He ached to explore those feminine curves again, to crush her body against his somewhere a hell of a lot more private than a crowded patio. He closed his eyes and imagined how it would feel to dance with her, only stretched out on a big bed, her satin skin sliding against his. Damn, he couldn’t let himself think that way.

She walked directly toward him, Lonzo tagging along slightly behind her. Larem waited until they were little more than a car length away from where he stood to open the passenger door for her.

“Are you guys sure the hotel’s not out of your way?”

“Don’t sweat it,” Lonzo said, jangling his keys as he walked around to the driver’s side. “It’s not very far from our apartment.”

“Well, I appreciate it.”

She paused to eye the high step up into Lonzo’s truck with obvious misgivings. Larem glanced around and decided no one was watching. He quickly swept her up in his arms and lifted her up to the seat, startling a gasp from Sasha and a laugh from Lonzo.

“Next time warn me!” she said, sounding more flustered than furious.

She immediately scooted over toward the middle to make room for him. Even as tiny as she was, the cab felt crowded, but maybe that was because every sense Larem possessed was running hot with her next to him. Pressed together, shoulder to hip, hip to thigh, her warmth soaked through the thin layers of fabric that separated them, the sensation guaranteed to drive him crazy.

He shifted his position, angling his back toward the door, hoping to give both of them a little breathing room. It didn’t help, not with the scent of her perfume filling in the small space that he opened up between them. Right now, it felt as if both time and Lonzo’s truck were crawling along, intent on straining Larem’s selfcontrol to the limit.

Finally, they were back downtown and pulling up in front of Sasha’s hotel. As Lonzo drove under the overhang, his cell phone chimed. He checked the text message and cursed.

“Sorry, folks, but I’ve gotta rock-and-roll. Devlin’s calling in the troops.”

Larem climbed out of the truck and then lifted Sasha down to the ground. “Drop me here. I can get back home on my own.”

“You sure?”

“No problem. I could use a long walk.”

A really long walk, like right off one of the piers. Maybe the chilly water of Puget Sound would cool his almost painful awareness of the woman standing beside him.

“So, did he say what was going on?” Sasha asked Lonzo

“Nope, but if it was really bad, he would’ve called rather than texting. Oh, well, never a dull moment.”

The Paladin smiled down at her. “Thanks for the dances, Sasha.” Then he grinned at Larem. “Don’t wait up, Lucy.”

Larem laughed. “Be careful, Ricky.”

“I will.”

Larem shut the door and the two of them watched Lonzo drive off. Sasha shivered as she stared after the truck, turning toward Larem only after the taillights disappeared down the street. “God, I don’t know how they stay sane and do what they do.”

Larem stripped off his jacket and hung it around her shoulders. “Come on, Sasha. D.J.? Sane?”

She giggled. “Okay, you got me there.”

“But to answer your question, they are warriors, born and bred to serve their people. They can’t imagine living any other life. If you took it away from them, they wouldn’t know what to do with themselves. Perhaps join your military, although some would have a difficult time concealing their special abilities.”

Sasha’s dark eyes studied Larem, seeing far more than he was comfortable with. He didn’t want to hear whatever she was thinking.

When she did speak, she surprised him. “Would you like to come up for a drink?”

Yes, he’d love to follow her up to her room, but to share far more than a beverage. “Sasha, I’ve already been warned that people think I’m interested in you. Do you really think that would be wise?”

“Probably not, but I’m inviting you anyway.” She looked past him. “If you’re worried about going upstairs with me, we could walk down to that cafe and just get coffee.”

Larem hesitated for all of two seconds before rejecting that idea. Out in public, there was no telling who might see them, but for the two of them to be together up in her room definitely wasn’t smart either. Far better that he start the long walk home—alone. He led her around the corner, out of the bright lights and into the shadows against the concrete wall.

“It might be smarter if I just go, Sasha.”

“Fine.” She held out his jacket. “But why? I’d like to think we could at least be friends.”

Friends? Like hell.

“You want to know why? Because two seconds after we shut the door to your room, Sasha, I’m going to want a whole lot more than a drink with you. And afterward, you’ll want me to fade back into these shadows, acting like nothing ever went on between us, but that’s not going to happen. If you’re ready for that possibility, then by all means let’s go up to your room and see where the night takes us.”

He cupped the side of her face with his hand, brushing the pad of his thumb across her lips. “If not, let me go now before this goes any further. Before I hurt any more.”

She answered him with a kiss, her sweet mouth softening his frustration. He pulled her into his arms, the perfect fit of her body against his reminding him of the melody that had played while they danced. Perhaps she heard it, too, because suddenly they were swaying in a rhythm meant only for the two of them.

He leaned into her, loving the feel of her soft breasts pressed against his chest. Her hands latched on to his wrists and then made their way up his arms, finally coming to rest on his shoulders. Their tongues slipped and slid and tempted, hinting at what was to come next if they were to continue down this path together.

Gods, when was the last time a female held him, wanted him, and made him feel needed like this? Maybe never.

He became lost in this moment, lost in this woman, and then almost lost his life when he heard a popping sound and something hit the wall above his head, sending chips of concrete raining down on them both. Grabbing Sasha, he pulled her to the ground behind a nearby parked car.

Sasha clung to his hand. “Larem! Was that a gunshot?”

“Yes. Stay down while I look around.”

He crawled toward the back of the car to peer up over the trunk. Nothing at first, but then the sound of tires squealing as someone ripped down the street and around the corner out of sight. Something wet dripped down his cheek. Had he been hit? He touched his finger to the liquid and studied it in the faint light.

“Larem?”

He retreated to where Sasha waited and helped her up. “They’re gone. Let’s get you inside.”

She huddled by his side, her rapid breathing a clear sign of how badly shaken she was. “Shouldn’t we call the police?”

“There’s nothing they’ll be able to do.”

“But someone shot at us!” Anger replaced the fear in her voice.

Larem led her back to where they’d been standing to point at a splash of dark color on the wall. “Yes, they did, but apparently with a paint ball.”

He fingered a lock of her hair, feeling the sticky residue there. “We both have it on our clothes and hair. Maybe it was just a teenage prank. I’ll call the police if you’d like, but we have no description, no license plate, and no evidence other than a splash of paint.”

“The little jerks! A little lower and they might have hit the back of your head.”

“But they didn’t.”

Her concern for him was sweet, but it was time to get her off the street and in to safety. Maybe it really had been kids playing around, but he wouldn’t discard the possibility that the attack had been something more—a warning of some kind. If it was, Devlin would kick his ass for dragging the local police into Paladin business.

“Let’s get you inside before that paint dries in your hair.”

He took one more look up and down the street, unable to shake the feeling that someone was out there watching their every move. Devlin was busy right now, so he’d have to e-mail this to the Paladin to see what he thought.

Inside, he was grateful that the staff on duty was too busy with other customers to take much notice as the two of them hurried across the lobby. Luck was with them, because the elevator opened as soon as he pressed the button. He’d see Sasha safely to her room and then go back out to do some prowling. He didn’t mind making a target of himself, but he wasn’t about to risk Sasha being harmed.

Not that he wanted to leave her. He was all too aware that the two of them were only a moment away from enough privacy to finish what they’d started out side on the sidewalk. Better make his stay short and sweet before temptation beat out good sense.

Sasha was cold and seriously buzzed. It was a relief that it had been a paint ball and not a bullet, but even so, the adrenaline still pounded in her veins, combined with the aftershock of kissing Larem. She wanted nothing more right now than to get lost in his embrace.

Was that crazy? Probably.

She’d had her share of boyfriends, but other than with David, the heat had quickly faded, and the relationships had fallen apart. None of them—not one—rocked her world with a simple kiss the way Larem q’Jones did.

Maybe it was the attraction of forbidden fruit, but she’d outgrown her taste for bad boys years ago when David died. No, there was something about Larem’s solemn demeanor and warrior heart that made her want more every time they touched.

Should she still invite him in? She didn’t know what he was thinking, but for her the question hung in the air, heavy and demanding. She slid the magnetic key in the slot and watched the light change to green. The handle turned easily as one by one, the excuses to linger disappeared.

That’s when she remembered that she wasn’t the only one splattered with paint. Larem’s dark clothing didn’t show it as much, but there was no missing the dried splotches on the side of his face.