You’re safe, baby. Safe with me. I’ve got you. He lowered her shaking body to the bed, hips keeping her thighs wide as he stood between her legs and lifted her, dragging her until her bottom was off the bed and only he supported her.
Her eyes widened and another clenching release shot through her as he pressed the broad head of his erection into her. Flames threatened to consume her, racing over her body, inside and out, between her legs, up her belly, even to her breasts and nipples. He was shattering her with pleasure, turning her inside out, and she’d never be the same.
His face rose above her, dark with passion, eyes like steel, his hands gripping her hips as his hard shaft began to push inch by inch through tight, spasming muscles, as he slowly invaded her channel. A strangled groan escaped his throat as he looked down at her body stretched so tightly around his.
“Stay with me, baby. Don’t fight me.”
She didn’t realize she was thrashing under him, every move of her body, every tightening of her muscles sending pleasure crashing through her—pleasure so intense it bordered on pain. “It’s too much, Jack. I’m losing myself.” Her voice was hoarse and panicked as she choked out the words.
He withdrew and her heart nearly stopped; then, without preamble, he drove through the slick, tight folds to bury himself deep. Briony screamed his name, hands digging into the sheets for an anchor as her body pulsed around his, dragging at him, clenching and burning like a fire that could never be put out. He was ruthless, holding her hips to accept his harsh, pounding thrusts. The fire raged hotter, the tension winding and winding until she was certain she would shatter into a million pieces. Her head thrashed from side to side and she twisted her fingers into the sheets, trying to hold on, but he was relentless, pushing her further, until she was nearly sobbing for release.
“Jack. Jack.” She was chanting his name. “Please.”
“You can take it, baby, everything. All of it—all of me.” He pressed hard into her, stimulating her most sensitive area deliberately, feeling her body’s instant reaction, the sudden jerking of her muscles all around him, contracting harder and harder, until the fury of her orgasm rocked both of them. It powered through her body, her stomach and breasts, sent shock waves through her thighs and a series of major quakes through her groin, until her muscles squeezed like a vise, forcing his hot release to fill her in hot jetting spurts.
Jack fought to catch his breath, her hips in his hands, body still buried balls deep, exactly as he needed, real peace settling into his heart and mind for the first time that he could remember. His pulse was racing, and he thought for a moment that she might have killed him, might have given him a heart attack, with the pleasure shooting through his body, from his toes to his head. “Son of a bitch, Briony.”
She took a breath. “Yeah. Me too.” She closed her eyes and drifted in the sensual storm of small quakes. She felt him move, sliding out of her, dragging across too-sensitive nerves, so that she shuddered again with another wave of pleasure, and then he was running a wet cloth between her legs.
Jack picked her up as if she were no weight at all, shifting her back to the top of the bed and pulling the sheet and comforter over her. This time he slid under the covers with her, shaping his body around hers. “I think we’re going to have to look up vigorous sex. The book said it was okay, but our sex may not be what they’re talking about.”
She snuggled closer to his warmth, her heart still racing out of control, body still so sensitive that even the feeling of the sheets against her heated flesh caused her muscles to clench with pleasure. “We won’t survive another round like that, Jack; at least I won’t.”
He took her mouth, soft gentle kisses of reassurance. “That was me loving you, baby, and I haven’t even gotten started.”
CHAPTER 16
The window beside Briony’s head shattered, spraying glass all over her. Something hit the floor just as a second and third window shattered. Jack rolled Briony off the bed onto the floor, covering her body with his own as smoke poured into the room from the canister bouncing and rattling on the floor.
Ken!
I’m on it.
Don’t breathe, Briony, keep your eyes closed tight. Don’t take a breath. If you get in trouble, let me know, I’ll help you.
How do they keep finding me? I don’t understand. They shouldn’t have been able to find me.
Don’t panic, baby. We knew they’d come eventually. It’s no big deal.
Jack was so calm. She squeezed her eyes closed and held her breath, wishing she’d managed to take a gulp of air as she hit the floor. She wanted to reach for him, cling, but she heard him moving with purpose around the room.
What are you doing?
We’ll need your clothes, the baby book, a few things. He pushed jeans and a shirt into her hands and pressed her shoes close before shrugging into his own clothes.
The baby book? We’re under attack and you’re calmly packing up the baby book? Jack, you’re nuts! We need weapons.
I’ve got weapons stashed; we’ll be fine. Jack sounded every bit as calm as he acted. Just stay put and keep your eyes closed. Ken? Where the hell are you?
They’re breaking in through the living room. Send Briony into the tunnel.
Jack stuffed the last of the clothes into the backpack and shoved the rug out of the way to lift a trapdoor with a smooth, practiced motion. There was nothing hurried about his deliberate movements. He tapped Briony’s shoulder.
Three steps to the trapdoor and then you’re going to jump straight down. I know you can’t see where you’re landing, but trust me, it’s safe. You can open your eyes once you’re in the tunnel; no gas there yet. When you hit the floor, follow the tunnel. Ken will meet you.
He held her right at the edge of the hole, letting her feel empty space with her foot. She felt his mouth touch her neck, a brush of his lips, and it felt too much like good-bye. Wait! Aren’t you coming with me? Jack, come with me.
He ignored the fear and desperation in her voice. I’ll be there soon. Go, baby. Do what I say. He pulled her tighter against him and kissed her mouth, holding her close. Get out of here before we run out of time.
Briony wavered and Jack dropped her into the darkness. Jack! Her startled protest was more shocked than anything else as she landed in a crouch, waiting for her eyes to adjust to the darkness.
Get the hell out of here, baby. I’ve got work to do.
Stay alive, Jack. For me. You stay alive.
Jack’s heart twisted in his chest at the worry in her voice, the love that washed through him. He couldn’t afford to think about anything but the enemy, and she was turning him inside out. He yanked on night vision goggles and calmly slung a rifle around his neck, tucking two handguns into his belt and adding clips of ammo to the loops. He covered the trapdoor and replaced the rug before stepping to one side of the broken window. Shadows flitted through the trees, surrounding the house. The strobes in his room and probably in Ken’s began flashing as the alarms were tripped. Someone had used the tree branches to get close enough to fire the canisters of gas through the windows, and that told Jack that at least some of the soldiers were enhanced.
He lobbed two smoke bombs into the yard, one right after the other, and followed them out, leaping onto the rail and grasping the edge of the roof to somersault up. The moment his feet touched, he knew he wasn’t alone. He smelled sweat, heard air rushing eagerly through lungs—and he spun toward the sound, firing quickly, blindly, relying solely on his enhanced senses. As he pulled the trigger, he moved fast, a blur of speed across the rooftop, making his way toward the wide chimney, the only possible cover.
The enemy returned fire, ribbons of color streaking in the darkness. Jack dove for the chimney, rolling partway and flattening his body as best he could while he lay still, allowing the shadows to absorb him. He waited, listening, inhaling to track his enemy by sweat and smell, body heat, whatever worked.
Smoke drifted over the house and into the canopy of the trees
. Along the ground the smoke rolled in strange shapes, so that the trunks of the trees seemed to emerge out of dark, turbulent clouds. He heard shuffling, the sound of boots running through his home, voices reporting into radios—but not the sounds he needed to hear. He smelled sweat and fear and excitement along with the chemicals of gas and smoke—but couldn’t find the scents he needed to tell him where his opponents were. The rest didn’t matter yet. He had to take out the enhanced soldiers first, and they were trained enough to keep still and try to wait him out.
Ken would be returning as soon as Briony was safe, and he would run into a buzz saw if Jack didn’t get the job done. The hell with it; the soldiers knew exactly where he was. Let them come for him. He lay flat, fitting his rifle with care, scope to his eye and sighting a soldier working his way through the woods, moving bush to bush, tree to tree. Jack squeezed the trigger and sighted the next target.
A hail of bullets fell all around him and he kept his head down. The whisper of movement on the roof tipped him off, and he drew his handgun and fired off three rounds toward the sound.
Talk to me, Jack, Ken demanded.
A curse told him he’d scored a minor hit—still, it was a hit. Whitney must have wanted these yahoos dead, he informed his twin as he calmly turned back to his original target. And they’re fuckin’ idiots for coming after us. They know who we are and their egos are going to get them killed. I can smell the blood on one of them now. He’s a dead man if he’s stupid enough to move. Again he squeezed the trigger, watching his target slump to the ground. And why would Whitney send these infants after us? It’s like picking off ducks in a pond.
Just don’t let your ego get you killed, Ken warned.
Two soldiers on the ground opened fire on Jack, but Ken had designed the roof to make it difficult to get a clear shot from the ground. Jack took out both shooters, then set the rifle down, picked up the handgun, rolled out to his left, toward the smell of blood, and fired three shots in rapid succession again, before rolling back to cover just as efficiently. He and Ken had practiced the moves on the roof hundreds of times. He knew every square inch of it, every depression, every place an enemy might think he was safe.
One enhanced down, Ken, Jack said. There’s no way I missed. I shot him between the eyes just in case he was wearing body armor. They can get the hell off our property or die here. It’s their choice. Doesn’t much matter to me.
You’re a mean son of a bitch, bro, Ken informed him. You recognize the enhanced soldier? I’d kind of like to know who our enemy is.
Didn’t see him, shot by smell. He’s dead, though, heard him drop, and that was a dead man hitting our roof.
Not the roof. Damn it, Jack. I’m not hauling his dead ass down; you can clean up your own mess.
What the hell did you want me to do? Jack fit the scope to his eye again.
Wait until he stood up near the edge of the roof and shoot him so he falls over. Is that too much to ask?
Jack lifted his eye away from the scope, a small, humorless smile escaping. They had always talked to each other, years ago, as children, long before the death of their mother, using banter to get through the scary moments when their father was home and searching the house for them. Later, it was the same in the numerous foster homes, and then on the street. The habit never left them, the reassuring touch of mind to mind, to know the other still lived, still breathed, that no monster had managed to swallow him.
You’re such a damned wimp, always wanting the easy way out. You can drag his ass off the roof. It’s a good workout for you. And quit messing around and get back here. I’m a little outnumbered.
“Give me a gun, Ken,” Briony demanded as she raced toward him. “Jack didn’t make it into the tunnel.”
“Relax, hon; he had no intention of coming into the tunnel. He’ll meet up with us near the mine. He’ll hold them off, give us a chance to get out just in case they decide to torch the house.”
Briony skidded to a halt, sucking in her breath. “You planned this? Without saying anything to me? Why would you let him risk his life that way, Ken?”
“Jack is Jack, Briony. There’s no arguing with him in certain situations, and this is one of them. If he had to, he’d knock you out and have me haul your ass to safety. That’s how serious he is when it comes to your life—and mine.”
“They might kill him. If we help… ”
“We’d distract him. He’s not going to let you near those men, so forget about trying to help him and get moving.”
“Ken, I know you’re a marksman—so am I. I just can’t leave him to fight off however many enhanced soldiers Whitney sent.” She could barely breathe with the thought of Jack in danger. She began to edge away from Ken and back toward the ladder.
“Get over here now, Briony.” His voice hardened unexpectedly, his easygoing façade fading away, to be replaced by the same commanding tone Jack used. “He entrusted me with your life and I take that seriously. You’re carrying his children. Get your ass over here and stop thinking with your heart.”
“This isn’t right,” Briony protested, reluctantly making her way to his side. He looked capable of throwing her over his shoulder like the proverbial caveman. It occurred to her that Ken was every bit as dominant as his twin—he just hid it better.
“Right or not, get moving.” His voice softened even as he gave her a little push. “Right now, everyone Jack comes into contact with is the enemy. He doesn’t have to worry about shooting either of us. He’ll take out as many as possible and disappear.”
“They’re enhanced.”
“So is he, and I’m betting he has far more combat experience than all of them combined. Keep moving straight ahead. Double-time it.”
Briony pressed a hand over her lurching stomach. She’d come to Jack for protection, to protect her baby—babies—but she hadn’t counted on falling in love. She was torn between wanting to keep the unborn children safe and rushing back to help watch Jack’s back. “You should be with him, Ken. You’re always with him. You fight together.”
“I’ll stash you in a safe place and then I’ll join him. But I have to know you’re going to stay put, Briony. No heroics.”
“I’m not stupid, Ken. And I can take care of myself if I have to.”
“Which is why you showed up with bruises and a cut down your arm. Some man does that to you now, and Jack will rip his heart out—or I will. No one touches you, Briony. You fight only as a last resort.”
“I promise, Ken. I’m not looking to lose the babies, or get taken by these maniacs.”
The tunnel began to curve upward, and Briony sprinted, wanting Ken to get back to Jack as soon as possible. “Give me a gun and several clips of ammo if you have it to spare,” she called over her shoulder. “I’m a good shot, Ken.”
“We have a weapons stash in the mine, here in the tunnel, and out in the shop, as well as the house. If anything happens, get to a man named Logan Maxwell or Kadan Montague. You can trust either of them. Don’t go near your family; they’ll be watched.”
She rounded a corner and skidded to a halt. There was a dead end. “How do we get out?”
Ken indicated straight overhead. “Trapdoor. We open it up there. Anyone coming in and not knowing how to get out is trapped. They aren’t going to get us on our home turf, hon.” He handed her the rifle and leapt up to catch a ring painted black to blend in with the darkness. He inverted, planting his feet on either side of the trapdoor and, using toe rings to brace his body, he heaved upward.
Briony realized only an enhanced person could move the door, another guard in place for the brothers. “If they do follow us into the tunnel, they might not be able to find the door,” she said aloud.
“They’ll die if they come in the tunnel. Each section has an activation switch with very precisely directed blasts. Don’t go back in there for any reason until we deactivate the security.”
“This place is a death trap.”
“For anyone coming after us or ours,” he
agreed. “Can you make it out, or do you want a hand?”
“That’s an insult.” She leapt up, caught the lip of the doorjamb, and inverted easily, pushing through with her feet and shoving to launch herself out the opening. She did a flip and landed nearly at his feet.
“Show off. I’m carrying the pack.”
Briony looked around her. They were in deep forest, some distance from the house, but she could hear shots being fired. “I’m afraid to distract him even to make certain he’s safe.”
“He’s safe. Worry about the other guy. If this is some kind of test for his soldiers, Whitney must have more than we thought, because these must be expendable.”
“Do you think he guessed that I was here?”
Ken frowned as he shook his head. “Whitney has access to our complete files. He has high security clearance. He’d never send men against us to get killed unless he was certain. Even if they planted a camera on Brady, he was treated the way he’s always treated and sent on his way. He never got close to the house—or to you. They couldn’t have known that way.”
“But they knew, didn’t they?”
Something quiet in her voice alerted him, and he stopped in the act of concealing the trapdoor to look at her sharply. “Whatever you’re thinking—don’t. You aren’t putting us in any more danger than we’re normally in.”
“Yes, because you have enhanced soldiers coming after you all the time. These are military men. We can’t tell the good guys from the bad. For all we know, Ken, some of them are soldiers thinking they’re doing a job their commander sent them on. We have no idea what they’ve been told.”
“Whitney isn’t going to chance letting someone else acquire you. These are his men. He may have gotten military equipment using his clearances, and no doubt someone, an admiral, a general, maybe the senator I pulled out of the Congo, is helping him, but these are definitely his men. Don’t do anything stupid, Briony, like try to leave. It wouldn’t be heroic—it would be the dumbest thing you could do. Jack would come after you. You know him now. He’s not going to let you go.”
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