In Too Deep (8 page)

Knox shook his head. “Down, killer. I just meant that you have an air about you. A sophistication that goes beyond the pearls and heels. It’s experience. Seeing the world, people and different cultures, and learning to appreciate the value they bring.”

“You understand.”

Knox tossed a bone into the fire. The flames flared and sizzled. “Admittedly, I’ve seen a different side of the world than you probably have.”

“I wouldn’t count on that,” Avery mumbled under her breath, the unhappy memories too close to the surface not to be in the forefront of her mind.

Knox gave her a questioning glance, but didn’t comment.

“The effect is the same. Sometimes our lives can feel so small, our problems so huge, until we’re faced with desperate mothers, fathers broken because they can’t provide for their families, and children forced to take on responsibilities at eight or nine that no child should.”

Avery nodded. He did understand.

No, she hadn’t spent years of her life in war-torn countries as Knox had, but she’d seen enough poverty, starvation and oppression in the countries she had visited. It was always difficult for her to witness those things. As a teenager she’d felt powerless to do anything to help.

“Although—” his tawny eyes glinted with mischief “—I will say that for someone interested in learning about people, you really have no idea how to interact with them.”

Pulling her hand back, Avery aimed her own bone at Knox’s head. He didn’t even flinch, simply snatched it out of the air before it got anywhere close to him, cocked a single eyebrow at her and redirected it into the fire.

“Nice aim, doc.”

“Show-off,” she grumbled, although there wasn’t much heat behind the word. “Those who can’t do, teach. Those who can’t interact, study human civilizations in an attempt to understand others.”

“And pay the bills.”

Avery couldn’t stop the smile from tugging at her lips. “And pay the bills.”

Avery shifted, crossing her legs in front of her and grabbing a handful of sand. The grains fell through her fingers, silky and sugary fine.

“Believe it or not, I’m better than I used to be.” She studied him from beneath her lashes. “You seem to draw out the worst in me.”

A grin flashed across his face—almost before it was there it was gone—leaving behind a banked heat.

“I seem to remember bringing out the best in you last night.” Warmth climbed through her, pooling right between her thighs. Her breasts felt heavy and swollen and she wished she’d bothered to find her bra last night before tossing her tank back on, but it had been nearly impossible in the dark. Now, she knew the thin material would provide no barrier to the sharp points of her nipples.

“At least, that’s what you said right before you fell asleep.”

The grin he tossed her was impish and a little wicked. A combination of irritation and arousal rioted through her body. Knox seemed to know just what buttons to push...and exactly when to push them.

“Wanker.”

“British swearwords? Doc, your ice princess is showing again.”

She wanted to laugh, but wouldn’t let herself. Mostly because he was only half-joking. “Has anyone ever told you you’re a cocky asshole, Knox McLemore?”

“On several occasions, but thanks for playing. We have some nice parting gifts.”

“That wasn’t a compliment.”

His face sobered. Avery wasn’t certain when the good-natured ribbing—something they seemed to delight in as a sort of foreplay—morphed into something more real. “I realize you didn’t mean it as one. But I promise there are worse things to be called.”

“Such as...”

Smoke billowed between them, obscuring the outline of his body for several seconds. It undulated, a frosted veil she couldn’t see clearly through. From behind the smoke a single word drifted up. “Murderer.”

The way he said it...it wasn’t a word he’d pulled out of the air, like
terrorist
. Now that, given his background, would have made more sense.

No, he said it with sadness and ownership that she didn’t understand.

“I’m guessing most murderers wouldn’t particularly care about carrying the label.”

The smoke drifting between them cleared.

“You’d be wrong.”

Her eyes locked with his. There was something in the way he looked at her—challenge, maybe. He was daring her to voice the obvious question.

Which was why she didn’t.

She didn’t understand what was behind his statement, but she knew Knox well enough—despite their short time together—to realize that while he obviously believed what he’d said, it wasn’t true. It couldn’t be.

The man who’d refused to accept what she was offering last night, because it went against some internal code about taking advantage, wouldn’t hurt anyone. Not without justification.

That much she recognized about Knox McLemore. And right now, that was more than enough.

8

W
HERE
THE
HELL
was Asher? Frustration mixed with a tiny trickle of fear sat heavily across Knox’s shoulders.

Avery stood at the edge of the beach, staring out across the open water. The sun was beginning its descent to the far horizon. He’d really hoped they’d be rescued by now.

As much as he tried to focus on other things—which had been easy when they’d needed water, food and shelter—now that the basics were covered, his mind kept circling back to one indisputable fact.

Their predicament was entirely his fault. If he hadn’t rushed after that box like a reckless cowboy, Avery wouldn’t be in this mess.

They could be stuck out here for weeks. Months. He knew Jackson, Asher, Kennedy and Loralei wouldn’t stop looking for them, but eventually the beacon would die and their one link to the outside world would disappear.

He’d been in worse scrapes...he just hadn’t dragged a civilian into them with him—although, he had to admit, Avery was handling things much better than he’d expected.

But he didn’t like being powerless, and while there was plenty to keep him physically occupied—building them shelter, fishing, exploring their island—there was nothing more he could do to improve their odds of being rescued.

He longed for something to quiet his brain and the self-recriminations that were less than helpful. Although, when he wasn’t thinking about that, his mind kept circling back to sex with Avery. And while that idea had kept his cock half-hard the entire day, that wasn’t how he wanted her—as a distraction. Because she was much more than that.

And without the swirl of darkness and moonshine, he was too aware that he didn’t actually trust Avery, even if he was beginning to really like her.

The need humming just beneath the surface of his skin didn’t really help. In fact, it made the whole damn situation worse.

He had to find another outlet. Fast. What he wouldn’t give for a punching bag and gloves...or Asher’s face. Either would work.

Well, there was one way to exhaust his body. Stripping down to his boxer briefs, Knox didn’t bother looking behind him as he waded out into the water and dived beneath the surface.

Unlike Jackson, he hadn’t grown up diving, although he had been a competitive swimmer. In fact, he hadn’t discovered his love for scuba diving until he joined the Navy. And then it had become more of a personal crusade. He’d needed the skill in order to be successful with the SEALs.

Jackson had once described the sense of calm and peace he found beneath the waves. Knox had envied him that. Wanted desperately to find it for himself. He liked diving. Enjoyed watching the beautiful creatures that called the oceans home. But the water had become more of an office for him than an escape.

Now, the open road...that was where he felt free. A perfect fall morning, winding country roads and absolutely no destination in mind as he pushed the needle on his Shelby well past the speed limit.

He imagined that’s where he was, the water flowing across his body becoming the kiss of the wind. He had no idea how long he spent swimming the perimeter of the cove, not that it really mattered. By the time he headed for shore, exhaustion dragged at his muscles. Good, that was exactly what he needed.

Or that’s what he thought until he started back toward their makeshift camp.

He froze, that delicious exhaustion disappearing in a single, debilitating blast of awareness.

“What are you doing?”

Avery had folded herself into a triangle. Her round rear, covered by her shorts, was high in the air and pointed straight in his direction. It didn’t take any time at all for his libido to kick in and suggest the perfect use for that position.

As he watched, she transitioned, dropping to the ground and folding her legs one over the other before twisting her shoulders sideways. The move looked complicated and painful, but didn’t appear to be bothering her at all. She kept her gaze focused ahead of her, ignoring him completely.

Knox stepped closer, kicking up tiny bursts of sand, but careful not to send them in her direction. “What are you doing?”

Avery breathed deeply, her chest expanding. He couldn’t look away from the up-and-down motion of her breasts.

“Yoga.”

“That’s not what I meant.
Why
are you doing yoga?”

“You should try it.”

She moved, her body fluid and graceful.

“No, thanks.”

Bent into a pretzel, she stared up at him from between her legs with that superior expression that drove him nuts. He hadn’t seen it for a while. Wondered what it would take to make it disappear again.

“Afraid?”

“Doc, I’m afraid of two things, bombs and men with nothing to live for.”

She sucked in a sharp breath and Knox immediately regretted the delivery, if not the actual statement.

Grinding out a curse word beneath his breath, Knox plopped onto the sand beside her.

He reached for her ankle and gently tugged until she unwound from her pretzel position.

“I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

“Being an asshole.”

Avery laughed, the sound a little harsh. “Accepted. Want to tell me what crawled up your ass and died?”

Knox sighed, dropped onto his back in the sand and pillowed his arms behind his neck. He twisted his head so that he could look up at her.

The sun was a burst of fire behind her head, gilding her hair with coppery highlights. She watched him, patiently waiting. That was something he valued about Avery, a gift her quiet, contained nature gave him when he didn’t even realize he needed it. No pressure, just acceptance.

“I’m worried.”

“That Asher hasn’t shown up yet?”

He nodded.

“So am I, but I’m sure he’ll find us eventually.”

Knox let out a sigh and closed his eyes. It was the
eventually
that bothered him most. “I’m sorry.”

“You already said that.”

“For getting you into this. I shouldn’t have raced after that box. It was stupid and reckless.”

He peeked over at her through the glaring sun, expecting to find her frowning, but instead she wore one of her rare and brilliant smiles.

“Why are you smiling at me?”

“Because I didn’t expect you to ever admit that was a boneheaded idea, Mr. I Have a Plan. Thanks, by the way, but it isn’t necessary. I was just as curious.”

“Curious maybe, but you wouldn’t have done something so stupid.”

“Oh, I wouldn’t count on that either. I’ve done plenty of boneheaded things in my life. When I was fifteen, there was this dig in South America, an ancient temple they’d found deep in the jungle. I wanted to go, but my parents wouldn’t let me. I was stuck back at the village while my dad had all the fun. So, one morning I snuck onto a supply truck and rode out there. Little did I know the dig site was right in the middle of a guerilla terrorist group’s territory. I was grounded for a month when my parents discovered what I’d done.”

“Poor little Avery,” Knox drawled.

She reached out and shoved him, but before she could pull back, Knox snagged her wrists, holding her bent over him. He stared up into her gaze, reveling in the flare of heat that blasted through her ice-blue eyes.

She wasn’t drunk. He wasn’t either. He still wanted her, and if the peaks of her nipples and her stuttering breath were any indication, she wanted him as well.

Knox was tired of fighting.

Drawing her down to him, he claimed her mouth. There was nothing slow or seductive about the kiss. He’d lost that kind of finesse hours ago. Now he just needed her, with a desperation that crackled beneath his skin.

But she didn’t seem to mind. In fact, Avery pressed closer, throwing one leg over his hip so that her sex lined up perfectly with the throbbing ridge of his erection.

She moaned, the sound sending a burning shot of need straight through him.

“Avery,” he groaned. Sitting up, he wrapped his arms around her body, pressing her down tight against his cock caught between them. Pure torture and unbelievable pleasure. Especially when she started moving, her hips undulating against him.

He had to touch her. Taste her. “I need you. Right now.”

His hands ripped at her clothes, finesse out the window. Eventually he managed to drag her tank top over her head, all the while latching his lips to any patch of skin he could find.

She tasted like heaven, sweet and salty and perfectly Avery. The scent of her overwhelmed him, vanilla and clear blue sky.

Her hands scrambled over his body, just as eager as he was. She ran the soft pads of her fingers up and down his chest, abs, ribs. Wherever she touched, the lick of lightning followed, electrifying him like nothing else in his life had ever done.

He was in trouble. No question about it. But he no longer cared.

Bending down, he sucked a tight nipple into his mouth. Another groan erupted from his throat, vibrating between them both. Avery’s breath caught. She was pressed so tightly against him, he could feel the stutter of it.

“Knox,” she sighed, the sound complete surrender as she arched back, offering him more.

Knox wanted everything.

He was tugging at her zipper, ready to break the thing to get to her moist heat, when a sound stopped him.

“Knox?” She said again, pulling back.

As much as he didn’t want to, Knox stilled beneath her. The sound was out of place, enough that instinct kicked in and his entire system went on alert, adrenaline that had nothing to do with desire pumping into his system.

After a few more seconds of listening, Knox wrapped his hands around Avery’s hips, lifting her off and setting her softly back onto the ground.

She blinked up at him, bewildered, eyes still glazed with desire.

Shielding his face from the setting sun, Knox looked out and saw the small motorboat approaching.

In seconds Asher was pulling up into the cove.

“You have the worst timing, my friend!” Knox shouted across the water.

“Would you like me to leave and come back later?” Asher hollered back.

Jumping to her feet, Avery screamed, “Not on your life,” even as she yanked her tank back on.

“What took you so long?” Knox groused, glaring at Asher as his friend stepped free of the launch and onto the sand.

Asher simply grinned. “I see a night out under the stars did wonders for your disposition.” He walked right past Knox, pretty much ignoring him as he cut straight for Avery.

“It took us a while to realize you guys were gone...and in trouble. And then to catch the signal from the locating beacon. Imagine my surprise to find it on a tiny island not listed on any map,” Asher tossed over his shoulder.

Asher scooped Avery up in a huge bear hug. Her arms and legs dangled as he twisted her back and forth. “Good to see you.”

Avery stared at Knox over Asher’s shoulder, not quite able to suppress the tinge of pink that touched her cheeks.

“Put her down, you idiot,” Knox growled, a combination of warning and amusement shading his voice.

Turning away, Knox snagged the clothes he’d left on the shore before going for his swim and tugged the shorts and shirt back on.

“You all right, doc?” Asher asked, dropping her back down to the sand.

Asher might have the reputation as a ladies’ man, but that was because he truly had an appreciation for all females. Short, tall, athletic, curvy, old, young, it didn’t matter. He was just as gentle and attentive with the grandmother who needed help carrying her groceries as he was with the bombshells who sent him drinks at the bar.

It shouldn’t bother Knox, the way his friend moved in on Avery, pushing close and invading her personal space. He shouldn’t want to rip Asher’s hand away from where it rested against her arm. But he did.

Knox fought against the unwanted possessive reaction. Women were the one thing he and his friends had never fought over. And he wasn’t about to let that change today.

Besides, he wasn’t the jealous type. Or had never been before.

“I’m fine,” he heard Avery say.

“I have to admit, doc, you look a little worse for wear.”

He had the urge to defend her, but he should have curbed the reaction because Avery was perfectly capable of taking care of herself. “You try sleeping on the sand and see how fresh you look, sunshine.”

“Don’t get me wrong, you’re still gorgeous, just a little rumpled.” Asher grinned. “Pretty sure I like you better rumpled, Firecracker.”

Knox let out a low growl that startled even him.

Avery shifted, shooting him a cautioning glare. Jesus, he needed to get hold of himself.

“Leave her alone. She’s had an exhausting couple of days and isn’t up to dealing with you at full wattage.”

Asher shrugged.

His friend shifted and for the first time Knox registered the tension pulling his shoulders straight. He should have known, and if he’d been thinking about anything other than his interrupted interlude with Avery, he would have.

Asher’s charm was more often than not an act he used to hide everything else bubbling beneath the surface. His friend had been genuinely concerned, as would he have been if their roles were reversed.

Crossing the sand, Asher clapped him on the back and Knox returned the gesture. They’d been through a lot over the years and had the scars to prove it.

“You wanna tell me what the hell happened? Where’s our boat?”

Knox sighed, exhaustion pulling at him now that he knew everything was going to be okay.

“We both need a shower, food and sleep.”

“All of that is already waiting. I’m certain Catherine is working on the fatted calf as we speak, but you’re going to have to share with the class before I let you sleep, man.”

Knox nodded. “Let me get her settled first.”

Walking over to Avery, he didn’t bother asking before scooping her up into his arms. She let out a protest, but wrapped her hands tight around his neck.

“Knox, put me down.”

Asher’s eyebrows rose. His gaze drilled into Knox’s for several seconds. And then a wide, knowing grin spread across his face.

“Nope.”

“Asher, make him put me down,” she growled.