Living on the Edge

by Shannon K. Butcher

  He nearly lost his load right there, but managed to hold back.

  Lucas lifted himself away enough to drag his fingers over her breast, pinching the tip until she arched into his touch. The need to feel her nipple tight and hard against his tongue was driving him crazy. He promised himself he’d take the time to do that soon—after he’d made her come the first time.

  Her nails raked across his back and down his arms. The stinging scratches tingled down his spine, making his cock swell inside her. She was soft now, her body easily accepting every thrust with the sensuous lift of her hips as she greeted him eagerly.

  Her sharp teeth scraped across his shoulder and her hot breath stroked over his skin. Every breath she took was a quiet sound of pleasure that drew him closer and closer to the edge.

  He wished he’d taken her with his mouth first and made her come at least once, because he wasn’t going to last much longer and he was desperate to hear her cries of release, to feel her flesh tremble against his own—his cock, his tongue, he didn’t care as long as he got what he wanted.

  She pulled his hips against hers, holding him there while she ground herself against him. The friction must have been just right, judging by the way her eyes dilated before her eyelids fluttered shut. A deep red flush spread out over her chest and she pulled her thighs high against his flanks.

  Lucas was at the end of his control, so he slid his hand between them and found the tight knot of her clitoris. He didn’t know how she liked to be touched here, but he was going to find out. Fast.

  The first brush of his fingertip had her sucking in a breath.

  “Good or bad?” he found the strength to ask.

  “Good. Definitely good.”

  Now was not the time to get fancy. He kept doing the thing she seemed to like until he felt her tighten around his cock. She let out a ragged cry, then fell apart in his arms as her orgasm hit.

  Lucas covered her mouth with his, drinking down her noises while he quickened his pace. The fluttering contractions inside her drove him past all control and he let himself go as his climax choked the breath from his body. Pleasure seared his skin and burned along his nerves, lighting his brain on fire. Semen shot from his body, wringing a hoarse cry from his lungs with every heated pulse. It went on so long he was dizzy from lack of air, but completely and utterly satisfied.

  He leaned his weight to the side, hoping he wasn’t crushing her, but unwilling to leave her body until he absolutely had to. Once they left the jungle, the chances of him ever getting to make love to Sloane again were slim, and he was going to enjoy it for all it was worth.

  She shifted beneath him, pulling away until she was no longer splayed out for his enjoyment, but still pressed along his side.

  He’d take what he could get.

  Lucas found the strength to prop himself up on one arm and make sure he hadn’t done any lasting damage. There was a hickey on her neck that wasn’t going away anytime soon, and another on her shoulder, but other than that, she was rosy and glowing.

  Her nipples were still tight, and he couldn’t stop himself from finally getting to taste them. They hardened further against his tongue as he lavished his attention equally, drawing a sigh of enjoyment from Sloane.

  “You keep that up and I’ll take advantage of you. Again.”

  He smiled against her skin, flicking his tongue across one nipple. “Are you sure I didn’t take advantage of you?”

  “Pretty sure.”

  Lucas laughed and flopped back onto the bed, drawing Sloane against his chest. She snuggled there, fitting far too well for his peace of mind. “I think we both won.”

  Sloane groaned. “If I weren’t so tired, I’d force you to let me win again.”

  “If you weren’t so tired, you already would have.”

  Her fingers toyed with his chest hair. He felt her mood shift, like he could almost hear her thinking. “We’re going home soon.”

  He stroked her hair, loving the feel of the strands sliding under his palm. “That’s good, right?”

  “Yeah. It’ll be good to be back where we belong. Back where things make sense.”

  He tipped her chin up so she could see he meant what he said. “Being with you makes sense. I don’t regret making love to you.”

  “Sex,” she said.

  “What?”

  “That was sex. We both know there’s nothing more between us than that. It’s just chemistry. A spur-of-the-moment decision.”

  “Two decisions, both of which I’m happy to have made.”

  “Me, too. I just don’t want you thinking this is anything more than it is.”

  “And if that’s what I want?”

  The look she gave him was flatly serious. “Don’t want that, Lucas. Just don’t.”

  She was right. He knew she was. It was better not to dwell on what was going to happen and simply enjoy what was happening now without ruining it. “I won’t bring it up again until we’re back home. It’ll give us both time to think about things and decide what’s real and what isn’t.”

  “What’s real is the way you make me feel. The touch of your hands on my skin, the taste of your mouth against mine. That’s real. That’s what I want.”

  Lucas nodded slowly, pushing aside all the nagging thoughts and doubts that were threatening to ruin what little time they had together.

  He leaned over her, settling his body between her thighs, ignoring how right it felt to be with her. “Then that’s what I’ll give you. As much as you can stand.”

  Lucas woke to the sound of muted voices coming from outside the bunker. Adrenaline slid into his bloodstream, driving sleep away in an instant.

  He jerked his pants on over his naked hips, and grabbed his weapon. “Sloane, we have company.”

  She bolted upright in bed, beautifully naked and rosy from sleep. Panic tightened her features for a split second, but she kept quiet and dressed with fast, fluid movements.

  Lucas was a few seconds ahead of her and pulled the door shut slightly to give her time to prepare for whoever might be outside. Chances were it was the soldiers the Old Man had sent, but Lucas wasn’t taking any risks.

  A light, hollow rap on the door announced their presence.

  Lucas had locked them inside, bolting both heavy doors.

  “It’s me, Lucas,” came the Old Man’s voice. “Open up.”

  Oh, no. Sloane wasn’t going to like him being here at all. Lucas needed a few minutes to play peacemaker with her father before she faced him.

  “It’s the men we were expecting,” he told her as he grabbed the doorknob. “Take your time getting dressed. No rush.”

  He shut the door, praying he’d get enough time with the general to ease his worries and send him on his way. Once Sloane saw him, Lucas was convinced all hell would break loose.

  The general’s voice was impatient. “Don’t make me wait all day.”

  That was not going to make this confrontation any easier. Time to get it over with.

  Lucas unbolted both doors, letting the men in.

  The general led the way, followed by two men Lucas had met before, briefly. Habit had him standing at attention, saluting the Old Man.

  The general was dressed in patterned greens and browns—a civilian Hawaiian shirt and khakis. Out of uniform he looked like any other older man, like someone Lucas would meet at the pharmacy in line for his heart meds. The effect was disconcerting, almost eerie.

  “At ease, son. As long as I’m here, I’m just a concerned father. I expect you to call me Bob.”

  Lucas almost snorted at the ridiculous notion, but held himself in check. “Bob?”

  “That is my name. You call me general in front of the wrong people and there’ll be hell to pay. So from here on out, no ranks. Just names.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “None of that either. Just Bob.”

  The two men behind the general squirmed, sharing uncomfortable looks. Apparently neither one of them liked it, either.

  �
��Where’s my daughter?”

  “Sleeping,” he lied.

  The door to the bunk room opened and Sloane stood there, beautifully disheveled. She smoothed her hair with her fingers, but not only did that fail to tame the wayward locks, but she also revealed the dark hickey on her neck.

  The general surveyed his daughter, and then turned slowly toward Lucas. “I guess the two of you got along well enough after all, huh?”

  Sloane stared at her father, shaking. Years of tension and strained relations pulled her tight as a bowstring. She was already stretched thin. She was worried sick over Gina. Her injured arm hurt. Her body was worn out despite the bit of sleep she’d managed to find after sex with Lucas. She wasn’t nearly strong enough to face her father right now.

  He had aged since she’d last seen him five years ago. His hair was lighter, thinner. Wrinkles that hadn’t been there before lined his face. He wasn’t in uniform, and it was odd seeing him without that sign of his office. His khaki pants and button-up shirt looked far too normal for the glorious general.

  For the first time in her life he looked ... mortal.

  Sloane didn’t let it fool her. She knew better than to underestimate him or show even the slightest sign of weakness. If she did General Robert Norwood would walk all over her.

  She straightened her spine and marched into the room with her head held high.

  He took a step forward as if he was going to hug her. Sloane held up a hand and stepped back, warding him off. She wasn’t used to his hugs, and she sure as hell wasn’t going to let him use one to put her off balance. Everything this man did was either a strategy or a tactic. She knew better than to think otherwise.

  “I’m glad you’re safe,” he whispered in a voice so full of concern she almost believed him.

  “Of course I am. Why wouldn’t I be?”

  “Ramsey said you’d been shot.”

  Sloane shrugged, feeling the twinge where the bullet had grazed her arm. “It was nothing.”

  “I’ve arranged transportation for you and me back to the States.”

  Oh, no. She refused to be trapped on a plane for hours, unable to walk away. Not to mention the fact that Gina was still in danger. “I’m not going anywhere with you.”

  He shot her a look of pure disappointment. “Don’t be stubborn.”

  She took a long step forward before stopping herself. Anger tightened her mouth and her fists were balled at her sides. “Let’s get a couple of things crystal clear, shall we? First, I’m allowed to be stubborn. I learned from the best. Second, I’m not going home without Gina. Period.”

  “You’re being unreasonable.”

  “No, I’m simply not willing to negotiate with you. I’m going after Gina.”

  His shoulders squared and gone was any sign that age had changed him. “Over my rotting corpse.”

  She was a grown woman. Now all she had to do was remember that in the face of his authority. She was so used to being his little girl, it was hard to break the habit. “I’m not going to discuss this with you. I don’t need your permission or your approval.”

  “Like hell.”

  “So are you going to abduct me? Knock me out and drag me back against my will? I won’t go quietly.”

  “Girl, you’ve never done anything quietly a day in your life. I thought age would have cured that rebellious streak.”

  She gave him a malicious grin. “Guess you were wrong.”

  “You can’t stay here. It’s too dangerous.”

  “That’s my decision. Besides, if we don’t go in after Gina, who will? You? I looked at the satellite images. There are too many men there, which is the only reason I let Lucas call you.”

  “I’ll take care of it. I have connections here. I can get the local authorities involved.”

  Sloane rolled her eyes. “This man has enough money to bribe anyone you’d send. Until I see Gina walk free with my own eyes, I’m not leaving.”

  The general sighed. “You’re doing this to punish me, aren’t you?”

  Sloane hated to think she was that petty, but there was a part of her that wanted to get back at him for all those years she’d spent wondering what she’d done wrong—why her own father couldn’t stand her enough to keep her around.

  The old pain stung, and she gritted her teeth to hold back the need to ask him why—what she’d done wrong. “I don’t need to punish you. The choices you’ve made have done that well enough.”

  “You’re still mad I wasn’t at your mother’s funeral.”

  Anger and grief whirled around like a tornado dropping from the sky out of nowhere. She snarled through her gritted teeth. “You were hardly there when she was alive. You were not missed when she died.”

  It was a lie—a huge one she knew would eat her alive if she let it. She’d felt so alone standing by her mother’s grave. So devastated. She’d needed someone to lean on, someone to hold her, but the general was away on business, too busy to be bothered to attend his own wife’s funeral and see how his only daughter was holding up.

  Sloane didn’t think she’d ever be able to forgive him for that.

  “I wanted to be there,” he said. “I couldn’t.”

  She held up her hands to stop him. “I’m not interested in your excuses. I didn’t buy them when I was a kid, and I’m sure as hell not going to now.”

  “You don’t understand. It’s more complicated than that.”

  “Your wife died. You had a week to clear out your schedule before the funeral. The fact that you couldn’t do it means you either didn’t want to, or there’s no one else in the world capable of filling your shoes. I know which of those two seem the most likely to me.”

  “Your mother would have understood.”

  “Yeah, well, I don’t. I never have and I never will.”

  “I want you on that flight out of here,” he said with finality.

  “And I want a father who gives a shit about me. Guess we’re both out of luck.”

  “You’re getting on that flight, Sloane.” This time, it was clearly a warning—she’d heard that tone too many times not to get the message loud and clear.

  “No, General, I’m not. And if you try to make me, you’re going to find out just how capable I’ve become in your absence.”

  “It’s for your own good.”

  “You gave up the right to tell me what’s for my own good the day of Mom’s funeral. Don’t push me on this. You won’t like what happens next.”

  Her words were big, but the truth was she didn’t think she could actually hurt her own father no matter how much he deserved it. She was going to have to disappear until he left. If she wasn’t around to stuff on that flight, there wouldn’t be much he could do about it.

  She looked to Lucas, who wasn’t even trying to pretend he wasn’t listening. “I’m going outside to wait for Bella. Get him out of here. I can’t work with him.”

  With that high-handed edict, she grabbed up her rifle and backpack and headed outside.

  Chapter 16

  Lucas started to go after Sloane. The need to comfort her was something he wasn’t even going to try to resist, but when he took the first step toward the door, the general held up his hand, stopping him. “You stay here,” he told Lucas. “You two go watch out for her.”

  The other two men left without a word.

  General Norwood looked Lucas right in the eye and let out a blustery sigh. His shoulders drooped as if he were weary. “I always thought it would be nice to have a child who took after me. That was before I realized what a stubborn bastard I was.”

  “Sloane is no wilting flower of a woman,” said Lucas.

  The general let out a bark of humorless laughter. “That’s for sure. Makes me wish she’d taken after her mother. Abigail was sweet.”

  “Is that a euphemism for gullible and easily influenced?”

  “Talk about my late wife like that again, son, and we’ll have a problem on our hands.”

  Lucas refused to be cowed. There�
�d been a time when he’d seen the general as infallible, but that time had ended about fifteen minutes ago. “She couldn’t have been that great of a woman if you couldn’t even be bothered to attend her funeral.”

  One second they were talking; the next Lucas was shoved against the wall with the general’s hand around his throat and his feet barely touching the floor.

  The Old Man’s face was twisted with rage, his voice barely above a growling whisper. “You don’t know anything about it.”

  “So enlighten me,” he choked out.

  The general’s mouth tightened in a sneer and he shoved away from the wall. “I can’t. Anything I say could be used against Sloane, and I won’t let that happen.”

  Lucas rubbed his neck. “What are you talking about?”

  “I’m saying that I’ve made a lot of enemies over the years. There are people in this world who would love to take away anything precious to me. If I’d gone to that funeral, I would have wanted to hold Sloane. And if I’d done that, she would have become a target. It’s better to let people believe we can’t stand the sight of each other—better yet that they think we’re total strangers rather than provide a lever they can use against me.”

  “I find it hard to believe someone would come after Sloane to get to you.”

  “So did I. Until it happened.”

  That stopped Lucas’s anger cold. “When?”

  The general swallowed and looked at his shoes, nodding his head slightly. “When she was four. I got her back, but it was a close call.”

  Shock rattled through Lucas as pieces fell into place. No wonder the Old Man was such a hard-ass. Nearly losing a child was not the kind of thing a man got over. Ever.

  “I’m sorry,” said Lucas, at a loss for any other words.

  “I did my best to keep her safe. I even kept my name off her birth certificate, though it nearly killed me not to announce to the world that I had a perfect baby girl. My efforts weren’t enough. She was still taken from us.” He closed his eyes and shook his head as if trying to ward off the memories. “After her abduction, we kept her away at a string of highly secure boarding schools. It was hard on Abigail to be without her baby, but she went along with my demands.” He swiped an aging hand over his head. “Sloane says I ruined her life, but . . . I love her. I couldn’t let her be taken again.”