"Sara? Hold up your hand."
What? "I really don't want to fly this time."
"That's not what I mean. Just reach forward. Trust me."
She did—both trust and reach.
He clasped her hand and kissed her wrist, holding for seconds until her eyes slid closed.
Not that she had a bit of interest in opening her eyes anytime soon. She would worry about how to learn more about reticent Lucas later. Because one thing was certain.
She definitely wanted to keep flying.
Lucas considered walking up behind Sara at the stream and simply kissing her.
Why not? He'd decided to follow his instincts and believe her story about the captivity. They'd kissed the night before and it had been...well...damn. She'd rocked his world as much now as she had five years ago.
But he couldn't instigate a sure-to-be passionate kiss, not with a kid around. Still he and Sara could begin getting comfortable with each other again, like with simple touches.
No hardship for him.
Lucas crossed the small clearing, his boots padding softly against the layers of vegetation. She didn't seem to hear him coming as she continued to lean over her backpack and some kind of black leather vanity kit.
Hmm. He wouldn't mind tasting her toothpaste again.
Rein it in, he reminded himself. Keep it low-key. Kneeling, he angled forward, his face close to her ear. "Good morning."
He stroked down her arm just as she jolted under his touch.
"Lucas?" She pivoted, toppling back to fall on her butt.
Not the sort of reaction he'd been looking for, but they were all on edge. He should have remembered that. Plus she'd had five years of watching her back. The reaction came close to a PTSD move.
Except what was up with the guilty expression on her face? And why were both her hands tucked behind her back?
All those instincts he trusted blared to life. Something was off.
He squeezed her shoulder gently, sensitivity not his long suit, but he knew how to listen. "Is something wrong?"
"You startled me."
"Really? What's that you're hiding behind your back?"
She laughed. Tight. High-pitched. She brought one hand around, a peppermint in her fist. "You caught me. I should have checked with you first to make sure we weren't running low on food. Must be near my time of the month because I was craving sugar like a fiend."
"Sweets?"
"My weakness."
"All right." Sounded logical. Too bad his instincts wouldn't shut off that infernal blaring. "Sorry for being an ass."
"You're forgiven." Her smile almost quieted the noise in his head roaring louder than the waterfall behind her.
He hated himself for what he was about to do, even though he knew he had no choice. He couldn't help her if he didn't have all the facts.
Lucas started to turn away, just enough that through his peripheral vision he could see her start relaxing. Her defenses and arm lowered.
With lightning reflexes, he pivoted. His hand clamped down around her wrist. Tightening. Her fist opened. The syringe plopped onto the leafy floor, empty except for one last drop on the tip of the needle.