Rescue from Darkness

by Bonnie Vanak

  He looked down at her hand covering his. “Yeah. You’re right. It’s taken me a long time to realize that.”

  Her chest felt hollow at the sadness on his face.

  “What about you? Why did you choose medicine?”

  “I’ve never wanted to be anything but a doctor, Kyle. We’re not perfect. We do everything we can. At times during medical school, my biggest fear wasn’t that I’d make a mistake and get a bad score on a test. It was that I’d make a mistake and cost a life. I never told anyone this, but it’s one of reasons I needed a gap year, to seriously think about what direction I wanted to head into. When you make a mistake in investing, you can cost someone money. But not their life.”

  She rushed on. “Seeing you, how intense and driven to save Anna you are, made me realize I’ve been selfish, thinking about my fears and me, me, me. If I have a gift, as you clearly have, then I need to use it. And trust in myself and the professionals around me to make the best decision I can at the time, based on the information I have. It’s a reason why I haven’t dated in a long time. I’ve been focused on medicine and learning as much as I can so I don’t make those mistakes in the future.”

  Kyle said nothing.

  Fine. She felt a little foolish, spilling her heart like this. You’re like an open book, her brother often teased. Men can read everything about you because you wear your emotions on the outside.

  Suddenly he reached out. Smoothing back her hair, he stared into her eyes.

  “My life isn’t terrific, Belle. I haven’t been able to hold down a relationship with a woman since the accident. I have other dark secrets other than admitting to killing a few men, bad guys who deserved it. It’s that I haven’t wanted anything from women, other than casual sex.”

  Heart pounding, she gazed into his blue eyes. “What are you saying, Kyle?”

  “That if you’re willing to take a chance, so am I.”

  “Yes,” she whispered. “I’m tired of not taking chances.”

  He lowered his head and his warm lips met hers. Her eyes closed as she slid her arms around his neck. As kisses went, it was sweet and lingering, flickering with a hint of leashed passion. Maybe he didn’t want to put everything into the kiss. Maybe he wanted to be with her as much as she wanted to be with him, but he hesitated showing it.

  So she showed him. Belle deepened the kiss, putting all her feeling behind it. Everything. Nerve endings tingled, drowning in sensation as he met her challenge, groaning and opening his mouth. She felt it with every ounce of her soul as he responded, holding her closer, stroking her tongue with his own. Maybe this wouldn’t end. Don’t let it end, because for the first time in my life, everything feels complete.

  They broke apart slowly, the sounds of their ragged breathing filling the air.

  “Wow,” he muttered.

  She agreed. “That was...incredible.”

  He searched her face. “You okay?”

  “Never better.” Belle felt her stomach grumble. “But I must confess, I am hungry.”

  Then he stood up and headed into the kitchen. “You must think I’m a lousy host, bringing you here and not even feeding you. I owe you a dinner. I make a killer spaghetti sauce.”

  * * *

  Kyle found folding tray tables and they ate on the deck of the boat docked behind his house. Sunset had streaked the skies pink and lavender, and there was a slight chill in the air. A perfect winter night in South Florida. Water lapped at the boat’s edges as Kyle’s neighbors took their own crafts out, headed for the Intracoastal.

  Belle speared a meatball piece and ate it, listening to Kyle talk about growing up in Upstate New York. They traded stories about their childhoods and a shared love of action movies. His parents lived in Upstate New York. Two younger brothers were in New York City, both working in finance.

  “I’m the lone wolf when it came to a career in law enforcement. My family thought I was crazy, but they supported my decision.” He regarded her over his glass of red wine. “Tell me something, Belle. You seem so conflicted about pleasing your family and choosing what you want to do. If today were your last day on earth, what decisions would you make about your career?”

  Belle swirled the wine and frowned. “I honestly don’t know.”

  She drained the vintage. “But I do know I’d order this. You have a good palate.”

  A soft smile rewarded her compliment. “Only the best for you.”

  After, she helped him bring the plates inside and load the dishwasher. Kyle leaned against the counter with a sigh. “Damn, Doc, that was a great sauce, even if I did make it myself.”

  Belle laughed. “So modest.”

  An impish twinkle shone in his blue eyes. “Always.”

  Then his expression shifted to something deeper, more serious. “How are you feeling? You okay here?”

  Belle nodded.

  “Ready for some lessons in self-defense?”

  “Tonight?”

  “No time like now. I’ll feel better, letting you return home if I know you have a few ways to disarm someone.”

  He gestured to a door adjacent to the living room. “Wear light, flexible clothing. I’ll meet you in the exercise room.”

  She changed into gray yoga pants and a sleeveless T-shirt. The exercise room turned out to be a garage converted into a makeshift gym, complete with air-conditioning, floor mats and workout equipment. Dressed in sleek black bike shorts and a tight black T-shirt, he handed her a black knife. Belle turned it over in her hands. It was plastic.

  “It’s fake. Come at me with it.”

  Okay, I can do this. She went toward him, knife pointed outward.

  In a minute, he not only disarmed her, but had her on the floor. She blinked as he hovered over her. “I didn’t even see you coming. How did you do that?”

  “I’ll show you.”

  Kyle taught her a couple of moves. “The important thing is to remember to get free and get away. Your goal isn’t to engage your attacker, but throw him off, distract, hurt as much as possible to give yourself time to escape.”

  He came at her with a fake gun, showing her how to get away from a potential attacker. She memorized the move, twisting her body as he instructed. And then when they tried again, this time she not only freed the pistol from his grip, but used her legs in a quick move that caught him off-balance.

  He tumbled to the mats with a hard grunt.

  They worked at it for more than an hour before he called for an end.

  “Shower, and then the entertainment? Unless you’re tired. I have a great collection of classic action-adventure movies. I’ll make the popcorn,” he told her.

  Belle brightened. “Sounds fantastic.”

  A while later, freshly showered and dressed in jeans and a lightweight cranberry sweater, she curled up on the sofa in the great room, a bowl of popcorn in hand as Kyle went around the house, drawing the blinds and securing the locks. Barefoot, clad in jeans and a baseball shirt, he looked totally at-home. Typical guy instead of serious FBI agent.

  “How are you feeling? Any aftereffects? I didn’t want to take it easy on you, but also didn’t want to push you too hard.”

  “I feel wonderful. Thank you for letting me stay here.”

  His hand curled around her nape once more, lightly massaging. “No thanks necessary. You needed a safe place to stay, Belle.”

  “Because I’m involved in this case and you need me.” A statement, but a question within it.

  “No.” Kyle’s gaze was so blue as he studied her. “Because I’ve started to care for you, and I don’t want to see you hurt.”

  A hitch of breath. Belle licked her lips, knowing he tracked every move. “The feeling’s mutual, Agent Cowboy.”

  He glanced away. “I can’t promise anything, Belle. My past is complicated and I’m not ready to move on. But damn, you have me tie
d up in knots and right now I feel like if I don’t have you, I’m gonna die. So what are we going to do about this?”

  The murmured question accompanied the sensual stroke of his fingers against her skin.

  She lifted her face to his, studying his mouth. “My head is fine, but I’d feel much better if you kissed me.”

  “New medical treatment?” His voice was teasing, but his gaze turned sharp, hungry.

  His mouth met hers in the softest of kisses. Nothing demanding. A slow exploration, sweet and almost hesitant.

  When she slid her hands around his nape, he deepened the kiss. So good. She wanted to sink into it forever as the sensations spread throughout her body. In his arms she could forget all the day’s trauma and her personal woes. This was living for the moment.

  She had waited a long time to live in the moment.

  When they broke apart, she felt a pang of emptiness, until he stood and held out his hand.

  “Come to bed with me?” he asked in a soft, deep voice.

  Belle took his hand. In his bedroom he switched on a lamp and took her into his arms again.

  “I haven’t done this in a long time.” Belle felt bashful admitting this.

  His blue gaze was steady. “Neither have I.”

  She felt her anxiety melt away beneath his tender gaze. Live for the moment. She’d been consumed by work, career and fulfilling the roles her parents, mainly her mother, molded for her. Now it was time to seek out her own needs.

  “I don’t want to be alone tonight.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “But if you aren’t ready for this, all you have to do is say good-night and march through that door to the guest room. I didn’t bring you here to seduce you. I want you to feel safe and comfortable.”

  Belle pulled away, saw the sharp disappointment on his face quickly masked by the usual expressionless mask. She went to the door and closed it.

  Then she returned to him, sliding her arms up his hard chest. “I’m ready now.”

  Kyle kissed her again, his mouth moving subtly over hers. She leaned into the kiss. She never knew how deep and rich a kiss could feel, how indulging and free-falling, and yet filled with tenderness.

  His mouth moved across her chin, down to her collarbone as he dropped small, lazy kisses across her skin. Belle’s body felt stretched too tight, her nerves humming with pleasure. She wanted him, but wanted to make this night last.

  Because no one knew what tomorrow brought.

  She pulled away and sat on the bed. “You promised entertainment, Agent Cowboy. Undress for me.”

  He raised his dark brows. “Giving me commands, Doc?”

  Feeling bashful, she curled her fingers against the quilt. “I’m a doctor and when patients undress, it’s purely professional. I can’t indulge. And you have a terrific body.”

  She ducked her head. “I guess that confession sounds foolish.”

  Expecting a grin or an offhand remark, she was surprised to see him join her, cup her face into his strong hands.

  “I have a confession to make as well, Doc,” he said softly. “I’ve been attracted to you from the moment we met, but fought it. It was just sexual, until I got to know you better and realized you’re a woman who understands what it’s like to be steel on the outside and velvet on the inside. The kind of woman who understands what it feels like to wake up in the dark with the reality in your head chasing your nightmares.”

  Her heart ached at the somberness in his voice. She wrapped her hands around his wrists. “Yes. And on those nights, you long to have someone to hold you and tell you it’s going to be okay, no matter what.”

  The moment hung between them, intense and still. Then Kyle slid off the bed and stood before her. “Want me to get the popcorn?” He winked.

  She laughed. “No. I want you to take your time, though.”

  Belle watched, her body thrumming with sweet anticipation. Tugging the T-shirt off, he pitched it onto the floor. Kyle slid the belt from his jeans, unzipped them and slid them down past lean hips and trim, muscled legs dusted with dark hair. He kicked them away, standing before her clad only in snug black boxers.

  Then he pulled off his boxers, freeing his erection. She licked her lips. Wow. Kyle Anderson had the sleekness of a runner’s body, punctured by scars and testimonies of his courage. After jumping off the bed, she explored with her fingers, testing each old bullet wound, the whitish-pink scar from the graze at the airport. He closed his eyes, making a humming sound as she caressed his torso and the muscles rippling beneath tanned skin, and then playfully dipped lower to cup him.

  Kyle’s eyes flew open. “Your turn, sweetheart.”

  She’d undressed for a lover before, but always with urgency brought on by eagerness and a rush for time. Tonight they had hours and she planned to enjoy each exquisite moment.

  Each move was accompanied by a little shimmy of her hips, a smile playing on her face. The hunger and anticipation on his own face made her feel more than beautiful.

  She felt cherished.

  As she joined him on the bed, she sighed. “I’m on the pill, but what about you?”

  He grinned. “My friend who owns this house was in the military. His motto is Always Prepared.”

  With another wink, he opened the nightstand drawer to reveal it was filled with condoms. Belle shook her head in frank amusement. “As long as they’re not expired.”

  Kyle held up a foil wrapper. “He restocks every few months just in case. Part of the hospitality of lending out his home.” His grin faded and that serious look returned. “But I’ve never taken up on that hospitality. Never had a reason to want to do so, until I met you. You’re beautiful, Belle North, inside and out. That’s a rare find in a weary world these days.”

  He crooked his finger at her. “Get your sweet little butt over here right now and help me put this on.”

  Belle helped him roll on the condom. He kissed her then. His mouth felt wonderful against her, warm, subtle pressure. This wasn’t sex, but something more, deeper and richer.

  He crushed her against him, his mouth devouring hers as he cupped the back of her head. The sharp, painful ache between her legs intensified. Never had she wanted a man as much as she wanted Kyle. Needed him against her, skin to skin, their bodies sweat slicked and rubbing against each other.

  They rolled together on the bed, tangling together in need.

  He touched her, palms skimming up the small of her back. “You’re so sexy,” he murmured against her skin as he kissed her neck. “Scared the hell out of me when I saw you on the ground. I wanted to kill whoever dared hurt you.”

  “Hey.” She rubbed her face against him. “I’m okay now. Let’s not go back there. I need to forget, Kyle. Help me to forget.”

  Then he fisted a hand in her hair, bent her head back and kissed her with such passion, she could barely breathe. Belle could think of nothing but Kyle, his taste in her mouth as he kissed her hard and deep, his skin slick and firm against hers, the silky hairs on his naked thighs rubbing against hers.

  She opened her thighs. Kyle slipped a hand between her legs and caressed her, drawing a finger through her swollen folds. Little gasps came from her mouth as she clutched him, her mouth tasting the salty slickness of the hard curve of his shoulder. Belle nipped him lightly, earning a hiss of breath. With a thumb, he teased her, then sank a finger deep inside. Every delicious stroke cranked the sweet tension higher and higher until she was panting, she was so close, close...

  Kyle’s mouth encased one hard nipple. He bit lightly.

  She shattered, nails digging into the hard muscles of his back as she screamed.

  Pride and masculine possession shone in his gaze as he sat back, watching her. His limbs were long and sturdy, roped with muscle. Wide shoulders gave way to the classic V of narrow waist and hips.

  Then he was nudging her thighs open, before sett
ling between them. Desire ignited his eyes, made his mouth sexy and swollen. Kyle laced his fingers between hers, his muscled weight pinning her down.

  The position was sweetly intimate. Kyle’s body on top of hers, his hard chest pressed against her soft breasts, his sleekly muscled flanks entwined with her slender legs, his heated gaze fused to hers.

  Kyle lowered his mouth and dropped a singularly sweet kiss on her mouth.

  His hardness slid against her soaked folds. The slow, teasing move made her grit her teeth. An impish grin, so typically Kyle, warned he knew exactly how the motion drove her crazy. Belle rolled her hips upward.

  He thrust hard into her, pushing past the resistance of her tiny internal muscles, sealing them hip and hip. Belle flinched a little. It had been a long time since she’d had sex.

  A long time since she’d opened herself up to a man, let him into the most private part of her body...her heart.

  “You feel so damn good,” he muttered. Concern flared in his gaze. “You okay?”

  She drew a long, trembling sigh. “I won’t be if you don’t get moving, Kyle.”

  Pleasure rippled through her as he began to move. Slowly out, then back inside her, building the heat between them. All the while his gaze was warm and soft on her, the look on his face telling her this was more than sex.

  More than making love.

  It was reigniting a flame both didn’t want, but both needed.

  It consumed them, sending them spiraling together into erotic bliss as his hips drove harder and faster into her, her hips rising to meet his frantic moves. Belle tightened her hands around his as the crisp hair on his chest rubbed against her sensitive nipples. She squeezed hard around him, feeling the incredible pressure build higher and higher, the pleasure as sweet and hot until she cried out and climaxed again, gasping for air, feeling as if she were flying.

  And would never descend.

  Kyle closed his eyes and threw his head back, the corded muscles on his neck straining as he gave one last thrust. He twitched inside her as Kyle shouted her name; he came hard, breath rasping in ragged pants.