by Angela White
Luke didn’t lie. “They’ll hang me right then, probably save you for a trial, but it’ll be fixed. You’ll be dead before I’m buried.”
“Then we’ll have to get them first, won’t we?”
Kendle’s harsh sneer took Luke by surprise. That was the old Kendle, the one he’d viewed on TV, and the outcast agreed reluctantly. “Yes, if it comes to that.”
“You already know it will.”
He sighed. “No, I don’t and until it’s sure, we won’t talk about killing them. It’s one of my hang-ups.”
Kendle understood returning to the past that had almost destroyed him was painful to even consider, but she had a feeling that before this was over, Whacker, as Luke had been called in Vietnam, would be required. If Ethan and the others were infected with something, they had nothing to lose and it took them from dangerous to deadly. She and Luke would have to react accordingly.
“How long until dark?” she asked, missing the cabin’s windows, but not the background noise of angry ocean.
“Four hours, give or take. We should get a snooze in.”
Kendle flushed at the instant image of sleeping in his big arms and that sent her thoughts to the mission they were about to undertake. Things would get rough from here; she could almost sense it coming. These might be their last few peaceful hours together and she couldn’t think of a better way to spend them.
“I could take a nap,” she stated softly, smiling.
Luke felt her need and grinned in return. “You want front or rear?”
“Front.”
Her furious blush had Luke forcing a yawn. “Yeah, me, too.”
2
Their trek down the cliff took a lot longer on foot. The sun was gone before they hit the bottom and Kendle stayed by Luke’s warm shadow as they moved through the darkness. He had them tied together again, but for Kendle, it wasn’t enough to dispel the tension caused by the sense of being spied on.
Luke felt the attention on them too, and was glad when they reached the bottom and slid beneath the dense canopy of the jungle. In here, they could move without being glimpsed, thanks to his liking for not taking the beaten path.
They moved steadily through the night, stopping only for short rest and food breaks where they sat close and didn’t speak. Now that they were actually taking action, the seriousness had set in. They were tracking down a murderer.
Dawn was still an hour away when Luke finally called a halt and Kendle sank to the ground gratefully. She was determined not to complain about whatever pace he set, but it was clear that her body wasn’t ready for much more than walking.
“You okay?”
She was anticipating curling up with him to wait out the daylight. “Fine as frog fur.”
Luke sniggered. “Didn’t know frogs had fur.”
“It’s very fine,” she teased as he began to prepare the area for a campsite. They were about a mile from the base of the cliff that hid his hole-up and Kendle tensed suddenly as the sound of water came to her ears. They weren’t near the ocean here. What was that noise?
Luke knew her demons well and sought to soothe her. “It’s a waterfall, from the cliff. We’ll stop by later and cool off.”
Kendle agreed happily. Despite the darkness, the temperature was still above seventy and she’d been sweating heavily most of the trip so far. Cooling off sounded wonderful.
Luke made a motion. “Stay put.”
He sliced through the end of the rope, releasing her and she waited with trepidation. “Where are you–”
She stopped as his shadow began hacking vines from the base of the wall. The machete flashed in the darkness and Kendle wondered if his demons were on him as he cleared the entrance to what could only be an over-grown cave. Moving through the jungle at night had to be a blast from his past.
Luke ignited a torch and he vanished into the small hole in the cliff.
Kendle slid in behind him without hesitating. She wasn’t staying out there alone.
The cave was small and dry, surprising since he’d mentioned a waterfall. Flat and curving around to disappear, the area was also spooky and she kept him in sight as he checked it out.
“This should be fine until nightfall,” he called, slamming the torch handle into a hole in the center to keep them lit up. “The rear is mostly a dead end, bats in there.”
Kendle shuddered at the thought, but dutifully stripped her gear. If he said they were safe here, they were.
Luke got busy setting up their camp. When he finished, he moved outside to cover their tracks and Kendle waited silently by the torch, fighting images of what would happen if he didn’t return. She could count on Luke. He would never abandon her. And I won’t leave him either, Kendle realized, recognizing her feelings. I love Luke. It isn’t in question anymore.
3
“Where do you think they’re going?”
Bright green eyes studied the Sheriff with contempt. “Your mother’s place.”
Cole wasn’t sure that a few slaps and threats had been enough to keep his mother from telling what she knew, but said the opposite. He couldn’t let Ethan infect her, too. “She won’t help them.”
“She already did,” Ethan growled in frustration. He’d expected to have Luke locked up by now and Kendle in his private care. “She was supposed to send them off on a wild goose chase, not give them clues!”
Cole hadn’t understood what his mother was doing either and he let out a quick sigh. Since he’d been attacked at the shack, he was always impatient. “You know she isn’t right, Ethan. You shouldn’t have picked her to help frame him.”
Faced with the truth, the deteriorating playboy spun toward the cave. “They didn’t have contact with anyone else. He’s too slick.”
“Where are you going? The Mayor said to wait.”
Ethan spun around suddenly, grabbing the Sheriff by his shirt. “My dad is almost dead. I’m next. Before that, them.”
“But the plan-”
Ethan shoved him away in revulsion. “The plan! My father wants to leave our family in charge. If I’m dead, what the hell do I care?”
Cole watched carefully, sensing he was on the edge. If Ethan went nuts, Cole would have to be the one to deal with it. What would calm him down? It came easily enough, after considering Cole’s own new, violent urges.
“But if we don’t get rid of them other girls first, Luke can’t be blamed. They’ll figure it out and know it was you.”
Ethan had stopped and Cole pushed, but carefully. “Awful way to be remembered, but if you think we should do it now, I’m with you.”
“I need to fill it again.”
The Sheriff felt a chill at the words, picturing the last mess, and then the future that waited for his own infected soul, but he seized the opportunity. “Why don’t you go on? I’ll report or keep following them, whichever you want.”
“Get the rest of them over to Jenna’s and shut her up,” Ethan ordered, moving away from the cave. “If you don’t, I will.”
4
Kendle had been awake for a while, listening to the creaks of the cave and night falling outside. Only desiring his warmth at first, she’d crawled onto Luke’s bare chest and pressed tightly, trying not to shiver. Once his heat had begun to seep into her bones, the feel of his naked skin under her cheek had sent delicious thoughts into her mind.
When he’d hugged her tighter in his sleep, it was easy to be carried away and she pressed her mouth fiercely to his.
Kendle knew he wasn’t alert yet, knew she should stop after the one good morning embrace, but when he deepened the kiss, claiming her mouth as if he owned it, thoughts of stopping were pushed aside by desire.
Luke was struggling with himself, still in that hazy area between sleep and awake. Her body was hot against him, inviting, and he let his hand drift down to capture her jean-covered cheek. He shifted beneath her as that familiar iron bar returned and his hips tilted upward instinctively.
“Oohhh...” Kendle melted against hi
m at the intimate contact, swept into a vivid river of stunning light.
Luke tensed under her.
“Don’t stop yet.” She gasped against his mouth. “In a minute or two. Maybe.”
Luke answered with a sharp jerk that had her arching against him in stunned pleasure. He pressed his lips to hers, swallowing a growl of need when she spread her legs over his hips. He let the kiss linger, their bodies rubbing, breath mingling.
“Any farther and I won’t want to stop, Darlin’. We should get up now.”
Swallowing a flip remark that was sure to ruin the mood, Kendle said, “I don't want you to stop. I want to be yours.”
Her confession was a tight whisper and his nostrils flared as if he was scenting prey. Luke’s lips rose to hers and this time, he was demanding, insisting. He cradled her as he rolled them over and they both arched at the feel of him lying on top of her.
This kiss was hotter, and she shuddered when his hand slid inside her shirt to touch bare skin.
“Easy,” Luke breathed against her cheek and Kendle's heart thumped as he rubbed a taut nipple. His grip tightened, almost to pinching before letting up, and Kendle moaned at the sensation.
Luke slid his lips to her neck, nose full of her exotic smell, and he pressed a kiss to her throat, feeling the hunger wake. They’d necked a lot since his promise to love her, but none of those sexy moments had gone far before she pulled back.
That wasn’t going to happen this time, he guessed. Heat flashed out, nearly consuming.
“Kendle, are you–”
Her mouth covered his, tongue tasting, and his hands slid around her bare skin. He deepened the kiss as her silken breasts touched his hard chest.
Kendle moaned lowly at the feel of their skin touching, stunned by the waves of need, and Luke held her tighter, trying to memorize it. He wouldn’t be able to go as slow with her as he wanted to, but it would be incredible.
Luke shifted and the heat in his gaze was enough to burn. “So beautiful…” he murmured, sliding a hand down her hip.
Kendle jerked as his hand brushed the button of her jeans and slid the zipper down. Instead of stripping her as he wanted to do, Luke only lowered himself against her.
Kendle shivered when his rough cheek slid across her bare breast and her hands tangled in his hair.
Luke pressed soft, slow kisses to her pert little breasts, her taut, rosy nipples, and finally allowed himself to taste her.
His tongue flicked over a tip and Kendle arched against him.
He repeated the action on the other side, and used her distraction to unbutton his own jeans without her noticing. Then he reached down for hers.
Kendle tensed, but allowed her pants to be pulled off, hands clenching to keep herself from bolting. She wanted Luke, but she had a fear of the pain, too. All of it flew from her mind when he settled against her. Still wearing his boxers, he pushed against her as he suckled a rocky peak and Kendle shuddered at the sensation.
Her body was damp against his thigh, and Luke slid a gentle finger over her folds, pressing. He did it again, a bit slower, and Kendle’s breath caught at the dizzying wave of chills. When he kept doing it, the fire between her legs spread out until she felt like she was being consumed.
Luke allowed his finger to press harder, sliding further down to glide through the signs of her approval, and Kendle’s body trembled, muscles clenching in that telltale sign that sent Luke’s own need from hot to leaping flames. She was ready.
He leaned down to nuzzle her chest again, pushing against the only G-spot he’d ever discovered, and she moaned, a low, liquid sound that sent a vicious crack through his control. This is the wire!
Kendle was pulled from the river of rainbow colors by his sudden tension. Not sure if she'd done something wrong, she waited for him to move again, heart pounding. She'd never been so aware of her body, or felt need like this!
Luke fought for control, but the flames! Against his will, his hand went to her slender hips, and then moved over her taut, pink breasts.
They both drew in air at the not-as-gentle contact. His fingers brushed a peak, drawing another molten sound that sent heat rolling into his toes, and then he was leaning down to claim her mouth in surrender.
Lightning flashed as they kissed, small gasps and groans of pleasure echoing, and she was unaware of all his clothes being gone until she felt his bare knee between her legs.
She tensed, scared, and Luke won a last battle for gentleness. He slowed his movements, finishing the torturous slide between her long legs, but stopping without touching his throbbing member to her slick heat. He kept himself under tight constraint, his own need screaming for him to take her.
He dropped his head to her neck, breathing harsh. “I love you, Kendle,” he whispered.
Simple, it had the desired effect and her body relaxed against his. “I love you, too, Luke. You’re so good to me.”
His hand slid over her leg and upward. “Let me be good to you a little more?”
Her body jumped under his touch and he let his hand continue its journey. He stroked her nub with his thumb, being sure to linger and she shuddered, regaining that dazed, smoky color he loved so much. He did it again, harder, and felt a rush of wetness that told him she was as ready as he was.
Leaning down, his hands went subtly to her wrists as he drew her into another soul searching kiss and gently pushed his hard body into hers.
Kendle’s lids flew open. She flinched and then tried to roll over.
His grip tightened. “Easy, Darlin’…”
She stilled beneath him and his hips shifted, adjusting angles. Her tension was clear despite her want and he leaned back to lock eyes with her as he pushed forward against the barrier. Her mouth opened to protest and he thrust through it brutally.
Kendle whimpered, hands now fists that tried to hold him at bay and Luke jerked forward, sinking deeply into her. “Ohh, God!”
Release flew toward him at the feel of being inside her tight body. Luke sucked in a determined air that gave him a brief second to regain control that he already knew wouldn’t succeed. Until he looked down.
Kendle’s lids were shut, tears slowly oozing from the corners and her clenched fists were trembling against his arms. Luke shifted and felt her try to shut her legs.
He held his throbbing body in check and dropped his head to her chest, lips brushing, teasing.
“You okay?” he asked softly.
“Is impaled okay?”
The sting was fading and Kendle opened her eyes, not about to miss this view of her first time, no matter how bad it got. “I’m fine.”
Luke chuckled, feeling her body slowly thawing against his. “That’s it for the pain. It only feels good from here.”
He kissed her as his free hand roamed her curves and she returned his kiss distractedly. Not moving his lower half, Luke used his lips and fingers to remind her of the pleasure and felt her body soften more. When she moaned against his lips, he gently pushed against her.
His head lowered to her chest, drawing a shudder and Luke rocked harder. It was like nothing he'd ever felt when she began to thrust back against him. Helping her become a woman gave him the strength to hold out, to please her. She slid over his member like liquid silk, tight and inviting, and when she reached her pleasure, her female body clamped down on him in a way that had him thrusting remorselessly in response.
It was heat as he’d never felt. “Oohhh…Kendle!”
The stunned cry had her body clenching in another spasm of pain-like pleasure, and Luke thrust frantically. Over the edge, he gave a last deep shove that had him locking their hips in ecstasy.
5
Despite the lack of flames, they were easy to distinguish through the cave’s entrance and the man spying on them shivered in rage as they made love. Glad to be on duty alone instead of with Ethan, the shadowy figure could hear their noises, could feel their passion. When it was over and almost immediately started again, he still lingered. Ethan would know
as soon as he saw them. It wouldn’t be much longer now.
“That was incredible,” Kendle whispered. She’d never felt anything like it. “Is it always that good?”
Luke snorted against her skin, making her jump. “No. That was…magical.” During the end, both of them had been oblivious to their surroundings. Anyone could have walked up on them and been ignored.
Luke felt pride rise up at the thick smells on her naked skin. I put those there!
He snorted again, making Kendle giggle.
“Share.”
He propped himself up on one arm, their lower bodies still connected. “Just having a man moment.”
He used a soft hand to brush the damp black spikes from her cheek so that he could place a kiss there.
Kendle arched under him in surprise at the new, wet friction of their entwined bodies. Electric heat shot through her at the flash of how much she’d enjoyed his pleasure and she pulled his mouth down to hers.
6
Jenna’s place had been ransacked.
There was no sight of the shopkeeper and Luke and Kendle stared in surprise at the damage. They’d made it here in two days, but it hadn’t been fast enough. Windows broken, goods scattered, it was clear bad things had happened recently. The embers in the fire-can were still glowing.
“What should we do now?” Kendle asked lowly, searching the still greenness around them.
“Back to the hole-up, I guess,” he answered reluctantly. He was almost certain that Sheriff Cole knew where it was. They needed a place that no one would think to search.
“Can we go by the cabin first?” Kendle asked, mind suddenly on their first trip here. She’d spotted something that day, hadn’t she? Something they needed.
“Why? You leave something behind?”
“Not exactly. I...I think I spotted a clue.”
Luke studied her, hating the flashes of his awful past now slapping him. She was his now. If he wanted to keep her, he would have to fix whatever the Krafts’ had done to this island. And she would have to help, because he had nowhere to stash her. Damn it!
