by Diana Duncan
She sighed. “Yes, Master.”
“Much better.” He grinned as she took a swig. “I like my women naked and obedient.”
She choked, coughed and sputtered water. “Funny, that’s how I prefer my men.”
He chuckled. “I’m yours to command, sweetheart.”
She again passed the bottle. “Don’t make promises you’re not up to keeping.”
Cool, refreshing water slid down his dry throat. “I’m more than up for it,” he muttered under his breath.
Her eyes widened. “Hungry? For food,” she hastily added. “I have Cracker Jack. Thanks to the foil pouch, they’re not even soggy.” She tore open a red-and-white box.
He set aside the water bottle and tried to figure out how to eat one-handed. Since they had to share, dumping the snack into his mouth from the pouch seemed a little crass.
“Allow me, Master.” She giggled, and fed him the crunchy, candy-coated popcorn and peanuts.
In the quiet, isolated cavern, the outside world ceased to exist. He quickly grew accustomed to the mineral smell, and the heated water lapped sensually against his weary muscles. As they lay cocooned in warm steam, talking quietly and sharing the makeshift meal, the threats and stress of the past hours faded.
She opened a tiny envelope. “Wonder what we got for the prize?” A miniature plastic monkey tumbled onto her palm, and she smiled. “How cute! I have a fondness for monkeys.”
He arched a brow. “Too many Tarzan movies?”
“No.” She chuckled. “When I was young, I was enamored with Curious George.”
“Easy to understand. You and George are kindred spirits.” He grinned at her. “Babar the Elephant books were my favorites.”
“The elephant who grew up to be king of the jungle.” Her answering grin brimmed with mischief. “I get your fascination with him, too.”
“I liked him because he always found a silver lining in every cloud.” A lot like Zoe. “I got a stuffed elephant for my sixth birthday that I named Babar.”
Her finger gently traced the monkey’s plastic grin. “When I was six, I wanted a Curious George doll so badly. Mom couldn’t afford the official version, but she found one of those so-ugly-they’re-cute sock monkeys at a rummage sale. George slept with me every night to keep away the loneliness.” She glanced at him from under her lashes. “That probably seems silly to you.”
“Not at all. I kept Babar until I started fifth grade. I made a big show of tossing him in the trash, but I suspect Mom has him stashed in the attic with our baby clothes and other sentimental stuff. Do you still have George?”
“No.” Her voice grew quiet as she set the plastic trinket on a rock beside them. Too quiet. “We had to run on a moment’s notice. He…got left behind.”
He covered her hand with his. “I didn’t mean to stir up another bad memory.”
“It’s stupid to get upset about such a minor thing after all these years.” Her nonchalant shrug belied the haunted longing in her words, the sorrow pooling in her eyes. “It was just a toy.”
Were all her childhood memories painful? He sternly cleared the thickness from his throat. Cops did not cry. “You’re not a helpless little girl, Zoe. You don’t have to be afraid.” He wrapped his arm around her waist, hugged her. “And you’re not alone anymore.”
“You’re quite a guy, SWAT.” She swiped at her cheeks. “Thank you for not judging or condemning me because of my past.”
He massaged the back of her neck. “The past is over. Dead and buried. I know that all too well.”
“Now is all we ever really have.” She gave him a wobbly smile. “I’m a pro at living in the moment.”
She would be. For too many years, that’s all she’d known. Her past was a menacing shadow. Her future uncertain. He studied her guileless, heart-shaped face, inches from his. Did she ever dare plan the future? Did any of those thoughts include him?
Their gazes met and held. The firelight reflected dancing golden lights in her beautiful, expressive eyes. Her feminine scent mingled with the rich smell of caramel, tantalizing his senses. Water droplets sparkled on her delicate throat and slim shoulders. He ached to lean forward and sweep his tongue over her damp, creamy skin. To kiss every lovely inch. To devour her.
As if she’d read his mind, her pupils dilated, and the pulse at her throat throbbed faster. “Last bite.” She sounded breathless again. She fed him, and his tongue swirled the sugary crumbs from her skin. She gasped as he drew her finger into his mouth and laved the tip.
Cradling her hand in his, he lavished attention on each finger in turn. “You taste sweeter than the candy.”
She trembled in his grasp. “Oh, my. What talented lips you have, Mr. Wolf.”
He savored her palm. Lingered over the rapid pulse at her wrist. Nibbled the baby-fine skin of her inner arm to the bend of her elbow. “All the better to eat you up,” he growled.
“Are you going to devour me?” she whispered.
He slowly kissed up her inner arm to her shoulder, and then nibbled her neck. “Do you want me to?”
She moaned. “Very much.”
He nuzzled her throat. Slammed with the primitive desire to make her his, he suckled her damp skin, drinking in her essence. He gently kneaded her breast, and her nipple puckered in his palm. He teased it between his thumb and forefinger, and she moaned again and rubbed her other breast against his arm.
His head spinning, Aidan slid his hand through the bubbles fizzing over her belly. He hesitated before cupping her downy curls. He’d better be less clumsy at hitting the target here than he was at firing a weapon left-handed. His fingertip glided over her small, delicate nub, and she gasped, jerked back.
He froze, concern churning in his gut. “Did I hurt you?”
“No,” she breathed. “I—I didn’t expect it to feel so…intense.”
Her awed denial drenched him in ice water. What the hell was he doing? His libido was running amok with no interference from his common sense. He withdrew his hand and softly kissed her mouth. “We have to stop.”
Her eyes darkened in distress. “Did I do something wrong?”
“Not at all.” But I did. He could kick his own ass. He had no business pushing her so far, so fast.
She worried her lower lip with even, white teeth. “You’re not enjoying yourself?”
“Too much.” He laughed raggedly. “We’re moving way too fast.”
“It’s just kissing. Just touching.”
His little innocent had no clue how soon he would have lifted her on top of him and thrust into her. “We’re naked. Isolated. There’s nothing to stop us from going too far.” He scrubbed his hand over his face and battled back overwhelming desire. Get a grip, man. “And we have no protection.”
She frowned. “Who says we’d go too far?”
Cold fear iced his veins at how close he’d come to aggressively shattering her innocence. “You’re so tempting. You feel so good in my arms.” He touched the small mark of possession branding her throat. He wasn’t normally a barbarian in the bedroom. He’d never even left a whisker burn on a lover. “I might get carried away without meaning to.”
Her arms slid around his neck and she pressed close, rocketing his pulse into triple-time. “This might be our only chance to be together. Let’s live in the moment.”
“Sweetheart.” He brushed tousled curls off her forehead. “I can’t risk it. I can’t risk you.”
“Everything always gets snatched away.” Her voice quavered, and his chest tightened. She sucked in a ragged breath. “This is consensual. Why is it a problem?”
“I will not make love to you for the first time under extreme circumstances.” He inhaled slowly. Exhaled. It was tough to reason with no blood circulating in his brain. “Plus, I’m not entirely in control and I don’t want to hurt you. And I won’t do something you might regret when you’re thinking more clearly.”
“You would never hurt me. I trust you.”
Her faith floored and humble
d him. Too bad he didn’t trust himself. “I can’t take a chance with you, sweetheart.”
Her lips trembled, and she pressed them together. “All right. I didn’t mean to force myself on you.” She turned her face away. Her body quivered, and she swallowed hard.
His heart shattered. “Please don’t cry.”
“I’m not crying.” Clearly, she was. “I’m fine.” Obviously, she wasn’t.
He struggled to alleviate her distress. Talk about a situation going FUBAR—and fast. “Zoe, it’s not you.”
“It’s okay, Aidan. Really.” Keeping her back to him, she clambered out of the pool. “I know I’m not in your league.”
Still facing away, she stood between him and the fire and wrapped her arms defensively around her middle. Gleaming with moisture, her petite body trembled in the firelight. Water droplets trailed from her slender shoulders down her spine and nestled in the small of her back. He groaned under his breath. He’d always loved the small of a woman’s back, where it curved into her buttocks. So delicate. So vulnerable. You didn’t turn your back on someone unless you trusted them fully.
He surged to his feet, strode to her and pressed full length against her. “Can you feel how much I want you?”
“Y-yes.”
“Believe it. I’ve never wanted anyone more.” But he wouldn’t betray her trust. He had to protect her, at all costs. Even from himself. He dropped a kiss on her shoulder, and she quivered. “No, you’re not my usual type. You’re special. Unique. I’ve never met anyone like you. After this is all over, I want to keep seeing you. You are too important to me to screw this up by doing something rash and irresponsible. Do you understand?”
She sniffled, laughed shakily. “Sort of.” She hesitated. “We’re so different. I’m not sure I’ll ever totally understand you. I’m all about seizing the moment before it disappears forever, while you’re big on planning ahead. But I respect your decision.”
Yeah, they were different. It didn’t mean they couldn’t connect, did it? Holy crap. He might have already screwed things up. He was damned if he did, and damned if he didn’t. “Living in the moment is great. Living dangerously is foolish.”
She turned in his arms. Warm, wet skin pressed to warm, wet skin. Her nipples grazed his pecs, her soft belly cradled his arousal. He gritted his teeth. He’d damn well better qualify for sainthood after this. Her long, dark lashes were dewed, her beautiful eyes heartbreakingly sad. “Nobody has ever wanted me before. It was wonderful while it lasted.”
Oh, hell. He lowered himself to the canvas tarp, tugging her down to sit on his lap, facing him. It brought them into extremely intimate contact. He cupped her bottom, and her satiny stomach rubbed against his sensitized flesh, making him groan with pleasure. “I want you every minute we’re together. So much, I’m crazy with it.” He captured her mouth and kissed her, his tongue thrusting in rhythm with his hips.
She purred deep in her throat and leaned into the kiss. With his good arm around her, he couldn’t balance and she toppled them onto the tarp. Gasping, she lifted her mouth from his. “Did I bump your arm?”
There wasn’t enough pain in the universe to squelch his desire for her. “No.” He claimed her mouth again.
Her fingers threaded into his hair, and she cradled his face as if he were her most cherished possession. Their breaths mingled. Her hot, silky tongue mated with his. “Aidan. My cop. I want you so much,” she murmured against his lips. “I need you more than I’ve ever needed anything.”
She sparkled with life. Filled him with hope. She smelled like caramel and warm, willing woman.
She tasted like his radiant, shimmering future.
And he lost his mind.
He ached to give her what she wanted, needed. But he would not hurt her. Refused to gamble with her future. He slid his knee high between hers and flexed his thigh against her soft, moist center. She moaned into his mouth and arched into him.
He’d never had a woman respond with such fervor. Zoe was a lit firecracker, all bright sizzle and hot sparks, and he reveled in her glow. Her questing hands and eager mouth explored, tasted. She stroked and tickled and licked and kissed. Her rapid, heated breaths rasped erotically in his ear.
Exhilarated by the electric storm, he increased the pace. Slick, damp skin glided sensually over slick, damp skin. “You feel so good, sweetheart.”
“Mmm. So do you.” She wriggled against him. “And you smell delicious.” She rained kisses on his face. I love the way you kiss me. The way you touch me.”
Until now, his lovers had been quiet and restrained. But Zoe sighed when he kissed her, moaned when he caressed her and purred when he stroked her. She whispered secret thoughts and intimate feelings in his ear, and he loved it. Her husky voice, her breathless praise was fiercely arousing. What she lacked in experience, she more than made up for with passionate enthusiasm. It was like being ridden by a sensual tornado. He wasn’t even inside her, and he had never been more turned on. Never been more aware of, more in tune with his partner, both physically and emotionally. Her pebbled nipples teased his chest, and he groaned. “I’ve never been this hot.”
“Me…either.” She rocked against him, quivering in his embrace. Her spine arched, her body drew taut. “I think…oh!”
He slid his tongue into her ear. He breathed in, washing her with cool air, and then out, following with warmth. “That’s it, honey. Go over for me.”
She shuddered, a tight bowstring vibrating on the edge of release. “Yes, Aidan,” she panted. “If you will…for me.”
Planning on satisfying only her, he clung to his slipping control as the fiery friction of their bodies hurtled him towards ecstasy. He clenched his jaw as his climax gathered, hovered on the brink. He was rapidly approaching the breaking point. Zoe was about to push him over the edge of the world. And he didn’t care. “Now!” he growled. “Now, Zoe!”
Shaking uncontrollably, she cried out his name. Her teeth nipped his shoulder, and hot, sparkling pleasure exploded inside him, poured out of him. He let go and fell willingly, joyfully into the void.
Love surged up to meet him. It buoyed him, filled the emptiness, surrounded him in warmth and light. He held Zoe tight and gloried in the head rush.
She went limp on top of him, and he rubbed her back as their breathing slowed. She lived inside his heart now, and he would never let her go. “All right, sweetheart?”
“Mmm. You are amazing.” She sighed and raised up to look at him. Her eyes glowed with happiness, her cheeks were rosy pink, her shapely, red lips lush from his kisses. “New research topic. How many ways can we do this without actually doing it?”
Deep, heart-felt laughter rumbled out of him. His Brenda Starr was one in a billion. He was the luckiest man alive. “I can’t wait to help advance your research.” He trailed a fingertip down her pert nose. “Right now, we need to rest. Morning is close.” And a guy could only push his tattered self-control so far.
“Rats.” She snuggled into him, planting kisses over his chest. “I suppose you’re right.” Suddenly, she gasped, and her horrified gaze met his. “Oh no!”
His stomach lurched. Even consumed by passion, he’d struggled to ensure she was protected, that he didn’t go too far. He did a fast, mental scan. Nothing seemed out of place, but then again, he had abandoned all self-restraint at the end. “What’s wrong?”
“Here.” She gently touched his good shoulder and gulped, perilously close to tears once more. “I’m so sorry.”
He glanced down at the faint, even teeth marks, and chuckled. “You didn’t even break the skin.”
“But it’s…I’m…I’m not that uncivilized.”
Yeah, in bed, she was a wildcat. And he loved it. Before Zoe, sex had been as tame and bland as the rest of his life. Merely scratching an itch. He hadn’t known what he was missing. “That sexy little nip hurtled me into Paradise.” He stroked her tousled curls. “You are exactly what I want. Exactly what I need.”
Her breath caught. “Y
ou mean that?”
“Every word.”
After rinsing off in the warm pool, they snuggled on the tarp. Aidan put her nearest the fire, spooning her from behind. Listening to her slow, even breaths, he fell asleep.
In his dreams, the night whirled with cold terror. He heard rapid-fire gunshots. Saw Zoe’s sightless death stare.
“Zoe!” Shouting her name, Aidan startled awake from the familiar, horrifying nightmare.
She turned in his arms and opened sleepy hazel eyes, smudged with concern. “Shh. It’s okay. I’m right here.”
He remembered the soul-deep agony of losing Pop. The bleak, empty hole in his heart that wouldn’t heal. The icy pain that never quite disappeared. Sweating, trembling, he gathered Zoe close and kissed her forehead. Her warmth surrounded him. Her inner light shone behind her mesmerizing hazel eyes and banished the aching emptiness. She was his. He would not let anyone or anything take her from him.
“Aidan?” She stroked his cheek. “Are you all right?”
“Yeah.” He glanced at his watch. The sun would be up. Dawn brought hopes for rescue.
As they rose and prepared to leave the cave, he prayed harder than he ever had in his life.
Chapter 14
6:00 a.m.
Zoe had slept less than two hours, but vitality sparkled inside her as she followed Aidan through the narrow rock passage. They didn’t even need the flare he used to light their way—she glowed from the inside out.
Physically and emotionally bonding with Aidan had given her the connection she’d craved all her life. She mentally hugged his words to her heart. He’d said she was unique. Very important to him. He wanted to continue their relationship! Aidan was a man of his word. He didn’t offer his loyalty easily or lightly. Once given, nothing short of death would make him rescind it.
For the first time ever, she had a future to anticipate. For the first time ever, she was genuinely happy.
For the first time ever, she belonged.
She fit with Aidan, as she had never fit with anyone. Many torturous paths over long, lonely years had led her to the one man who would safely hold her heart in his hands. All this time, she’d searched for a home. Home wasn’t a place, but a person.
