Rule Breaker(35)

            “Someone was following you.”

            There was no amusement in his eyes as there had been all week. No playful teasing in his voice.

            He was flat serious.

            She felt herself pale as she stared into his eyes and knew he wasn’t joking.

            “Who was following me?” Why would anyone be following her? What the hell was going on that anyone would take an interest in her all of a sudden?

            “If I’d known who was following you, sweet pea, I would be following him instead of rushing here to make sure you were okay.”

            His voice sent her heart racing in something more than fear this time.

            “I’m fine.” Was her voice really trembling?

            It was really trembling.

            That look in his eyes was pure serious. And it wasn’t just pure serious danger either. It was serious lust and intent. And she had a feeling she was not going to escape with a bit of flirting tonight.

            “I can see that.” He nodded slowly.

            The black of his mission uniform blended into the night. With his black hair and bronzed flesh, his blue eyes almost glowed in the dark. And they were hot.

            “Yeah.” Shoving her hands into the back pockets of her jeans, she hurriedly jerked them out as those eyes lowered, sliding across the tops of her breasts as they pushed out against the snug tank top she wore. “Um, I’m fine. You can leave. If you want. I mean, yeah, you can leave.” She felt like smacking her own head as the synapses between lips and brain seemed to misfire alarmingly.

            What the hell was she supposed to do with her hands?

            She crossed her arms over her breasts and that didn’t work. Finally, she just shoved her hands into the back pockets of her jeans uncomfortably.

            “You got here fast. How did you pass me and I didn’t see you?” She cleared her throat, so nervous she swore she could feel her vocal cords trembling with it.

            She would have noticed a Dragoon passing her in a heartbeat, and she knew she hadn’t seen it.

            “Of course I got here fast. I had to make sure my favorite girl was safe.” His lips quirked just that little bit, his gaze lightening only marginally. “There’s no one else to bust my ass on a regular basis.”

            “Because everyone else is trying too hard to get that tight ass naked,” she retorted.

            Oh shit, she didn’t say that.

            But she did.

            His eyes narrowed on her. “But you’re not, of course?”

            “Oh no. Not me. I’m just everyone’s best bud, haven’t you heard?” And that wasn’t bitterness in her voice now, was it?

            But she knew better. The restlessness, the knowledge that the choices she had made over the years kept her life so sanitized it was painful, had the restlessness inside her growing until she felt she couldn’t contain it any longer.

            “I hadn’t heard.” He took a step closer.

            Was she supposed to retreat?

            Retreat? Um, yeah. She stepped back. “Well, I’m fine. You see I’m fine.” Holding her hands back from her body, she went back another step. “You can go now. Where did you park anyway?” He wasn’t parked out back. “Wherever you parked, be careful now. See you later.”

            But he wasn’t moving to leave. Instead, he was moving with her, a step toward her for every step she took back.