THE PERFECT TEN (Boxed Set)

against his hold.
    When he loosened his grip, she turned around.
    Don’t yell at her . But dammit, he needed to yell at someone. Fear for her life had him ready to unleash his frustration.
    Then she raised an ashen face and tear-rimmed eyes to him. Her body shook from head to toe. One side of her hair drooped to her shoulders, while the other remained in a badly twisted knot. Sweat trickled down the side of her neck from the effort she’d expended to escape capture.
    Her eyes searched his. She obviously waited for judgment, a naked plea for understanding written across her face.
    His heart twisted. He’d always believed the world was made up of good guys and bad guys and knowing who wore the white or black hats had been a simple process. Until Angel.
    Every logical neuron in his being placed her on the wrong side of the law. His heart begged to differ and defend her honor.
    Therein lay the problem. His heart had a lousy track record.
    Her bottom lip quivered.
    To hell with the debate raging between his brain and his heart. Zane pulled her to his chest, wrapping her in his arms. Her sleek body fit perfectly next to his.
    An old man, leaning on a cane, strolled past the front of their hideout, tapping the ground as he went.
    Zane shifted her deeper into the shadows. He scanned the surroundings beyond the dingy glass windows for any sign of threat. When nothing ominous moved along the silent street he returned his attention to Angel.
    She tilted her head back, looking as though she was going to speak, but chewed on her bottom lip instead. Firm breasts slowly rubbed against his chest as her breathing eased. The slight movement sent wild cravings through him.
    He swallowed.
    The pink tip of her tongue appeared and left a wet trail across her cinnamon lips. Time slowed as he stared into the depths of eyes the color of fine bourbon.
    At that moment, nothing could have stopped him from what he wanted to do. Had to do.
    He gently kissed her, tasting the salty sweetness of her lips. He’d meant it to be gentle, full of comfort, but her response kicked him in the chest. She’d hesitated at first then moved into his arms, molding to him. Her hands pushed up his back to hook around each shoulder, anchoring him tighter.
    Hunger and need balled into a flash fire of heat.
    She kissed him back, bold and urgent. His tongue slid in to caress her mouth along the smooth inside. Her delicate tongue tormented his. Muscles along his shoulders rippled with each grip of her fingers.
    He slipped his hands under the back of her damp shirt to caress every creamy inch of smooth skin then press her closer to him. She clutched his neck as if afraid he’d break the contact.
    Not a chance.
    He tore his mouth from hers to explore the smooth skin along her neck, tasting the salty dampness from her run. She purred against his chest, flexing up for more like a kitten in need of cuddles.
    Slipping one hand under the front strap of her tight running top, he grazed her nipple with his thumb.
    She gasped and arched forward against him. Heat seared him from his chest down through his groin.
    His arousal pulsed through his nylon shorts, leaving no doubt that he wanted her.
    He did. To the point he hurt with the need to do so much more than kiss her. To see her amber eyes flash wildly when he brought her to climax. When she pushed her hips up against him, he grazed her nipple once more and heard her suck in her breath. As if drawn to the very core of her heat, his fingers slipped away from her breast to trail down her abdomen.
    She moaned in protest at the change.
    Until he lifted the edge of her shorts to where panties had been built into the design. He scraped his finger against the thin barrier of material shielding her heat.
    “Zane ... uh...”  She started panting.
    He hadn’t thought he could get any harder, but he did the minute she rubbed against his hand. 
    A car horn blew outside, startling him.
    He might as well have had cold water thrown on him. Zane froze with his hands in every inappropriate place he could possibly have them and gritted his teeth. Damn it all. What the hell was wrong with him? Some maniac stalked her and he’d dropped his guard.
    Another minute and he’d have ripped those shorts off her and dropped his pants.
    He had a disgusting lack of self-control around this woman.
    Withdrawing both roaming hands, he held Angel by the shoulders when she swayed. Passion glazed her eyes. He wanted to kiss her soft lips all over