by Dianna Love
She blinked slowly.
Heat churned in her gaze. He’d seen that look time and again in Paris in the middle of the night. She’d wake ready and wanting. One move toward him and he’d be all over her. Go back to sleep, Sugar.
She leaned even closer.
Just a tiny move, but his hands itched to pull her to him. Bad idea. Almost as bad as the one he’d had when he climbed back in bed with her last night.
She moved her hand up on his chest and his skin quivered under her touch. She leaned in and he couldn’t let it go. He cupped her head and kissed her. Her fingers were in his hair, pulling him closer. Then her hands were all over him.
He couldn’t get enough of her. He lifted her to straddle him and never broke the kiss. Her tongue invaded his mouth and challenged his to match her hunger.
She moved her hips up and down, rubbing against his hardon. Up and down, up and down. She was clearly in a hurry again.
What had happened to the woman who’d challenge him to see who could take the longest on each other’s body?
She’d always been passionate. Never one to rush things. She’d loved the way he took his time with her, but she was in a hurry now and letting him know it.
He was going to come any minute if she didn’t stop. He wanted her too much. She broke the kiss and whispered in a husky voice. “I want to feel you come all over me.”
She might as well have set the hair trigger on his cock.
His brain was beating on his consciousness, warning him something was off. He couldn’t hear it over the roar in his ears. She reached down and shoved her hand inside his boxers and gripped him. His chest and leg muscles locked up, fighting against the orgasm. “Whoa, Sugar.”
She rubbed her hot folds over the tip, stroking him at the same time and his grip on reality slipped. No condom. He grabbed her at the waist and moved her, just enough that when she stroked him the next time he came hard, shooting on his chest instead of inside her. The force was so powerful it left him dizzy for a moment.
She started to move away.
His brain fought through the haze of post orgasm blur.
Where was she going? She was sliding off the bed on his side. The sink was on the other side.
Everything clicked into place.
He lunged for the gun sitting next to his clothes at the same time that she went for it. His forward momentum knocked her off balance, but she got her hands on the gun first. She lost her footing and rocked backwards off her feet. He grabbed for her arm to catch her before her head slammed into a wooden crate of MREs.
She shouted in pain.
He’d wrenched her injured arm, dammit.
She came up swinging the gun. He ducked and barely missed getting clocked upside the head. He clamped his hand on her wrist and banged it down against his arm to break her hold. The weapon clanged against the floor.
Logan snarled, “Stop it before you get hurt any worse.”
She got her feet under her and pulled away.
He only let go so he wouldn’t do more damage. They stood facing off, both breathing hard.
She had to be in pain, but she’d never say so. He pointed at the bed. “Sit so I can see if you pulled your stitches loose.”
“Fuck you.”
“You just did.” That’s when it dawned on him what had felt off. She’d used sex to get the drop on him and he’d let her. That wouldn’t happen a second time.
He put more power into his order this time. “Sit. Down.”
She backed across the room, balking.
Logan picked up his gun and placed it on the bed close enough to reach first if she made another dive for it. He doubted that she’d try by the way she cupped her injured arm to her chest. He kept his eyes on her while he pulled on his pants and shirt again. Stepping back, he lit the gas lantern that brightened the room enough to show the dark red stain on her bandage.
They’d broken the damn stitches loose. He took a deep breath and told her, “I’m going to look at your arm.”
“I want Nitro to redress it.”
Just when he thought he’d gotten his temper leashed down, she had to say that. “He isn’t fucking touching you again. No one is but me.”
“Then this arm can rot and fall off.”
“You have one of two choices. Sit quietly and let me redress that arm or I’ll tie you to the bed and do it. Your choice and right now I’m leaning toward tying you down.”
She must have believed him. She buttoned her bottom lip up tight but sat down.
When he got close and lifted his hand to her arm, she looked away from him. Thank God, because his hand was shaking. He’d rather cut his own arm off than harm her and it might not have been his fault entirely, but he should never have dropped his guard. She wouldn’t be in pain right now if he hadn’t let his dick influence his decisions.
The wound hadn’t bled much, just in one spot. He wouldn’t put her through sewing it again so he just taped that spot closed and applied a new bandage.
He put a finger on her chin, ready to face her anger. She hated him. He got it. But when she turned to him he saw remorse and shame.
He’d pushed her to make a move by telling her he was going to ship her off. How could he blame her when he might have done the same thing if he’d been standing in her shoes? He offered his hand. “Let’s get you back to bed.”
Fire flashed, burning away any remorse. She scooted past his hand and stood then stepped around the end of the bed. By the time she lay down, she had her arm tucked against her chest like it had been in the jungle when the infection had been at its worst. She was hurting again and he couldn’t do a thing about it, because she wouldn’t take Tylenol from him right now.
He walked over and lifted his weapon, shoving it into the waist of his cargo pants. He reached the door when he heard her say, “When?”
She wanted to know when he’d send her away.
“Tomorrow.” He wanted to turn around and tell her he was sorry for what happened, but that would only blur the lines between them even more right now. He’d put her somewhere safe until he could either clear her of being tied to the Banker or he had indisputable evidence that would force him to do his duty and hand her over to the proper authorities.
Question was which authorities, since every country wanted those associated with the Banker.
But that was the best he could do given the situation.
He walked out and closed the door on the woman he’d never get out of his system. That, he could deal with, but forcing his heart to give her up wouldn’t happen.
CHAPTER 26
“We got word.”
Logan stopped shaving and turned at the quiet announcement from Nitro who was striding up to him wearing a heavy jacket. Temperatures had dropped into the thirties and his shaving water was icy. “Word on the Banker?”
“Yes. I just checked in with our contact. Someone finally answered his inquiries and claims to have a message from the Banker specifically for you.”Relief hit Logan in the chest. He’d been sweating the possibility that getting snatched from the hotel by men wanting information on the Banker had been the end of any chance he had to meet again. His last hope for saving Yuri.
Maybe the Banker had been waiting to find out he was still alive after disappearing. “What’s the message?”
“Don’t know. Our man said he got a phone call from someone who would only tell you the message and only in person.”
“Shit.”
“Yep. It stinks of a trap.”
But Logan would be walking in alone this time. He leaned close to the mirror hung on a post and finished shaving. “I know. That’s why you’ll be covering me.”
“Our man said he might have a report on Margaux’s prints by this evening.”
That should be good news, not something that turned Logan’s breakfast into a stone in his stomach. “Good. Tell Angel and Party Man that they’re coming with us. Ty covers the outer perimeter.”
“Moose is our best lo
ng range shot if distance is an issue.”
Logan had considered that. “I’m leaving him with Margaux.”
Nitro scratched his chin. “Hate to say this, Cuz, but Moose doesn’t like your girl.”
She wasn’t his girl, but Logan let that pass. “That’s why Moose is perfect.”
Understanding dawned and Nitro scowled. “You saying you think she could manipulate the rest of us into letting her escape?”
“No, but she won’t waste her time with Moose, because she sized up everyone last night and would know he won’t listen to a word she says. If she doesn’t have a play, she can’t hurt herself.”
“Okay, I’ll get word to our contact to set the meeting for one this afternoon. That’ll give us time to scout the area first. We’ll ride the ATVs until we’re a half mile out and leave you then hike in. Once I radio back that we’re set, you take an ATV the rest of the way.”
“Sounds like a plan.” Logan wouldn’t insult his men by trying to go alone, but dealing with the Banker was like mesmerizing a Cobra. One wrong note and you could end up dead. He packed up his shaving bag then found Moose, who was going through his molle vest, moving ammo around and repacking pockets.
Moose paused, but said nothing.
Logan told him that they had word from the Banker and explained that Moose would be watching Margaux. Logan wanted one thing clear. “She can wait until I’m back to get any exercise. Nitro will feed her before we leave.”
Nitro walked up. “Done. I left her some power bars to keep her content while we’re gone. Don’t go all scary on her, Moose, now that we’re getting her healed up.”
Moose snorted a sound of disgust. “That woman’s not afraid of anything.”
Logan considered something he’d forgotten. “Actually, she is.”
Nitro’s eyebrows lifted up. “No shit?”
A frown creased Moose’s wide forehead. “What’s she afraid of?”
“Snakes. If she gives you a hard time, tell her you’ve got a pet snake you’re going to turn loose in her room if she doesn’t quiet down.”
Nitro muttered, “Might give her a heart attack.”
Logan argued, “Not Margaux. She’s got no outdoor training, but she’ll probably argue that it’s too cold for a snake to move.”
“Tell that to Party Man who found one in his sleeping bag the other night,” Nitro reminded him.
Moose almost grinned again. Twice in two days. Had to be a record for the Swede. Logan cautioned Moose, “But I better come back and find her safe and not a scratch on her.”
That wiped any pleasure off his face. “Got it, Cuz.”
Now to see if he could convince Margaux to be on her best behavior.
Logan knocked on the door. When he didn’t hear anything, he called out, “Margaux, I’m coming in.”
Still no answer. He opened the door and found her sitting on the bed, propped against the wall, looking away from him. The dejection in her face turned him inside out. “I just wanted to let you know I’ll be gone for a while today. Until this afternoon.”
She didn’t acknowledge his presence.
He stepped inside and shut the door.
She slid off the bed and stood to face him, wiping everything from his mind to leave room for the lust that sucked his brains out. She was wearing his T-shirt again and nothing else. Not unless Victoria’s Secret had made an air drop of underwear.
Just that T-shirt and miles of leg.
“Eyes up here, Logan,” she snapped, pointing two fingers at her fiery green ones. When he raised his gaze, she asked, “Well? What do you want?”
For you to forgive me and smile at me like I’m the only man in the world again. Stupid wish. He’d never have what he and Margaux had shared, not with another woman. That took the kind of chemistry that had exploded between them the first time and a connection he hadn’t experienced since.
But she was waiting on an answer and he had to leave.
“I want you to not try anything that will reinjure your arm. Moose will be outside while I’m gone. Stay put and you’ll be fine. Take any chance and he has orders to contain you for your own safety.”
She made a chuff sound. “Keep telling yourself that you’re holding me for my own good.” Crossing her arms under her breasts caused the shirt tail to ride up. “I want a bucket of water.”
“What for?”
“So I can bathe when I know there’s no chance of you getting a free peep show.”
She’d shot that dig with the force of a warhead, determined to demolish any feelings he had for her. If it were only that easy to purge what he felt. He told her, “You’ll get your water.”
Back outside, the men had two of the ATVs warmed up and they were ready to move out. Logan sent Ty to patrol the outer perimeter and had Moose deliver the bucket to Margaux and secure her shack before he climbed on his ATV and drove away.
The woman had used sex to get to his gun last night. She’d screwed up his meeting with the Banker. She had a secret agenda. How many more reasons did he need to think of her as a suspicious interloper instead of Margaux, the woman of his dreams?
Evidently more than that because his gut was kinked over leaving and knowing he could spend a few more hours with her if he didn’t have this meeting.
CHAPTER 27
Margaux leaned her ear against the wall, listening for the ATV’s engine noise to fade into silence. Logan hadn’t said how long he’d be gone, but if he was taking his team she hoped it would be at least an hour each way.
She couldn’t risk miscalculating.
Stripping out of the shirt that she’d worn again because she could smell him ingrained in every fiber, she walked over and lifted the bucket of water with her strong arm. Her injured one hadn’t let up on complaining since she’d struggled with Logan and ripped a stitch.
Heat flamed her face.
She’d used sexual advances in a mission before, but only to the point of distracting an enemy or a target. Never had she slept with anyone to accomplish a mission. But she still felt dirty after using Logan’s body to outmanuever him. And she’d have made it if she’d hadn’t paused to appreciate the sound of him coming.
She’d reveled in seeing him let go so long ago and had missed that. But her hesitation had cost her.
Not this time.
She placed the bucket next to the side of the bed that faced the door and soaked a towel in it, then she started dribbling water on the floor around the bucket.
She’d almost screwed up last night after waiting hours for Logan to relax. She’d fallen asleep and had been pleasantly surprised to wake up snuggled to him and with him wearing only his boxers.
Talk about the perfect set up.
Then he’d looked into her eyes and kissed her.
She’d forgotten about escaping and indulged in kissing him back. Nothing had mattered more than climbing into his arms and forgetting about everything else.
She might have stayed right there if she hadn’t tweaked her stitches when he lifted her on top of him. That pain had been enough to shake her out of the moment and shove her survival instincts back into place.
She stopped dripping water to survey her work.
There was a nice pattern of water on the floor that looked liked she’d jumped up and splashed some out while washing. That should work. She climbed on top of the crate that served as a nightstand.
Lifting the wet towel, she squeezed the cold water over her shoulders and body, shivering at the quick chill.
She had one chance to make this work. Gripping the towel so that it was between her breasts and dangling down to just cover the essentials between her legs, she shouted, “Logan! Godammit get in here. Logan!”
Moose was at the door, banging. “What’s wrong?”“A fucking snake.” She kicked the lantern so that it crashed on the floor. “Get in here and kill it!”
The door flew open and a blond Rambo Jr. stood there looking both capable of taking on a terrorist cell alone and afraid to take
a step inside.
Now was the time to show true terror. She used the memory of thinking the kidnappers might have killed Logan and shouted, “Kill it you son-of-a-bitch!”
“Where is it?” Moose moved in, a Glock 21 in one hand and a Taser in his other.
She was shaking hard to sell her fear, but he wasn’t coming in fast enough.
She shrieked and dropped the towel, pointing.
His jaw fell open.
Perfect. She snarled at Moose, “Stop looking at me and kill the fucking snake!”
He jerked at being caught staring and got serious. “Where is he?”
She pointed at the bucket. “Right there. He’s curled up behind the bucket. Oh shit, he’s coiling. He’ll bite me.” She punched a lot of fear in that last shout. “Do something, dammit.”
The best view of behind the bucket forced Moose to take two steps in a hurry and stop next to her then lean to his left to look around the bucket.
She cupped her hands together and came down hard on his head, knocking him to the floor. In the half-second it took him to hit the ground, she jumped and snatched the Taser away, stunning him.
He jerked and shouted in pain, then nothing.
She’d feel bad about tazing him if not for the fact that he’d have done it to her in a minute without an ounce of remorse.
He hadn’t liked her for no reason before.
Now at least he had a reason.
Grabbing his arm, she dragged him to the bed where she propped him up. First she had to secure him, then get dressed and, if the universe was feeling generous, she’d find an ATV with the keys in it outside.
CHAPTER 28
Nick hated playing the messenger, especially taking bad news to Sabrina.
Sabrina hit her desk with her fist. “Margaux calls from a Columbian jungle and isn’t there when her extraction team arrives. Nobody has seen her or heard a word since? Not a word? She didn’t just disappear.”
“She might have. She didn’t mention Dragan, but there was evidence of two prisoners in the camp. They found two huts where someone had bled recently.”
“Someone has to know something on her or Dragan.”
