The thought of him being imprisoned after so many years tore at her heart, and her anger evaporated. Before she could comment, he dipped his head a fraction.
"How would you like to spend the day dangling from my hands? I might not like the prison but for you, I'll make an exception."
The repugnant expression on his face let her know just what he thought about being near her. Caly swallowed past the lump in her throat, feeling unwanted and undesirable, but it was the near incapacitating fear of being imprisoned that reignited her anger. She wouldn't let anyone do that to her again. "Is that a threat?"
His smile was all teeth. "You bet, babe. I'm not one of your pretty boys on the plane."
What the hell was he talking about? "Then maybe you better think again. I'm not a blond bimbo with nothing in my head. I'll say it only one more time. Put me down." Caly was proud the way her voice remained calm while she seethed at his highhandedness and worse, how he remained so unaffected by her.
Ruman leaned so close their noses almost touched. Emotions tumbled through her and the flames of anger flickered, the burn heating her body in another way. Trying to catch her breath, she waited in anticipation of his next move.
"Make. Me."
The ballsy statement had her blinking at his audacity. If he wanted to fight, she'd give him one and relish showing him that she wasn't just one of his assignments. She brought one arm between them and gave him a solid jab in the solar plexus. Air rushed out of his lungs.
Instead of releasing her, his hold tightened.
"If that's all you have, you might as well go home now." He released her suddenly, dropping her on her backside then walked away.
Disbelief slammed through her when his broad back filled her vision, dismissing her like a pesky insect. It was too much. On silent feet, she ran and leapt. She slipped her right arm around his throat and locked her left hand around her wrist.
He stumbled under the chokehold, her weight knocking him off his feet. Just before they hit the floor, Caly released him, afraid she'd snap his neck. She rolled, but instead of landing on her shoulder and coming to her feet, Ruman twisted and grabbed her. Caly's elbow struck a solid blow to his shoulder with enough force to crack bone.
A grimace of pain creased his face before a mask descended. Caly sat, panting, her legs straddling his waist, feeling foolish and petty. "Let me see."
She tugged down his collar, avoiding his gaze, wishing she'd kept her mouth shut instead of goading him. The area was a deep red, a bruise already forming. She sucked a breath in sympathy. "You need to get ice on that before your muscles stiffen."
When he didn't speak, she reluctantly glanced at him. Only to find his face inches away. Caly couldn't tell if his chest even moved. The wonder and uncertainty etched on his expression made her throat ache. She became very aware of her position, the solid feel of him beneath her.
She would've pulled back if his gaze hadn't dropped to her lips. If his eyes hadn't darkened in hunger. When he didn't move, her heart slammed against her ribs.
What harm could they get into with one taste? Get it out of the way so they could focus on the mission.
She dipped her head, knowing it was wrong, but a whisper said it would also be so good. Her lips hovered over his before she took the plunge and brushed her mouth against his.
His body quivered with the strain to remain still, neither pushing her away or welcoming her. Taking a chance, she traced his lips with her tongue, slowly, carefully, determined to get a reaction from him, enjoying the giddy sensation of danger too much to release him yet.
He tasted like the mints on the plane, hot licorice and raw sex. Fire and temptation spread with each second of contact.
Her chest tightened, her body ached, and she knew she had to put distance between them before she lost all sense of her surroundings.
She'd been foolish to touch him.
To think one touch would be enough.
She broke the kiss, but didn't pull away. Couldn't. Not until she convinced her body to behave, convinced it she'd survive without his touch. She hadn't realized how much she missed the contact, the connection of just being with another person.
Silence fell on her ears. When she gathered enough courage to open her eyes, she found his gaze locked on her, his eyes begging her not to leave.
She loved that he left her in charge to decide how much or how little she wanted to give. The way he waited as if knowing they should stop, but couldn't bring himself to be the first to pull away. It made her want more when she would've let reason talk some sense into her.
One more taste.
The whispered compulsion washed some of the heat out of her. It sounded too much like a craving the demon inside her often demanded when it woke.
The warm flesh beneath hers did nothing to cool her desire. Part of her wanted him to react to her at least once before she did the sensible thing and could regret her folly.
Watching him, she lowered her head and nipped at his throat. The shudder that went through him tossed all thoughts out of her mind but to see him completely at her mercy. She brought her hand up to his face, memorizing the angles, determined to find a way to drive him mad.
She traced the line of his lips with her fingernail.
So utterly masculine and deliciously kissable.
Even hotter was the way he watched her with such yearning. Caly threaded her fingers in the hair at his temple, enjoying the texture of those luscious strands. She forced his head back and ruthlessly took his lips, slipping her tongue inside his mouth.
Everything sharpened. She promised herself just one more taste, one reaction, one indication he wanted her as much as she wanted him.
And nothing.
Not one reaction.
At least not the one she wanted. There was no all consuming passion to just take what they wanted. At least not on his side.
Mortified that she'd forced a kiss on him, she released him, ducked her head, too much of a coward to face him yet. Scrambling to erect her walls again, she did her best to gather enough of her wits together to get out of this situation with a little of her pride intact, not to mention her battered emotions.
She drew back. Before an inch separated their bodies, he followed, sending her abused heart hiccupping in her chest. In a move to copy hers, he slipped his hand into her hair and held her as his mouth greedily crushed hers. Passion speared through her, racing through her limbs, and all her resolve crumbled under the assault without a second of regret.
Desire pooled low in her belly, and the only relief lay in the man touching her. He traced a hand down her neck, leaving fire in his wake as her body tingled to life. Unable to help herself, she groaned and arched into him, rocking her hips against his in a silent plea for more.
Chest tight, half-afraid he'd retreat, she wrapped her arms around him, drawing him closer. They both drew in a deep breath when their bodies touched. Sensations rocketed through her. Her breasts begged for his mouth, her body all but screaming to take him now. Fast. Don't think.
It'd been too long since she allowed someone close, allowed anyone to touch her.
He made her feel normal.
Human.
His eyes remained closed, his face a mask of intense pleasure that stole her breath just looking at him. Part of her wondered if he feared opening his eyes to discover that this was all a lie. The same fear ran through her. The solid feel of him beneath her touch her only reassurance.
Unable to stop herself, she leaned forward for just one last kiss.
Her tongue flicked out and she licked him.
Once.
Then again.
When he tipped his head back, Caly tangled her fingers in his hair, glorying in the feel of him at her mercy. Teeth bared, she dragged them lightly down the strong column of his throat, relishing the privilege to touch him any way she wanted.
His deep groan of pleasure from her touch heated her body more.
The combination threatened to pull her under the sexual haze, demanded that she take more. The near loss of control made her hesitated.
She needed to release him, didn't dare go further, not with so many secrets between them. Not when he would be leaving her when he completed his job.
After a few minutes of uncomfortable silence, Caly reluctantly raised her head. "Well … " The huskiness of her voice heated her cheeks and ears.
Ruman stared at her like he'd never seen her before. "Well." His deep voice made her heart trip in her chest. When Ruman lowered his gaze to her mouth, her poor heart all but stopped altogether.
Something about his intense stare unnerved her. Naked during sex was one thing, mentally being stripped and observed was another thing altogether. She didn't need him any closer, poking into her life. She'd only end up with her heart broken.
She stood, nearly shoving him away, eager to put space between them. Or more precisely, between herself and temptation. Without his touch, reality and doubts wormed their way in. Unable to face him and cope with her out of control emotions, she hurried to the door. Her chest tightened, breath strangled in her throat as she remembered the way she'd all but attacked him.