Relentless by Kaylea Cross Page A

back and tucked it behind her ear, her gloved fingers brushing lightly against his. An almost electric charge rushed up his arm.
    Her profile was classically beautiful, almost like a cameo in the faint glow of light from the distant city. All he had to do was lean down a few inches and his cheek would brush the silky fall of her hair, putting his mouth right next to her ear.
    He imagined nuzzling her there. Gently, breathing in her scent before pressing his lips to the delicate hollow beneath her earlobe.
    So close. The thought that she might eat him up with her big blue eyes like they did in his fantasies played hell on his self control. He squelched the urge to move in closer.
    She was off limits to him, and anything beyond friendship would only complicate the hell out of an already complicated situation. For one thing, in probably less than a year they'd be related through marriage. For another, any move on his part would be a one way ticket to a one-night stand, and that could only end in disaster. She'd been through enough shit already without him hurting her more.
    Rhys didn't do relationships well, so he didn't do them at all. He had to be damned careful not to send her mixed signals.
    Throughout his life he'd made a point of keeping people at a distance, except for his brother and parents. Strange, though. When he was with Neveah he didn't feel the suffocating sense of claustrophobia he usually did during close contact with people.
    She didn't make him uncomfortable or chatter about stupid things. She was smart and confident, which made her company enjoyable because he could just be . No need to wrack his brain for meaningless filler to plug the gaping holes in the conversation like he had to with all the other women he'd been with. No need to build her up with compliments and flattery designed to boost her self-esteem. She was too sharp and would see through all of that anyway. He sensed she'd know the instant he said anything insincere and call him on it. Not that there weren't a million things he could compliment her on.
    Sitting beside her like this, he was relaxed for the first time in recent memory. He still watched everything around them, but he wasn't on alert for a sniper or someone charging out of the trees at them. Which was why he'd brought her up here in the first place. To help them both decompress. God knew they'd both been under a lot of stress lately. Up here away from everything and everyone, it could just be the two of them, without the worry that Neveah was in danger.
    That would change the instant they went back down the mountain, however. His anxiety wouldn't stop until the conference ended and she was back in New York, safe and sound. He intended for her to get there without incident, and hopefully, without her ever knowing she was at risk. After that? He'd figure out a way to ensure her long term safety. He was good at planning covert missions.
    Neveah settled even closer against him and tipped her head back to give him a gentle smile. “Thanks for picking me up and bringing me here.”
    He allowed himself to glance down at her briefly, but then focused on the view and the surrounding area so he wouldn't be further tempted to cross the line and kiss her. He didn't know which worried him more, the possibility that she'd push him away, or that she'd kiss him the way he'd fantasized about. “You're welcome.” The ensuing silence that blanketed them wasn't awkward. She seemed to understand, or at least respect his need for quiet. Remarkable in itself, when he compared her to other women. Maybe he should stop doing that. She was unlike anyone he'd ever met.
    He tried to identify the burgeoning feelings taking life inside him. Something about her made him want to get close. His instincts urged him to let her in, even as he refused to risk it.
    While she stared down at the twinkling city lights, the tranquility in her face called to the lonely place inside his soul that cried out for warmth. He'd