Page 55 of Before and After

She did. “Oh God, I’m going to die.” But she eased over the railing.

Reaching up, I gripped her legs. “I’ve got you. Let go.”

She did. The trust she had in me made my chest warm. I hauled her against me.

“One level down, one to go,” I told her.

She gripped my shoulders. “Why can’t we go through the room?”

“I can’t open the sliding door from this side.” The sliders didn’t have electronic locks. I absorbed the feel of her. Her cheeks were pink, her gaze fixed on my face.

Focus, Castro.

“Okay, so there’s no balcony below us.”

She looked over the railing down, down at the patch of dead grass below. “I don’t want to go splat. Ollie needs me.”

I pressed a finger under her chin. Damn, her skin was smooth. “There will be no splat. I promise.”

She pulled in a shaky breath. “Okay.”

Reluctantly, I let her go and climbed over. I studied the drop below. I’d leaped from higher.

I let go.

I heard Allie gasp, but then I landed, bent my knees, and rolled. When I rose and turned, she was staring down at me, mouth open.

“You really are like James Bond.”

With a faint smile, I shook my head. “No, I’m just well-trained.” I gestured. “Come on. I’ll catch you.”

She hesitated, then gingerly climbed over the railing. I saw her lips moving. Maybe she was praying or calling me names.

“I’ve got you, Allie. I promise.”

She lifted her chin, then jumped.

I caught her in my arms and heard the air rush out of her.

Safe. Relief punched through me. That was all that mattered.

She gripped my shoulders. “You caught me.”

“Always.”

Then she wound her legs around my waist. My heart started pounding.

“Caden…” Her mouth touched mine.

With a growl, I spun and pinned her to the wall and kissed her back.

This kiss wasn’t sweet or gentle. It was hot and hungry.

Chapter 13

Allie

Oh God.