Hawk tried hard not to stare up her skirt.
Damn if she hadn’t beat him again.
It seemed that learning the finer points of poker kept her mind off the stalled elevator, and for that, Hawk was willing to lose all his cash. Especially when her victory left her eyes shining and her cheeks flushed.
Sitting down again, she stacked her cards and set them neatly in front of her. “We forgot about our snack break.” She searched through the bagged items on the floor. “We have an array of choices for your dining pleasure today, including one smashed cinnamon croissant, half a strawberry granola bar, and a slightly bruised apple.”
Hawk leaned back and crossed his arms. Her face was still white, but she definitely got the prize for spunk. “I’ll split the croissant with you.”
It was getting colder in the elevator, he noticed. “You’re shivering.”
“Not from the cold.”
Frowning, Hawk pulled a wool scarf out of his leather pack and slipped it around her neck, his hands lingering on her shoulders as she held out half of her croissant. He angled his head, taking a bite from her fingers.
Big mistake. There was something entirely too intimate about taking food from her hand. At the first brush of his mouth against her fingers, he forgot about the rich pastry and fought the urge to grasp those fingers, guiding them down. . . .
Color swirled into her cheeks. “Don’t you want more than a bite?”
He wanted more, all right. But not of food, of her.
Fighting a sharp awareness of her hip cradling his thigh, he shook his head. Despite his effort at control, his hands tightened on her shoulders.
She made a soft sound, her hands flat against his chest. Her head tilted. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
He could have shrugged or explained. He could have pulled away. He could have let the whole damn subject drop. Instead he brought his mouth down against hers, exploring her slowly, feeling every nerve in his body ratchet up to full, screaming awareness. When she didn’t protest, he pulled her closer and drank in the lush taste of her mouth. Hawk had never tasted anything so heady, sweet with cinnamon and a hint of strawberries. He forgot everything but Jess as he slipped his hands into her hair and drew her forward until she straddled his thighs. Already aroused, his body tightened, clamoring for release.
He cursed, aware that the meds were pushing him way out of his comfort zone. His hands shook faintly with his effort at control. “I can’t be doing this. And you shouldn’t be letting me.”
“The operative word is ‘letting.’ My choice, my decision,” she said, a breathless hitch in her voice. “Clearly, you want this as much as I think I do.”
If his body made the rules, the answer would have been a flat-out yes. At that moment he would have liked nothing more than to pin her against the wall and take her, fast and rough. “Let’s forget this. Chalk any reactions up to too much closeness and not enough options.”
“Why don’t you just shut up and distract me, Lieutenant?”
When her hand slid down his chest, Hawk stopped her. His sense of touch was excruciatingly sensitive, every nerve stretched like wire. Her warmth was seductive, and even the scent of her shampoo was torture. Just his damned luck to be locked in an elevator with the kind of woman who was completely out of bounds.
He cleared his throat, pushing her away. “Nothing more to say. This is a really bad idea, Jess. We can’t just strip naked and—”
Their bodies were thigh to thigh, and she made a husky little sound as he reached out, tracing the edge of her lower lip. Touching her this way was dead wrong, he thought. Dead stupid, too.
He shook his head, trying to remember all the reasons touching her was forbidden.
When that didn’t work, he resorted to the cold habit of control, driving his body to stillness.
“Tell me why you always do that, watching the people around you, cold and calm, absolutely quiet.”
“Does it frighten you?” Hell, it seemed to frighten most people, Hawk thought. Why not her?
She tilted her head, frowning. “You told me to trust you. I think I do.”
His thumb touched the pulse racing wildly at her throat. “Good thing that we both know you’re not the kind of woman for casual sex in an elevator.”
“You don’t know anything about what I am. I’ve waited years for the violins and the roses, but they never happened, so right now I’m open to alternate suggestions.”
“Like casual sex?” Hawk’s voice was hard. He smelled the scent of her hair, felt her body tremble.
“Forget it, Jess.”
“If you’re saying no because I asked first—”
“I’m saying no because it’s a stupid idea.” Hell, he didn’t even have protection with him, Hawk thought grimly. That was a rule he’d never been stupid enough to break. “The whole idea is—”
Before he could finish, his cell phone rang. “What took you so long?” he snapped.
It couldn’t be anyone but Izzy on his secure line.
“It’s the night of the living dead out here.” Izzy’s voice crackled in sudden static. “Where the hell are you?”
“In a stalled elevator at the hotel. I’ve been trying to reach you without any luck.”
“This storm has knocked all our communications off-line. What’s your situation?”
“We’ve got auxiliary lights, but no service.” Hawk spoke quietly, aware that Jess was following every word. “How soon can you get a team over here?”
“Not anytime soon. Several towns have flooded and there are downed power lines all over the county. Most of the roads have been closed, too.” The phone signal faded. Then Izzy’s voice came back, echoing hollowly. “I doubt if I’ll be able to get anyone there in less than an hour, but I’m doing all I can. Meanwhile—”
Abruptly the words broke up on a burst of static.
Hawk powered down the phone, praying that Jess hadn’t heard.
“He said it would be an hour before someone came,” Jess said hoarsely. As she spoke they heard a noise on the other side of the elevator door.
“Hello? Is somebody in there?” a male voice called.
“Damned straight somebody is,” Hawk called loudly. “Get the manager over here.”
“I am the manager. The hotel is currently limited to an auxiliary generator until the electricity is restored, but we’re having some problems with the wiring in this building.”
“Then fix them,” Hawk snapped.
“We’re trying. We’ve phoned all over the state, but no one has repair crews mobile yet.”
Hawk slid an arm around Jess’s shoulders, pulling her against the warmth of his body. “Isn’t there some way to open the doors manually from the outside?”
“Afraid not. Our manual access was removed a few years ago after a man tried to crawl out of a stalled elevator here. He dropped seven floors, broke his neck, and his family sued the hotel for millions. After that the manual override was removed. But don’t worry, we’ll have you out soon.”
Soon wasn’t good enough, Hawk thought grimly, feeling Jess’s nails digging into his back.
“Do you need food or water? I could try lowering something through the roof. That center panel above your head can be removed.”
Hawk looked down at the snacks on the floor near Jess’s purse. “We’re fine for the moment. Keep me updated on the situation with your power.”
As footsteps tapped away from the doors, Jess took a ragged breath. “You heard him. He said the whole state’s been affected. Your friend said it would be an hour before he got here.”
Hawk caught her fingers gently in his hands. “We’ll get by, Jess. You’re going to have to trust me.”
“Trust won’t help me.” Her eyes fell, focused on his hard mouth.
Hawk bit back a curse. She couldn’t be serious about having sex.
“We could be locked in here for hours.” Her hands tightened, fingers linked tensely. “I need you to help me, Hawk.”
“Jess, this is nuts. I won’t—”
The elevator swayed gently beneath them. “I want you.” Her eyes were dark. “Don’t tell me I don’t know what I’m asking.”
“You don’t know what you’re asking,” Hawk said savagely. “I’m a stranger, for God’s sake.”
“You’re not a stranger anymore.” Her fingers traced an old scar on his neck. “Besides, only an honorable man would try to talk me out of it. That proves I’m right.”
“Forget it, Jess. It’s not happening.”
Her hand slid down his chest, stopping at his belt. “Especially when that man is as aroused as you appear to be.”
Hawk gripped her hand and held it locked against his chest. “You don’t know what you’re getting into.”
“Then tell me.” She studied his face. “Everything seems to be present and in working order.” Her fingers wriggled open, exploring the heat of his chest.
Hawk knew his erection was unmistakable as their bodies brushed intimately. “Damn it, Jess—”
“Is there some physical problem?”
“There’s no physical problem.”
“Then what are you waiting for?”
“Because one of us has to be sane.”
“Why?”
“Because men are worthless shits and you’d better remember that.”
“Okay, I’ve got that clear. What other advice do you have for me?”
“I’m serious, Jess. There are reasons,” he said harshly.
Her hips moved as she brought their bodies closer. “You’re a very scary man, Lieutenant. You talk cold and you look cold. But for some reason, I don’t think you’re as buttoned-down as you look. In fact, you don’t scare me at all,” she whispered.
“Then you’re a fool.” His hands tightened on her shoulders. Hawk wanted to feel her body rise against his. He wanted his hands buried in her hair while she lost all her reserve and moaned his name. “I could take you whether you liked it or not, Jess. I could say when and how much and you wouldn’t have any choice.” The damned woman needed to see just how dangerous the situation was, he thought grimly.
And then, before he could finish trying to frighten her, she kissed him.
Her first attempt was tentative, even a little awkward. When Hawk didn’t move or respond in any way, she kissed him again, this time with teeth and a whole lot of tongue.
Hawk cursed. “You just opened the wrong door, honey.”
“Good.” Her fingers moved, tugging at his belt. “I’ve always loved surprises.”
“In that case, there have to be a few damned rules.” Was he insane? Hawk wondered. Even if he was, it didn’t seem to matter now.
He stood up slowly, pulling her along with him. “Rule number one. No questions. No matter what.”
“But why—?”
“Yes or no, Jess?”
“Okay,” she muttered, then traced his mouth with such gentle concentration that Hawk cursed silently.
“Rule number two. Your hands stay where I put them, no matter what.”
“But—” Jess stopped, studying his face.
“Yes or no?” Hawk realized his hands were rigid, his need building fiercely.
“Yes.”
He sighed, almost angry that she wasn’t giving him any reasons to say no. “What if you regret this tomorrow?”
“I won’t.” She sounded absolutely certain.
Fighting back a curse, Hawk leaned down, letting her see the hunger he’d managed to push beneath the surface. If she planned to turn back, he needed to know now. “You realize exactly what you’re offering me, Jess. Everything.” His hand cupped her breast, stroking her slowly through the thin silk of her blouse. “Are you still in?”
She blinked at him. Her eyes darkened as his fingers tugged at the tight crest thrusting against her blouse. “I’m not sure I can think when you do that.”
Hawk laughed grimly. “I’ll be doing a lot more than this in a minute, honey. So give me an answer.”
Jess gnawed at her lip, making a soft sound of surprise when Hawk’s hands slid beneath her blouse, shoved aside her bra, and closed over her nipples.
Her skin felt hot and tight against Hawk’s callused fingers.
His breath was rough. He couldn’t manage to act casual much longer. She was too exciting and he wanted her too badly.
If she didn’t scare off soon, he wouldn’t be able to stop.
He leaned down, one arm at her back as he kissed her neck, her shoulder, the perfect curve of her breasts.
His tongue circled her slowly, like a cat savoring warm cream, working the dark pink nipple between his teeth until her breath hissed and her nails dug into his back.
“Good,” she whispered. “I mean, yes. I’m definitely in. Don’t even think about stopping now.”
Emilio Chavez moved restlessly through the quiet room. His stocky body was tense, his energy barely contained.
Finally he came to a halt. “Have you found the animal yet?” He used the hard, colloquial Spanish of the mountain village where he’d been born in Colombia.
The two other men in the room avoided his eyes. Both men knew that the news they brought was not the news that their employer wanted to hear.
As the silence stretched out, the stocky Colombian ex-general moved to the window and stared out at the rain-swept harbor.
“I gave you twelve hours, and you gave me only promises.” Chavez drummed his fingers on the chipped windowsill. “Then I gave you another twenty-four hours. And still you mutter and delay, with nothing of any value to show me.” The two men behind him were sweating now, although the room was cool.
“But, sir, we followed the roads. We checked the map and the towns nearby.” The man was interrupted by footsteps outside.
There was a single quick tap at the door. “What is it?” Chavez called angrily.
The door opened. “The satellite weather maps you asked for are here, sir.”
Chavez glared at the nervous man in a black rain poncho. “Put them on the desk, then have my boat fueled.”
“Yes, sir. Immediately, sir.” The door closed quietly, and the three men were once more alone.
Chavez watched lightning break out at sea and sighed. He pulled a bottle of whiskey from a hidden shelf and carried it across to his desk, where he filled three glasses, then motioned the other two men forward. “You have ten hours from this moment. Before you go out, we will share a drink for good luck. This whiskey is excellent, as only the mad Scotsmen can make it. But remember that I am not a patient man.” He raised his glass in a toast to the others. “To the first one who finds the animal. He will sleep in silk sheets, with more money than he can spend in one lifetime.”
Glasses clinked and greed lay heavy in the air. As Chavez savored the expensive aged whiskey, he noticed with distaste that the others tossed their drinks back with no respect.
Crude killers, he thought. Men with no hearts.
But he paid them to be nothing else. Smiling gently, he watched them over the rim of his glass while rain beat at the window.
The man nearer to him swallowed hard and sank down onto the chair beside the desk.
“Is something wrong, Diego?”
When the man didn’t answer, Chavez waited calmly, steepling his fingers.
Five seconds later, a glass shattered on the unpainted wood floor. With a sharp gagging sound, the man named Diego collapsed, his feet bumping loudly in his convulsions.
Chavez moved casually to the body that was still twitching. “Never question my orders. Never make excuses,” he said coldly, driving the ornate metal toe of his expensive boot into the back of the man’s head. He looked up slowly at the frightened man who remained. “And now you have only nine hours and fifty-seven minutes to find the animal. Otherwise, you will die worse than this one did.”
Emilio Chavez didn’t look back when the door was yanked open, footsteps flashing up the metal steps. His eyes were narrow and intent as he tossed the used glasses i
nto the garbage. With no change in expression, he bent to wipe the blood and brain tissue off the toe of his boot.
“Nine hours and fifty-five minutes,” he said to the empty room.
chapter 10
Hawk straightened his leather jacket around Jess’s shoulders.
She realized his game plan was set and there would be no deviations.
But now that she’d watched his eyes darken as he touched her skin, Jess decided the rules weren’t so important.
She closed her eyes as the elevator swayed slightly. Sweat beaded up over her forehead.
She hated being weak like this, hated for anyone to look deep and glimpse her fears.
But Hawk hadn’t laughed at her. He didn’t move away as if she had some kind of disease.
Jess closed her eyes. She wanted to blurt out that she didn’t usually accost semi-strange men or propose sex in public places, but she caught back the words.
No explanations. Just Hawk. Just this need to be close, to be held and feel his skin warm against hers.
With her head bent, she shoved away the fear and focused on the scent of his jacket. Wearing it felt sharply intimate.
Old leather.
Sea wind.
Apples, probably stuck in an inside pocket. The mix of smells mesmerized her, even as the old fears returned.
Three days. Eleven hours. Twenty-six minutes.
Dear God, no more memories.
Jess squeezed her eyes shut.
She wanted to be in the present. She wanted to move against Hawk’s body. By concentrating intently on the scent of his jacket, she managed to block the vision of cold walls closing in.
“No questions,” she said, studying the walls fixedly. “But I need to know the time, how long until someone will come.”
Hawk pulled off a watch with a luminous dial and multiple time zones. “Take mine.”
“Only until . . . this is over.” Frowning, she pulled on the big watch, feeling the heat of his body in the metal.
Hawk pulled off his sweater and hung it from the rim of the molding at the top of the elevator.
“Why—”
“Because there’s a camera up there and I’d rather not have an audience,” he said dryly. He shifted the sweater to one side, then turned back to her.
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