasts are amazing. That dickhead—”
