Page 19 of Stand Fast

“Yeah,” he called back. “Just some rubble falling off the front of the building.” He turned Jaliya around to face him and grasped her chin with his fingers to make sure she was coping okay.

She stared up at him with those gorgeous, thickly-lashed eyes, unmoving, only a few inches separating them. The sweet, clean scent of her filled his nostrils as he searched her face. She hadn’t shown the faintest trace of fear until now, even though she had to be rattled. That bombing was too damn close and if she’d arrived a few minutes earlier she would have been caught up in the blast.

“You sure you’re all right?” he asked her softly. Her skin was so damn soft, and her mouth was too damn tempting. The bravery she’d shown in the face of danger put a crack in the wall he’d erected around his heart. That combination of strength and softness sucked him right in.

She swallowed and gave him a tiny smile. “Yes.”

He couldn’t let it go. “Was your team the target?”

“I’m not sure.”

“But you’re not sure it wasn’t.”

She lowered her gaze, her chin still grasped in his fingers. “No.”

He sighed. “As soon as we leave here, we’ll get you and the others back to Bagram.”

“That’s not necessary—”

“I’m not leaving you in Kabul.” He needed to know she’d be safe, and the best way to do that was to guard her himself until he got her to a secure location. “The agency can figure out where to put you after that.”

He expected another argument, or even a show of annoyance from her, but instead her expression softened. “All right. Thank you.”

He nodded.

Her lips twisted into a wry smile. “I’m sure you think I must be a sandwich short of a picnic to take on this job in the first place, huh?”

Her choice of words made him grin. “No.” The grin faded. “But I’ll feel a lot better once I get you out of this city.”

She searched his eyes, suspicion creeping into her gaze. “Why are you doing this for me?”

“Because I care about you.” And he did. She’d flipped an invisible switch inside him. He’d sworn off relationships and women in general for at least a few more months, but somehow she’d shot that decision all to hell without even trying. He didn’t want his heart stomped on, yet he couldn’t stay away from her.

Surprise flashed in her eyes before she looked down again. “Well… Thank you.”

Zaid didn’t want her thanks. Something about her and this whole situation had triggered the protectiveness inside him and there was no shutting it off. Too many times over the past few weeks he’d imagined what it would be like to hold her. Taste her. Feel her arms twine around his neck as she reached for him.

He gentled his hold on her chin, cradling it. He’d whisk her out of this place in a minute. But first, he had to taste those soft lips.

In the stark silence he slid the pad of his thumb over the curve of her chin and up to that lush mouth he couldn’t stop staring at or dreaming about. Jaliya’s gaze darted up to lock with his, and the naked desire burning there sent a rush of heat through him, shooting straight to his groin.

Without giving either of them time to back out, he quickly holstered his weapon and took her face in his hands. A soft gasp fell from her lips and her lashes fluttered down as she put her hands on his shoulders and leaned closer.

That tiny signal that proved she wanted him destroyed the last of his control.

Bending closer, Zaid tilted his head and covered her mouth with his.

It was like touching a live wire. A jolt of pure electricity arced between them. He angled his head and parted her lips to deepen the kiss, hungry to taste her, to touch the warm, sensual woman behind the professional front she always wore. Her hands tightened on his shoulders.

Zaid kissed her slow and firm at first, then gentled it, tenderly stroking the seam of her lips with his tongue. She made a small, hungry sound and opened for him, easing her body forward until her breasts pressed flush against his chest.

He groaned and eased his tongue into her mouth, tasting, caressing while her fingers bit into his shoulders and his swollen cock pressed hard against her lower abdomen. She tasted so damn sweet, and those soft curves molded to him were—

Hamilton banged on the door. “Zaid. We gotta go.”

Jaliya instantly ripped her mouth away from his and stumbled back a step, looking guilty as hell. Her lips were wet and swollen and she was breathing faster.

Zaid clenched his jaw and bit back a growl of frustration. He shouldn’t have kissed her, but he’d be damned if he’d apologize because he didn’t regret it, and hoped she didn’t either. But Hamilton was right. They needed to move. “Yeah, coming.”

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