Catch Me If You Can (Love's Command)

by Billi Jean

  He still wanted her. And he’d do his damnedest to make her want him, but he wasn’t rushing this. His body would have to wait, because the way she looked at him made her much more important than some quickie to get his rocks off. She’d been important before he’d found her, now that he had her close, she was even more so.

  “We’ll sleep in here. In the morning, we’ll go to your father’s lab. I’ll help you with this Kylie.”

  She stayed silent for a long moment, seeming to get how serious he was. “Why do you want to help me? Why, when your friend obviously does not,” she whispered.

  He wasn’t going there. He wasn’t telling her she’d once saved his life in the desert. If she didn’t remember, he’d hold that card to his chest for now. For some damn reason he wanted her to see him now, to want him now, and not come to him with some odd gratitude or some other twisted since of obligation.

  “I have my own mind, Kylie. Don’t think because Tazz and I work together, I can’t think on my own. Tazz and I are on a mission, though, and that mission is to stop you from handing over any secrets—drugs, formulas—anything they want,” he told her. “But that doesn’t mean I can’t aid you. You’re safer with us. You have to realize that, if you don’t, just remember that gun at the back of your head.”

  She tossed her hair over her shoulders. “I was fine. That man wanted something, and it wasn’t me dead. I lost him, if you remember?”

  “Oh, yeah? And who were they? The men that have your dad wouldn’t need to force your hand, so just how many different groups know about this work of your dad’s? Worse, you should wonder, just how many are after you, Kylie? And how many more times will you have to run, barely escaping them?” he demanded. “You forgot the ferry that quickly?”

  She shot him a frown but didn’t say what she was thinking. Instead she stalked to the other side of the room, tugging the blankets up when they threatened to fall to the floor. She looked so damn innocent, frustrated and trapped, he almost grinned. How could he have ever believed she was a spy? Selling secrets to people her father had worked hard to keep away from the very knowledge she was selling? It hadn’t fit when he’d first read the file and it didn’t fit now.

  What did fit was her to him. For the first time in his life, he’d found a person he could be around, someone he knew he’d never get bored of, or want a break from or, hell, want to fuck and forget.

  She barely knew him, but when he tried to think of what it would be like not to have her in his life, he couldn’t. He didn’t want to. He’d had a taste of missing her after she’d drugged him and left. He’d decided then he wanted more from her. Now? Now he knew it. Somehow those damn yahoos Ace, Eagle and Mac had it right. When he experienced it, he’d know.

  He damn well knew.

  Now to secure what mattered, and move them out of this trouble into something else.

  What that was, he wasn’t sure, but watching her brush her long hair off her shoulder with a nervous glance at him, he knew it would be one hell of a lot of fun.

  She blew out a frustrated breath at him, for being quiet he realized with a grin, and threw one of her hands up dramatically. “I haven’t forgotten the ferry. I haven’t forgotten any of it. I wish I could, but what I want doesn’t matter, does it?” She walked back to him, eyes narrowed, and looked at him like she wanted to argue with him when all he wanted to do was kiss her.

  The next instant a sting sizzled along his arm where she brushed against him. Almost immediately the room began to fuzz along the edges. The already low ceiling swayed as if it was falling down on top of him and she blurred around the edges. He reached out and grabbed hold of her shoulder as the world began to tip and spin.

  Damn woman had drugged him again? They needed some rules here, he realized. Like, no knocking him out.

  “I’m sorry, but I can’t let you stop me. My father is alive. I will give them anything they want to get him back. I can’t chance letting you help me. Alone I have a better chance of saving my father,” she whispered. She maneuvered under his arm, tight to his side and took part of his weight.

  “But you should get your friend help and soon. I will try to do what I can, but not until after I get my father out of this mess.”

  Her voice grew distant and he wasn’t going to be conscious much longer. The thought floated up from the blackness, trying to suck him down. He snagged his cuffs out of the back of his belt and tried to open them. The damn things wouldn’t budge. Panic spiraled up to tighten in his chest. If she got away, he’d have one hell of a time keeping her alive. The thought came with an image he never wanted to witness in his life, her lifeless and cold body.

  She circled her slim arm around his waist tighter when he sagged on his feet, but he used the movement to finally free his cuffs. She was stronger than she looked, he thought as she guided him to the bed. He fell down backwards as soon as she turned him around and eased him toward the mattress. Her face hovered above him just as it had before in the desert, then she was gone. He panicked again, until she lifted his feet onto the bed by pulling and tugging him upwards so he lay fully on the mattress.

  If he could have laughed, he would have. She was puffing and huffing by the time she appeared again.

  “Don’t do this. You aren’t safe.”

  “I’m safe. Safer alone, than with you, can’t you see that? If I don’t go, I won’t be able to stop them, or save my dad. Tazz is right. Our research in the wrong hands would cause harm.”

  He reached for her and managed to catch her hand. With his other, he unsnapped the opening to the cuff in preparation. If his mouth wasn’t so numb, no doubt he’d be grinning. Whatever she’d given him wasn’t too fast acting and from the care she was taking in getting him comfortable, he was betting on it being non-toxic just like the last time.

  She came back into view and tossed her hair off her face. She’d donned one of his T-shirts and the slam of possession dimmed his intelligence for long seconds until he realized she was speaking.

  “What?” he mumbled past his too large tongue. If he had to, he’d roll on top of her. She’d never get him off.

  “I said I didn’t give you anything harmful. You’ll be fine in five or maybe eight hours.” He caught her arm and pulled hard. She toppled down on top of him with a soft ‘oomph’.

  “Don’t go. I can protect you. Help you.”

  She bit her lip and shook her head. Silky black hair fell around him, and against his chest he could feel the soft but firm roundness of her breasts. She pushed with her hand to get free and managed to half crawl over the top of him.

  A laugh broke past her lips when he merely tugged her back down again. She grinned and shook her head. “Stop that! You can’t protect me. You’ve already saved my life. I thank you for that, but I can’t chance that your mission will mean more than my father.”

  “It won’t,” he tried to tell her, but his words came out all jumbled and incoherent even to him. He snapped the cuff on her wrist and with a jerk, fastened the other to his own arm. He thought he heard her gasp, then she hit his shoulder.

  “What have you done? Give me the key!” She sounded so upset, he used his last bit of strength to turn and curl her up in his arms.

  “In the morning, sleep now,” he managed, as the darkness billowed up and swallowed the room, the light, everything but the small, warm woman in his arms.

  Chapter Eight

  Kylie tugged at the handcuff around her wrist one more time before letting her head fall back on the mattress. The man was impossible. How had he hidden from her that he had a set of cuffs when she’d helped him to the bed? She’d been so certain of this move. Of leaving alone. Again. Now she was not only stuck here in a room with him, but in bed with him. He’d even made it so she couldn’t get out of his arms. She was sleeping with a man. In her panties, bra and his T-shirt.

  She swallowed nervously and examined his face. He was sleeping. His bigger, warmer body pressed to hers from chest to toes. He’d even lifted a leg over he
rs. His mouth drew her attention and she fought the instant urge to touch him. He wouldn’t know, she realized and reached up with her free hand and tested the softness of his lips.

  What would it be like to have him kiss her again? He’d wanted to, she knew.

  She wanted him too. Her legs had gone all weak when he’d entered the room and stood there, staring at her body in stunned silence. She’d thought he’d liked what he’d seen, and the idea had made her want to do things, like drop the blanket and walk over to him all slow and seductively to see what he’d do with her being bold.

  He’d like boldness, she guessed.

  He shifted his arm and she was suddenly pressed tighter to him. He was all firm muscle and warm, wonderful-smelling man. Any woman would do more than stare at him and soak in the feel of his body’s heat next to hers. No doubt, they’d also do more in bed with him than sleep.

  If he’d been awake, maybe even she would have done more with him. What would that be like, to share a bed with him and spend the night making love? He was a stranger, a complete unknown. Could she be so intimate with a complete stranger?

  He isn’t exactly a stranger any longer though, Ky. He even called me Ky. Her father’s nickname had surprised her coming from him, but at the time, freezing and scared to death in the ocean, she hadn’t paid much attention. Now, she had to wonder.

  Did people possess half of another? A yin and yang? Was he her other half?

  He’d chased her twice now. Both times, he’d found her and kept her close. It was her who kept trying to get away. Maybe she should stop.

  He’s already caught me, hasn’t he? I’m in cuffs, but the metal isn’t the only thing keeping me in his arms. I want to be here.

  But is he being honest?

  She trailed her finger along the curve of his lips, then dared to touch his jaw and trace the strong line to his sideburn and back down to his shoulder. He was just so much larger than her. Everywhere. Her face heated at that, but she couldn’t stop the thrill she experienced from the hard thickness of his erection pressed along her hip.

  That’s pretty honest, Ky.

  She smiled against his shoulder. He smelled good too. Clean, warm, male.

  Does he have a woman in his life? A lover? Girlfriend or even a wife? He wore no ring, but that meant nothing. He was old enough, but she didn’t think he did have a person in his life. She nibbled her lip. Maybe you’re wishful thinking, Ky.

  He shifted her closer and settled his leg firmly over her, pressing her into a very large part of him that intrigued her so much. What would he look like?

  “Caught you Kyle,” he murmured.

  She almost screamed but held her breath, waiting for him to say more. When he didn’t speak, but he nudged his ridged penis against her, she dared to look over her shoulder at him. His eyes were closed, and after holding her breath for too long, she let it out, amazed to discover he was still sound asleep.

  Thinking of her, too. His breathing deepened as he began moving his hips again, then again.

  She bit her lip to keep in a sound, afraid to wake him when he was so obviously asleep.

  Now what do I do?

  He let out a deep groan and cut right into her thoughts. Especially when he thrust his erection firmly against her. Neither of her two past relationships had been with big men. Of the two, she’d only made love to one of them, and with the other they’d only petted and kissed. She had no idea how to deal with this situation.

  One thing was clear, Dare would do things to her she’d only fantasized about. He groaned in his sleep and her body grew wet and achy. She fought the urge to rub up against him to see what that would do to him, and only managed to stem the desire when he eased off a tiny bit from driving her nuts

  After another minute of him relaxing further into sleep, she let out a breath and pressed her face into his shirt, caressing the solid muscle of his shoulder in relief.

  God, how would she ever survive the night?

  Already her body was burning and she almost, almost wished she’d not drugged him. If she hadn’t, right now, in this bed, they might have…done what? Made love?

  The thought thrilled her, but also frightened her. Could she do such a thing with him?

  She stared at his face, slowly relaxing against his body heat. Yes, she realized, she could. She could if it meant something to him—if it meant more than the way some men simply used sex to feed their desires. If it meant he cared, she could. She thought he did, in a way, maybe.

  Giving him the drug the first time had made her feel odd. This second time she’d fought more with herself, but what kind of daughter was she that she cared more for a man she’d just met than her own father? Cared what he thought of her.

  His warmth and the long, eventful day settled over her and without meaning to, she eased closer until she rested more fully in his arms.

  Tomorrow she would figure out why the thought of not seeing this man again made her heart hurt.

  Tomorrow she would also give him a piece of her mind for putting her in such a situation, but for now, she’d fall asleep for the first time in her life in a man’s arms.

  Her smile grew.

  And to think, all it took was handcuffs, Ky.

  Chapter Nine

  Kylie sighed in her sleep. The soft breath hit Daren right in the chest. Tazz had asked him if he’d ever slept with a woman, ever held one through the night without the goal being sex. Before now, he would have been lying if he’d said yeah.

  Even now, he wanted sex with Kylie. He doubted there would ever be a moment he wouldn’t drop everything to satisfy her. But right now, with her sleeping so peacefully against him, he couldn’t imagine a more perfect moment. If no one was after her, and her dad wasn’t in danger, and his buddy wasn’t in some kind of shit he couldn’t imagine, that is.

  But this, her, in his arms, even if it took handcuffs to get her there, was better than anything he could imagine. She fit him. She was small and fragile, but she stood only a head shorter than him. In his arms lying down, every lush inch of her was perfectly placed against his body.

  She moved again, brushing her hand along his chest where she’d settled it. Had she tried to get away again? If she had, she’d not found the key to the cuffs. Which was a good thing, he thought with a strong sense of possessiveness. He couldn’t imagine waking up without her.

  A rap on the door followed closely by Tazz sticking his head in made him tighten his hold on Kylie. Tazz gave them one hard look and narrowed his eyes. Dare lifted their cuffed hands.

  Tazz’s eyebrow shot up, but he didn’t comment on the cuffs. “We should push out soon.”

  “Did you contact Carson?” Dare asked.

  Tazz nodded. “Yeah. He’s not happy, but he wants us to go with the plan as outlined. You can play the boyfriend, I’ll shadow.” His gaze dipped to Kylie then snapped back on him. “You’re going to have a hard time keeping her close, though. She’s tricky.”

  “She’s a scientist. Don’t pretend with me that she is some kind of international agent out to do something more than save her dad.”

  She stiffened, but didn’t move, and he let her think he believed she still slept. Soon enough he’d have to get the truth out of Kylie Chung, but right now wasn’t that time.

  “It’s more. She’s more. In case you’ve forgotten, I’ll remind you that she wants to take the blueprint to making the ultimate fighting machines to—”

  “Even with all the science, we’re still talking about men. And men bleed, Tazz. They die. No set of lab reports is worth more than Kylie. I’m not giving her up and I’m not allowing her to be harmed. That’s the mission now, keeping her safe. Someone’s let the cat out of the bag, and her dad’s secret isn’t so secret any longer. You just keep them back so we don’t have to hand over Superman powers to the highest bidder.”

  Tazz narrowed his eyes, but finally nodded. “Of course. It’s what I do best isn’t it?”

  The sarcasm in Tazz’s voice bothered him, but b
efore he could say anything, if he would have with Kylie listening silently in his arms, Tazz shut the door and was gone.

  No doubt Tazz remained close though, waiting on them. Now to tell Kylie of the plan, and try to keep his hands off her. His erection shot even harder just thinking about touching her. He’d have to wait on that, possibly go lame as a result, but he’d have to keep his pants buttoned and his head on straight if he wanted a chance with Ms Kylie Chung.

  “All right, sweet cheeks, I know you’re awake, so unless you’re willing to do more in this bed than sleep, I suggest we get out of it.”

  Kylie stiffened, but didn’t give the arrogant man any other indication she was startled by his proposal. Her life had shown her many things, and one of them was that when someone talked one way but acted another, it was the actions that counted. Dare was hard, fully erect and steaming hot against her. He’d been that way all night, at least when she’d woken from the subtle pressing of his body to hers.

  The drugs might have knocked him out for part of the night, but not all of it. Some of that erection was because of her—her in the bed with him to be exact.

  He could try to pass his hard-on off as a morning reaction to a woman in his arms, but he’d been hard all night. Plus, he’d saved her life. He’d hunted her down and found her twice. He’d stood beside her when his friend had obviously hated all she stood for. And now, when his friend had tried to get him to move out, he’d informed him that she was now his main concern. Keeping her safe, he’d said.

  Those things spoke louder than his words now.

  The realization left her feeling oddly unsure, but confident at the same time. So far with him her confidence had worked, in fact he seemed to like it. Taking a deep breath, she took a chance and settled more firmly against him with a slow stretch of her body against his.

  In response, Daren sucked in a heavy breath. Heat flooded her and not from his body resting along hers. She’d never felt more alive. More in tune with herself too. Shivers raced from her core all the way to her scalp. For the first time that she could remember, she was warm, inside and out.