Star Witness - By Mallory Kane Page 0,44

her mouth with his. This time it was no gentle, comforting kiss that made her question her reaction. His tongue slid along her parted lips and farther, to explore the inside of her mouth. The sensation turned her blood into molten lava that flowed through every part of her, changing her smoldering longing into searing desire.

He whispered her name as his fingers slipped up the nape of her neck and through her hair to cradle the back of her head. He went further, deepening the kiss, invading her mouth in an erotic mimicry of lovemaking. The sensual stroking of his tongue sent shivers of desire down, down, all the way to her core, feeding a hunger that nearly consumed her. She wanted him—needed him. She kissed him back greedily, amazed that his straight, firm mouth could feel so supple and gentle and at the same time so demanding.

She breathed in his scent, felt the rough stubble on his cheeks scrape her skin. He was deliciously male, solid and strong in a fascinating way that was so different from her own body. His arms and chest felt like steel wrapped in silk. Just as she reached up to wrap her hands around his neck and pull him closer, greedy for more of the breathtaking desire, he froze.

“What?” she said against his mouth, her heart jackhammering in her chest. “Did you hear something?”

“No,” he rasped, his voice hoarse with emotion. He pulled away from her and leaned back against the wall.

“Then what? Is it me?” She winced as soon as the words were out of her mouth. Even if that was why he had pulled away, she didn’t want to know.

He gave his head a shake and rose to his haunches.

“Harte?”

“Don’t make something of nothing. You’re soaking wet and you haven’t stopped shivering. I’m pretty miserable too. We need to find some dry clothes and see what else is around here that we can use.”

Dani wanted to tell him that yes, she was chilly, but her shivering was caused not by the weather, but by his kiss, his scent, the warmth of his skin. But before she could speak, he was pushing himself to his feet.

“And we can’t forget that those guys are still out there, looking for us. Thank God they no longer have a car. But there are four of them.” He turned his attention to the front windows for a moment, then wiped his face.

“I’ll go see what I can find,” he said in what she thought of as his prosecutor’s tone—formal, a bit detached, professional. He could have been talking to anybody. Anybody except the person he’d just shared a hot, erotic kiss with.

It was clear as glass. He was sorry he’d kissed her—and she was very sorry about that.

Chapter Eleven

Harte cursed himself silently but fluently as he clenched his jaw and forced his breathing under control. How had he let that happen? Being so close to Dani was too enticing. He was apparently not capable of controlling himself around her.

He’d promised himself that he’d protect her. As her attorney, it was his duty. And in no dictionary did any definition of the word protection include seduction. He’d gotten her into this dangerous situation, and there was no way he was going to allow himself to be blinded by his raging attraction to her. Her safety, her life, depended on his self-control. It was important that both of them understood that.

He took a deep breath and turned back toward her, digging deep inside for the strength to face her dispassionately.

“Dani,” he said tightly. “Your safety is my responsibility. If I’m going to protect you, you’re going to have to help me. We need each other’s warmth and support, and it’s natural that our closeness might lead to—tension.”

He stood and looked down at her, his expression grim. “But I can’t let anything happen between us. If I let my guard down for even a minute, it could get you killed.”

Mortification flooded her face, and her cheeks flamed. His heart ached to pull her into his arms and assure her that he desired her, but it was better for her to think he didn’t want her than to risk her safety.

“I’m aware of the danger,” she said archly.

“I know you are.”

“And I understand what you’re saying. I suppose you’re right. It is the normal male reaction—”

“That’s not what I said.”

Dani held up her hand. “It’s all right. We’re in a deadly, dangerous situation and the only way we’re going to