Captive Heart

by Adriana Hunter

She ducked beneath the edge of the rocks and stopped. The light flicked on again, illuminating the space. The floor was sand and rocks, the area extending much further than she thought.

  “Are there animals back there? Snakes?” She took a step backward, tripping over a rock. Gideon reached out, grabbing her elbow.

  “I didn’t see any.”

  Lainey let out a breath.

  “But I can’t guarantee something won’t come in during the night. Particularly if we eat.”

  “Oh. Yeah.” She took a hesitant step forward. “At least it’s dry. But no fire?”

  Gideon shook his head. “It’s a little risky but even so, there’s no fuel.”

  “Well, at least it’s not cold.”

  Gideon dumped the duffel on the ground. “Yeah, at least your brother didn’t head off to the Artic.” He looked around the space, pointing to a flat area.

  “Let’s move some of these smaller rocks over there, clear a space to sleep. You do that and I’ll deal with the MREs.” He handed her a second flashlight.

  Lainey nodded. Near the back of the space was an area with several small rocks strewn across the floor. Once the rocks were moved, the area was big enough for both of them to lie down. She took a minute to spread her damp clothes on some of the cleaner rocks, hoping they’d dry in the humid air. Gideon was preparing the MREs and she sat on a rock, watching him work.

  “Here.” Gideon sat down beside her, handing her a spoon and a packet of something hot that smelled like chicken. She sniffed, dipped the spoon into the packet, and took a tentative taste.

  “No criticizing the cooking…or the cook.” Gideon had his head down, stirring his MRE. He took a mouthful of food, chewing for a moment. “It’s not gourmet or even really edible, but it packs well and it’s easy to make.”

  Gideon looked up and sputtered a laugh. Lainey was eagerly scooping up food, already scraping the bottom of the pouch. As he watched, she licked the spoon clean. Finally she looked at him, wide-eyed.

  “What? It’s not that bad. Is there any more?”

  “Here.” Gideon tossed her a package of crackers before he took another mouthful of food. He watched as Lainey tore the package open. The crackers were gone in minutes.

  “Nice to see a girl with an appetite.” He gathered up the empty packages, stuffing them into a plastic bag, which disappeared into the depths of his duffel.

  “We should get some sleep. The duffel is what I usually use for a pillow. I think we can share if you’re okay with that.”

  For a moment, Lainey sensed something tentative in Gideon, a hesitancy that surprised her. He stuck the flashlight into the sand, its beam casting a circle on the rocks above them.

  “Yeah, that’ll work.”

  “I’ll just take out some stuff…” He reached inside, pulling out two pistols and a long knife in a sheath, laying them on the sand beside him. Lainey had heard the metallic clank and rattle every time Gideon dropped the duffel, but actually seeing Gideon handle them had her heart in her throat. He was going to use those to get Aiden, and there was a distinct possibility someone might get hurt. She just prayed it wouldn’t be Aiden or Gideon. Or her.

  Gideon laid the duffel bag on the sand then sat down next to Lainey. He looked at her for a moment, eyes searching her face, before he reached out to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear.

  “You okay? You’re quiet all of a sudden.”

  “I…it’s just…” She cast a sidelong glance at the guns. “It’s real all of a sudden.” Tears welled up in her eyes and she dropped her head.

  “Come here.” Gideon’s voice was soft and he reached out, pulling her down onto the sand. He reached above his head, switching off the lone flashlight. The darkness was immediate and overwhelming. She tried unsuccessfully to choke back a sob. In the dark, Gideon’s arms went around her, drawing her against his body.

  “Lainey…I can’t tell you it’s going to be okay. That would be giving you false hope. But I can tell you that I’m going to do everything I can to get Aiden and make sure he’s okay.”

  “I know.” She rubbed a hand across her face. “It’s hard…I’m out of my element. Totally.”

  His soft laugh echoed in their little cave. “Yeah. You are.”

  Lainey wanted comfort, wanted to push back the thoughts crowding her mind. The only way she could get that comfort was from the man lying beside her. A twinge of guilt ran through her; she was using him for her own purposes. But somehow she didn’t think Gideon would mind. He seemed only too willing beneath the waterfall.

  Slowly she ran her hands along Gideon’s bare chest, fingers brushing over his hard nipples. His arms tightened around her, one hand slipping beneath the edge of the t-shirt. Her body responded, hips rolling forward, throwing one leg over his hip.

  Shifting his weight, he cradled her against his chest, one arm beneath her, the other sliding between her legs, gently caressing the inside of her thigh. The sensation of his fingers against her drove any other thoughts out of her mind. Every nerve in her body was instantly alive, arousal hovering just beneath the surface.

  Reaching down, Lainey undid the buttons on Gideon’s pants, slipping her hand inside. He was already hard, and she wrapped her fingers around him. Tucking her head against his shoulder, she smiled at his deep moan of pleasure as she began slowly stroking his length.

  His fingers dipped into her hot wetness, at first gently circling, lightly stroking. Her body reacted, her hips moving in time with his movements. But this time, instead of teasing her, he began thrusting into her, deeper each time, fingers twisting, as if he was searching for something. And then he hit some magic spot and her hips jerked forward, a sharp cry on her lips.

  “Jackpot.” She could hear the smile in his voice.

  Her hand faltered against him, every fiber of her being concentrating on the sensations Gideon was creating in her body. “Gideon…”

  “Shhhh…just enjoy.”

  Back arching, she gave in to whatever it was he was doing to her. Her body shuddered in his arms, head tilted back, mouth open.

  Everything spiraled out of control, her body jerking in time to his thrusts. She didn’t think she had ever felt anything as intense as what he was doing to her. Suddenly she arched back, her hands against Gideon’s chest, crying out, her body overwhelmed with the ecstasy flooding through her.

  “Lainey…” She heard Gideon’s voice from a distance, became aware of his arms around her again.

  “You okay?” He was rocking her gently, brushing the hair back from her forehead. His lips brushed against her skin, lingering along her hairline, moving down, nuzzling her neck.

  “Yeah…I am.” And she realized she was. At least her body was relaxed, the aftershocks of her climax still ebbing and flowing through her body. The voices in her mind, for the moment, had been pushed back.

  Gideon held her gently but there was no disguising his arousal, his need. She ran her hand across his chest, her fingers skimming over the hard muscles. She lingered a moment over a small defect in all that smooth taut skin, a ragged hole in his shoulder. Bullet wound, she thought.

  His hand covered hers, gently stopping her explorations. He pulled her hand lower, down over his stomach, releasing her as her hand brushed against his erection. He was hard and at her touch, his hips moved forward and he breathed a low moan against her skin.

  As her fingers tightened around his cock, he slid a hand beneath the t-shirt. He found her breast, caressing it at first, then increasing the pressure until he was kneading her flesh. She arched against his hand and he lifted his head, his mouth finding hers, tongue flicking across her lips.

  His moans intensified as she ran her hand lower, cupping his balls, teasing him with her fingers. Shifting his weight, he tried to roll on top of her, forcing his leg between her knees, but she put her hand on his chest, pushing against him. He broke away from their kiss, breathing hard.

  “No so fast. You don’t always get everything your way.”

  “La
iney…”

  “Shut up.”

  He resisted only a little as she forcefully pushed him onto his back, quickly straddling his hips. With one hand she grasped him, wrapping her fingers around his thick shaft. In the hot dark, she lowered herself, rubbing him against her body. His hips flexed upward, his hands on her hips, forcing her down, trying to bring the two of them together. But she leaned forward, one hand resting beside him, the other holding his erection tightly just out of reach of her body. Being in the dark was slightly infuriating; she wanted to see Gideon’s face, see the passion in his eyes. Watch him watching her. But the dark made her braver than she felt, the sense of control almost as intoxicating as the feel of Gideon’s hard body beneath hers.

  “You want me? Say you want me, Gideon. Say please.”

  “Ahh, so it’s my turn to beg?” The smile was evident in his voice and she imagined the quirk of his lips, the look in his eyes.

  “Maybe later…on your knees.”

  She rose up on her knees and tore off the t-shirt. She held herself above him for a moment. His hands came up, resting briefly on her waist before reaching for her breasts. She gasped as his thumbs brushed across her nipples, shivering as they pulled up hard and tight at his touch.

  Her body hummed with excitement, hot and wet, ready for him again. Gideon was breathing fast beneath her, her own breath coming short and shallow. Her hips rocked back and forth, the motion bringing her in contact with the tip of his cock. As it brushed against her sensitive clit she cried out, her body jerking. That brief touch was all it took.

  Using her hand, she guided him into her, settling her weight on him, relishing the feel of him as he slid inside her again. Gideon’s hips rose up and they came together with a rush of sighs and low moans.

  “Come here…” Gideon tugged her down and this time she went willingly. His lips replaced the hand on her breast, kissing her skin until he found her nipple, pulling it into his mouth and sucking hard. Sharp jolts of pleasure ran through her body, running from her breasts to somewhere deep inside her body

  Lainey arched her back, sliding Gideon out, rocking her body and manipulating him. Every move she made had him sucking harder, and every movement of his lips and tongue sent a fresh wave of heat through her body.

  Her body was still riding the high he’d created in her earlier, beneath the waterfall and here in the cave. And now, as he sucked her breast, her body rocked toward another climax. The faster she moved, the harder he pulled at her breast, sucking greedily.

  Bringing her hips down hard, she ground herself against him, rubbing back and forth. The heat in her body built, consuming her, and then she exploded, crying out over and over as she came.

  There was a moment where he held her as the world stopped spinning around her. The heat between their body was intense, the air around them thick with humidity. Lainey felt as if she’d melted into Gideon, her body supple and limber, no longer able to tell where she ended and he began.

  Slowly, Gideon started moving beneath her, thrusting gently. Even that slight movement had her gasping, every nerve still singing. But Gideon apparently had no intention of making gentle love to her. He’d been patient, and now he was ready to take his pleasure with her. And she was ready to let him spend himself inside her.

  Gideon began thrusting hard, meeting her as she brought her body down. It wasn’t long before his movements became erratic, his hands clutching her hips. Each thrust was accompanied by a deep grunt and Lainey longed to see his face, to know if his eyes were open or closed, to see his lips parted, to watch the fire they’d lit together play across his face.

  It wasn’t long before she sensed Gideon was on the edge. With a gasp, he pulled her hard against his chest, one hand clutching her ass, fingers digging into her skin.

  Crushed against him, she lost the ability to move, but Gideon’s thrusts were so fierce, his body so powerful beneath her that she was carried along by his momentum.

  Suddenly he bucked up hard, both hands on her hips, driving himself over and over into her as he reached his climax. Lainey struggled briefly, trying to push herself up on her hands, but his grip was like steel. All she could do was hold on for the ride.

  When his movements beneath her finally slowed, he relaxed his grip on her body. Lainey moved off of him, eliciting a moan as he slid from her. The t-shirt was beneath her and she sat up, pulling it over her head.

  Her body felt sticky from the heat and sweat, sand clinging to her legs. Feeling for the duffel, she moved up, resting her head against the canvas. Gideon shifted next to her and she heard the sound of his zipper before the canvas settled beneath his weight.

  “You feel better?” His voice was very close, his breath brushing across her forehead. Even though he wasn’t touching her, the space between them was filled with heat.

  “Yeah. I do.” Her body felt languid and she hoped her mind would follow suit so she could drift off. She had no idea what time it was, but knowing Gideon, he’d be up at dawn, anxious to get going.

  “We should try to get some sleep.” Gideon moved next to her, the duffel sinking to one side beneath her head as he settled down to sleep.

  Lainey shifted, trying to find a comfortable position in the sand, sleep elusive. Finally, she turned in the dark, facing Gideon. He took a deep breath and she knew he was awake.

  “Who’s Isobelle?”

  The silence spun out before he answered.

  “The woman who tore out my heart.”

  “Oh.” There wasn’t much Lainey could say to that. Gideon drew a breath and let out a long sigh.

  “She was my wife.” His voice was flat.

  “Was?”

  “Yeah, we’ve been apart for almost seven years now.”

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean…”

  He shifted next to her. “It’s fine. You didn’t know. It’s a part of my past I don’t talk about. Hell, I don’t even like to think about it.”

  “She really did a number on you?”

  She thought his answer would be just another deep sigh, but he went on. “Yeah. She slept with my best friend while I was on a job.”

  “Oh, God. I’m so sorry.” Even in the worst of times with Scott, neither had strayed.

  That was met with a rueful laugh. “Yeah, it was a dark time for me. My best friend claimed that she seduced him, and she said it was all his idea.”

  “And which do you believe?”

  “Neither. Both betrayed me. So it really doesn’t matter.”

  “You don’t give second chances, do you?”

  He shifted again. “Never. In my line of work, second chances get me killed. With her…Isobelle…no.”

  “You really loved her, didn’t you?”

  The sigh this time was tinged with something rough and raw. “That’s the part I don’t think about.”

  “Gideon…”

  “Lainey. Enough. Go to sleep. Or at least let me go to sleep.” He sounded suddenly weary. Lainey shifted again, turning her back to Gideon.

  After a long time, he sighed. “I’m sorry, Lainey. Like I said, I don’t think about it. It happened…it’s done.”

  She felt the brief pressure of his hand on her hip, fingers tensing against her skin. “Go to sleep. We get Aiden tomorrow.”

  * * *

  Gideon’s movement woke Lainey. He was sitting up, forearms resting on his knees, his broad back to her. There was a raised scar on the upper left side resembling a starburst. She thought it was a match to the scar on his chest.

  “Hey.” She sat up next to him, suddenly conscious she was wearing only his t-shirt. Tugging it down, she pulled her knees to her chest.

  Gideon looked down at her, his lips held in a firm line. “Morning.” He turned back, looking out over the strip of jungle visible from their ledge.

  While she didn’t expect a lavish display of affection, she thought he’d be a little more…something. Friendly, maybe talkative. She sighed; Gideon was a total mystery to her.

  “What
’s the plan?” Lainey sat up, searching for her pants. They were on the other side of Gideon and she poked him, pointing. He grabbed her clothes, handing them to her before turning away.

  “They’re over the next hill on the other side of this stream. There’s smoke in the air; the wind’s from that direction.”

  Lainey struggled into her jeans. Everything was still damp, and even though the clothes were cleaner than they had been, she was sticky and sand-covered. She changed Gideon’s shirt for her own, handing his back. He took it, pulling it over his head.

  “This is where it gets dangerous and this is where you being here makes it worse. You’re a liability now, another body I need to watch and watch out for.” He finally turned and looked at her. “If you weren’t here, my life would be a hell of a lot easier.”

  His voice was just as cold as his eyes. The Gideon she’d first met was back. If she thought anything had changed between them, it was clear to her that it hadn’t.

  A pang of regret pierced her heart. Maybe seeking comfort in the arms of the man who’d rather not have her here was a bad idea. Obviously it meant nothing. Scott must have known that, must have known Gideon would use her if he had the chance. And she’d played right into his game.

  “Listen. You’re going to have to come along. I can’t leave you here. It’s too dangerous.”

  Gideon stood, moving to the front of the cave where he could stand. Lainey tied her sneakers and followed.

  “You’re going to do what I say when I say it, nothing else, nothing less. Do you understand?”

  “Yes.” She hated the weak sound of her voice, but this wasn’t the time or place to try to make Gideon believe she could take care of herself.

  “Here.” He held out the large knife she’d seen him extract from the duffel. “I’m giving you this against my better judgment, but I’d rather that you have something just in case. There’s no way in hell I’m giving you a gun.”

  “I’ve shot a gun before. I can handle…”

  He held up his hand, his brows drawing together, eyes darkening ominously. “Don’t give me the ‘I can handle myself’ line. This isn’t the target range. These are real people, and there’s a good chance they’re going to be shooting back.” He still held the knife and she took it, surprised by the weight. She stuck it in the waistband of her jeans.