Page 24 of Hidden Dane
“I’m not.” He leaned closer.
If he came closer, she’d wrap her arms around his neck and run her fingers through his hair, kissing him again. She shook off the image. “Uh huh. Tell me what you’re thinking, Dane.”
His lips were a fraction from hers now and he closed his eyes. He was so close her body came alive, waiting for his touch. “You’re going to have to kiss me for that one.”
His lips brushed against hers.
It took everything she had not to just let this happen. She pushed him back. “Here?”
He gave her a smirk as he asked, “Why not?”
Her mind twirled. He wasn’t upset. Something was going on with Dane and he hadn’t told her why he was so calm. She pressed her lips together and met his hypnotizing brown eyes that shined liked beacons of salvation. “Because there are insects and if you remember, I prefer soft and pretty.”
“I thought you’d died today.” His hands brushed against her sides.
A hum grew in her veins. Her head no longer throbbed from being hit. Her lips parted slightly. “So you missed me?”
“Yes.”
“That’s all you had to say.” She met his kiss.
This time she held him and didn’t let him go.
Her body heated despite where they were.
Light shining down through the cracks around the metal hatch reminded her that they were in danger.
She dragged her body off his and let the damp air and stale smell cool her ardor. She heard someone at the hatch. The light that filtered down shone like a rainbow around the underground chamber. “How are we getting out?”
“Hold on.” He brought his phone from his back pocket.
Her gaze narrowed. “Phones don’t work down here.”
He showed her a small attachment. “Henry has a tracker. It doesn’t need Wi-Fi even if we’re stuck in a tomb the local villages must have built during the revolution.”
“That was my guess about this place too, but either way, I seriously like your Henry.” The hatch above them creaked opened.
“Brady designed it.” Dane hugged her and whispered in her ear, “But you like me more.”
“You’re the only one here I’ve kissed.” She patted him on the cheek. “But it’s nice to see you have friends.”
“Who are off limits to you—we will keep our kisses between us once we get out.” Henry gestured for them to climb up.
His friends were cute, but not for her. Brady might be a good match for her sister Isabella, not that she’d mention that. Dane’s jealousy was adorable. She turned and settled her foot on a metal rung and had the sense Dane stared at her legs in her borrowed black shorts on the climb up.
She took Henry’s hand at the top and breathed in fresh air.
Dane came out a moment later. Henry said, “You’re all right..”
The two men whispered about something but she was overwhelmed by the dust and grime on her clothes and coughed. They both looked at her and she said, “I need a shower and clean clothes.”
Dane nodded, which shook some cobwebs out of his dark hair. “Let’s go.” He turned to Henry and brushed the dust off his jeans, then looked down the street. She followed his gaze and saw Brady in the distance as lookout, near a car. Dane asked Henry, “How did we get in the tomb?”
Henry explained as they walked toward Brady. “Ted was after Emily and you. We tried to fight them but four men grabbed you two and ran faster than us.” Henry showed him the phone. “Brady’s inventions work.”
Dane wrapped his arm around her waist and they walked together down the street, Henry on the other side of Dane.
The three of them headed toward the sunshine and brightly lit street.
