a's

lurry-the sound of tires screeching, the smell of explosi

brick, and I realized my fingers were touching his coat-rough, warm, stained with

lmost brushing my ear. His breath

oo aware of the tension growing

t ready to strike. His fingertips stroked my jaw as he turned my face

. Fast, deliberate. S

low, like a snarl. "If they discove

violently in my chest. "Why are

older-something broken-glimmered there. "It's complic

him-bloodied, tense, totally alive-I felt it regardless. That pull. Tha

long a concealed side corridor, gloomy and damp. My fingers curled a

Dust blanketed the air, and the weak light from a bro

es dark, uncompromising. "You shouldn't b

ened. He was so close, bleeding, dang

thumb touching my lips.

h jump. His fingers curled arou

growl. "They know where we are

ttled. My

I hadn't simply stepped into

ere was no