Princess (7 page)

Their bodies were thigh to thigh, and she made a husky little sound as he reached out, tracing the edge of her lower lip. Touching her this way was dead wrong, he thought. Dead stupid, too.

He shook his head, trying to remember all the reasons touching her was forbidden.

When that didn’t work, he resorted to the cold habit of control, driving his body to stillness.

“Tell me why you always do that, watching the people around you, cold and calm, absolutely quiet.”

“Does it frighten you?” Hell, it seemed to frighten most people, Hawk thought. Why not her?

She tilted her head, frowning. “You told me to trust you. I think I do.”

His thumb touched the pulse racing wildly at her throat. “Good thing that we both know you’re not the kind of woman for casual sex in an elevator.”

“You don’t know anything about what I am. I’ve waited years for the violins and the roses, but they never happened, so right now I’m open to alternate suggestions.”

“Like casual sex?” Hawk’s voice was hard. He smelled the scent of her hair, felt her body tremble.

“Forget it, Jess.”

“If you’re saying no because I asked first—”

“I’m saying no because it’s a stupid idea.” Hell, he didn’t even have protection with him, Hawk thought grimly. That was a rule he’d never been stupid enough to break. “The whole idea is—”

Before he could finish, his cell phone rang. “What took you so long?” he snapped.

It couldn’t be anyone but Izzy on his secure line.

“It’s the night of the living dead out here.” Izzy’s voice crackled in sudden static. “Where the hell are you?”

“In a stalled elevator at the hotel. I’ve been trying to reach you without any luck.”

“This storm has knocked all our communications off-line. What’s your situation?”

“We’ve got auxiliary lights, but no service.” Hawk spoke quietly, aware that Jess was following every word. “How soon can you get a team over here?”

“Not anytime soon. Several towns have flooded and there are downed power lines all over the county. Most of the roads have been closed, too.” The phone signal faded. Then Izzy’s voice came back, echoing hollowly. “I doubt if I’ll be able to get anyone there in less than an hour, but I’m doing all I can. Meanwhile—”

Abruptly the words broke up on a burst of static.

Hawk powered down the phone, praying that Jess hadn’t heard.

“He said it would be an hour before someone came,” Jess said hoarsely. As she spoke they heard a noise on the other side of the elevator door.

“Hello? Is somebody in there?” a male voice called.

“Damned straight somebody is,” Hawk called loudly. “Get the manager over here.”

“I
am
the manager. The hotel is currently limited to an auxiliary generator until the electricity is restored, but we’re having some problems with the wiring in this building.”

“Then fix them,” Hawk snapped.

“We’re trying. We’ve phoned all over the state, but no one has repair crews mobile yet.”

Hawk slid an arm around Jess’s shoulders, pulling her against the warmth of his body. “Isn’t there some way to open the doors manually from the outside?”

“Afraid not. Our manual access was removed a few years ago after a man tried to crawl out of a stalled elevator here. He dropped seven floors, broke his neck, and his family sued the hotel for millions. After that the manual override was removed. But don’t worry, we’ll have you out soon.”

Soon wasn’t good enough, Hawk thought grimly, feeling Jess’s nails digging into his back.

“Do you need food or water? I could try lowering something through the roof. That center panel above your head can be removed.”

Hawk looked down at the snacks on the floor near Jess’s purse. “We’re fine for the moment. Keep me updated on the situation with your power.”

As footsteps tapped away from the doors, Jess took a ragged breath. “You heard him. He said the whole state’s been affected. Your friend said it would be an hour before he got here.”

Hawk caught her fingers gently in his hands. “We’ll get by, Jess. You’re going to have to trust me.”

“Trust won’t help me.” Her eyes fell, focused on his hard mouth.

Hawk bit back a curse. She couldn’t be serious about having sex.

“We could be locked in here for hours.” Her hands tightened, fingers linked tensely. “I need you to help me, Hawk.”

“Jess, this is nuts. I won’t—”

The elevator swayed gently beneath them. “I want you.” Her eyes were dark. “Don’t tell me I don’t know what I’m asking.”

“You
don’t
know what you’re asking,” Hawk said savagely. “I’m a stranger, for God’s sake.”

“You’re not a stranger anymore.” Her fingers traced an old scar on his neck. “Besides, only an honorable man would try to talk me out of it. That proves I’m right.”

“Forget it, Jess. It’s not happening.”

Her hand slid down his chest, stopping at his belt. “Especially when that man is as aroused as you appear to be.”

Hawk gripped her hand and held it locked against his chest. “You don’t know what you’re getting into.”

“Then tell me.” She studied his face. “Everything seems to be present and in working order.” Her fingers wriggled open, exploring the heat of his chest.

Hawk knew his erection was unmistakable as their bodies brushed intimately. “Damn it, Jess—”

“Is there some physical problem?”

“There’s
no
physical problem.”

“Then what are you waiting for?”

“Because one of us has to be sane.”

“Why?”

“Because men are worthless shits and you’d better remember that.”

“Okay, I’ve got that clear. What other advice do you have for me?”

“I’m serious, Jess. There are reasons,” he said harshly.

Her hips moved as she brought their bodies closer. “You’re a very scary man, Lieutenant. You talk cold and you look cold. But for some reason, I don’t think you’re as buttoned-down as you look. In fact, you don’t scare me at all,” she whispered.

“Then you’re a fool.” His hands tightened on her shoulders. Hawk wanted to feel her body rise against his. He wanted his hands buried in her hair while she lost all her reserve and moaned his name. “I could take you whether you liked it or not, Jess. I could say when and how much and you wouldn’t have any choice.” The damned woman needed to see just how dangerous the situation was, he thought grimly.

And then, before he could finish trying to frighten her, she kissed him.

Her first attempt was tentative, even a little awkward. When Hawk didn’t move or respond in any way, she kissed him again, this time with teeth and a whole lot of tongue.

Hawk cursed. “You just opened the wrong door, honey.”

“Good.” Her fingers moved, tugging at his belt. “I’ve always loved surprises.”

“In that case, there have to be a few damned rules.” Was he insane? Hawk wondered. Even if he was, it didn’t seem to matter now.

He stood up slowly, pulling her along with him. “Rule number one. No questions. No matter what.”

“But why—?”

“Yes or no, Jess?”

“Okay,” she muttered, then traced his mouth with such gentle concentration that Hawk cursed silently.

“Rule number two. Your hands stay where I put them, no matter what.”

“But—” Jess stopped, studying his face.

“Yes or no?” Hawk realized his hands were rigid, his need building fiercely.

“Yes.”

He sighed, almost angry that she wasn’t giving him any reasons to say no
.
“What if you regret this tomorrow?”

“I won’t.” She sounded absolutely certain.

Fighting back a curse, Hawk leaned down, letting her see the hunger he’d managed to push beneath the surface. If she planned to turn back, he needed to know now. “You realize exactly what you’re offering me, Jess.
Everything.
” His hand cupped her breast, stroking her slowly through the thin silk of her blouse. “Are you still in?”

She blinked at him. Her eyes darkened as his fingers tugged at the tight crest thrusting against her blouse. “I’m not sure I can think when you do that.”

Hawk laughed grimly. “I’ll be doing a lot more than this in a minute, honey. So give me an answer.”

Jess gnawed at her lip, making a soft sound of surprise when Hawk’s hands slid beneath her blouse, shoved aside her bra, and closed over her nipples.

Her skin felt hot and tight against Hawk’s callused fingers.

His breath was rough. He couldn’t manage to act casual much longer. She was too exciting and he wanted her too badly.

If she didn’t scare off soon, he wouldn’t be able to stop.

He leaned down, one arm at her back as he kissed her neck, her shoulder, the perfect curve of her breasts.

His tongue circled her slowly, like a cat savoring warm cream, working the dark pink nipple between his teeth until her breath hissed and her nails dug into his back.

“Good,”
she whispered. “I mean, yes. I’m
definitely
in. Don’t even think about stopping now.”

Emilio Chavez moved restlessly through the quiet room. His stocky body was tense, his energy barely contained.

Finally he came to a halt. “Have you found the animal yet?” He used the hard, colloquial Spanish of the mountain village where he’d been born in Colombia.

The two other men in the room avoided his eyes. Both men knew that the news they brought was
not
the news that their employer wanted to hear.

As the silence stretched out, the stocky Colombian ex-general moved to the window and stared out at the rain-swept harbor.

“I gave you twelve hours, and you gave me only promises.” Chavez drummed his fingers on the chipped windowsill. “Then I gave you another twenty-four hours. And still you mutter and delay, with nothing of any value to show me.” The two men behind him were sweating now, although the room was cool.

“But, sir, we followed the roads. We checked the map and the towns nearby.” The man was interrupted by footsteps outside.

There was a single quick tap at the door. “What is it?” Chavez called angrily.

The door opened. “The satellite weather maps you asked for are here, sir.”

Chavez glared at the nervous man in a black rain poncho. “Put them on the desk, then have my boat fueled.”

“Yes, sir. Immediately, sir.” The door closed quietly, and the three men were once more alone.

Chavez watched lightning break out at sea and sighed. He pulled a bottle of whiskey from a hidden shelf and carried it across to his desk, where he filled three glasses, then motioned the other two men forward. “You have ten hours from this moment. Before you go out, we will share a drink for good luck. This whiskey is excellent, as only the mad Scotsmen can make it. But remember that I am not a patient man.” He raised his glass in a toast to the others. “To the first one who finds the animal. He will sleep in silk sheets, with more money than he can spend in one lifetime.”

Glasses clinked and greed lay heavy in the air. As Chavez savored the expensive aged whiskey, he noticed with distaste that the others tossed their drinks back with no respect.

Crude killers, he thought. Men with no hearts.

But he paid them to be nothing else. Smiling gently, he watched them over the rim of his glass while rain beat at the window.

The man nearer to him swallowed hard and sank down onto the chair beside the desk.

“Is something wrong, Diego?”

When the man didn’t answer, Chavez waited calmly, steepling his fingers.

Five seconds later, a glass shattered on the unpainted wood floor. With a sharp gagging sound, the man named Diego collapsed, his feet bumping loudly in his convulsions.

Chavez moved casually to the body that was still twitching. “Never question my orders. Never make excuses,” he said coldly, driving the ornate metal toe of his expensive boot into the back of the man’s head. He looked up slowly at the frightened man who remained. “And now you have only nine hours and fifty-seven minutes to find the animal. Otherwise, you will die worse than this one did.”

Emilio Chavez didn’t look back when the door was yanked open, footsteps flashing up the metal steps. His eyes were narrow and intent as he tossed the used glasses into the garbage. With no change in expression, he bent to wipe the blood and brain tissue off the toe of his boot.

“Nine hours and fifty-five minutes,” he said to the empty room.

chapter
10

H
awk straightened his leather jacket around Jess’s shoulders.

She realized his game plan was set and there would be no deviations.

But now that she’d watched his eyes darken as he touched her skin, Jess decided the rules weren’t so important.

She closed her eyes as the elevator swayed slightly. Sweat beaded up over her forehead.

She hated being weak like this, hated for anyone to look deep and glimpse her fears.

But Hawk hadn’t laughed at her. He didn’t move away as if she had some kind of disease.

Jess closed her eyes. She wanted to blurt out that she didn’t usually accost semi-strange men or propose sex in public places, but she caught back the words.

No explanations.
Just Hawk. Just this need to be close, to be held and feel his skin warm against hers.

With her head bent, she shoved away the fear and focused on the scent of his jacket. Wearing it felt sharply intimate.

Old leather.

Sea wind.

Apples, probably stuck in an inside pocket. The mix of smells mesmerized her, even as the old fears returned.

Three days. Eleven hours. Twenty-six minutes.

Dear God, no more memories.

Jess squeezed her eyes shut.

She wanted to be in the present. She wanted to move against Hawk’s body. By concentrating intently on the scent of his jacket, she managed to block the vision of cold walls closing in.

“No questions,” she said, studying the walls fixedly. “But I need to know the time, how long until someone will come.”

Hawk pulled off a watch with a luminous dial and multiple time zones. “Take mine.”

“Only until . . . this is over.” Frowning, she pulled on the big watch, feeling the heat of his body in the metal.

Hawk pulled off his sweater and hung it from the rim of the molding at the top of the elevator.

“Why—”

“Because there’s a camera up there and I’d rather not have an audience,” he said dryly. He shifted the sweater to one side, then turned back to her.

“Don’t talk,” Jess said quickly, afraid if she talked she’d lose her nerve. She didn’t want to be afraid.

She rose on tiptoes, skimming her hands across his chest, his ribs, just above his waistband. “Hawk, I need—”

“I know what you need,” he said roughly. “I was thinking about it in high-resolution detail most of the night.”

Jess wondered that she wasn’t embarrassed by the brush of his hands tugging her blouse free of her skirt.

Hawk leaned down, his face tense. She caught the scent of apples and sea wind again.

Her blouse opened.

“There’s still time to change your mind.” His voice was slow, like cold water dropping over deep gravel.

“My mind’s made up.”

“You’re making a mistake.” He gripped her waist, turning her slowly.

“If so, it’s
my
mistake.” As Jess spoke, her gaze drifted to the walls.

His eyes narrowed, dark points that seemed to pull her soul into their depths. “You don’t go easy on yourself, do you?” He tilted her face up carefully. “You’re soft outside, easy with words, but tough where it counts.”

Jess didn’t answer.

The emotion in her eyes kicked hard at Hawk’s chest.

She was the bravest woman he’d ever met, wrestling demons that would have toppled many a strong man.

The thought of her locked in a shed left his hands clenched into fists. He wanted to right the old wrongs, repay the idiots who had hurt her years ago.

But she didn’t want his pity or his anger.

He’d listened to her story with all expression locked down tight, aware that Jess didn’t need complicating emotions. All she wanted was to forget, facing the past dead-on rather than denying it. Even when the situation grew worse, she’d held tight to her sense of humor as she disgorged the contents of her purse in search of possible distractions.

And then she’d faced him without a qualm and asked for the solace of his body, for sex in any way he chose to have it.

The memory still left him unsteady. Hawk was a generous lover who knew how to stir a woman’s body. He knew he could touch Jess with fire and make her moan his name as she raced along the razor’s edge of passion into oblivion.

But Jess wasn’t like the other women he’d known. She was smart and stubborn, yet beneath that prickly exterior he glimpsed a dreamer who woke every day with a resolve that better things were just around the corner.

Hawk didn’t want to be the man who ruined those dreams. She swore she would have no regrets, but she was wrong. Because she wasn’t a woman who gave her body lightly, she’d leave a part of herself behind, too generous and too innocent to wall off her feelings the way Hawk had long ago learned to do.

The women he chose as partners knew how to create that distance. They laughed easily and drank with calm deliberation, asking no questions so that nobody got hurt and nobody expected more than either one could give.

Until Jess, that kind of sex had been easy.

Until her cocky smile, endless questions, and trembling hands twisted something in his chest and made him want more, though he couldn’t find a name for it.

God knows, it wasn’t love. Hawk hadn’t believed in love since he was twelve and he watched his father push his mother down a flight of stairs.

His fingers tightened, then he released them quickly, all too aware of how easy it would be to mark her, to hurt her.

Because with every gentle touch, she left him aflame, reckless to give her the oblivion she craved. But there was always a cost, he thought grimly. And now the medication he was taking pushed him to the very edge of his control.

His muscles clenched as she traced old scars on his neck.

A knife fight in Mexico City.

A river ambush in Thailand.

Burns from fast-roping off a chopper in the South China Sea.

She cared about those scars, Hawk realized. She touched them slowly, her breath tense. And he sensed that she wanted to touch the man beneath the scars, the one that Hawk never let anyone see.

But who would touch her back—the lethal warrior or the stranger he glimpsed occasionally in mirrors and windows? A man he’d all but forgotten since anonymity and transience had become the mainstays of his life.

If his life had taken a different, less violent path, he might have met a woman like this, might have fallen in love and married her without thinking twice. Right now he could have been a high school teacher in Portland, with a fence and a mortgage and three noisy kids.

Instead of a man with too many scars and too few dreams.

Hell.

She was looking up at him, a mix of hope and desire on her face, and he wanted to tell her there was nothing here, that he couldn’t help her. That in the end he was bound to hurt her.

But he didn’t say any of that, mesmerized by the depths of her smoky green eyes. Paralyzed when her hands slid beneath his shirt, curving smoothly over his chest while her perfume tangled up all his too-acute senses.

And then he was lost, tracing her neck, the line of her shoulder, shoving off her blouse to explore the silk of her skin.

She sighed when he released the catch of her bra with its simple white straps. The feel of his mouth seemed to stun her, and she said something Hawk couldn’t hear.

He’d been certain that she’d push him away, but her hands slid to his face, tightened, then moved down, shoving hard at his T-shirt.

The touch of her fingers on his skin nearly undid him, nearly made him forget his plan.

To give without taking. Because that’s what she needed most from him.

“Hawk—”

His lips opened, cutting her off. Whether it was a question or an explanation, he would never know. With need like thunder in his head, he slid away her skirt and one final scrap of lace until all she wore was his big leather jacket, askew around her shoulders.

And damned if his battered jacket didn’t suit her just as much as the nakedness did.

His rough hands scraped slowly up her thighs and curved around her hips while he tasted his way recklessly across her chest, nudging aside the leather so he could mouth her taut nipple.

Her body trembled, her fingers digging into his shoulders, but Hawk refused to give either of them time for questions.

I love the weight of your breasts,
he wanted to say.
I love the way your breath catches when I find the hot, wet place between your legs.

But he showed her instead, pulling her to the floor with locked arms until she lay beneath him, pale and restless against the dark leather of his jacket.

And then he loved her, his mouth slow and relentless on her thighs, and then higher, exploring her wet folds, driving her up while she gripped his back and raked her nails across his skin.

He wanted her taste on his mouth. He nuzzled, then scraped her gently with his teeth.

When she shuddered, he eased her legs apart, tracing her with his thumbs, giving her time to accept his mouth.

As she moaned brokenly, Hawk eased one finger in-side her.

Seconds passed. She moved against him in aching intimacy, her breath rising in inchoate words.

With a dark smile, he drew her against his mouth, searching for the tiny ridge hidden in slick folds.

When he found it, she was wet and ready, trembling on the edge, all fears forgotten.

His own needs seemed distant, and Hawk realized he wanted her nails driving into his back while pleasure rained over her and the wind hissed down the elevator shaft around them.

“Hawk—”

“Shh.”

No words,
he swore. No questions. Only hot, silent pleasure while her body rose against him, arched in need. He slid another finger inside her while he took her with mouth and tongue until she cried out his name and her heart banged in her chest and she collapsed in exhaustion, slick with sweat.

Mustering his control, Hawk curved his body against her, one arm wrapped protectively around her waist. With every breath, her soft hips rose and fell, cradling his erection, stretching every nerve to the breaking point.

Then, with a sigh, she burrowed against his chest, one hand at his neck, the other inches from the taut line of his zipper. Completely oblivious, she draped her warm body across him and fell asleep.