“Are you ready to get your tushie thumped?” she asked, returning her attention to the game.

“What is it with you?” he asked through a chuckle. “Why don’t you just say ‘ass’?”

“Because I’m a lady,” Harper answered with a grin, and pressed the Start button.

After a few hours, they were fully immersed in their second game. Harper had won the first and was now ahead by two touchdowns. To his credit, Rome wasn’t too upset, as most guys she effortlessly beat usually were. In fact, she couldn’t remember the last time she’d laughed so much.

“No!” The exclamation came from Rome after her player intercepted an ill-advised pass from his quarterback, sealing the game in her favor. He dropped his controller to the floor and held his head in his hands, groaning.

“It’s okay, Rome,” she said through her chuckling. “I’m a pro.”

“Lady, my ass.”

She full-out laughed now and impulsively reached over and threw her arm around his thick shoulders in a consoling gesture.

She could feel his warm body tremor through his Tshirt from his laughter. Then he turned his head to face her.

So close. His face was so close to hers. It would be so easy to just lean in. Her laughter sifted away as she was drawn in by the vortex of his powerful blue gaze. She could feel his soft breath against her face. She watched his glance move to her mouth.

Harper knew what he wanted. She didn’t fight it. She wanted it, too. More than anything in the world. At this moment, all she wanted was to feel his parted lips against hers.

And with the slightest shift forward, Harper got her wish. Firm yet featherlight. The kiss seared and soothed all at once.

Then his mouth asked for more and she gave in without hesitation. She closed her eyes and opened her mouth, allowing his tongue to dive in, sliding and savoring. Sensual shivers of pleasure danced through her body, radiating from the sizzling bliss he was forging.

Her game controller slipped from her hand and hit her foot with a startling thud. A reflexive jump broke the kiss. Slowly she opened her eyes to meet his scorching gaze at very close range. Rome leaned back with a heavy, ragged sigh.

“I’m not sorry,” he said with a rumble so deep, she felt it roll around inside of her like a pinball. Giving her a rakish grin, he stood up and reached to turn off the game. “I think we need to get some rest.”

“Sounds good,” she said, returning his smile with one of her own after a few calming breaths.

You know, she wasn’t sorry either. Goodness, that kiss felt nice. More than nice. The thought that she’d had her birth control shot a few weeks ago quickly passed through her mind.

“You take the bed. I’ll take the couch.” He gave her the sexiest wink she’d ever seen and strutted out the door.

Pressing her fingers to her moist lips, she was sorely tempted to invite him into bed with her or follow him to the couch. Her body didn’t seem to care that she didn’t trust him. But she knew he was right.

Exhaustion washed over her, only this time it was mixed with a warmth from the lingering essence of the man who had decided to be her ally. And who let her have the comfy bed.

Harper didn’t know what the future held, but for the first time since she stepped onto the bus for this fateful trip, she was looking forward to it.

CHAPTER EIGHT

Music floated from the large speakers in his Land Rover as Rome drove carefully through the crowded streets on his way to meet with Jeff. He was pretty sure no one knew yet he’d helped Harper escape. He’d find out for certain the moment he stepped into the facility. If he was seized and dragged down to the romper room for some of creepy Dr. Andy’s lovin’, chances were Jeff knew.

He tapped his fingers against the steering wheel in time to the ABBA song on the radio. A smile cracked his face when he recalled Harper idly doing the same just days ago while sitting in the seat next to him. Only then it was “Dancing Queen,” not today’s “Super Trouper.”

Hmm, they had similar taste in music. He wondered what other tastes they had in common. He had certainly enjoyed the taste of her lips against his. Deliciously sweet and savory. He hadn’t meant to kiss her. He had sure as hell wanted it. And he knew without a doubt she’d wanted it, too. But knowing the crazy, unstable situation they were in, a kiss should have been the furthest thing from his mind.

Only the kiss, plus planning future ones, was the foremost. The more time he spent with her, the more he was drawn to her. And not just physically. Something in her strong and spirited soul called to him. And something in her sinewy and sexy body roared to him.

Shifting in his seat, he mentally slapped himself. He had to focus, or they could both end up dead. He wouldn’t be able to explore Harper Kane and her luscious lips if that happened. And that was more than enough incentive.

After their much-needed sleep earlier, they had spent more time hashing things out over grilled cheese sandwiches. She’d told him everything that had happened to her after her bus ride, up to the point where they squared off in the lab. Seeing her brother murdered, the inadvertent injection of the serum, unwittingly using her powers. Everything she’d gone through had just seemed to fortify her fierce determination to resolve this whole mess. And it reinforced his belief that Harper was an unbelievably remarkable woman.

But he’d also realized that Harper didn’t trust him. Prudence had tinged every word she’d spoken and those she hadn’t. Her emerald green eyes were full of caution. He knew he couldn’t have expected her to trust him right away, but now he was certain it would take a whole lot to win it back. If he even could. His betrayal, regardless of his duty, had cut her deeply. And now she bled vigilance.

Rome had decided that it was imperative he talk to Jeff. He wasn’t sure how much he trusted his boss anymore, but he and Harper needed a lot more information. He would talk to Jeff under the ruse that he’d heard the woman had escaped and see whether there was anything he could do to help find her once again. He hoped he could gain some more knowledge about the situation they were in.

It was a chance he had to take.

Harper had grudgingly agreed to stay put back at the warehouse. She’d wanted to come in case he needed her. That had made him laugh. He didn’t need anyone to take care of him. Then she’d said she was responsible for the fact that he was in this whole disaster in the first place. The heartfelt sentiment had touched him deep down and had almost made him cave in.

But no. She was safe at the warehouse for the time being. If he brought her near Jeff again, he wasn’t sure she would be. Or really, if Jeff would be safe from her.

Truth be told, the damage she was capable of still scared the life out of him. But underneath her strange powers lay a charming and strong woman. One he felt an impossible connection to. So he had to do what he could to keep her out of sight as long as he could, until he got more answers.

She hadn’t argued his appeal for her to stay put. Well, not too much. But strangely, the one thing she did ask for was a laptop. And the flash drive he kept in his top desk drawer at his condo. How did she know where he kept his spare drives? And why would she want it?

He didn’t ask what she’d needed them for and assured her he’d honor her request. Harper was a programmer. A programmer with a computer when they needed data couldn’t be a bad thing to have around, he’d surmised. Plus he had a feeling her technological talents were more substantial than she had let on, if the subtle twinkle in her gorgeous green eyes was any sign when she’d revealed her bill-paying job.

A rare parking space on the street opened up about two blocks from the facility. Rome maneuvered the Land Rover into the tight spot, deciding to walk in. The more people around, the less conspicuous he’d be. Especially if he had to make a subtle yet quick getaway.