by Mayer, Dale
His little lady was a bed hog.
Still, she was a tiny one. He dropped the towel and lay down beside her and pulled the covers over them both. If she didn’t like the arrangements, she could tell him about it in the morning. In the meantime he needed sleep too.
He closed his eyes.
Chapter 26
She was finally warm.
In fact, for the first time in a long time she was damn hot. Bree rolled over and came up against a solid block of…furnace. Her eyes popped open. She bolted upright. And looked around.
Markus slept beside her. The room was empty but for the two of them. She glanced down to see her bra in place. No wonder she was uncomfortable. She could only see Markus’s chest but it was bare except for his bandage. She wanted to lift the covers and peek but that so wasn’t going to happen. She slipped off the side of the bed and walked to the bathroom. After using the toilet she washed up. What time was it?
She peered out the window to see the moon high. She’d guess at close to three maybe four in the morning. She’d had a shower earlier but had been forced to put on dirty underwear. If she gave them a quick wash now, would they dry by morning? The morning was going to come fast, and she knew the men would be back into the room early, but she really wanted to ditch the bra and have washed underwear for morning.
Her muscles ached like she’d run a marathon. Who knew? There was a deep exhaustion that would take days to ease. But clean clothes would help. She quickly washed them in the sink and hung them over the shower railing. Just as she finished, there was a knock on the door. “Bree, you okay?”
She wrapped the towel around herself and opened the door to find Markus staring at her.
Then she was doing some staring of her own.
He was buck naked.
Then she saw the long thin scar across his abdomen.
“What happened?” she cried.
His frown deepened. She reached out and traced the scar tissue.
“A knife fight.” He grinned. “I won.”
She shook her head. “How is this a win?”
“The other man is dead.”
“Right. Then that’s a huge win.” She smiled at him then walked to the bedroom, the towel secured under her arms. She turned back to see him studying her quick attempt at laundry. “I never got a chance to buy more,” she said with a note of apology. “I’d rather have slightly damp but clean underwear for morning.”
He nodded but didn’t say anything. Still, there was a look in his eyes as his gaze dropped to the towel wrapped around her.
She swallowed. Jesus he was hot. And sexy.
And very obviously interested.
“Are you still cold?” he murmured, his gaze locked on her.
She shuddered remembering his earlier suggestion on how to warm her up. “Yes,” she whispered. “I’m still cold.”
And she made a decision. She might not have much, but she had this moment. This night. And she wanted it – all.
She slowly unhooked the towel and dropped it to the floor.
“I’m not much in the way of eye candy at the moment,” she started to say, but he held up his hand forestalling more words. He reached her in seconds. “We’re not about bodies. We’re not about the shape, color or condition of our bodies. This is about what’s inside. Who we are…at the heart of these bodies.”
Tears glimmered in the corner of her eyes. “Do I get to say that I’m feeling very shallow and love your body?”
He laughed and gently picked up her up in his arms. “You are lovely inside and out. You also have very lovely bones.” He cradled her gently in his arms as he walked the few feet to the bed. With a tenderness she hadn’t expected he lay her down on the bed. “Now a little flesh to cover them, and you’ll be a spectacular package.”
He collapsed beside her. In fact, he was too damn far away for her. She rolled closer, snaking her arms up around his neck, flattening herself against him.
His gasp made her smile. “Told you I was cold.”
“I told you I knew how to fix it.”
She tilted her head back and stared into those magical eyes. “Prove it.”
He lowered his head and kissed her. That same magic she felt stir before sparked into fire. Passions that had been dormant for a long time. A lonely time of pain and suffering. Now like a phoenix rising from the ashes, her passion rose in a wave of loving emotion. Longing and heat mixed in volatile combinations. To be close to this man…to be in his arms…
Precious.
She slipped her hands over his body, stroking, caressing, learning. The scar on the right shoulder. The long one across his abdomen. “This would have hurt.”
He slid his hot palm across her surgical scar. “This would have too.”
“Not physically,” she whispered, her fingers stroking the edge of the bandage from his latest injury.
He glanced at her, that deep knowing in his eyes that said he understood. All the loss and relief that had filled her upon awakening. He dropped gentle kisses on her temple, on her cheeks, her chin, and her nose. Finally, he kissed her lips, his tongue sliding deep inside as his hands caressed her body. Exploring the dips and curves. His fingers rising to cup the soft weight of her small breasts.
Then he slid his fingers into the soft damp hair in the triangle right below. She gasped, her hips lifting toward his touch. Those damn knowing fingers. Her body pulsed and shuddered, awakening nerves she’d forgotten still existed. She reached up and pulled him down toward her.
She moaned. “More, please.”
“Easy,” he whispered. “We have time.”
A half laugh and a groan escaped. “Maybe, but my body seems to have a mind of its own.”
“That’s a good thing, enjoy.”
And those fingers did something else… She cried out, her back arching as ripples of mini explosions blasted up and down her body. “Markus,” she demanded.
“I’m here,” he said in that deep dark smoky voice that made her insides melt.
“But you’re not with me,” she whispered. “I want you with me.”
He rose over her, that massive body supported on his arms to keep his weight off her. She understood. He didn’t want to hurt her. Slipping her arms up around his shoulders, she smiled through the tears. “I’ll be fine. I’m not that fragile.”
But she hadn’t convinced him. Fine. She wrapped her legs around his waist and ground her pelvis against his. And was rewarded with a guttural sound. A faint mist of sweat slicked over his skin, making her realize the effort he was putting into staying in control.
Perversely she wanted him to lose it – in a big way.
She changed tactics and pushed at his shoulders. Instantly he rolled onto his back, gently dragging her over with him. With a big grin she smirked down at him. “Much better,” she said.
“Why’s that?” he asked in a pained voice.
“Better access,” she said smoothly and grasped him gently in her hands. Lord he was big. And hot. And so damn ready. She reached down and kissed the tip, loving the way his hips jolted upward at her touch and his strangled exclamation he couldn’t hold back.
Using her hands, she explored the massive thighs, rock hard abs and rounded sac hanging between his thighs.
He hissed, then moaned and shuddered.
With more grace than she expected she straddled his thighs, her hands wandering in different directions, anxious to explore all of him. He lay acquiescing. Letting her do what she wanted, how she wanted.
“You’re a gift,” she murmured.
A broken laugh was all he could manage.
She drew her hands down his chest and back toward his erection, wrapping her fingers around it and giving a gentle squeeze.
“Fuck,” he whispered in a guttural moan.
She laughed. “Yes please.” And slowly she lowered herself down on top of him.
Instantly his hands slid up her belly and ribs to cup her breasts.
Perfect.
She threw her head back and started to ride. With her hands clasped over his, she moved slowly at first, then faster and faster as she drove them both to the finish line. With a cry, she spun out of control, dimly aware of him grabbing onto her hips driving up once, twice, a hoarse shout erupting as he collapsed back onto the bed.
With her body trembling like a wild thing, she collapsed back down on his chest trying to catch her breath. That’s when she realized tears were streaming down her face. “Thank you,” she whispered.
“For what?” he murmured in surprise, humor tingeing the exhaustion in his voice.
“For being you.”
And she closed her eyes and let the fatigue finally take her.
*
Markus knew she needed the rest, her body crying out for her to look after it in a big way, but he didn’t want to move. He didn’t want this moment to end. He wanted to hold her. Keep her safe in his arms. Like he hadn’t been able to do for Fiona.
And for the first time realized – and quickly followed that up with acceptance – that he couldn’t have protected her all the time. She loved traveling and she had friends she did things with. It had been an accident. Damn bad luck. He wasn’t to blame. He could walk forward with a clear mind and guilt-free heart. But not an empty heart. Right now it brimmed to the top with love for the sprite in his arms. He hadn’t thought to be so lucky again.
And he’d do whatever he could to have as many years as she had available to give him. She was just that special.
With her cradled in his arms, he closed his eyes and slept.
Chapter 27
The Anchorage police station wasn’t what she expected. Yet the sand colored building was similar to others she’d seen, so she didn’t know why she was surprised. Markus held the door for her as they entered. The entire unit was here in some capacity. The prisoner had been handed over last night, but there were meetings scheduled today. After all, the brass wanted reports from both sides of the table.
“I thought you’d like to know that Jake is awake and trying to escape the hospital,” Markus said, startling a laugh from Bree. “And Boomer’s condition has been upgraded. It looks like he’ll be okay.”
“I’d rather be on the way home,” she muttered.
“Hmm. Have you called your father yet?”
“You know I haven’t,” she said. “I’ve been with you the whole time. Besides, I don’t have a phone.”
“You could consider coming and staying at my house instead.”
She froze mid-step then turned to stare at him. “As in I have a spare bedroom, and feel free to use it for a week or two while I figure out my job situation?” she asked cautiously.
“Considering you really don’t want to go back to your father’s…”
“Ah,” she said, disappointed.
She felt his glance, but they were being approached by a policewoman who smiled and led them into a decent size room with a large table. She hated the resemblance to what she imagined an interview room would look like. She hadn’t done anything wrong.
“Relax,” Markus murmured at her side. “You’re only answering a few questions.”
“I know,” she whispered. “But something about this atmosphere makes me feel guilty even though I haven’t done anything wrong to feel guilty about.”
“Not an issue.” He squeezed her fingers.
She stared down at his fingers laced between her own. “Thanks for seeing this through with me.”
“I have no plans to dump you on the side of the highway,” he said calmly. “And my offer of a place to stay–”
The door opened, cutting off his words.
Damn it.
She sighed. He squeezed her fingers again. She knew he understood. This and so many other things in her life. How had she gotten so lucky?
Two men sat down opposite them. The cops didn’t look as intimidating as she thought they would.
That didn’t make the process any faster though. By the time she was done, her voice was dry and she couldn’t dredge any more information out of her brain if she tried.
“That was very helpful. Now to find this missing man.”
“Particularly considering Barry has no siblings,” the taller of the two men said.
“I didn’t see him for very long,” she said apologetically.
“Not an issue. You’ve been a big help. We’ll bring in a sketch artist, grab as close a likeness as we can and we’ll run with that.”
She slumped in place as they walked out. Markus got up and stood behind her, gently massaging away the built up tension in her shoulders. “Sorry it’s so hard, Bree.”
“It’s not hard, it’s…” she stopped as she tried to find the right word, “draining.”
“Another hour and you’ll be done.” He leaned in and gave her a tender kiss. “You’re doing great.”
“No, I’m not.” She sighed. “I’m whining.”
The door opened to let another man in. He wore a baseball cap and shirt with lots of pockets. Each full of pens. She loved it. He had a large sketchbook in his hand.
“Okay, let’s get started.”
She glanced at the pad and back again. Surely this would be easier with her eyes closed.
It took a moment to get into the rhythm.
She sat with her back turned and tried to describe the man she’d seen. “He was clean shaven with a thick jaw and high cheekbones.” As she continued to sort through the description in her head, Markus squeezed her hand and stood up. He went to the door and walked out, calling out, “I’m going to get you a bottle of water.”
Of course he’d seen what she needed before she had.
She finally came to a stop and turned to look at the diagram. “Not even close.” She sighed and glanced at the artist’s face, wondering what to say to help the situation. Then looked back at the image.
Her mind once again went clickety click click. And she couldn’t breathe. Hell, she couldn’t do anything but stare in shock at the piss poor likeness on the page.
Maybe she should have told the asshole to look in the mirror when he drew the missing man. Because she was almost positive the artist was the man they were looking for. And wouldn’t that be a perfect cover for him? He had the police training to be the shooter dodging them the last few days. And Anchorage was close enough to come back and forth.
Why did this keep happening to her?
And where the hell was Markus when she needed him? She was a damn piss poor liar, and if there was ever a time she needed to do better in that department it was now. She swallowed hard, her mind working furiously searching for a way out.
The doorknob turned, but it was locked on the inside. She got up to open it, but the artist shot out an arm and pinned her to the chair.
“You recognized me, didn’t you?” He glared at her. “From the diner.”
She stared mutely at the bearded man she hadn’t initially recognized with his new facial hair. What could she say? She nodded.
“God damn it,” he said in a low hard voice.
“Let me go,” she whispered. “You don’t need me.”
“Hell no, you’re my ticket out of here.” He stood up, dragging her to her feet.
Oh please not.
He grabbed her around the neck as pounding started on the doorway.
“Bree?” Markus called through the door.
“Ye–” Her voice ended in a strangled exclamation as the artist tightened the choke hold on her neck.
“She can’t answer you,” he called out.
There was an ugly silence from the other side of the door.
“If you hurt her,” Markus snarled.
“I won’t if you let me get out of here,” the artist cried. “I want my freedom.”
“You’re not going to get it, you know,” Bree said calmly. “Those guys out there are going to pick you up and slam you into tomorrow.”
“No, you’re my insurance.”
“Hell no, I’m not. I’m no one’s insura
nce, I’m already dead. They don’t give a shit about me,” she said. “You lost your chance. You should have taken the big guy hostage. He’s worth something.”
“No way, he’s a fucking SEAL. He’d take me out before I made it to the doorway.” The artist snickered. “But he cares about you, and I’ll kill you dead right this fucking instant if they don’t let me out.”
“We’ll let you leave the station,” a strange official sounding voice called from the main offices. “Jeremy, don’t you hurt her.”
“I won’t have a choice if you don’t let me get away,” he answered harshly. “I’ve got a vehicle just outside. Let me get to it and give me twenty-four hours. You’ll never see me again.”
“Why would you want to leave anyway?” Bree couldn’t help asking. “They are just going to hunt you down. You and Barry. What is he, your cousin? Better to give it up now.”
“Like hell. My cousin is probably already back in California, hoping to stay clean of this mess. Like that’s going to happen. Greg wasn’t supposed to do anything to bring attention to the cabin until we were ready to go. And kidnapping was never on the menu. Barry always looks after himself before anyone else. Well if I’m going down, so is he. This was all his idea. I’m not spending my life behind bars for no one.”
“What have you done? You weren’t part of the kidnapping nor did you beat up Boomer.” Then she stopped, anger building inside. “But you might have shot Jake.” At the look on his face she said in outrage, “Why? And why let your pet firebug destroy everything? It was supposed to be just a robbery of the Wells Fargo banks. Not all this ugliness.”
At the name Wells Fargo, his gaze flattened to a dark deadliness that had her shaking inside.
“You don’t know nothing and I had no choice. I was trying to save the situation,” he snarled. “Now shut up.”
She quieted, her mind furiously churning away inside. Surely the cops had heard him and were already making arrangements to pick up Barry. Preferably now. He’d shot Jake and Markus then too. That wasn’t something the men outside would forgive. Hell, if she could she’d take the asshole down herself for that. The room was small with only one way in or out and no windows. She knew Markus would be having a fit. “Markus, it’s okay. He won’t hurt me.”