“I promise.”
The tension in his body eased. “Good. We’ll eat their food, take their supplies, and get out of here before someone comes to check on them. I’m sure teams of my people have reached the area and are searching for us.”
“But those men have hunting parties out there looking for you, Slade. They were talking about a fifty thousand dollar reward.”
Slade cursed. “On capturing me or killing me?”
“I don’t know but I’m pretty sure it didn’t matter as long as they killed you. They just said it was fifty thousand dollars. They mentioned someone named Thomas who wouldn’t pay them if something happened to his son. That was the first guy you killed inside the tent.” She gave him a smile. “I guess Thomas won’t be happy when he finds out his son is dead.”
“My bad.” Slade shrugged. “He’s definitely dead and I hope none of them get paid their blood money. Did you hear anything else?”
“Bill, that’s the dead guy over there, used a walkie-talkie to talk to a base camp. I’m assuming they set up a few of them around here. There are more teams out there hunting for you but I guess we’re a few miles from them. Bill was supposed to check in with them first thing in the morning.”
He smiled. “He won’t be.”
“They knew I’m a doctor when they found me.”
“Your things were at the crash site. It was probably easy to figure out who you were and they can communicate and share information. I’m sure there is a search going on for us. Justice would have publicized our faces to help find us.”
“Oh. Sorry. I thought that might be important.”
“It was a good catch on detail.” Slade winked at her. “Hungry? I am.”
She nodded. “I have to pee first though.”
“You go find privacy while I find you some clean clothes. They have water. I see the bottles from here. Take one with you and wash, Doc. I’ll take care of the body over there and start sorting supplies.”
“Thank you.” Trisha suddenly cupped his face and leaned closer to him. “You saved my life, Slade. Just…thank you.”
A slow smile curved his lips. “Since I saved your life does this mean I’m guaranteed to get lucky tonight?”
Trisha laughed. She couldn’t help it. It was the amused look on his face. “I can’t believe you said that.”
Sturdy shoulders shrugged. “I always want you, Doc.”
She climbed off his lap and stood. Slade rose to his feet as well. Her body trembled from the stress and tired muscles but she ignored it. She was more concerned with the fact that she was naked from the waist down. She knew Slade couldn’t help but see that as she moved away from him. She walked over to retrieve a bottle of water.
“Tease,” Slade growled as she bent over and retrieved one of the bottles her for a sponge bath.
She straightened and shot him a look over her shoulder. “Aren’t you supposed to be finding me some clean clothes instead of watching me bend over?”
“I’m doing both.” He headed for the tent. “Do you want to lean over and pick something else up before I go inside? I could throw things in your path for you to have to move.”
She laughed, walking toward the clump of bushes that would give her privacy. “No thank you. I’m good.”
She quickly attended to her immediate needs and then removed her shirt and torn bra. She stood naked in the shade as everything hit her at once. Trisha fought tears as she examined her injured wrists. Her mouth hurt and her cheek throbbed hotly and ached where she’d been struck. She also felt really, really dirty. Bill had touched her and just the thought of what he had wanted to do to her body made her want to throw up.
She crouched, attempting to open the water. She wasn’t strong enough to twist the lid off and her trembling didn’t help. She made a soft sound, fighting the urge to start sobbing, and hugged her body as she stared at the bottle.
“Doc?” Slade’s voice came from right behind her.
She didn’t move. She huddled naked and kept her back to him. It embarrassed her to fall apart the way she was and remembered he wasn’t fond of tears. She knew if she looked at him he’d see how close she was to completely losing it.
“I found clothes for you,” he said, his voice soft as he moved closer.
She hugged her chest tighter. The urge to break into sobs grew stronger. The past events of the last twenty-four hours were just too much. She wasn’t used to people trying to kill her or men attacking her.
“Trisha?” Slade crouched down behind her and his arms wrapped around her. “It is okay, sweet thing. I’m here. You’re shaking.”
Hot tears streamed down her face. She heard Slade softly curse and then he sat on the ground, pulling her into his arms. She didn’t look at him. She wrapped her arms around his neck instead, held on tightly, and buried her face against his chest.
Slade’s arms hugged her harder and his fingers dug into her hair. He cradled her against his chest and rested his chin on the top of her head.
“You’ve been very brave,” he rasped softly. “I’ve been trying to keep you mouthy and fighting but it’s been too much, hasn’t it?”
She nodded against his chest. “You hate tears. I’m sorry.”
His hand stopped rubbing her scalp and he sighed. “I don’t hate tears on you. Don’t be sorry. You deserve to cry. It’s actually been a bad two days. I’m so sorry I left you here. I would have killed him first if I thought he would hurt you but I made a mistake. I was certain he would treat you right until I got back and I thought it was best to leave you here with him in case more men came. My reasoning was that they already had you and wouldn’t hurt you because they had a need for you to treat their team member.”
“It’s not your fault.” Trisha used her forearm to wipe her tears. “You saved me. Thank you, Slade. I know you didn’t have to and you risked your life fighting that man to do it. You killed him for me. You killed all of them to rescue me.”
His fingers brushed her hair again. “You’re mine, Doc. I’d fight anyone to get you back and I’ll kill any man who touches you.”
His words sank in. Trisha lifted her head, stared at Slade. His blue eyes met her shocked ones. “I’m yours? What does that mean?”
He hesitated. “Now isn’t the time, okay? We’ll have this discussion later when we’re home. Let me help you get cleaned up. We’ll eat, salvage their supplies, and get out of here. I’m hoping we are back at Homeland by tomorrow.”
Trisha studied him. “Okay.” She wanted to ask him a hundred questions but let it go. For now. His? Her heart raced a little. She wouldn’t mind belonging to Slade. Not at all.
His hand eased out of her hair. “Stand up and I’ll help you wash. Then we’ll get busy. I don’t want to hang around here. The camp is known to their men and besides that, I hate their smell. The camp reeks of their stench.”
Slade helped Trisha to her feet since she wasn’t steady. Slade wet her shirt and started at her back, rubbing her skin. Trisha held her hair out of his way. Slade’s hands were gentle as he washed her down and then ordered her to turn to face him.
Trisha met his steady gaze. She stood naked in front of him and she watched as Slade slowly raked his gaze down her body. His mouth pressed into a firm, grim line. He looked furious. More tears threatened to spill and she had to blink them back.
“Why are you angry?”
His gaze met hers. “No one should touch you the way he did. You have bruises. I’m furious. Anyone who marks your beauty pisses me off. I’m not upset with you. I’m just enraged that I wasn’t able to protect you better.”
She understood. Slade washed her arms and shoulders but his hands hesitated at her breasts. Then he quickly and efficiently wiped them down. Her body responded to the water and air as her nipples tightened. Slade growled and dropped down on his knees in front of her.
“Don’t look at me that way.” He sighed loudly. “Please.”
“What way?”
His gaze narrowed when
he looked up at her. “You have no idea how badly I want you, Doc. You’re hurt and you were nearly sexually assaulted. I tried to tease you into thinking about anything else earlier when I asked if I’d be getting lucky later. You have an expressive face. I appreciate that I can tell what you are thinking most of the time but right now I’m trying not to think what you are. Don’t look at me while I touch you. I’m honored that you trust me enough to want my touch on your body after your attack. It means a lot that you would face your fear for me.” He took a deep breath. “We need to get you dressed and leave here. I want you too but it isn’t the time.”
Trisha blushed at how transparent her thoughts were to him. She did want him. His touch would make her forget what had almost been done to her. She longed to wrap around his body and get as close as humanly possible to him.
Slade took a deep breath that drew her full attention. He washed the front of her, down her thighs to the top of her feet, and stood. Her gaze met his and she knew at that moment that she needed to feel alive, had come close to death, and she wasn’t going to be denied the one man who made her feel.
Slade attempted to cool his heated body. Touching Trisha always made him hot, ache to have her, but now wasn’t the time. She stared at him and suddenly lifted her hands, placing them on his chest. The air froze inside his lungs.
“Make me forget. Please? I want you.”
He had to force himself to breathe. His dick instantly responded, going from semi soft to rock hard in the space of a few racing heartbeats. The feel of her fingers sliding downward to his waist made him bite back a groan. His fists clenched at his sides to prevent him from lunging at her, hauling her against his body, and taking what she offered.
She’s traumatized. She’d never forgive me if I take advantage right now. He tried to be logical. She’d just survived an ordeal, had nearly been raped, and while he could understand her need to be distracted, the repercussions of it could ruin any future he might have with her if she regretted it later.
“Please, Slade?” Her voice lowered to a husky tone. “I know what I want and that’s you.”
He unclenched his hands, gripped her waist gently, and loved the soft feel of her bare skin. Instead of glancing down at her tempting body, he kept his gaze locked with hers.
“I want you, always, but I’m not sure right now would be the smartest thing we could do. You should calm first.”
A smile curving her lips drew his focus down to her mouth. He wanted to kiss her so badly he actually lowered his face but paused inches from her mouth. He swallowed hard and jerked his gaze back to hers.
“I’m a doctor who has worked emergency rooms for years. I know all about adrenaline rushes and my life has been on the line before. I’ve faced off gang members, crazy idiots with weapons, and once an old lady with a switchblade who really didn’t want stitches. I want to live right now and I want to do it with you. I survived and now I want to celebrate that. I can’t think of anything better than getting you out of those pants.”
Good enough for me, he thought, knowing he should question it more but Trisha stood in front of him naked and offering him something he desperately wanted. His mouth swooped down and took possession of hers. She opened up to him, her lips soft, and he growled when their tongues met. She was addictive as hell and his.
The feel of her tearing at his shirt, pulling it from the waist of his pants, and going for his zipper dissipated any hesitation he had. She needed him and he was going to give her whatever she sought. He’d wipe away her tears, hold her, or use his body to comfort her. There could be no wrong between them.
His hands slid down to her hips, one of them delving between her thighs to seek her clit to massage. Trisha opened his pants frenziedly, freed his cock, and her hand wrapped around the rigid length. He had to lock his knees to remain standing. He wanted to drop to his knees before her as she stroked him with her soft, tender hand. His wasn’t so gentle as he furiously located the hot spot he knew would make her burn for him.
Trisha moaned against his tongue now, her grip on his cock tightening into a fist, and he cupped her ass while he noticed how wet his hand became from her desire, from the way he manipulated the bundle of nerves. He breathed in the scent of her growing arousal, another snarl catching in the back of this throat, and dragged her closer to his body.
He wanted to lift her up, demand she wrap her legs around his waist, and impale her on his dick. The image of it only drove him more insane. He wouldn’t last long, was too excited, and knew he’d have to bring her to climax first. He adjusted his fingers and two of them played with the slit of the entrance of her pussy. She wiggled against him, rocked her body, and the hand on his chest frantically reached up to grip his shoulder. Trisha tore her mouth away, threw her face against his chest and moaned.
He drove both digits inside her hot pussy. The incredibly soft and silky feel of her channel tightly hugging his fingers nearly undid his control. He wanted to fuck her fast, hard, deep, and come so bad he knew it would blow his mind. The sexy doctor could do that to him.
She bucked her hips, helped him delve deeper inside her snug pussy, and he envied his damn fingers. He stroked her inside, pressed his thumb against her clit, and began to rub it in short, sure strokes. Trisha moaning his name spurred him on. The catch in her breath as she said it was the last straw. He tore his hand away, dropped to his knees before her, and his mouth latched onto her nipple.
The move had torn her grasp away from his dick, which throbbed painfully, but he was too turned on. He didn’t want to come in her hand. He wanted to be inside her, buried deep, when he found heaven. Trisha tugged at his hair, her nails digging into his scalp as she clutched him closer against her chest. His hands grabbed her ass and pulled her tight against his body, urging her to sit on his lap. She easily complied, sliding down him until he’d angled her spread thighs over his. The crown of his cock brushed her pussy, soaked now with need, so warm and ready. He pulled her down more, making her take him as he guided her to sheathe him inside her.
He threw his head back, had to release her breast to avoid biting into her nipple, and snarled as her vaginal muscles squeezed tightly around his shaft. Fuck, I’m going to come. Hold off. She feels too damn good. The sounds she made as he filled her, gave her all of his cock, were damn near his undoing.
His ass tensed, he took a ragged breath, and he began to move, rocking his hips. One arm hooked around her back to keep her pressed against his chest while he wiggled his hand between them, located the swollen bud of her clit, and furiously strummed it. Her muscles squeezed him and then she cried out loudly, he could feel her climax—a warm gush of her release coating his cock and flutters against the head of his dick. He buried his face in her neck as sheer ecstasy made his body quake. His balls were drawn up tight and the first burst of his semen shooting into her nearly made him roar out. He clutched at her, held her tightly, and rode out the overpowering pleasure gripping him.
She’s everything to me. His hold eased slightly as his body began to relax, the aftermath of such intense sex beginning to fade, and he held her tenderly. He kissed her skin, nuzzled the side of her face, and smiled. He’d held on long enough to make sure she’d gotten off first.
“Wow,” she panted.
He softly growled. “Feel alive, sweet thing?”
“Oh yeah.”
He’d do anything to protect her, to have another moment like the one they shared—her on his lap, their bodies connected, and his arms wrapped around her. She played with his hair, her fingers running through the locks, and he wished he could carry her to bed. He could spend hours exploring her body and making her come over and over. His dick began to harden, his need to take her returning, and he forced it back.
She was in danger. He needed to get her away from the camp, put her somewhere safe. Mine to protect and I’ll kill anyone stupid enough to try to take her from me. He cupped her face, noticed a little blood where he’d nicked her with his teeth during sex, and used his
thumb to wipe it away. The injury was very minor. The sight of her blood on the pad of his thumb made him long to taste even that but he resisted the urge.
He didn’t want to break the connection they had, hated that he needed to bring her back to their grim situation, but the enemy couldn’t find them in such a vulnerable position. He lifted his head and their gazes met.
“We got to go, Doc.”
The sweet smile on her face faded and he hated to be the cause. “Right.”
He refused to release her just yet, clinging to her to keep her in place. “We’ll do this later, longer, and I’m going to kiss every injury you’ve suffered. Once we’re back at Homeland I’ll make this up to you.”
“There’s nothing to make up. Thank you.”
He growled, anger stirred a little at the distance he saw in her beautiful eyes as though she were trying to put up an emotional barrier between them. “We’ll talk about this later. Right now we need to get you dressed and leave.”
“Okay.”
Trisha allowed him to separate their bodies, regretting that the moment was over. He helped her to her feet, fixed his pants, and glanced around the clearing. His hair was messy from her fingers and she hid a smile, more than a little amused at his appearance. Slade had been in a fight and afterward had still looked nearly perfect but hot sex on his lap had left him looking wild and disheveled.
“Stay right there.”
Slade found a pair of jeans and used a knife to slice off some of the legs to fit Trisha better but the waist remained a little baggy. He used shoestrings from a pair of men’s shoes as a belt to keep them up on her hips. He’d also found her a black T-shirt two times too big but she was grateful for how baggy it fell since her bra had been destroyed.
Slade searched through the men’s supplies and packed their acquired things inside a backpack that one of the men had brought with them. He took a sleeping bag, food, and he kept the men’s weapons. They also took water and soft drinks. Very quickly, Slade was ready to go. Trisha studied him.
“I’m not playing around with them anymore.” Slade wore a determined expression on his face. “You got hurt. I’m not going to be the hunted anymore, Doc. I’m going to find you a safe place to hole up and then I’m going to take the rest of these bastards out.”