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They reached the edge of the forest.

Tall grass stretched ahead of them, all the way to the rocks and a small pond. The horse tossed its head and snorted. It would have gone forward if Dec hadn’t stopped it.

“I agree,” he said as he stroked the animal’s neck. “The place looks pretty good to me too. Just give me a couple of minutes to check things out.” He turned to Annie and his tone of voice went from soft to harsh. “Remember what I said. Stay put until I signal.”

Annie clicked her heels together. “Aye aye, Lieutenant.”

“Very amusing.”

“Yessir.”

Dec’s eyes narrowed. “In case you haven’t figured it out, Princess, this isn’t a game.”

Her expression darkened. “Do you really think you have to tell me that?”

No. Probably not. On the other hand, until he had all the pieces of the puzzle he couldn’t be certain about anything.

“If anything goes wrong,” he said brusquely, “you get on that horse and ride out of here. Understood?”

“Understood, sir.”

Dammit, what was this nonsense? Where was the sweet, soft-spoken Annie he’d known in the past? The last thing he needed was to have to deal with a smartass.

“I hope so, because I sure as shit won’t have time to worry about you. Got that?”

“Got it,” she said. “Sir.”

Part of him wanted to tell her she was making him mad, but what for? She already knew that. It was the reason she was taunting him.

Part of him wanted something entirely different: To haul her into his arms and show her who was in charge here—and what kind of man would that make him? He wasn’t into the me Tarzan, you Jane school of thought, and he sure as hell wasn’t into showing a woman who was in charge by sexually dominating her.

Although a little domination in bed could be fun, if that was what a man and a woman wanted.

He had no idea what Annie wanted in bed.

How could he, when he’d never had her in his bed except to hold her and comfort her with kisses, not with sex.

Not with his hands clasping hers high above her head, his weight bearing down on her, her legs wrapped around his hips as he lost himself inside her…

A shudder ripped through him.

Terrific. All kinds of bad guys were after them and he was standing here with his head up his ass.

“Take the reins,” he said sharply. “And remember what I said. Stay right here. Do not move until and unless you see me signal. If things go bad, do not, absolutely do not do anything stupid. Just get on the horse and ride for your life. Am I being clear?”

Her eyes glittered with defiance. “Yessir.”

He stared at her.

Idiot that he was, he wanted to kiss her. But he didn’t have to because she stepped up close, rose on her toes, clasped his head with her hands and put her mouth against his.

Even now, sweaty and dirty, she tasted like honey, just as she always had.

Even now, with danger all around them, he wanted to gather her against him and take the kiss deeper.

But she stepped back, and so did he.

Then she snapped off a salute.