Hell or High Water (23 page)

His hands traced her back muscles and down to her heart-shaped bottom. Smoothing and memorizing before he reached around to cup her luscious breasts. She lifted her head and shoulders, positioning a nipple over his mouth.
 

Eager to taste, he pulled her in and rolled his tongue around the tip. Her back bowed, forcing herself deeper.

He slid his hand between her thighs and found her hot and wet. “You’re awesome.”

He slipped a finger inside her moist heat, his heart folding like a piece of paper when she mewed like a kitten. Her legs spread, giving him better access as she pressed down on his hand. Her muscles tightened, and he recognized the signs. She needed release, and he’d give it to her.
 

“No,” she gasped, jerking her hips away from him. “Inside me. I need you to love me. Now.”
 

Need controlled him. Shut out all worries. There was nothing in his life but the woman whose eyes begged him to make love to her. Damn underwear. Off they came, and before he could recover, she’d taken him inside her body.
 

“Yes,” she whispered, sliding down his full length. Her satin flesh gripped him, tugged him deeper.

He’d never been inside of her body without a condom separating them. The sensation almost made him come on the spot. He clamped his hands over her hips to stop her, but she bucked out of his grip, pressed down, moving back and forth.

 
“Oh, God. Sweetheart. You feel incredible.” He lifted his hips to meet hers, reveling in the skin-against-skin sensation, wishing he could stay buried in her forever. “Stop. Condom.”

“No,” she cried out. “Don’t stop.” She swiveled her hips, sparking wild charges through his groin. “I want to feel you. You and me.”

Her delicious breast brushed against his lips. She raised her body slightly then drove herself down, grinding against him. He knew better than to continue but couldn’t deny her. Couldn’t deny himself. Couldn’t pull out. She dropped her hands to his chest, braced herself, and rode him hard. Pushed him to the brink. Struggling to keep from losing control, he hung on with every molecule of determination he could muster.
 

“Let go, Kaycie. Look at me and let go.”

She cried out, moving faster, driving harder. She detonated around him. Her tight inner muscles contracted. Unable to resist the vice-like grip, he erupted in a series of explosions. She collapsed on him, their bodies damp with sweat.
 

He shifted to his side, pulling her close to him in the big chair. He stroked her cheek, moved her disheveled hair off her face, and kissed her forehead.

“Sleep now.” He held her in the quiet of the night, loving the sated expression on her face. Well, not loving. Right? He liked the sated expression on her face.
 

“Nate?” Her tone sounded sleepy and thick. “I’m on the pill, if that’s worrying you.”

He swallowed. Hard. “I’m not. Doesn’t matter. If you got pregnant, I’d be there with you every step of the way. I’d be a good dad.” And he would. A child with her didn’t scare him like it had ten years ago, and that surprised the shit out of him.
 

She rose up on her elbow and opened her mouth. Oops. He’d said too much.

“Shh.” He silenced her by resting his finger against her lips. Then he added, “Now’s not the time.”
 

 
Chapter 23

“You can’t go with me, and I can’t leave you here free to wander off.” Johnny bit the words out, refusing to allow Holly to plead against being handcuffed to the bed.

“Johnny,” she said softly. His skin burned when she gripped his arm. “Where would I go? What would I find if I ran into the woods? Acres of trees, underbrush, and God knows what.”

Why did she argue? The sparsely furnished one-room cabin had a bed, a table with two chairs, and a couch. A hot plate, motel-sized coffeepot, and small apartment refrigerator lined one wall. It was handcuff her to either the rusty metal headboard or the bathroom plumbing.
 

“Ever heard of Stockholm syndrome?”

She jerked her hand from his bicep as if she’d been electrocuted. Stepping back, her blue eyes reflected shock. “You think I’m falling in love with you?”
 

“It crossed my mind.”

“Well,” she huffed, “you did save me from that dickhead, Hank. But rest assured, I don’t love you. I do however, think you need help.”
 

“And you can get it for me. Right? A prison cell with a top-notch shrink to make me all better? Get real.” His temple throbbed, and he wanted to pound the side of his head until it stopped. Instead, he grabbed her wrist and led her to the far wall of the small cabin. “Sit,” he commanded. She meekly complied, not uttering a sound while he secured her to the rail on the headboard.
 

“I don’t believe you’ll kill me.”

He turned his back to her, needed to walk away. “Today.”

“You can’t.”

Just like turning off the radio, he tuned her out.
 

The size of the isolated deer-hunter’s cabin allowed him to get outside with a minimum of strides. He breathed the fresh air in the pitch-black darkness.
 

His headache progressively got worse, and disappointment filled his gut. He’d been wrong. The pain didn’t lessen when he was around her. How fucking stupid he was to have ever believed such an idiotic idea.
 

Shitty luck. Not a star or sliver of moon was out to illuminate the area. Good thing he’d brought two flashlights.

The cabin sat at the back of the property a couple miles off the nearest dirt road. The lean-to the boss called a barn barely provided shelter for the tractor. If it didn’t start, Hank could hand-dig the graves. The idea of killing Holly turned his stomach over.

Maybe he’d add Hank’s body to the count. Accidents happened.

Johnny moved further away from the cabin. The heavy tree line behind the house offered good coverage. It helped him but also provided protection to whomever the Taylor woman brought with her. And she was too smart to come alone. The trick would be losing her hired gun.

An alternative exit still had to be identified, and Johnny would scout again at dawn, but daylight was still a few hours away.
 

Damn Holly and her offer to get him help. Was he supposed to believe she wouldn’t cut his throat if given the chance? Nobody took care of him. To survive, he’d take care of himself.

He didn’t need her or anyone else.
 

****

Wrapped around Nate’s warm body, Kay rested her cheek on his bare chest. She’d never understood why she bought such a big recliner. Now she silently thanked the sales clerk who’d talked her into purchasing the space hog.
 

Nate’s heartbeat was slow and steady, beautiful music in her ear. Could’ve been angels singing, and the gentle rhythm gave her great pleasure. These few precious hours could be her last with him. Her heart clutched, tempting her to wrap her arms around her rib cage. The pain of losing him a second time would be much worse than the first.
 

The chair creaked, and his lips brushed the top of her head. “You think too much. Go to sleep. Even an hour will help.”

“Hmm,” she said on a sigh. Cuddling closer, she rested her leg across his body. “Hmm,” she repeated with more enthusiasm. “Somebody’s not too sleepy.”

His chuckle vibrated under her cheek. “Somebody can’t get enough of you. I get hard when you walk in the room. Don’t expect less when your naked body is draped across mine.”

“You talk prettier than you did ten years ago.”

“I was a stupid, scared-shitless kid. And I behaved like one.”

“Stupid? Maybe. But you’ve never been afraid of anything.” She lowered her hand, trailed down the narrow line of soft hair that led to his silky erection.
 

“I was afraid of you. Of marriage, kids, responsibility. Afraid I’d be thinking about you and walk into a trap. Or worse, lead my men to their deaths. Afraid I’d let you and my country down.”

Relief washed over her, warming her soul. He might be leaving soon, but once upon a time, he’d loved her.
 

“I didn’t know.” She turned her head to kiss his chest. “I was caught up in what I wanted and didn’t realize you were struggling too.”

His hips lifted, brushing his erection against her fingers. She understood. He was through talking about the ten-year-old subject.
 

So she slid all the way on top, reached to the side of the chair and pulled the lever, sitting him up. In one motion, she dropped from the recliner, knelt between his legs, and took him in her mouth.
 

“Oh. Jesus. I really did die and go to heaven.” His hands wound through her hair.
 

His words inspired her. Regardless of what tomorrow brought, she’d make sure he never forgot tonight.

****

Nate preferred to stay in bed. His fingers stroked Kaycie’s hair, which was currently spread across his chest. She’d given him a special gift last night. Her mouth had almost driven him out of his mind.

Afterward, he’d promptly scooped her into his arms and carried her to bed.

He wasn’t a saint. He’d had his share of sex over the years. But the woman in his arms brought out a need in him that burned its way to the very core of his soul. At times, he was sure his life’s breath depended on being inside her body.
 

She’d fallen into a deep sleep. With her at peace, he’d closed his eyes for a few minutes. An hour’s rest was plenty for him, but she’d need more than caffeine to keep going.

With a quick kiss to her forehead, he reluctantly eased her head onto a pillow. His feet hit the floor, and her hand brushed across his back, stopping him. Damn. He’d disturbed her.

“Time to go?” she asked, her voice soft and drowsy.

“Soon. I’ll fix coffee. Madill’s over a two-hour drive, and we have to get my bike first. Then I’ll follow you to Tyrell’s.”

“I’m up.” She rose and stretched her arms over her head.

“There’s time for you to rest a while longer.”

“Coffee sounds good.” She slipped on a T-shirt and tossed him a smile as she strolled from the room.

Pride swelled inside his chest. She had more guts and stamina than a few of the men he’d gone into battle with. He respected her strength and devotion to her friends. Loved her for the woman she’d become.
 

No. Not love. She’d made it clear he was supposed to go away when this was over. Falling in love with her would be as smart as intentionally stepping on a land mine.
 

Nate hit the shower, stepping out to meet her coming in. “Need your back washed?” he asked, knowing that’s all they had time for. Her laughter started his dick thinking otherwise. He wrapped the towel around his hips, but not in time for his erection to go unnoticed.

“Hold that thought for ...” Her gaze shifted to stare at the floor.
 

‘Nuff said and without additional words. Her unfinished sentence reminded him today was the end of the line. As soon as Holly was safe, this case was over and his employment would end.
 

And didn’t that take care of the tented towel?

“I’ll get out of your way.” He didn’t take her extended hand. Time to move on.

****

Damn him. Kay bit back the urge to grab his broad shoulders and shake him. Him going to Colombia wasn’t her fault. She wasn’t the addicted-to-adrenaline junkie. Hell, he’d already lined up another job. The more treacherous, the better.
 

A shower soothed her sore muscles but did nothing for the ache in her chest. Her body hummed with need. His nearness brought out a side of her she hated to lose. This feeling of being wanted, of being alive. No one had ever filled the void he’d left. No one ever would.

Enough. She toweled off, dressed, pulled her damp hair into a ponytail, and headed for the kitchen ready to fight.

What she got was a cup of coffee and an omelet, which they split, while he talked her through the plan one more time. All military, all business. She wanted to smooth away the furrow between his brows. Didn’t trust herself to touch him.

The plan was based on the assumption the kidnapper would force Kay to go with him. The eggs in her stomach flooded the back of her throat at the idea of getting into the car with the bastard. Her skin dampened with sweat and then chilled. To still her hands, she wrapped them around the warm mug. She could do this. Would do this.

“Tyrell borrowed equipment because it’s imperative we stay in constant communication with you. Most earbuds are small enough not to be seen. If it’s noticeable, you may have to leave your hair down to cover your ear. We’ll be able to hear what you say and follow using the phone app. The laptop will be in the cab of the rig. At no point will you be off the grid.”

“It won’t matter if he decides to shoot me or Holly. Nobody can protect us from a bullet.” She tried to mask the worry in her voice.

His eyes closed, jaw twitched, and the nerves in his face tightened. “I hate this plan. Let’s go back to my original idea. Let me take the ring to the bastard.”