by Jan Springer
She free fell into a world of pleasure. It grabbed her, caressed and engulfed her with a magnificence she’d never known before. And she finally understood she would never be the same again.
* * * * *
The three of them existed that way for days. Cade had no idea how many days or nights were filled with their intense lovemaking. All he knew was he and Will were healing quickly and life beyond the cabin walls didn’t exist. Inside was warm heaven. Outside, cold hell. Quick trips to the woodpile for firewood or to the porch with pots in hand to gather snow to melt into water became the norm.
The coldness in Will’s eyes disappeared and the evil depression threatening Cade after he’d been shot vanished. Life was good.
Tying Reena down, fucking her, loving her, enjoying her wild, sensual whimpers as he and Will double-penetrated her on a nightly—hell, on a daily—basis became life.
He trained his mind to believe their time together would never end. Reena belonged to both him and Will. There was no way he was going to let her leave. Ever.
But he was delusional. Stupid. Naïve.
He didn’t care. This freedom rocked. As far as he was concerned, this ecstasy could last forever. It had to.
* * * * *
Will couldn’t get enough of watching Reena while she slept. It was the only time he let his emotions wreak havoc on him. He’d almost killed her. Twice. Now this jewel of a woman belonged to him and Cade. The most beautiful woman in the world. And he—the suicidal moth drawn to her flame. He’d eventually get burned by her. How could he not? Every other woman he’d loved had either died, found another man or—in Laurie’s case—found other men.
Why should this time around be any different? He sensed Cade felt differently. He seemed confident she would always belong to them. It showed in his easygoing, laid-back attitude. No fucking worries for Cade Outlaw. Blade wished he could be like that. Wished he could just live hour by hour without thinking about reality.
Truth was, though, he just couldn’t settle down, because last night while Cade and Reena had slept, he’d been working on the satellite phone. And he’d fixed it. Out on the porch, he’d gotten a signal. All he needed to do was tell Reena and Cade.
Problem was, he didn’t want to tell them anything. He didn’t want to leave here. He didn’t want to leave her. Ever.
Chapter Ten
Early the next morning, after another wild night of hot sex, Cade awoke to discover Blade staring out the back window. From the angle of Blade’s head, Cade could see the frown on his lips. Until now, Blade had always been the last one out of bed. The guy seemed to need a hell of a lot of sleep. So having him up and frowning the way he was didn’t sit well with Cade, and his gut twisted at this deviation from the norm.
Irritation slammed into him like a freight train.
Reluctantly he moved away from Reena’s warm, naked body and got out of bed. Slipping on his underwear and jeans, he donned a pullover and joined Blade. Gazing out the window, he inhaled at the sparkles of early morning sunshine dusting the pristine white snow. Pine trees were draped in white and the sky was so blue and bright it actually hurt his eyes. He averted his gaze from the scenery.
“It’s way too early in the morning to be pissed off. What’s wrong?” Cade asked as he moved to the kitchen. He grabbed a mug, spooned some instant coffee into it, and then grabbed the aluminum teapot off the hot woodstove. He poured himself a full cup, dashed some sugar into it and stirred before rejoining Will.
“The storm’s over.”
Cade almost choked on his coffee. “And you’re just getting that? The storm’s been over for days, my man.”
“We’re running out of food,” Blade replied and a cold wave of worry washed away Cade’s amusement.
“I know.” He’d seen it coming for days. Reena had brought in just enough food to last two weeks for one person. They’d located some unspoiled dried food in the cupboards—years old, but still good. But they were down to just coffee, a couple of tins of canned meat and a package of raisins.
“We have to think about what happens next. Any ideas?” Blade asked.
“I know how to hunt and skin. We’ll have meat. I can go out later and look for something to tide us over for a few days. But sooner or later SKULL is going to wonder what happened to you. They’ll also want an explanation why you didn’t kill her.”
“Been thinking on that. The only way they aren’t going to send another assassin to take her out is if we pretend she’s dead.”
“So we’ll pretend she’s dead,” Cade countered, instantly liking that idea.
“There’s only one flaw in your plan, gentlemen.” Reena’s drowsy voice floated over from the bed.
“What’s that?” Blade asked.
“I’m not going to play dead. Ever.”
* * * * *
Raw anger surged through Red. She’d been following their conversation and wasn’t pleased with Blade’s suggestion of her playing dead.
Tossing aside the blankets, she sat up and ignored the flare of excitement in the men’s gazes as they latched onto her nudity.
“I am the leader of the Resistance. I was given that position for a reason and it’s because I do not bow down. To anyone. I will not abandon my people. I will go ahead with my plan and my women will resist and protest this abhorred treatment.”
“And guess what you’ll get for your troubles, Red? A bullet between the eyes,” Blade said coolly.
She truly didn’t like his tone. Confident. A premonition?
“Because that’s what’s going to happen, Red,” he said. “Lots of people want you out of the way.”
“Screw them. Women want their freedoms back. If we become baby machines then at least we want the right to choose our men and how many husbands we take,” she snapped. “And we’ll keep causing civil discord until we get our way.”
“How about I present your case to the government,” Cade interjected. “Blade can come with me. We’ll speak for you. You can stay here where it’s safe.”
Damn them both!
“Safe and a coward.”
“Red—” Blade said, but she held up her hand to silence him.
“There’s one thing you two don’t know about me. When I make up my mind, I will not change it. I will not back down to the United States Government. I will not stop our demands. I will not have an audience with that dictatorship and I will not play dead. Not even for you two.”
She took the utmost satisfaction in their silence. Perhaps they were actually listening to her?
“Now please, gentlemen. Let’s make love, not war. Yes, the storm has stopped outside, but it doesn’t have to stop inside…despite our lack of food.”
“If you aren’t the most stubborn—” Cade began.
“Most headstrong—” Blade interjected.
“Pigheaded, most gorgeous—” Cade said.
“Sexy seductress.”
“Who needs an orgasm so she can start her day,” Reena purred, smiling at them. After they’d quickly undressed and joined her beneath the covers, she didn’t waste any time reaching out and wrapping her hands around each of their shafts. She grinned when both men groaned as she squeezed their flesh.
“Christ, most women prefer coffee in the morning, but this one wants an orgasm,” Cade gasped.
“She’s too demanding, don’t you think?” Blade countered.
“Gentlemen, please,” Reena soothed. “I want my orgasm.”
She sucked in a deep breath when both men bent their heads and each took one of her nipples into his mouth. Heat zapped through her breasts. She moaned her delight.
Perfect. Absolutely perfect.
* * * * *
An odd sound shifted through the layers of Cade’s sleep. He didn’t really give a shit. Either Reena or Blade, or maybe both of them, were moving around inside the cabin.
She was an independent, sexually active woman. He finally understood times were different now. Traditions were gone. Group sex was the new
norm. And Red could have sex with whomever she wanted.
Over my dead body, an angry voice roared from deep within him. He’d allow only Blade to be with her—besides himself. No one else.
The unmistakable crunch of someone skiing in the snow somewhere outside the cabin snapped him back to reality. He opened his eyes and it took only two precious seconds to realize Blade and Red were still asleep in the bed with him.
Shit!
“We’ve got company,” he said as he threw the blankets aside and tried to remember where he’d left his weapons.
He drew a blank. He’d become slack while lying around this cabin.
Dammit!
The weapons were stashed in a back room. In an instant, Blade and Red scrambled with lightning speed from beneath the blankets. Before he could blink, Blade was tossing them guns and knives. Yeah, Blade was a heck of a better contingency planner than he was.
“Anything?” Cade asked as he joined Blade at the ice-frosted living room window. He’d smudged a clear spot near the side and was peering out.
“A ski line in the snow. Looks like one set. He came in from the north and headed past the cabin toward the west. Already gone.”
“Hunter?” Red asked as she sidled in beside Cade. Her female scent tickled his nose and he wanted to take her again, but that sure as hell wasn’t going to happen now. He concentrated on what was transpiring outdoors and immediately spied the dark ski tracks laced through the snow.
“Could be just a hunter,” Cade admitted, but he doubted it. Something, a premonition, nagged at him that trouble floated in the air.
What a bummer. And he was really liking it here.
* * * * *
“We leave first thing in the morning. First light,” Blade said as he got dressed. He didn’t like the idea of staying the night. Didn’t like the idea of someone lurking around out there without introducing them self. Sure, he or she could be just a hunter as Red suggested, but he didn’t want to take any chances with her life.
Not take chances with her life? Oh man, how was he going to explain all this to SKULL? To hell with them. He should have quit them long ago. He needed to protect Red.
“We should go now,” Red said as she buttoned her top and then threw on a sweater. She shoved her hands under her red hair, lifted it out of the sweater and down to her shoulders like a flaming waterfall. Oh yeah, he liked the way her hair fell like that.
“I feel like a coward hanging around in here. I need to get back to my people,” she complained.
She felt like a coward? Heck, that comment stung like a son of a bitch. He thought she’d been enjoying herself getting fucked by two men.
“Could it be a Resistance scout? Checking up on you?” Cade asked. He was fully dressed and peeking out another clear spot he’d smeared through the lacy frost on a back window. His gun was out and pointed up at the ceiling, his body tense and ready for action.
“Gentlemen, if people from the Resistance were here, we’d know it. Whoever is out there has a fire going just beyond the trees to the west.”
Blade stiffened at her casual announcement. He caught Cade’s surprised glance and they both joined her at the window she’d been covering.
She moved away, allowing Blade to peek out first. Sure enough, just beyond the trees a thin spiral of gray smoke was meandering into the quickly darkening sky. He moved aside so Cade could look.
“Someone from SKULL?” Cade asked.
“Doubt it,” Blade answered truthfully. “Sure, they could have sent someone to search for me. But I never gave the coordinates where I was and if by chance they’d discovered we’re here, Red would already be dead. Any sniper could have taken her out the minute she’d stepped by one of the windows. Besides, a SKULL assassin wouldn’t be sitting nearby with a smoky fire. Whoever is out there wants us to see them.”
“I suggest we go and take a look then,” Red said, and Blade and Cade joined her in strapping on their weapons.
Blade grabbed his rifle. One thing for sure, friend or foe was not welcome here. They’d totally ruined another hot night with Red. And he for one was quite pissed off about it.
* * * * *
They waited until complete dark and for their eyes to adjust before the three of them—wearing old snowshoes—slipped out the back door of the cabin.
Gun in hand, Reena stomped outside last. The cold late-November air slamming deep into her lungs made her gasp. The snow wouldn’t be melting any time soon. An odd sense of loneliness swept over her as she moved into the nearby tree line. Branches creaked overhead and a volley of snaps and crackles flew through the air as the ice shifted beneath the snow on the nearby lake.
From somewhere to her left came the soft swish of Blade moving through the woods on his snowshoes. She focused on their plans. Blade would flank her on the left and Cade on the right with her coming right down the middle, running parallel to the ski trail created by the intruder.
Uneasiness curled through her tummy over what had transpired. She’d become cozy with two men who’d meant her harm in the beginning but had given her so much pleasure since. Now they were out of sight and a raw, deep emotional ache grumbled inside of her. She just wanted to see them again. Wanted to make sure they were okay.
Okay?
Reena pulled up short. Good grief! What was the matter with her? They were grown men. Professionals with weapons. They would be fine. Wouldn’t they?
She frowned in annoyance and started shuffling forward, following the ski trail, keeping her eyes and ears glued for any noise or movement. Of course they would be fine!
Stop thinking about them and concentrate on keeping yourself out of harm’s way.
Whoever was out there had kept their campfire going at an even pace. As if they wanted to be seen, just like Cade had suggested. Or maybe this was an ambush? There could be others around, using this one person to give a fake sense of security.
Okay chill, Reena.
They’d gone through all these possibilities back at the cabin. Going out to confront the situation—no matter the dangers—was the best way to go. Unfortunately, now she wished they’d simply hightailed it out of here and gone the other way without checking on the newcomer…and without looking back.
The moon was rising, washing the snow in an eerie blue glow. The wind was picking up too, a cold breeze that snapped through her clothes and made her shiver. Man, what she wouldn’t give to be back in that warm cabin again.
As she neared the campfire, she made out a figure huddled in front of the flames and wondered if maybe it was just a dummy propped up as a decoy. But then it moved and Reena tightened her grip on her gun as the person reached into a nearby packsack for something. Probably a gun. She really should shoot first and ask questions later. But ambushing someone wasn’t her style. He could just be an innocent person.
She wondered if Blade and Cade were already in their positions and decided to chance that they were. Before the person could pull out whatever they were searching for, Reena stomped behind a tree for cover and called in a loud, commanding voice. “You! In the campsite! You are surrounded! Raise your hands so we can see them!”
Reena held her breath as the figure did as she instructed. She tensed as Cade and Blade simultaneously erupted from their respective positions and covered the intruder with their guns. She shuffled into camp, joining the trio.
Both men were silent as they stared at the newcomer and, as the person turned to face her, Reena gasped in surprise.
“Maggie? What the hell are you doing here? We could have killed you! Do you have a death wish?”
Maggie—the person Reena had left in charge of the Resistance when she’d decided to go into temporary seclusion—smiled at her. Her startling blue eyes glittered with happiness and, without warning, she threw her arms around Reena, holding her tight.
“I was wondering when you’d break free of your bonds and come out of that cabin for a visit,” the woman said and grinned widely.
“You two kn
ow each other?” Cade asked as he lowered his weapon. Blade, on the other hand, wasn’t as trusting and kept his gun on Maggie.
“Maggie’s my right-arm man,” Reena explained and returned her attention to her good friend, confidant and bodyguard. “Why didn’t you use our secret call and let me know you were here? You scared the crap out of us.”
“And interrupt your ménages?” Maggie chuckled as she gazed up and down first at Cade and then Blade, raising her eyebrows the way she always did when pleased about something.
Ménages? Reena’s cheeks warmed. Exactly how long had Maggie been lurking around out here? How did she know they were having sex? Maggie was a pretty good tracker and had a lot of patience. This was one of the reasons Reena had picked her for her top bodyguard. But why hadn’t she made herself known?
Maggie had been with Reena since the Resistance started. Unaffected by the X-virus, Maggie and her twin sister Jolie had pretended they were sick and dying along with their mother and grandmother. Their overprotective brothers had insisted. They’d all been told rumors of the government taking unaffected females into government labs, and their brothers didn’t want the same thing to happen to Maggie and Jolie.
So the two sisters hid from everyone. Living as recluses in their grandfather’s home, not daring to go outside or even look out the windows. It had been hell, but they’d learned the art of patience and admitted hiding had been worthwhile because the last thing they’d wanted was to be Claimed. When their grandfather and brothers joined the Resistance, they’d brought Maggie and Jolie in too.
Unfortunately, Jolie, a plastic surgeon, had been kidnapped while on assignment. Rumor had it she’d become a sex slave to some powerful men in Saudi Arabia and had subsequently been killed. Maggie had been devastated.
“I’ve brought some huge news,” Maggie said. And by the way the woman’s blue eyes flared with barely contained excitement, Reena knew the news must be big.