"Oh."
"Charm, Mrs. Jeon. It all comes down to charm. Now concentrate. Where's the Dodge, Sawyer?"
"He's just hit one hundred and ten, sir." Sawyer says. Holy fuck! My heart leaps once more into my mouth. Can I drive any faster? I push my foot down once more and streak past the traffic.
"Flash the headlights," Jungkook orders when a Ford Mustang won't move.
"But that would make me an asshole."
"So be an asshole!" he snaps.
Jeez. Okay! "Um, where are the headlights?"
"The indicator. Pull it toward you."
I do it, and the Mustang moves aside though not before the driver waves his finger at me in a none-too-complimentary manner. I zoom past him.
"He's the asshole," Jungkook says under his breath, then barks at me, "get off on Stewart."
Yes sir!
"We're taking the Stewart St. exit," Jungkook says to Sawyer.
"Head straight to Escala, sir."
I slow, check my mirrors, signal, then move with surprising ease across four lanes of the highway and down the off-ramp. Merging onto Stewart Street, we head south. The street is quiet, with few vehicles. Where is everyone?
"We've been damned lucky with the traffic. But that means the Dodge has, too. Don't slow down, Lisa. Get us home."
"I can't remember the way," I mutter, panicked by the fact the Dodge is still on our tail.
"Head south on Stewart. Keep going until I tell you when."
Jungkook sounds anxious again. I zoom past three blocks but the lights change to yellow on Yale Avenue.
"Run them, Lisa," Jungkook shouts. I jump so hard I floor the gas pedal, throwing us both back in our seats, speeding through the now red light.
"He's taking Stewart," Sawyer says.
"Stay with him, Luke."
"Luke?"
"That's his name."
A quick glance and I can see Jungkook glaring at me as if I'm crazy.
"Eyes on the road!" he snaps.
I ignore his tone. "Luke Sawyer."
"Yes!" He sounds exasperated.
"Ah." How did I not know this? The man has been following me to work for the last six weeks, and I didn't even know his first name.
"That's me, ma'am," Sawyer says, startling me, though he's speaking in the calm, monotone voice he always uses. "The unsub is heading down Stewart, sir. He's really picking up speed."
"Go, Lisa. Less of the fucking chitchat," Jungkook growls.
"We're stopped at the first light on Stewart." Sawyer informs us.
"Lisa - quick - in here," Jungkook shouts, pointing to a parking lot on the south side of Boren Avenue. I turn, the tires screeching in protest as I swerve into the crowded lot.
"Drive around. Quick," Jungkook orders. I drive as fast as I can to the back, out of sight of the street. "In there." Jungkook points to a space. Shit! He wants me to park it. Crap!
"Just fucking do it," he says. So I do . . . perfectly. Probably the only time I have ever parked perfectly.
"We're hidden in the parking lot between Stewart and Boren,"
Jungkook says into the BlackBerry.
"Okay, sir." Sawyer sounds irritated. "Stay where you are; we'll follow the unsub."
Jungkook turns to me, his eyes searching my face. "You okay?"
"Sure," I whisper.
Jungkook smirks. "Whoever's driving that Dodge can't hear us, you know."
And I laugh.
"We're passing Stewart and Boren now, sir. I see the lot. He's gone straight past you, sir."
Both of us sag simultaneously with relief.
"Well done, Mrs. Jeon. Good driving." Jungkook gently strokes my face with his fingertips, and I jump at the contact, inhaling deeply. I had no idea I was holding my breath.
"Does this mean you'll stop complaining about my driving?" I ask. He laughs - a loud cathartic laugh.
"I wouldn't go so far as to say that."
"Thank you for letting me drive your car. Under such exciting circumstances, too." I try desperately to keep my voice light.
"Maybe I should drive now."
"To be honest, I don't think I can climb out right now to let you sit here. My legs feel like Jell-O." Suddenly I'm shuddering and shaking.
"It's the adrenaline, baby," he says. "You did amazingly well, as usual. You blow me away, Lisa. You never let me down." He touches my cheek tenderly with the back of his hand, his face full of love, fear, regret - so many emotions at once - and his words are my undoing. Overwhelmed, a strangled sob escapes from my constricted throat, and I start to cry.
"No, baby, no. Please don't cry." He reaches over and, in spite of the limited space we have, pulls me over the handbrake console to cradle me in his lap. Smoothing my hair off my face, he kisses my eyes, then my cheeks, and I curl my arms around him and sob quietly into his neck. He buries his nose in my hair and wraps me in his arms, holding me tight and we sit, neither of us saying anything, just holding each other.
Sawyer's voice startles us. "The unsub has slowed outside Escala. He's casing the joint."
"Follow him," Jungkook snaps.
I wipe my nose on the back of my hand and take a deep steadying breath.
"Use my shirt." Jungkook kisses my temple.
"Sorry," I mutter, embarrassed by my crying.
"What for? Don't be."
I wipe my nose again. He tips my chin up and plants a gentle kiss on my lips. "Your lips are so soft when you cry, my beautiful, brave girl," he whispers.
"Kiss me again."
Jungkook stills, one hand on my back, the other on my behind.
"Kiss me," I breathe, and I watch his lips part as he inhales sharply. Leaning across me, he takes the BlackBerry out of its cradle, and tosses it onto the driver's seat beside my sandaled feet. Then his mouth is on me as he moves his right hand into my hair, holding me in place, and lifts his left to cradle my face. His tongue invades my mouth, and I welcome it. Adrenaline turns to lust streaking through my body. I clasp his face, running my fingers over his sideburns, relishing the taste of him. He groans at my fevered response, low and deep in his throat, and my belly tightens swift and hard with carnal desire. His hand moves down my body, brushing my breast, my waist, and down to my backside. I shift fractionally.
"Ah!" he says and breaks away from me, breathless.
"What?" I mutter against his lips.
"Lisa, we're in a car lot in Seattle."
"So?"
"Well, right now I want to fuck you, and you're shifting around on me . . . it's uncomfortable."
My craving spirals out of control at his words, tightening all my muscles below my waist once more.
"Fuck me then." I kiss the corner of his mouth. I want him. Now. That car chase was exciting. Too exciting. Terrifying . . . and the fear has jump-started my libido. He leans back to gaze at me, his eyes dark and hooded.
"Here?" His voice is husky. My mouth goes dry. How can he turn me on with one word?
"Yes. I want you. Now."
He tilts his head to one side and stares at me for a few moments.
"Mrs. Jeon, how very brazen," he whispers, after what feels like an eternity. His hand tightens around my hair at my nape, holding me firmly in place, and his mouth is on mine again, more forcefully this time. His other hand skims down my body, down over my behind and lower still to my mid-thigh. My fingers curl into his overlong hair.
"I'm so glad you're wearing a skirt," he murmurs as he slips his hand beneath my blue and white patterned skirt to caress my thigh. I squirm once more on his lap and the air hisses between his teeth.
"Keep still," he growls. He cups my sex with his hand, and I still immediately. His thumb brushes over my clitoris and my breath catches in my throat as pleasure jolts like electricity deep, deep, deep inside me.
"Still," he whispers. He kisses me once more as his thumb circles gently around me through the sheer fine lace of my designer underwear. Slowly he eases two fingers passed my panties and inside me. I groan and flex my hips toward his hand.
"Please," I whisper.
"Oh, Mrs. Jeon. You're so ready," he says, sliding his fingers in and out, tortuously slowly. "Do car chases turn you on?"
"You turn me on."
He smiles a wolfish grin and withdraws his fingers suddenly, leaving me wanting. He scoops his arm under my knees and, taking me by surprise, he lifts me and swings me around to face the windshield.
"Place your legs either side of mine," he orders, putting his legs together in the middle of the footwell. I do as I'm told, placing my feet on the floor on either side of his. He runs his hands down my thighs, then back, pulling up my skirt.
"Hands on my knees, baby. Lean forward. Lift that glorious ass in the air. Mind your head."
Shit! We really are going to do this, in a public parking lot. I quickly scan the area in front of us and see no one - but feel a thrill coursing through me. I'm in a public lot! This is so hot! Jungkook shifts beneath me, and I hear the telltale sound of his zipper. Putting one arm around my waist and with his other hand tugging my lacy panties sideways, he impales me in one swift move.
***