Page 56 of Point of Contact

By some grace of God, she didn’t accidentally bite him as her whole body tensed up and she scrambled back, trying to put as much space between her and the door as possible.

Heidi said they were in the clear, but what if she was wrong? She was all the way in Alaska and they were still nowhere near there. It wasn’t a complete stretch to think the men who tried to kill her once had moved in to finish the job.

And now they would kill Reed too.

Somehow that was almost more upsetting.

The fear that they might take away the first person who genuinely gave a shit about her had Courtney back on her feet, grabbing the wooden stool and slamming it against the floor as the banging continued.

The stool, a little rickety from the constant humidity in the room, easily broke into pieces, one of them sporting a wickedly sharp edge. She gripped it tight, pointed end coming out the back of her clenched fist. When she turned toward the door Reed was staring at her with wide eyes.

“Are you feral?”

She nodded. “I think so.”

He gave her an approving look. “Good.” He stepped close as whoever was on the other side got even more aggressive, hooking one arm around her waist and pulling her in for a quick kiss, his lips hard and demanding as his tongue slicked against hers before disappearing too soon. His dark eyes held hers. “Do whatever it takes to get out of here.” His expression was as serious as she’d ever seen it, which was saying something. “That includes leaving me behind.”

She knew him well enough not to argue, but there was no way she’d go without him. So she broke the one rule he gave her and offered up a lie she’d apologize for later when they were both safe. “Okay.”

CHAPTER TWENTY

REED

IF SOMEONE HAD asked him a year ago whether or not Courtney would have his back in a dangerous situation, he would have laughed in their face. But seeing Courtney, dripping wet and naked, holding a spike of wood like she was ready to fight, didn't surprise him now. Over the past few days he'd learned she was brave and determined and, honestly, way more dangerous than he'd ever given her credit for.

That still didn't mean he would let her put herself on the line.

He grabbed one of the big towels she'd bought from Target and tossed it her way. “Wrap that around you in case you have to run. I don’t want you freezing to death.”

Courtney caught the towel, but instead of putting it around herself, she motioned at him. "What about you?"

He grabbed the second towel and wrapped it around his waist, tucking it as tight as he could before holding his hands out. "Better?"

It would figure she’d still want to argue with him in a situation like this.

Courtney nodded, wrapping her own towel into place. "Better. I don't want your dick to get hurt before I have the chance to fully enjoy it."

Christ. Was she making a joke at a time like this?

Of course she was. She would probably crack a joke while he was balls deep inside her too. The woman definitely didn't understand timing.

He held one finger to his lips, turning to the door. He took one quick breath before flipping the lock and whipping it open, hoping to catch whoever was on the other side at least a little off guard.

They were safe. He knew that.

Probably.

But he still let out a sigh of relief when he saw who was raising absolute hell outside the door.

The woman from the laundry room stared at him, looking bothered by his presence. "Your washer finished. I switched your stuff over to the dryer."

That was what she nearly beat the door down for?

He exhaled, relief sagging his shoulders. "Thanks."

She lifted her brows, holding one hand out. "You owe me three-fifty."

Holy hell. He might have actually found someone who was a bigger pain in his ass than Courtney.

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