A Wicked Persuasion. Karen Foley

her backward until the backs of her knees bumped against the sofa and she sat down. He followed, pushing her against the cushions, his lips still fused to hers.

      Kate welcomed him, winding her arms around his neck and pulling him down on top of her. He kissed her deeply, spearing his hands into her hair.

      “God, you taste good,” he muttered against her lips. “I still think this is a bad idea, but I have no willpower where you’re concerned.”

      Kate smiled against his face. “And here I was beginning to think that you might not like me.”

      Chase groaned, and planting another kiss on her mouth, pulled her with him to a sitting position. “My problem has nothing to do with not liking you, and everything to do with liking you too much,” he growled.

      “Then find a way for us to be together tonight,” she breathed, searching his eyes. “If this is the last night we have alone before I go home, spend it with me. This base is huge. There must be somewhere we can go to be alone. You know you want to.”

      He gave her a tolerant look and stood up, rubbing a hand across the back of his neck. “Jesus, Kate, it has nothing to do with what I want or don’t want to do. Last night was different. We were in the middle of a monsoon and there was no chance that anyone was going to catch us together in that tent. But things are different here. Neither of us has our own unit, and even if there was a place that we could go, you can be sure that someone else will already have found it.”

      Kate nodded. “Okay. I would never want to get you in trouble. I just want to spend time with you before I leave.”

      “I want that, too, believe me.” He glanced out the window at the waiting Humvee. “But if we don’t make an appearance within the next minute, those soldiers are going to start getting ideas about what we’re doing in here. In fact, I’m pretty sure they saw you kiss me before I shut the door.”

      “Oh.” Kate glanced toward the closed door. “Then we should definitely get outside before your reputation is completely ruined.”

      Chase gave a rueful laugh. “Too late, darlin’. I think my reputation was destroyed the moment I laid eyes on you. I haven’t been able to focus on anything but you since I first saw you standing in the terminal at Bagram.”

      “Well, considering I’m your current assignment, you should be focused on me.”

      “Yeah, well, let’s get back to the vehicle before I become so focused on you that I forget everything else.” He opened the door and placed a hand at the small of her back, indicating she should precede him.

      As she climbed into the backseat, Kate didn’t miss the knowing look the two soldiers gave each other before they stoically fixed their attention straight ahead. But as Chase climbed in beside her, he covered her hand with his own and squeezed her fingers, letting her know that even though he might be on duty, he no longer considered her to be his duty.