“Yes, I was very … warm.” Bane stopped and looked at me before going back to work.
Irritating ass. If I stripped down, I bet he’d be all over me and calling me angel and what not. I scoffed as I went to the kitchen. Bane loaded the cabinets after I’d gone to bed last night in frustration. The kitchen was well-stocked with enough food to last us awhile. Deciding on something easy, I got out the ingredients to make pancakes. I could make a batch and freeze the leftovers for later on since Bane didn’t seem to eat breakfast or he hadn’t while we were on the train.
Bane casually would peek glances at me, but would quickly focus back on the task at hand. As the batter sizzled in the skillet, I rolled my eyes. Whatever crawled up his ass drove me insane. Finding the peanut butter and syrup, I slathered both on in modest amounts before taking a bite.
The silence interrupted by irritated sighs brought an angry boil to the subsurface. Finishing the last of my pancake, I cleaned up the kitchen. I came and stood at the table where Bane alternated looking between maps and his computer.
“So are we back to ignoring each other?”
Bane paused, confusion passing over his features. “I’m not ignoring you. I’m working.”
“Right. You’ve said all of like five words to me this morning. Much different from the train or was that because I let you fuck me every five minutes?” Clearly his words from last night still rubbed me raw, even after the intimate moment in the shower.
Bane’s jaw set. “You say you know the score, but you’re acting like a clingy emotional girlfriend that needs attention. If all we were doing was fucking it wouldn’t matter if I said nothing to you.” That smug look nearly sent me over the edge. There was something completely off with him since we’d arrived. This version was an asshole.
Involuntarily, my hand slapped his face. With his jaw tense, he rubbed the now reddened area with his hand. “Fuck you, asshole. You’re the only one I can talk to out here in the middle of nowhere. I’m sorry I’m not a stone-cold trained secret agent person!” Turning on my heel, I stalked toward the bedroom. Before I closed the door, I looked back at Bane who stood there with a stunned look. “Don’t worry, I’ll stay out of your way.”
“Maren—” I shut the door and leaned against it before he could finish and tears pricked the back of my eyes. Until this moment, I had never felt cheap with Bane. Technically, we were each other’s escape, but I demanded respect. I would not be demeaned.
Restless, I started the first load of laundry before I laid down on the bed. I wasn’t tired, but I refused to go back out there. Bane made no attempt to come apologize. Jerk. Someone had done a number on Bane in his past unless it was the years of doing whatever he did that hardened him.
After tossing and turning for who knows how long, my mind slowed and I let myself fall to sleep.
Stretching, I glanced at my watch. It was after lunch time. I’d nearly been immobile since coming into the bedroom. Moving the clothes from the washer to the dryer, I washed a new load. There were probably still two to three loads that needed to be done from the sheets that covered the house.
Ready to leave the confines of the bedroom, I made my way out into the living area. No one was out there. The computer screens against the wall were black. There was no telling where Bane was. The fire crackled in the fire place and the vinegar smell from cleaning dissipated. Peeking out the window, the grocery store man had been right. The snow looked significantly deeper. I’d never been in snow that deep before.
My lips turned up in a smile as I thought about making a snow angel. We’d never gotten enough snow in Georgia to make a good angel since we could always see the tips of the grass still. Heading to the bedroom, I grabbed my heavy coat, hat, and gloves, courtesy of my new wardrobe I’d acquired on the way to the train station.
Opening the door, the cold brisk air greeted me. I welcomed it, letting it refresh and invigorate me. With my boots on, I stepped out into the snow and nearly squealed in excitement as I sunk into the six or so inches of pure white powder.
Like a school girl, I took off running through the small yard. We were in a heavily-wooded area. The snow was powdery as I kicked through it. Nearly out of breath, I stopped and looked at the beauty. It was pure, clean and refreshing. Closing my eyes, I held out my hands and leaned back as I fell back into the snow.
Moving my legs and arms in and out, I made my first-ever snow angel. A giggle escaped as I enjoyed the moment. Dad read a story about a little girl who loved to make snow angels. This was better than I’d imagined. For a second, I pretended there were no problems as I fluttered my limbs about. With my eyes closed, I felt a shadow stand over of me. I stopped moving as the butterflies danced in my stomach. He came for me.
“I was an ass, I’m sorry.”
The deep voice stirred within me. Peeking my eyes open, I found Bane looking at me with an apologetic face, his shades tucked into the top of his shirt. “Yes, you were.”
“What do you want from me, Maren?”
“To lay down and make snow angels with me.”
Bane looked at me quizzically. I nodded my head to the side. It would be his decision, I wouldn’t press. The cold snow seeped into my pants, but I wanted to see what Bane decided. In a sense, this would give me an answer on if we were to stay at arm’s length apart or continue having fun together. After long minutes he moved to my left where he sat. “You want me to make snow angels with you?”
“Yes. Only if you want.”
A small wrinkle marred his forehead. It was hard fighting the chill that set in my bones, but I waited. Hesitantly, Bane laid back and glanced at my position as he mirrored it. A smile spread across my face.
“Now what?”
“Move your hands and arms like this.” I demonstrated and Bane followed my movements, a happy expression crossing over his features.
Stopping, we were eye to eye. “Are you ready to see our angels?”
“Sure thing, angel.”
My smile grew wider at my nickname and how fitting it was. I loved the name angel from Bane. My only other nickname had been ruined by my brother.
Carefully standing, we turned to look at the angels before us. Our feet and arms touched, joining us together where there was no separation between us.
“You bring out feelings I shouldn’t have. I can’t have them.”
I turned to Bane and grabbed his hand, bringing him out of whatever thought he was lost in. Snow started falling heavy. Any trace of my snow angel would be gone within a few hours. “Why?”
The look of pain that crossed his face tore through me. The scars were deeper than I’d imagined as his tormented eyes looked deep into mine. “Because everyone I’ve ever cared about or loved has ended up dead. I’m cursed.”
My hand went up to Bane’s face. “You’re not cursed.” He tried to protest or that’s what I assumed, but I put my index finger to his lips. “I’m not here to change your mind or who you are. Only you can do that.”
I removed my finger.
“Then, what are you here for?”
For once, I saw uncertainty and fear in the strong man. “To give you the escape we want. Let this last for as long as we’re on the run. When it’s over, I’ll disappear. We’ll go our separate ways. Stop pushing me away. There’s nothing to push.”
Bane leaned his forehead to mine. “You have to promise me you won’t get attached. Maren, I have nothing in my life I can’t walk away from. It’s not something I plan to change.”
“I don’t want you to change. I understand.” Our cold breaths mingled with each other.
His lips moved to touch mine, barely. “Are you sure you want this, angel?”
“Yes, for as long as it lasts. Yes.”
Kissing between words, my libido was in overdrive as Bane’s walls crumbled and he let me in, fully feeling his tender side.
“Nothing more can happen between us. I don’t want to hurt you, angel.”
“You won’t. I promise.”
&nb
sp; I CLOSED MY eyes as I absorbed the feeling of Maren’s lips against mine. Could I give myself this little bit to enjoy being with someone? The walking away part would be no problem. I’d conditioned myself too thoroughly to not be able to. Maren seemed like she understood.
Fuck! I wanted this … whatever this was. She’d promised me and I believed that Maren would hold true to her word. Having those few minutes in the damn snow making those snow angels gave me a feeling of … happiness. An internal war happened within me as I tried to come to grips to allow myself this time—however long it was.
Fervently, my mouth moved with more urgency against Maren’s. I would not be a dick to her again through this time we had. Maren’s body became pliant against mine. As we began to make our way to the cabin, I unzipped her jacket needing to feel more of her. Something happened and Maren tumbled down to the snow-covered ground. I didn’t care and followed her. We didn’t stop our onslaught of each other, needing to devour one another. The snow fell around us and Maren’s body shivered.
If I fucked her in the snow, we’d end up with frostbite. Pulling back, Maren protested with a moan that had my dick begging to get inside her. “Let’s get inside. We’ll get sick if we get naked in the freezing temperatures. And I want you naked.”
Maren pushed off me. “Hurry, then. No messing around.”
I sat back on my heels and chuckled as Maren sprang up and dashed to the house. She turned to me with a no-nonsense look on her face. “Bane, I mean it. I expect my first orgasm to happen in less than three minutes.”
Hell, I never backed away from a challenge. I sprinted in after Maren. Inside the cabin, Maren had her pants off, but struggled to get her shirt and jacket off at the same time with her hands up in the air, the fabric completely obstructing her view.
Perfect opportunity.
By my guesstimate, I had about two and a half minutes left in the challenge. I prowled toward her. The shirt was completely over Maren’s head while her hands were up in the air, flailing, trying to pull it off. Adorable. Absolutely-fucking-adorable.
Scooping Maren up, she squealed. “Bane, I can’t get my shirt off. Help!”
“All in good time. I can’t lose the challenge.”
“What?”
I didn’t respond as I made my way to the table. Setting Maren down, I bent her over the wood. Her pussy glistened.
“Bane—” My name died on her lips as I knelt and licked her core. She tasted like honey and I wanted more. Much more.
I sucked her clit and she moaned through her shirt, writhing at the friction and pushing against my face for more. Grabbing her hips, I kept her from moving. I had less than a minute left to work her into an orgasm. Sucking on her while moving my tongue around to lap up her sweetness, Maren convulsed in her orgasm. The sweetest sounds of satisfaction filled the air.
After taking everything she had to give, Maren slumped on the table forgetting her entanglement with her shirt. Standing Maren up, I helped her out of her clothes. “How was that three-minute orgasm?”
With her glossy eyes, I knew she was satisfied. “I feel like jelly.”
Teetering on her legs, I scooped Maren up as she nuzzled into me. A sweet scent filled my nostrils. Her soft body melded in my arms. I wanted to be in her now. “Are you up for more?”
“I need more, Bane.”
I blew out a breath as Maren laid against me, sleeping lightly. In twenty minutes, I needed to get up and research any leads and prepare an evacuation protocol if someone breeched the perimeter. Maren would need to practice what to do. Most people froze in the moment. If rehearsed, muscle memory kicked in.
Also, I needed to call Damien Wales in case they went after his family. I doubted it, but I would never forgive myself if something happened to Allison or their two children.
While Maren had been rightfully mad as hell at me for pushing her away, I’d been out making sure the perimeter was secure. All trip wires and cameras were fully functional and transmitting. Later, I needed to make sure the snowmobiles were working. If it was anything like the generator, there’d be some lines to replace and who knows what else.
Should I be going after the people? I wasn’t sure. If I did, Maren would be left here defenseless. Until I had a better understanding of where everyone was, I would stay here with her. Fuck, I hated sitting around.
Sleepily, Maren looked at me. “You look like you’re thinking hard. Any regrets to what we’re doing?”
“No. None.” I looked up to the ceiling. “I’m going through everything I still need to do. There’s hours of research ahead to see if I can figure out what’s going on. None of it makes sense.”
Wrapping her arms around my middle, she snuggled into me deeper. “Let me know what I can do to help.”
“Thanks, angel, I will.” I kissed the top of her head. “I need to check the computers and make a phone call.”
“Okay, I’ll make dinner. I saw we had some fresh salmon in the fridge. Does that and green beans sound okay?” Maren made no attempt to move. I wanted to stay in bed, but I needed to work.
“Sounds perfect.”
I disengaged our bodies and threw on a pair of sweats. Maren watched me in the reflection of the mirror and I enjoyed the lust in her eyes. Still, there was an innocence about her even after all the hardships she’d endured.
Leave Bane. Or you’ll end up in bed with her again.
The living room put enough space between us to allow me to clear my head. Stoking the fire, I added another log. So far the fireplace had been adequate to keep us warm without having to use the heat.
Sitting at the desk, I prepared to call Damien Wales. He needed to put his staff on high alert in case Eric and his team tried anything. I doubted Eric would go after a multi-billionaire who I previously worked for and had negligible interaction with publicly after I quit. I heard the shower turn on and decided now was as good of time as any to keep me from joining Maren.
I pulled out the phone and dialed the secure private line that rang into Damien Wales’ cell.
“Wales.” Curt as ever.
I switched to my security advisor no-nonsense tone. “Wales. Bane. Are you on your secure line?”
“Yes. Good to hear from you Bane. Alli and I were talking about having you over.”
My heart clenched as I thought about telling Wales the news. “I wish I could, but I’m calling for a reason that’s not pleasant.”
There was a change in his candid tone. “Are Alli or my kids in trouble?”
“No. But, I need all your staff to go on high alert and increase security to the top level.”
“What the fuck is going on, Bane?”
Here went nothing. “You know I came from a Black Ops group.”
“Yes, we never talked in-depth about it, but you said it was in the past.”
I blew out a small breath he couldn’t hear. “It was, until a traitor to the division I served in turned up alive. He’s supposed to be dead. I saw them execute him not five feet away. Right now he’s after me, but I can’t take the chance he’ll come after your family. Jeremy needs to create a false threat and increase security. There’s several scenarios I worked up he can choose from.”
“Just a second. Let me get Jeremy on it.” Damien spoke to Jeremy on another line issuing rapid fire commands. I’d enjoyed working for Damien. He always let you know exactly where you stood. I felt like an ass having ever put him in this situation. Damien came back on. “Bane, I need you to level with me. Do you think they’ll come after my family?”
“I don’t, but it’s not a chance I’m willing to take. Damien, I’m going to hunt those motherfuckers down and take care of it. After that, I’ll be disappearing to make sure that this can never happen to anyone who knows me again.” I knew it had to be done, but I hated leaving them. They’d been the family I never had but wanted from a distance.
The line stayed silent for a minute before Damien said, “I understand. All I ask is that you say good-bye. You’ve been like famil
y and saved the woman I love. You kept my past mistakes from taking away Alli. I almost lost her. If there’s anything I can do to help let me know. I’ll do whatever I can.”
“Thank you. I’ll get this taken care of. If you run into any problems, call this secure line.”
Maren came out wearing one of my long T-shirts that came down to her mid-thighs. She was beautiful. Long slender legs, tiny waist, beautiful brunette hair piled on her head. Giving me a smile and wink, she made her way into the kitchen. Damien’s voice brought me out of my mindless eye-fucking. “I’ll keep you posted. Bane, I don’t meddle, but everyone deserves to have someone they love in their life. I know from experience.”
Not everyone.
I wasn’t touching the last statement with a hundred-foot pole. “Thanks, Damien. I’ll keep you posted. Let me know if anything happens on your side.”
“I will.”
I hung up the phone and watched Maren as she moved around with easy grace. Perfect was one word to describe her. Deep down, I knew that I looked forward to enjoying the time we had together and letting my walls down. Keeping them fortified all the time was exhausting. Shaking my head, I pulled up all the information I could find on Hampton.
There was no doubt Security Branch was being monitored. Eric was a cold-hearted bastard, but he was smart. With Hampton’s wife being sick, I couldn’t drag him too far into this mess. I’d sent flowers to the hospital. It wasn’t hard to find where Felicia was being treated before all hell broke loose.
It was important to figure out how far this thing went since Security Branch had obviously been used to get me to Discrete Encounters.
Opening my timer, I set it for five minutes as I dialed Hampton. “Hello.” The gruff older voice answered tensely.
“Hampton. Bane.”
He coughed. “Bane. Thank you for the flowers. Felicia appreciated them. I tried calling you yesterday for another job I have, but couldn’t reach you.”
“Yeah, I disconnected my number. I need some time off to get my head on straight. How’s Felicia?”
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