He heard the faint click of her swallow. “My hit didn’t knock you down, did it? It didn’t take you out any more than that bullet did.”
He smiled and wondered just how much she could see in that weak light. “I was always a pretty good actor.”
The sound she made was half laugh, half sob. Then her arms were tightening around him. “Thank you!”
Because he’d gone against orders?
Or “bent” those orders?
For her.
Her mouth was too close. She was too tempting, and the knife edge of adrenaline and fury weakened his control just enough that he had to—
Take.
His lips closed over hers. Not easy. Not soft. He thrust his tongue into her mouth and savored her taste. Cassidy’s taste—it was so sweet and hot. When he kissed her, he craved things that he shouldn’t.
He forgot the mission.
Forgot protocol.
Wanted.
Her. Naked. Beneath him, in bed.
And I will have her that way.
“So I guess your seduction worked,” he murmured against her lips.
He felt the ripple of surprise that trembled through her. She pulled her head back, shook it slightly. “I wasn’t...”
“When we’re out of here, you’ll owe me.” A sensual promise. He’d make sure she paid exactly what was owed.
Cassidy didn’t speak.
Cale forced himself to let her go. Their captors would be coming back soon. They needed to be ready. “Look for a weapon.” Something small they could use against their enemies. They just needed the element of surprise on their side.
They’d get it, especially with Gunner and Logan working nearby.
She eased away from him and began searching with the lantern’s light. “There’s nothing here.”
No, not a damn thing. Except...the lantern.
The bolt slid free upstairs. The door began to squeak open.
He took the lantern from her.
The door opened more, spilling light.
Cale lifted the lantern. He waited just a few more precious seconds. Then he threw down the lantern, shattering it. Even as a voice swore at the top of the stairs, Cale was picking up a chunk of broken glass. Not the knife he liked to use, but it would get the job done.
Because when it came to close-contact warfare, he was the best.
The men wouldn’t have a target down there now. There wasn’t enough light to see. They couldn’t shoot from above.
He wrapped his left hand around Cassidy’s arm, pulled her back.
Then he smiled up at the silhouette that waited on that staircase.