Excerpt from "Hostage Heart" by Chelle Cordero

“If we had met under different circumstances, you wouldn’t be questioning me if I did things for you.” Ryan wished he had met her under different circumstances. From the moment he saw her in the bank, he wanted to get to know her.

“But we met while you were robbing a bank. And then you helped to kidnap me.”

“You were kidnapped because you couldn’t mind your own business.”

“So you’re saying it was my own fault?”

“Hell! Why couldn’t you have just minded your own business? Why did you have to try to be heroic?” He wasn’t sure if he was angry at her or at himself.

“You seemed like a nice guy and I thought you needed help.”

He laughed and turned to look at her. “But now you know I’m anything but a nice guy.” Ryan walked back to her and sat on the bed next to her. “I bet now you really do wish someone had pulled the trigger when the gun was pointed at my head.”

“I... I don’t wish harm on anyone.”

Damn it, he thought, why couldn’t she just be a vicious bitch? Why couldn’t he find something about her to dislike? “Yeah. You aren’t the type that would want someone hurt. And you don’t deserve any of this that’s happened to you.” He watched her quietly for a moment then he put a finger under her chin and made her look at him. “I really would like to kiss you... for real.” At her frightened look, he quickly added, “I won’t force myself on you. I’m asking for your permission.”

Her look of fear quickly turned to puzzlement and then resignation. “Alright.”

Ryan didn’t hesitate. He wound his fingers in her long brown tresses and pulled her to him gently for a kiss. He was ecstatic when he felt her lips part slightly and he took full advantage. He caressed a shoulder and ran his palm down her arm. Deanna lifted her hands to his shoulders and rested her palms there. It just felt natural. She was surprised by how much she was enjoying the kiss but worried that he might press for more.

Finally he reluctantly broke the kiss. “Your burger is getting cold.” Ryan sounded even more irritated than before. He walked away from her again. She wasn’t the only one confused, he thought. The kiss had been everything he had expected and a whole lot more. He had been hoping he would be disappointed. If only he had met her under different circumstances. If only she could feel something for him besides contempt. “Thank you for the kiss.”