by Abigail Owen
She didn’t blame him. She doubted the bed would hold his longer frame, let alone both of them.
“It’s only for one night.” She opened the lid to the cooler. “Hey. There’s a big bag of ice in here, I wonder if T-Sam has a swamp cooler set up.”
Shane’s eyebrows scrunched up. “A what?”
She ignored him and started poking around. “He said there’s a small generator on board. If there’s a fan…”
Having no luck searching the few cabinets under the counter, she dropped to her hands and knees and looked under the bed. “Found it!”
She glanced up to find Shane’s gaze glued to her backside. Unbidden, the memory of their brief kiss surfaced. She’d been kissed before, of course, which was why she knew the rush that had pulsed through her blood at the simple touch was not normal. Gage’s kisses, while pleasant, certainly never had that effect.
Feeling disloyal, Tieryn stuffed those thoughts away and closed the lid on them. She turned back to her discovery and dragged out a Styrofoam cooler with a hole cut out of one side near the top as well as out of the lid. Inside it, she found a rusted fan, the cord wrapped neatly around the base.
“What, exactly, do we do with that?”
She grinned. “If we can get the generator going, we’ll pour the ice inside. We set up the fan like so.” She demonstrated. “It will draw the air through the hole in the top, over the ice, and out over us.”
He tipped his head. “Not bad.”
“Right?” She mentally grimaced. Right was Shane’s word. Now she was starting to sound like him. She needed to get back to her ordered, planned life as soon as possible. She stood up and dusted her hands off on her jeans.
“Let’s do it now.” Shane reached for the fan.
She grabbed his elbow. “Hold on there, cowboy. The ice will only last so long. Let’s save it for tonight so we can sleep better.”
He tossed a doubtful scowl at the bed. “I don’t think I’ll be getting much sleep tonight.”
Tieryn laughed. Despite his grumblings, he was being a good sport about all this. She knew that he’d walked away from something important to him personally in order to guard her. Now look where it had landed him.
They spent the rest of the day puttering around. Shane got the generator going so they could use the single hot plate to heat up the gumbo. They took their bowls out on porch to try to catch the mostly-non-existent breeze that feathered across the water every so often.
“This is good,” Shane said after his first bite of the stew-like dish served over rice. “What’s in this?”
Tieryn finished her bite, savoring the mix of flavors, an explosion of salt and tangy and spice on the tongue. “Lots of veggies, particularly okra, Andouille sausage, and I’m guessing crawfish mixed in a dark roux.”
“I’ll have to remember this.”
“Mm-hmmm,” she agreed around her next bite.
They devoured the rest of their meal in companionable silence then relaxed in their chairs and watched night descend over the bayou. At one point, Shane got up to turn on the string of lights hung across the ceiling inside, then rejoined her outside. The noises of the evening echoed around them: the high-pitched whine of crickets, the rumbling croaks of bullfrogs, and occasional hoots of an owl, with an answering hoot sounding from further away. The glub, glub of something disturbing the water had one or the other of them leaning forward to try to catch the source by the light of the moon that filtered through the dense trees and moss.
“Gator,” Shane whispered. He pointed out two red eyes reflecting the moonlight about thirty feet away, and the tip of a snout protruding from the water.
She scrunched up her face. “Oh. Look at that. I think I’m ready for bed.” Tieryn hopped up and went inside.
Shane followed and leaned against the doorjamb, arms crossed. “Are you afraid of a little ol’ gator?”
“Nope.” She pulled out the swamp cooler and propped it up on the counter.
“I think you are.”
She shrugged. “I have zero control over what you think, Callahan.”
He held up his hands in surrender. “All right. All right. Want some help?”
“Yes, please.” She’d been struggling with the weight of the unwieldy bag of ice.
He hefted it as if it was nothing and propped it on the counter. He tore open the top then tipped the bag to dump the ice into the cooler.
“Thanks.” She put on the lid, got the fan in position, and turned it on.
For a long moment, she held her face to the rush of cool air. “Mmmmm. Feels good.”
She opened her eyes to find Shane watching her, an inferno of heat in his gaze. The lick of the flames singed her from where she stood, despite the cool air aimed her way. An answering heat bloomed inside her.
She hid it behind a smile and scooted around him to turn down the bed. “You don’t mind if I sleep in just my bra and underwear do you? I’d be too hot in all these clothes.”
He snaked out a hand and grabbed her arm, halting her movements. He brushed the sensitive spot on the inside of her wrist with a single sweep of his thumb—a barely-there caress that had her closing her eyes. That one touch was all she needed, a tinder to the bonfire of desire that had been slowly building since the first time she crossed words with him on a dark road in Florida.
With a needy sound at the back of her throat, she turned into his arms, lifting her face for his kisses like flowers turn to the sun. With a groan, he wrapped his arms around her, his hands everywhere, like he was trying to memorize every part of her body. His kisses were deep, slow and drugging, at odds with the frenzy of his hands, which shaped and molded her curves. Kisses like nothing she’d ever experienced before, taking her somewhere else entirely—to a place where they weren’t in danger or stranded in the middle of a bayou, where only the two of them existed.
Gage had never kissed her like this.
Gage.
Tieryn’s eyes flew open. Hands on Shane’s shoulders for leverage, she jerked out of his embrace. She covered her mouth as she stared at him. She could still feel every nuance of those kisses, making her lips tingle.
“What’s wrong?”
“I’m…engaged.” She closed her eyes against the sight of his broad shoulders heaving with each breath. She knew his body was still clamoring for hers, because hers was too.
“Do you love him?”
The question caught her off guard. With a delicate snort, she snapped her eyes open to glare at him. “That’s not the point. He’s done nothing to deserve my cheating on him.”
Senses still on fire, she dropped to the bed where she leaned forward and propped her head in her hands. So she’d never loved Gage, theirs wasn’t meant to be a marriage based on that elusive and deceptive emotion. Love had never been high on her agenda anyway, look where it got her father. But Gage had always been kind, protective, and supportive.
She felt more than saw Shane crouch down in front of her. When she didn’t look up, he sighed. “You’re right. We shouldn’t.”
She nodded still not looking at him. “I know.”
“I won’t pretend I don’t want you, because I do. I want to pin you to this bed and get lost in your body.” Desire thickened his words.
A whimper escaped her, though she couldn’t tell if it was in protest or at the effort it took to keep from jumping him.
“But I can’t offer you anything more than tonight. You need forever, and that’s just not in me.”
She flinched at the cold truth he spoke.
He tucked a loose strand of hair back from her face. “I’m sorry.”
She shook her head and peeked up at him. “I kissed you first.”
He was silent for a long minute as he stared into her eyes. Need tightened his features a moment before he abruptly stood up and stepped back. “Our ride gets here tomorrow. Not much longer.”
She dropped her gaze to the graying wooden floor, seeing but not seeing the rough texture of it. “Yeah.”
Still refusing to look up, she just nodded. Watching him walk away when what she wanted most was to be in his arms was an almost physical pain. She couldn’t do it.
“Right,” he muttered. “Night, then.” With that, he stomped back outside. His chair scraped against the splintering wood of the houseboat’s porch, screeching a rough protest as he sat.
“Right,” she echoed in a whisper. She leaned over and, with a flick of her hand, unplugged the string of lights. In the dark, she stripped off her clothes and crawled into bed.
Tieryn didn’t sleep. Despite the breeze from the swamp cooler wafting across her skin, she couldn’t calm her body. A battle raged inside her. She knew, deep in her bones, that Shane could give her a night of passion she might never experience again.
Gage had never proposed, never given her a ring. Everything was just assumed. At the same time, he was a good man, one who deserved her loyalty.
Tieryn shifted in the bed, trying to alleviate the needs clamoring inside her, wanting more—a touch, a kiss, total possession. A tiny sound snagged her attention. She flipped over to catch a glimpse of Shane. The movement of his hand told her exactly what he was doing.
She closed her eyes, but the knowledge of his actions had her body even more on edge. Desperate for relief, she inched her hand under the blankets, letting her fingers play across her over-sensitized skin. She bit her lip, trying to hold back the sounds of her pleasure. Finally, the low rumble of Shane’s groan with his release tipped her into the free fall of her own.
As she floated back down from the heights, she opened heavy-lidded eyes only to encounter Shane’s glittering stare. Had he been watching her the entire time, knowing that she’d imagined him bringing her to that precipice? Oddly, she felt no shame in that.
Their gazes locked and held until, finally, Shane closed his eyes and turned away. His rejection stung like a slap in the face. Which was ridiculous when she was the one who had obligations elsewhere. She should be the one turning away.
Still aching for his touch, she turned her back on him and forced herself to close her eyes and ignore his presence. Sleep wasn’t even a possibility.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Tieryn glanced around with bleary eyes as she stepped down from the cab of the semi-truck. “Where are we now?” she asked.
As far as she could tell they were parked behind a large structure—a home maybe or a corporate building of some sort—surrounded by rocky mountain peaks, large granite boulders, and spiky pine trees. She didn’t even know what state they were in. Mac, the man Sarai had sent to get them, had stuffed both her and Shane into the living compartment at the back of the truck and had kept them there. He had only allowed them to hop out to go to the bathroom, and that was in bushes in the middle of nowhere.
When asked why, he’d given them a grim, close-mouthed look. “The less you know, the harder to track you.”
Despite his brusque demeanor, Tieryn liked the cantankerous old guy. He reminded her of her own father, though only in attitude. Paul McGraw was barrel-chested and getting a paunchy, whereas Mac was wiry, despite his height. More than that though, she got the distinct impression she’d met Mac before, just like when she’d seen George right before the explosion. Mac had looked different then, and she couldn’t place where, but her gut instinct told her she knew him.
When they’d met, she’d even mentioned the feeling of familiarity. But he’d just grunted and muttered, “Think I’d remember a pretty gal like you.” So she’d shut up about it, but she knew she’d met him before.
Now, several days later, she stared at him in utter confusion. “I thought you were taking me back to Florida?” This definitely was not Florida. She turned to Shane, who’d dropped to the ground beside her, but he seemed equally bewildered if his closed expression was anything to go by.
“I was instructed to bring you here instead,” Mac said.
“This is Jaxon’s place,” Shane muttered.
She glanced up at his grim tone to find him scowling. “The Keller Compound?” she asked.
“Yup.”
Just then, a sharp whistle pierced the air. They all whipped their heads that direction to find Andie and Jaxon standing at the top of a slope along with Zac and Sarai. They waved them over.
“We’re glad you made it,” Jaxon said as soon as they reached the couple.
He offered Shane a hand, and the two men nodded as they shook. Shane turned to Zac and they did that manly hug thing. Andie gave Mac a hug, then surprised Tieryn with one as well. The Alpha female didn’t seem like the huggy type. Sarai also offered them both hugs.
“What’s going on?” Shane asked. “Why are we here?”
“Let’s get inside first.” Jaxon ushered them forward.
“Mac, thanks for all your help,” Andie said.
He nodded then turned to Tieryn. He offered her a business card. “You ever need anything, you call.”
She blinked, but accepted the card. “Thank you.” On impulse, she leaned up on her tiptoes and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “For everything.”
He grunted in reply, but she suspected a smile lurked under that gruff ol’ cowboy exterior. With a nod to the men, he turned and climbed up into his truck, started the engine with a roar, and put the thing in gear.
As she turned away, she caught Shane’s gaze on her, a smile lingering on his lips. The one that tugged a response from her every time. And increased the need to see it more and more. An addiction. “What?” she asked.
He just shook his head. “Another one bites the dust.”
She offered him a confused frown. “Huh?”
“Forget it.” After another questioning glance, he held out a hand to indicate she should go on ahead.
In silence, they walked to the house. Curious about another dare, Tieryn took stock of the sparring mats and training grounds for their Protectors and other fighters that were laid out in sections. Maybe she could get in some target practice with a bow, or even better, a rifle. They’d dropped the other one on the ground in Canada when the helicopter had exploded, but she’d bet they could provide her one.
They entered a building through a door tucked into the corner. Once inside, Andie and Jaxon hustled them through a locker room then down a series of corridors, past an area that looked like a shared media room, and past what had to be the dining room. She was fascinated with the differences. Her home in Florida boasted blue carpeting and white everything else, which should have been obnoxious, but instead was oddly appropriate for the beachside residence. Meanwhile, the Keller compound fit its mountainous location with wooden beams, natural stone, and everything in tans and browns. Sort of mountain cabin meets mega-mansion.
They passed several people in the halls. Some greeted the Alpha couple but none stopped them and Andie and Jaxon didn’t bother to introduce them to anyone. Finally, they made it to a wing that had a more corporate feel with tan walls and carpet, glassed-in offices, and rooms of various sizes. They eventually ended up in a larger conference room with a long oval table.
“How bad is it?” Shane asked as soon as the door closed behind them.
Andie and Jaxon exchanged a glance. That was enough for Tieryn. Bad didn’t come close, she could tell by the haggard lines on both their faces and the weary expressions in their eyes. Without intending to, she inched her hand into Shane’s and gained some needed strength when he gave it a squeeze.
“They attacked all the compounds at the same time as they did the Kuharte,” Andie said. “Luckily, those left in charge of the dares all had warning. No one was taken or injured.”
Warning? Tieryn thought, but before she could voice the question, they kept going.
“The people at the Kuharte gathering weren’t as lucky.” Andie’s pinched lips and tense shoulders said it all.
Cold dread settled in the pit of her stomach. “Who?” she asked.
“We lost a few Protectors.” Jaxon laid a hand on And
ie’s shoulder.
“Not Mike?” Shane demanded.
Andie gave a sharp nod though her chin quivered slightly. Tieryn closed her eyes against the sight of Andie so visibly upset. She’d met Mike herself at the Kuharte meeting, knew he’d been friends with Shane, Andie, and Sarai, coming from the same dare.
She opened her eyes. “I’m sorry,” she whispered. She glanced up at Shane to offer the same to him, but stopped when she saw his throat work. He was already holding back his emotions. He wouldn’t thank her for the sympathy now.
“Anyone else?” he asked.
“They took several people. Two of our Alphas and two of our Kuharte among them.”
“Who?” Shane asked.
Tieryn already knew who—the sick feeling in her stomach told her exactly who. Therefore, she only felt numb when Andie turned her way. “They have your father. I’m sorry.”
Tieryn licked suddenly dry lips and nodded. “You said several?”
“The other Alpha is Victor Silva from the Brazil dare, and they also got his Kuharte,” Andie said.
“Rafael?” Tieryn asked.
“Yes.”
She’d liked the amusing Seducer. “Anyone else?”
“Paulla, the Seer from Venezuela.”
“Do we know anything else?” Shane asked.
Jaxon shook his head. “We don’t know where they were taken, or even if they’re alive or d—” He cut off as Andie gave him a shake of her head. “We’re working on it,” he amended.
“But first,” Andie said “the rest of the Alphas are here with us, and they want answers from Tieryn.”
When it rains it pours, but this wasn’t just a little rain, this was a hurricane. “I thought they might.”
Shane whipped his head around to stare at her. “Thought they might what?”
She returned his thunderous gaze with a steady look of her own. “I’m a Survivor. A gift no one has seen before and an unheard-of second supernatural gift. Of course they want to talk to me.”
Realization dawned and, if possible, his expression darkened. His hand tightened around hers. “To decide what to do with you?”