The Hidden Years

by Susan Kearney

  She had a lot of thinking to do.

  You think too much.

  Oh, really.

  Yes, really. You could very well be caught tomorrow.

  Thanks. I feel so much better now.

  Surely not even you can consider wasting what might be your last night of—

  Of what?

  Life? Freedom? Who knows what those creeps want? But you know what you want.

  “What?”

  “I didn’t say anything,” Jake murmured as he entered the living area, his hair still damp, his eyelashes spiked with water droplets. He eyed her with amusement. “Talking to yourself again?”

  Heat rose in her cheeks, and she wondered if she was blushing. “I don’t mean to be pessimistic, but how are we going to get off the island?”

  “By going where they don’t expect us.”

  “And where would that be?”

  “Back to the good old U.S. of A.”

  “I thought we needed to go to—”

  “Istanbul. We do. But we won’t be flying direct. We can catch a flight back to Miami, Orlando or Atlanta, stay on the plane so we needn’t go through customs and then fly to Europe.”

  “Sounds good.” She peered out the window at the storm now in full force. Wind whipped the waves into whitecaps, and she was glad they were no longer at sea. “But aren’t they going to watch the airport?”

  “They’ll be looking for a couple. We’ll travel separately.” He held up his hand to stop her protest. “And I have several other tricks up my sleeve.” He paused, frowning as lightning skipped across the sky and thunder roared, then he smiled. “But you’re trying to change the subject. Thinking about our travel arrangements wouldn’t make you blush, Sunshine.”

  Annoyed that he could see through her so easily, she stood with as much dignity as she could and headed toward the bathroom. “Did you leave me any hot water?”

  His voice turned husky. “If you get cold, I’ll be happy to come in and warm you up.”

  She spun around and faced him, her heart pounding. “Don’t make offers you’ll regret.”

  “I’m all done with regrets, Sunshine.”

  “It’s about time.” She shot him her best saucy grin and headed for the shower, hoping that this time he wouldn’t change his mind.

  Chapter Twelve

  For all his waiting, Jake wanted the moment to be perfect. While she showered, he ordered fresh flowers from the condo’s gift shop downstairs, telling them he wanted whatever smelled best. He also ordered condoms from the small pharmacy, arranging for the gift shop to deliver them with the flowers. Next he checked to make sure the linens were fresh, drew the blinds against the storm and checked the locks on the doors. He tipped the delivery boy for the flowers and the condoms, setting the flowers on the bedroom dresser in front of a mirror.

  He placed his gun within easy reach on the night-stand and tossed his shirt over it so Cassidy wouldn’t worry. He placed the birth control within easy reach of the bed and then spent the time pacing. Her skin must have become waterlogged twenty minutes ago.

  He was about to knock on the door to see if she was okay when she finally came out, smelling better than the fragrant white blossoms on the dresser.

  Her eyes widened, and then she grinned appreciatively and sniffed. “I adore magnolias.”

  He took her into his arms, gently tipped up her chin. “And I adore you.”

  “Why thank you, kind sir.” She nibbled his lip, wrapped her arms around his neck and drew him closer. “I’m kind of partial to you, too.”

  Although they weren’t the words Jake had hoped to exchange before making love, he wasn’t about to quibble. Not when she smelled like fresh vanilla wrapped in sunshine. Not when her skin was as soft as moonlight. Not when every atom in his body hungered for her.

  He swept her into his arms and placed her on the bed. He had yet to take off her robe. Swiftly, he remedied that situation. He ached to explore her perfectly shaped breasts, yet he resisted, savoring the sweetness of anticipation.

  Outside, the hard rain swelled into a drumbeat that matched his primal mood. He yearned to be inside her.

  Not yet.

  She reached for the blanket to cover herself. “You’re staring.”

  He smoothed the blanket back. “Just taking a moment to appreciate you.”

  She blushed at his compliment, her nipples tightening. “I’ve never thought that we…I feel wanton.”

  “Nothing wrong with that. Someday I’d like you to swim naked with me in the sunlight. No. In silver starlight to contrast with your hair.”

  He saw the uncertainty in her eyes war with eagerness to go further. She nervously bit her bottom lip. “Jake…I’m not sure I can give you everything you want.”

  “Shh. I’ll take what I need.”

  “You mean you’ll take what I give you.”

  “That, too.” He drew her closer, whispered into her mouth, his heart beating harder than the rain outside.

  She reached for him. “Aren’t you taking off your pants?”

  “Soon.”

  “That’s not fair,” she pouted.

  And that was when he touched her nipple with his tongue. She arched under him, demanding more. He licked the other nipple. Just a taste, whetting both their appetites before dipping to explore the hollow at her hip, the curve at her side, the indentation of her navel. And all the while he caressed her thighs, enjoying the mixture of tension and craving that surrounded them.

  She let out a soft moan and grabbed him. “This is torture, and now it’s your turn.”

  Her hands explored him with more urgency than finesse, heating him until he knew he couldn’t wait much longer. Still, he let her take charge, relishing her enjoyment, her enthusiastic participation, her willingness to give and receive in a cycle that kept his senses spiraling.

  She started to unfasten his pants, but he placed his hands over hers. “Not yet.”

  “But—”

  “I’m not done exploring.”

  She tossed her hair over her shoulder. “Neither am I.” Boldly, unwilling to wait, she straddled him. “Didn’t you ever hear of ladies first?”

  He rolled her beneath him with a chuckle. “Sassy lady. You’ve got me so hot, you’ll deny us both if you persist.”

  She sighed and threw her hands over her head. “Fine. Have me your way.”

  “I fully intend to.” He parted her legs and slid between her thighs, inhaling her feminine scent.

  When she understood his intentions, she tried to lurch up, but he held her flat. “You’re so beautiful. I intend to explore every nook and cranny.”

  And then he dipped his head and tasted her, and she let out a long breathy moan. Thunder broke overhead. Rain beat a tattoo against the windows, while the woman beneath him bucked and squirmed until she let out a wild shout of release.

  He let her recover for a moment and removed his jeans, took a moment to don protection. She watched him wide-eyed as he rolled the condom over himself. “Next time I want to do that.”

  “Next time I’ll let you.”

  “Jake?”

  “Mmm.” He started to part her legs.

  “I’ve always wanted…”

  He stopped and cupped her chin. “Tell me.”

  “You’ll think I’m silly.”

  “I won’t.”

  She bit her bottom lip. “Can I be on top?”

  “Whatever you like, Sunshine.” In one smooth move, he rolled her over him, helped her position her hips, and then she slid down until she surrounded him with heat.

  She smiled at him and experimentally rocked her hips. “This okay?”

  “This…is…heaven.” With his hands free to roam, he caressed her breasts as she began to move, silkily, slowly, sensuously.

  He thought he would die if she didn’t speed up. But she seemed quite content to tease him, instinctively sensing when he was about to go over the edge, then holding back at the last moment.

  Sweat beaded his
brow. His blood boiled. And still she held him trapped in limbo between heaven and ecstasy.

  His breath came in huge gulps. He reached between her thighs, urged her faster, harder. And then she took them both over the edge, and he exploded in a powerful rush of sensation that left him dazed, sated and eager to have her all over again.

  Jake tightened his arms around Cassidy and gently eased her onto his chest, cradling her head against his shoulder. He ran his fingers over her back, her bottom, her thighs, content to hold her.

  “That was good, wasn’t it?” she asked huskily.

  “The best.” And Jake meant it.

  She was all he’d ever wanted. And more. These moments of loving her were the highlight of his life. Now that he knew how good it was, better than he’d ever dreamed, he wanted to keep her in his arms and never let her go. But he wondered if she had other ideas….

  LOVEMAKING HAD LEFT Cassidy feeling relaxed and in awe of the intimacy they’d shared. Jake had made love to her repeatedly that afternoon and into the late hours of the night. She’d enjoyed their time together so much that she had trouble thinking about the future. She much preferred to dwell on how marvelous Jake had made her feel. But she still wasn’t ready to plan for tomorrow, not when they remained in danger and on the run. She had to keep her thoughts on the business of deceiving their pursuers.

  Before their ride to the airport, Jake began the deception by hiring two private detectives to help confuse anyone who might be watching. The following morning, with their bags packed, the four of them left for the airport. Cassidy and the female detective wore bright red wigs, blue jeans and white T-shirts. Jake and the man wore jeans, blue shirts and orange baseball caps pulled low over their eyes.

  While the two hired detectives took the front seat in the car, Jake and Cassidy hunkered down low in the back. Heart thumping, Cassidy whispered to Jake. “Did anyone take the bait?”

  “There’s no need to whisper.” Jake used a mirror to peer behind them without giving away his location. “I’ve spotted two tails. A black van and the guy on the moped.”

  The hired male detective’s eyes flickered to the mirror, then back toward the road. “I see them.”

  Jake squeezed Cassidy’s hand. “Stay cool. Remember your parts, everyone. We want them to follow us.”

  Although Jake’s voice sounded calm, she knew him too well not to recognize his underlying tension. He’d ditched his gun in the ocean, knowing better than to attempt to sneak it onto the airplane, so they were traveling unarmed.

  She could see the cords in his neck tighten, heard the vibration in his tone and sensed his worry. Was she about to lose him just after they’d finally made such a powerful emotional connection?

  Although she tried to follow Jake’s advice, her stomach churned. She wished she had time to explore her newfound feelings for this man, discern what she really thought. But with danger dogging their footsteps, she couldn’t think straight.

  She and Jake would be most vulnerable when they left the car after the detectives parked at the airport. The airport was crowded, and it took another half hour to navigate the traffic, but it gave Jake a chance to scope out the area. “There’s a man with a headset in his ear by the entrance ramp.”

  “The one reading a newspaper?” the female detective asked.

  “He appears to be studying a map.”

  “I see him.” Her companion drove the car toward the parking lot. “How many people do we have to fool?”

  Jake ran a hand through his hair. “I don’t know. Remember, after you get out of the car, split up. That way half the men will follow one of you, half the other. Ignore each other at the gate. I suspect they won’t try to grab you until they see you aren’t getting on the plane, after all. They may hassle you, but you’ve done nothing wrong, so they’ll release you once they realize their mistake. But the longer you can fool them, the better our chance of getting away.”

  Jake checked his watch. “Drive around the parking lot as if you want to find a closer spot. We’re ten minutes early.”

  Cassidy frowned, worried. They had to get away. She didn’t want to think about losing Jake, not after what they’d found together last night. “Aren’t we playing this kind of tight? Our flight must already be boarding.”

  “We have time. Remember not to rush or we could draw unwanted attention to ourselves,” Jake instructed.

  Cassidy leaned over and kissed his forehead, ready to touch him, to feel the warmth of his skin beneath her lips. “What do we do if anyone spots us?”

  “Run like hell to the plane.”

  “Can’t they flash some credentials and stop the flight?” Cassidy asked, her stomach cramped with dread. She wasn’t sure what the future held for her and Jake, but she wanted a chance to figure it out. And she would. Soon.

  “In the United States they could, but this is foreign soil. Most likely they’ll let the plane leave, especially since it’s heading for New York.”

  Although Jake had just lied to mislead the detectives who would undoubtedly be questioned if they were stopped—she and Jake were really flying to Atlanta—Cassidy still had doubts about the deception. They were dressed like the detectives to confuse any pursuers. Jake had assured her the CIA wouldn’t harm innocent bystanders who happened to look like and dress like Jake and Cassidy, but she wasn’t so sure. “Maybe this isn’t such a good idea, Jake.”

  “Hang in there, Sunshine. It’s too late to change the plan.”

  “Okay if I park now?” the detective said.

  “Go ahead. Don’t forget to lock the car and take the luggage from the trunk.”

  The man and woman released their seat belts and got out of the car. The moment the air-conditioning went off, the heat in the car increased. Cassidy had read horror stories of children and animals trapped in vehicles and dying within fifteen minutes in the summer heat.

  The detectives moved quickly, but she was sweating by the time the other couple entered the terminal. She started to sit up. Jake pulled her back down. “Not yet. One of the tails still hasn’t found a parking spot.”

  “We’re going to cook in here.”

  “Two more minutes,” Jake told her.

  She bit her bottom lip. The car had reached sauna-like conditions in just a few minutes. Another hundred and twenty seconds seemed like hours. But finally Jake popped open the door and helped Cassidy out.

  “You okay?” he asked with concern in his eyes.

  “I’m a little dizzy.” The plan was for Cassidy and Jake to also split up. But she didn’t know if she could go on alone.

  “You need water. You’re dehydrated. Can you wait until we reach the plane?”

  “I’ll try.” Cassidy wobbled a little on her feet. “We’re supposed to split up, walk into the terminal separately, sit in different aisles on the plane.”

  “I’m not leaving you.” Jake steadied her, then slung his duffel bag and her backpack over his shoulders. “Come on, Sunshine. There may not be air-conditioning inside the terminal, but at least it’s out of the sun. And I’ll buy you a cola.”

  “Ice water.”

  “Anything you like.”

  Cassidy knew they weren’t supposed to call attention to themselves, but she felt weird. Her lips were dry. And she felt weak, as if she was ill. If Jake hadn’t helped her, she wouldn’t have made it the hundred yards to the terminal. The only thing good about feeling so bad was that her nervousness about being caught had disappeared.

  A porter approached to take their bags. Jake pulled out his wallet and gave the man ten bucks. “We’re late for our plane and the lady’s dehydrated. Can you get us a couple of glasses of water?”

  “Yes, sir.” The porter grinned and shuffled away.

  Cassidy wondered if they’d ever see him again. The man was in no hurry. But then, this was the Bahamas. Hot. Slow-paced.

  Jake hurried her through the crowded terminal, and she concentrated on placing one foot in front of the other. She didn’t look at the people. S
he didn’t watch for the tails. She simply looked at her feet. So when someone suddenly stopped in front of her, she started to move around him. He moved, too.

  Her stomach lurched. Had they been caught? She jerked up her head and stared at a man who grinned at her as he thrust a glass of water at her.

  She used both hands to take the paper cup, fearful she didn’t have the strength to raise it to her lips. As if sensing her difficulty, Jake put his hands over hers and guided the cup to her mouth. She swallowed. Never had water tasted so good.

  “Easy.” Jake only let her have a few sips before he took away the cup. “Too much at once isn’t good.”

  He sipped from his own glass and then helped her drink a little more. She felt better, but still dizzy.

  Over the loudspeaker it was announced that their flight was making its final boarding. The entrance ramp would pull away in two minutes.

  “Come on, Sunshine,” Jake coaxed. “Just a little farther and you can rest.”

  Revived, although unsteady, Cassidy leaned against Jake as he half led, half dragged her toward their gate. She heard shouts behind them. A commotion. Had their ruse been found out?

  “Don’t look back. Just hand the lady our tickets and let’s board the plane.”

  The shouting behind them increased in volume, but Cassidy couldn’t tell if anyone was pursuing them or not. She stepped past the gate and down the boarding ramp, entering a line of latecomers.

  Behind them the door shut, blocking anyone from following. Cassidy smiled weakly. “We made it.”

  “Looks like it. And I don’t think anyone spotted which plane we got on.”

  She took her seat, two rows in front of Jake, sipped her water and strapped on her seat belt. A flight attendant demonstrated safety procedure, and Cassidy tuned out the familiar information.

  It’s about time you started thinking about last night.

  Her conscience had been remarkably quiet for a while, but she knew it had been too good to last.

  So what did you think?

  About the lovemaking? It was great.

  And?