Wild Justice (Nadia Stafford 3)

CHAPTER 35

We talked a little as we walked, but mostly we just enjoyed the quiet and the empty streets. The park was only a block over. As we entered, I could see Jack's gaze flickering about. We might be pretending we were just ordinary people out for an ordinary night under ordinary circumstances, but I still had a price on my head and I had just made contact with the guy who might have put it there.

It seemed safe enough, though. This end of the park was so quiet we'd hear footsteps if anyone approached. The thick trees made sniping from nearby buildings impossible. I hated having to even think about that tonight, but I had to.

Jack steered me down the most wooded path, where we'd be best hidden.

"So," I said as we walked. "Am I allowed to thank you for dinner?"

A soft chuckle. "Yeah."

"But I'm not allowed to show my appreciation in any way. Correct?"

I glanced at him as I said it. My voice was light, teasing. My look was not. Jack caught it, and I heard a faint intake of breath. His grip loosened on my hand and for a moment, I thought he was going to let go. But he only adjusted his hold, pulling me to a stop and turning me to face him.

"Depends," he said. "You know that appreciation isn't necessary?"

"I do."

"And nothing was expected?"

"I do."

"Then, if you wanted to--"

"I do," I said, and I lifted onto my tiptoes and kissed him.

I was sure he'd known how I planned to show my appreciation, but he just stood there, not reciprocating. I saw the jolt of surprise in his eyes and I thought, Oh, shit! I'd screwed up. I'd been so sure, so damned sure. The dinner, the car, the hotel . . . How the hell did that not mean what I thought it meant?

I pulled back fast. "Sorry. I-I thought--"

He cut me off, arms going around me, pulling me into a kiss that took any doubt, shredded it, and set the leftover bits on fire. The last time I was kissed like that-- Oh, hell, I don't know if I'd ever been kissed like that. When it finally broke, I was gasping.

"Okay?" he said.

"Oh, yeah."

He chuckled and kissed me again, softer this time, his hands moving to my face, holding it in a long, sweet kiss.

When we parted for breath, I said, "I thought I surprised you there."

"You did."

"What did you think I was going to give you? A back rub?"

A light laugh. "No. Hoped you meant this. Didn't expect. Sorry if I--"

"It's okay," I said.

I tugged him toward me until my back was against a tree. As my arms went around his neck, his dropped to my waist and then slid down as the kiss deepened, coming to rest on my ass, pulling me to him. Heat shot through me as I arched against the tree, lifting up to straddle him. His hands dropped lower then and pushed my skirt up. I felt a tickling whisper of cold air, disappearing as his hands cupped my ass.

I wanted him. Right there, and I didn't care if it wasn't anything I'd done before, if it was something I'd feel guilty about in the morning. The park was empty, and even if I hadn't been certain of that, I'm not sure it would have changed my mind. All I could feel was the hunger of his kiss and the heat of his hands and the hardness of his body and I didn't give a damn where we were.

When the kiss broke, I reached for a button on his shirt and murmured, "Yes?"

He hesitated.

I stopped. "Or no . . ."