by Stark, Cindy
She needed him. Ached for him. Yearned to have him inside her.
She wrapped her legs around him, and he seemed to sense her needs. He switched breasts, holding her in one hand as the other searched out her fiery core.
A low whimper escaped her as his fingers maneuvered beneath her panties, so close to where he needed to be. She closed her eyes, her fingers delving into his hair, and she prayed she could hold on to her sanity.
Blinding pleasure shot through her as he slipped a finger inside, and she cried out.
“Janie,” he whispered.
“Take me, Sam.” She cradled his head against her chest, as he urged her toward a higher level.
He slid her panties from beneath her and tossed them somewhere behind him. When he opened her thighs again, she stiffened, realizing his intentions. She’d never allowed anyone to be so intimate with her before. “No,” she whispered.
“Let me taste you, Janie.” He dipped his head, and she braced herself for the sensual impact.
The feel of his tongue against her made her cry out. “Sam, please. Take me now before I die.” The intensity was too much, and she shuddered in response.
He chuckled as he lifted his head, and she clung to him as though losing him really might cost her her life. He slipped his hands beneath her, lifting her and setting her on a stool.
He quickly disposed of the rest of his clothes, grabbing a condom from his wallet. She arched a brow, giving him a teasing smile.
“What? You know I was hoping.”
She did, and she was glad he wanted her so badly.
When he was ready, he walked forward. She opened her arms and legs, wrapping him in her embrace. He kissed her hard, and then scooted her to the edge of the stool. He positioned himself at her core, and she trembled when he pushed inside her.
He stayed buried for a moment, and she took the time to adjust to his size.
“This feels so good, Janie. So right.”
“Yes,” she whispered, part of her afraid of the intensity of what she felt. The other half celebrated the joy.
He started to move, and she clung to him, clung to the amazing sensations, physical and emotional, that consumed her.
He pumped into her harder and harder, and soon the physical overtook the emotional. Blinding gratification consumed her, owned her. He pushed past any previous limits she’d experienced, and she wondered if she could take in anymore before she exploded from pleasure. Need collided with indulgence, and she let herself ride the wave until pure carnality shattered inside her.
She gripped his shoulders, held on as it washed through her.
As her heart rate slowed, her vision returned, and she found Sam watching her with avaricious need. A tremor raced through her as he started moving again.
She sucked in a breath while she could and held on as the hot, pulsing ache started building within her again. When Sam had spent every cent of pleasure available to them, he carried her to his bed, her body a quivering mass of satisfaction.
* * *
Sam held Janie tightly in his arms. She’d melted against him, and he could tell by her slow breathing she felt safe and hopefully happy. He’d needed this, and he’d needed to give her this as well.
They both deserved some happiness, and he wasn’t at all surprised he’d found it with her. He’d known the moment he’d laid eyes on her that she was someone special.
He stroked the curve of her hip, her skin soft against his fingers. Everything about her was lovely and delightful, and he couldn’t imagine ever growing tired of her.
He sighed, wishing they could stay in this moment forever. Unfortunately, there were a few things that stood in the way of their happiness. Number one was Paul Castell. Sam should have told her the rest of his news hours ago, but hadn’t been able to make himself to do it.
“Janie?”
“Mmm?” she said, her face resting against his chest.
“I…man, I’m an idiot.” He was going to tell her, and it was going to ruin their perfect moment.
“What do you mean?”
“I’m going to tell you something, and then I’m going to wish I’d shot my toe off instead.”
She gave a small laugh and lifted her head. “You’re not making any sense.”
He traced his fingers along her jaw line wishing he could kiss her instead of talk to her. “I’ve searched for the perfect time all day to tell you this, but the timing was never right. Today turned out better than I expected, for both of us, right?”
She nodded, but the smile she’d worn for most of the day had disappeared.
“Oh, God. Here it goes. I apologize for not telling you sooner. Castell’s attorney has requested the judge consider a service by publication on his suit against you.”
She froze. Then blinked as though working through his latest bit of information. “What does that mean exactly?”
“It means they don’t have to serve you in person. A notice in the Oregonian will do. It means the civil suit against you can go forward.”
“He’s determined to get me.” Her words came out hollow and scared, summoning Sam’s protective instincts.
“I’m not going to let him hurt you, Janie.” He’d die first.
“What do I do?” she whispered.
“Nothing. Stay here and stay safe. Even if they do serve you through the newspaper, it will take some time for the case to go to trial.”
“Enough time for you to get him first?”
“That’s what I’m counting on, yes.” He couldn’t tell her about the planned raid. Too many lives were at stake, and he didn’t want to get her hopes up. “I’ve got a team following some leads. You never know what might happen in a few days’ time.”
He could tell by her silence that she still wasn’t satisfied.
“Why couldn’t you have told me this morning?”
He sighed. “I should have.”
“Then why didn’t you?”
“I didn’t want to upset you.”
“So? I still had the right to know. The right to be upset if I wanted.”
“God, Janie. I know. But you’ve been through so much. I wish I could spare you completely.”
“Don’t you understand that by doing that, it makes it harder to trust you? I keep telling you, I’m not the weak victim you think I am. I can stand on my own feet. I’ve brought this mess upon myself. As much as I’d like to pretend it doesn’t exist, I’ll see it through to the end one way or the other.”
He hugged her to him. “I know you will. I know you’re strong. My intentions are good, Janie. I just want to help you.”
She was quiet for a few moments. “I know. Thank you for that.” She hugged him back. “But please promise you’ll be upfront with me, okay? I’m a big girl. I can take it.”
“Okay.” He would comply with her wishes the best he could.
Chapter Eighteen
The following morning, Janie woke up alone in Sam’s bed. She frowned at the dented pillow that rested next to hers. She’d had a restless night filled with fits and bad dreams, and she was surprised she hadn’t heard him leave.
She got to her feet and then spied the note on her nightstand. “I’ll see you soon. Love, Sam,” she whispered.
Love? Did he mean it? They hadn’t known each other for very long, and many people tossed the word around so carelessly without remembering its true meaning. She was sure he cared about her, but he’d withheld information. He’d thought his reasons for doing so were valid, but was this the first hint that this might not be the right relationship for her? She’d promised herself after Paul that she’d be on the lookout for such signals.
Maybe she needed to slow down and be a bit more careful.
One thing was for sure, a smart woman wouldn’t rely on anyone to protect her. She’d take care of herself. Whether or not things moved forward with Sam, she wouldn’t find herself in a vulnerable position again.
She dressed and sought out Christian. He sat at the counter in the
kitchen drinking his morning coffee and reading the paper.
“If you’ll drive me to my bank, I’ll make you the most delicious Quiche Lorraine you’ve ever tasted for lunch.”
That sparked his interest. “Is that the one that has bacon in it?”
“It is. Is there a problem with me leaving the house to go to the bank?”
“I don’t see why there would be. Give me a second to get my shoes.”
Christian parked outside the downtown bank near Janie’s old job. She desperately wanted to run into the restaurant to tell everyone hello, but that probably wasn’t a good idea. Paul may have someone watching the business, expecting her to do exactly that. But he wouldn’t look here. He had no idea she’d rented a safe deposit box.
She pulled the baseball hat Christian had forced her to wear lower on her head and opened the car door. “I’ll be right back.” She kept the dark sunglasses on until she stepped inside the bank’s door.
Only a few people stood in line waiting for an available teller. Instead of joining them, she headed to the older, impeccably dressed woman who sat at a nearby desk. “I’d like to empty my safe deposit box and close my account.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” the woman said. “I hope it’s not because of bad service.”
“No, ma’am.” Janie smiled. “I’m moving, and you don’t have a branch in my new town.” She wasn’t sure that was exactly true, but it kept the woman from questioning her further.
“We’re sorry to see you go, but I do understand. I hope you have your key with you.”
“I do.” Janie held up the small key ring she usually kept in the bottom of her purse.
The lady retrieved her box from the vault and led her to a private room. When Janie was alone, she opened the box. A quiet shiver raced through her. Her grandfather’s old revolver sat on top of the small stack of papers and envelopes, a half-full box of bullets next to it. She’d inherited it from her grandpa, and she’d brought it west with her when she’d left home. A single girl on her own should always be able to protect herself.
She snorted. Fat lot of good it had done her. Once she’d realized how dangerous Paul was, she’d packed it away with the rest of her personal belongings, knowing a little gal from Kansas holding her granddaddy’s gun wouldn’t stand a chance against someone like Paul. Her best chance had been escape. Which she’d done even if it wasn’t the way she’d planned.
She tucked the gun inside her purse along with her birth certificate and social security card. The small stack of fifty dollar bills went along with the rest. She’d managed to amass a bit of money. It wouldn’t go far if she had to pay a first month’s and last month’s rent, but she’d make it work if she was forced. She slipped her grandma’s watch on her wrist and headed back in the lobby where she got in line and withdrew the remaining two hundred and something dollars from her account.
She thanked the kind lady as she left the bank, feeling more in control of her life and a little stronger.
Christian sat up straighter as she drew near. As she was about to enter his Mustang, she caught the gaze of a man with dark hair who stared at her from his car as he spoke into his phone. Her heart stopped. She’d seen him before. At Paul’s. There was no doubt he saw her as well.
She jumped into the car and slammed her door. “We need to leave.”
Christian seemed to catch the terror in her voice. “What’s wrong?”
“There’s a man in that silver sedan. I think he’s after me.”
Christian barely glanced in the driver’s direction before he jerked his Mustang into gear. “We’re out of here.” His tires squealed as he entered traffic. “Get my gun out of the glove compartment. Just in case.”
Janie did as he asked and then switched her gaze to the rearview mirror just as the sedan pulled out several cars behind them. “He’s following us.” Her heart rate jumped through the roof. “Oh, God. What are we going to do?”
“Hang on.” Christian swerved around a corner and then another.
“He’s still there,” she said after a second. “I think there’s a second car following us now. The maroon SUV.” She tried to breathe. Tried not to panic, but it was difficult.
He turned another couple of corners, but the cars followed. “Shit. Call Sam.”
“I don’t have his number.” She dug in her purse for her phone as Christian rattled off a string of numbers. She dialed, but the phone went straight to voicemail. “He’s not answering.”
“Okay. It’s okay.” Christian gripped his steering wheel and turned another corner.
“It’s not okay.” The yellow light in front of them turned red, but Christian didn’t stop. She had a second of relief before she realized the silver sedan didn’t either.
“They’re going to kill us.”
“No, they’re not.”
She glanced wildly around for some way to escape. “We’ve got to get out of the city. There’s too many people and traffic lights.”
“Agreed.”
A bullet pierced the back window, and she screamed. Dear God. Paul’s men were going to kill her and Christian. Broad daylight and numerous witnesses wouldn’t save them. “Keep your head down,” he yelled to her.
He cut off two cars and screeched around a corner, turning on to Hawthorne. The bridge was ahead, and Janie lifted her head enough to look in the rearview mirror. A few seconds passed, but then she saw the maroon car following half a block back. “They’re still there.”
“I can see them. Try Sam’s phone again.”
She dialed, but nothing. “Where are you?” she whispered before she hung up. “Just voicemail.”
“Goddamn it.” Panic raised his voice to an alarming octave. “He’s turned off his phone because of that fucking raid.”
Confusion and terror reigned. “What raid?”
“On Castell.”
“He’s going after Paul? Today? He hadn’t mentioned anything the previous night. Even after she’d asked him to be upfront with her.
Christian didn’t reply. He maneuvered his Mustang in a tight space between two cars in an effort to put more distance between them and their attackers. The driver behind them honked in protest.
The bridge lay just ahead. If they could get across it, maybe Christian could gain some distance.
They were almost at the entrance to the bridge when the warning lights came on. “Nooo…,” she whispered. They would have to stop and wait until the bridge lifted long enough to let a barge pass. In that length of time, they’d be dead.
Wild panic shot through her. The second Christian stopped the car, she shoved open her door. “Come on,” she yelled.
“No,” Christian hollered, but she didn’t stop.
She raced past the barrier, not slowing when she heard voices yelling behind her. Her time spent sprinting in high school paid off. She reached the other side of the bridge as it began to separate from the main level. She jumped the two feet down to the other side, surprising the oncoming drivers.
Reason escaped her. Fear spurred her onward. Her lungs burned as she covered distance, but she didn’t stop.
A shot rang out from behind her. She whipped her head around and nearly stumbled when she realized Christian hadn’t kept up with her.
She frantically scanned the lines of parked cars, relieved when she spotted his head. He waved at her, and she was certain he yelled for her to keep running.
So she did.
She had no clue who’d fired the shot. Maybe Christian had in an effort to protect her. She was just grateful he wasn’t hurt. Maybe the men would leave him alone now that she wasn’t with him.
She was the target, and killing him would do them no good.
* * *
Christian grimaced as white hot pain burned his left thigh. He slumped against a nearby car as the sound of sirens filled the air. After he’d realized what Janie intended to do, he tried to follow her, but a bullet had caught him. He’d pivoted to fire back, but obviously the thugs had rea
lized she’d gotten away, and they turned tail, running in the opposite direction. The only good thing was their car was as stuck in traffic as his, so they’d have to leave it and go underground. It would take time to get someone else on the streets looking for Janie giving Christian time to find her.
He pulled his phone from his pocket and cursed. He didn’t have Janie’s number. There was no way for him to reconnect with her.
He dialed Sam’s number, and again it went straight to voicemail. “Fuck.” Janie was somewhere on the streets, vulnerable. Sam would cut off his balls for letting this happen.
Instead, he phoned Ryan and filled him in. “I need you in the city right now. Do what you can to find her. The cops just pulled up, and I have a fucking hole in my leg. They’re not going to let me go anytime soon. And keep trying Sam. He’s going to kill me.”
* * *
Sam stood two buildings down from the warehouse they intended to raid. The complex of warehouses had been settled on the outskirts of town, near the Willamette River, offering both water transportation and access to the nearby interstate. He and Noah wore their Kevlar vests and helmets just like Mark’s men. They’d taken as many precautions as they could to reduce casualties without alerting Castell’s men. Mark had men on opposing rooftops with the sights on their guns trained on Castell’s building. They’d been waiting for hours, and Sam prayed the shipment would arrive at any time. Electric tension coursed between the men waiting for their cue.
“Possible suspect approaching from the north,” came across Mark’s radio.
They all waited until an unmarked white van passed by the building they occupied. Mark pushed the button on his radio. “Confirm building.”
“Building confirmed,” replied a different man’s voice. “Van is backing into the delivery door.” A few seconds passed. “Delivery door is now coming down.”
Mark eyed the men in his presence with a nod. “Proceed as planned,” he said over the radio.
The group of armed men crept along the front of the building with Sam and Noah in the rear. Two men ducked under the window of the office door while Mark tested the handle. He nodded, indicating it wasn’t locked. He whipped open the door with a wide sweep, allowing ample room for his men to enter. The first two rushed inside weapons drawn, the others following along behind them.