Page 38 of Lethal Illusion (Six Points Security #8)

Cracking Navarre’s iron-clad resolve felt like a victory of sorts, and she barely held back the grin as he popped the cap with the bear-shaped bottle opener and took a long drink.

“Damn, that’s good.” He held the bottle out toward her. “Want some?”

“No, thanks. Bitter beers aren’t my thing.”

“Well, there’s got to be something in there that you could use to make one of those girly drinks you like so much. What, you didn’t think I’d remember?”

“I didn’t say that.”

“No, but it’s written all over your face.”

Okay, he had her there. She hadn’t expected him to remember something so trivial.

She went back to the fridge, took out a can of pineapple juice and a tiny bottle of coconut rum.

She poured the juice into a glass, added half the bottle of rum, stirred with her finger, sampled, and then added the rest of the rum.

“Yeah, that hits the spot,” she said after sampling the drink again.

Apparently tired of watching the news, Navarre reached for the remote control and scrolled through the programming guide.

“Looking for a bad movie to watch?” Sloane asked as she settled back against the headboard.

“No, just one I’ve seen a thousand times and don’t have to follow too closely. Ah, considering the last couple of days, this one’s fitting.”

He pressed a button and Sierra’s glamorous face filled the screen. It was the first movie in the Deathslayer movie franchise, the one that catapulted her from movie star to cultural icon.

On-screen, the Deathslayer raced toward Castle Dughardt on a mythical creature that looked like a cross between a bison and a hyena. When she reached the gate, she jumped off the beast and slashed her way into the castle.

Despite her best efforts, old insecurities crept into Sloane’s thoughts. “It must suck to be stuck with me when you could have spent the weekend with her.”

Navarre paused, the bottle halfway to his mouth, and then looked at her as if she were one of those kids who needed to be told not to eat a detergent pod. “Why would you say something like that?”

She shrugged. “I’m just being realistic. She’s rich, and gorgeous, and leads an exciting life. Pretty much everything I’m not.”

His brows drew down. “You really need to stop selling yourself short. The only thing she has that you don’t is a shit-ton of money.”

“I’m not gorgeous.”

“The fuck you’re not.”

Her pulse skipped. “I don’t lead an exciting life.”

He huffed out a breath. “Excuse me, but did you hit your head in the bathroom and forget the last two days?”

“That was exciting in an unpleasant way, and it’s not the way my life normally works.”

“But that’s what makes it so impressive.

” He drank another swig of beer. “Most people would have lost their shit if half of those things happened to them. You were shot at, had your car run off the road, got chased by a team of trained mercenaries, had to sleep outdoors in freezing temperatures, and almost got eaten by a bear, and you never freaked out, not even once. Hell, you even put up with my shit and gave as good as you got. That’s impressive all in itself.

I’d bet my next paycheck that if half of that ever happened to Sierra, she’d curl up in a corner and cry. ”

The compliment caught her off guard. “You really think I did okay out there?”

He nodded, not a shred of doubt on his face. “You did better than okay. You impressed the hell out of me. Not many women would have slept in a shelter built against the side of a fallen tree.”

“Well, if given the choice, I would have rather slept at the Marriott.”

He laughed. “You and me both. But when things got rough, you didn’t cry, or whine, or complain. You knuckled down and did what needed to be done to survive. As far as I’m concerned, that’s pretty badass.”

His gaze slid down from her eyes to her mouth. Everything in her went still. She would have given anything to kiss him again. But they were friends now, with clearly defined boundaries. If she wanted that friendship to last, she had to respect them.

He drank the last of his beer and set the empty bottle on the nightstand. On-screen, the Deathslayer was locked in a battle with Lord Ahkna, their swords throwing sparks with every clash of metal against metal.

She sipped her drink, enjoying the blend of sweet pineapple and the kick of rum. There wasn’t enough alcohol to give her a buzz, but it helped her relax and loosened her tongue. “I dressed as the Deathslayer at last year’s Dragon Con.”

Navarre grinned. “Seriously? With the blue hair and everything?”

A blush warmed her cheeks as she nodded. Maybe admitting this wasn’t such a bright idea. “Nina showed Austin the pictures. That’s where he got the idea of me acting as Sierra’s double.”

Navarre’s gaze sharpened. “I need to see those pictures when we get back.”

She shook her head. “No way.”

“Why not?”

“I don’t know.” She shrugged. “It’s kind of silly for a grown woman to play dress-up.”

“No, it’s not. There’s nothing wrong with adults having harmless fun. Besides, if it wasn’t for your uncanny resemblance to the Deathslayer, you wouldn’t have landed this cushy job.”

She laughed, and he laughed along with her, and it felt so good after everything they’d gone through.

She really liked this version of Navarre.

She’d seen glimpses of it out in the forest, but now this playful, sexy side of him was on full display, and it really turned her on.

“If I’d known what was going to happen, I would have asked for a lot more money. ”

“Well, now you know for next time.”

Another crack of thunder rattled the cabin, causing the lights to momentarily flicker.

Sloane sipped her drink and set the glass on the nightstand. “I seriously doubt there’s going to be a next time.”

“There will be if Sierra enjoyed her weekend.”

“And you’d actually want to go through this again?”

“It wasn’t all bad.”

For a moment or two, she simply stared at him. “You’re kidding, right? Or did you forget those big, scary guys with guns who chased us—”

“They weren’t that scary.”

“Speak for yourself. They scared the crap out of me.”

All traces of humor left his face. “I never would have let them hurt you. You know that, right?”

“Yeah, I know.” She had no doubt in her mind. “I just…thank you. For keeping me safe.”

She couldn’t remember if she’d thanked him before. Even if she had, it didn’t hurt to say it again.

“There’s nothing to thank me for. I was just doing my job.” His lips curved into a smile that reached his eyes, and it transformed his face from ruggedly handsome to drop dead gorgeous. “Would you like to know why I don’t think the last couple of days were all bad?”

“Sure, why not?”

“Because I got to spend them with you.”

She assumed he was yanking her chain and scoffed. “Yeah, right.”

“I’m serious, Sloane.”

Her pulse tripped when she met his gaze and…damn. The cool detachment in his eyes had melted away, replaced with a simmering intensity that bordered on desire.

“I’ve been thinking,” he said, his voice low and deliberate. He set the remote on the nightstand. “About the friend zone thing.”

She swallowed hard against the lump that had suddenly formed in her throat. “What about it?”

“Well…” He dragged a hand through his close-cropped hair. “Tomorrow morning, Austin’s going to knock on that door, and this will all be over. You’ll go back to the cyber security team, and I’ll move on to my next assignment in personal protection.”

“Yeah.” When he put it that way, it made things seem so final. It turned their time together into just another assignment, which she supposed it was, but it didn’t sit well with her.

Navarre leaned toward her, and she caught a whiff of his scent, all clean, and fresh, and undeniably male. “We could…you know, just for tonight…suspend the parameters of the friend zone.”

Her breath caught I her throat. “Like a temporary ceasefire?”

He nodded slowly, his gaze never leaving hers. “I was thinking more along the lines of satisfying a craving that’s been building for far too long.”

It was a wonder he couldn’t hear the sound of her heart slamming against her rib cage. All the reasons they shouldn’t do this flashed through her mind. If she had a lick of sense, she’d turn him down flat. But every cell in her body wanted this—wanted him, even if it was only for tonight.

Anticipation raced through her veins. She licked her lips, and his eyes tracked the movement. “This is a bad idea.”

“I know.” He leaned closer. “The worst.”

“Totally unprofessional.”

“Good thing we’re not at the office.”

And then his mouth claimed hers, hot and seductive, the kiss loaded with so much passion it set her soul on fire.

His fingers tunneled into her hair, holding her head in a dominating grip while he plundered her mouth like there was no tomorrow, and a familiar ache ignited within her and spread faster than lightning.

Head spinning, she reached for his robe, shoving the fabric off his broad shoulders so she could touch bare skin. Her fingers trailed from his shoulders to his chest, and she reveled in the feel of him, so warm and strong and vibrant.

Navarre reached down, tugged the sash free, yanked the robe from his body, and tossed it to the floor.

“Better?” he murmured against her mouth.

She glanced down and her heart nearly gave out at the sight of him.

Sure, she’d seen most of him when he came out of the bathroom wearing only a towel, but Jacob Navarre in all his glory was truly a sight to behold.

He was hotter than hell. And all hers for the night.

She wanted everything this man had to offer, consequences be damned.

“Can I touch you?” she asked.

“God, yes. Wherever you want.” He kissed her again—longer, hotter, deeper—and her hands began to wander.