In the darkness, Luke cupped his hand around Olivia’s head and pressed her face against his shoulder. With his mouth by her ear, he whispered, “don’t move.”
Her pulse still pounding, she silently nodded against his cheek. She and Luke stood together in the dark, and she clung to him for strength and comfort. When his other arm came up to cradle her against his body, she melted into him, grateful for the contact. She was very conscious that this was the first time he’d held her since the cave, and it was wonderful to be back in his arms—even under these circumstances.
Maybe this was the last time he would ever clasp her against himself. She ached to lift her head and turn her face so that she could press her lips to his. She ached to taste him. And more than that, she ached to know how he really felt about her.
After Dr. Valero had taken the bullet out, she’d stayed with Luke, and he’d asked her to talk to him. She’d been glad to do it. More than glad—she’d been elated that he’d turned to her. But their relationship hadn’t been the same since then. She was sure he’d deliberately put distance between them.
She wanted to know why. Because he thought there was no future for them? Because he knew that something bad was going to happen with Zabastian?
A kiss might have told her where they stood with each other. But she knew she dared not distract him that much. He was trying to keep them safe.
From the police? The Poisoned Ones?
They’d hurt those men. But she had no reason to believe the trio hadn’t gotten away. If Luke could find the Temple of the Moon, maybe they could do the same thing, and maybe they’d spotted her and Luke.
She sighed and moved her head, then stroked her hand across his broad back, loving the solid feel of his muscles.
“We’re okay,” he murmured.
“Luke?”
He stiffened. “Don’t.”
“Don’t what?”
“Don’t start anything with me.”
She felt a terrible hollow place open up inside her. He had as much as told her it was all over.
Well, what had she thought would happen? That he’d ask her to marry him when the cops and the bad guys stopped chasing them?
She heard him make a sound deep in his chest, and her heart leaped. He was going to say something—about them!
But the words that came out of his mouth were all business. “I think we can make a run for the temple.”
“What temple?”
“You didn’t see it?”
“No.”
He made a frustrated sound. “It’s right between number 57 and 59. Right up the block from where Brand let us off.
She moved back, lifting her face toward his, wishing she could see his expression in the dark. “Luke, what are you trying to pull? There’s nothing between 57 and 59. They’re row houses—right next to each other.