Everything about Malia drove him wild. Her strong-willed spirit that matched his own, her grace and beauty, her wanting to save him instead of waiting for him to save her. He’d never met anyone else like her, and hell if he was planning on letting this one slip through his fingers.

But something niggled at the back of his mind, something just off about the situation at hand. She knew more than she was willing to tell him, deflecting his questions at every turn. There was usually a reason behind someone withholding information, and his gut twisted at the thought of what could be so bad that she couldn't tell him.

Yes, they’d only just met, but he suspected she felt the same damn spark, same connection they had. She couldn’t possibly think he’d want to hurt her. Hell, he’d just risked his life to save hers. Wasn’t that proof enough that she could trust him?

This was why he had long avoided relationships. Too complex. Too much uncertainty, no matter how much effort you put into it. But every time Kamon thought about leaving Malia behind, his soul ached. He was put in this situation for a reason and had to see it through.

He may have been a little over the top with his comment about kissing her, but she gave him the clear sign she was as into him as he was her with that sly move as she picked up the rock, lighting a fire inside him that could only be quenched with their bodies uniting.

“Hold tight to me and do not let go. Got it?” Kamon whispered, tugging her behind him through the darkness of the cavern. What he wouldn’t give for some night vision goggles.

At least he still had his backpack with one change of clothes, though they’d thoughtfully taken his phone and wallet with all his cash. He was just thankful they left his mother’s urn of ashes, if he’d ever make it to Nong Khai to spread them.

Dim light flickered in the distance and they shuffled their way through the dark. Something sickly sweet filled the air in front of them, slicing through the dank musty smell of the cave. Something he couldn’t quite put his finger on. The stronger it got the more familiar it seemed, a link from his past that reminded him of his father.

“What is that smell?” Kamon whispered.

“Opium,” Malia answered without missing a beat.

“Wait, what? Are you sure?” Panic hit his heart, launching it into an erratic rhythm as he remembered that scent on his father’s clothing whenever he came home for a visit.

“Pretty sure.” Malia pointed to the ledge at the source of the dim light.

They inched around a corner and found themselves on a ledge high above a nerve center bursting with activity … making opium. Hundreds of men and women scurried along the cave floor performing a variety of jobs along a production line. Most of them wore masks, so Kamon couldn’t get a clear view of anyone’s face. Not that he’d know anyone.

Kamon leaned forward for a closer look and his foot slipped, brushing a pile of rubble off the ledge. It cascaded to the floor below, alerting the attention of a lackey standing guard. He looked up and pointed as she shouted something in Thai and everyone’s attention drew upward.

“Shit,” Kamon growled. “We need an exit strategy. Now.”

“I suggest we run.” Malia grabbed his hand and yanked him around the corner on a thin slab of rock that hugged the wall above the production center. “They just called for Ram’s security team.”

They inched their way along as a hoard of men followed, shouting at them. One of them fired off a shot and Kamon slammed his body against Malia’s to protect her, pressing them flush against the wall.

“Does getting shot at excite you? Or are you just happy to see me?” Malia murmured, her face pressed against the stone.

An embarrassed chuckle ripped from his throat. “Wouldn’t be the first time for either.”

“You get shot at on a regular basis?”

He cupped his hand around hers and pulled her through the darkness, praying that ledge was still beneath them. “Unfortunately, yes.”

Malia jerked to a stop. “Wait. What? Who are you?”

“This isn’t the time for that discussion. Can we talk job occupations when we’re not being chased by drug lord henchmen?”

A hazy white light seeped into the darkness in front of him, just like the light near the altar. He followed it to the source, a small crawlspace in the wall. More shots rang out from behind them into the darkness and without another thought, he pushed Malia into the hole.

“Go. Crawl. Fast.”

“I’m going. I’m going. But this conversation isn’t over,” Malia said, her voice swallowed by the cave walls as she ducked into the hole.

“Follow the light,” Kamon said as he crawled behind her. He’d never been more thankful for his SEAL training as the walls closed in on him the further they went through the tunnel until his skin burned from brushing against the jagged stones surrounding them.

“Are they still behind us?” Malia asked.

“I don’t think they saw us go into the hole. It was far too dark. They probably blew right past it. Keep going. The light is getting brighter.” He was glad for the darkness, for if he’d been able to see Malia’s perfectly rounded ass crawling in front of him, it would make the hole that much tighter around him.

“I see it. Looks to be an exit that’s been blocked by a boulder.” Malia grunted as she attempted to move the rock. “It’s really heavy.”

“Let me try.”

“Just how do you plan on getting in front of me in this tight of a spot?”

“Crawl on top of me and get behind me.” Kamon tried to hide the excitement in his voice at the thought of her on top of him.

“There’s all but a three-inch clearance between the walls and our bodies. How is that going to work?”

“Going to get real cozy in here. We don’t have much time, nor air. We don’t have a choice.” Kamon reached a hand to her. “I promise to behave myself. I said I wouldn’t kiss you ‘til we got out of here, remember?”

He could just imagine the smirk on her perfect pouty lips. “What if I don’t want to kiss you?”

“Then your body pressed to mine in this tight space, feeling every hard ridge of me, will have to do.” Kamon didn’t hide the snide smile in the dark.

“You’re incorrigible, you know that?”

“Yes, ma’am. I do.” Kamon pulled her to him and she hovered her face over his, upside-down, since she went headfirst. Her breath tickled his lips and it took all his strength not to claim her mouth right there.

She inched her way along his body. Her soft breasts pressed against his face as she passed over him. Her own excitement at the task showed as her rock hard nipples grazed his lips. He sucked in a gasp, almost pulling one into his mouth as she moved. Her shorts slid down as her bottom pressed over his face and he ached to lick the warm skin of her pelvis.

He braced himself as she stopped, his face buried in between her thighs. The scent of her arousal ripped a growl from his lungs. There was no denying she was as turned on as he was in that moment. Did she do that on purpose? Or did she stop and admire his throbbing cock, hard as the rock walls around them. If they weren’t stuck in a hole in a wall he’d show her just what he could do with her in this position.

“Sorry, your backpack was in the way. I had to shove it down the hole,” Malia gasped as her mouth brushed against his swollen cock straining against his jeans. Whether she did that intentionally or by accident, he didn’t care. He just ached, physically ached for her to do it again. Never in his life had he experienced a worse case of blue-balls.

“I’m not sorry,” he said, his lips humming against her mound. He caught an echo of her moan as she pivoted her hips over his face. Pure heaven. If only there weren’t clothing barriers between them.

Her chest rose and fell in quit bursts against his stomach. He wanted to brush aside her shorts and panties and let his tongue graze her. But he’d never attempt it without her permission, and she’d clearly said she didn’t want to kiss him. Even though her body betrayed her and said otherwise.

He purposely blew out a hot breath against her and her body shivered above him.

“Kamon,” she whimpered.

“Hmm?” he replied.

“Do that aga—” Her words cut off abruptly. “Shit. I hear voices. I hope they didn’t find the hole.”

Figured. Just when he was about to find hers. “Go faster. Let’s get this rock moved and get out of here.”

Malia shimmied her way over the rest of his body and he rolled over to his stomach. Pressing his palms flat against the rock, he heaved forward, but his torso still burned with pain preventing him from pushing harder. He’d have to try with his legs. He rolled into a ball and somersaulted, scraping every inch of his body along the walls. He’d feel that in the morning. Once his feet touched the rock, he pulled back and gave it a thrust. He repeatedly pounded the boulder with all the power in his thighs until it finally rolled away from the hole.

“Success!” Kamon huffed out a tired breath, whether it was from the boulder or her working him up into a sexual frenzy, he didn’t know.

Malia tossed his backpack to him and climbed out after him. A swath of bright green leafy plants swallowed him. They were somewhere in a rain-forest or the drug lord needed to fire his gardener.

“Where do you suppose we are?” Kamon asked as he slipped his pack on his back.

“I don’t know. We’ll have to get further away from the cave to see the landscape. But I think this used to be some kind of temple, from the alter slabs where they held us.

“Well, the sun’s at about five o’clock, so that would mean North is that way. Since we both need to head that direction, let’s start there.” Kamon offered her his hand.

She glanced at it and swallowed.

“What’s wrong?” Kamon blinked, wondering if he offended her somehow.

“Don’t move,” Malia said, her eyes not leaving his hand.

“Huh?” Kamon looked down and caught the movement of a reddish-brown snake uncurling itself between his boots.

“That’s a Malayan Pit-Viper.” Malia took a tentative step back.

“So, I take it it’s venomous.” Kamon swallowed hard as his eyes fixated on the creature of death waking beneath him.

“They’re primarily night snakes. He must have been sunning himself out here. He doesn’t seem provoked. See if you can take a step back without agitating him,” Malia said, her focus also glued to the snake.

Kamon raised a leg as slow as he could and took a step back, placing his foot behind him as gingerly as he could, right onto a twig that snapped. The viper snapped its body forward so fast he thought for sure it would be the last thing he ever saw. Malia grabbed the snake by its tail just as fast, as if she anticipated the strike, and spun around, launching it deep into the forest like a professional discus thrower.

“Holy. Fuck.” Kamon’s heart thundered as blood rushed his face, pounding in his ears. “What the fuck did you just do?”

“Saved your life. Now will you let me lead this expedition?” Malia brushed past him with an almost swagger in her hips.

Kamon shook his head, still blinking as he looked back to the ground where the snake had been only seconds ago then glanced to the forest where Superwoman just tossed it like an Aaron Rodgers Hail Mary.

He stumbled after her into the forest unsure if he was even more turned on or if he should be seriously scared of her. Who the hell was she?