a deep breath, taking a second to savor the feeling before she shoved her way through it and claimed the seat next to him. “I saw what you did back there.”
The soldier didn’t answer. Instead, he dropped his dark gaze to her mouth, then her breasts, and finally to her legs. He only looked, but the sensation of him touching her was very real. Worse, her body responded. Hot blood pulsated through her veins as her breaths came faster. Tingles spiked in her breasts, and her core contracted in response.
“Stop it,” she hissed, knowing if he continued, she’d embarrass herself in front of a bus full of people.
More than that, he needed to answer for what he’d done. “I saw what you did to Sandy and her husband.”
“Really? And what was that?” His voice rumbled when he spoke, a deep, coarse sound that vibrated her senses, making her want to scoot closer.
She glanced at the people now watching them with expectant eyes, waiting for some sort of juicy response. Before she could reply, the bus jerked to a stop as an automated voice announced they were now at the first station.
He arched a sexy brow as one side of his mouth lifted in a grin. “My stop.” He stood, his muscular thighs brushing her bare legs as he pushed past her.
Oh, hell no. She stood as people around them began to whisper.
He was off the bus and halfway down an aisle of cars when she dragged her suitcases down the steps and hurried after him. She’d have an answer before she let him leave.
He stopped next to a shiny red Hummer, his well-defined pecs flexing as he tossed his duffel bag in the back, stealing her focus. If she wasn’t so angry, she’d relish the time she might spend fixing him, stealing some of that formidable energy. Luckily, her cab driver in Bali had proven she hadn’t forever lost her capability to take from others.
Claire parked her suitcases behind his SUV as he placed the long case in next. Maddening irritation swirled through her veins like fiery acid from chasing him down. “You’re not leaving until you tell me what you did to Sandy and her husband.”
He gave her a sideways glance, his lips turning into a self-satisfied smirk. Without hesitating, he grabbed both of her suitcases and tossed them in after his, slamming the back closed.
His actions stunned her. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” She stepped forward, meaning to open the hatch again, but he caught her hands. Rage ignited inside her, and she jerked free, pushing against his chest.
The jolt of energy that shot from her into him surprised them both. He stumbled back, but quickly regained his footing, grabbing her by the shoulders and turning her until he had her pinned against the back of his Hummer.
Her breath came in gasps.
His dark eyes bored into her like minions of the devil himself. “I didn’t expect you to be so pretty.”
His reply caught her off guard, setting off all kinds of internal alarms. “What do you mean? You don’t know me, don’t know anything about me.” She pushed against him again, but he didn’t budge.
“But I do.” His voice was a low whisper, and there was no mistaking the threat behind it. “I know exactly who you are and where you’re going.”
She gasped. “How? Who are you?” The vibes radiating off him proved he was beyond ordinary, and she was well aware that he came equipped with more power than his heated good looks and overwhelming physical presence. That didn’t mean she was without her own defenses.
He lifted a finger and drew it down her cheek, leaving a warm frisson in his wake. “Let’s just say I know who called you home.”
Home? The word plucked at the tenuous ties drawing her to Port Townsend. “Tell me who.”
He studied her, the cocky look in his gaze filled with self-assured domination. “No. The only way to find out is to hop into my truck and allow me to drive you there.”
The condescending way he spoke raised her ire. She lifted a perfectly-sculpted brow, ignoring the way her breaths grew deeper the longer she looked into his eyes. “Excuse me? I don’t hop for any man.”
“There’s always a first time, sweetheart.” Her irritation didn’t seem to affect him in the least, leaving her scrambling for another tactic.
She settled for something familiar and let her smile turn sultry as she inhaled a deep breath, pressing her breasts against his