Page 26 of Critical Strike

He leaned his forehead against hers. “We will.”

His lips touched hers, softly, briefly, before pulling away. All she could do was stare at him.

He actually growled at her. “Staring at me with those big, beautiful eyes is just going to get you kissed again, Kitten.”

Was that supposed to scare her off? She tilted her head and raised an eyebrow at him.

He chuckled. “So, the kitten has little claws.”

He slipped his arm around her waist and yanked her closer. She laughed breathlessly as her body fell against his.

Then he kissed her for real.

His lips were gentle but firm, commanding but careful. So perfectly Luke.

Claire scooted up onto her knees on the bench between his legs, wrapping her arms around his neck as one of his hands gripped her waist firmly and the other trailed along her spine.

She’d dreamed about this kiss for years. Even when she hadn’t been old enough to really know what kisses were supposed to be, she’d known that she’d wanted her kisses to be with Luke.

This one didn’t disappoint.

He kissed her with shattering absorption, as if he couldn’t get enough of her. His tongue invited hers to play, to dance. His teeth nipped at her full bottom lip gently before soothing the sweet hurt with a gentle lick.

They were both breathing heavily by the time they broke apart. This wasn’t the time or place to get lost in each other.

But now she had even more reason to clear her name.

More kisses with Luke.

Chapter Eight

The feel of Claire’s lips and that sexy little breathless moan she made as he kissed her were still in the forefront of Luke’s mind two hours later as he paid for his purchases at a local superstore.

The cashier popped her gum as she scanned his items. Some food for both them and Khan, a change of clothes for the both of them, a brunette wig for Claire, and a prepaid cell phone he could use without worrying about tracing.

Burner phone.

Luke scrubbed a hand over his face. He definitely hadn’t been expecting to need burner phones when this week had started.

If the cashier found his collection unusual in any way, her popping gum never let on to the fact. She looked more bored than anything as she placed each item into the bag after scanning it.

Good. Bored meant she wasn’t paying attention and made him much more forgettable.

She told him his amount. “Card or cash?”

“Cash.” Luke pulled out his wallet and handed her some bills.

This stuff wasn’t cheap. He had enough to cover it, but between paying for last night’s second hotel, gas and all this with cash, he was now officially running low.

Turning away from the cashier as she counted the money and put it in the drawer, he looked out the store’s window. His truck sat close to the front where he could access it easily, Claire’s blonde head tucked low in the window.

He hadn’t wanted to leave her out there with just Khan as protection, but that was a better option than taking a chance on her being recognized in the store. Plus, she was already coming up with some ideas on how to fight back against Ballard.

A smile tugged at Luke’s lips. That big brain of hers. He had no doubt she would figure out how to access the data she needed to prove her innocence.

And he was going to provide her with whatever help she needed.

Taking the bags, he hurried out of the store. Claire sat up straighter when she caught him approaching and gave him a little wave. He smiled but couldn’t stop staring at her lips.

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