Harlequin Intrigue June 2015 - Box Set 1 of 2: To Honor and To ProtectCorneredUntraceable

by Debra

  His fingers sneaked under the edge of her shirt, and his thumbs rubbed against her back. “I can’t seem to control what I feel for you, and I keep trying. I’m thinking about you when I shouldn’t be. What I see us doing together requires a bed and might result in traction. Possibly.”

  And just like that, any doubt still rumbling around her brain deflated and died. He wasn’t a criminal or scamming her. He wasn’t looking for a good time or boasting with his friends.

  She could see the truth in his eyes and hear it in his voice. Under all that rescuing and protecting, past that dimple and that face that made her sigh, was a good guy. Decent and willing to do the right thing no matter what.

  He cared about his team and would throw his body in front of hers without debate. She’d never known anyone like him. Growing up with her dad, she’d never understood that people like Cam existed. Not in her world.

  But now she knew they did.

  “I think we should break your rule.” Her fingers went to the back of his neck and brought his head closer to hers.

  “I don’t understand.” He whispered the words against her lips.

  “That’s because you have so many rules. Hard to keep track of them, I guess.”

  He smiled then. “Narrow it down for me.”

  “Maybe it’s time you had sex on the job.” Being bold wasn’t really her style, but with him she wanted to be honest and trust. To dive in.

  He pulled back, but not far. “Julia, are you sure?”

  “I’m attracted to you. You can tell that, right?” She brushed her lips over his chin and smiled at the way the scruff there tickled her lips. “It’s wild and out of control and I can’t think when I’m around you. That’s a bad thing when guns are going off and I need to run.”

  One hand slipped up her back. “That sounds familiar.”

  “So, maybe if we just burn this off—do it and then it’s over—that’ll help.” That was the least sexy thing she’d ever said, but she got the point across. Mutual attraction. Spontaneous and big.

  His eyebrow lifted. “It’s not going to burn off.”

  She had to agree with him there. She’d thrown in the phrase, thinking it would help make it make sense for both of them. She did not have a thing for sex and violence together and didn’t want him to think that. “I don’t think so, either, but we can try.”

  “I keep thinking about the word burn.”

  “Tomorrow something could happen and...” She nuzzled her cheek against his. “Well, I want a good memory.”

  Both of his hands found her shoulders, and his mouth went to her ear. “I’m not going to let anything happen to you.”

  His touch and scent, being this close and feeling so much a part of him, blocked everything else out. She forgot about the danger and men with guns. Ignored the horror she’d witnessed and the fear that still held her in its grasp.

  She pushed all that aside and focused on him. “Right now I want something to happen to me.”

  “This is not smart.” But his mouth traveled over her.

  He kissed her in that space behind her ear that made her shiver. “Agreed.”

  “Anyone could walk by.”

  Her fingers tunneled up under his pullover jacket, skimming over his firm muscles. “Now you’re reaching for excuses.”

  “You’re right.” Then his hands touched her cheeks and the rest of the world melted away.

  She tried to hold on to the thoughts bombarding her brain but couldn’t. Her body came alive with the sensations rocketing through her and around her. His kisses enticed her as his hands learned her curves. When he lifted her off her feet, she didn’t hesitate. Her legs wrapped around his hips and she held on tight.

  The room spun around her and a hit of warmth had her body tingling. He laid her down on the cot and climbed on top of her, balancing his weight on his elbows but never letting their mouths break contact.

  The bed rocked and creaked. His head shot up. “Think this will hold us?”

  “I don’t care.” She was too busy shoving his shirt and the one under that up his body and off.

  The material fell to the floor, forgotten. She took a minute to skim her fingertips over his collarbone. He was firm and fit. Everywhere she touched, the heat of his skin burned through her. The kiss dragged on and his hands wandered. She felt the tug at her waist and heard the zipper of her pants screech.

  She didn’t care about any of it. She wanted her clothes off and her body rubbing against his. As if she said the wish out loud, he broke off the kiss and sat up. The cot wobbled, but he balanced his weight as he stripped her shirt off and unclasped her bra. He had his hands on her breasts and his mouth traveling down her neck before she could find her breath.

  Then they went wild. Hands toured and legs shifted. She felt him kick off his shoes, and her hands went to his belt. The buckle clanked as she opened the buttons and slipped her hand inside. She held him, moving her hand over him.

  “Julia, yes.” He held her head as his mouth took hers.

  The kiss blinded her. Waves of heat crashed over her as the air rushed out of her lungs. Every nerve ending popped to life as she tried to remember every touch. But his expert hands and those long fingers took over. He caressed her. Slid her pants down and off, then covered her body with his again.

  She felt his erection press against her. The energy in the room had her buzzing as her heart hammered a frantic beat in her chest. She heard a rip and he pushed his body off her by an inch or two to reach down between them.

  Wanting the moment to last, she debated helping him roll the condom on. Thought about prolonging the intensity and need swirling around them. But she wanted this. Wanted him.

  She helped him shove down his pants and welcomed his hips as they fell between her thighs. Sensations bombarded her as she drew her hands over him and felt his body start to press against hers.

  His fingers touched her, making her ready for his entrance. The tips slipped over her in circles. Round and round until her hips swayed in time with his hand’s motion.

  “Julia, be sure.” His words came out in a rush between heavy breaths.

  She didn’t bother to answer with words. She lifted her hips and used her hands on his waist to guide him. Then he was inside her, filling her. Her inner muscles pulsed and her body hugged his. When he pushed in, then pulled out, she gasped. The sweet dizziness hit her as the friction of their bodies had everything inside her tightening.

  She felt primed and ready. Need spiraled inside her and the slide of his body over hers had her wrapping even closer around him. Heat mixed with desire, and every cell inside her sparked to life.

  As his rhythm picked up speed, her head fell back. She couldn’t get close enough or hold him tight enough. Her mouth opened on his neck. Her hips bucked and her muscles stiffened.

  Then her body let go. The pulsing and shaking continued as light washed through her. The tremors went on and she tried to count the minutes but couldn’t concentrate long enough to do it.

  When she finally opened her eyes again, her chest rose and fell on rapid breaths. She was about to say his name when the tension over his shoulders tightened. She could feel his body shift and hear the soft grunts as his warm breath blew across her neck. It took another few seconds for his weight to fall heavier against her and even longer until his muscles appeared to loosen and drop.

  “Wow.” He made the word last for three syllables.

  At least he could speak. She tried and a wheeze came out.

  “You okay?” he asked, sounding as though he was sure the answer would be no.

  “Understatement.” She wanted to hold him but couldn’t even move. Her muscles weighed a good hundred pounds each and her eyes started to close.

  He lifted his head. “That sounds good.”

  “I’m mostly amazed we didn’t break the cot. At one point it felt like it bent in half.” She looked around and saw the clothing scattered all over the floor.

  “We got lucky there.
” He lifted some of his weight off her as his body hovered over hers.

  “I’d tell you to remind me to thank Holt for the condom, but that seems weird. It might freak him out. I don’t want to do that, since I need to keep seeing him.” It sounded weird even mentioning it, but she was grateful.

  Cam laughed. “Yeah, even though we’re on the same team, we don’t share everything about our personal lives.”

  “That’s good to know.” She was just babbling now. She was willing to say anything to keep the closeness going.

  “I need to check the outside and you need to rest.”

  But it looked as if that wasn’t going to happen. The only good news was Cam seemed concerned about her feelings. She couldn’t really ask for more than that.

  “Is that your way of saying you have to get up?” she asked.

  “Didn’t want you to think I was getting up because of some anticommitment thing.” He skimmed his fingertips along her collarbone, then kissed the trail he made.

  Her vision blinked out. That was twice. She’d never had a man affect her the way he did. “You’re not?”

  “You mean running?”

  She barely knew what they were talking about anymore. “Yeah.”

  “Not with you.” He kissed her lips again, light and sweet. “I don’t want to go anywhere else.”

  Now, that was worth remembering.

  Chapter Ten

  The alarm went off on Cam’s watch at dawn, just as he stepped out onto the porch and into the chilly morning air. He wanted to head back to bed and wrap Julia in his arms, but work called. Literally.

  The message on the watch was clear. People roamed nearby. Holt sent coordinates and photos. He was the only guy Cam knew who could give a briefing via watch.

  He bolted for the door, ignoring the porch and its dangers. Opening the door, he caught Julia in the act of putting on her pants. She zipped, then froze.

  “What happened?” The concern was right there in her voice.

  “We need to move.” He didn’t have time to be more specific. He could fill in the details later. “Grab everything.”

  He went to work on the duffel bag, repacking the weapons Holt had provided and reaching for two more to carry on him. Now he had guns to go with his knives.

  As he loaded up on ammunition, she stared. After a few seconds she broke eye contact and then went to work. They moved in silence. When he looked up again, she stood there in jeans and a blue shirt, the darkest outfit he’d ever seen her wear. He guessed it matched her mood. It sure fit his.

  Her fingers clenched the strap of her backpack and he didn’t see any sign of abandoned clothes or food. She’d gathered everything in record time.

  “You’re quick.” He tried to make a joke, but it fell flat.

  All the amusement and satisfaction that had played on her face even a half hour ago faded away now. Her lips stayed in a flat line and tension pulled around the corners of her eyes. She looked ten seconds away from blowing apart, but she didn’t whine or complain.

  “I had a feeling we weren’t going to get to enjoy a lazy weekend morning today. Not after how the rest of our time together has gone. We think we’re in the clear, men come, we run, people get shot.”

  “Julia—”

  “A few die and then we start all over again,” she said as she adjusted the weight over her shoulder.

  “Someday soon this will be over. You’ll wake up and things will be normal. We can probably even work in a shower. Go out for breakfast. Be somewhat normal.” He didn’t even know why he said it.

  After this job he had to walk away and let her get back to her life. She had a job and friends. She didn’t move around and live in motels or worse. She’d probably never had anyone threaten her or aim a gun right at her until he came along.

  His life was nonstop action with short breaks of boredom. He liked keeping on the move. It suited who he was and how he was raised. Talking about mornings and lounging flew in the face of his reality. Even mentioning the options seemed unfair to her.

  But he wasn’t about to take it back. He knew it was wrong—he was wrong—but now that he’d given the promise he would make it happen, even if the calm only lasted one night. There was just something about her and the idea of lounging around with her and getting through the day without a surprise or telling a lie that intrigued him.

  She took two more steps and loomed right above him. “Now that we got that out of the way, are you ready to tell me what’s going on? The whole packing-up-the-weapons thing was a little unnerving. Is that normal for you?”

  “Yes.” That wasn’t really a lie. He checked the weapons every day as a security measure. Most days he also took them out and carried them to a job.

  “Okay, then maybe nothing is happening and I imagined it.” She sighed. “I’ve handled guns my whole life but usually on the range, not on my living room floor.”

  “No, you didn’t imagine it. Holt says someone is headed this way.” Cam stood up with the duffel bag in hand.

  “Is the person we’re worried about here Ray?”

  “Not sure, but we’re not waiting around to let him in for a chat.” Cam worked at keeping his voice even. He could feel the tension coming off of her in waves. There was no need to add to whatever anxiety pinged around in her since the name Ray had worked its way into the conversation.

  “There’s nowhere else to hide.”

  “We’ll be fine.” But just in case he took out one of the guns and handed it to her. “As a last resort only.”

  She checked the gun and kept it tight in her hand. “Not to sound bloodthirsty, but if someone comes near me who is not you or your team, I’m shooting.”

  He loved that about her. “That’s my girl.”

  He cut off conversation then. He needed her quiet and focused and hoped the finger over his lips telegraphed that. Since she followed without question, he wanted to believe he got the point across.

  They’d made it two steps when he heard the crack. He backed up to protect her and felt only air behind him. Spinning around, he watched her body drop as the rotten wood beneath her splintered. Her leg slid down and she let out a shocked cry.

  The urge to drop to his knees and lift her out almost overwhelmed him, but he had to be careful. Too much weight in one spot and they’d both be stuck hanging there.

  “Are you okay?” he asked, though he wasn’t convinced she was in a position to answer.

  Her eyes were glazed with shock. “I think so, but I honestly can’t feel much at the moment. I’m blaming that on surprise.”

  “Stay calm and very still.” He said it as much to himself as to her.

  Not that she was moving. She balanced there, half in a hole with one leg tucked beneath her and the other hanging out of sight. He spied her backpack and the strap where it had wrapped around her neck. He did slip to one knee then, careful not to put too much weight in one place.

  He kept up the steady stream of conversation, hoping to keep her calm. “We need to get you out of there.”

  “No kidding.” She tried to move her arm, but the strap had it pinned to her side.

  “Here.” With quick and efficient movements, he unwrapped the strap and lifted the bag from her shoulders. “Are you cut? Did it break the skin?”

  She already had a swollen ankle. Early this morning before she drifted off, he’d elevated it and packed it with ice before feeding her more painkillers. He’d thought it would help her walk, but now the injuries could be much worse.

  She shook her head. “I don’t feel any pain.”

  He wasn’t convinced that was a good thing. “Do you feel anything?”

  “Anxiety and mind-numbing fear.” She put her hands on either side of her hips and pushed up. The move had her wrist crashing through another piece of wood. “Now I feel a little pain.”

  “Stop.” He wanted to yell but kept his voice to a whisper. Holt and Shane might be close enough to create a diversion and lure whoever skulked around away, but m
ost likely not. Cam refused to take the risk.

  She just waited there, shaking her wrist. “That wasn’t my best move.”

  “You think?” He pulled the board away that trapped her hand. The old wood crunched and crackled under his palms.

  She yanked the arm out and rubbed her opposite hand up and down it. “Thanks.”

  They still had work to do. He glanced into the hole and saw the sharp edges of the broken planks digging into her leg. He knew she felt that. She covered the winces and didn’t whine, but that had to hurt.

  “Can you lift up at all?” He put his hands under her arms and tried to pull.

  She shook her head. “Don’t, stop. Okay, that will lead to slicing and cutting. I’m pretty sure.”

  He had to break more of the wood. Grab her before she slipped farther under the porch. “We can—”

  The voice stopped him. Faint and male but there. A steady chatter as if someone was answering questions. Cam only heard one person, but that was enough.

  They had company, and he’d be willing to bet it was of the unwanted variety.

  The color drained from her face as she grabbed for his hand. “Go. Leave and find help. Just give me weapons so I can scare them off.”

  “No way.” He mostly mouthed the words, but he meant them as if he’d screamed them. He would not abandon her to whatever visitor was headed right for them. Her suggestion made him want to punch someone.

  The voice got louder. The guy wasn’t doing anything to cover his tracks. That could mean this amounted to nothing more than an innocent hike, but Cam doubted it, since the message on his watch kept flashing a warning for him to leave the area.

  Anything they did now would make noise. Attract attention. There could be more out there. Too many gunmen and it wouldn’t matter what his skill level was. He couldn’t take on fifteen and promise survival.

  That meant he needed an alternative plan. He looked at Julia again. “Do not move.”

  She glared at him over that comment.

  He took the duffel bag and slid it behind her, half obscuring it from view and balancing it against the door. Her backpack went next. Then he took a large step back, making sure his foot hit a solid plank before going any farther.