by Ainsley Cole
He blinked, his gaze lifting to her face and her face flushed bright red. “Uh, I’ll have to clear it past Wolf.”
“I thought you were the boss?” she asked.
I am, he thought, but he knew if he went out on his own with her, he wouldn’t be able to control himself. “I still need to tell someone. So they know it’s going to be us and no-one else.”
She grinned, flashing perfect white teeth, a tiny gap between the top ones and his heart skipped a beat. “Awesome. Well, I’ll let you have your shower. You look like you’re looking forward to it and I’ll meet you in the labs when you’re ready.”
She moved past him, the scent of clean and perfume washing over him, and Bones’ eyes closed as she left the room.
“Fuck…” He wasn’t going to survive in Kenya long.
* * *
God, how long had he been standing outside the cubicle? Abigail hurried from the showers, her face on fire with shame. Had he been in there long enough to hear her pleasure herself? She hoped he hadn’t.
And the look he had given her when she had moved her bag.
How more obvious could he have gotten? He was hot for her. She was sure of it.
But what the hell was she going to do about it? It wouldn't be professional if she launched herself at him. A quickie behind the clinic, or in the showers, or in the back of one of the Humvees. Frowned upon, but fuck, it would be hot.
She scrambled into the clinic, closing the door to the labs, heaving in breath after breath of air. Never had she felt like this about a guy in her life. Abigail had had crushes. Made goo-goo eyes at men she’d fancied, but nothing prepared her for what Braedon Roberts did to her.
Trying to make herself busy, she tidied the desks, moving things around, for the sake of moving them.
“Christ!” She turned, going to the small water dispenser and poured herself a glass of water. Downing it, she gasped, flashes of a naked Bones coming to her mind. Hot and wet, his head tipped back in the shower while she was on her knees in front of him.
“Get a grip of yourself!” She growled, turning back to the clinic. He might not have married anyone, but he had to have a girlfriend. Someone like him couldn’t stay single long.
Andrew and Chris coming into the clinic had her attention, and she sighed, going to them. She had to talk about the results, it might take her mind off the dirty fantasies about her security guard.
* * *
“No.”
“Wolf.”
“Bones, I don’t like the idea of you traipsing off on your own with the woman you can’t get your mind straight about.” The man’s lips pursed together. “Plus, we don’t know what’s going on out there. What if either of you gets sick?”
“Aww, didn’t know you cared so much about me.” Bones chuckled, and Wolf rolled his eyes.
“Of course I care about you, you big monkey.” Wolf laughed, before becoming solemn. “Please tell me you’re not suggesting this to get in her panties?”
“Uh, it’s not about getting into her panties.” Bones chuckled, grimacing. He wanted to get into them. His mouth against her hot— “I have to do this. She’s finally becoming comfortable around me. She needs to go back to the village and find out what’s going on.”
“You’ll have constant radio contact?”
“Of course.”
Wolf sighed, closing his eyes. “You’re going to go anyway, aren’t you?”
“Yep.”
“Then why ask?” His eyes opened, staring at him.
“Because that’s what friends do. They let each other know if they’re about to do some fucking stupid shit.” Bones grinned, and Wolf shook his head.
“Make sure, if the shit hits the fan, you don’t try and be a hero. Grab her, get out of there and hightail it back to base. Reaper will have you covered.”
“Copy that,” he replied, turning and walking off. Heading toward the labs, he whistled to himself. This was going to be a good day. He could feel it in his belly.
Opening the door of the labs, he walked in. Abigail was sitting on the stool, her body leaned toward the microscope. He leaned against the doorframe, watching her.
“It’s rude to stare, Bones.” She lifted her head, flicking her gaze to him for a second, before looking back to the scope. “Be with you in a minute.”
He shrugged, staying where he was. He didn’t mind admiring her figure. Her rounded bottom perched on the stool, her breasts against the bench…
She pushed herself back from the table, picking up samples and slides. She took them back to the refrigerator. Putting them away, she took off her gloves and apron. “So?”
“Wolf is fine with it.”
The grin which spread across her features had his stomach in knots. The need to bend her over the bench growing with each passing second. “Great! Let me get my kit and some gear.”
She rushed around the room, pulling out bits and pieces, shoving them into a little black bag, before grabbing a chemical suit off the rack behind her. The respirator was huge in her hands, and she turned. “Okay, let’s go.”
He chuckled as he turned, letting her follow him out to the Humvee. They climbed in, heading out of camp and toward the village, hoping they might be able to find out what was going on.
* * *
He was quiet, arms flexing as he drove, turning the huge wheel of the Humvee. Abigail pursed her lips, turning her head to the scenery. She could feel the tension between them. It wasn’t angry, or hostile… it was crackling with sexual tension.
The thought to lean over and blow him while he drove came to her mind, making her body flush. She squeezed her legs together, trying to stop the feelings. It didn't work, amplifying them, and she moved, trying to get comfortable.
“Are you okay?”
She turned to him, her eyes wide. His gaze went from her body to her eyes, and she nodded. “Uh, yes. These seats aren’t very comfortable.”
Liar, he makes you wet.
He chuckled, sending another wave of wetness to her crotch. “Yes, that they aren’t.”
She wanted to talk to him, listen to his voice. “I had a chat with Bastian last night.”
His smile faded, and she licked her lips, wondering if she was going to get in trouble. “Oh yeah? About what?”
“About you guys. How you met, what your real names were.”
He turned his head to her. “And are you surprised?”
“No, well, sort of. I didn’t pick you as a Braedon.”
“No? And what did you pick me as?” He chuckled, sending spikes of longing into her stomach again.
“A Harley, or even Axel.”
“Uh, okay.” He chuckled again. “I’m definitely not one of those. I’ve met a few, and they’re dicks.”
It was her turn to giggle, and she lifted her legs, turning in her seat to watch him. “How did the team come about?”
“I thought you asked Apollo?”
“He only gave me a rough run-down. I mean, how did you decide to get into security? Why? Didn’t the military provide enough entertainment?”
His jaw clenched, and she thought he wasn’t going to answer the question.
“I don’t like taking orders. I’m a bit of a hard-case, and I like to be in control, in all aspects of my life. I didn’t like the idea I had to answer to someone, who answered to someone else,” he said, the lines of village huts coming up in the distance. “I wanted to be my own boss. Wolf decided he liked the idea of me being boss too and the rest followed.”
“And do you enjoy what you do? The people you meet?”
Bones smirked, his blue gaze meeting hers for a moment. “Are you asking if I like you?” Her face heated, and she turned her head away, licking her lips. “Yes, Doctor, I like you. Very much.”
Her stomach flipped a million times over. Body flooding with adrenaline and longing again. She turned her head, looking at the man, but he didn’t look at her. His eyebrows furrowed as they came to the village, the villagers peeking out from
the huts.
He drove past them, heading for the pit, and she knew their conversation would have to wait until later.
* * *
Bones looked at Abigail. She was looking at the pit of bodies. He knew what she wanted. “Are you serious?”
“What?”
“You’re going to go into it, aren’t you?”
“Yes.” She turned back to the Humvee, going to the rear, and he groaned. Walking up to her, she pulled out the full hazmat suit, and he grimaced. “I have to get a tissue sample.”
“But there’s nothing there,” he replied, watching her don the suit. She looked like a giant minion. Especially when she put on the mask. The big shield surrounded by black. “You said you couldn’t get a sample.”
“But that was before we thought it might be manmade. There could be residual chemicals left in the soft tissues. Hook this up, will you?” She held out the hose, and he rolled his eyes, going to the back of her, and hooked it to the oxygen tank on her back. “Thanks.”
“I still think you’re crazy for wanting to go in there.”
“And I don’t care,” she said, picking up a small case. She stepped past him, wandering to the edge of the pit. Bones grabbed her arm, turning her.
“Hang on a second.” He went back to the car, grabbing a rope. He wrapped it around her waist, securing it. He wanted to tie it around her wrists, so he could fuck her until she couldn’t take it anymore, but that wouldn’t have been very professional. “In case they want to eat you. I can save you.”
“Thanks.” Abigail turned, stepping to the side of the pit, putting one foot over the edge. She slowly made her way down the slope.
Bones gripped the rope in his hands. The smell which emanated from the pit as she disturbed the dirt made him gag, but he held himself still. He was her lifeline. They didn’t know how deep the pit was or how many bodies there were. They could very well be looking at a quicksand type of situation.
“Oh, it stinks.”
He chuckled, turning his head away as her foot went through one of the corpses.
“Oops… Sorry.”
His stomach jumped into his mouth with the sound of squelching flesh, and he closed his eyes, letting the rope slide between his hands. The angle of the rope changed, and Bones turned his head, watching as she crouched down over one of the bodies.
“This one isn’t as decomposed.”
“That’s nice.” He gagged as she reached out, turning the corpse’s head to the side. Her hands were moving along the skin, and a scalpel materialized from the pouch at her side. “What are you doing?”
“Taking a sample.”
“And you can’t pull a little bit off?”
“Ewww. No,” she replied, taking the small sample and putting it into a test tube. She put the tube in her little pouch and leaned forward.
“Uh, honey, kissing him isn’t going to wake him up.”
“Shush, Bones.” She giggled, and her hand went to the man’s face, turning it. She leaned closer. “There’s a puncture mark in his neck.”
“What?”
She stood and moved, going to another corpse.
“And this one. And that one.” Turning back to him, all he could see was himself reflected in the front of her helmet. “They all have puncture marks on their necks.”
“Okay, out of there before—”
The rat-at-tat-tat of gunfire had Bones snapping his head to the side, trying to see where it was coming from. He looked down to the doctor; she had frozen in place with the sound. The sound happened again, and he started to pull on the rope. “Abigail, move that ass!”
The woman scrambled, her feet slipping on the corpses as Bones pulled on the rope, hauling her up the side of the pit. He could hear screams and more gunfire behind them, and his adrenaline kicked into overdrive.
“Come on!”
He gripped her hand as she came to the top of the pit and lifted her up onto the side. Gripping her helmet, he pulled it off, meeting her bright eyes, full of fright.
“What’s going on?”
Bones grabbed the rope and undid it before gripping her suit. Ignoring the stench, he ripped it open. She stepped to the side, kicking it off, leaving it discarded in the dirt. “Militia.”
“Crap,” she said, head snapping around, trying to find them.
“Come on, we have to go!” He grabbed her hand, pulling her toward the Humvee.
“The samples!” She let go of his hand, scrambling back to the pouch attached to the suit, and grabbed it. Bones was already at the vehicle, starting the engine. She launched herself into the passenger seat. They scrambled for their belts, clicking them into place.
“It’s going to be a bumpy ride. Hold on!” Slamming the car into gear, he put his foot on the accelerator and the Humvee lurched forward. Spitting dust and stones behind them, he gassed it toward base. Missing the fleeing villagers.
“Bones!” He turned his head, looking past Abigail. Three jeeps were closing in on their right, and he swore.
“Shit!” Lifting his hand to his throat mic, he called base. “Wolf? Wolf! We’re coming in hot.”
The crackle of the radio had him swearing again. “Shit, shit, shit!”
Abigail squealed as bullets slammed into the exterior of the Humvee. He grabbed her head, shoving it down against his thigh. “Stay down!”
Her fingernails dug into his leg as she kept her head down. Another spray of bullets and he put his hand to his throat again, calling base.
“Wolf! Wolf, god-damnit! We’re under fire!”
This time there was a faint reply. “Bones? Bones!”
“Three militia jeeps with automatic fire are following us. Get Reaper on that fucking turret!”
Static again and he hoped they’d heard him. Grimacing, he smoothed his hand over Abigail’s hair as she cowered against him. He had to do something.
“Abigail? Honey, I need your help.” She lifted her head, staring up at him with frightened eyes. “Can you drive a stick?”
She nodded, lifting herself.
“Okay, I need you to take over and gun it for the base. Reaper will provide cover, but not until we get close enough.” Bones grimaced, unbuckling his belt as she did the same. She stared at him, and he gripped her hand, dragging her to him as another spray of bullets hit the side of the vehicle. She squealed again, hiding her head against his shoulder, and he cooed at her. “It’s okay, it’s bulletproof. We’re fine…”
He gripped her hip, guiding her to his lap. He had to ignore the softness of her ass brushing against his cock as she moved. Her feet went to the pedals, taking over his huge boots and he gripped her hips again, moving to the side.
The car slowed for a moment while they changed seats. As soon as Abigail had a grip on the wheel and her feet on the pedals, she dumped it back a gear, and the car lurched forward.
Bones turned, gripping two bulletproof vests and helmets from the back seat. With quick movements, he put one helmet on her head, buckling it under her chin. “Arms.”
The vest slid over her arms and around her back. His huge fingers did up the front, ignoring the brush of them against her breasts.
He ripped off his own jacket, placing the vest on over his shirt. His bare arms provided better movement, and he shoved the helmet down on his head, strapping it up. Hooking his mic up to his helmet, he looked over to Abigail, seeing the fright in her eyes. She blinked as he turned. “What are you going to do?”
He smiled, trying to ease her fears, pushing open the hatch in the top of the Humvee. “I’m going to play with Betty.”
Lifting himself up, he pulled himself up behind the .50 caliber gun.
Gripping its handles, he swung it to the right, aiming at the lead jeep. Holding down the trigger, he released round after round of bullets.
The jeep veered to the right before it flipped, sending its occupants flying.
One down. Two to go.
Aiming back a little to the second one, he fired again. This time he mi
ssed. The ground breaking open in plumes of dust. Bones aimed a little farther back, pressing the trigger again. It hit this time, spraying up the side of the car and it too veered to the right but didn’t flip. The driver leaning over the wheel, brains exploded over the other occupants.
“Bones! Turret!”
Wolf’s voice came loud in his ear, and he dropped back into the cab. Putting on his seatbelt, he slammed down the hatch as he heard the booming of the turret. He’d never been so excited to hear the big gun, and he looked over at Abigail, grinning.
A jeep came from the left side, slamming into the door. Abigail screamed, her hands wrenching from the wheel. Bones grabbed it, trying to keep the huge vehicle steady as the jeep rammed them. “Keep your foot down!”
Guiding the car to the base, the turret fire sporadic, he clenched his teeth, the jeep still attacking.
Reaper would be swearing like a trooper. Queenie by his side, feeding the monster gun as they tried not to hit the incoming Humvee.
The gates of the base loomed, and they would have to ram it.
“Keep it flat, honey,” he growled. “Brace for impact.”
The Humvee hit the gates as the jeep slammed into it again and Abigail’s foot jumped off the pedal. Bones grunted, the wheel turning in his hands with force and he threw his arms over her head as it rolled.
* * *
His scent.
It was all Abigail could smell as he threw his arms over her, shielding her. Glass rained down on them as the windscreen imploded with force and the car flipped. “Ahh!”
She curled her knees up, her back jarring and she felt the belt snap.
Thrown against the roof of the Humvee as it landed upside down on the dirt, her shoulder jarred. White-hot pain lanced through her.
Groaning, she rolled to her side, curling her arms around her legs, as she looked up, trying to see where Bones was.
He was hanging, his seatbelt hadn’t snapped.
His arms were above his head, face going red as the blood succumbed to gravity. There was a thin line of blood starting to ooze from his forehead.
