Page 45 of Cops and Robbers

She turned toward him. The moment was not lost on her as he had run to take a shower after the last time they had sex. But this time, he could probably feel every confusing emotion rolling through her. She smiled and pressed a kiss to his lips. “About this…about us? Yes. But I can’t keep the mission from my mind. I just want a shower before I pass out. Can you let the guys know we’ll meet up with them tomorrow as discussed?”

“All right,” he drawled, lying fully clothed, arm bent behind his head. “I’m ordering room service. Want anything?”

Sexy, considerate, and all mine.

Until he learns the truth.

The story he’d told her earlier echoed in her mind. His best friend used him and destroyed his clan. His conviction of not leaving anyone behind made sense to her now. He would be livid to know she was using him and had betrayed her friend, leaving her behind to save her own skin. Even if it was the only option, she believed she had to save Naomi and herself—Raz wouldn’t see it that way. Nor would he get over the lengths she had to go through to correct that wrong, including lying to him. Especially when the person she was trying to save had murdered someone he knew.

She swallowed, guilt weakening her bones, and said, “You’re still hungry after the Chinese?”

He popped an eye open. “What can I say…I have an appetite.”

“Get me something sweet.”

“Sure thing.”

She walked to the bathroom and closed the door to turn on the shower. Dropping the seat carefully on the toilet so as not to make noise, she plopped down on its surface. Her eyes burned with hot tears, and she sank her face into her palms.

Concentrating within herself, she gathered any darkness from her mind. The lies. The parts she needed to contain. For now, at least. And she shoved them away from their connection, barricading it from that shining beacon of hope.

Only after she believed he wouldn’t have access to that part of her did she strip and shower. Afterward, she combed her hair out with her fingers and tried not to mull over the worry gnawing at her stomach. A new thread crept up on her as she wondered if he had linked them on purpose—to find her truths. But she pushed that thought away easily. He wasn’t like Matsuda. Whatever the link truly meant for them, she couldn’t think about it until after the mission.

When she exited the bathroom only in a towel, her duffel bags rested on the couch in the sitting area. What a gentleman. Raz lay on the bed with his eyes closed, shoes off, and face turned into the pillow.

From the gentle cadence of his breath, he was asleep.

She didn’t blame him. Exhaustion weighed on her eyes. Along the link, she felt his dragon curled into a peaceful ball. With deft feet, she rushed to her bags. Dropping the towel, she slipped into a pair of boy shorts and a flimsy pajama top with nothing on underneath.

Chocolate wafted past her nostrils. At the desk, she found a food tray. Raz seemed to have eaten something like breakfast. A large slice of German chocolate cake called her name. She sat and took the sweet pieces in one gloriously flavored bite at a time.

“You trying to go into a sugar coma?” Raz’s scratchy voice called out.

“Using my abilities costs my human body calories, so I need the energy. Luckily, it comes with a delicious taste.” She drank a swig of water to wash the last of the sticky caramel down.

“Well, when you’re done charging up, do you want to join me?”

She smiled and ran toward the bed. Raz tensed. Diving over his legs, she slid to his opposite side. He laughed while she scooted over to him. He turned over and wrapped his arm around her. She bunched his warm shirt into her hand and rested her forehead against his collar. Inhaling, she took in his mint and pine scent. Surrounded by his protection and acceptance, her tongue tingled with the truth.

“What’s on your mind?” he mumbled, seeming half asleep again.

“I…”

His breathing deepened, becoming more relaxed.

Her gut wrenched. He won’t look at you the same if you tell him. “I’m worried about the heist.”

“I’m not,” he said into her hair. “I’ve seen your success rate.”

Her grin didn’t quite reach her lips. But none of those mattered as much as this one.

Kate woke as the sun’s rays chased the darkened night sky away. Still tangled in Raz’s arms, she allowed herself a few moments to sink into the warmth and comfort of this loyal and protective man next to her and in her mind along the link. With a sigh, she freed herself and grabbed her laptop. Placing it at the bed’s end, she lay on her stomach with her feet swaying in the air as she inspected her coding and closed the sequence Sid had found.

Time and space escaped her while she worked tirelessly on the array of letters and numbers. When a hand clutched her ankle, she stopped swaying but didn’t turn back to Raz. She had one more code to complete.

A sharp tickling sensation ran up the instep as he grazed his finger over her skin there. She jerked, trying to free herself. Raz held on strongly.

“What are you doing back there, big guy?” she asked.