Smoke Road

by Toby Neal

  Jaguar nodded. They were in agreement.

  “I’m gonna snoop around and see what I can find to help us out,” Patel stood up, clearing his empty tray.

  Luca stared down into his bowl of oatmeal and forced himself to take a bite. His stomach was churning, his erection rock solid and his balls aching since last night. He’d taken an ice-cold shower and relieved himself, but nothing would satisfy him—nothing but Nani.

  He looked over at Dr. Sexy again. She was concentrating on her meal, eyes cast down, long braid falling over her shoulder into her lap.

  How could she be so unaffected?

  “Dr. Kagawa, would you like to go the medical suite and see what kind of supplies we can gather there?” Quae Long asked her.

  Nani looked up, her eyebrows raised, a smile on her lips. “That sounds great.” Her voice was high, excited, relieved maybe.

  She didn’t want to be around Luca.

  He picked up his almost full tray and returned it to the kitchen, scraping out the oatmeal and cleaning the bowl. Jaguar came in and leaned against the wall, his tattooed arms crossed. “Poker?”

  Luca nodded his head, a curt, hard movement.

  When he returned to the cafeteria, Tug, Freckles, and Jaguar sat around a table, their money out and cards being dealt.

  Luca took his seat and picked up his hand. It was crappy and he folded on his first turn. Jaguar was watching him; the man had a face like a statue but there was something in his eyes. It was as if he was seeing right through Luca, right to his heart—which was beating Nani, Nani, Nani.

  Luca lost the next five hands and just shy of fifty bucks. They dealt again and Luca picked up his cards, a pair of twos. He crushed them, leaving deep indents.

  “Watch it,” Tug reacted. The big man wasn’t smiling, there was no laughter in his voice. “Those are my cards.”

  They were all stressed.

  “Sorry.” Luca laid them face down on the table and glanced toward the door. Nani and Quae had not returned. What was taking them so long?

  Luca looked down at his pile of cash. What did it matter now? How many men had died in this place? It was unimaginable, and yet it was real.

  Once the storms passed and they continued on their journey, even if they killed Hillish and managed to stop the virus from being spread by his hateful group, too much had been lost already: Nando.

  Luca pushed his pile of money into the pot at the center of the table. Freckles, Tug and Jaguar kept straight faces, but it was a big bet, a bold gesture.

  Luca only had a pair of twos; his card luck was almost as bad as his Nani luck.

  Tug and Freckles folded but Jaguar met his bet.

  Luca threw his cards on top of the pile of cash. Jaguar’s face remained a placid mask as he flipped over his pair of kings. Luca stood up quickly, knocking his chair over, the bang of it on the floor not as loud as the storm raging outside.

  “Wow, chill. What’s up with you, man?” Freckles finally asked Luca.

  Luca tightened his hands into fists. What was up with him?

  There was an insane storm outside, preventing them from going and kicking ass, which was what he really needed right now.

  “I need to work out,” Luca muttered as he turned and strode out of the mess hall. His feet carried him quickly to the medical bay.

  Luca looked through the glass door and saw Nani and Long standing close together, their heads bent over a file. Luca tore the door open so that it banged on its hinges and they looked up quickly, turning to him. Nani’s cheeks burned as their eyes met.

  “I need to speak to you, Dr. Kagawa.” Luca’s voice was a hoarse growl.

  “Of course.” She ducked her head and said her goodbye to Long, who returned his attention to the records they’d been going over.

  Luca stuck his hands into his pockets gripping his thigh, rubbing the shrapnel, letting the pain ground him so that he wouldn’t grab her.

  “What can I help you with?” Nani asked once they were in the hall. Luca walked around the corner and she followed. He kept his hands in his pockets but used his body to maneuver her against the wall. She let him; her neck red and her breath short. She kept her eyes down, long lashes throwing shadows onto her high cheekbones. She was so beautiful. So strong. “I think you know exactly what I want.”

  He could almost hear her heart beating, could see the pulse fluttering in her neck. He wanted to lick it, bite it.

  He needed her.

  “Look at me.” His voice was deep and dangerous.

  She tilted her chin and their gazes locked. He felt like he was falling—those beautiful, intelligent, sparkling eyes, shadowed with hunger, were sucking him down into her.

  She wanted him as much as he wanted her.

  He leaned down and took her mouth, keeping his hands pressed into his pockets.

  He’d gone too fast last night but she’d met him stroke for stroke. She’d come hard, and Luca had made her wild, almost as wild as he was for her.

  But maybe that was scary for a woman like her.

  Maybe she needed to be coaxed more.

  But if they hadn’t been interrupted…his body surged with lust imagining all the things they could do with a little privacy.

  Nani’s arms came around his neck as she moaned, melting against him. He kept his hands in his pockets by sheer will, digging his fingers into his wound, the pain radiating up his side, doing nothing to dull the hunger he felt for her.

  Luca pulled away, taking a deep breath and resting his forehead against hers.

  “Come to my room? We won’t be disturbed.”

  She nodded and Luca took his hand out of his pocket to clasp hers. She had rough calluses on her palms because she was a fighter. Those few hardened patches of skin were her story, a life dedicated to discipline and training.

  He wanted to hear every detail.

  At the door to his small bunk she hesitated for a moment and he turned back to her. “What is it?” Nani was staring down at her feet. He tugged on her hand so that her body pressed against his. She looked up, and then she was on her tiptoes kissing him.

  He wrapped her in his arms and stepped into his room kicking the door shut. He pressed her up against it, letting his hands roam, finding her breasts, caressing her nipples, moaning into her mouth as Nani responded in kind, their voices one, their intentions clear. They both needed this.

  They stumbled toward the bed, their shirts coming off, pants getting unbuckled. He dropped to his knees, pulling her exposed breast into his mouth, swirling his tongue, holding her rib cage, feeling her arch and sway—like a tree holding strong during a rough storm.

  Her fingers threaded into his hair, tugging, bringing him back up to her. She captured his mouth, her tongue hot and powerful and hungry, before pushing him onto the bed.

  It creaked under his weight as she stood above him, hands on hips, licking her lips, her breasts bared and nipples tight. Her long braid hung over her shoulder and her eyes burned like a starving creature eyeing a meal.

  Luca was so hard he thought he might come just staring at her.

  She dropped to her knees and he let out a groan, his throat convulsing with need, as she reached for his zipper.

  He wanted to please her, to give her what she needed. But as her skilled hands released him, all he could do was let his eyes roll back and whisper her name through clenched teeth.

  Her hand clasped him, warm and rough. Luca jerked off the bed, pushing into her fist.

  He grabbed at the bedding, scrunching the rough wool blanket in his fists to try and control himself.

  And then her mouth was on him, hot and tight, and he was in a different world: enveloped in warmth, surrounded by love, accepted in the deepest way. His balls tightened, tingling, the convulsion of an intense climax building at the base of his spine. He tried to think of something to stop the madness, but there was no slowing down this freight train, he was just along for the ride. She cupped him and worked him and sucked him hard, and he let go, his
mind exploding into a million tiny lights and his body torqued upward with indescribable pleasure.

  Totally undone

  It has never been like this.

  August storms strike fast

  Luca’s breath heaved through his lungs and finally opened his eyes. Nani knelt shirtless between his thighs, the smooth dark skin of her shoulders catching the eerie light of the storm coming through the window.

  Lightning struck, and blinding white filled the room like a camera flash, burning the image of her into his mind, into his heart, into his very soul.

  Warning bells rang in his head.

  Nani looked up. “It must be a tornado warning.”

  “What?”

  “The warning siren.”

  “Oh.” She can hear that too.

  Nani pulled on her shirt and as she looked out the window her face blanched. “We need to get to the underground shelter!”

  Nani

  Nani felt Luca running behind her like the storm brewing on the horizon; dangerous and electric. The building shook with the force of the winds outside, and the lights flickered and swayed.

  Nani’s mouth was still slick with Luca’s taste and her body was on fire. She could feel every inch of her skin and her center throbbed.

  Fear vibrated through her at the same time, from the storm, the tornado heading their way, the power she felt as she touched Luca.

  This was like Clyde all over again: a powerful man in uniform controlling her. Because, even though she had been the one holding Luca, the one making him go crazy, it had made her wild and foolish.

  If the other men found out, any authority Nani had would be lost. That old double standard.

  Anger churned in her stomach, helping combat the fear and arousal racing through her veins.

  They reached the top of the stairs leading down to the shelter and she paused, turning to Luca. In the flickering light his eyes were shadowed and dark—the ocean under a harvest moon, black and sparkling gold.

  “You go first.”

  He cocked his head. “We need to get down there now.”

  As if to prove his point the wind howled louder and the lights died, plunging them into darkness for a moment before whirring back to life.

  “I can’t be seen with you. The men can’t know.”

  Luca’s jaw tightened, the muscles bunching under his stubble as he gritted his teeth. “You’re ashamed to be with me.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous.” The storm howled and the building shook, plaster sprinkling down on them. Why was he arguing with her? Didn’t he understand? “As a woman in a man’s world, I can’t be seen having an affair with you.”

  “Affair?” His voice was a deep rumble, accusation and hurt mingling in his growl. “That’s what this is to you?”

  “Please, just go below.” Nani glanced around. There were no windows in this hallway, but it still wasn’t as a safe as the basement shelter below.

  They needed to move.

  “You go. I’ll follow in a minute.” Luca’s voice was a monotone. Nani didn’t have time to argue. She opened the door and bounded down the steps.

  The rest of the men were already in the shelter; they probably hadn’t needed to put their pants back on first.

  Freckles was dealing out cards and they all looked up and nodded to her.

  She approached the table, trying to slow her breathing and calm herself, but her face burned and her body tingled. “What the hell with this weather!”

  The door above opened, the sound of the wind heightening until it closed again, returning the storm outside to a dull roar—not nearly as loud to Nani as the ache between her thighs.

  Luca emerged at the bottom of the staircase, his eyes downcast, hair mussed, and shirt only halfway buttoned.

  Oh crap. It was so obvious what they’d been doing!

  The men glanced up and nodded at Luca before returning their attention to the card game.

  “You play poker?” Patel asked her.

  “No. But I like hearts.”

  She felt Luca’s presence behind her. “That’s not surprising. Any game where a queen rules.” Goose bumps raced across her skin as his breath caressed the back of her neck.

  He was being such an ass. Of course he was, just like Clyde!

  “I love hearts,” Tug admitted.

  She had grown up playing hearts with her dad and brothers. Her mind went to them now as she sat with these other men: brothers-in-arms.

  Please let my family be okay.

  To honor them, she played to win...but lost. Luca took the first game, his golden eyes glinting under those black lashes as he stared across the table at her. Warning her? Confronting her? Making her hot as hell in any case, damn him.

  Freckles dealt again and the Queen of Spades was laid on the table in the first round. Luca took it. Tug whistled between his teeth. “Trying to shoot the moon?”

  Nani stared down at her hand. Heat rose up her neck as she hunched her shoulders, hoping the hardening of her nipples wasn’t visible through her shirt, but the way Luca held her with his gaze didn’t give her much hope their byplay went unnoticed.

  He was basically telling the men they were together.

  Why couldn’t he get that she wanted it to be a secret?

  Because he didn’t understand or respect her enough.

  They continued to play and Luca went after all the hearts. Despite everyone’s best efforts, Luca won. The men shouted and Big Nate threw down his final cards, cursing. Jaguar laughed. “Luca, you’re too good at this game. Let’s switch back to poker.” He glanced over at Nani. “We could teach you.” It was a nice offer, but she shook her head.

  “I’m not one for gambling. I’m tired. I didn’t sleep much last night. I’m going to lie down and see if I can get some shut-eye.”

  Jaguar nodded and turned his attention to shuffling the cards. She glanced around the table, but none of the other men would meet her eye.

  They knew.

  Luca was the only one who met her gaze, and he smiled, slowly, a predatory wolf.

  Desire bloomed in her, raging through her veins as he held her in his intoxicating golden stare. Damn it! Nani stood up and crossed the room to where several cots were set up.

  She took off her boots and lay down, fully clothed. If she could sleep for a while, hopefully when she woke the storms would have passed, and they could move out.

  Not being able to continue the mission was making them all crazy. Especially her.

  She’d promised herself never to get involved with another military man. Yet here she was, yards away from a career soldier she couldn’t stop thinking about: his taste on her tongue, his heat, his massive body, the way his eyes glowed when he looked at her, and how the air between them vibrated with possibility.

  Remembering the way he had reacted when she took him in her mouth by moaning and hissing her name through his teeth made Nani roll over, squeezing her thighs together and closing her eyes.

  She had to stop thinking about him.

  But all Nani could see when she closed her eyes was the view looking up at his strong chest from below. His body was so beautiful, muscles upon muscles, the vee of his chest leading to where she wanted to be the moment she saw him. And all of his anatomy was proportional, just as she’d suspected. Nani imagined him above her, entering her, spreading her wide, filling her up.

  She rolled over again, taking the pillow with her and wrapping it around her head, trying to create space for sleep.

  It must’ve come at last, because the next thing she knew Luca was touching her shoulder, his face near hers. Nani blinked, focusing on his mouth, so near and so delicious. She was so happy he’d come to her bed.

  “Did the storms pass?”

  “Yes, but...Doctor Kagawa.”

  The leap of joy when she saw his face above her in the dim light of the basement was tamped down by the cold formality of her full name. His eyes were dark caves, his face carved in pewter. Something was wrong.

&nb
sp; “What is it?”

  “It’s the men. The men are sick.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  Luca

  Luca held Jaguar’s shoulders as his friend thrashed in the sweat-soaked sheets. His dark eyes, bright with fever, rolled in their sockets. Jaguar’s mouth opened in a soundless cry, a last gasp, but there was no gasp, there was no more breath.

  One moment Luca was using the bulk of his weight to pin the man down, and the next Jaguar was nothing but a husk.

  Luca performed CPR, touching his lips to the dead man’s, pumping his chest repeatedly, but it was useless.

  Jaguar, his tattoos stark against sallow skin, was gone.

  They’d run a total of twelve missions together, fought side-by-side, carrying the flag of their nation on their shoulders. Jaguar, of Mayan descent, grew up in Texas and was part of the reason Luca had taken the job in Austin—to be close to someone who understood. To have a friend to call when the memories could not be silenced by running or screwing or praying.

  Luca pulled the sheet up and covered his friend’s twisted face. He’d died in pain, with Luca right there, unable to help him.

  Luca didn’t know how to fight this enemy.

  They’d brought the men to the infirmary. The outpost’s medical supplies had been used up, but the infirmary was a central place where Luca and Nani could care for the men. They only had the medical kit they’d brought with them, but it didn’t matter. No fever reducer had any effect; nothing slowed the ravages of this disease.

  All Luca and Dr. Nightingale could do was bring water to the dying men’s parched lips, try to ease them by wiping their brows with cool cloths, keep them clean, and hold them down when they hallucinated from the high fever.

  Luca stared down the line of cots. His men were dark, shaking shapes. Freckles’s coughing filled the room, booming through the space, blocking out all other sounds. His body was curled around itself, desperate to relieve his lungs of the phlegm. Peaches sat beside the sick man, her head resting on the bed next to him, her soft brown eyes worried.

  Nani sat on Tug’s bed, her hand entwined with one of his, the end of her braid clenched in the man’s free fist. He was muttering something as sweat poured down his brow. Tug kept slipping into French Creole, the language of his childhood in New Orleans. Nani was saying something but Luca couldn’t hear her over Freckles’s strangled coughs.