Burying his face in the hollow of her neck and shoulder, he breathed deeply of her scent. His arm slipped around her, and he pressed her tight to his body, his hips moving in helpless thrusts. He closed his eyes, the rush of sensation so intense that he had to grit his teeth against it. He tightened his hold on her, his heart hammering, his breathing constricted. She moved, sending a shock wave of heat through him, and he clutched her, the feel of her almost too much to handle.
“I know this is hard,” she murmured.
“You have no idea.”
She slanted a look at him full of mischief. “No, I think I do since that impressive part of your anatomy is wedged against my butt. I remember what you look like and it’s not helping that you’re half naked.”
He had a sudden flashback of giving her head, holding her hands behind her back, and forcing her down on top of his mouth. The taste of her was so sweet. The memories were indistinct and jumbled.
His hand curled over her thigh, trying to keep her steady. She closed her eyes in appreciation as he moved his palm and rested on her hip. He continued to watch her face, determined to keep his focus there. She was as sleek as a cat, those forever-long legs, toned muscles, and enticing beauty slayed him. He wondered what she had on under her catsuit. He wanted to get out of this trunk, find the nearest hotel and take her like a freaking caveman. Repressing some very heavy urges, he gritted his teeth and remained as still as he could.
“It’s too bad we can’t do any of the things you're thinking,” she whispered, her voice husky.
“If you knew what I was thinking, I would violate my vow over and over and over again,” he said, low and provocative.
She stared at him, transfixed, looking totally winded. Now she was feeling what he was feeling. Her chest rose, as if she couldn’t catch her breath. It wasn’t the response he was expecting. He’d moved the immovable assassin—no easy feat, but he liked it a lot.
Finally breathing again, she looked at him with a dangerous glint in her eyes. “Damn you, Preacher,” she murmured.
He went to open his mouth, but she raised her hand for silence. Listening intently to what the two officers were saying, she smiled. “They’re stopping for food. As soon as they park and leave, we’re out of here.”
“That’s a lucky break. I didn’t relish getting out of a police cruiser at their precinct.”
She nodded. “Get ready.”
As soon as the vehicle came to a stop, the officers, murmuring to each other, exited the car, slamming the doors to tell them that they were out. He heard footsteps walking away. Karasu was true to her word, she had the trunk open faster than he could take another breath. Slipping out, she moved into the shadows. He rolled out, ignoring his hard dick and the crick in his back. He closed the trunk softly, then headed for the sidewalk, moving into the shadow where he barely saw the outline of Karasu. The material she was dressed in was a matte black and rejected light.
He joined her there and she looked up at him as he moved close to her. “That was slick, babe.”
“I’m sorry about this in advance,” she whispered, then caught him by the hair, pulled his head down, and gave him a kiss that just about blew his socks off.
His whole body going on full alert, he slid his arms around her hips. “You’re killing me, Luna,” he whispered.
She gave his hair another yank and deepened the kiss, and Preacher got really serious, real quick, and dragged her up against him. She made a low sound and slid her arms around his neck, and suddenly Preacher couldn’t breathe, either. Grabbing the back of her head, he fought for air, his heart hammering. He changed the angle of her head, then sealed his mouth hungrily against hers.
He knew he had to stop, but she moved against him, and he nearly groaned, a pulsating heat coursing through him. In desperation, he pulled his mouth away. “Karasu,” he groaned, shaking her a bit when she tried to resume the kiss.
She blinked a couple of times and exhaled heavily. “What you do to me should be criminal.”
Hit with a rush of emotion, Preacher nestled her tighter against him and closed his eyes. He kissed her on the neck. She shivered and melted around him, and his heart rolled over. Struggling with a thickness deep in his chest, he began stroking her back, feelings he didn’t want to acknowledge crowding in on him. Sliding his hand higher, he rubbed the back of her neck, and he felt her swallow, then swallow again, and he realized she was struggling with some very raw emotion as well. His own throat closed up a little. In spite of what had gone before, he didn’t want her thinking this was simple for him, or worse—meaningless.
“I’m going slowly crazy. I need to figure this out.”
She nodded and stepped back, all business. She bit her lip, looking contrite. Goddammit, he wanted to know what was bothering her.
“Could I get that license plate number now?” she asked, folding her arms across her chest.
He went to reach out, to question her, but she slipped away.
“Of course.” He rattled it off and had no idea that Karasu would know it by heart. “What now?”
“Hang on,” she said, then jogged across the street, ducking into a shop. After a few minutes she came out with a warm, gray pullover. She gave him a once over and sighed. “Here, put this on. As much as I’m enjoying it, you don’t want to be walking around half-naked and garner any attention.”
Her mouth pinched at the corners, telling him that her common sense had kicked in and the distance reestablished. She was once again not happy he was here.
“It is concerning that they saw your face. But I think Tat Woman and Sergei won’t rat you out. They have no idea who we were, so keeping their mouths shut would be more prudent. You can’t afford to be compromised while you’re on a mission. You shouldn’t have followed me.”
“That wasn’t an option,” he growled, opting for blunt honesty. “If I hadn’t, and something had happened to you, I don’t think I’d be able to survive that.”