Cale was realizing that for Cassidy, the threats might not ever end.
And that made fury boil within him.
* * *
AS FAR AS safe houses went, Cassidy had stayed in spots a lot worse than the old converted brownstone.
So when Cale led her inside, when he double-checked the security system and secured the facility, she just stood to the side, waiting.
After all, she knew the drill. Once he’d secured the area, then she’d be able to go and find her designated room—and crash.
How many safe houses had there been for her over the years?
After college, she’d thought that she might finally enjoy some freedom.
That dream had died quickly.
“We’re clear,” Cale said.
They were clear, and they were alone. Why did that make her uncomfortable? She’d longed to be alone with him before the bullets had come blasting toward her.
She’d been terrified.
But Cale... Had his heart rate even increased? He’d seemed so controlled and composed to her. Like the threat of death didn’t matter.
Probably because it didn’t.
“Why did you choose me?”
She realized that she’d been staring at the floor, lost in thought, but his question made her gaze rise to him. He was studying her, standing less than two feet away.
“You seem comfortable with Lancaster.” The words had a hollow feel. “Why not go with him?”
Why, indeed? She shifted nervously. “Look, if you don’t want the assignment—”
He eliminated that two feet of distance in less than a second. “Let’s get one thing clear. I don’t think of you as an assignment.”
Oh. That was good. It sounded good, anyway. Her heartbeat had sure picked up plenty at that news as it raced in her chest. “How do you think of me?”
She and Cale were finally away from the other agents and any prying eyes. The rest of the world was locked out. The stillness of the night surrounded them.
Cale’s gaze darkened as he stood before her. “I’m starting to think of you as...mine.”
The words were rough, possessive. And they were the last things that she’d expected him to say.
Her drumming heartbeat seemed to stop for a moment.
“I don’t know how it happened, I just know it did.” His hand rose, and his warm fingers curled under her chin. “I see you, and I want.”
She licked lips gone dry. He was voicing her own thoughts. “Cale...”
His head bent, and he kissed her. Adrenaline had held her body tight. Adrenaline, fear, anger... But with the press of his mouth to her, all of her feelings seemed to erupt in an instant.
Her hands rose, curled around his shoulders. She pulled him closer as her nails dug into his shirt. The shirt was in the way. She needed him—
Closer.
He wanted her.