Katrina held her breath as Rush lowered his head. Her mind was an empty slate, and the only thing she could think of was this incredible man she had an unnerving attraction for. His closeness eclipsed all logic.

His lips hovered over hers, sharing air with her, drawing in her scent while she breathed again, taking his scent deep within herself. With one final glance at his smoldering eyes, she lowered her lids and let herself sink into the moment.

His breath was cinnamon and another exotic aroma she couldn’t put a name to, probably a native spice. Her body pulled her closer to his, starting at her core and extending outward as she subconsciously leaned toward his muscular frame. An unfamiliar sensation sent a surge of heat throughout her. She’d never felt this kind of desire before.

Yes… desire. For Rush. A craving that obscured all desires she’d ever thought she’d felt before. Those were nothing.

The all-consuming need she felt for him scared her. She shouldn’t be feeling anything. She should be completely enmeshed in her mission.

Mission. That’s right, she reminded herself.

She should pull away. She should push him away. She should run in the opposite direction, away from something this powerful.

And then, just as quickly, something within her pushed the thought aside.

Her throat grew dry with anticipation for his kiss. She licked her lips but found she couldn’t moisten them.

What is he waiting for?

Her eyes flew open, only to find his gaze locked on her face.

“What?” she whispered.

“What do you want?” His voice was a low, husky growl.

“I-I…” She couldn’t tell him what she wanted him. That wasn’t her way. She wasn’t like that. She wasn’t shy, not by a long shot. But she wasn’t the one who did the asking. Ever.

She shook her head slowly and slightly.

She was immersed in the heat his body was putting off. They were almost chest-to-chest and hip-to-hip. His tight abs—she’d never forget the image of him in the towel—were almost against her stomach.

She swallowed her nervousness, but not her pride. She couldn’t ask. She didn’t. She wouldn’t.

“Can’t tell me? Can’t say it?” That low throaty voice of his again. His breath teasing and tempting.

She shook her head, not vehemently, but firmly.

“Then show me,” he demanded in the same seductive tone that made her thaw inside.

She leaned closer, her body against his as she brushed her lips against his.

He groaned, and the sound almost threw her into a state too close to climax. How could a mere sound make her want to melt into him and take him deep within her.

She let go of the locket and wrapped her hand around his neck while he still held the other captive in his. She tasted his mouth, caressed his lips with her tongue while he remained immobile, but not unmoved.

Down below, his erection grew, pressing against her body. She tried to ignore it, but the thickness and hardness were not to be overlooked. The hot bulge of him pressing against her body was too much. She raked her fingers through his hair, scoring his scalp, unworried about the pain she might cause him.

Seconds later, his hands slipped over her hips, lowering, then cupping her ass as he swiveled and pressed her to the wall, his fingers digging into her flesh. Her nipples pebbled, pressing outward, wanting to be as close to his body as possible.

Then it was on.

His tongue captured hers, tempting, teasing, demanding, claiming, while she squirmed under his ministrations, wanting him more and more.

He licked her bottom lip, then took it between his teeth and sucked, then bit down, sucking and biting intermittently while she ached for him, jolts of desire making her body clench and unclench, wrenching a whimper from her lips.

Rush pulsed through her blood as surely as her feelings for him pulsed through her heart.

With a final kiss, he raised his head, his eyes locked on hers.

“I had to know.”

Then all she saw was his beautiful, firm tight ass as it walked away.

What the hell just happened?

She wasn’t sure. But she’d love to have it happen again. And then some.