Page 42 of Dangerous Rhythm

“Two Stilettos’ men found us a few blocks away,” she said to the phone. “They’re down.”

Curtis went to the kitchen and splashed cold water on his face. He then grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge and downed half of it in one go.

“They must’ve seen us by the market and followed at a distance,” she said, her face grim. “I missed them.

“I think the threat is eliminated for now, but we can’t stay here. It’s a matter of time until they send someone else,” she added.

Lina nodded to whatever Marcus was saying. “Got it. I’ll get him out tonight.”

She disconnected and for a second, her body went limp as she let her head and arms hang loose. Her eyes closed as she breathed in deeply.

His body was still buzzing with energy mixed with fear, even if they were safe. For now. He wondered how she looked so collected.

“Lina,” he said her name.

She snapped up and turned to him. The burning heat in her eyes contradicted the calm of her body. It should be his warning when she suddenly stormed at him.

“Do not ever put yourself in danger again!” Lina enunciated each word forcefully as she backed him into a wall. Her finger poked him at the shoulder.

“You do not put yourself between me and a threat! Do you understand me?” she demanded.

Curtis’ brows crashed at the bridge of his nose. “What was I supposed to do? Let him stab you in the back?”

“I could handle him.” Lina glared at him.

“You couldn’t have seen him!” He fired back. “I acted out of instinct.”

“It was stupid. You could’ve been hurt.”

“If I did nothing,youwould’ve been hurt.”

They glared at each other as their anger filled the air.

“Never risk your life for me again,” she warned in a more level voice.

“Can’t promise you that, Lina.” Curtis’ gaze softened on hers.

Lina’s eyes were a pool of turmoil as she digested his words. She blew a breath of irritation, grabbed his shirt, and pulled him to her for a searing hard kiss that sent lightning straight to Curtis’ cock.

“You’re so fucking frustrating,” she said against his mouth.

Turning the table on her, Curtis spun and pushed her against the wall, sucking her lower lips with his teeth.

“Ditto, lady. But gosh, you’re such a badass.” He kissed her rebuttal away as he pushed his tongue to clash with hers in a silent battle.

Lina wrapped a hand around his nape, pulling for more as he invaded her mouth. Her other hand roamed straight down his back and dove under his jeans and did the same to his lower body, as if she needed him flush against her.

If Curtis had been hot before, he was ablaze now.

Running his hands over her taut body, he felt the strength in her, the tight coil ready to release. Between him and her, they could set the building on fire.

His hand slipped under her shirt and cupped a breast and squeezed as his thumb ran over her nipple, still covered in her bra. She gasped into his mouth and bowed her back, offering her chest to his touch.

“Tell me what you want, Lina.” Curtis pulled away from her mouth and ran his lips over her jaw to her ear.

“I want you to fucking do what I say,” she hissed. A leftover of their argument still colored her words.

Curtis’ lips spread in a grin over the sensitive point of her neck. “What do you want me to do?” He nipped at her neck and pulled his head away from her so he could press his groin against her lower region.

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