Uncut (Siren Publishing Classic)
Page 11
She was breathless, gazing at him in stunned disbelief. “Did you think about me all that time, or are you being suave?”
“You, my lovely, took all my suave with you on that cold wintry night.” He nibbled her ear, kissing the tender spot under the lobe. “Hell yes I thought about you, looked for you around every corner. You’re not easy to forget.”
Should she confess her own torment or take his pretty words with a grain of salt? He was an agent with a busy past, and he knew all the right things to say.
She snuggled closer to take in all his warmth. “Let’s start a new chapter, Sam.”
He laid her down, covering her with his body, and settled between her legs, filling her with so much passion there wasn’t room for caution. His mouth that could sometimes appear angry possessed hers with the heat of deepest desire, their tongues touching, teasing, urgent. She tasted his exotic cologne, knowing it would lie in a fine veil over her skin after they made love. She wanted to be with him every second of the rest of her life, to be held in this erotic, spellbinding way.
She arched to him as he mouthed her nipples, the need to take all of him rushing over her like a hot wind. His thrusts were hard and deep, claiming her with their power and urgency until she reached orgasm, her lungs forcing her to breathe when she couldn’t. The exquisite sensations of her muscles contracting and shuddering around his cock took her far from any other need. She didn’t relax after the fireworks but clung to him with all her strength, urging him on to the same glorious, fiery orgasm she’d had. His energy carried him over the top, and he came with a loud moan, holding her close while his tremors subsided.
He rolled onto his side, pulling her over to lie across his chest. “Baby, if you’ll wait a few minutes, we can go again.”
Lana patted his ass and noticed his glutes quivered under her touch. He’d had a fantastic orgasm. “I’d never turn down an offer like that, Sam.” She laughed and combed his dark hair with her fingers. “Maybe we should rest a bit, shower, and have something to eat.”
His eyes were closed and Lana gazed at him for a while before getting up. A wisp of regret moved around her when she allowed herself to think how right this moment was and how soon it would be another haunting memory.
She wouldn’t be greedy, not when he obviously needed a nap. After getting clean panties and a bra, she decided to dress for comfort, taking a pair of jeans and a white T-shirt from the closet. Once she was standing in the warm spray of the shower, she sighed, having to admit the personal time felt good. The arrangement would be permanent in a few days. She had to get used to it all over again.
Waking Sam wouldn’t be necessary, she discovered. He stood outside the shower, waiting for her to open the stall door and leaning against the doorframe. “You should have dragged me out of bed, gorgeous.” He handed her a towel and kissed her shoulder. “You smell like a woman should.”
“And you look tired.” She wrapped the towel around herself and patted his stomach. “I’ll get dressed and wait for you. I know you’re hungry by now.”
“You’re not wrong, baby.” He yawned and stepped into the shower, the water’s spray covering his last words.
Just like a real couple, taking separate showers and not hearing everything the other one said. Lana picked up her clothes and went back to the bedroom, looking in the closet at Sam’s things hanging intimately close to hers. The road of twists and turns had somehow brought them to this place, and she couldn’t shake the foreboding cloud that spoiled the glow of the moment.
Shrugging it off, she put on the clothing and brushed her hair, winding it into a coil at the nape of her neck. She put on a pair of blue deck shoes and looked for her purse. She found it on the floor by the door. Sam’s Glock and shield drew her attention, bringing her out of the sweet reverie she’d been in.
“What’s going on, Pearly?” Sam wasn’t teasing, his voice deep and smooth. “You look a little out of sorts.”
“Nothing of the kind, Sam.” She took a pair of jeans and a sage green shirt from the closet and tossed them in his direction.
“How about some shorts and socks, Pearly?” He put the shirt back on its hanger and brought out a dark blue, long-sleeved chambray. He took the underwear she chose and pulled them on, eyeing her with quiet speculation. “I won’t be long, baby.”
She watched him put on his clothes, amazed by the minimum amount of time it took for him to come out a finished, awesomely sexy male in jeans and chambray. She took the bottle of aftershave from his hand and sniffed the contents.
“Let me put this on you tonight.”
The gleam in his eyes was enough to strike an instant cord of desire in her body. Her hands shook slightly as she poured the fragrant liquid into her palm and then pat it onto his chin and beautifully sculpted cheeks.
“You do that so well, Pearly, I think we should make it part of our daily routine from now on.” He reached for his weapon and clipped it on his belt. “I can’t wait to give you a pedicure.”
She only heard the part about a daily routine. Was he suggesting something permanent? That was insane thinking on her part. He humored her, never ran short of charming platitudes. He’d had two years to find her and make his intentions clear. Too little too late. Plus, this had to be the worst timing on earth for two people to go off track with personal emotions. Hot sex and time alone. That’s all it was. They were on assignment, not a damn vacation.
“I think we should go make another head count, Sam.” She opened her purse and dropped her weapon inside, slinging the strap over her shoulder. “We contact the bureau when we come back and report our plans. I won’t try to take Antigua down without telling them our location.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He sounded a little pissed off, but she didn’t care.
They had spent far too much time romping in bed while Antigua did God knows what.
* * * *
Sam put his arm around Lana’s waist, trying to protect her from the jostle of half-drunk passengers who had partied too long and were wandering around like a herd of steers looking for water. He sensed her cool reserve toward him earlier and racked his brain to figure out what had happened. Hell, he’d grown an iron shield around himself to let women’s anger bounce off his hide. But this woman got to him.
He stopped Lana at the entrance to the lavish buffet spread out for their enjoyment. The feeling trouble wasn’t far away nagged hard now. “How do you feel about kidnapping, Pearly?”
She didn’t appear alarmed or surprised. “What are we talking about here?”
“Just a hunch.” He took her arm, guiding her to the table. “I’ll tell you while we eat.”
She didn’t say anything while they filled their plates, but he could practically see the wheels turning in her brain. Right now, she looked so damn sexy he wanted to carry her back to their cabin and forget Antigua. No time for that now. Maybe never again. It seemed being with Pearly on a permanent basis required time and perfect circumstances, neither of which he had.
They sat at a small table near the exit and observed the crowd. Sam grinned with amusement when Lana pocketed a handful of hard candies. She shrugged and laughed, patting her pocket like an ornery kid.
“They taste awfully good in the middle of the night.” She probably didn’t know it, but she had revealed something private about herself. She liked midnight refrigerator raids just like him.
Suddenly conscious of the weapon he carried, Sam pulled his shirt together. “Say, Pearly. You carrying tonight?”
She swallowed her bite of lobster and nodded. “What’s on your mind?”
He grimaced, not sure what his answer should be. “Something’s not right. What’s to keep Antigua’s new friends from off loading this tub and taking the stash with them?”
She narrowed her eyes and tapped his arm. “Not a damn thing, especially if half this crew is working for Antigua.”
He knew she was on the mark with her thinking and they had to act fast or be chasing that sucker for the next six months.
She leaned over to touch his cheek. “So, let’s talk about getting that animal in a cage.”
“We’re going to be out here for one more day.” He squeezed her shoulder. “We can’t let him slip through the noose.”
Chapter Seventeen
Walking to the pool area seemed to take forever, the waves hitting the sides of the ship sounding louder than Lana noticed before. Just nerves, she told herself. Sam hadn’t spoken since they left the dining room and that made her anxious as well. What was wrong with her? She knew this moment had to come, but somehow it hadn’t worried her. Not until now.
The darkness hovered around the ship like an ominous cloak, silencing the rowdy voices that usually filled the night. The evening activities had drawn most of the passengers to the lower decks for a final big band party.
As they reached the entry door, Sam pulled her close, hugging her tight. She could hear the rumble of his voice with her ear pressed to his chest.
“Pearly, before we take Antigua down, I want to make sure you’re ready.”
“That’s a funny thing to say, Horn.”
“Well, hell.” He kissed her roughly. “If you have any ideas or just plain want to wait until we dock, tell me now.”
Doubts? She had plenty and wondered what the hell she was doing in this situation. “It won’t be any easier tomorrow. Let’s move ahead.”
He exhaled and let her go. “Let’s roll, partner.”
He opened the heavy glass door and followed her inside the quiet lobby. The sleepy desk clerk nodded to them as they walked to the elevator. Lana stuck her hand in her purse, gripping the Glock in her icy fingers.
“Want me to try and get in his stateroom first to see who’s with him?” She wasn’t surprised when he shook his head.
“No, we go in together and just take the son-of-a-bitch. If the rest of the drones want to fight, then so be it.”
“Check.” Lana wanted to feel as certain as Sam sounded, but she fought something she’d never felt on a bust before. Fear.
He looked around before getting on the elevator after she stepped inside, waiting until the door closed to look at her. “Don’t let your guard down, not even for a second. They won’t mind killing us both. We don’t want that to happen.” He grinned, leaning over to kiss her. “When we get back to Miami, we are going to do nothing but lay in the sun for a couple weeks.”
She smiled at the idea, moving closer to him when the elevator stopped. The doors opened and five men boarded, three of them moving to the rear of the car. Two stood in front, looking up at the ceiling of the elevator. She didn’t recognize them, thinking it odd they were dressed in three-piece suits. Wait, damn it, she had seen them. Briefly, yes, but they were Antigua’s friends.
Too late, Lana realized the muzzle of a gun jabbed hard against between her shoulder blades, and a rough hand twisted in her hair, pulling her head back. Sam received a blow to his head for resisting, sent to his knees, and was kicked once he went down. He held his arms out to show he wasn’t going for his weapon. Lana wanted to scream at the sight of blood streaming down his neck, the crimson color saturating his collar.
This was what had worried her. Being disarmed and in the worst kind of people’s hands. They were going to die.
Cold reality smacked her in the face when the man nearest her hit the stop button on the panel.
“Take it easy, men.” Sam tried to stand, but was hit above his ear in retaliation. “Hey, if you want money, take what we’ve got. No need for the rough stuff.”
Lana forced the man’s hand off her hair, biting his wrist until he let go. “Take your hands off me.” She made a lunge toward Sam but was pushed against the wall of the elevator. “Let him get up. He said you could have his money.”
The obvious leader laughed. “Shut your mouth.” He pointed his weapon at her forehead. “We know who you are. Don’t play stupid with us.”
She watched while panic washed over her as her purse was turned upside down and her weapon bounced on the carpeted floor with a thud. The men all stared at her in amusement.
Her purse was slammed against her stomach, and she gasped for air. “I want my belongings.”
“You mean this toy gun?” The brute holding her back laughed. “I don’t want to kill you, but you’re with him.” He closed his huge hand around her throat. “We’re going to pay a visit to the man in charge and he can decide what to do with you.”
“You’ve made a mistake.” Lana wanted to help Sam, but the man’s strong hand held her back. “What are you talking about?”
While he still kneeled on the floor, Sam was frisked and his weapon taken from his belt clip. Lana’s arm was twisted behind her back until she gasped with pain, the beast chuckling when he let her go. His slap to her face stunned her, creating copper stars that danced before her eyes.
The elevator jerked into motion once again, taking them to whatever these brutes planned for them.
She wanted to scream at Sam to stay on the floor when he got to his feet, his fist connecting with her assailant’s nose. He lost the fight, the fat man in a cream-colored silk suit hitting him with a blackjack he’d hidden in his pudgy fist. Sam managed to stay on his feet, but she knew he couldn’t see her. His eyes were glazed with pain, and he obviously fought to remain conscious. Her heart broke with desperation to see him so vulnerable and being beaten by a pack of wolves.
Still, he tried to protect her, reaching for her and asking for her life. “Let her go. She doesn’t know anything. She’s dumb, just a broad I picked up.” He swiped at his bloodied mouth. “Come on. No need bringing her into this. I’ll go peacefully. Let her go.”
Laughter bounced around the small enclosure, the sound making her sick.
The one that had said nothing hissed into her face. “She’s a Fed. That makes her fair game.” He pushed her against the wall. “No more talk. I’ll kill you both right here if you don’t shut up.”
Sam didn’t seem to hear the threat. “You’d get off with life in prison with just the rough stuff. Killing an agent gets you the chair.”
The five men didn’t reply. They were busy grappling with their two victims, waiting for the doors to slide open at the top deck.
The hallway where dozens of passengers normally came and went lay ominously empty. Lana’s heart pounded with desire to fight for their lives, adrenaline racing through her almost too strong to withstand.
Where to run? Who to ask for help? None of that was there for them. Why hadn’t she said no to his idea? This was her fault. Sam had been taken by surprise because she hung around his neck like a millstone.
Okay, get your wits about you. These animals can be hurt if you get the chance. Stay calm. Take your chance when it comes.
Shoved ahead of the menacing group of men, Lana tried to take Sam’s arm but was shoved forward. This was their floor, their stateroom door they passed. All her careless moments came back to hit her in the gut. Stop thinking about that and figure out a way to get out of this.
* * * *
The blood froze in her veins when they reached Antigua’s room. He opened the door, smiling at her. “I’ve been waiting for you.” His glassy gaze turned to Sam and he sneered. “Sam, my friend. You don’t look so very good.”
She grabbed Sam’s arm and tried for reasoning with Antigua. “If you’re in charge of these men, keep them off Sam. They have hurt him already.”
“My dear Lana.” Antigua stepped aside to allow his battered guest entry to his plush quarters. “I do regret you are being treated so poorly, but you know far too much.” He eyed her with a reptilian gaze, flat and dark. “You won’t hate me, will you, after this is over? We could have been so close.
”
Sam stepped closer to Antigua, appearing revived and in charge of the situation. “Call off your dogs, Antigua, and give up the game.” He laughed softly. “You’re not smart enough to pull off a scheme like this.”
Antigua roused from his drug-induced daze. “I should have killed you a long time ago.” He laughed, the sound reminiscent to breaking glass. “I have a going away party planned for you. Both of you.”
Lana saw the Cobra woman standing in the background. She smiled at Lana, apparently enjoying the punishment she and Sam were receiving. Several of the party girls peeked around the door of the bedroom, their eyes wide with fear. The fat man in the cream suit grunted and shoved Sam aside.
“Let’s move along with this, Antigua. It’s all set up below.” He tried to touch Lana’s breast, but she shielded herself with her arm. “I wouldn’t say no to a few minutes alone with her.”
Sam moved quickly to stand between her and the man. “You don’t want to do that.” His face darkened with rage. “I’ll kill you.”
Lana wasn’t worried about being raped. Her thoughts were still on the so-called party Antigua had mentioned. He stood looking at her like some kind of sultan, figuring out her punishment.
He snapped his fingers and gestured toward the door, relaying orders to his gang of killers. “Clear the hall and get ready to go.” They moved out like a horde of lemmings, two of the gang holding her and Sam back until the all clear signal was given to Antigua.
Yanked along beside a stony-faced man, Lana searched the hallway feverishly for anyone to help them. Antigua’s men had done a thorough job of getting rid of anything that could get in their way.
She grabbed Sam’s hand, and he closed his fingers around hers. He looked at her and tried to comfort her. “Don’t let go, Pearly. Whatever happens, we’re going to make it.”
“I know we will, Sam.” She managed a smile. “And I won’t let go.”
Chapter Eighteen
What the hell had he missed? Sam cursed his momentary lack of awareness he always depended on. Somewhere along the way, he’d lost the animal instinct that kept him out of situations like this Now, he had not only gotten himself in a fix, but he had Lana to worry about. The deal was really stinking, and he had a feeling they were going to sleep with the fishes. There wasn’t anything below but the ocean.