Blaze of Fury (3 page)

“My people give me all the details of
possible clients.”

Her eyes darted between his sensual lips and
those shadowy dark depths as he stared into her soul. She reminded
herself that he was still the enemy when what she really wanted was
to feel his lips burn on hers. His powerful charisma drew her into
a different dimension in time—as if they had entered his world in
this enchanting yet somewhat spooky forest.

“Is this where we will stay while you
complete the assignment?”

“Yeah, the forest is my home. Can you handle
roughing it for a few days?”

“I’ll do my best.”

* * * *

Ice lay back with his arms folded behind his
head. “Try and get some rest.”

The woman lay snuggled on the sleeping roll
he’d placed near the fire. She gave off mixed vibes. On one hand,
she seemed terrified of him, yet on the other, a peculiar sense of
enthrallment emanated from her. She certainly didn’t lack in
appeal. He gazed at her golden hair fanned out behind her as she
laid facing away from him. An occasional shimmer of moonlight from
above touched the long strands, making them shine like spun
gold.

She had a great body. He couldn’t deny that.
He seized the moment to secretly look her over. For a woman who
appeared not a day over forty her ass was firm and her full breasts
filled out the little tank top quite nicely. His visual journey
drifted lower over the slender legs stretched out on the makeshift
bed. From his position he could see the sweet curve of her cheeks
peeking from beneath the cutoff jean shorts.

An uncomfortable tightening rose in his
groin. He hadn’t been intimate with a woman in a very long time.
Living in the forest, taking select assignments as a hired killer
and shifting into a bird of prey hindered romantic involvement.

And he wasn’t the type to take advantage of a
one-night-stand. He viewed women as delicate creatures placed on
earth to love and treasure. Though he hadn’t found one to fit his
lifestyle, his hope began to rise with the hot little sweetheart
lying just a few feet away. Her natural beauty stirred the fire
inside. His gaze drifted over the exposed skin, creamy and
increasingly inviting to touch. He imagined her skin felt like
satin and smelled sweet, too.

He’d been reading her vibes since she spied
on him at the beach. He laughed to himself, amused that she had
been hiding behind the small patch of trees thinking he hadn’t seen
her. He’d sensed her fear as easily as he could smell the salt air
coming off the tide. She exhibited a great deal of courage in
seeking him out especially with a long history of traumatic events
in her past. He couldn’t take her money anymore than he could deny
her plea for help.

“Are you warm enough?” he asked. “Nights can
be brisk up here.”

She rolled over to face him. “I’m fine,
thanks.” Her intriguing blue eyes reached into his cold heart.
Something about the way she looked at him drew emotions he’d buried
years ago. “Aren’t you going to sleep?”

“I don’t sleep much.” He got up and poured
water on the fading embers of the fire. “Your legs are going to get
cold. You might wanna tuck them into the bedroll. I guess you
didn’t prepare for a campout.”

“No,” she said with a warm smile. “I thought
we’d take care of business on the beach and I’d return home.”

“Surely you understand my need for total
privacy.” He couldn’t stop gazing at her shapely thighs. Images of
burying his face between them whipped through his mind. “Ya know
there are bugs in these woods that will see your bare legs as a
midnight snack.”

A cute blush washed over her face. “Oh…I
never thought of that.” She began fumbling with the zipper of the
sleeper.

“Here, let me help,” he knelt beside her and
reached for the metal pull. His hand covered hers when she didn’t
let go.

She glanced up the instant their hands
touched. The expression on her face paralleled what he felt in his
soul—raw undeniable attraction. His breathing picked up pace as he
searched the shimmering blue depths of her eyes, which brimmed with
passion. He felt the kindness in her heart. This woman’s soul was
as sweet as her face. The sudden longing to kiss her all over
consumed him. Already she’d exhibited a daring nature that turned
him on and more backbone than most men he knew.

“Sasha,” he murmured. “No woman has evoked
the feelings in me that you do.” He lowered his head. “Tell me to
stop if I’m making you uncomfortable.”

“You’re not.” Her voice was but a whisper. “I
should be afraid of you…shouldn’t I?”

With a slow shake of his head, he offered her
a reassuring smile. “No, I’d never harm a woman whatever the price.
I don’t roll that way.”

“How do you roll, Ice with-no-last-name?” she
asked in a gentle tone, raising one hand to touch his hair.

“I listen to their story. If I feel in my
spirit, they are justified then I accept the job. Believe me, I
have turned many away. I didn’t get into this for the money.”

“So you do other hits for free?”

“Some, when I see a need. But if they aren’t
a hardship case then I take the money.”

“Why did you become a mercenary if you aren’t
in it for money?”

He admired her forthright character. Nobody
had ever asked him
why
before. “I’ve never had to answer
that question.”

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t pry.” She averted her
eyes. “You’re already doing me a huge favor. I am grateful.”

“Don’t worry, you haven’t offended me.” He
placed one finger under her chin and brought her gaze back to his.
“I can’t give you a simple answer but I will tell you why…just not
right now.” He titled her chin upward. “Right now, right here, I’m
simply burning to kiss you.”

She let out a tiny gasp as their lips drew
closer.

Chapter Three

Sasha couldn’t have resisted him if she
tried. His initial appeal just rocketed from irresistibly feral to
utterly charming. Their eyes became locked in an overwhelming
exchange of unspoken heat. When his lips touched hers, a shiver
began at the nape of her neck and traveled all the way down her
body to the tips of her toes.

He kissed her with surprising gentleness. She
imagined a man of his savage nature and appearance would be rough
or hard. In automatic response, her hands went to his hair and her
fingers got lost in those wild locks of black fury. Parting her
lips, she welcomed his seeking tongue into her mouth. He groaned
while easing her down on the sleeping bag.

Strong arms swept under and up her back,
pulling her tight to his muscular chest. They sunk into a deep kiss
heavy with desire. Passion between them mounted at a staggering
pace. The sparks he ignited caught her off guard. Never did she
imagine that a man so visceral—so outwardly brutal—could make her
feel more alive than she’d ever felt in her entire life.

She didn’t make a move to stop him when he
shifted his weight over hers. She longed for it. Needed it. Wanted
him. Now. Here. Forever. Her legs wound around the back of his taut
thighs, drawing the hard bulge in his jeans tight against her.

“Damn, baby,” he growled low and soft upon
lifting his head. His penetrating gaze pierced her heart. “I didn’t
expect this…wasn’t prepared for you…” He kissed her face, neck,
eyes and lips again and again until she was breathless.

Tears filled her eyes, not from fear or
sorrow, but tears brought on by intense yearning forced their way
down her cheeks. Clutching his hair, she pulled him as close as
possible while their lips pulled hungrily at one another’s. He
filled her mouth with his tongue. He tasted fresh and fiercely
masculine. His scent swirled around her, permeating her senses,
titillating every nerve in her body.

“You smell amazing,” he purred when they came
up for air. “Like flowers on the wind.”

Their eyes met again. He slid one arm from
beneath her then wiped the wet trails from her cheeks with a tender
touch. He didn’t comment on the tears for which she felt relieved.
He seemed to understand the intensity of this moment. Moving his
hand behind her head, he buried his hand in the thick of her hair
as his mouth covered hers once more. She sucked his tongue to the
back of her throat. He released a feral groan before pressing her
body into the bedroll with his.

Sasha wanted to scream in wild frenzy when he
wedged his erection between her thighs in a deliberate act of
aggression. She lifted her hips to meet his while inwardly cursing
the denim that separated them. He continued supporting her head
with one hand as he eased his other from under her back. She gasped
against his mouth when those long slender fingers moved beneath her
top to caress her breasts.

“Ohh…” She broke the kiss. “You’re making me
crazy.”

His breathing came on fast and heavy. “I
could say the same, woman.” He nipped at her neck, then took hold
with his teeth and bit down on the muscle.

“Ohhh…” she whimpered. “Don’t stop.”

The rock-hard bulge pressing into her gave
every indication that this man was well endowed. She began to
imagine the wild pleasure he could deliver. He reached for the snap
on her shorts. She trembled with excitement and in anticipation of
what would soon come.

Suddenly a shot rang out in the woods not far
away. Then a second shot. Ice’s head jerked up. He leapt to his
feet and pulled her with him. Before she knew it, he’d pushed a gun
into her hands.

“Stay here,” he muttered. “If anyone other
than me walks into camp shoot to kill.”

“Uh…okay.” She nodded in slow disbelief,
still dazed by his passion and stunned by the sudden
interruption.

Ice took off running then mysteriously
disappeared. Fear threatened to overtake her, yet she fought it
back. Surely her new protector knew these woods better than anyone.
A few minutes later what sounded like the screeching of a wild
animal echoed throughout the woods followed by shouts from men,
more gunfire then silence. Her heart raced as she stood frozen in
one spot, shaking terribly with both hands gripping a revolver.

The sound of crunching leaves drew her
attention forward. Ice emerged from the shadows within seconds.
Immediately he came to her.

“Are you okay?” Gently he eased the gun from
her still trembling hands.

“Yeah…sure.” She swallowed hard. “Are you? I
heard some terrifying noises.”

“Poachers,” he said. “They come into the
forest looking for bald eagles and other endangered animals.” He
shook his head in open disdain. “Humans and their greed.”

She furrowed puzzled brows. “Humans?”

“Hunters, they don’t appreciate the beauty of
this land or the animals and think they can just walk in here and
take what they want. This is
my
territory.”

His abrupt switch in demeanor felt a bit
alarming.

“What happened to them? How did you find them
so quickly?”

He wrapped her in a protective embrace.
“They’re gone. They won’t be back. You’re safe.”

Sasha didn’t dare question further. He’d gone
from one extreme to the other at warp speed. She couldn’t discern
whether her lingering shakes were from their burst of unbridled
passion, the sudden fear induced by the gunshots or his peculiar
reaction.

“Perhaps we should rest.” He stretched out on
the bedroll and motioned for her to lie beside him.

“Yes…I’m still a little shaken up.”

“I’m sorry, babe.” Strong arms drew her into
a safe embrace. “This forest can be a dangerous place at night.
Stay close to me and you’ll be fine.”

She lay against his chest silently pondering
his actions.
His territory?
She wondered why he felt so
possessive over a forest that most likely belonged to the
government. Something odd had surfaced about this man. Still, she
found him even more alluring if that was remotely possible. His
wildness intrigued her, thrilled her. The soft thumping of his
heart lulled her into a state of serenity.

* * * *

Ice had not been prepared for this passionate
beauty or the intruders tonight. They’d snuck in under his radar
while he’d been wrapped up in Sasha’s sweet essence. He deliberated
over his decision to pursue her. Fortunately she hadn’t been
harmed, and better still, she hadn’t bombarded him with endless
questions over his dramatic reaction to poachers.

How can I tell her what I am without
scaring her?
He’d crossed the line of business and opened a
door perhaps he should’ve left closed. If he could open his heart
again, she’d be the one. But he put his heart on ice long ago and
felt wary over letting anyone in again. He laid awake the rest of
the night contemplating his dilemma.

At daybreak he decided to start the job she’d
asked him to do. Easing himself from the bedroll, he freshened up
at a nearby stream while keeping his senses on high alert. When he
returned to the campsite she was wide awake.

“Are you leaving?”

“For a while,” he replied. “You came to me
for help. Today I will take out target one and the others if
possible.”

“May I ask who target one is?”

“I typically don’t discuss my methods with
clients.” His remark came off colder than he intended. The hurt
expression in those pretty eyes tugged at his heart. “I’m sorry,
I—”

“Is that all I am? A client? Was last night
going to be paid in full?” she shot back.

Their eyes met and he saw the fire that had
kept this woman going all these years.
She is so fucking real…I
must find a way to make her mine. Even in her fear, she challenges
me.
He adored her candor and admired how she had no qualm over
showing her emotions. Never had a female impressed him more.

“I’m not into one-night-stands,” he growled
and turned away.

“I guess I have no choice but to wait and
see.” She flopped back onto the bedroll.