A muscle in David’s jaw jumped. “No. He’s not insane. To me that makes him all the more dangerous.”
“If this isn’t insane, I don’t know what is,” Sterling countered.
“Evil,” Michael said.
The word lingered in the air for long moments. “Right,” Sterling said, a frown on his face. “Our best bet is to talk to Mason in person. He’ll be more likely to accept this if he can see you face-to-face.”
“So,” Michael said standing up. “Let’s go. There isn’t a moment to spare. The Arions have some plans already in motion that we can’t let them complete.”
Chapter Twelve
The first thing Roger noticed when he woke was the splitting pain in his head. Then darkness. He was surrounded in blackness. He blinked. Was it his eyes or the room? Panic flared. He wasn’t sure.
The restriction of his arms reminded him of the ropes around his wrists. Vaguely he remembered being tied up. Squeezing his eyes shut, trying to block out the complete blackness of the room, he suppressed a shiver of fear.
The strain of trying to see was unbearable. Absolutely unnerving.
Memories seeped into his brain, the strange men, the caves and the needles. God, the needles. His head thrashed from side to side as he thought of the pinpricks, of being held down. His mind conjured such vivid imagines, he could almost feel the needles break his skin and then sink into his tissue. A light perspiration dampened his brow.
What had they injected him with?
“Someone help me!” he yelled into the emptiness of the room.
His voice echoed as if in a cavern, answering him with his own words. He was so alone and scared.
* * * * *
Holly let out a sigh of relief when the truck stopped in the driveway of a small wooden cabin. She glanced at the clock. It was nearly three in the morning. She had offered to drive, worried he was tired, but he had refused.
A storm was rolling in, brought by brisk winds. Clouds covered the moon and stars and the night felt downright spooky. It was as if Mother Nature knew something they didn’t. Thunder rumbled overhead seeming to get closer and closer with each roll.
“Please tell me this is where we’re stopping,” she said, sitting up straight as she tired to make out her surroundings.
Mason didn’t answer. Instead, he drove to the back of the cabin and, to Holly’s shock, straight into the middle of the woods. Jostled from side to side as the tires crunched on rough terrain, Holly held onto the seat with a desperate grip.
“What are you doing?” Holly demanded.
He put the gearshift in park, killing the ignition and lights. “Parking, of course.” Then he actually had the nerve to chuckle.
Holly couldn’t see his expression through the shadows of the truck cab but he obviously thought something was funny. She didn’t. Yes, she wanted the man to laugh more but his timing was crap, as far as she was concerned. With a more than a little irritation in her voice she said, “Why?”
As long as Mason’s reasoning ended with them going into the cabin and getting some rest, she’d forgive his behavior.
“Switching vehicles.”
He wasn’t forgiven. “What?” she blurted. “Why? Can’t we stay here a while?”
“I told you we have to get underground.”
“Can’t we rest until morning?” She hated the plea in her voice but, damn it, they’d been traveling for twelve hours and her backside was getting numb.
“Too dangerous,” Mason replied as he pushed open his door. “Stay put. I’ll be around to get you.”
The minute he pulled her door open, she hit him with a question. “Whose cabin is this?”
He held out his hand to her but the shadows hid his expression. “Mine,” he said flatly, offering no other information.
She slid off the seat to stand in front of him. “You live here?”
His hands settled on her waist. “You ask a million questions, woman.”
“Because you’re so secretive. Now answer my question. Do you live here?”
“No,” he said. “I don’t. I just want people to think I do.” He turned without giving her time to respond, taking her hand in his and pulling her through the woods.
Holly followed nervously, well aware of the high grass or, rather, weeds. She didn’t even want to know what might be crawling around by her feet. As soon as they were out of the woods and in an open clearing, Mason let go of her hand. Taking long strides forward, he left her standing there, staring after him.
“Hey,” she yelped, starting off after him, her gaze darting anxiously toward the sky as thunder rumbled. A flash of lightning made her jump. Her eyes settled on his back moving rapidly away from her.
“Don’t leave me here. It’s dark.”
She could just barely make out his actions as he stopped in front of a shed, grabbed the lock attached, quickly punched in a combination code and opened the door. He disappeared into the building just as Holly stepped up to the door.
How could he see? Holly peered into the blankness past the doorway. “Mason?”
A sudden burst of sound assaulted her ears, making Holly jump, her hand flying to her chest. “Jeez,” she grumbled. “Mason!” This time she yelled his name.
Seconds later, he appeared, sitting astride a motorcycle, looking sexier than any man had the right to, and holding a helmet out to her.
“Put this on,” he ordered.
Damn, the man was bossy. She grimaced. “As in, put it on and get on the motorcycle?” she yelled back over the engine.
His eyes twinkled with a hint of amusement. “Exactly.”
Holly liked looking at Mason on the motorcycle. The idea of riding it with him didn’t appeal. “Do I have to?”
He frowned and, despite the loudness of the motor, she thought he grunted. She made a face at him. “Fine.”
Putting the helmet on, she expelled a deep breath. Holly flung one leg over the seat just as the first raindrop hit her nose.
Great! Would this night ever end!
Mason grabbed her hands, pulling them tight around his waist, silently telling her to hold on. It was also a hint of what was to come. She wasn’t going to like the ride. The rev of the engine was her only warning before they took off through the grass. Holly gasped as her body rocked from the force of the movement. Though she was certain Mason couldn’t have heard over the roar of the engine, she could have sworn she heard him laugh.
She had created a monster, laughing at all the wrong things. This was not funny. Not at all. Holly looked over his shoulder and quickly shut her eyes, appalled to see him heading straight toward the woods. Not to the road.
The bike jumped and jerked along with her body as rain began steadily pounding them. A thought hit her. Her things were in the truck. She didn’t even have clothes to change into.
But Mason had her research tucked in a pouch he wore around his ankle. At least it was safe.
Something, at least, was going her way.
But not much.
* * * * *
Mason took each bump in the road with practiced precision. He had made this run over the mountain too many times to count. The rain, however, made the ride a bit risky, considering Holly was with him. She was clinging to him as if her life depended on it.
Smart woman.
Though he knew she had a firm grip, he was tense when the rain became a downpour, making visibility almost zero. It took all of his focus to keep them soundly planted on the ground.
Still, the risk of keeping her above ground far outweighed the risk of the ride. It took an hour to get to their destination, a specific mountain which hid an underground cavern. Mason pulled to a stop and killed the motor. The rain had slowed to a light drizzle, giving them a slight reprieve from the onslaught of the prior downpour.
Pulling off his helmet, Mason felt Holly doing the same behind him before she slipped off the bike. “Where are we?” she asked with heaviness in her voice.
Mason climbed off the bik
e and turned to face her, only to find her hair plastered to the side of her face and what makeup she still had on smudged into dark circles under her eyes. Still, she looked adorable to him.
He handed her his helmet. “Take this so I can push the bike and I’ll show you.”
One side of the mountain was covered in trees, which hid a secret cavern door. It actually looked as if it was part of the mountain. It was a technology few knew existed, compliments of an Area 51 project years before. Mason pushed a button on the side of one of the trees, making the entrance open.
“Amazing,” Holly said in awe. He looked at her, seeing the scientist at work even in the midst of her fatigue. Her mind didn’t reject things she didn’t understand. Instead, it seemed to absorb and analyze.
He motioned for her to follow. Rolling the bike through the door, he positioned it next to the three other motorcycles he kept near the doorway.
Holly placed the helmets on a rack holding several others. “I see you have quite the collection,” she said noting the other bikes.
He shrugged. “I like to be prepared.”
Holly shivered, hugging herself. “Too bad prepared doesn’t include a hot bath.”
He motioned toward the cavern. “I told you, ask and you shall receive.”
“You better not be joking, because I really am not in the mood for your sudden run on humor.”
He flicked her a curious glance. “Humor?”
She rolled her eyes. “Nothing. Just take me to the bathtub.”
In silence, Mason led her into the cave, not stopping until they were deep into the center. He punched another hidden button, opening a panel in the floor. He nodded toward a ladder connected to the cavern wall. “Follow me down.”
Once Mason was on the next level, he waited on Holly. As soon as she cleared the opening, he punched a button and closed the door. He felt safer knowing they were sealed beneath the surface. When she was close enough for him to reach her, he settled his hands on her waist to guide her to the floor.
“What is this place?” Holly asked, looking around at the small, bare cavern. “It’s small.” She swallowed. “Did I mention I’m claustrophobic?”
Mason grinned. “You are?”
Grimacing, she said, “Apparently, because I don’t like this at all.”
Mason chuckled. Never had a woman made him laugh so much. Again, he marveled at how amazing it was, what she did to him. She lifted his darkness, opening him up to feelings and responses he wouldn’t have had before.
He smiled at her. “It gets better, I promise.”
He turned to a panel of buttons and punched in a series of codes, making the wall slide open, displaying an elevator.
“Good grief,” she muttered, following him onto the elevator. “What kind of maze is this?”
The corners of his lips hinted at a smile. “One very hard to break into.”
She swallowed and nodded, her expression showing understanding. When the elevator doors opened, Mason grabbed her hand. “Come.”
Right now all Mason wanted to do was wrap Holly up in his arms and make love to her. He’d spent the entire drive thinking about her. About them. Holly made him feel whole again. If he knew he wouldn’t turn into some kind of monster, he would relish the bond between them.
Regardless of the long-term, at this moment he needed her. He wasn’t sure he was strong enough to walk away from her. Not now, and possibly not ever.
Chapter Thirteen
Holly stepped out of the elevator and could hardly believe her eyes. She now stood in a fully furnished living room, complete with a plush brown sofa and matching chairs, a huge rock fireplace, well-placed pictures, end tables and even several lamps. She stood there, taking in the vision before her in stunned silence.
It was like stepping into some sort of story world.
They couldn’t be in a cave, beneath the earth, and have such a normal setting. Could they?
It was nothing short of amazing. “How can all of this be down here?”
Mason’s hands settled on her shoulders, as he stepped behind her. His hands moved up and down her chilled skin, warming her, comforting her, making her feel an odd calmness as she took in the strange surroundings. His lips brushed her ear, as tender as anything she had ever felt in her life. He spoke near her ear, his voice a strong force despite its hushed tone.
“It’s a government safe house. In the past, places like this were set up and used for high-level officials during national threats. Now, all Black Knights live like this to protect them from the Arions. The walls are fortified concrete and steel.”
“Amazing,” she murmured. Her eyes moved to a glass door in the corner. Computers, wires and cables were telltale signs that it was a place of importance. “What’s that room?”
“Surveillance area,” he said. “I can see above the surface, including the cabin. Anywhere I have equipment set up.”
“Amazing,” she said again, because it seemed fitting. What other word described all that she had suddenly found herself faced with?
Mason made a sound of agreement. “Actually, a lot of this technology has been used for many years. There have just been improvements made as our know-how increased. Now, unlike in the past, it’s almost impossible to find these caverns from the surface.
“Yes,” Holly said. “The entrance was invisible.”
He continued, moving so he faced her, his hands on her waist. “We have all the luxuries of a normal home. So…” he smiled, “how about that hot bath?”
Holly slid her hands over his. “A bath would be wonderful. Please.”
Mason took one of her hands in his, drawing it to his mouth. He brushed his lips across her knuckles, gentle and tender, like a caress promising tantalizing possibilities. Things she wanted and needed. When he raised his mouth, his thumb found her palm, stroking lightly, sending waves of warmth up her arm.
“A bath it is, then,” he said softly, still holding her gaze.
Oh, those eyes of his… Sometimes Holly felt as if she could get lost in those dark pools of temptation. They literally smoldered with an unspoken message. One her body echoed with a resounding “yes”.
“This way.” He stepped forward, holding her hand as he led her forward. Pulling her so she was side by side with him, he said, “Each room is connected tunnel-style. You have to walk through the living room, to the bedroom, to the kitchen.”
Holly wasn’t thinking about her surroundings any longer. She was watching Mason, so drawn to him she couldn’t pull her eyes away. Wet clothes clung to his muscular frame, making a delicious vision too enthralling to ignore.
Just looking at him had her wanting.
Moments later, they stood in the bathroom, his hand still holding hers as he turned to face her. She was under a spell of sorts…his spell.
At least, it felt that way.
She hardly even remembered walking to the bathroom. Her eyes ran the length of his body. She could feel the heat he generated, even with inches between their bodies.
Desire washed over her like a tidal wave.
Their eyes locked and held. His were dark, sensual and, oh, so sexy. He knew what she was feeling. She saw it in those deep, dark eyes. The tension, not wholly sexual but definitively intense, laced the silence with possibilities.
She wanted to touch him with her hands, mouth and body. To feel his hardness against her softness. She loved how big and broad he was. His strength and power, both mental and physical, really did things to her.
This newfound sexual side of her personality was something unexpected and, thanks to Mason, quite fulfilling.
Forcing herself to look around the room, she was surprised to find a large garden tub against the far wall. Mason stepped toward her, his hands sliding to her waist and then running up and down her ribs. His touch sent a shiver racing down her spine and made her fall deeper into the warmth of passion.
Here she was, alone with the most amazing, sinfully sexy man she had ever known and it felt amazi
ng. His hands kept moving, slowly, tantalizingly near the underside of her breasts. Her nipples tingled even as her thighs rushed with sensation.
He stepped even closer, bringing them thigh to thigh.
Yes, was all she could think as her hand went to the back of one of those strong legs of his, absorbing the feel of rippling muscle beneath the wet denim of his jeans.
She wanted this.
She wanted him.
The day had been nothing shy of severe in its impact on her future. Yet, all she had been faced with, the fear and confusion, the complete upheaval of her roots, didn’t compare to the enormity of her need right now.
Underground Guardians Box Set Page 17
