Being wrapped in Jack’s arms beat any blanket. He made her feel safe and protected and her fear began to slip away, little by little.
His hand stroked her back and her fear morphed into something more intimate. She became aware of his solid body against hers, drawn to his strength. What would he taste like if she were to run her tongue over the taut cords of his neck?
“I won’t be long.” He buried one of his hands in her hair.
Not so immune to her either. She could feel him hard against her stomach and that knowledge gave her power.
“Don’t go,” she whispered, certain there were two meanings there.
Jack sucked in a deep breath and eased away from her. Holding her at arm’s length, he said with some regret, “I have to.”
Disappointed, Darci stepped back, tilting her chin. “Then be careful, Jack. Don’t make me come after you.”
He grinned. “Don’t worry, I know better than to cross an Irish woman.”
She smiled. Smart man.
“Stay below deck and don’t go above for any reason. I should be back in fifteen minutes.”
Darci nodded. “Okay.”
Her easy agreement made some of the tension to go out of his shoulders. She hadn’t realized how seriously he took his protection of her. He’d always been there, solid and strong, but she hadn’t stopped long enough to see the sense of duty he instilled in himself. A burden he’d taken on. Her heart swelled in her chest and she knew she had fallen for Jack Taggart.
It both frightened and exhilarated.
Watching Jack disappear up the stairs, she wrapped her arms around her waist. Stay below deck where she couldn’t see him, couldn’t see what was going on. She hated this. All of it, the hiding out, the running, the fear of the unknown, the memory of what had already happened.
Darci shuddered and paced the boat, feeling like a caged animal. She tried not to think about Jack. As she walked the length of the boat and back she told herself that Jack could take care of himself and that if there was someone waiting in her room he’d handle the situation just fine.
She turned off the television, not needing the distraction of the incoming storm to add to her worries. Then turned it back on again. Finally, she went over to the stairs and sat on the bottom one to wait. Jack had seven minutes before she went after him. Until then, she wasn’t moving.
****
Judas Priest. The woman was going kill him with lace.
Jack scowled as he tossed yet another lace undergarment in the suitcase he’d found beside the door. Darci had more undergarments than clothes and the clothes he did find were sexy as hell. Seeing Darci in any of the articles of clothing he picked up was enough to set him off like a rocket.
He realized at that moment there were more dangerous things in this world than a band of thieves, and lace could very well be his demise.
Leaning down, he picked up a tangerine colored piece of lace and let out a long-suffering sigh. Did the woman wear anything besides sexy, sultry lace guaranteed to bring a guy to his knees?
Hastily packing the rest of her clothes and personal effects, Jack closed the suitcase, letting out a sigh of relief. Out of sight, out of mind. Yeah, right, like he would get the images of brightly colored lace out of his head. Who knew that undergarments came in lime green and hot pink? Worse, who would have thought those colors were sexy? He’d be on his knees begging if he saw Darci in them.
No, not going there. His responsibility to her included keeping her safe, not taking her to bed and making love to her until they were both too sated to move.
And he had sex on the brain. Had a woman ever made him want to beg? Never. He’d trained to work through distraction. It had never happened until now. He was in big, big trouble.
Chapter Eight
Jack helped her onto the dock. She had showered, pulled her hair into a comfortable ponytail and changed into a pair of shorts and a white tank top. It felt good to be out of the gown that brought back nothing but bad memories.
Jack guided her down the narrow dock. She knew they must look a sight with their matching bruises, but no one seemed to notice. Jack kept a hand on the small of her back as they walked, an intimate gesture that had butterflies taking flight in her stomach. He looked handsome as ever in low riding cargo shorts and a soft, billowy shirt.
Jack steered her toward the crowded, white sand beach that seemed to stretch for miles along the island. Palm trees lined the edges and people were scattered everywhere. The perfect tropical paradise. Darci let out a wistful sigh. She’d really enjoyed her mini-vacation before the kidnapping. How things would have been different if she and Jack had met under different circumstances. In this island paradise meant for lovers. She would have loved to be here with him, soaking up the sun, drinking rum punch and making love to the beat of calypso music.
“First we need to buy you a hat and scarf to cover your head with.”
“Disguise. Right. What about you?”
He snapped his fingers. “I know just the thing.”
They stepped onto the beach, clouds darkening the sky. She longed to take off her sandals and dig her toes into the fine-grained sand, but they weren’t here for enjoyment, they were here for a purpose.
All around her men and women shopped, stocking up before the storm. Piece by piece they picked up their disguises, finding what they needed from the vendors sprinkled along the beach.
She noticed a man, not for the first time, following a few paces behind them. He did it covertly, but she saw him.
“Hey, how about this?” she asked, turning to show Jack her costume. She had on a large brimmed straw hat over a brightly colored scarf that had been hand crafted by one of the local women. The scarf draped around her face and neck and a pair of dark sunglasses covered her eyes.
“Perfect,” Jack said.
She leaned in close. “I think there’s someone following us. A man. Dark shirt and pants. Over by the vendor selling t-shirts.”
Jack glanced in that direction. “That’s our protective detail from the police department. He’s all they could spare with the storm preparations.”
“You went to the police?”
“While I was getting your things.”
Something inside her melted a little more. She handed him a baseball cap with the island logo and a pair of dark glasses. “Here, try these.” Then smiled when Jack put the hat on backwards and slid on the glasses. Her heart pounded in her chest. He looked like any other ordinary tourist, only sexier.
“I like it.” She hoped he didn’t hear the breathlessness of her voice.
He touched the scarf. “I like this.”
She smiled, wanting to turn into his hand, but resisted. “Think anyone will recognize us?”
Jack’s thumb brushed her cheek, whisper soft, and she started to melt. “Not now.”
“Good. There’s a vendor over there selling fresh fruit. I’d love some pineapple and mangos.”
“Pineapple and mangos it is.” Jack threw an arm around her shoulders and steered her through the crowd.
To onlookers they probably looked like any other tourists on vacation, but to Darci they were so much more. She found herself scanning the crowd and looking over her shoulder like Jack did, but tried not to look at their tail.
They were in a crowd, safe for the moment. Heath and his sister wouldn’t try anything with witnesses around, but that didn’t mean they wouldn’t follow them back to Jack’s boat, their one safe place. There would be no escape then.
That uneasy feeling she got when she started thinking about their situation skittered down her spine and she pressed closer to Jack. Warm and solid beside her, a rock she could lean on. The one thing she could count on.
He gave her a squeeze, pressing her closer to his side, as they circled around an elderly couple lounging on beach chairs and sipping drinks with little umbrellas in them. Little things mattered and that small action was all Darci needed to chase her bad thoughts away. She sank into Jack’s si
de, soaking up his strength, and inhaling his masculine scent.
They passed a vendor selling tropical flowers, fresh cut and vibrant. The dark-skinned man sitting behind the table waved to Jack to get his attention. The elderly man motioned toward Darci and said something to Jack she couldn’t hear over the couple talking loudly behind her. Jack nodded his agreement and smiled so tenderly at her that the rest of the world faded away. She didn’t notice Jack pay for the flowers until he handed them to her. Looking down at the bouquet of rare orchids, she wanted to cry, they were so beautiful. She brought them to her nose and inhaled the sweet, exotic scent.
Jack leaned down and said softly in her ear, “They remind me of you.”
She did cry then. Tears filled her eyes and the elderly man said something that drew Jack’s attention. She was too busy being an emotional female crying over flowers to pay attention to what they said.
Jack said something in return and nodded before steering her away from the vendor. Darci wiped the tears from her eyes and held the flowers tight to her chest.
She wanted to ask him what they had said, but they arrived at the fruit vendor before she could.
Jack stopped at the table and let her go so he could pick out pineapples. Darci spied a vendor with beautiful bright-colored fabrics and knew she had to go see them.
“Oh, Jack, there’s a table with sarongs. I’m going to go grab a couple.”
Jack glanced over his shoulder and she read his thoughts. Too far away. That joined-at-the-hip thing. Not that she minded. In fact, she liked it very much but she really wanted to take a couple sarongs home to her sisters. And the colors and prints were so beautiful she just had to have one.
“I won’t be long. You’ll be able to see me from here. I’ll be fine.”
She could see him working the angles in his head. Behind that handsome face laid acute intelligence. He probably mapped out the quickest route to the vendor.
Finally, he relented. “Okay, but stay where I can see you.”
She saluted. “Yes, sir.”
Jack grinned. “Smartass.”
On impulse she kissed his cheek then hurried through the crowd to the vendor. She turned once to see Jack watching her, though she couldn’t see his eyes behind the dark sunglasses. But she could feel his gaze on her and it gave her goose bumps. She waved and turned back around.
It didn’t take her long to pick out a sarong for each of her sisters and one for her mom. The one she picked for herself was woven with brightly colored flowers that reminded her of the orchids Jack had given her. She paid for them and turned around to see Jack standing at an angle, a pineapple in each hand. He looked deep in thought and she had to smile. This man took his fruit very seriously.
She moved slowly through the crowd, watching Jack from a distance. Even though he concentrated on the pineapples she knew he tracked her every move. Her eyes traveled over the backwards baseball cap, the dark glasses, strong jaw and sculpted lips. She licked her lips as her gaze traveled lower over his broad shoulders and rock-hard abs then down his muscular legs.
This man would never let her down. His word was his bond and nothing short of death would stop him from keeping it. Handsome and charming, strong and trustworthy. She owed her life to this Navy SEAL who could handle a weapon with skill and grace, use fighting skills that went beyond simple self-defense and make her laugh.
As she watched him weigh the pineapples, giving serious thought to each one, she smiled. This man thought things through and didn’t make rash decisions. He may be quick on his feet, but every decision, no matter how hasty, was well thought out. She admired that.
Her eyes dropped to his hands. He had strong hands, long fingers and muscled forearms. She wanted those hands on her and longed to be that pineapple. She drew in a sharp breath when he squeezed the fruit. Silently she willed him to look at her, but his attention remained on his task.
Darci walked straight over to him and stopped a foot away. Thunder rumbled in the distance.
“Jack.”
“Yeah, babe?” His focus remained on the pineapple.
Dropping her bag and the flowers, she took two steps and grabbed the front of his shirt. She fisted her hands in the fabric and pulled him down toward her. She stood on tiptoe so she could feel every inch of him pressed against her, and did what she knew he never would.
She kissed him.
Her lips met his and she knew there’d be no coming back from Jack’s kiss. And oh, God, she hoped he kissed her back. She felt his hesitation, the war raging inside him, so she shot down his defenses by nipping his lower lip. And then, heaven help her, the pineapples hit the ground and Jack’s arms were crushing her against his body.
His mouth devoured hers, drinking her in like a man thirsting for water. She opened to him, drawing him in, telling him with her body what she wanted. The world ceased to exist as they gave in to attraction they could no longer deny.
Jack’s arm locked around her waist while the other moved up to grip the back of her neck. His tongue slipped inside her mouth and Darci’s knees buckled. This was where she wanted to be. Forever.
Jack pulled away and set her back on the ground, breathing heavily. She looked up at the fire burning in his eyes.
“Hotel.” It came out a breathless whimper. Hotels lined the beach and the boat was too far away.
Hunger flared in Jack’s eyes and his hands tightened on her waist. People were moving around them now, some smiling at the young lovers, others rolling their eyes and wishing they would get a room. The vendor demanded payment for the ruined fruit.
A silent understanding passed between them and with a nod Jack paid for the fruit, grabbed Darci’s bag in one hand and her hand in the other and led her away from the beach to the first hotel he could find as another round of thunder rippled across the dark sky.
****
They managed to pay for a room and make it into the elevator without touching. Jack had a discussion with their bodyguard, who nodded with a smug smile, and hung back to take the next elevator. Jack wanted to wipe the smug grin off his face, but cared more about Darci than a cocky cop listening outside the door.
As soon as the doors closed Jack spun Darci against the wall. He ached in every bone and wished the elevator would get a move on.
He crushed his mouth to hers, afraid of hurting her, but unable to stop. Her little whimper of pleasure drove him deeper into her sweetness. Her hands gripped his waist and he remembered too late his KA-BAR sheathed there.
“Careful,” he murmured against her lips, moving her hands away from the knife.
“Are we there yet?” she whispered, pressing her lips to the cords in his neck. They were hot and soft against his skin and Jack managed to keep a hold on his control. He wanted her with a vengeance and if she denied him now he would surely die a slow, miserable death.
He could feel every soft inch of her and wanted her naked. Now. The elevator crept at a snail’s pace, almost undoing him. Darci’s arms were around his neck now, her eyes bright with passion as she stared back at him.
Unable to restrain it any longer, Jack dropped the bags, put his hands under her tight backside and lifted her against the wall of the elevator. Her legs immediately circled his waist and Jack let out a low, guttural groan.
“Jack,” Darci moaned. “Are. We. There. Yet?”
God knew he almost was. He had never craved like this or acted with so little finesse in his life. He had always been able to control his urges, take his time to cherish a woman before he took what he needed. A woman’s needs always came before his, but with Darci he felt out of control. If he didn’t stop, he would embarrass himself.
He wanted to kiss her, but he couldn’t risk it, so he dropped his forehead against hers and took a couple deep breaths.
The doors slid open behind them and Jack quickly lowered her to the ground before anyone saw them. Thankfully, when he turned around the hallway was empty.
“Finally.” Darci grabbed his hand and pulled
him out of the elevator. “Which room is it?”
Jack had to look at the key card to find out.
At the end of the hall and Jack tried twice to get the door open. First he had the card in wrong and the second time his hand shook. Casanova he was not. If he didn’t get it together soon he would blow it.
The door finally opened and Darci grabbed him by the shirt and pulled him inside. Jack grinned and tossed the key on the desk inside the door. Darci’s hat, scarf and sunglasses went flying, followed by his hat and glasses. He barely managed to set her bag safely by the door before she threw herself in his arms, kissing him like there was no tomorrow.
When she pulled away she asked, “What about our bodyguard?”
“You’re gonna have to keep it quiet,” he said with a grin.
Her eyes widened. “He knows?”
“He’s a man, babe.”
She hesitated for a moment, then he kissed her and she went limp against him, the guard forgotten. Good, because it would take SEAL Team 5 to stop him at this point.
He nuzzled her neck. Ah, God, she smelled like the wild orchids he’d given her earlier, tasted like coffee and the mango she’d had with her breakfast. With shaking hands Jack slid her tank top over her head and let out a low, gut-wrenching groan when he saw she’d chosen the aqua colored lace bra. The color matched her eyes and he considered dropping to his knees and begging her to have him.
With a wolfish grin he wondered if she had on matching underwear. Then started to sweat. If she did, he’d be a goner for sure. He knew her brightly colored lace would bring him to his knees.
He wanted to touch her, to see if her skin felt as soft as it looked, but he could only stand there and admire the beautiful woman in front of him.
“Are you going to stand there and stare at me all day or are you going to make love to me?” Darci asked, her voice a husky promise.
Jack’s grin widened. “Honey, I’m going to make love to you until you can’t move.”
A SEAL's Song Page 9
