Pull away!Her mind screamed at her.
She tried not to breathe deep as his clove and mint scent drifted to her nose.
Don’t look up!
Her eyes rose to his face. His penetrating gaze was locked on her. She licked her lips nervously. His eyes tracked the movement. She felt like a hare caught by the fox. Any moment he was going to devour her.
“Yes.” Her voice came out a breathy whisper; she couldn’t get enough air in her lungs.
“Good.” Alex set her away from him and took two steps back. It was as effective as having icy cold water dumped over her head.
Idiot. How many times did she have to remind herself that he wasn’t interested in her in that way? He’d made it an Olympic sport pushing her away when they were teens. He hadn’t improved since he’d come back. He was only keeping an eye on her for her dad’s sake.
“I’ll leave you to get settled.” She couldn’t get out of the room fast enough. Payton retreated to her bedroom and busied herself putting her things away.
She needed to get better control over herself. Alex Grant was off limits. He had no interest in her like that. They were business partners. Nothing more. As soon as they figured out what was on the drive and who Jones and Smith worked for, Alex would disappear again.
Payton had an emergency stash of clothes here, but she’d brought more just in case they were here longer than a few days. She took her bag of toiletries into the bathroom and caught her reflection in the mirror. She couldn’t hide her gasp of horror as she stared at herself.
Her hair was a wild nest. It was free and loose handing down over her chest. Her hair tie was long gone. Good thing she’d packed some. Her cheek was dark red from where Jones had punched her. Her shirt was wrinkled and had specks of blood on it. In a word, she looked like shit. No wonder Alex set her aside. He probably didn’t want to get blood on himself. He’d fought Smith, but his clothes had remained unmarred.
Payton went back to her dresser and pulled out clean clothes. First a shower then food. She hadn’t eaten since last night, and Smith and Jones had ruined her dinner plans.
Payton lingered in the shower, letting the hot jets ease her sore muscles. She was sure she would have some pretty good bruises come tomorrow. Oh well, it wasn’t like she had anyone to impress.
Even as she thought that, her thoughts drifted to Alex. What was he doing next door? Was he showering too? Still unpacking? Making plans without her? Or brooding?
Her loofah slid down her body leaving a soapy trail. Her sex throbbed at the thought of hot emerald, green eyes staring at her, undressing her with his molten gaze. Payton bit her lip as she thought about his lips. They were soft and plump. Was he a gentle kisser or commanding? Did he tease? Trailing hot kisses down his partner’s body. She groaned thinking about his body. A body of chiseled muscle. She bet he had a six pack. Her fingers twitched wanting to trace the contours.
Payton leaned back against the cold tiles as her mind conjured her fantasy. It wasn’t the first time she’d pictured him as the lead role, but he had changed a lot since her teen years. Now he was every romance novel, fitness magazine cover model come to life.
Payton’s hips rose as the loofah teased over her mound. She was hiking up a leg when she heard something fall in the room next to her. Alex was in his bathroom. Just a few feet away from her.
She sprang up as if he could see her and hurried through the rest of her shower then dressed in a pair of black leggings and an ice blue tank top. In her haste to leave, she’d forgotten to pack a spare bra. The only one she had was dirty. Alex would just have to deal for the night while it dried.
She could wear a long sleeve and cover up, but she wasn’t ashamed of her body, and it wasn’t like he was looking anyway
Feeling better, well, at least cleaner, Payton went into the kitchen. Since she nor her dad had been here in a while, she’d had Alex stop for groceries. The bunker was stocked up on nonperishables, but since they weren’t waiting out a cold war or zombie apocalypse, they might as well eat normal and save the canned goods for another time.
There was enough bottled water and canned food to last at least four years. Yep, her dad was paranoid; what could she say? Might as well save it for when they actually needed it.
Chapter 16
Alex knew he was going to have to face her sooner or later. For now, they were living under the same roof. He could do this. He was a Delta Force operative. He’d been on countless missions. Parried with danger. Brushed up against death on numerous occasions. He could handle staying under the same roof with Payton again.
It was temporary. A few days.
He sat on the edge of the bed and stared at his hands. Hands that still tingled after touching her buttery soft skin. He swore he could still feel her chest pressed up against his. Alex wished he could scrub his mind of the image of her upturned face looking at him. Her round caramel brown eyes pulling him in like a tractor beam.
For just a brief moment, he’d forgotten why he was supposed to be keeping his distance. Especially when her lips were just inches from him. Her intoxicating lavender scent permeated his senses, making him feel drunk.
He remembered himself before he did something idiotic, like kiss her. He quickly set temptation away. It was a good thing Payton hadn’t lingered or looked down, or she would have seen the massive tent rocking in his pants. It hadn’t improved when he’d heard the shower turn on next door.
One would think for as much as Nick put into reinforcing this house and all the booby traps outside, he would have installed thicker walls. His ears strained as he heard the change in the water. She was under it now. He could picture the water gliding down her chest. Following her breasts to her engorged nipples. The trail would travel further down to her—
He’d stood up and forcefully started putting his clothes away. Anything to drown out the sound of the water running. Anything to burn the image of her out of his mind. His cock was attempting to punch a hole through the front of his pants.
For a minute he was able to tune her out, until he went into the bathroom to put his toiletries away. He found himself leaning toward the wall, trying to listen. Alex dropped his bag and ran out of the bathroom. Since then, he’d stayed frozen on the edge of his bed.