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"Run!" She unobtrusively planted a tracking device on his rifle, then grasped his shirt with both hands and shook "While you still have a chance He’s co He’ll kill you!"

"You’re one of theainst my will" She wished she could squeeze out a few tears, but wasn’t that good an actress "I--"

"What are you doing?" Etienne denified as he looked over her shoulder

Krysta released her hold on the ripped his rifle, she stayed him "Don’t You’ll just piss hi?" Etienne demanded Remember what I told you Give it your all He has to think it’s real He charged toward her

Heart stopping with dread, Krysta drew back her fist and sith all of her preternatural ht Pain shot up her arm as her fist hit his jaw

Etienne, with all of the flair of a stunt action-adventure blow-’e behind hiround

"Go!" she shouted at the aped first at Etienne and then at Krysta

He reached for the walkie on his shoulder

She shook her head "They’re all dead I heard him kill them It’s why he left me to fend for myself with those ot nothing, his panic palpable

Etienne rose with a groan, eyes glohat the mercenary no doubt took for promised retribution, but Krysta suspected was actually

Was that desire?

She grabbed the et hi

Whatever it was, she didn’t want to have to hit Etienne again Her hand was throbbing and she didn’t like hurting him "Go, da the hell out of her

Either she was a better actress than she had thought or he wanted to score points with his superiors by capturing an i her head, she looked at Etienne "He’ll catchme" She added a hitch to her breath and was pleased at how close to a sob it sounded "Just go"

He did

As the mercenary’s feet pounded the pavement, Etienne stalked toward her Hold your breath and tense your neck muscles

She didn’t ask why, just did it

Etienne wrapped the fingers of one hand around her throat and lifted her off her feet just as the mercenary’s footsteps slowed and he turned to look back

Krysta wrapped her hands around Etienne’s wrist and kicked her feet, pretending to fight even as she used her new strength to push herself up and ease the pressure on her neck

Etienne wrapped an arht The hold on her neck became a caress Krysta took several deep breaths as the caround fell away and she found herself on the roof of

Actually Krysta didn’t know the na But they were still on campus and could see the mercenary in the distance

Etienne set her down, drew out his phone, and dialed

"Reordon," Chris answered

It was so odd to be able to hear both sides of the conversation without the phone being on speaker

"It’s Etienne We tagged asouth on foot I need a cleanup crew to come collect the eleven dead or unconsciousup before Chris could say anything, pocketed the phone, and yanked Krysta into his arms "I’m sorry I had to make it look real I didn’t hurt you, did I?"

"No It was just uncohtened as he swore in French (She was beginning to recognize some words now)

"What about you?" she asked to distract hi the crap out of you turn you on?"

Leaning back, he suainst hers to let her feel his arousal "You weren’t wrong"

"Really? Are you into the rough stuff?" She had never thought of trying that kind of thing herself

"I didn’t think so," he said with a baffled shake of his head, "But you were"--his glowing eyes grew brighter--" you want to explore? Sexually?" She wasn’t sure how that would work She kneithout trying it that hurting Etienne wouldn’t turn her on And she sure as hell didn’t want him to hurt her Pain tended to piss her off

"Not really," he said "I just adore your strength and seeing you in action aroused h In bed or out of it I want you to be happy"

She smiled and shook her head "Let’s leave the pain on the battlefield"

"Agreed" He dipped his head and kissed her

Her pulse leapt

As he teased her lips with his tongue, she pal about this while ait for the cleanup crew to arrive?" She sure as hell did She didn’t know if it was the adrenaline still coursing through her veins or just knowing that he wanted her, but she was already wet for hi and desperate for his touch