Oz followed her down, his breath punching in and out near her ear.
He stayed on top of her, his hips continuing to jerk against her for long moments.
“Are you okay?” he rasped, rolling off her and onto his back.
Maria lifted her head and looked at him. “I’m better than okay. I feel like a noodle.”
Oz attempted to laugh through his choppy breathing. “God, you’re incredible.”
Crawling over to where he lay, Maria rested her head on his muscular chest. “I could get used to this.”
“Glad to hear it,” he rumbled, his hand going to her hair. “Because I don’t intend to let you go.”
Maria’s heart lurched. She brought her hand up and circled his nipple with her fingernail. “And how long do you plan on keeping me, Mr. Ozele?”
“For as long as you’ll have me,” came his hesitant response.
The sound of the door opening caught Maria by surprise. She jerked her head up, a scream trapped in her throat.
Oz was on his feet in an instant.
“Go ahead,” Xavier rasped. “Try it. Give me a reason to shoot you between your eyes.”
Maria sat up, covering herself with the sheet as she scrambled back against the headboard.
Xavier’s maddened gaze swung in her direction. “That sheet ain’t gonna save you from me. You’ll be begging me to take your life when I’m done with you.”
Swaying on his feet, Xavier staggered into the room and locked the door behind him. “Move against the wall,” he demanded of Oz, “or I’ll shoot your whore in her pretty little mouth.”
Maria couldn’t look away from Xavier’s face. Purple shadows lay beneath his eyes. His normally brown skin had a yellow hue, and sweat dripped from his nose and chin.
“Look what you did to me,” Xavier growled, waving the gun in Oz’s direction. “I’m going to make you pay in ways that you can’t even imagine. But not until you’ve watched what I do to your whore.”
Maria’s gaze dropped to the blood-stained shirt that hung over the front of Xavier’s pants.
“You touch her,” Oz snarled, taking a step forward, “and I’ll remove your fingers, one by one, and shove them down your throat.”
Xavier shifted the gun toward Maria. “Try it. Let’s see if you can outrun a bullet.”
Grabbing a roll of duct tape from his shirt pocket, Xavier tossed it onto the bed. “Secure his hands and feet and then tape his mouth. One wrong move, and I’ll kill you where you stand. And lose the sheet. I want to look at you while you do it.”
Nausea rolled through Maria’s stomach. The Xavier she’d been subjected to at the hotel had been sadistic, but the man that stood before her now was evil personified.
“Move!” he shouted, inching his trembling finger toward the trigger of the revolver he held.
Maria released her death grip on the sheet and snatched up the tape. She crawled off the bed and stumbled to where Oz stood.
“I’m so sorry,” Oz whispered, regret and moisture swimming in his eyes.
Unable to answer for fear of breaking down, Maria blinked back her tears and taped Oz’s mouth closed.
“Now sit in the chair,” Xavier ordered Oz. “And put your hands behind you.”
Xavier coughed, a horrid sound that reminded Maria of death.
With trembling fingers, she secured Oz’s wrists behind him and his ankles to the wooden chair legs before turning to face Xavier.
“Now what?” she bit out, lifting her chin in defiance. If Xavier was going to kill her, she’d be damned if she’d give him the satisfaction of seeing her beg.
“Toss me the tape and get back on the bed.”
Maria moved on numb legs, tossing Xavier the tape and climbing onto the bed as he demanded.
“Lay back with your hands above your head.”
A growl of rage came from Oz’s throat.
Xavier laughed, the manic sound sending chills of dread up Maria’s spine.
Maria stared up at the ceiling as Xavier taped her wrists together and secured them to the headboard.
“Now,” the maniac announced, reaching into his boot and pulling a knife free. “Your boyfriend over there took something from me that I can never get back. He should have just killed me in those trees. But instead, he chose to mutilate me. Now, he’s going to have to sit there and watch as I do the same to you.”
He took the tip of the blade and rested it next to her nipple. “Should I start here? Or here?”
Tears of terror dripped from Maria’s eyes as he moved the knife down to the juncture of her thighs.
“Don’t worry,” he assured her in a singsong voice. “I’m not going to kill you. You’ll only wish you were dead. Without this little jewel here” —he moved the tip of the blade lower— “you’ll never know the pleasure of sex, again.”
Maria squeezed her eyes shut, tensing for the pain that was about to come.
The sound of something crashing against the wall brought her eyes open.
She jerked her gaze to the side in time to see Oz sail across the bed, his massive body slamming into Xavier’s smaller one. The knife flew across the room, landing on the floor near the bathroom.
Maria’s scream trapped in her throat, her heart beating erratically. She lifted her head as far as her bonds would allow and watched as Oz’s muscular legs locked around Xavier’s head.
With a powerful twist of his lower body, Oz snapped the guy’s neck like a twig.
“Hang on, baby,” Oz rasped, kicking Xavier away and rolling to his feet.
Maria screamed to the top of her lungs, praying that Zaureth, Gryke, or Vaulcron would hear.
The door was suddenly kicked open, and Vaulcron raced into the room with Zaureth tight on his heels.
Oz jumped in front of Maria’s nude form, effectively blocking the two Bracadytes view of her body.
“Cut me loose,” Oz growled, presenting the Bracadytes his back.
Maria held Oz’s wild-eyed gaze as one of the Bracadytes cut through the tape on his wrists.
“Give me your knife.” Though Oz’s words came out in a snarl, Maria could hear the underlying regret in his tone.
Oz immediately covered her with the sheet and sliced through the bonds securing her hands to the headboard.
Maria sat up and threw her arms around his neck, pulling him down to the bed. “You killed him.”
Oz held her against him, rocking her back and forth. “It’s my fault. I should have killed him when I had the chance. I’m so sorry. Are you okay?”
She nodded against him, tears of relief spilling from her eyes. “Don’t blame yourself. You couldn’t have known he would follow you here.”
“I shouldn’t have taken the chance,” Oz whispered as she cried against his chest.
Maria wasn’t sure how much time had passed while she sat there clinging to Oz, before she sniffled and pulled back. “You saved my life. Again.”
“I am the reason your life was put in danger to begin with,” Oz argued, wiping the tears from her face with his thumbs. “I will never put you in that position again.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Oz’s heart twisted as he stared into Maria’s tear-filled eyes. He’d come close to losing her again. He wasn’t sure how much more he could take.
The sound of a throat clearing behind him reminded Oz they weren’t alone. “Is she unharmed?”
Kissing the tip of Maria’s nose, Oz stood to face the room’s other occupants. “She’ll be fine once we get that garbage out of here.”
“I will take care of that,” Vaulcron remarked, bending and tossing Xavier’s limp body over his shoulder.
Fiona came barreling in, her hair dripping wet and her clothes askew. Her gaze touched on Xavier hanging over Vaulcron’s shoulder before coming to rest on Oz. “What the hell?”
Gryke stepped through the door, coming to a stop behind Fiona. His brows lifted as he took in Oz’s nude form.
“See something you like?” Oz asked
in a dry tone.
Gryke’s gaze traveled around the room, taking in the situation with a glance. “Is he dead this time?”
“He’s definitely dead,” Oz confirmed, keeping Maria’s body hidden from view. “If you all will excuse me, I have some things to attend to.”
The room cleared out in seconds, leaving Oz alone with Maria. He turned to face her, moving to his previous spot on the edge of the bed. “Let me see your hands.”
Maria extended her arms. “Fiona saw you unclothed.”
Oz paused. “Does that bother you?”
“Yes,” she whispered softly.
Returning to the task of removing the tape from her wrists, Oz chose his next words carefully. “Do you know why I put my body between you and the others that were in the room?”
Maria shook her head, her eyes sparkling with the remnants of tears.
“Because I couldn’t bear another male seeing you nude. I want to be the only man to ever again have that privilege.”
“What are you saying?” Maria whispered, rubbing at her tape-free wrists.
Oz hesitated. What was he saying? He didn’t know. The only thing he could be sure of was the protective and possessive feelings he held for the woman in front of him. “I guess I’m saying that I’d like to see where this goes. There’s something between us, and I hope that you feel it too.”
Disappointment flashed in her eyes, but was gone so fast Oz thought he’d imagined it.
“I feel it,” Maria confessed, brushing her lips across his. “I need to take a shower and scrub his touch from my body.”
Oz didn’t need to ask to know she referred to Xavier. “Want some company?”
Maria nodded. “Yes…please. I don’t want to be alone yet.”
Oz got to his feet and helped Maria to stand. He followed her into the bathroom, turning on the water as hot as he could stand it.
“Watch yourself,” he murmured as she stepped under the heated spray.
Neither of them spoke as Oz squirted some shampoo onto his palm and gently washed Maria’s hair.
Steam swirled around them, wrapping them in a cocoon of safety from the world outside.
“I’m sorry, Maria. If I could take back what happened, I would.”
Maria took a deep breath and rested her palms against his chest. “I know you would. It’s over now. I just want to put it all behind me.”
Oz coaxed her into leaning her head back under the water to rinse the shampoo from her hair. “The threat of Carlito is gone, but you’re not out of danger yet. At least not until I get you safely to Aukrabah.”
Maria squinted up at him. “You mean the virus?”
Oz nodded. He snatched up the soap and went to work on cleansing her body. “I don’t want you exposed in any way. We’ll stay below until Abbie can help the CDC figure out how to stop it.”
“What if they can’t find a cure?” Maria softly murmured.
“Then Aukrabah will become our home.”
A small indentation appeared between Maria’s brown eyes. “When you say ‘our,’ do you mean you as well?”
Oz paused in his ministrations. “Do you want it to mean me too?”
“Yes,” Maria whispered, dropping her gaze.
Placing a finger beneath her chin, Oz gently lifted, forcing her to meet his eyes. “I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”
He bent and softly kissed her lips before finishing his task of soaping up her body.
There was nothing sexual about Oz’s touch, only a protectiveness born of the feelings within his heart.
After carefully rinsing the soap from Maria, Oz took care of his own cleansing before switching off the water and stepping from the shower.
He wrapped a towel around his waist and grabbed one to tenderly dry Maria.
The bruising she’d had on her ribs and thighs was completely gone, save for a pale yellow color barely seen under the florescent lights.
“Any pain left?”
Maria shook her head, instinctively rubbing at her wrists.
Oz didn’t mention it to her, for fear of bringing back old memories.
Guilt consumed him as he recalled tying her hands and feet as well. “Let’s get dressed. I’m going to bring the yacht into port and fill both the fuel tanks. We’ll set out for Destin at first light.
“I’ll come up to wheelhouse with you,” Maria offered, trailing into the room to retrieve her clothes from the floor.
Oz followed behind, snatching up his jeans as he went. “You should get as much rest as you can. We have a hell of a hike through the tunnels once we arrive.”
Maria hesitated before responding. “I don’t want to be alone.”
Oz’s heart squeezed at her soft confession. He pulled on his jeans and yanked his shirt over his head. “Okay. You can sleep in the wheelhouse.”
Donning his shoes, Oz waited for Maria to finish dressing before leading her into the hall and up the stairs to the wheelhouse.
“There’s a cot over there.” He nodded to the back of the room. “Try to get some rest while I get us underway.
Maria’s smiled wearily and ambled her way to the cot. She was asleep within seconds.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Maria came awake to the sound of voices shouting in the distance. She threw her legs over the side of the cot to find the room empty.
“Oz?” she called, trailing to the steps that lead to the hall.
The voices grew louder the closer she got to the deck. “I am here by order of the United States President,” Fiona snapped in a commanding tone. “I suggest you make the necessary call and let us pass.”
Maria stepped around the corner, coming to a stop as her gaze landed on the backs of two men dressed in military attire.
One of the soldiers spun around, rifle in hand. “Stop where you are.”
“What’s going on?” Maria questioned, her hands immediately in the air.
“Private?” a uniformed man from the boat anchored next to them called out.
“Sir!” the private barked, keeping his gun trained on Maria.
“Stand down, private. By orders of President Pratt, we are to let them pass.”
“Yes, sir!” the private acknowledged, lowering his weapon.
Maria breathed a sigh of relief as both uniformed men turned on their heels and marched off toward the ladder. “What the hell was that all about?”
Oz was at her side in an instant. “It would appear that the military is now assisting the coast guard in patrolling the waters.”
“For what?” Maria watched as the two men descended the ladder, disappearing from view.
Fiona joined Oz and Maria. “They’re out here to try to prevent others from coming by way of water to the States.”
Maria blinked. “But why would anyone want to come here where the virus originated?”
“To get their hands on their one hope of survival,” Fiona stated, matter-of-fact. “Abbigail Sutherland.”
Maria’s mouth opened in surprise. “Then why did they attack us when we left here a few days ago?”
“Those were rebels under the command of Secretary of Homeland Security, Doug Jefferies,” Oz informed her.
Fiona nodded her agreement before filling Maria in on everything that had happened with Jefferies, ending with, “President Howell was impeached for his crimes, but Jefferies and Secretary of Defense, Gerald Kerik, were exonerated. Since they were following the orders of the president, no charges could be brought against them.”
Maria couldn’t wrap her mind around what she’d just heard. “Why would Jefferies want us dead?”
“Revenge,” Fiona murmured, a faraway look in her eyes. “He hates the Bracadytes and will stop at nothing to destroy them. Even if it means treason.”
Maria thought about that for a moment. “Why doesn’t someone report him to the American government?”
Fiona laughed without humor. “We have no proof that he sent those rebels to attack us. Besides, they’re all dead now
.”
“What I do not understand,” Gryke remarked, joining the small group, “is how Jefferies’s men knew where to find us.” He looked accusingly at Fiona.
Fiona faced him, her hands coming to rest on her hips. “Are you accusing me of alerting them to our presence?”
“Did you?” Gryke growled, stepping in closer.
Oz moved between them. “Easy, you two. Fighting amongst ourselves won’t help anyone but Jefferies.”
“How the hell could I have contacted them, you big overgrown tub of testosterone?” Fiona bit out, ignoring Oz’s attempt at cooling the situation. “You were with me the entire time. You even searched me to be sure I had no way to make a call.”
Gryke crossed his arms over his chest. “I do not know how you managed it. I only know that you did.”
“That’s enough,” Oz demanded, his handsome face twisted in a scowl. “There’s no telling how they found out. The point is, since Fiona went all Full Metal Jacket on them, I’d say that earns her the benefit of the doubt.”
Fiona’s shoulders visibly relaxed. “Thank you, Oz. But you don’t have to defend me to this simpleton. His skull is far too thick to penetrate.”
Oz’s lips twitched. “You asked for that, Gryke.”
Turning back toward Maria, Oz held out his hand. “We’ll be anchoring within the hour. Are you feeling up for long hike to Aukrabah?”
Maria accepted his outstretched palm. “Ready as I’ll ever be.”
* * * *
Maria trekked along next to Oz, remembering the last time she’d walked she’d been in Destin. Her hands had been bound, and she’d stumbled along for hours, trying to hold her bladder.
Oz slowed his steps, regret registering in his beautiful green eyes. “I’m sorry I put you through that.”
Maria realized he’d been reading her thoughts. She hadn’t felt him inside her mind. “I don’t blame you for that. You had no way of knowing of my feelings about my brother.”
“Still,” Oz began, bending to scoop her up into his arms. “I would take it all back if I could.”
Maria gasped as Oz swung her high against his chest. “You don’t have to carry me. I can walk.”
“I know you can. But I like having you against me.”
Oz: A SciFi Alien Romance (Enigma Series Book 5) Page 11