Wind River Undercover

by Lindsay McKenna

  Steve’s brows flew upward. “Are you serious, Gabe?”

  “I am.”

  “So am I,” Anna said. “But since I’m on loan to the DEA, there’s some fancy footwork I’m going to have to do in order to stay in the US.” She slid her hand into Gabe’s. “I love your son.”

  “And I love Anna,” Gabe said simply, giving her a tender look. “We had been fighting our growing love for each other since we met months ago.”

  Anna smiled a little, sidling closer to Gabe. “We were both mule-headed about not telling the other how we felt. We kept avoiding it, hiding it, and trying to ignore it.”

  “Didn’t work, did it?” Maud asked wryly.

  “No,” Gabe sighed, “it didn’t.”

  “But it wasn’t for lack on our parts,” Anna said. “What happened to us yesterday afternoon, getting shot at by drug soldiers up on that mountain, and then being relentlessly pursued by them, did it.”

  “We knew we were in a life-and-death situation,” Gabe told them heavily, his brows moving downward as he held Anna’s hand between his own. “We honestly didn’t think that we’d survive it, Mom and Dad.”

  Maud gasped, her hand flying to her lips, her eyes widening. “You never told us any of this. Oh . . . God . . . I had a horrible feeling when we couldn’t contact you. We tried and tried to call you on your cell phones, but we knew wherever you were, you were out of cell phone range.”

  “And I remember our phone call,” Steve said darkly, scowling, “that you told me you two were going up into the Salt Range today to reconnoiter and look around.”

  “Yes, we were,” Gabe agreed. “But what we didn’t count on was running into the drug ring swarming around up there. I’m glad I called you to let you know where we would be going.”

  “That’s why Maud got this chill, always a sign that something bad has happened to someone she loved, which sent her into worry. I told her about my phone call to you earlier and that you two were going to be in the mountains. And we both know there’s no cell towers out that direction and that you would be out of reach.” He gave his wife a sympathetic look. “Maud had been right, all along.”

  “In a way,” Maud whispered, distraught by the details of their escape, “I’m glad I didn’t know. It’s just too much . . . too much . . .” and she took the linen handkerchief and dabbed her eyes.

  Gabe felt like a knife was twisting in his gut. “I’m sorry you had to worry so much, Mom,” he murmured, meaning it. “That’s why Anna and I are quitting.”

  “And we’re glad to hear that,” Steve whispered fervently.

  Nodding, Gabe lifted Anna’s hand, pressing a light kiss to the back of it. “We are going to go home now. We’re whipped. What I’d like to do tomorrow morning is call our boss at DEA and we’ll both hand in our resignations. Anna isn’t a citizen of the US, being on loan to us from Guatemala, so that means we have a lot of paperwork to fill out to see if the DEA will support her staying here, with me . . . with us.”

  “We’ll figure it out,” Anna said. “I need to call my mother and talk with her. She’s known for years what I do as a sniper and she’ll probably cry with relief when she hears I’m quitting.”

  “But,” Maud said, “won’t your mother expect you to come home, Anna?”

  She glanced over at Gabe and then over at them. “He’s my home now, Maud. What you didn’t know is that I have a million-dollar bounty on my head by several drug lords in my country. I couldn’t go back there to live even if I wanted to. And I couldn’t stay at my mother’s estancia because then, she’d become a target of them also.”

  “Oh, dear,” Maud said, stressed. “I’m so sorry, Anna.”

  She shrugged. “Gabe and I have a lot to talk about and this is part of that conversation we’re going to have. We haven’t had a chance to say much to each other about the present, much less our future.”

  “We’ll figure it out together,” Gabe said quietly. “We love each other, Anna. That’s all that really counts.”

  “And everything else,” Steve murmured, “will eventually fall into place after that.”

  Nodding, Gabe said, “May we come over for dinner tomorrow night? We should have more information on everything, plus we’ll have turned in our resignations. We’ll know more about that and we’ll share it with you.”

  Maud sniffed and blotted her eyes. “I hope you want to stay near us, Gabe. You’re the son who has been gone the most and we’ve missed you so much.”

  “And I feel the same,” Gabe assured her. “Anna and I have to look for new jobs, and that’s another thing we have to discuss.”

  “Lots of jobs opening up here in the valley,” Maud declared, hopeful.

  “Hold that thought,” Anna told her. “I know how much Gabe has missed you two and this valley. I need a place like this where it’s rural, quiet, and I don’t have to be looking over my shoulder.”

  Heartened, Maud whispered, “We’d love for you kids to stay here!” She pressed her hand to her heart. “Nothing would make us happier.”

  “But we want you two to be happy, also,” Steve said. “You’re right, you have a lot to sort out.”

  Gabe rose and released Anna’s hand. He stepped around the coffee table. Maud stood up and he wrapped his long arms around her slender body. Kissing her cheeks, he rasped, “No more worry, okay? I’m home. I’m in love. And it doesn’t get any better than that.”

  Maud hugged him long and hard, muffling, “You’re right, Gabe. I love you so much! I’m so happy you’re going to be out of danger.” She kissed him on the cheek, smiling up at him.

  Gabe went over and hugged his father, each slapping the other heartily on the back.

  Anna came over and embraced Maud. She kissed the woman’s cheek and whispered, “It’s all going to work out. Don’t worry.”

  Steve had come over and he too hugged Anna. “We’re here for you two. Just let us know how we can help. Okay?”

  Anna drew away, and gave him a nod. “We will. I promise.”

  Gabe called Ace and he leaped to his feet, joining them in a split second, ready to go where they were going.

  Chapter Fifteen

  “First, a shower,” Anna told Gabe at the door of her condo. She felt a bone-deep tiredness overwhelming her and she saw it in Gabe’s features as well.

  He caressed her cheek, leaned down, and brushed her lips. “Shower first.”

  Anna was so glad to shed her muddy, sweaty clothes, allowing them to drop on the tiled bathroom floor. The rain-like shower of water, as hot as she could stand it, revived her. She washed her hair and scrubbed her skin. How luxurious it felt to wrap a pink, soft towel around her body after she got out. She combed and dried her hair until it fell into a gleaming sheen. Her heart, her mind, were focused on Gabe and finally being in his arms and loving him.

  She had just wrapped a lavender chenille robe around herself when there was a soft knock at her door. Looking through the peephole, she saw it was Gabe. He was dressed in his dark blue robe, and she hoped that the only thing beneath it was him, naked. Opening the door, she gestured for him to come in. Ace came with him, licked her hand in hello, and then with a gesture from Gabe, went into the living room and lay down.

  “Aren’t you tired?” she teased, giving him a knowing grin as she closed the door behind him.

  “No. You?” He turned, threading his fingers through her hair, leaning down, inhaling the scent of lemon on the gleaming strands.

  “Mmmm, not at all. Not now.” She eased away, gripping the lapel of his robe. “Come with me,” she said, and she led him to her bedroom door, which was open.

  She pushed the door closed with her bare foot and turned, opening his robe, pleased to see he was naked, her hands splaying eagerly out across his darkly haired chest. Making a soft sound of pleasure, feeling the contraction of his muscles wherever she grazed his flesh, she heard him groan. Gabe eased his hands beneath the opening in her robe, caressing her naked shoulders, closing his eyes.

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nbsp; “You don’t know how many times I’ve dreamed of doing just this,” he rasped.

  “Ohhhh,” she said huskily, “yes I do. . . .” She fully opened her robe, the sash falling to the sides, seeing his eyes gleam as he absorbed her from head to toe. Just touching him, leaning in, her nose against his chest, the hair tickling her, dragging in his masculine scent, made her whole lower body clench with need. “There is nothing I don’t like about you,” she whispered, placing small, wet kisses across his chest as she guided his robe off his shoulders, falling into a heap behind him. He followed her lead, easing the robe off her shoulders. Now, they were naked and she liked the warmth of his body, the tautness of it as she moved forward, sensually rubbing herself against him, his erection pressing against her belly.

  His groan reverberated through her like sweet music. How long had it been? Far too long, Anna admitted. She slid her hands down his shoulders, feeling the ropy muscles of his long back, cupping his tight butt, pulling him against her.

  “Keep that up and I’m coming before I want to,” he growled into her ear. “Come here,” he said, and he lifted her easily off her feet, carrying her to the queen-size bed, laying her down upon it.

  She scooted to the center, tugging on his hand. Wanting him. Now. “I want you,” she rasped, holding his narrowed, gleaming eyes as he came to her. Gabe reminded her of a jaguar on the hunt. She’d run into the cat many times in the Guatemalan jungle, especially from one of her many tree perches, watching one hunt, that same look in his eyes as in Gabe’s right now. She guided him, silently asking him to lie down on his back. His lips twisted and he smiled up at her, hands sliding around her waist, lifting her up on him, her thighs bracketing his hips, her wet core sliding seductively against his erection. Closing his eyes, he relished her slow movements back and forth upon him, thrusting his hips upward, wanting to please her as she was pleasing him.

  There was sex, and then, there was love. And when the two combined, it was bliss, as it was right now. Anna arched her back, feeling him penetrate her, sliding effortlessly within her, joining them as one. She moaned, her head thrown back, her fingers barely touching him as he gripped her hips, deepening their hot, pulsing connection with each other. Sex was great. But with love? Well, this was the first time she had both joined within her and she felt as if she were flying, her orgasm exploding within her. She cried out, shifting forward on him, bringing her weight to bear down upon him, feeling the orgasm blossoming within her like hot, flowing lava. Gabe knew how to help her sustain it, and that luscious, pulsating, pleasurable rippling effect just widened and deepened within her until she felt as if she were out of body, colorful lights going off like the Fourth of July behind her tightly shut lids. Oh! Never had an orgasm felt so good, so deep and gone on for as long as this one!

  Moments after she started to return to her body, she heard Gabe groan deeply, his hands gripping her hips tightly, arching and freezing beneath her. Now, it was her turn to lengthen and help him enjoy the volcanic explosion. The pleasure was all hers as she opened her eyes, watching his face, teeth clenched, eyes tightly shut, caught in the glory and pleasure of his release. Moving her hips, sliding on those juices that comingled, danced, and joined with one another, the scent of good sex tickling her flared nostrils, she continued her hungry assault upon him, draining him just as he’d just drained her earlier.

  Afterward, Anna gave a muffled groan and lay down across him, her brow against his damp temple. Both were breathing hard, their chests rising and falling against each other, sweat shared between them. It was pure lust they’d just shared with each other, laced with love. Anna understood the need to confirm life over death in one hungry act shared between them. It was swift. Life-confirming. Beautiful. Her whole body radiated and glowed from within and she savored Gabe within her, still hard, reminding her of the beauty of him and his dark, jaguar-like masculinity. As she lay there, sliding her hands beneath his damp neck, cuddling with him, holding him as he tightly held her with his long arms wrapped around her body, nothing had ever felt as right as this moment in her life. It was the first day of her life because she’d never fallen in love before. Until Gabe. Until now . . .

  * * *

  “We should be dead tired,” Anna muttered, lying against Gabe. The sun was coming up, the bright bold rays shooting from the eastern window of her bedroom, across where they lay in a tangle of sheets, and illuminating the closed door to her bedroom.

  Gabe managed a rumble in his chest, his fingers trailing down her damp back. “You’re telling me?”

  Laughing, she rolled away and sat up, legs crossed, her one knee resting against him. “I like us naked. I like that we loved each other off and on all night long. It was nice to wake up and discover you beside me.”

  “And then you couldn’t keep your hands off me,” he said, and his lips twitched.

  Lips she loved to feel beneath her own, so strong and yet, achingly tender as he kissed her, caressed her, and loved her. She reached out, patting his taut, lean belly. “Nor could you.”

  “Nope,” Gabe said, tucking his hands behind his head, watching her. “I counted six orgasms last night to my three.”

  “Seven. Most I’ve ever had.” She sighed, closed her eyes, and whispered, “I think it’s because I love you so much . . . you inspire me, you inspire my body. You are a jaguar in the disguise of a man, mi corazón, my heart. You are dark, dangerous, cunning, and powerful. All the things I’ve looked for in a man and never found, until now.”

  “We got off to a rocky start when we met,” he said, capturing her hand, kissing her fingers, and then resting it against his belly.

  “I didn’t want a partner, Gabe.”

  “But you wanted out of your detail as a sniper,” he reminded her gently.

  “Yes, and that’s what made me decide to throw in with you and the mission. I just wasn’t expecting . . . well, I was not looking for a man or a relationship.” She gave him an evil smile, got up on her knees and faced him, her hand moving appreciatively across his chest. “When I saw you, I saw a jaguar. I swear. It was as if his spirit was around you as a man. I thought I was loco, sleep-deprived and depressed. I told myself what I saw was my imagination, that I would do almost anything to be out of the sniper business.”

  “I like being compared to a jaguar,” he rasped, holding her hand against his chest. “And this is really funny, Anna.”

  “What?” She tilted her head, drowning in his warm gaze.

  “When I saw you in person for the first time, you reminded me of a female jaguar, territorial, strong, dangerous, and so damned sensual. It took me back a few paces and I wondered the same as you: if I was going loco because I wanted out of undercover with the DEA.”

  “Hmmm,” she purred, leaning over, kissing him for a long, long time, and then she said against his lips, “I wonder if we aren’t both from the jaguar clan of humans, eh? Look at our undercover work, mi corazón. We are dark people. We work at night or in your case, undercover.” She reluctantly broke contact with him and sat up.

  Giving her a mirthless smile, he picked up the edge of a sheet. “Undercover, huh? Good pun.”

  They laughed together.

  Anna moved and sat down, legs crossed against Gabe. “I think we need to get serious here.” She glanced at the clock on the bed stand. It was seven A.M. “In two hours, we’ll call the DEA in La Mesa and tell them we’re walking away.”

  He outlined her splayed fingers against his chest. “Yes. Then, we need to think about jobs. Neither of us will get a pension from the DEA. We have to look for a way to sustain ourselves.”

  “I want to stay near your parents, Gabe. I love this valley. I love the people in it. I feel as if it and you have breathed new life, new hope, into me. I don’t want to leave it. Do you?”

  He shook his head. “No. I don’t want to leave it, either, Anna. My folks are right that I’ve been the son who has been missing more than any of the other kids.”

  “What do you want to do?”<
br />
  “I want to talk to my folks about learning the ropes of ranching. Luke has firefighting. Sky and Andy are pilots. They love the ranching life, but they have no interest in learning it and then living it. I’d like to try my hand at it. Besides, at some point, our parents are going to be too old to do this kind of demanding work. I’d like us to be there to help and support them when they decide that the time has come to pass the ranch on to the next generation.”

  “I agree, ranching is hard work and you have to be young enough to do it. The body gets old and can’t do it, even if one’s spirit is willing.”

  He studied her for a moment, silence warming between them. “Then? You’d like to be a rancher’s wife? Take your rightful place at my side? Be the good team we are?”

  “The one thing I’ve found, Gabe, is that rural life suits my spirit. I’ve been another person while here in Wind River Valley. I like riding horses even if I got bruised by our wild rides escaping those drug soldiers. I like being around animals of all kinds. I grew up with chickens, goats, and cattle. I was a happy child on the estancia.”

  “Could you be happy at this estancia? Wind River Ranch?”

  She smiled fondly. “Oh, yes. I have a head for numbers and I like what Maud does. She’s the bookkeeper, the person behind the scenes who keeps the place humming and organized. Your father is gone a lot. Maud basically runs the ranch by herself.”

  “I agree. But we’d both be focused on running it together. I wouldn’t be gone for long stretches of time like my dad has been.”

  She squeezed his hand. “I’d like it that way. I’m interested in Maud’s expanding business of having a dude ranch. Only, I’d want it tailored toward city children who have never been out on the land, around animals, or stood by a stream and felt the embracing energy from it. And I’d like to have my mother visit us during each summer, if she’s open to it. We’ll never allow the estancia to be sold while she’s alive. I may not be able to go back to it, but she can live there and care for it. I’ve been thinking about talking to her about putting the ranch into a trust of some kind, to bring at-risk children in the city out there to learn about farming and ranching. To inspire them, to give them hope so they aren’t looking at gangs to join, or go into the drug trade business. My mother is a very powerful and influential woman in politics at the highest levels of my country. This is something I’d like to speak to her about at some point.”