Seize (St. Martin Family Saga: Emergency Responders) Book 2: Erotic Romance by Gina Watson

possessed virtue and kindness, and he wanted some of it. He needed to feel her warmth, her breath, her life. “Mia.”
    “You were having a nightmare. You screamed and were sweating and kept shouting get up and we’re going to die .”
    Her eyes weren’t lavender, but an intense deep amethyst as she stared intently into his face.
    “Where were you?”
    He gasped and pulled her close again. “I just need to hold you for a while. It might be weird, I hardly know you, but I need …I’ve never had … I can’t explain it, but I hope you don’t mind.”
    “I don’t mind.” She settled against his chest. “I never had this either. I like having a friend. I need a friend.”
    She sighed, and he felt her lips form a contented smile against his neck. They could be friends. She really had meant what she’d said—she’d moved on from their spat. Forgiven. Fresh. New. The words bombarded his brain.
    So this was friendly touching? Then why was he getting an erection? Soon it would be reaching for her … “Shit. Sorry.”
    She giggled, but there was another sound mixed in with that laughter—the sound of creaking metal. She heard it the second time. He put his finger to his lips to keep her quiet and mouthed, Get dressed .
    They’d been located, and instantly he knew how—she’d used her goddamn credit card to pay for the room. Traveling with a woman was never a good thing.
    He scooped up her purse and motioned her into the bathroom. The door handle jiggled, and he heard mumbling. At least they were dumb thugs.
    He pressed close to Mia’s ear and whispered, “We’re going out the window.”
    She nodded, and he opened the window. He crawled through behind her, closing the window behind him. He pulled her by the hand and started a light jog. They crossed the main thoroughfare and then he led them down a back road.
    “Where are we going?” She was short of breath.
    “Don’t worry about it. I need you to keep quiet so I can stay focused.”
    At the train station he purchased two tickets in a sleeper car, anxious to board and hide.
    “I need to use the restroom,” Mia said.
    “Hold it until we board the train.”
    This was going to royally fuck up his plans. Gloria had been set to meet them at the hotel. Now he would have to figure out a way to get a message to her. He didn’t even know where they’d end up. He dragged Mia to an attendant; she had to skip to keep up with him.
    “We’d like to board.” He held out his tickets.
    “Sorry, sir, we are only boarding—”
    Augie held his identification and badge out. “It’s imperative that we be allowed to board now.”
    “Certainly, sir. Right this way.”
    Their compartment was small. Even smaller with Mia standing in the middle of it with her arms crossed over her chest. “Restroom’s in here.”
    While she tended to her needs, he assessed the window. He hated feeling trapped, but that’s exactly what they were—goldfish in a glass bowl. Beneath a red handle, a plaque read: In case of fire pull latch and push . He scanned the seam where the wall would break away. At least that was something.
    When Mia came out, she resumed standing in his way. He pointed to the couch. “Sit.” At least she did as she was told. He inspected the door and lock. It was shit. He would have no peace unless he watched each passenger board the train, but that would expose him and leave her where? His only option was to stay put.
    A knock on the door had him on full alert.
    “Attendant.”
    He opened the door a fraction of an inch and saw the man from the deck.
    “May I take down your bed?”
    Augie stepped aside and let him by. Mia stood, and the man inserted a key into the cabinet that housed the bed and it unfolded from the wall.
    “I’ll be around at eight o’clock to pin it back into position. If that’s too early, please display your Do Not Disturb sign. Goodnight.”
    Augie dropped to the couch below the bed. His fingers tapped his thigh as he waited for the