Page 56 of Over the Edge

She warmed to her topic. “You’re passionate for your work—you do your best in every training evolution. You’re passionate for your teammates—case in point this insane trip to rescue Kenny. My guess is you’re passionate at everything you do.”

Her dark eyes glinted up at him in private challenge. She wanted to see how passionate he would be in bed with her, did she? That could one hundred percent be arranged—

“Congratulations, Anna. You’ve successfully distracted me from killing your cousin and would-be spouse.”

She smiled gently. “It seemed only fair to return the favor to you after you distracted me before.”

Well, damn. He’d really been looking forward to exploring the passionate side of his nature with her, there, for a second.

Then she leaned in close enough that he worried momentarily about getting in trouble with whoever policed parties like this. She murmured in his ear like she had that time at Mabel’s, her breath fully as warm and seductive as it had been that memorable night, “I happen to think passion for one’s endeavors is the biggest turn-on there is.”

CHAPTERTWELVE

Anna silently reeled at the fire that leaped in Trevor’s eyes as he stared down at her. Passionate, indeed. The man was an inferno in her arms.

“How soon can we get out of here?” he asked her under the din of the music.

“I vote for immediately. We’ll just need to tell my grandmother so she doesn’t panic. And she’ll probably send one of my cousins home with us to chaperone us.”

Trevor groaned under his breath.

“It’s okay. I’ll ask for Parvez. I know how to get rid of him.”

He frowned and opened his mouth to speak, but she cut him off. “Trust me.”

He nodded immediately and went to fetch a cab when she murmured that he should.

While Trevor went outside, Anna told her grandmother she wasn’t feeling well and that Trevor and Cousin Parvez were going to take her home. Hania, deep into a gossip session with a gaggle of women waved an unconcerned hand in farewell.

It was a quiet cab ride, since Parvez spoke no English and only a smattering of Zagari. He was from the south and his native tongue was a Pakistani dialect. Anna only spoke a few phrases of that tongue and the cab driver quickly tired of translating. Anna also knew her cousin to be a habitual partier.

When they arrived at the Malik compound, a wad of cash and a suggestion that Parvez go forth and visit his favorite dance club had the young man grinning and rushing out the door, leaving Anna and Trevor completely alone.

The sounds of the city were distant—the ancient stone walls of the house muffled everything. Trevor escorted her upstairs in the dark, steadying her elbow while she lifted her voluminous skirts.

He searched her room for intruders, then lit the oil lamp and various candles scattered around it.

“You’re going to have to help me with this dress,” she declared. “I have no idea how to get out of it.”

Grinning, he asked, “How did you get into it?”

“Granny’s housekeeper put me into this thing.”

“Turn around and point your back at the lamp. Worst case: I’ll cut it off of you.”

“I’d hate to ruin such a pretty dress.”

“Right, then. I’ll just leave you in it. You’ll look smashing running around in full battle gear and that skirt.”

“Ha ha,” she grumbled.

She removed the hairpins holding the silk scarf on her head, and he lifted off the gossamer fabric. It whispered through his fingers as it slipped to the stool. The lamp guttered, sending flickering shadows across his features, and she shivered with anticipation. He looked straight out of another time—the lord of the manor.

The mood in the room shifted, abruptly serious. Intensely romantic. He seemed in no hurry and studied her in the candlelight.

“What?” she muttered nervously. Not a sensation she was accustomed to these days. SEALs were all about calm. Control. No fear. No emotion. Yet here she was, with hummingbirds fluttering frantically against the walls of her stomach.

“You’re so beautiful,” he murmured.

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