Page 6 of Cops and Robbers

A headlamp wrapped her bubblegum-pink hair as she stood with her rear facing him. Her hands worked behind her back, clasping the jeweled bra in place over tight-as-sin black clothing.

Raz’s mouth salivated, and his dragon rammed against his already swirling head.

Mine.

“Stopp what yerr doing,” a deep voice slurred from behind her.

Kate froze.

Oh? Could this be Special Agent Raz Malone? A smile spread across her face. By the sound of it, he’d partaken in the vending machine goodies she’d spiked. She straightened her fingers from the back of the pricey bra she’d just clasped into place.

“Now get onn the grounnd.” He stepped forward with a tap.

She chewed her lip and glanced back, the pink bobbed wig resting over her shoulder. The bright flashlight blinded her from seeing anything about the officer. A spirit presence pressed against her with warmth and foreignness.

Wait, hadn’t she felt that before from another person?

“You doing okay, honey?” she purred. “You sound sick.” In slow increments, she widened her arms and lifted them above her head.

“I said get onnn the ground.” His words held a gravelly growl that caressed her senses like a kiss in the dark.

“Are you sure? I have a nice backside, but I have to admit this bra makes—“

“Ssshut’up. If I have to—“ His sentence ended with a gag.

The flashlight’s beam faltering was all the clue she needed—she dashed.

The three steps to the door seemed to take forever. Her arm hair prickled. He was giving chase.

A bubbling rose from within her, lifting her lips into a smile. Her shoes skidded on the linoleum floor as she rounded the corner. Need to get to the fire escape. She sucked in air and ran down the hallway.

Something thumped behind her as if someone were hitting a wall. She snickered to herself, knowing the drug was working on Raz. Gasping, she sprinted for the next room. Straight through the office, she vaulted over the large cedar desk, kicking over the leather chair behind it. She landed on the knocked-over furniture and dove partially through the open window she’d left cracked.

Her fingers gripped the metal grating of the fire escape and she heaved herself outside. Pain sliced into her mind as her knees and shins scraped against the windowsill.

”—fucking kidding me,“ yelled a strained voice from inside the office.

Heart jumping into her throat, she picked herself up and climbed the steps to reach higher ground. When she reached the fourth floor, her lungs bursting from her chest, heavy footsteps banged up the stairs.

Reaching the top landing, she glanced over the rail. As if the male sensed her pause, he stopped two floors down and leaned over to look up.

Fuck. His picture didn’t do him justice.

Furrowing his black brows, he gazed at her with narrowed dark eyes that shimmered red in the light of the setting sun. Something warm and decadent sizzled in the air between them. The baseball cap hid dark hair. His physique was like a bodybuilding runner, someone who could outmatch her any day.

“You done?” he called, his hands clenching the railing.

She winked at him, earning a frustrated curse in return.

Palms slick and mouth dry, she twisted and hopped to grab the building’s edge. She hooked her leg over the side and jumped to her feet. The landing banged as he hit the top. Breathing deeply, she ran at full speed.

Her shoes slapped over the puddle-riddled roof and she dodged around large metal obstacles. Footsteps sounded behind—gaining on her. As she approached the edge, a warmth brushed against her back.

She leaped.

Her stomach dropped and tingled. In midair, he grabbed her arm as he jumped with her. Twisting away from him, she tucked into a roll. She landed on the next building, somersaulting twice. Her right shoulder rammed into something solid. With a sickening thud, she stopped. Shoots of stabbing pain immobilized her.

“Shit,” she screamed, resting her head back against the metal box she’d run into. Lightheaded and unable to move her shoulder, she clutched her arm and rolled to her feet.