ES_ebook_8.2.19 Page 23

  “Otherwise,” Doc went on, “you’ll have to wait out the bruising.” Apparently satisfied, he moved on. “How’re the ribs after all that effort getting here?”

  “They’re survivable.” Which was true. Even when he did something like laugh, a twinge went through his chest, but even that hadn’t been too painful. “They feel fine while I’m lying here.”

  Doc winked. “How about we wrap them just in case you find yourself breathing heavy?”

  Well hell. That hadn’t been the least bit subtle. While he wanted to love Sam from head to toe, he had limitations that prevented it. Having his ribs wrapped for tomorrow’s trek wouldn’t be a bad idea. In fact, since he did plan to kiss Sam—a lot—it might be wise.

  “Go ahead,” he said gruffly.

  Light laughter filtered into the cave and Doc’s grin grew into the “I know a secret” type of smile that infuriated Ken.

  At least Sam hadn’t been offended or argued the point. Bonus there.

  “Let’s sit you up.”

  After wrapping his ribs and making sure the bandages would hold, Doc taped the ends down and lightly smacked Ken’s flank to get his attention.

  “Now we need to get you on your stomach so I can check the entry point on the back of your leg.”

  He gingerly rolled over and exposed his ass in the air, bare to the world, and didn’t allow for much confidence in his ability to protect. Doc pulled the blanket over his ass and administered the same treatment on the bullet wound on his thigh. Being prepared for the sting didn’t help the feel of it.

  Getting back to the op, Ken said, “She’s off her rocker.”

  Knowing who he meant, Doc asked, “Do you think she’ll keep tracking us?”

  Turning his head to the side to rest on his arms, the image of Sam watching him filled his heart and soul. He knew he’d do everything possible to keep her safe. Especially from the woman whom she’d called friend.

  She turned and their gazes locked, and the strength and resolve in her beautiful eyes bled into him. While she’d known the truth when they’d been Alejandro’s guests, a rock-solid determination radiated from her.

  “I do, and I don’t think she’ll stop at me and Old Man.” Not after she’d provided Sam a drugged drink. He hadn’t even wanted to guess what had been mixed with their water. At least they’d caught it before finding out.

  “Okay, you’re done.” Doc started putting items back in his pack. In a low voice, he ordered, “Don’t overdo it.” Then he stood, asked Sam about her health once more, before his next order. “I want you to rest. No.” He held up his hand to forestall Ken’s argument. “Both of you need to rest after your ordeal.”

  “It’s not over yet,” Ken argued, then thought about Doc hinting at he and Sam tangling limbs then telling him to rest. Contradictory cuss.

  “No, it’s not. But now, you’ve got us watching your back.” He turned, then slipped out of the cave, and just in time because the shadows slipped away.

  “Go ahead and set up a couple of the blankets deeper in the cave. Far enough that the light shouldn’t hit us in the morning.

  She did, then watched him with concern. How humiliating to his pride when he followed Doc’s orders and rolled to the new space instead of attempting to stand and then squat again.

  He cursed Beverly to hell. “Fucking bitch,” he murmured. Because of that woman, the first time he had Sam naked, he could only lie there and watch while his body ached—and not just from the beating or shot he’d taken.

  “What was that?”

  Bringing up her lunatic friend would only take away from their semi-relaxed moods. Instead of answering, he smiled. “Time for you to get undressed.”

  27

  By the time Doc departed, Sam’s clothes had chafed her skin. She wanted nothing more than to remove them. With how they’d molded to her body though, peeling them off wouldn’t be easy.

  “Come here,” Ken requested from his position on the cave floor. She’d dropped the extra two blankets under and over him in a large pallet. She could’ve created two separate spaces since the other agents had provided four blankets, but she fully admitted she’d wanted to be close to Ken.

  The smile on his face, even with his chin sporting a few days’ growth, the purple beginnings of bruising, and a small split on his upper lip, gave the illusion he wasn’t in any pain. She didn’t know why he tried to fool her, but he’d failed. Although that smile did something funny inside her. Butterflies fluttered in her stomach, bouncing off walls to make themselves known.

  While she’d seen him mostly naked when she’d turned around before Doc finished his work, seeing his bare chest now drew a different response from her. That concerned emotion had been replaced with a deep desire that she no longer wished to restrain.

  Since she didn’t move, he mostly repeated himself. “Come on, get out of those wet things. I’d help you, but I promised Doc I’d stay flat on my back for the night.” He winked at her, and she wanted to shake her head at his playfulness amidst their situation.

  She had things to accomplish first, and he knew it. She considered dropping some water over his head for tempting her away from the work. Technically they both should be prepping for defense, but she’d give him a pass this one time. “You know I have to dry out our weapons.”

  “It was a test.”

  Hmm. “Is that so?” With a laugh, she collected the weapons that had taken a plunge and field stripped them, drying the components and readying them for when they might need protection. Sitting on the floor, she caught Ken silently watching her. She wondered what he saw or was he saving up his impressions to critique her work once complete?

  Moonlight spilled over the treetops, distorting through the clear mist of the waterfall. Not much light filtered through the cave entrance, but what had could be called romantic.

  Satisfied with her work, she stood. She’d made the decision that while she needed to get out of her damp things, she wouldn’t remove her underthings as the sports bra and boy shorts would provide a barrier to that unrestrained lust flaring in her core. “I wish we could build a fire, but I’m worried about our safety in getting noticed.”

  “Don’t fret. The men have our backs. Believe me, I wouldn’t lie here buck naked if not.”

  She almost choked at that thought. While she’d thought he’d wear his underwear, hearing he wasn’t set her body on edge.

  “What you do need to worry about are the aluxes.”

  Her eyebrows rose at his shift in the topic. What kind of story was he about to spew? “The what?”

  “They’re something like Maya leprechauns. They’re well-known knee-high tricksters,” he described with a fake Irish brogue. A terrible one at that.

  She chuckled at both him and the story. “Is this a fireside tale you use on dates to woo the lasses?” She added her own flare of Irish to the tail end of her question.

  “Only those I trudge through a rainforest with.” The sexy grin that could be patented spread over his face. “They’re depicted on Yaxchilán engravings.”

  Enjoying his roguish nature, she asked for more as she removed her boots and socks. “And what kind of mischief do they get into?”

  “Word is that if you don’t ignore their misleading noises, you’ll get lost in the jungle.”

  She snorted. “Like that isn’t already easy to do.” Tackling her pants, she grunted when they stuck while attempting to pull them off. There was nothing like the struggle of pulling wet pants down your legs.

  Ignoring her challenge, he continued, “There’s also the spirit people who are known to transform into things like jaguars and crocodiles.”

  “That’s okay. I’ll pass on them as I’ve already been keeping my eyes out for jaguars.” Finally, her pants were on the ground. The success of that task made her dizzy with joy.

  Ken flipped back the blanket
on the empty side of the pallet and patted the space next to him. “Come on, relax a bit. Wouldn’t you tell your client to relax if the men had their back? It’s the same thing right now. We’re in the role of client, so we’re safe and have to trust them while we recuperate enough to make the trek tomorrow and get the hell out of this country.”

  She spread her pants out to dry, then slid under the blanket beside him, trying not to let their bare skin touch. Would she be able to control her desire? She had to because he needed to rest with his injuries. Disgruntled at their predicament, she told him, “I don’t like playing that role.”

  “Neither do I, but Franks is running the show to get us to the rendezvous point on time since we escaped before the HIS rescue attempt. As much as we may not wish it, we have to follow their directives.”

  Jokingly, she said, “And here I thought you were my knight in shining armor. Well, Kevlar.”

  With a lot of low-sounding groans of pain, Ken rolled from his back to his good side. He propped his head on the hand of his bent arm and reached over with his free arm and turned her toward him until the tips of her breasts lightly touched his chest.

  She shifted to mirror his pose so they were on the same level. Although he said not to fret, she couldn’t help it. “I still don’t get—”

  “Shh. Trust in them.”

  Had she been that obvious in what she’d planned to say? That’s when she noticed something else. While he said to relax, his muscles were tense as if ready to defend them if needed. She didn’t feel so bad now. She could do the same, especially since she could get to her feet faster. Although she wouldn’t doubt him in a crunch.

  “I’ve wanted to have you naked beside me since the moment I met you.” Slipping his hand up, he tucked a few damp strands behind her ear. “If I had pursued you, would you have chosen me over Lance?”

  Wanting to jump up and tell him yes, she wondered if that were true. While Ken had always been serious and focused, he’d not been as lighthearted as she found him now. Maybe if they’d dated, she’d have realized that his mind—and probably his heart— wasn’t ready for anything serious. Back then, his team came first, and no woman would’ve replaced that.

  With Lance, he’d made her and the team equal, which she’d appreciated because she’d never wanted him to not have his mind focused when out with the other Rangers in life and death scenarios.

  When he’d approached her as a widow after only one year, she hadn’t been ready. Timing for them had always sucked. This time, if they could get past this, she’d fight for them to finally have a chance.

  Before she could respond, he said, “Don’t answer that. It was wrong of me to ask.”

  “It’s okay,” she said as his hand moved to her jaw and sent delicious tingles moving from head to toe. “Honestly, I’m not sure.” And while that first inclination had been to say yes, the actual answer settled in her with the truth ringing deep.

  His hand settled on her jaw and his eyes focused on her lips as his thumb slowly stroked them. “It doesn’t matter. We have now.”

  Leaning toward her, he placed a light kiss on her lips, and her body warmed. Before she had an opportunity to kiss him back, he moved and placed light kisses over her face before trailing down her neck with a wet, hot contact that drove her to near madness with need.

  “Sam,” he whispered as his lips returned to hers, “I love you.”

  Not waiting for a response from her, his mouth covered hers with such a soul-searing kiss she wanted to weep her happiness.

  His tongue caressed hers while he pulled her flush against him in a move that she suspected was painful for him. Not stopping, his hand roamed over her back. Whether he touched bare skin or over her underthings, her skin tingled with his every stroke.

  Taking his time, his tongue coaxing hers, he made love to her through their kiss. The want, the need of this man for her had never been greater than at this moment. A moment when he’d been through hell, worried about keeping her safe, and now, if she read it right, he planned to please her.

  Soon, the kiss made her entire body throb with a fiery need that she hadn’t expected from just their lips meshing hungrily.

  He broke away and seemed to be catching his breath, as she was. The lust, desire, and love pulsing in his eyes turned her to mush.

  When she’d lain beside him, his semi-aroused state had been noticeable. While not the ideal time for this, or for Ken’s physical state, she crafted a plan.

  Since they’d been relieved of their duty, for the night at least, she didn’t feel guilty about them taking this time to explore not only each other’s bodies but what their futures held.

  “I want to touch you. May I?”

  “Ken”—seriousness drove her tone—“why ask, and why only ask sometimes?”

  Searching her gaze, he offered, “I want to give you the choice. Now that I’ve got you, I don’t want to do anything you’re not ready for that might scare you off. Being around you though, with this heat zipping between us, I forget myself and I’m sorry to say that I just take.”

  How could she not love a man so considerate, especially one who loved her in return? She’d be a fool to step back now. “Oh” was all she could say in response.

  “After that, I want to make love to you.”

  Here? With the men outside? His injuries?

  “If you’re worried about the men, don’t.”

  She truly wondered about his being able to read her mind. Either he had some special power or like he’d told her once, her thoughts were easily read.

  “They already know we’re together.”

  “What— How—” she sputtered.

  “Trust me. They do.”

  She sighed and pushed for a serious face. “There’s a lot of trusting you want me to do.” She didn’t know whether she jested or meant it.

  He popped another quick kiss on her lips. “You’re part of this family. We’d do anything for each other. You should’ve already realized that.”

  “I know, but them knowing about us? That freaks me out.”

  He chuckled and stopped quickly. “Based on what I’ve been told, these last few months you’ve been giving me hungry looks at HQ.” He smiled slyly, and she wanted to give him a playful swat but had no idea where he might hurt. “So, are you going to let me love you tonight? I’ll let you love me.” His slow wink nearly did her in.

  The man knew how to melt her panties without even touching her. His playful tone and actions always drew her attention, especially when directed to her alone.

  She shook her head. “I don’t think you’re in any shape to love me. Besides, Doc said for you to lie on your back.”

  With a sly grin, he whispered seductively, “I can lie on my back.” He did, and she caught the grimace. “Besides, it’s more painful to want you this badly and not be able to sate my desire. I would endure the world’s worst pain to be inside you.”

  She must’ve looked skeptical, because she was.

  “Look, my ribs are wrapped, so as long as we don’t press down on them, we’re fine there. I know my mug isn’t that great to look at, but you can still touch it. As you’ve noticed already, my split lip isn’t stopping me. As for my leg, I just can’t be on top.”

  Her skeptical look must’ve deepened as he continued his justification.

  “Okay, so I’ll hurt a little, but it’d be worth it. I want you, Sam, and I know you want me too. If it makes you feel better, we can wait until we’re home and in a bed for our first time. Or,” he continued, “we can make a great memory right here.” He moved his hand to her hips and waited. “Well?”

  She couldn’t even believe she was considering this. She only had her lust-addled brain to blame. “How about we start with the kissing and touching thing and see where we go from there?”

  She’d thought his previous action and words had turne
d her into putty, but this smile—the one responding to her partial agreement—melted her into a puddle at his feet.

  “Then, let’s get to that kissing and touching thing.”

  Although not certain, she’d have sworn he chuckled under his breath. Wait until he realized her plan.

  28

  He’d had some bad ideas in his time, but Ken admitted this one ranked right up there with them. But no way in hell would he go back now. Had he not trusted the team to keep him safe, he wouldn’t even have considered being naked with Sam.

  Truthfully it hadn’t been by his desire alone. Their clothing being wet was the reason for their naked state—or close to it, but he’d take full advantage. He’d waited so many years to feel her beside him, underneath him, on top of and anywhere in between.

  However, she’d been right; this might cost him, but he’d pay every penny. Asking her to wait now—when things were near perfect with the exception of a madwoman having them chased—would be worse than using a dull razor on his face while dry.

  With a sudden need to confirm her readiness to take this plunge, he asked, “Are you sure? It hasn’t been that long since—”

  She cut him off. “I know. Since we’ve come back together as friends. Some of the time though, I think of you as not so much a friend but a lover.”

  Her words were tentative. Regardless, knowing she thought of him, his cock tented the blanket and she’d yet to touch him. In fact, she seemed to be working hard on not doing so. What a contradiction she was. “So that means yes?”

  Her laughter, low and melodious, reached him, down to his soul, and he knew she’d flipped all the way to their enjoying this short time together, protected by their brethren. He wanted to hear that happiness every day of his life.

  “I’m worried about you.” The touch of concern and desperation blended in her voice.

  “Don’t. Now, first thing’s first, you need to dispense with that bra and panties.”

  She opened her mouth—surely to argue.