by Jen Talty
“She got my keys out of my pocket and got in my car while I tried to stay awake long enough to get my phone and call it in. As I lay there, bleeding out, I heard the bomb that had been planted in my car go off.”
“Oh, my God!” Delaney snuggled up against him, kissing his neck and shoulders. “That’s horrible.” She held him as tight as she could, wanting to absorb all the pain. “I’m so sorry,” she whispered, but then cocked her head back. “Why on earth would you believe me—help me—after what I did to you, considering everything that deplorable woman did?”
“Her boys didn’t deserve to die,” he said calmly. “And neither do you.”
“I’ve never thanked you for saving my life.”
“It’s not necessary to say.” His hand slipped under her shirt, warming her back, his fingers tickling her spine, sending messages to every sensitive spot on her body. “There are two other reasons why I believe you and want to protect you.”
“What are they?”
“You owned up to what you did the moment those men hurt you.”
“No point in lying about it after that jerk hit me or your friend showed up with pictures of my asshole brother doing just fine.” She traced a path across his lips with her index finger. “What’s the other reason?”
“You’re really damn good in bed.”
Before she had a chance to say anything, he’d rolled over on top of her and shoved his hot tongue deep inside her mouth with urgent fury. His knees separated her legs as he settled between them. Moist heat slid from her immediately. The way he kissed her with such force and desire empowered her, making her ache to touch every single inch of him. To feel how he would respond to her touch.
She squirmed, holding him tight, but pushing him to his side at the same time. She wanted to make him feel exactly how she felt when he gave her pleasure. To see the expressions on his face when she touched him.
Once she was on top of him, she kissed his neck and shoulders, running her tongue across his muscular chest as she eased her way lower, grazing his nipple with her teeth.
He hissed. “What are you doing?”
“I want to find out what pleases you.”
“I can tell you…whoa.”
She ran her hand up his thigh, cupping him over his boxers. “I want to find out for myself.”
“That’s a good place to start.” His response came in a throaty pant. “But you don’t have to do that if you don’t like it or want to.”
“Do you like this?” There hadn’t been a single time she could think of when she had initiated intimate contact. The men she’d known had always moved her hand there, or asked her, or even pushed her head toward their erections. She wasn’t opposed to doing it, but she didn’t feel comfortable—no, she didn’t feel confident—and until now, the thought of it did nothing for her sexually. Now, she wanted to caress him. Hear him moan with deep desire. This time it was all about him and what he wanted in a lover. But at the same time, this was her way of taking back her life. Her sexuality.
As she lowered his boxers, taking the length of him in her hands, studying the beauty of him, her panties moisten as she throbbed to be touched in return.
She could wait.
“Yes,” he said.
“Will you help me?”
“Excuse me?” he asked with a high-pitched voice.
“Show me, like I did with you.”
His head hit the with a resounding thud against the wooden deck underneath the pitched tent. “I’ve never done that before in front of anyone.”
“Neither had I.”
“You’re killing me,” he ground out.
She watched in awe as he stroked himself, his hand going up and down, occasionally stopping at the top, his thumb gliding over the head. She never dreamt or fantasized about watching a man pleasure himself, but it was one of the most sensual things she’d ever seen. Placing her hand over his, she moved with him, until he slipped his hand over hers, guiding her to grip him tighter.
“Would you like me to use my mouth?”
“You really have to ask?” He looked up at her with wide, laden eyes.
She stopped moving her hand and cocked her head. She had to hear him say it.
“Yes. I would like that.”
She bent over, holding the base in her hand as she darted her tongue out, licking his head, listening to his guttural moans and feeling his muscles flex and his body tense under her caress. She gauged her movements based on the way he breathed. He held her head, brushing her hair out of the way, but not once did he push her further down on him or try to shove himself deeper.
“Delaney.” Her name sounded more like a long breath. “You’ve got to stop.”
“Why?” She looked up at him, licking her lips, tasting him. “Don’t you like it?” For a brief moment, she wondered if she’d done it all wrong.
“I love it, but I’m going to come if you put your mouth on me again.”
“What if I want you to? Would you like it?”
“I think I’ll like anything you want to do to me, but I can’t rebound like you. It could take a while… Jesus…”
She covered him with her mouth, taking as much of him as she could, before gliding her mouth back to the top and running her fingers across the tip.
She repeated the motions a few times, listening to him hiss until he stiffened.
“Delaney.” His climax spilled out into her mouth and hands. He tasted like a warm, salted Margarita, only slightly more bitter. She continued to stroke and lap him until he stopped her.
“I was having fun.”
“Too sensitive right after.” He leaned up on one elbow, looping his other hand behind her neck, drawing her closer. “Kiss me,” he whispered.
He didn’t have to ask her twice.
She wanted to devour him, but he forced the kiss to be slow and sweet until he pulled away. “Do me a favor,” he said.
“What’s that?”
“Take off all your clothes and climb under the covers so I can pleasure you. I’m hoping I can actually rebound and—”
“We could stop right now, and I’d be thoroughly satisfied.”
He growled. “I wouldn’t. Not until I feel you quiver and shake while calling out my name.”
“Well, when you put it that way...” She rushed to removed what little clothing she wore then tucked her back up against his chest. “We do have protection, don’t we?”
“I did think to pack some,” he said, reaching his arm around her body, tucking his legs behind hers, and pressing himself against her ass. He gently pinched her nipples, rolling them around between his fingers. He sucked on her earlobe while he brushed his fingers across her intimately.
She raised her arm, looping it over his shoulder. Her body skin tingled with heat. She needed him just one last time. Rolling her hips against him, press built against her ass. “I thought you said it would take a while.”
“I think my rebound time just broke a world record.”
“You know what I want?”
“Tell me.”
She draped her leg over his, pressing herself against him. “I want you inside me now.”
“That can be arranged.” He reached over his head, rummaging through his bag, his other hand still caressing her breast, teasing her with a promise of what was to come. “Tell me what you want me to do.”
“No, we do this how you want it.”
“I want everything with you,” he whispered in her ear as he entered her, inch by agonizing inch.
She held the forearm he had wrapped around her chest while his other hand rubbed her in slow, torturous circles.
“You want me to go faster?”
“I want whatever you want.” She chomped down on her lip as she resisted the urge to grind herself against him in quick thrusts, her body on the verge, ready to scream out his name, but each time she was almost there, he nearly stopped moving.
“I’m making you crazy.”
“You’re making us both
nuts,” she said with a choppy breath.
“That’s true.” He rammed himself into her.
She gripped his arm with one hand while reaching around and clutching at his neck with the other, grinding herself against him.
But then he pulled all the way out, leaving her cold and empty. “Why’d you…”
He thrust himself deep again, groaning in her ear.
“Oh…God…”
He held her leg, rocking his body, whispering her name.
“Josh...” Her body quivered as he plunged himself deep inside.
“Beautiful Delaney…” he nibbled her ear as he exploded inside her with such force, another wave of pleasure sizzled across her skin.
Slowly, they continued to rock together until she relaxed in his arms, exhausted and exhilarated, just like when she’d jumped off the cliffs.
“You know, there are few reasons I’m staying with you, letting you protect me,” she said between heaving breaths.
“Yeah. What are they?” he asked.
“I feel safe with you.”
“What else?”
“You’re damn good in bed,” she whispered.
9
“Are you ready?” Josh yelled from the boat. The morning sun had yet to take the chill off the cold night. He scanned the empty campsite, looking past the trees, just behind the tent platform, toward the outhouse. The door swung open, and she stepped out, plugging her nose. At least she’d stopped complaining about. He smiled. Everything about her was perfect. Everything except how they had met, and that still troubled him, something he wished he could forget.
He’d spent a year with Craypo, and Josh knew better than anyone the lengths at which that man would go to seek revenge. Josh once saw Craypo fondle a teenager in front of her father because he’d been late on his payment, and Craypo wanted to watch the man squirm because he could.
Delaney might have been the pawn, but now that she’d failed, Craypo would want revenge. The question was, how? Craypo liked to go for the jugular. He knew Josh had honored his father’s memory by following in his footsteps. After Josh lost his mother, his career became the only connection he had with both his parents.
Craypo thought he could exploit that.
So, what was Delaney’s blind spot, if it wasn’t her brother?
“Where are we going again?” She tugged at the bow rope, unlooping it from the post. He was about to help, but enjoyed this independent, stronger side.
“Jake owns a little cabin on Long Lake.”
“Does it have indoor plumbing?”
“Yes.” He patted the driver’s seat. “Let me teach you how to drive.”
“Okay.” She took the helm.
He had expected her to say no, but once again, she surprised him. He stood behind her, pushing the throttle into reverse and guiding the boat from the dock, before putting the boat in neutral when they were a safe distance from the shore. “Just ease into gear, and head toward the channel.”
“What’s that?”
“The green and red buoys over there?” He leaned over her shoulder, pressing his lips against her temple, pointing to the east. “You need to stay between them until we get past this group of islands.”
“The navigational beacons,” she said with an airy voice.
“Where’d you learn that?”
“An Alan Jackson song.”
He laughed. “You can go a little faster.” He didn’t wait for her to respond as he pressed the throttle a quarter of the way down. “You need to stay to the starboard.”
“What?”
“Starboard means right. So, going through the channel, stay to the right. Boats coming in the other direction—”
The sound of a speedboat approaching caught his attention. Glancing over his shoulder, he saw the sun reflecting on a shiny metal object in the hands of the passenger.
“Hit the deck,” he yelled as he floored the gas pedal, grabbing the steering wheel and cranking it to the left, angling the boat across the lake, outside the channel. “Down.” He pushed her from the seat.
“What the hell?”
“We’ve got company.”
Bang!
She screamed, hunched in the corner, covering her ears.
Josh looked over his shoulder. The speedboat cut through the water, racing toward them. His boat didn’t have enough horsepower to outrun them, but he could outmaneuver them. He yanked the wheel hard left, cutting between two islands before turning left again, slowing down in small alcove the island created, hiding the boat for a few minutes.
“You okay?”
“No… Yes… Who are they?”
“I’m sure it’s someone in Craypo’s organization, but I don’t know how they found us.”
“Are we safe sitting here?”
“Not for long. By the sound of their engine, they must have slowed down, maybe trying to sneak up on us. As soon as they come into sight, we need to take off. I’m going to need you to drive.”
“Are you crazy?”
He pulled his weapon from the side pocket as he hoisted her back up to the seat. “You do have good hand-eye coordination. Would you rather shoot back?”
“That’s not even remotely funny.” She combed her fingers through her long hair, knotting the strands at the end as she sat down in the driver’s seat.
“You got this. You’re going to go back around this island the same way we came, then between the two other ones, but instead of heading back to the channel, you’re going to head back to our campsite.”
She gripped the throttle with one hand and the steering wheel with the other. “Around this island, between the other two, then turn to the right.”
“That’s my girl. It’s easier than driving a car.”
“I’m a terrible driver,” she muttered.
“Hear that?” He gripped her shoulder. “As soon as you see… Go!” He slammed the throttle, helping her turn the boat before leaning against the back of the driver’s seat, standing with his feet at shoulder width as he held his gun steady, waiting for the shot.
Bang!
He hit the side of the boat, but it didn’t stop them from speeding up. He focused only on his training, letting everything else go.
“You need to take the next turn really tight against the island, then you’ll barely be able to straighten out before turning again, but it should give us a little time.”
“A little time for what?”
“No idea,” he admitted. He turned toward the stern just as Delaney swerved around the next bend. The other boat coming into view. Josh aimed at the gas tank.
Bang!
Gas leaked out of the side, but the boat still soured across the water.
Bang! Bang!
They fired back just as Delaney turned the watercraft, a little too harshly. He skidded across the boat, his back slamming into the passenger seat. He fired again, nailing the side once more. “Straighten the boat out.”
She did, barely missing a dock that protruded from the shore.
Now, all they had to do was out run them until the speedboat ran out of gas, which didn’t appear as if it were going to happen quickly.
“Fuck,” he muttered. They were about to run out of islands, and in the open water, he didn’t stand a chance. But if he turned, going back through the islands, and cut across the rocky shallow section, he might be able to ground the other boat. He knew his boat draw was two feet with the inboard/outboard engine fully down. He figured, based on the shape of the speedboat’s hull, it had to need at least three feet. “I’ll drive now.”
She jumped from the driver’s seat, crouching on the floor. Once again, he turned the boat, heading around another island, before cutting across the middle of the lake. Rocks stuck up from the water. If his memory served him correctly, a small passage a little over two feet deep lay on the far end, near the tip of the farthest island.
“Hold onto something.” He hoped that section of water would be wide enough for his boat.
He held his breath, looking to the side at wet rocks reflecting the sun. He trimmed the inboard/outboard engine, which slowed the boat, but gave him a shallower draft.
“They’re getting closer,” Delaney said with a shaky voice.
He exhaled, then sucked in another deep breath. He’d seen many a boat accident on this stretch, and it was never pretty. He turned the steering wheel a bit to left, knowing he could hit rock at any time, but managed to make it back into the channel. He let his breath out as he put the inboard/outboard engine all the way back in the water, keeping an eye on their pursuers.
Crash!
The speedboat skidded across the rocks, making a high-pitched squeal. The two passengers cursed as they jumped from the watercraft. Rocks ripped holes into the hull, grounding the boat.
“Take that, you assholes.” He put his weapon back in the side compartment, then held his hand out to Delaney, hoisting her up. “Sorry if I hurt you.”
She just stared at him with wide eyes.
“Sit down.” He maneuvered her back into the driver’s seat then stood behind her with his hand planted firmly on her shoulder. “It’s okay.”
She said nothing.
In the distance, a Lake George patrol boat sped through the channel. Josh slowed his boat, glancing over his shoulder at the wreck and the two men climbing up on the rocks.
“It’s Tristan.” Josh waved as the LG boat slowed, floating next to him.
“Hey,” Tristan said. “I got a report of a boat chase with gunshots. I take it that was you and those clowns over there.”
“I think they’re the ones that beat up Delaney.”
“I’ll take care of them,” Tristan said.
“See if you can find out how they knew where we were. I’m meeting Jake in Ticonderoga. He’ll take my boat back to my place, then we’re heading to his cabin.”
“I’m off tomorrow. I can head over first thing in the morning. Text me anything you need.”
“Will do.”
“Be safe.” Tristan put the patrol boat in gear, kicking on the lights and sirens as he floored it toward the rocks.
Josh eased the throttle down as he stroked Delaney’s hair. “You okay?”
“You’re seriously going to ask me that?” She jabbed his arm with her index finger. “In the last few days I’ve been beaten up and shot at and I don’t understand why, and you ask if I’m okay?” She glared at him through tiny slits, and he froze. “This insanity might be an everyday occurrence for you, but for me it’s…it’s…it’s fucking crazy shit.”
