Feeling the Heat (7 page)

* * *

Kalina was fully aware of the moment Micah entered the lab. With her eyes glued to the microscope, she hadn’t looked up, but she knew without a doubt he was there and that he had looked her way. It was their first full day in Bajadad, and it had taken all her control to fight the attraction, the pull, the heat between them. She had played the part of the professional and had, hopefully, pulled it off. At least she believed Theo hadn’t picked up on anything. He was too absorbed in the findings of today’s lab reports to notice the air around them was charged.

But
she
had noticed. Not only had she picked up on the strong chemistry flowing between her and Micah, she had also picked up on his tough resistance. He would try to resist her as much as she would try to resist him, and she saw that as a good thing.

Even if they hadn’t been involved two years ago, there was no way they would not be attracted to each other. He was a man and she was a woman, so quite naturally there would be a moment of awareness between them. Some things just couldn’t be helped. But hopefully, by tomorrow, that awareness would have passed and they would be able to get down to the business they were sent here to carry out.

What if it didn’t pass?

A funny feeling settled in her stomach at the thought of that happening. But all it took was the reminder of how he had betrayed her in the worst possible way to keep any attraction between them from igniting into full-blown passion.

However, she felt the need to remind herself that her best efforts hadn’t drummed up any opposition to him when they’d been alone in the lab earlier that day. He had stood close while she’d gone over the reports, and she’d inhaled his scent while all kinds of conflicting emotions rammed through her. And every time she glanced up into his too-handsome face and stared into his turn-you-on brown eyes she could barely think straight.

Okay, she was faced with a challenge, but it wouldn’t be the first time nor did she figure it would be the last. She’d never been a person who was quick to jump into bed with a man just for the sake of doing so, and she had surprised herself with how quickly she had agreed to an affair with Micah two years ago. She had dated in college and had slept with a couple of the guys. The sex between them hadn’t been anything to write home about. She had eventually reached the conclusion that she and sex didn’t work well together, which had always been just fine and dandy to her. So when she’d felt the sparks fly between her and Micah in a way she’d never felt before, she’d believed the attraction was something worth exploring.

Kalina nibbled on her bottom lip, thinking that was then, this was now. She had learned her lesson regarding Micah. They shared a chemistry that hadn’t faded with time. If he thought she had the cutest dimples then she could say the same about his lips. She could imagine her tongue gliding over them for a taste, and it wouldn’t be a quick one.

She shook her head. Her thoughts were really getting out of hand, and it was time to rein them back in. Today had been a busy day, filled with numerous activities and a conference call with Washington that had lasted a couple of hours. More than once, she had glanced up from her notes to find Micah staring at her. And each time their gazes connected, a wild swirl of desire would try overtaking her senses.

“Have you found anything unusual, Kalina?”

Micah’s deep, husky voice broke into her thoughts, reminding her he had entered the room. Not that she’d totally forgotten. She lifted her gaze from the microscope and wished she hadn’t. He looked yummy enough to eat. Literally.

He had come to stand beside her. Glancing up at him, she saw the intense concentration in his eyes seemed hot, near blazing. It only made her more aware of the deep physical chemistry radiating between them, which she was trying to ignore but finding almost impossible to do.

“I think you need to take a look at this,” she said, moving aside so he could look through her microscope.

He moved in place and she studied him for a minute while he sat on the stool, absorbed in analyzing what she’d wanted him to see. Moments later, he glanced back up at her. “Granulated particles?”

“Yes, that’s what they appear to be, and barely noticeable. I plan on separating them to see if I can pinpoint what they are. There’s a possibility the substance entering the bloodstream wasn’t a liquid like we first assumed.”

He nodded, agreeing with her assumption. “Let me know what you find out.”

“I will.” God, she needed her head examined, but she couldn’t shift her gaze away from his lips. Those oh-so-cute lips were making deep-seated feelings stir inside her and take center stage. His lips moved, and it was then she realized he had said something.

“Sorry, did you say something?” she asked, trying to regain her common sense, which seemed to have taken a tumble by the wayside.

“Yes, I said I dreamed about you last night.”

She stared at him. Where had that come from? How on earth had they shifted from talking about the findings under her microscope to him having a dream about her?

“And in my dream, I touched you all over. I tasted you all over.”

Her heart thudded painfully in her chest. His words left her momentarily speechless and breathless. And it didn’t help matters that the tone he’d used was deep, husky and as masculine as any male voice could be. Instead of grating on her nerves, it was grating on other parts of her body. Stroking them into a sensual fever.

She drew in a deep breath and said, “I thought you were going to stay in your place, Micah.”

He smiled that sexy, rich smile of his, and she felt something hot and achy take her over. Little pangs of sexual desire, and the need she’d tried ignoring for two years, expanded in full force.

“I
am
staying in my place, Kalina. But do you know what place I love most of all?”

Something told her not to ask but she did anyway. “What?”

“Deep inside you.”

She wasn’t sure how she remained standing. She was on wobbly legs with a heart rate that was higher than normal. She compressed her lips, shoving to the back of her mind all the things she’d like to do to his mouth. “You have no right to say something like that,” she said, shaking off his words as if they were some unpleasant memory.

A crooked smile appeared on his face. “I have every right, especially since you’ve practically spoiled me for any other woman.”

Yeah, right
. Did he think she didn’t remember the woman who’d picked him up yesterday at the CDC? “And what happened to your decision not to become involved with a woman who didn’t trust you?”

He chuckled. “Nothing happened. I merely mentioned to you that I dreamed about you last night. No harm’s done. No real involvement there.”

She frowned. He was teasing her, and she didn’t like it. A man didn’t tell a woman he’d dreamed about her without there being a hint of his desire for an involvement. What kind of game was Micah playing?

“Theo has already made plans for dinner. What about you?”

She answered without thinking. “No, I haven’t made any plans.”

“Good, then have dinner with me.”

She stared at him. He was smooth, but not smooth enough. “We agreed not to become involved.”

He chuckled. “Eating is not an involvement, Kalina. It’s a way to feed the urges of one’s body.”

She didn’t say anything, but she knew too well about bodily urges. Food wasn’t what her body was craving.

“Having dinner with me is not a prerequisite for an affair. It’s where two friends, past lovers, colleagues…however you want to describe our relationship…sit down and eat. I know this nice café not far from here. It’s one I used to frequent when I was here the last time. I’d like to take you there.”

Don’t go
, an inner voice warned.
All it will take is for you to sit across from him at a table and watch him eat.
The man had a way of moving his mouth that was so downright sensual it was a crying shame. It had taken all she had just to get through breakfast this morning.

“I don’t think going out to dinner with you is a good idea,” she finally said.

“And why not?”

“Mainly because you forgot to add the word
enemy
to the list to describe our relationship. I don’t like you.”

He simply grinned. “Well, I happen to like you a lot. And I don’t consider us enemies. Besides, you’re not the injured party here, I am. I’m an innocent man, falsely accused of something he didn’t do.”

She turned back to the microscope as she spoke. “I see things differently.”

“I know you do, so why can’t you go out to eat with me since nothing I say or do will change your mind? I merely invited you to dinner because I noticed you worked through lunch. But if you’re afraid to be with me then I—”

“I’m not afraid to be with you.”

“So you say,” he said, turning to leave. Before reaching the door, he shot her a smile over his shoulder. “If you change your mind about dinner, I’ll be leaving here around seven and you can meet me downstairs in the lobby.”

Kalina watched him leave. She disliked him, so she wasn’t sure why her hormones could respond to him the way they did. The depth of desire she felt around him was unreal. And dangerous. It only heightened the tension between them, and the thought that he wanted them to share dinner filled her with a heat she could very well do without.

The best thing for her to do was to stay in and order room service. That was the safest choice. But then, why should she be a coward? She, of all people, knew that Micah did not have a place in her life anymore. So, despite his mild flirtation—and that’s what it was whether he admitted to it or not—she would not succumb. Nor would she lock herself in her room because she couldn’t control her attraction to him. It was time that she learned to control her response to him. There would be other assignments when they would work together, and she needed to put their past involvement behind her once and for all.

She stood and checked her watch, deciding she would have dinner with Micah after all. But she would make sure that she was the one in control at all times.

Five

A
t precisely seven o’clock, Micah stepped out of the elevator hoping he hadn’t overplayed his hand. When he glanced around the lobby and saw Kalina sitting on one of the sofas, he felt an incredible sense of relief. He had been prepared to dine alone if it had come to that, but he’d more than hoped that she was willing to dine with him.

He walked over to her. From the expression on her face, it was obvious she was apprehensive about them dining together, so he intended to make sure she enjoyed herself—even as he made sure she remembered what they’d once shared. A shiver of desire raced up his spine when she saw him and stood. She was wearing a dress that reminded him of what a nice pair of legs she had. And her curvy physique seemed made for that outfit.

He had gone over his strategy upstairs in case she joined him. He wouldn’t make a big deal of her accompanying him. However, he would let her know he appreciated her being there.

He stopped when he reached her. “Kalina. You look nice tonight.”

“Thanks. I think we need to get a couple of things straight.”

He figured she would say that. “Let’s wait until we get to the restaurant. Then you can let go all you want,” he replied, taking her arm and placing it in the crux of his.

He felt her initial resistance before she relaxed. “Fine, but we will have that conversation. I don’t have a problem joining you for dinner, but I don’t want you getting any ideas.”

Too late. He had gotten plenty already. He smiled. “You worry too much. There’s no need for me to ask if you trust me because I know you don’t. But can you cut me a little slack?”

Kalina held his gaze for a moment longer than he thought necessary, before she released an exasperated breath. “Does it matter to you that I don’t particularly like you anymore?”

He took her hand in his to lead her out of the villa. “I’m sorry to hear that because I definitely like you. Always have. From the first.”

She rolled her eyes. “So you say.”

He chuckled. “So I know.”

She pulled her hand from his when they stepped outside. The air was cool, and he thought it was a smart thing that she’d brought along a shawl. He could visualize her wrapped up in it and wearing nothing else.

She had done that once, and he could still remember her doing so. It had been a red one with fringes around the hem. He had shown up at the hotel where they were staying in Sydney with their take-out dinner, and she had emerged from the bedroom looking like a lush red morsel. She had ended up being his treat for the night.

“Micah?”

He glanced over when he realized she’d said something. “Yes?”

“Are we walking or taking a cab?”

“We’ll take a cab and tell the driver not to hurry so we can enjoy the beautiful view. Unless, however, you prefer to walk. It’s not far away, within walking distance.”

“Makes no difference to me,” she said, moving her gaze from his to glance around.

‘In that case, we’ll take the cab. I know how much you like a good ride.”

* * *

Kalina’s face flushed after she heard what Micah said. There was no way he could convince her he hadn’t meant what she thought he’d meant. That innocent look on his face meant nothing. But then, he, of all people, knew how much she liked to be on top and he’d always accommodated her. She just loved the feel of being on top of a body so well built and fine it could make even an old woman weep in pleasure.

She decided that if he was waiting on a response to his comment, he would be disappointed because she didn’t intend to give him one. She would say her piece at the restaurant.

“Here’s our cab.”

The bellman opened the door for her. Kalina slid in the back and Micah eased in right behind her. The cab was small but not small enough where they needed to be all but sitting in each other’s lap. “You have plenty of space over there,” she said, pointing to Micah’s side.

Without any argument he slid over, but then he turned and flashed those pearly-white teeth as he smiled at her. Her gaze narrowed. “Any reason you find me amusing?”