Coming Unplugged

by Renee Harless

“That’s how I feel. Jameson talks about you incessantly. I always wondered about you. How did you manage to keep this control over my brother? Maybe it is the twin instinct, but you’ve been a part of me for as long as you’ve been a part of Jameson.”

  “Ryker Connelly,” Norah begins, and his heart stops at the use of his name, his actual name. Up until this moment, everyone outside of his family has always called him by his rock star persona. “I am in love with you. With every part of you.”

  “And I with you, Norah. For now and for always,” Ryker responds as he kisses her again, sealing his love with hers before he slips inside her once more.

  They make love three more times before Norah is completely spent and barely able to sit up. Knowing that the group planned a big and stressful day for her tomorrow, one that he intends to see with her every step of the way, he carries her limp body to the bathroom as he starts the tub she had admired the day before.

  Looking down at the beauty in his arms he wonders how he is able to love her so quickly. But Ryker never jumps into anything he isn’t prepared for and loving Norah won’t be a hardship in the slightest. She is strong and resilient and a match for him in every way. He only hopes that his celebrity, when it makes itself known, isn’t going to turn her away.

  Ryker steps into the tub with Norah still in his arms and crouches down until he is comfortable against the custom basin.

  “That feels wonderful,” Norah sighs, her breath tickling his cheek and neck.

  “I’m sorry that you’re sore.”

  “It’s okay. It’s not entirely your fault,” she jokes as she reaches for a container of bath salts tucked in the corner that one of his sisters placed there.

  She pours in a spoonful and the scent of vanilla and lavender fill the room.

  “Mmm,” she moans as she inhales the fragrance before relaxing back against him. “That smells lovely.”

  “You smell lovely,” he retorts.

  They sit in silence as the tub fills, bubbles wrapping around them like a cocoon. Norah reaches over and flicks off the faucet once it gets close to the edge and rests back against him. Unable to control himself Ryker strokes his hands up and down her stomach, rounding the tips of her breasts with his fingers.

  “How do you think tomorrow will go?” she asks as she clenches her jaw and Ryker imagines her biting back a moan from his ministrations.

  “I think it will be more difficult than everyone is imagining. I wouldn’t be surprised if there is someone there posed as a lookout to see if you come by.”

  “You think so?” she asks as she sits up and turns around to straddle him between her thighs.

  “I do. I’ve learned that you can’t ever underestimate people. They will always surprise you. I’d rather we fear the worst and come out of their unscathed than anticipate nothing and be surprised.”

  “You seem stressed about this. I’ll have a team of people with me.”

  “How can I not be stressed? You’re going to walk head first into the pit, and I can’t do anything about it. They won’t even let me go with you. I’m lucky if I’m able to sit in the car.”

  Ryker’s frustration grows at the thought of her walking in the lab, and it’s only the press of her lips against his jaw that soothes him.

  “I’m sorry that I’m putting you through this.”

  “It’s not you, princess. It’s this entire situation. I feel that there is another alternative but no one is looking for it. I can’t lose you.”

  “You won’t, Ryker. I promise,” she says as she tucks her head on his shoulder and he enfolds her in his arms.

  “I’m not sure that is a promise you can give, princess.”

  They stay in the tub until the water turns cold and then Ryker lifts her out, wraps her in a towel, and then carries her to the bed.

  “Are you sore?” Ryker asks as he settles her against him, her back to his chest.

  “No, I’m okay.”

  “Get some sleep, sweetheart.”

  Ryker tries to sleep, but his mind is envisioning all the ways tomorrow can go wrong. Unable to hold back he tucks back her hair and then leans over her body, resting himself on his elbow.

  “I love you, Norah.”

  Her eyes crack open, and she turns her head to look at him.

  “I love you too, Ryker.”

  With a smile, he leans down to kiss her praying that this isn’t the last night that they’ll spend together.

  Chapter Six

  DURING THE MEETING YESTERDAY they had agreed to fly up to Virginia around 10 a.m. so that Norah could attempt to get in and out of her lab safely. Unfortunately, with the biometric scanner installed at the lab, she is the only one that would be permitted to gain entrance, anyone else will lock up the room for hours if they tried.

  Moments like this were when she wished Jameson wasn’t so brilliant. She’d much rather keep lying in this bed with Ryker than fly into another state risking her life.

  The hand around her waist begins to move, tugging her more closely to him, and then Norah feels a soft kiss on her shoulder blade.

  “You’re up early,” Ryker’s sleep-filled voice points out.

  “Couldn’t fall back asleep.”

  Ryker presses another kiss to Norah’s shoulder and then rolls her onto her back so that he can lean down and gaze at her.

  “Nervous?”

  “Not really. I know everyone there will do their best to protect me. I just wish that we didn’t have to go at all.”

  “I’m not happy about it either. I hate that Jameson hasn’t figured out how to override the biometric scanner, but he makes them unhackable for a reason.”

  “That’s true. There is a huge process to add a new user into the system and to remove one is just as difficult. I just don’t want anyone else to get hurt in the crosshairs.”

  Ryker continues to stare down at her, and she wonders what is going through his mind. All different scenarios begin to rush in her thoughts – Ryker getting shot or worse, his family getting in trouble, the world dealing with the aftermath of the device being stolen.

  “Hey, whatever it is that you’re thinking, stop.”

  “How do you know I was thinking of anything?” she argues but her irritation lessens as he smiles brightly.

  “Your brows come closer together leaving a tiny wrinkle in the middle. It’s adorable,” he explains as he presses a kiss to the spot at the top of her nose.

  “Are you worried about today?”

  “About today? No. Some of the best people I know are going to help and protect you. Am I worried about you? Of course. You’re stressed and scared, and I’d much prefer to see you happy and smiling. Maybe even screaming my name out loud,” he says as he smirks that sexy half grin that she’s beginning to love before he leans down and kisses her. “I wish we could stay in this bed.”

  “Me too,” she agrees as she wraps her arms around his shoulders welcoming his lips, not caring about her morning breath. And of course, Ryker’s breath is as fresh as always. It’s as if he woke up and brushed his teeth before sneaking back into the bed.

  Ryker settles his weight on top of her and deepens their kiss, his erection pressing against her stomach. Just as her body begins to awaken they’re interrupted by a knock on the door.

  “Hey guys, breakfast is here and we need to leave in about an hour.”

  “Thanks,” Ryker shouts without moving away from her. “I guess we’ll have to postpone this for another time.”

  “Yeah, I should probably get a quick shower.”

  “I’ll join you,” he says adamantly as he moves off the bed.

  “I’m pretty sure that won’t be a quick shower.”

  “Scout’s honor,” Ryker insists as he holds up his hand in a salute.

  Norah trails behind Ryker as they come downstairs to join the group forty-five minutes later. The shower took much longer than anticipated since Ryker couldn’t keep his hands off of her. Even though she was sore from the night before he made her
feel good in other ways. She’ll never be able to look at him playing guitar the same way again.

  Norah grabs a banana and a muffin from the countertop just as the first snicker and ribbing begin, luckily not with her, but the group descends on Ryker like flies to honey. It’s not until Jameson takes the seat beside her that she realizes everyone is aware of what she and Ryker had done the night before.

  “How are you doing?” he asks as his eyes scan over her.

  “I’m fine,” she whispers as she takes another bite of her muffin.

  “He didn’t . . . hurt you, did he?”

  Norah turns to look at Jameson who is staring at her sheepishly, and she knows he’s just trying to be concerned for her, but for some reason, it angers her. She’s not weak minded, and she knew what she was doing by being with Ryker last night. And for her best friend to question that is hurtful.

  Instead of replying to his questions Norah leaves her food on the counter and moves over into the living room where Alexis, one of the FBI agents, sits patiently. Her keen eyes scan the room as if waiting for someone or something to jump out.

  They don’t speak, but Norah likes the knowledge that this woman beside her is close by, just in case Norah decides to freak out. And by the way the clock continues to click away the seconds just above her head she’s afraid that it may be sooner rather than later.

  “Alright,” Dylan says as he takes control, the FBI agent inside him coming alive. “Let’s get a move on. The plane leaves at ten hundred hours.”

  Military speak has never been one of Norah’s fortes, so she leans over to Alexis and asks, “What’s that mean?”

  “It means that the plane leaves at 10 a.m.,” the woman replies without moving her eyes away from the group.

  “Oh, thanks.”

  Suddenly everyone starts filing out of the room including Alexis, but Norah remains frozen in her seat. The realization that she is going back to the place where her world turned upside down is finally setting in and she’s terrified. Strangely enough, she wonders how long it will take for anyone to realize that she hasn’t jumped into one of the many waiting vehicles.

  Apparently only just a minute or two because Ryker looks around for her frantically until he notices her on the couch.

  “You okay?”

  “No,” she whispers.

  He curls his arm over her shoulders and she sinks into his hold, reveling in the comfort he exudes.

  “You can take all the time that you need. They aren’t going anywhere without you.”

  “I just . . . don’t want to be back there. I don’t want to remember how it felt to see Dr. Lewis missing or having to dive through the window when I heard footsteps.”

  “I’m sorry, princess.”

  “What If we cut off one of my fingers and you can use that? I can do without a finger,” she jokes, but if it was possible, she might just consider it.

  “You’re not cutting off your finger. I like your hands way too much. Especially when they wrap around my co-”

  “Okay, okay,” she interrupts. “I get it. Let’s get this over with so I can move on without this tracker on me.”

  He escorts her to the SUV, and before she knows it, they’re arriving at the airfield an hour away. They all bustle into the chartered plane on the private tarmac and the flight takes off without a second to spare as her belt is latched.

  Classes are in session as they arrive and the number of females that do a double take as Ryker passes by would be hysterical if Norah weren’t such a mess inside.

  “You may want to pull the brim of your hat down some. Your rock star is showing,” she suggests as they head toward the science and development building.

  “You think you’re so funny, don’t you?” Ryker jokes in return as he wraps his arm around her waist and tugs her close. “I’d be happy to show you my rock star anytime, anyplace, anywhere.”

  “Ooo, promises.”

  “Is this it?” Jameson asks as he finally looks up from the tablet he brought along.

  “Yep,” Norah replies as Ryker pulls her closer wrapping both arms around her waist. He props his chin on top of her head, and she feels the comfort in his touch, but also the fear and worry.

  “Alright,” Dylan commands. “Norah, you go inside with Cohen and Eli. Alexis and Heath will be positioned at the two basement windows. I will be posted at the bottom of the stairs with Brent at the top. Luke and Tyler will be at each entrance to the building.

  “What about us?” Ryker asks as the group begins to move out to their positions.

  “You and Jameson need to stay here. I’m not sure the world could handle it if we lost either of you,” Dylan explains, but Norah misses the rest of the conversation as she stands at the building’s entrance ready to proceed.

  She hadn’t expected Ryker to walk over to her with a determined look on his face. He wastes no time and places both of his hands on her cheeks and forcefully fuses their mouths together.

  “I love you,” he says as he pulls back and Norah takes in the beautiful blue and gold in his eyes before she returns the sentiment.

  “I love you too.”

  Strangely enough, his proclamation stirs something deep inside, and Norah feels a profound resolution on tackling this situation head first. She turns to look at Cohen and nods so that they follow her down to the basement.

  As she descends the stairwell images pop into her mind from that early morning only a few days before. She remembers the fear, the darkness, the sense of being watched. Even now with the group behind her, she feels the same sensations. Norah’s hand settles on the railing before turning the corner, and a shiver passes over her. The goosebumps prickle across her skin.

  “Are you alright?” Cohen asks, but Norah nods and takes the final step toward the room. The men flank her with their guns drawn, and for a moment Norah laughs internally wondering what a student would think if they traveled down the stairs at this very moment.

  The door to the lab is securely closed and she presses the code that extends the biometric scanner. Taking a deep breath, she lets her finger hover on the pad before shutting her eyes and smashing her index finger on the reader. Norah almost anticipates something to happen and as she peeks one eye open she’s relieved to find nothing out of the ordinary.

  She reaches out and twists the handle opening the door, the light from the hall filtering into the dark space of the lab. Norah looks directly across the room and spies Heath lying on the ground gun drawn and ready to shoot from the basement window.

  “Where is the chemical?” Cohen asks from beside her and she jumps as she almost forgets anyone is with her.

  “It’s in the cabinet against the far wall. We’re going to need a special container and something to carry it in.”

  “Okay, let’s make it quick,” Eli growls as he stands watch at the entrance.

  Cohen moves with her to gather the items and she uses her code to unlock the chemical cabinet. It takes a few minutes to secure the things that they need even though she is surprised that no one from the University staff has come down to clear the lab out.

  Surely they know Dr. Lewis is missing, right?

  Cohen’s watch buzzes alerting them to the five-minute mark and Norah secures the cabinet shut.

  “Got it,” she says and a thrill pulses through her internally hoping that she has enough time to remove the device embedded in her skin before anyone realizes how to hack the scanner. Unfortunately, she knows most ordinary criminals aren't always the brightest, but she fears that the criminals that kidnapped Dr. Lewis and stole the scanner and device are not your ordinary criminals. All Norah can do is bank on the fact that they need her to operate it correctly.

  Eli adjusts his stance at the door as she and Cohen approach.

  “We have a problem,” he confesses, and Norah’s stomach drops.

  “What is it?” Cohen asks, and Eli replies by looking upward at the ceiling.

  Only then does Norah notice the camera pointed directly at
the door.

  Continuing Eli says, “That’s not a standard issue camera for surveillance. This camera is triggered by motion. Someone was waiting for us to arrive.”

  “Shit,” Cohen exclaims as he rushes Norah from the room and back up the stairs.

  They run through the first floor and back outside and she almost trips over Ryker and Jameson waiting on the steps.

  “Hey, what’s wrong?”

  “We need to get her out of here. Now!” Cohen explains to Dylan and Ryker as they all rush back to the SUV.

  Around her everyone starts shouting questions back and forth as confusion and dread seep around her.

  “Is the first aid kit on the plane?”

  “Yes, I believe so,” Jameson answers never looking up from his tablet. Apparently, he’s trying to hack the feed coming from the camera. He hadn’t realized that it wasn’t issued by the University.

  “When we get on that plane, we’re going to have to remove the device,” Dylan explains to Norah, but she had known all along. Whether there was a camera or not, she had no intention of making it back to Carson with the device still embedded in her skin.

  “It will be okay, sweetheart.”

  “I hope so,” she replies as the SUV comes into view and everyone finally begins to slow down.

  No one notices one of the men stalking toward them from the left side, their tunnel vision locked solely on their waiting vehicle. They don’t notice as he slips into the back of the group behind Norah seamlessly. They don’t notice as his hand covers her mouth to silence a scream and the other arm wraps around her body to keep her from flailing her limbs.

  If it hadn’t been for her grip on Ryker’s hand as they were walking Norah believes no one would have noticed the attempt to kidnap her. Luckily Ryker turns around just as the man tugs her back and he unleashes a fury she never could have imagined existed.

  *

  RYKER CAN’T BELIEVE HIS eyes as someone stands across from him holding Norah and tries to tug her back. His hold on her hand tightens, and he watches her large eyes plead with him to save her.

  “Let her go,” Ryker growls, and as the man tries to tug her back again, he sees red.