by Anna Hackett
Dani’s brow furrowed. “Is that…?” A smile broke out on her face and she pushed ahead of him at a jog.
Cal followed, and as they rounded the bend, he saw a pretty little waterfall tumbling over some rocks. It wasn’t very high, maybe as tall as he was, but it was glorious fresh water.
The huge smile on Dani’s face made him feel like a hero. She glanced up at him. “Is it safe enough to wash?”
The river wasn’t very deep, and after a quick look around, he nodded. “Go for it.”
She gave a long groan. “I can’t wait to get clean.” She set her camera down and then pulled her tank over her head, leaving her in a simple, black bra.
Cal cleared his throat. “Go wash. I’ll do a quick sweep of the perimeter.” No one was getting close to Dani.
She grinned at him over her bare shoulder. “Thank you.”
With a nod, he headed back into the trees. He was not going to think about her stripping those clothes off. Of her in the water naked, water slicking over her smooth skin.
“Fuck.” His cock went hard.
He huffed out a breath. She’d had a rough night. He wasn’t going to take advantage of her. Once they were out of here, though…well, then all bets were off. But right now, he was going to pull himself together and not be an asshole.
Cal forced himself to walk the perimeter. He saw no signs that anyone was near them. No sounds, no distant voices. They’d put some distance between them and Silk Road, enough that they could rest a little, but he wouldn’t be completely happy until he had Dani out of the jungle.
He found a spot, hidden by denser vegetation, on slightly higher ground. He spread out the blanket and set his backpack down. It was the safest spot.
Dani should’ve had enough time to wash and get clean by now. He headed back toward the waterfall. He stepped out of the trees and froze.
The air lodged in his chest and his blood started pounding. A raw, primal beat.
She was completely naked under the water, her face lifted up to the spray. She’d washed her clothes, and they were neatly laid out on a rock nearby.
But Cal couldn’t drag his eyes away from her.
She was long, with gentle curves and slim, toned legs. Her hair was slick—a mass of dark, wet curls down her back.
Need slammed into him. He couldn’t ever remember wanting with an urgency and a hunger like this.
***
Dani washed away the horror and tiredness of the night.
The cool water felt wonderful on her skin, slicking away the dirt, mud, and blood. She lost track of how long she’d stood there, the water pounding over her head.
Then she felt two strong arms wrap around her from behind, and she gasped.
She didn’t have time to be afraid. She recognized him in an instant—his lean, dependable strength, and the warm scent of him.
His lips pressed against the side of her neck and she arched back into him. In a second, her body went from cool to molten. Desire flared like a spark hitting gasoline.
She spun and pressed her mouth to his. She heard a greedy, feral sound and realized it had come from her. She’d spent so long being afraid of her desire and now, it seemed this man had thrown the floodgates wide open.
He kissed her hard, his tongue sliding into her mouth to tease and taste. Her hands dug into his shoulders, kneading the hard muscles. She felt ridges under her fingertips—scars, she realized. Later she promised to take the time to explore them.
But right now she needed more. So much more. She felt reckless, out-of-control and she loved it. His kiss took on a hard, savage edge.
Then he tore his mouth from hers, setting her back a bit.
She glanced up, seeing the desire on his face, and the visible control he was exerting.
His hands fisted. “Dani. You’ve had a rough night. You’ve been shot—”
“Grazed.”
He raised a brow. “Oh, so now it’s a graze?” He shook his head and blew out a breath. “Your defenses are down, Dani. I won’t take advantage of you.”
She watched him back up a step. She spotted his gun resting on a rock nearby and he’d taken his shirt off—holy hell, that chest of his was biteable—but had left his trousers on. His cock was a hard, thick outline against the dark fabric.
He took another step back and her chest tightened. Callum Ward, the man who’d told her he was all about a hot, temporary good time was acting unbelievably thoughtful and noble. She felt his need throbbing off him.
She stepped up to him and stopped, only an inch between them. “Cal, I’m fine.”
He shook his head.
“I’m alive. Thanks to you. We made it out of there alive, and I’m damn happy about that.” She reached up and cupped her breasts.
His hot gaze zeroed in there. Torment lined his face. “God, you are so beautiful. Long and lean, those pretty breasts topped by those pretty pink nipples.”
Heat pooled between her legs. “You promised me naughty, dirty things.”
He shuddered. “I don’t take advantage…I don’t want you to hate me after.”
Like that could ever happen. Dani was always honest with herself. “Shut up, Cal.”
She wasn’t sure who reached first, but the next thing she knew, they were both grabbing each other.
His mouth found hers. The wild, savage kiss stole her breath and made her pulse leap. His hands ran up her sides
“So smooth.” His voice was gravelly, husky. He cupped her breasts, his fingers flicking across her nipples.
Dani gripped him, scraping her nails up his chest and across his broad shoulders. He spun them both, and the water poured over them. He bent her back, his mouth latching onto her nipple. She cried out, the sound swallowed by the water, and sank her hands into his hair.
As he moved to the other breast, she reached down blindly, yanking at the buttons on his trousers.
He groaned against her skin. “I feel like I’ve wanted you forever.”
“Me too.”
He looked up, smiling. “Since you were rude to me at Angkor.”
“So cocky.”
He thrust his hips forward. “Absolutely.”
She laughed and he started backing her up. When her back hit warm rock, she leaned forward and pressed her lips to his chest. She rained kisses across the skin, still tugging at his waistband. Finally, she got his trousers open. Cal kicked free of them and his boxers, nabbed the garments, and tossed them onto the riverbank.
A second later, Dani cupped his cock in her hands.
“Hell.” He grabbed her and pressed her against the rock. She made a small needy sound in her throat and he kissed her again. They grabbed at each other with greedy hands. Cal’s hand slipped between her thighs and she arched into him.
“So soft, beautiful, and so very wet.”
“Yes, just there,” she panted. “Don’t stop, Cal.”
“You like that?” He dragged his fingers across her flesh, before sinking one thick finger inside her. He moved his thumb in a slippery circle, centering his caress on her clit.
She jerked against him. “Yes.”
He kept working her, and her body trembled, one big mass of need.
Then he pulled his hand away.
She gasped. “No—”
His hands slid beneath her ass and he boosted her up. She wrapped her legs around his lean hips, and when his cock brushed against her, they both groaned. He moved his hips and she felt the thick head of his cock lodge between her lips.
Then he stilled, his muscles straining under her hands. “Shit…I don’t have a condom.”
“I’m healthy,” she panted. “And I have a contraceptive implant.”
He grabbed her thighs, pushing them wide. “I’m clean. And I haven’t had unprotected sex since…hell, I never have.”
She licked her lips and saw the hot, possessive flare in his eyes. “I want you inside me.”
With one hard thrust, he lodged himself inside her.
***
Yeah, it felt good. Sensation crashed over Cal, along with Dani’s half sobs. He held himself deep inside her, memorizing the feel of her and fighting off the wicked, edgy need to mate. She was so hot and tight around him. Want clawed at his gut.
Her nails bit into his shoulders. “Move, damn you.”
Her words snapped his control, setting his savage need free. He pulled out, then slammed back inside her. With hard thrusts, he drove himself inside her. She made a guttural sound, and Cal grabbed her hands, threading their fingers together and pinned them above her head.
As his hips pistoned, his vision narrowed to just her face. The glint of her different colored eyes, the angles of her face and those full lips. It was a face that shouldn’t have been so beautiful, but to him, it felt like his everything.
Cal felt her body shuddering and knew she was getting close. He kept moving thickly inside her, shocked at this craving he had for her. For him, sex had always been a quick, easy ride, not this all-consuming passion.
“I’m going to come,” she cried.
Flesh slapped against flesh. “Come, Dani. But you have to be quiet, baby. One day, I’ll make you scream my name as loud as you can…but for now, kiss me and come on my cock.”
She looked up, shocked pleasure crossing her face. Her eyelids fluttered closed as her release crashed over her. Her hips surged forward, her mouth met his and Cal swallowed her scream.
A second later, he slammed inside her and held himself there, stretching her wide. He groaned as he came inside her.
They stayed there, just his weight holding them against the rock. Hell, Cal wasn’t sure he could move, but he was more than happy to stay like this, pressed against Dani’s slim body. He turned his head, burying his face in her hair.
She moved and her inner muscles gripped him.
He gave a tortured groan. “No more, woman, you’ve wrecked me.”
She turned her face against his cheek and smiled. “Is that a complaint?”
“Hell, no. I plan to do a lot more to you, and let you wreck me some more.” With another groan, he pulled away from the wall, carrying her against him.
He snatched up his SIG and their clothes, and made it back to the riverbank. He carried her to the safer spot he’d found earlier. He knelt and laid her on the blanket. Now there was a pretty sight. He’d had those long, slender legs clamped around his hips mere moments ago, and damned if he didn’t want them there again. He planted one knee between her legs and leaned over her.
“I could look at you all day.”
She shifted, her smile lazy and satisfied. “You’re only going to look?”
“Well…I am thinking of making love to you again.” He leaned down and pressed a kiss to her belly. She quivered under his lips. “It was pretty damned great the first time.”
“It was.” Her hands slid into his hair.
He kissed her all over, trailing kisses over her breasts. He paused to press a kiss at the graze on her arm.
“Scared the hell out of me when I saw you get shot,” he said again.
She shifted her hands to cup his cheeks, her eyes turning serious. “I’m fine. Lucky for me, you’re very good at your job.”
He pulled in a deep breath. “I try my damnedest. People’s lives depend on it.” He felt the ripple of old pain. “I’ve failed before.”
She forced his gaze back to hers. “No one’s perfect, Cal. And believe me, what you do…I don’t know anyone who’d risk themselves to protect someone else. None of the people in my life would ever put someone else before themselves.” Her fingers stroked his cheeks. “You’re a hero.”
“Shut up.”
“Oh, you don’t like hearing you’re a hero?”
He moved down and nipped her belly. He grazed his teeth over her hip bone.
She arched up. “You’re trying to distract me.”
“Is it working?” He made a growling sound and nipped at her inner thigh. “Maybe I’ll have to find another way to keep you quiet. And unfortunately, we do need to be quiet. We’re hidden here, but I’m not taking any chances.”
When his mouth moved between her legs, and closed over her, her hips reared up and she cried out. “No, Cal.”
He gave her another lick. “You don’t like this?”
“I’ve never really enjoyed it. I don’t like feeling like I’m under a damn spotlight.” A flash of vulnerability crossed her face. “I’d prefer to have you in my mouth.”
Damn, the image of her lips stretched around his cock made his blood pound. But he knew what was going on. His beautiful lover didn’t like giving up control. He kissed her thigh again. “Baby, I am so going to give you the chance. But right now, I want you to lie back and enjoy.”
She flopped back on the blanket, her body as stiff as a board.
“There’s no rush, we have all the time in the world.” He kept his voice low and lazy. “I could just sit here looking at you, right here in this private place where you’re all pink and wet and swollen from having me inside you.”
She writhed against the blanket.
“Just let go. Enjoy.” He pressed his mouth to her, with no intention of being gentle.
He sucked and licked at her, loving her taste. Again, her hands tangled in his hair, tugging hard.
“Too…much,” she panted, twisting beneath him.
Then he sealed his lips over her clit and sucked.
Dani’s body went taut and she made a restrained, incoherent sound. Cal’s cock was hard again, need biting into him. He lowered his body on top of hers and pushed her thighs out wide. When he slid his cock inside, it felt like coming home.
This time, his thrusts were slower. He didn’t feel that urgent rush like the first time. He took his time and when she peaked again, he was with her, groaning his release as she sank her teeth into his shoulder to muffle her cries.
Emptied out, feeling damn good, he dropped down beside her and pulled her into the curve of his body.
“Thank you,” she murmured.
He nuzzled the sensitive spot under her ear. “Beautiful, if I accept that, I’d be an asshole, since I got just as much out of that as you did.” He kissed the side of her neck. “But, you know, if you’re in a giving mood, I have a few ideas.”
Her slap to his chest had a fair bit of sting to it.
Chapter Ten
Dani dozed, the warmth of the jungle and Cal’s hard body keeping her wrapped in a secure cocoon. Her body had several delicious aches and she didn’t even mind that Cal had spritzed them both with mosquito repellant.
She was conscious of the fact that Cal didn’t fall into a deep sleep, but was still somehow alert and aware. His gun lay just inches away. She turned to look at him. His face was more relaxed and had lost some of that rough edge, despite his sexy scruff.
His body was still hard and tough. As she took in the scars across his chest, her belly clenched. He’d been hurt before. She reached out and touched one thick ridge of scar across his belly. He’d fought for his country and been injured doing it.
She leaned down and peppered kisses across the scars. She really liked the way this man was built—hard muscles, bronze skin. He made a deep sound in his throat that said he was enjoying her exploration.
Dani pushed him onto his back and swung her leg over his hips, straddling him. She leaned down and kept kissing his chest, taking her time to lick his nipples.
When she raised her head, he was watching her, his blue eyes burning.
“Well, this is a much better way to wake up.” In one smooth move, he sat up, his hands clenching her butt.
She kissed him. It started out lazy, a sexy exploration, but desire ignited. He groaned, his tongue slipping into her mouth, and she kissed him back with all the hunger growing in her belly.
He tugged her hair back, attacking her throat. “God, Dani, you are so sexy.”
She felt his cock beneath her, hard and ready. She lifted her hips, gripped him and lined him up. Then s
he sank down.
He groaned. She rose and fell on him, slowly at first, working him in and out. God, he stretched her, filled her. She saw he was looking down, watching where they were joined and it made her muscles clench.
His strong fingers bit into her skin, urging her to move faster. Then he was slamming her down and Dani let her head drop back. As she came, a cry ripped from her throat and she jammed her fist against her mouth to stifle it.
“Dammit…Dani.” He pulled her down hard and held her there, emptying himself inside her.
She collapsed against his chest, her head on his shoulder, and tried to catch her breath. Her entire body was vibrating.
A hand stroked down her back. “Sorry I couldn’t give you that comfy bed. I’d like to be ordering you room service about now.” After another kiss, he set her back on the blanket and reached for his backpack.
Dani watched the interesting flex of muscles in his tight butt and thighs. Damn, the man should not wear clothes…ever. She pulled her camera closer, itching to take a shot of him. But she wouldn’t, not without his permission.
“I’d love a shot of you like this.”
He stiffened like he’d touched a live wire. “Naked?”
“Nude.” God, the discomfort on his face was cute. “Laid out on the blanket, a big, healthy male animal.” She could picture it clearly.
“I’m not posing for porn.”
“Porn!” She sniffed. “I am an artist. It wouldn’t be porn.” Her gaze ran over him. Oh yes, she could capture that bronze skin, the defined muscles and ridges. “It would only be for me.”
“Says every person who ever convinced someone to pose nude before they uploaded it to the Internet.”
“Chicken.” She vowed she would get that shot, one day.
He handed her another nutrition bar and grinned. “Well, you’re naked, too. I’ll let you take a nude shot of me, if I can do the same to you.”
Dani grabbed her now-clean panties and tank from the tangled pile of clothes. “No. I’m the photographer, not the subject.” She heard him chuckling and ignored him. Her trousers weren’t quite dry, so she’d left them on a branch. Cal, completely unconcerned about being naked, didn’t bother covering up. She wasn’t complaining. Plus, she liked the fact that he trusted her enough not to sneak a shot of him.
