Hunted Love Box Set: Big Game, Bounty, Captured (22 page)

A faint noise drew Jakob from the twilight that precedes waking, straight into full alert. Unsure what disturbed him, he lay still and allowed his eyes to open a bare slit. A sledgehammer pounded inside his skull. What the hell? He closed his eyes again and forced himself to think. Surely he'd been injured, but how?

Examining his memories, he found nothing that seemed likely to account for that sledgehammer. The last thing he remembered was…No, that couldn't be right. A woman like that wouldn't have anything to do with a guy like him. For a second there, he could have almost sworn her taste lingered on his tongue. Annoyed with himself, he pushed the sentimental bullshit dreams away. Time to focus on getting his sorry ass out of whatever enemy camp he'd been dumped in.

He forced his eyes open just the slightest crack, wary of alerting a guard that he'd regained consciousness. They must have worked him over pretty damn good, judging by the aching bruises that kept making themselves known.

A horse blew, not far away, in stark contrast with his surroundings. Other sounds crept into his awareness. Water trickled nearby, making him suddenly and painfully aware of his full bladder. Over his head, leaves rustled. The horse stamped and switched his tail, and something about it triggered a memory.

Uncle Frank had died. Grief consumed him for half a minute, but more memories came flooding in. Coming home. The mountain lion. Kate Holt. The details were jumbled but relief flooded in. At least he wasn't lying in some hellhole awaiting torture. Now all he had to do was figure out where the fuck he was and what had happened. Then he could set about getting his ass out of whatever trouble he'd fallen into.

Relieved there were no Jihadists waiting for him to wake up so they could torture him, he opened his eyes, no longer concerned with revealing his return to awareness. Not like there was anyone around to see, anyway. Still careful, he looked around as much as possible without moving his head. Finally, he gave up on that and turned it to his right. Grass and more grass. And trees a little further away. Lot of help that was.

Gathering his resolve against the pain about to crash into him, he turned the other way, the worst of the pounding above his left ear almost touching the ground. A few feet away, a series of tightly packed stones surrounded a small campfire. Beyond, near his feet, a saddle stood on end, balanced on the horn. Someone had used it hard and took care to allow the underside to dry thoroughly and preserve the structural integrity. But who?

Unable to spot anything really out of place, he pushed himself up onto his elbows, careful not to move too quickly and get that head injury doing something worse. A dozen yards away, Ajax watched him with pricked ears. Unexpected relief filled him at the sight of the big horse. The beast had heart to spare and with him, Jakob knew he could get through.

Splashing, louder than the stream flowing over the rocks, drew his attention. Fascination froze him in place for an instant, forcing him to just watch. At a small creek, a woman straightened and squeezed water from her hair, then flipped it back to swing down her naked back. Water droplets clung to her pale skin like crystals, refracting the light and mesmerizing him.

Memory of the past few days with Kate swamped his mind, and the accompanying emotions stunned him. He loved that woman.

She half-turned to retrieve something from the ground, revealing the curve of one breast. The sound of Jakob’s agonized groan must have carried, because she straightened and turned to face him, moving too quickly, and lost her balance.

Head wound forgotten, he leaped up and dove across the distance between them in an attempt to catch her before she could fall into the water. She recovered just as he reached her, and stood facing him, breathing hard. Something in her face had changed to reflect a variety of feelings he couldn't identify.

He didn’t wait to analyze. Another step brought him close, and when he reached for her, she didn’t resist. Kate came into his arms with a willingness that left him breathless. The chill of her damp skin cooled the fevered heat of his chest, and at the same time shot his temperature a few thousand degrees higher.

No further encouragement needed, he lowered his head to claim the full lips that suddenly seemed necessary to continue his existence on earth. God she tasted even sweeter than he remembered and those warm silky lips molding to his in soft submission would fuel a thousand fantasies.

A low groan of need escaped before he could control it and he drew her closer, forcing her to arch her back and bring her hips tight against him. His gentle nip parted her lips to allow him to sweep his tongue along the tender flesh just inside. The little whimper she tried to contain spurred him on.

The way he held her crushed her luscious breasts against his chest, hardened nipples begging his touch. A fistful of the thick wet silk of her hair applied just the right leverage to bring the line of her jaw into perfect range and led his mouth down the elegant column of her neck. Holy fuck, she was delicious. And the ever increasing heat against his bare chest threatened to drive him over the edge despite the pain in his head.

Wet hair slipped through his loosening grip and his hand dropped to her waist, then skimmed back up along the edge of her ribs until he found the underside of her breast. He cupped the full globe then let his fingers find her nipple.

Her sudden hiss of surprise accompanied a hard shove against his chest that nearly sent them both sprawling. "Your head! You can't be up on your feet, Jakob." She stood there, breasts heaving, tempting him beyond reason.

"Probably not but here I am. And I want you." He started to take her into his arms again.

"We can't."

He caught her hand and drew her into his arms. "Yeah, we can." Emotion threatened to choke him. "Kate, when I first woke up over there, I'd forgotten…I'd forgotten us. I thought I was back in the hot zone, taken prisoner and waiting for interrogation. I need you now, need to push those nightmares further away."

Rather than reply, she stepped away from him, and his heart sank. The rebuff hurt and he had to swallow hard to keep from saying something more. When she tugged his hand, directing him back toward the bedroll, he complied. A protest died on his lips as her jeans started a slow slide down over her hips.

She turned to face him when they reached the blankets and held his gaze with deliberate boldness while she stepped out of the jeans. "Here I am."

Jakob stilled, frenzied need blasting through him. How could he be so fucking lucky? A man could live ten lives and never meet a woman like Kate. Feeling as if he were in another universe, he moved forward and into her arms.

She reached for him, eager, and raised onto her toes, seeking his mouth with hers. Jakob devoured her, as if it were the first time. Driven to possess her as quickly as possible, just in case it was all some terrible mistake, he lowered them to the blankets. His clothing was already gone, apparently removed while he lay unconscious. Only his underwear remained and he took care of getting them out of the way fast.

Kate's nails dug into his ass cheeks when the head of his cock slid along her slit. She arched, trying to position him at her opening, but he resisted and stroked her clit. "Holy fuck, that feels good, baby." He wanted to make it last, but already tension built to unbearable levels at the base of his spine.

Her hiss of need did it. He pulled back to gain access and slid into her, torturing himself and her with a slow glide. Silken heat rippled around him, pulling him deeper. Her heels joined her nails to put delicious pressure on his ass, demanding he give what she wanted. He sank into her over and over, driving them both to the edge.

A sudden deep breath and short moan signaled her impending orgasm and he thrust his hand between them to flick her clit. Kate cried out and writhed under him and he was lost. The blast devastated him, left him weak and breathless.

His breathing started to slow a little but the pounding in his head increased exponentially. Fuck. He had to say something, just in case. "Kate, I love you." Nothing but shocked silence in reply. Despair tried to sink in but he pushed it back.

"You don't have to say that Jakob. And I don't want you to say it and regret it. We just don't know each other well enough."

Then why the heartbreak and sorrow in her voice?

Fuck. His head hurt.

The road felt endless to Rita. Mile markers and exits they didn't take were the only way to mark the passage of miles. That, and Falon stopped every so often to try to reach Barger again. They called and called, trying every number they'd found connected to either Jakob Barger or Kate Holt, all to no avail.

Darkness started to settle gently and gave the air a slight chill. Falon pulled into the next rest area so they could stretch and try to call again. Rita took a moment to dig out her heavier jacket. The old worn denim one with no sleeves she'd put over her corset that morning did nearly nothing to help. She should have taken a moment to put on a more suitable shirt before they left, but hadn't wanted to sacrifice the time. Her luck, Falon would have left without her. And she simply could not allow that. She needed more time with him.

Marginally warmer, she started dialing while Falon checked the bike over. The last number on her list, another one for Holt Cutting Horses rang several times before a harsh noise made her draw the phone away from her ear.

"Sorry, dropped. Holt Cutting Horses. Can I help you?" The male voice on the other end sounded a bit annoyed.

Heart pounding, Rita stammered a moment. Why hadn't she planned what to say if someone answered? "Uh… I'm looking for Kate Holt?"

"Miss Kate ain't around right now, ma'am. Can I take a message?"

She turned to Falon for help but he was nowhere in sight. Deep Breath. "Okay, let me start over." The story didn't lend itself to shortening, so she ended up giving him all the details they had.

The man was silent for so long she started to think he'd hung up on her. "Ma'am, any other day, I'd think you was some loony and hang up. But yesterday morning, Miss Kate rode out with Jakob to check one of the herds. Her horse came back a few minutes ago. Alone and still saddled."

"So you do know Jakob Barger?"

"I do a little. Can't say I trust him but I knew his Uncle Frank and he was a good man." The man coughed a little. "With Miss Kate's horse coming home like that, I know something happened. I have men gearing up right now to search for her."

To her relief, Falon approached, and it only took a moment's explanation to get him on the phone with the man. Fifteen minutes later, he ended the call and gave Rita's phone back.

"Well, at least now the guy isn't so certain Jakob did away with his 'Miss Kate'." Falon's derisive laugh drew the attention of a couple with a young child as they walked by. "Apparently Miss Kate is quite impressed with my old buddy and her foreman isn't all that happy about it. Anyway, we're still six or so hours from Jakob's place and another three from where he is at Holt's."

Rita let her head drop back to stretch her neck. "Do we have a plan?"

"Since it's that far, as much as I'd like to just push on through the night, I guess we should lay over. The tourist info thing says there's a town at the next exit with several motels. We can grab something to eat and get some rest, then start fresh in the morning. Sound okay?"

"Yeah it does. I could do with a hot shower, too." No doubt her relief came through in her voice, but at the moment, she didn't care.

Falon smiled. "Me, too. And I can't wait to get that sexy thing you're wearing opened up."

She drew a blank for a second. "Oh, my corset? I should have changed but didn't figure I had time. I put it on trying to be sexy for you."

He drew her close to trace one finger along the upper curves of her breasts. "I've wanted to do this all day."

"Well, you can't now. We're in a public place."

He drew back with a pained sigh. "I guess that means you won't let me taste right now, huh?"

Her nipples hardened at the suggestion and denying him wasn't easy. "You'll just have to wait." She leaned for a quick kiss. "Now, stop teasing me and get me to that motel."

"Yes, ma'am." He laughed and delivered a light smack on her ass.

As soon as the motel door closed behind them, Rita shed her jacket and loosened her hair to fall in tangled waves around her shoulders, then dropped a handful of condoms on the bed. When she started to pull off the denim vest, Falon caught her hand.

"Uh-uh. I'm doing this." The ride from the rest area had been sheer torture, imagining undressing her. His half-hard cock had been caught in a fold of his jeans and incredibly uncomfortable.

She stood and waited as he gave in to the temptation to taste her mouth again. The tender skin just inside her lips intrigued him to no end. And then the edges of her teeth. Each kiss became a journey of discovery with her tongue as the treasure waiting to be won. He took his time, savoring every rasp of her tongue against his. All while his fingers skimmed up her arms, across the delicate ridges of her collar bones and down to the top of her breasts.

He would have been content for that kiss to go on forever, but the silken skin under his fingers beckoned, and he needed to taste it, too. Her lips clung to his in protest when he started to draw back and work his way down, but he persevered to trace her jawbone with his tongue. The smooth skin there proved especially sensitive and she moaned as her head dropped back to give him better access.

The satiny column of her neck arched to lead him to the delicate hollow at the base, and the contours of her upper chest. And then the swell of her breasts captivated him. He caught her ass cheeks to pull her close and rub his confined erection against her belly. Damn, if he wasn't careful, he'd come before he even got it out of his jeans.

The insistent pulsing of his cock forced him to pause a moment, just long enough to open his jeans and relieve a little of the pressure. Rita gave a little sigh and slid her hand between them and into the front of his underwear to smooth her fingers across the head of his cock.

His knees went weak as his hips rolled, begging her for more. She complied and shoved both jeans and underwear down, freeing him. Desperation drove him to take action and he turned them to bring the backs of her legs to the edge of the bed. Her hand slid down his shaft and back up, urging him to hurry.

He fumbled to open her jeans and finally managed to shove them down. "Sit for me."

The thirty seconds he allowed himself to look down at her, to admire her delicate features and the sheen of her hair, nearly pushed him too far. Unable to wait, he bent to pull off the leather boots that stopped just above her ankles, and her jeans followed in a heartbeat.

He straightened to find she held an opened condom ready. But first she leaned to tease him with tiny kisses and licks. His hands sank into her hair and fisted. Luminous blue eyes stared up at him while her kiss-swollen lips parted and slipped over the head with a tight suction that threatened to undo him instantly. By some miracle, he managed to hold onto his sanity while she loved him with that gorgeous mouth, but far too soon, she withdrew with a little moan.

"I want more of that later. But first…" She placed the condom over him and rolled it down, torturing him with gentle strokes to his balls at the same time, then lay back with languid grace.

And there she lay before him, parted and moist, waiting. All his intentions flew out the window. He'd spent hours anticipating what it would be like to open the metal clasps on the front of that corset, to free her breasts for his hands and mouth. But now that the time had come, nothing was more important than getting inside her.

The bed sat on a sort of platform, probably meant to discourage motel guests from hiding bodies under it, which made it higher than a standard bed. Perfect height actually. At least for his purpose.

He slipped his arms under her knees and slid her toward him, bringing her ass to the edge of the bed. He moved forward between her thighs and her eyes flared with the realization of his intent.

The first contact with her slick flesh made him hiss with anticipation. She writhed against him, seeking more.

The fragile thread of his self-control snapped and he drove into her with one frantic thrust. Rita's nails dug into his forearms and she gave a sharp cry.

Damn, he'd hurt her! He froze, heart pounding. "Are you okay?"

She writhed on him. "I will be when you fuck me."

No further encouragement needed, he withdrew and thrust again and again, harder and faster. The little sounds she made spurred him on, every movement coiling the tension in his belly tighter and tighter until he thought it would snap him half.

Suddenly her body tightened, incredible inner muscles rippling around him. The force wound so tightly in him exploded with near-catastrophic velocity, propelling both of them into some new dimension where nothing existed but the fulfillment they gave one another.