Page 10 of The Hero
“They won’t look at your feet. Promise. Just go with whatever I do. Okay? We’re two Americans, madly in love, on the trip of a lifetime.”
“I can’t deal with the guilt if you get arrested,” she told him.
Bob didn’t have any more time to reassure her. They were approaching the two police cars parked across the road.
Taking a deep breath, he centered himself. He’d gotten out of worse situations than this. He had faith in Marlowe that she could play her part. And if worse came to worst, he’d gun it and do his best to outrun the cops. That would be difficult on a scooter ... but he’d faced more than his fair share of difficulties in his lifetime.
Chapter Three
Marlowe felt like she was going to throw up. She couldn’t go back to that prison. She just couldn’t. She held on to Kendric with a grip she knew was too tight, but she was unable to relax her arms. The man had told her to trust him, and she was trying her best, but it was hard when merely the sight of the officers brought back horrible memories of her interrogation.
One of the police officers held up his hand, gesturing for them to stop, and said something in Thai.
“Sorry, I’m from the US, and I don’t know a lick of Thai,” Kendric said almost cheerfully. “My fiancée and I are on holiday. Driving through Thailand, seeing the sights.”
Marlowe held her breath.
“Where are your bags?”
Crap. She hadn’t even thought about that. But Kendric didn’t miss a beat.
“Back at our hostel. I thought I’d take my muffin cake out to see the sunrise. One of the people we met said there’s a particular place about ten miles outside the city that has the most amazing view.”
The officer’s gaze flicked to her, and Marlowe did her best to look relaxed, even though she was anything but. As subtly as possible, she reached for the hem of her shirt and pulled it down, trying to flash some cleavage at the man. Not that she had much. Her boobs were a size Bon a good day, and the weight she’d lost hadn’t done her any favors, but she hoped maybe, just maybe, flashing some skin might be helpful.
“IDs?” the second officer asked.
Once again, Marlowe felt her gut squeezing with panic, but Kendric merely nodded and leaned to the side, reaching into his back pocket. His fingers brushed against her inner thigh, and he turned to smile at her. “Sorry, babe.”
She did her best to get into the act. She ran her hand down his arm as he fumbled for his wallet. “It’s okay. You know I like when you touch me.”
Kendric winked at her and pulled out his wallet. To her surprise, he pulled out two drivers’ licenses and handed them to the officer. Then he put his hand on her knee and ran it up and down her lower leg.
Marlowe noticed the second officer’s gaze was glued to Kendric’s hand. It seemed to take the other man forever to examine their licenses. And Marlowe was beginning to get nervous.
To her surprise, Kendric twisted on the seat in front of her and cupped her cheek. Then he wrapped those fingers around her nape and kissed her. And it wasn’t a small peck either. His lips covered hers, and his tongue immediately demanded entrance to her mouth.
On a quiet gasp, Marlowe opened for him.
The second his tongue touched hers, she was lost. Literally forgot she was a fugitive. That at any moment, the police officers could haul her off the scooter and lock her up again. That she didn’t know Kendric. That she hadn’t properly brushed her teeth in ages.
All she could do was hang on to Kendric as he rocked her world.
She’d been kissed before, but had never felt the earth move. Never felt electricity shoot from her head to her toes. Never gotten wet from a simple kiss. But kissing Kendric was everything the sappy romantic movies she liked to watch made it out to be. She felt like Sleeping Beauty, awakened for the first time by true love’s kiss.
When he pulled back, their eyes met, and Marlowe could only stare at him in wonder.
Kendric groaned low in his throat and leaned toward her again.
Eager to experience more of the amazing feelings he brought out in her, Marlowe grabbed his thigh and dug her fingers in as she lifted her chin.
“You should be careful,” the officer said, breaking the moment between her and Kendric.
Marlowe wanted to cry. She needed more of this man. Wanted to inhale him. Wanted to become one with him.
Her only consolation was that it took Kendric a long moment to compose himself. His eyes remained locked onto hers, as if telling her they’d continue this later. Then he twisted back to face the officers, as if he hadn’t been turned inside out by their kiss, and said, “Oh? Why?”
“There was a prison break. Many escaped.”
