upon a time wanted to be a jarhead?
Jameson swallowed hard, needing her to understand. “Hope that vent cover has at least one sharp edge so I can cut those ties off your wrists. But I’ve…” He cleared his throat. “I’ve never met anyone like you before, Maddie. You’re brave, but you don’t know it. And you’re strong, you just don’t believe in yourself yet. But once we’re out of here, I’d like to take you out for coffee or… or something. Whatever you want. I’d just like to get to know you better. Right now is your time to shine, Maddie. My shoulders are too wide to fit through a narrow vent. Get out of here, while I create a distraction. Get help.”
The air shifted as she came closer and raised both arms.
He knew what she meant to do. Jameson ducked and let her settle her joined arms around the back of his head, avoiding his burns. She needed something from him before she manned up, and he intended to give it to her.
Especially when she asked, “Do you ever kiss on a first date?”
He licked his lips, so damned hopeful. “Haven’t had any dates lately, but yeah, I’d like to.”
“This isn’t exactly what I’d call a date, but…” She came to him as soft as a sigh, her lips sweet and tender, her kiss a breath of life he hadn’t realized how much he’d hungered for until now. Something warm and wonderful unfurled in his chest. Felt a lot like coming home from Iraq had.
There in the dark, Jameson canted his head and kissed Maddie with all his heart. He wrapped her tight inside his arms and held onto the best thing he’d come across in a long, damned time. She was lush, warm, and soft, returning every last lick and fervent kiss, as if she felt the same things he was feeling.
Lives would be changed tonight. People would die. But God, please not her. She tasted like minty toothpaste and hairspray and smoke, like an American woman who enjoyed what his mouth was doing to hers. As precarious as their situation was, it should’ve been a quick kiss. But he got lost in the warmth of being wanted and held by a gentle woman. Her mouth was sweet and slick, her tongue a luscious treat after tasting ash and dirt. Made a man feel wanted. Felt perfect.
There was no pulling away from her. The plastic ties wouldn’t have allowed it if he’d tried. He didn’t want this magic to end, but time was a luxury they didn’t have. He needed her to live.
Breathing hard with his blood humming like a hornet’s nest, he murmured huskily, “Sorry, but it’s time to go, babe.”
“I like that you call me that.”
“I like that you’re willing to fight for our lives.” Hint, hint.
Her tongue took one last lap around his mouth, and she whispered, “Let’s do this.”
Reluctantly, he ducked out of her embrace and took a step back. “Work bench?”
“This way,” she said as she bumped hips with him. “Straight ahead. Looks heavy. We’ll have to drag it.”
It was heavy, but with her help, Jameson managed. He worried while they grunted and sweated the sturdy table made of four-by-fours across the concrete floor. “Were you injured? You said you couldn’t breathe earlier.”
“Just scared. It’s not every day a girl ends up in a burning jet.”
“I think that was Pops Delaney working with Shade. Had to be him. They argued. She slapped him.”
“Delaney’s a flat-out killer.”
“So’s Lucy Shade.” Which meant Maddie was in more trouble than he’d thought.
“Do you think there’s more than just them two?”
“Might be, so be extra stealthy once you’re out of here. Run for your life, Maddie.”
“What if my big ass gets stuck in the vent?”
He couldn’t help the smile that broke through the gloom of her leaving him behind. “Trust me, you don’t have a big ass. One step at a time, Maddie. That’s how we get the tough jobs done. You can do this. I have faith.”
“Aww, you say the sweetest things.”
At last, Jameson positioned the bench at the door, so Maddie could reach the vent. He made quick work of the screws holding the vent in place. Maddie had climbed up on the bench and was at his side by then. Luckily, the screws were long and sharp. He used one to carefully saw the ties off her wrists, and she was ready to go.
Interlocking his fingers, he crouched to boost her up to the ceiling.