Relief was short-lived because now I had to face the reality I was locked in the dark with Jason and neither of us had a shirt on. In fact, his jeans weren’t even zipped or buttoned. He must have been asleep and yanked them on when he’d heard Derrick’s command.
He set his gun down on top of the monitor, making the picture bounce once. The danger outside was gone, or so he’d said, but what about the danger of our situation now? My breathing hadn’t slowed from its rapid pace, making me restless.
I wore one of my skimpiest bras because Caroline hadn’t given me any other option when she’d packed for me. Good God, I might as well have been topless.
My face heated when Jason’s gaze subtly drifted down. I didn’t mind him looking, and he was a man, after all. They seemed to be incapable of not looking. But then I got cold and crossed my arms over my chest to hold in a shiver.
He did up his fly, and I stared at the muscles in his strong arms. If he got to look, then so did I.
His defined abs disappeared beneath the boxers peeking out above the waistband of his jeans. Oh, man, had I been right. Hedefinitelylooked good under his shirt.
There was a tattoo on one bicep—a military insignia I couldn’t place. Like fast food and alcohol, visible tattoos were generally not accepted in the ballet community.Taboo.It only made him hotter, more appealing.
He took a step in my direction as he holstered his gun at his hip. He walked right up to me, only to reach into a box beside my feet and pull out a bulletproof vest.
“Put this on.”
“You think the car’s coming back?” I snatched the vest from his hands and fumbled to loosen the straps.
“No, but it’s freezing down here.”
The vest didn’t add much warmth, but at least I could cover up. “What about you?”
“I’m fine.”
I didn’t believe a word of it but said nothing.
The basement was equipped with a small arsenal. It should have made me feel safe, but the large, deadly looking guns only made me more nervous. Plus, he was standing before me, one hand on his hip, looking like sin in the flesh. I could see every flex and roll of the muscles in his powerful arms.
The ground felt unsteady beneath me, and I was so disoriented by my adrenaline and lust, the words just tumbled out. “I thought you were going to kiss me last night.”
My statement literally knocked him back.
“I don’t want to talk about it.” His gaze refused to meet mine, and his voice was tight. “Nothing happened. If something had, I’d be out of a job.”
Right. Protecting me was his job. Maybe that was all last night had been, him offering comfort and trying to help me feel safe.
But what about the look he gave you in the mirror?
“I know. I’m sorry,” I said. “Last night was... hard for me. You’re right. Nothing happened, and I don’t want to get you in trouble.”
His expression softened. “Nothing to be sorry about.”
11
JASON
I watchedLaurel stride to the wooden stairs, admiring the graceful way she moved, even when she was full of anxiety. She sat on the second step, folded her arms across her chest, and rested her forearms on her knees.
Was she aware of what she was doing to me? I had to focus elsewhere. Anywhere else.
“How long do we have to stay here?” she asked.
“Ten, maybe twenty minutes.” Even without looking, I could tell she was shivering.
“What are we supposed to do until then?”
I knew what I’d like to do, how I’d lean her back over those stairs and find out what she tasted like.
