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the car.
    “Hi, Nicole.” His partner smiled but didn’t turn around. “So, where’d you learn to… dive like that?”
    Cage was not at all amused by Jersey’s sense of humor or the fact Locke was wet and nearly naked in his backseat. It wasn’t because she was ruining his upholstery; it was because she was there without him. Hot memories from a happier time flooded his mind at the sight of her practically unclothed in the back of his car. He was such a damn patsy. Where the hell was his self-respect?
     
    N ikki couldn’t believe she was sitting in the back of Cage’s car in nothing but her soaking wet bra and underwear. It was uncomfortable, but she had survived worse situations.
    “How long do you think we have before someone from the embassy shows up?” she asked a few minutes later when they pulled into the precinct parking garage.
    “Good question,” Delaney said, glancing at Cage.
    Cage shrugged. “It’s anyone’s guess. Maybe a half hour if we’re lucky.” He parked the car and turned in his seat. “You go on in, Jersey. I’ll wait while Locke gets dressed.”
    His gaze slowly ran down her body, and by the time it ran back up, heaven help her, she couldn’t breathe.
    “All righty then. I’ll catch you two inside.” A grinning Delaney slipped out the door.
    She forced air into her lungs and talked her body out of pulling Cage into the back to christen his new car. Holy hell. It had been a long time since she’d felt desire. Sure, Rook had reacquainted her with the emotion, but never with just a glance.
    Leave it to this man, with his dark good looks and incredible green eyes deepening with undisguised need, a need her body once matched stroke for stroke long ago. She knew she should break eye contact, but couldn’t. His gaze pulled her in, drew her close, making her feel warm, hot…alive.
    A second later, a scowl twisted those wonderful, full lips of his as he turned away, sprang from the car, and popped the trunk. Nikki drew in air as if she’d just broken the surface after nearly drowning. Come on, Locke, get it together, she reprimanded. Keep things businesslike . It was much safer that way. Ordering her legs to stop shaking, she got out of the car and met him at the back.
    He said nothing. She said nothing, just reached for her dress and slipped her arms in each sleeve, keeping her gaze averted. But she knew he was watching. She could feel him as if he was touching her skin in a long overdue caress.
    Damn. This wasn’t fair.
    “Nikki…”
    She closed her eyes and willed her heart to beat. God, she didn’t think she’d ever hear her name fall from his lips like that again.
    “Nikki.”
    He stepped close, cupped her face, and forced her to look at him. If she was smart, she’d slap his hand away, finish getting dressed, and rush into the building.
    But she loved this man.
    Would die for this man, and she could no more pull away right now than she could stop breathing. God, how she needed this connection, if only for a moment.
    Her gaze slowly rose up over his tight jaw and taut cheekbones to meet his tormented gaze. Anger and pain mixed with hunger to darken his expression, and trip her heart.
    A curse left his lips, washing over her face a second before his mouth came down on hers. He tasted hot and hungry as he devoured what little protest had sprung to mind. The smell of salted sea air clung to his damp skin, reminding her of passion filled nights from their past. His tongue touched then teased the seam of her lips until she moaned.
    Oh, how she’d missed him.
    His other hand was warm on her skin as it slid to her hip, and when he crushed her against his thudding chest, she promptly trembled in response. Not from terror or disgust. Just lust. Need.
    This was where she belonged. This was who she belonged with. She eagerly opened her mouth, and his tongue swept inside, awakening all the goodness and light she had buried deep in the hopes someday she’d be reunited with him.