Oh, they wouldn’t go in together.
No, one would come in first, and then the next would arrive as soon as they were trapped. She could see this one coming a mile away.
As the first man approached, she gave away her location to lure him in.
“Corporal, you disappoint me,” she stated. “I can smell your body spray a mile away. Now I see why they booted your ass out of the Marines. Well, that and you were a douchebag.”
He headed into the opening to find her standing there. “Major Gaines, it’s been a while. Who would have thought they’d send out some pussy to handle something so big. The government must be going through hard times.”
She laughed. “You wish. I took out two of your men. I’m sure you found them. After I kill you and Tim, I’ll head out for the dickbag you sent for reinforcements.”
He looked surprised.
“Knowing your enemy is how you kick their sorry, pathetic asses.”
She pissed him off.
He went for his gun and started firing. Apparently, he didn't like being called names by a girl.
Maura dove.
Luke fired back, drawing the man’s attention. When he spun, spraying Luke’s hiding spot with bullets, Maura could only hold her breath.
Then, the kill shot came.
She did it without even thinking. The ex-soldier shot at her man, and that was crossing the line.
There was laughter. Captain Tim Vance appeared. “Maura, you’re always a handful. I can’t believe I’m going to get a chance to kill you.”
She stood, unsure how Luke was doing. All she could do was hope.
Now, she had to focus. “If you want me, then you’ll have to kick my ass back to your employer. Remember that time in training when you tried to take me, and I embarrassed you?”
He stared at her.
Then her ploy worked. He dropped his gun. “I’d like a rematch.”
Maura crossed her arms over her chest in defiance. “I can do that, but how do I know you won’t cheat. Let’s face it, you’re a hired scumbag.”
He laughed. “And you’re a killer paid by the US government. Trust me, you have no room to talk. The only difference between us is you still pledge allegiance to our flag. I know better.”
“Well, we all can’t find a sugar daddy to fund our militia needs,” she stated. “A girl has to go with the devil she knows.”
“It’s not too late. Hand over the woman, and you can come work for him.”
This was what she wanted.
Open dialogue.
Maura was betting that he was still not the sharpest tool in the shed. She could use this.
Luke watched from the bramble. His chest hurt like a bitch from the bullets hitting his Kevlar. The one that hit his arm stung, and he could smell blood.
That was a bad sign.
He didn't like what he was seeing, but he couldn’t breathe, let alone get up.
Maura was on her own.
Vance moved toward her, and Maura pulled her knife. “He’s a good employer. Greene takes care of us. While working for him is a pain in the ass, you just have to picture him as some irritating drill sergeant.”
She grinned. “Yeah, I’ve been there. I think I’ll pass, but thanks for telling me his name. After I kill you, I’ll be sure to relay his name to the FBI team. Then they’ll take him down, and I’ll make sure to send him a thank you card. He hired a bunch of idiots.”
He realized what he did and then pulled his gun.
Maura knew he was going to do it. She’d served with this man. His temper was what got him booted. As soon as he went for his weapon, she was ready. Maura swung out, knocking it from his hand. With her palm, she took a shot, striking him in the face. It knocked him back, and he wailed in pain.
“You’re dead, bitch!”
She laughed even more. “Prove how big your balls are. Oh wait…I heard rumors. They’re more like marbles.”
That was the straw that broke the camel’s back.
He lunged, making it a bout of hand to hand combat.
Vance had the weight and height advantage, but she had some tricks up her sleeve. When he punched her in the face, she went down, but was back up, spitting blood to the ground.
“I bet your momma is proud. You hit girls.”
Then she struck out, booting him in the groin.
He went down, but managed to struggle to his feet.
“Yeah, well you hit like a girl.”
That pissed her off. She scissor kicked him, taking them both to the ground. Immediately, they rolled around until Maura got to her feet. As he pulled his knife, stabbing wildly at her, she moved behind him and grabbed his head.
With all she had, Maura twisted.
The breaking of bone filled the air.
She let him drop.
It was done.
Stumbling to her feet, she checked the gash across her thigh. He’d missed her artery, and it wasn’t too deep. It looked like she’d live to fight another day.
Heading toward Luke’s hiding spot, she couldn’t wait to see if he was okay. When he didn't get up and try to ‘rescue’ her, she knew something was wrong.
Oddly, when she saw him, he looked to be okay. Then she smelled it.
“How bad are you hurt?” she asked.
“I took five to the vest, and one to the arm.”
Maura dropped down to check his wound. “You’re going to be pissed,” she stated, pulling up his sleeve.
“What? Why?”
“Well, it’s through and through and not bleeding too badly, but it jacked your arm tattoo.”
“Shit! You’re kidding me!” He stared down at his tattoo in the cell phone light. “Hell! That tattoo took hours to do! The scar is going to ruin it. First my freaking Hummer, and now my tats! What the hell? Does the universe hate me?”
She laughed, glad that he was okay. Maura could finally breathe again. Pulling up her hoodie, she tore off some of her shirt to use as a bandage. “You’ll live, and you can always get a new ride and tat.”
Luke waited until she was done before pulling her down and against his body. “Watching that was horrifying!”
She knew what he meant—thinking that he could be dead made Maura want to retch. “We’re getting soft, Lucas Mars,” she stated, taking a minute to let him hold her.
When they both stopped shaking, he had to know. “What’s next?”
“We head out and find that one lone guy. If he calls in reinforcements, then these woods will be filled with crazies. Five I can handle. Twenty five is a suicide mission.”
She stood up and offered him a hand.
Luke took it, and when she started limping away, he realized she was hurt. “Maura! Jesus! Your leg!”
“It’s just a scratch. We have to move. If we don’t catch him, we’re boned.”
He stared at her as she began trotting through the woods to eat up some of the lost time.
Luke shook his head.
What the hell was he going to do with her?
Instead of coming up with an answer, he simply followed the major—like a good soldier.
* * * C a r t e r - G a i n e s * * *
Friday Early Morning
He had to be dreaming. The last thing he remembered was getting cold and climbing into the sleeping bag with Avalon. Now, Nathaniel Carter was back in that familiar space. It was the one where he first met Avalon, and Nate knew it was now one of his favorite places.
Here, he had peace.
As he looked around, the snow began falling, coating the pretty flowers at his feet with a soft blanket. Oddly, he wasn’t cold. The surroundings heated him up because this was how she always made her entrance.
“Avi?” he called watching the butterflies flutter around the field. It was like winter and summer had collided.
There was heat.
There was cold.
He was shirtless, so he traced the tattoo on his chest. Here was the link to her. “Alpha and Omega.”
&nb
sp; “The beginning of the end,” she said softly, appearing behind him.
“I fell asleep.”
She moved toward Nate but didn't touch him. This was the first dream they’d had together since he found out the truth. While awake, he could hide his worries from her, here…he couldn’t.
In this field, there was nothing but honesty.
“You did, Nathaniel, but we’re safe. I’ll wake us if I feel we’re in danger,” she offered.
Nate trusted her.
Opening his arms, she moved into them. “This will always be our place, Nathaniel. No matter what, if you come here and call for me, I’ll show.”
He had to believe that.
If anything happened to her, he’d need to have a place to hide for the rest of his life. There was a part of him that knew he’d never make it without her. They were the beginning and the end. Everything else, in between, was their story.
“Avalon, I love you.”
She tugged his mouth down to hers to share her love with him. As their lips mated in a sensual kiss, Avalon jumped up, wrapping her legs around his hips.
Nate held her.
He refused to let go.
“I want you,” he muttered, feeling his body coming alive as she was pressed against him.
“Then have me,” she answered. “Here is our safe place. Here is where we’ll find peace.”
Nate needed that in the worst way.
Carrying her to a tree, he dropped them both to the ground. Avalon was pressed beneath him in the soft flower filled grass.
The brilliant colors danced around them.
His mouth traveled across her collarbones and the crest of her breasts. When Avalon moaned, he found the need building. He wanted to go slow and be gentle, but the lust licked at his soul.
He had to have his other half.
He pulled wantonly at her clothes, only to find her bare beneath him. In their dream world, they vanished. His, too, were gone, and Nate was glad. He was dying to have his woman.
He slid lower down her body, kissing his way to the part of her that he craved. He longed to have his mouth on her, drinking in the taste of his Oracle.
Nate wanted to hear her beg.
There was this need to hear his name on her lips.
As he pushed her legs apart, he teased and tormented that one spot until her breathy little gasps drove him wild. They urged him on, forcing Avalon to crash into the pleasure. As she fell, he didn't stop.
No, he couldn’t.
He was starving.
Instead, he used his mouth to make her beg. As she whispered his name over and over, Nate found so much peace.
She was his.
This was his other half.
When it was all said and done, he was complete. This mysterious woman had filled in all the holes in his life, and he couldn’t wait to live out his life.
Only, she had to be at his side.
When she moaned, her body bowing again, Nate stared up her torso. Here, in their dream world, Avalon’s eyes were different.
Here, she could see him.
“Touch me, Avi. I need to feel your hands all over me.”
He rolled, placing her above him. When she stared down at him, his heart quaked in his chest.
Avalon’s fingers stroked his heated flesh as more and more snowflakes fell on them. They tickled his flesh as did her mouth.
Slowly, Avalon ran her lips over his chest. She teased and tormented his pale nipples with her lips. When Nate shook, she couldn’t help but be happy. He looked lost in the passion, and that’s all she wanted with him.
Avalon needed him to find happiness here.
This was theirs.
“More,” he begged, as her head moved lower and lower. Where awake, Avalon’s touches were tentative, but here, she was self-assured. Her hand found him and the torment began.
She stroked.
Played.
Teased.
She drove him to madness with the simple skin to skin contact. Leaning over him, her hair kissed his flesh as her mouth found him.
The heat swallowed him.
Nate moaned.
This had to be heaven. When he died, this was exactly where he wanted to be. He wanted to meet Avalon here and spend an eternity with the butterflies, snow, and her.
“Avalon,” he hissed as her teeth ran the length of him. The sensation brought goose bumps to his flesh. She was stripping him down and eating away at his control.
Her laughter filled the air, tightening the muscles in his gut. The need was devouring his control, and shortly, he was going to have to take her.
While she played, something brewed in him.
It was the darkness.
“Avalon,” he called, feeling the lust grabbing him by the throat. The air around them changed, and the storm clouds rolled in.
She stared up his body. “Just be with me,” she whispered, urging him on. “Don’t fear it. Use it to your advantage”
He felt the need building but beneath was fear. There was so much pain in him, and it had to come out.
“Take me, Nathaniel,” she offered. “I’m not afraid.”
Avalon held back the darkness for as long as she could. Now, he was going to have to face it. What lived in him didn't have to be scary. He only needed an outlet.
She’d be that for him.
He rolled, trapping her beneath him.
Nate felt out of control as the lightning crashed around them. “I’m afraid!” he shouted into the oncoming storm.
Avalon stared up at him. “I’m here.”
With that, he slipped into her body. There was no gentleness now. It was like he was possessed by the raw ugly power brewing around them. Nate wanted to be gentle, but he couldn’t.
It was consuming him.
He stared down at her, and instead of the pain he expected to see, she shared the pleasure.
“You can’t break me,” she whispered.
He was glad because he needed to feel. Moving roughly into her body, he found his rhythm. The storm raged, but the fear ebbed away.
What was building between them was saving him.
Avalon’s body bowed with so much pleasure. With each slide into her, there were chills sent across his body. Nate’s blue eyes filled with such love that it lit a fire in her belly.
“More,” she whispered, wanting to feel all of him.
His mouth sought hers, and the power surged between them.
There was so much emotion shared as his body buried itself in hers over and over again.
When he was close to the edge, he tipped his head back to watch them fall.
The explosion happened.
The colors erupted around him.
Nate had never felt anything so powerful in all his life. Sex, with Avalon, in their little world, was amazing.
As pleasure swirled around him, he found himself resting peacefully on her breast. Avalon’s fingers slid through his hair, offering peace.
“You’ll be okay, Nathaniel. You’ll always find me here.”
He didn't like the way that sounded.
“Avi, you can’t leave me. You have to fight. Please believe that we have a chance.”
The snow slowly stopped falling and the wind picked up. As he stared down at her, she was smiling at him.
“I do have faith. I believe in the man I love.”
With that, the dream faded.
Nate tried to hold on, but she was gone. The calm disappeared as he was thrust into a different dream.
One where he was utterly alone.
* * * C a r t e r - G a i n e s * * *
Maura and Luke found the final man.
Even though he tried to cover his tracks, they located him about a mile from the escape vehicle. Toward the end, he began getting sloppy as he thought he was home free. It wasn’t shocking. All the parties involved were looking forward to calling it a night.
It had been brutal.
Luke’s arm was throbbing, and Maura’s le
g wasn’t feeling so fine and dandy. They needed to finish this and then clean up.
Breaking off to surround the man, they had their plan. Maura was going to ambush him, and Luke was going to be the bait. To catch the last man off guard, it was going to take them both.
Luke was fine with that arrangement because he couldn’t stomach the woman he loved being a target.
It was dangerous, and he didn't really care what she said to reassure him otherwise.
It was a risk he wasn’t willing to take.
So, instead, he moved closer to buy her time. It was the least he could do as part of the team.
As they headed into the last cluster of trees, Luke made his presence known.
He cleared his throat.
The man spun, and it was obvious that he didn't expect someone to be behind him.
Great.
Their plan worked.
Now Luke had to hope the jumpy man didn't get any more shots in. His chest was already going to be a bruised mess.
The man gasped, opening his mouth to protest. Only, he wouldn’t get any time to speak. Above him, Maura hung upside down from one of the branches in the tree. Timing it just right, she lowered herself, and with one stroke of her knife, she slit his throat.
He fell.
Maura flipped down, landing beside the body. When Luke joined her, she wanted to be able to celebrate, but that wasn’t the emotion overwhelming her. In that moment, she wanted to weep. “I’m sorry,” she began.
Luke stopped her.
“Don’t you dare apologize for being who you are. I fell in love with you because of your toughness. This doesn’t change anything.”
“But I had to…”
He silenced her with a gentle kiss.
“This is your job.”
She was glad he wasn’t going to push her away. He was right. This was her job, and it wasn’t exactly something the world wanted to see.
His gentleness freed her heart a little more.
“We need to get moving,” she stated. “We’ll take his vehicle, gather some supplies, and head the long way to the next site. We’ll have to dump their vehicle and pick up a new one before we get there. We don’t want anyone to track it.”
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