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Then he shook his head, frustration crossing his face. “Comms are jammed.”

Dakota blew out a breath. Someone really wanted them dead. One sadistic terrorist group came to mind. Surely Golden Nova couldn’t have followed them here?

He led her across the roof, and at the edge, they both glanced down. She gripped his hand hard, her head spinning. But when laser fire appeared out of the darkness, hitting the edge of the roof near their feet, they both jerked backward. Dakota fell on her ass.

Dare was looking across the gap to the next building. “It isn’t far. We can jump.”

Jump? To her, it looked like the Grand Canyon of the dark moon of Azziz. “I can’t jump that.”

“Sure you can. Seems to me you can do whatever you set your mind to.”

She snorted. “You’re trying to charm me into jumping from one building to another.”

His smile was faint. “Maybe. But it doesn’t make what I said any less true.”

Damn the man. With his praise ringing in her ears, she let him lead her back a few steps.

“You go first,” he said. “Run as fast as you can, all the way to the edge, and jump across. When you hit the other roof, roll.”

Okay, now she felt lightheaded. She looked at the neighboring building and was grateful that it at least seemed a few meters lower than theirs. That should make it easier to reach.

He yanked her in close and pressed a hard kiss to her lips. She clutched his shoulders and kissed him back.

He set her away. “Now go. Do it!”

She pulled in a shuddering breath, then started sprinting. She pumped her arms and legs, the edge of the building getting closer and closer. Oh, stars. She hit the edge and threw herself into the air, her arms windmilling.

She heard shouts from below, and the whine of a laser, but then the roof of the other building rushed up to meet her. She hit hard, fell to her knees, and felt skin scrape off. Then she rolled, her skirt tangling around her legs, and came to a stop on her feet. She released the breath she’d been holding. She’d made it!

She glanced back at Dare.

He’d started to run. He sprinted fast, his powerful body moving like some big hunting cat. Then he was airborne.

Seconds later, she saw green lasers shooting through the air around him. Oh, stars. She rushed closer, willing him to reach her. As he twisted his body to dodge the laser fire, he lost some of his momentum.

Her heart constricted. He wasn’t going to make it. She knew in an instant that he was going to fall short of the roof.

“Dare!” She rushed toward the edge.

He smacked against the edge, his chest on the roof, his lower body hitting the side of the building. His hands scrabbled for purchase as he slid downward.

She dived, landing flat on her belly. She grabbed his wrists. “Hold on.”

She took as much of his weight as she could, pulling backward. Damn, he was heavy. She strained, gritting her teeth, heaving back.

“Let me go, Dakota,” he shouted.

“No.”

He cursed at her.

Their gazes locked, and for a horrible second, she thought they were both going to slide right off. No! She pulled back again, her arms straining.

His body came over the edge of the roof, and they both collapsed.

He rolled, wrapped his arms around her, and they sat there for a second, both of their chests heaving wildly.

“You stubborn, obstinate woman,” he growled.