Occasionally, he would stroke her cheek, or tuck a stray piece of hair behind her ear. When he kissed her on the lips, she moved instinctively closer to his body. He felt his body tighten when she placed her leg over his possessively and dropped her arm over his hip. Blackhawk tucked his arm under her head and pulled her against him to hold her.
Tonight they’d sleep.
Tomorrow he’d apologize profusely and hope that she’d forgive him once again for being an idiot. There was very little peace in his body. Just because she was found didn’t mean she was going to forgive him for his behavior.
* * *
The killer watched as the one brother returned alone to the house he was staking out. He wanted to follow the woman until he could abduct her. All of this was making him very frustrated, and the feeling of being out of control consumed him. If she wasn’t here, there was only one other place that she could possibly be, and that would be on the reservation. He was going to have to take a little trip out to the old man’s homestead and find her. He had plans, and they were slowly unraveling and making him angry.
He started the car and pulled away. It was time to find Elizabeth Blackhawk, because she had a date with the spirit world.
* * *
Callen Whitefox parked the Denali and entered his brother’s house.
Again, he felt like he was being watched, and there was the overwhelming need to look out the window. Down the street, he saw headlights go on, and a sedan sized car pull away.
Part of him was nervous, but the rational part of him brushed it off. Taking no chances, he set the alarm and grabbed a slice of pizza, before tossing the rest into the refrigerator. He wanted a shower and to just relax for the rest of the night. Tomorrow, he had to head into his office and again do more paperwork to make sure that everything on the reservation was being taken care of properly.
He couldn’t help but think back to the white board in his sister-in-law’s office and the name under the face of the one victim. He was going to need to drive out to the Montgomery family land, and he wasn’t looking forward to giving them the bad news. He would take one of his deputies with him when he did it, so that he could help keep them calm. The last thing he wanted or needed was to stir up the Natives and get them ready for vengeance against a killer, or against the FBI agents that were his family.
As he wandered around the living room, Whitefox was drawn to the bookshelf that held all the photos in the room. He couldn’t help but notice that most of them were of Elizabeth and a man he assumed was her father. There were a few of her alone and few of her with Ethan.
In the pictures, he was smiling and looked relaxed and happy. His hair was down, literally, and he didn’t have the lines of stress on his face. Most of them had him staring at his wife, and the love was evident in his facial expressions. He made a mental note to get Elizabeth some of their family photos. He was pretty sure that she would love to have them, as they created a family together and many more memories.
Whitefox yawned and headed up the stairs to the bedroom. Finishing his pizza, he took a shower and brushed his teeth. Once again, hoping he would find nothing more but a deep sleep.
~ Chapter Thirteen ~
The killer drove brazenly right onto the reservation. He’d done it many times before, pretending to be a tourist, stopping in to look at the wares some Native Americans were selling and to have a beer in the local bar. It was like he was one of them, blending in and camouflaged in plain sight. He would make his family proud and not askew his heritage, but embrace it with open arms and a willing heart.
He would make a great patriarch to the family one day, and he couldn’t wait to move onto the reservation and lead his people in the ways of their ancestors. He was perfecting his craft and honing his skills. Tomorrow he would put out a new medicine wheel, and make an offering to the spirits and ask for guidance on what to do next.
As he pulled off to the side of the road to exit his vehicle and find his other sacred stash of bones, he saw the lights coming up behind him. Shit! Getting caught here would be a disaster. As the vehicle pulled up behind him, he grabbed his weapon and waited.
With the tap on the window he opened it.
“Yes, Officer?”
“Can I ask what you're doing back here on the reservation, sir?” he asked, shining his flashlight in the car.
“I was at the bar and must have taken a wrong turn, Officer. I just pulled over to check my GPS and map my way out,” he answered smiling. “I didn’t want to cause an accident while driving. I thought this would be safer.”
The officer relaxed and lowered his guard. “Go about a mile down the road, take a left and then you should follow that straight out,” he said, looking away for that brief moment.
The killer struck, the tazer hummed and knocked the man to the ground, and he got out of his car and looked down at the groaning man. Hitting the button again, he stunned him more, watching his muscles contract and tighten painfully. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a syringe and shoved it into the man’s neck, watching him go completely still. Now he had to dispose of the body, and get out of there fast. He would have to come back another time and get the bones. There was no conceivable way he could risk getting his DNA on the man, or the deputy vehicle. If he did, the FBI would have him.
The killer dragged the deputy into the weeds and left the body, escaping into the night. The syringe that he had planned for Elizabeth Blackhawk needed to be refilled for when he took her next. Damn all the distractions and the ruining of his plans. It was a good thing that he believed the spirits wanted him to follow through, or he would think this was all a sign trying to stop him.
* * *
Elizabeth knew she was being watched and it was a little disturbing, but then she caught the scent of cologne and she just knew. Ethan Blackhawk had found her, and he was right there with her, waiting for her to open her eyes. There was no doubt that he was going to give her the lecture and yell at her for the disappearing act. It seemed silly since she was completely safe at his grandfather’s home. Slowly opening her eyes, and she braced for his eruption.
“Good morning,” he said, softly.
“Morning, Ethan.” She didn’t know what else to say to him. When she left the house last night, she knew he was going to be angry with her, but she didn’t want to stay there alone. Being there by herself made her feel off balance.
“I missed you,” he whispered, brushing a hair from her cheek.
“I don’t want to argue. I’m too emotionally drained. Just yell at me and get it over with okay? I left the house. I disobeyed, and I made you mad. I get it, Ethan. I’m a horrible wife and a bad mother to our unborn child. You both deserve better and I don’t blame you for thinking it or saying it. Marrying me and knocking me up was a huge mistake.”
It crushed him that her first instinct waking up was to defend herself, and then to admit she was flawed. Hadn’t that been what his last relationship had been like? The ex-girlfriend that always ordered him around, yelling at him to make him feel like less than a man. Here he’d been no better, doing the same to her and breaking her spirit. Not once had his wife ever crushed his heart, where he found himself doing it frequently in anger. “I'm not going to yell at you, Elizabeth,” and he meant it. “You weren’t a mistake, baby.”
Elizabeth just felt so empty. The anger and space between them was crushing her and making her lose focus. She just wanted the old Ethan back. All of this was too much to deal with now.
“I didn’t hunt you down to yell. I searched for you to tell you that I’m sorry, Elizabeth.” He took a breath. “I know I hurt you, and I apologize a lot. Especially lately, but I need to say it until you believe me. I shouldn’t have been so hard on you, picking on you and pushing you down while you're having our child.”
Her eyes filled with tears.
“I just have no control when it comes to you, baby. I just want to wrap you up, and put you away to make sure nothing bad touches you. You're the only
good in my life, and I don’t want it tainted or hurt. Marrying you was the best thing I ever did, and us having a baby is amazing, but it has nothing on the miracle of me finding the love of my life.”
A tear broke free.
“I shouldn’t tell you what to eat or where to go. I just get this fear inside me that you're going to get hurt, and if that happens…” He stopped and tried to push down the overwhelming need to pull her into his arms just to feel her. “I’ll go on a rampage and destroy everything around me. I just can’t swallow the idea that I could lose you.”
She still said nothing.
“My brother told me I’m an asshole, and my eighty-eight year old grandfather threatened to kick my ass if I made you cry again. Right now, they’re both welcome to have at it. I deserve it. If I made you feel like a mistake, then I don’t deserve you.”
When she sniffled he looked alarmed.
“Deep down, I know that you can take care of yourself. I also know that you don’t need me to treat you like you’re three years old, but I just feel very protective. I never had anything in my life that was permanent, and I don’t know how to hold onto you and keep you with me. I’m afraid I’m going to lose you. One day, I’ll wake up and you’ll be gone, because you finally had the common sense to see that you're more than I deserve.” His voice broke. “I’m afraid you’ll see me and realize that I was the mistake.”
“Ethan…”
“That I’m just some interchangeable Indian on the Rez. I’m scared that I’ll lose you, because I’m not good enough to have a woman that is way out of my league.”
Elizabeth heard the words and felt his pain. There was no way she could stay mad at him. “I didn’t plan on going anywhere, Ethan. I didn’t marry you to walk away. I married you to stay and start a life with you, and you and I aren’t in different leagues. You’re worthy of love. I just want you to see me as the woman I was in Salem, the one you fell in love with. Yeah, I’m pregnant, but I’m still me.”
When she finally spoke he felt his heart loosen up a little bit. “I love you, and I need you in my life. You keep me anchored and strong. Without you, Elizabeth, my life would be so empty. I can’t go on without you, or with you hating me.”
“I don’t hate you, Ethan. I love you more than anything.”
“Please forgive me? I know I’m over bearing, overprotective, and bossy, but I never had this much to lose before. Losing you would be crushing. Losing you and our child,” he took a deep breath. “I don’t think I could survive it or would want to survive it.”
Elizabeth tucked his hair behind his ear, and ran her finger down his cheek. “I understand Ethan, and I forgive you.”
Everything in him that was all tied in knots broke loose. He didn’t have that cold feeling anymore deep in his body. In fact, he felt warmth just from the touch to his cheek alone. He slid his body closer and looked down at her lips. All he wanted was to just feel her in his arms and know that it would be alright.
“Ethan,” she whispered, feeling his breath on her lips, hovering just above her mouth waiting as if for some silent message. She ran her hand up his arm to his shoulder and into his hair at the nape of his neck.
“I need you, Lyzee,” he pleaded softly, and then took her mouth slowly. He wasn’t going to hurry, and he wasn’t going to be forceful. Now, he wanted to show her what he needed and she needed, slow, sensual love making. They needed it to heal them both.
Elizabeth could feel his hands all over her body. The frantic movement was gone, and in its place was a slow exploration and memorization of her body. Her husband was taking his time and exploring all of her, and she relaxed into the ride. Part of her wanted to remind him that they were in his grandfather’s home, but she didn’t think he’d care or stop.
“I finally get you all warm from sleep. Usually, you’re out of bed and escaping, before I can have morning sex with my wife.” Blackhawk did wicked things to her earlobe and throat.
Without a word she began unbuttoning his shirt. When she could see his chest, she ran the palms of her hands across it, feeling all the lines and ridges that she loved. He was all hard and muscle, and it made her heat up instantly.
“When you touch me I can’t think straight,” he whispered in her ear. “You make it hard to go slow.”
Elizabeth lovingly looked up at her husband. He was above her body, pressing her to the bed with his weight, and yet trying to not crush her. She slid her hands down to his pants and flicked them open without even struggling. As she ran her hands over his hips and down into his boxers, across his ass she used her nails to gently scrape his flesh and drive him wild. “I’m sorry I make you so wild you can’t contain yourself,” she whispered back, meeting his mouth for a kiss.
Holy shit, his wife made him wild. He was trying to be slow and sensual, and now she was using teeth and nails. He wanted nothing more than to take her hard and fast. Control was slipping as he fought harder to give her tenderness and gentle loving. “You're over dressed, Lyzee,” he said, as he broke the kiss and began pulling the shirt she was wearing off her body.
“Then undress me, Ethan,” she ran her fingers across his chest to the raven tattoo. There was no way she could ever picture him without it. “Then you need to get naked too.”
Blackhawk slid off the bed and reached for his wife’s belt buckle. He had it open in seconds. Next, he leaned over the bed, leaving little wet kisses over her navel, and their growing child. As he unzipped her jeans, he left more kisses on the exposed flesh. The only thought in his mind was what was waiting for him. Sliding her jeans down her legs, he found the treasure he’d been dreaming about. What he found were tiny lace panties that were erotic and inviting all at the same time. It felt like all his muscles tightened at the same time, as he wanted nothing more than to bury himself deep in her body.
“You're still dressed, Ethan,” she whispered, pointing to his pants.
“Trust me, I won’t be for long,” he answered, dropping his pants and boxers, as he gazed down at his wife. Her eyes roamed his body appreciatively. There wasn’t ever a woman that watched him the way she did, and it made him crazy with lust.
Elizabeth could barely breathe. Her husband was amazing, sleek and sexy. Just the visual of him naked and ready for her made her want to climb all over him. He was a warrior with all the tribal ink. She went to take off her bra and he stopped her.
“I’ll handle that, if you don’t mind,” he climbed back onto the bed, and didn’t even unhook it. It was ripped up and off her body, hard and fast. When she gasped, he got harder and wanted her more, if that was possible. “Now I think I’ll start snacking on my tasty wife.” He kissed her throat and nibbled down lower to her breasts, teasing them both, slowly and until she was breathless.
“Ethan,” she felt so warm and ready for him. “I want you.”
He left little nips and kissed lower and then looked up at her. “I need to taste my wife and take my time. I don’t often catch you in bed in the morning.” He continued lower and didn’t even pull the panties down, he just pulled them to the side. It almost made him lose control right there. He dove into her, tasting and exploring her with tongue, teeth and fingers. When she was breathless and on the verge of breaking apart, he slid up her body and positioned himself above her. “Take all of me, Lyzee,” he whispered into her ear.
“Yes, Ethan,” she replied, opening for him. As he slowly slid deep into her body, she fractured into a million pieces, clenching down around him. She could feel him start to move. There were slow and long strokes to build her back up and make her explode again. As soon as she was able to focus, she wrapped her legs around him and cupped him. His rhythm faltered momentarily, and she rolled bringing him underneath her body. “It seems to be my turn, Mr. Blackhawk.”
He could feel her fingers gently holding him and cupping him while she slid up and down his body. With her mouth, she slowly began kissing him. Ethan didn’t know how long he could make it. This had to be the most amazing feeling on th
e planet. He buried his hands in her hair, and kissed her more urgently.
Elizabeth could feel the need building in them both. There was little chance she would last much longer. From the look on his face, neither would he. He was already starting to shake, as he fought for control. She broke the kiss, and whispered in his ear, and he moaned, arching his hips up into her body more urgently. The frenzy was back, and he needed fast and hard. No longer would this be simply morning love making; now it was feverishly hot sex. Elizabeth was more than happy to give her husband exactly what he needed. A wild ride.
As his wife began torturing him, all he could think of was lasting a few seconds more to prolong the bliss. The warm feel of her body tightening around him, coaxing him to release was completely addicting. The promises she whispered in his ears drove him wild, and made him visualize every single word. He felt the control slip as she slammed down hard against him, both their breath leaving their bodies in a gasp.
She bit his earlobe and slid all the way off his body, whispering the promise he needed to hear, “There will only ever be you, Ethan,” as she slammed down again. “You’re my only.”
The words pushed him closer, as she exploded and tightened around him. The feeling of her body milking his, promised him complete bliss. With no more fight in him to stay in control, he simply let her take him to the precipice. With his final thrust upward, the explosion filled him and blinded him with complete and total pleasure. She was his everything, and if possible so much more.
Elizabeth relaxed against her husband, lying over his body and close to his ear. She could feel his heart pounding under her own, and she laid kisses on his throat. “I can’t believe I had sex with you in your grandfather’s home,” she whispered and tried not to giggle.
Sacred Burial Grounds (An FBI Romance Thriller (book 2)) Page 32
