Retribution Boxed Set (Books One and Two) (36 page)

*        *        *

For Janie, the rest of the evening passed by in a
pleasant haze of good food and good conversation. She didn’t know if the other
two picked up on the sexual undercurrents passing between her and Sam. To her,
they were a neon sign. If the men did, no one said anything.

Janie wasn’t surprised to learn Ryan had a
military background. He looked and sounded the part. He’d been out of the
service for a couple of years, but prior to that, he’d spent time in Afghanistan.

He was probably a great asset to their
organization.

“Hey,” Christian said as they carried dishes
inside after their meal. “Anyone want to go with me to check out that new bar
that opened a block from mine? I need to keep an eye on the competition.”

“I’ll go,” Ryan said without hesitating. She
glanced at the two men, and almost smiled as Christian tried to keep a straight
face when he turned to Sam. “Either of you?”

They were clearing the house
.

Sam had either said something to them earlier, or
they were tired of being in the middle of her and Sam’s visual foreplay.

“Nah, I think I’ll pass this time,” Sam said and
then glanced at Janie. “You want to go?”

If she said yes, she had the perfect excuse to
avoid dealing with Sam. “I’ll stay home, too, if Christian and Ryan won’t feel
slighted. I hate to say it, but riding around on the bike all day wore me out.”

Sam jumped to attention. “Really? Like how tired?
These men were so obvious it was laughable, but in an adorable kind of way.

“Exhausted.” She pretended a yawn. “I think I’m
going to head for bed. It was very nice to meet you, Ryan.”

“Same here.” He smiled, and Janie knew he’d be all
kinds of trouble for plenty of women out there.

Janie waited until she heard Christian and Ryan
leave before she headed back out of her room. She was too tightly wound to
ignore her need for Sam. Deep down, she knew she’d decided back at the
waterfall she wanted to make love with him. It might not be the best decision
she’d ever made, but she knew she wouldn’t regret it.

All the lights in the house were still on, so she
knew he hadn’t gone to bed, but she couldn’t immediately see him.

Then she spotted him sitting on the patio, lost
deep in thought, perhaps a look of disappointment lingering on his face.

She smiled. He thought she’d rejected him.

She couldn’t outright go to him, didn’t want him
to think she was too easy, though she knew he’d never consider her in that
light. In a ploy to draw him inside, she opened a cupboard and removed a plate,
letting the wooden door slam as she closed it. Then she rustled around in the
silverware drawer, pulling out a knife and fork.

When she looked up, he stood in the doorway.

Her breath whooshed out of her.

Everything alpha about him emanated in a sexual
wave that slammed into her, leaving her unsteady.

“What are you doing?” he asked. It was as though
staying in her room had protected her from him, but coming into an open area
left her fair game.

“Cake,” she responded. There was only one thing
she wanted for dessert, and it wasn’t cake, but cutting a slice had seemed like
a good way to catch his attention. She followed through with her declaration
and served a piece onto the plate, clumsily dropping her fork onto the floor at
the same time.

He was by her side in a second, picking up the
renegade piece of silverware and tossing it in the sink. He grabbed another
from the drawer, but instead of handing it to her, he cut off the tip of the
cake and held it out for her. “You sure know how to make a great chocolate
cake.”

She took the bite, staring into his eyes, knowing
he had her intentions. She swallowed. “Thank you.” She glanced at the cake,
wishing she could push it aside and devour him instead. “Would you like another
taste?”

“You already know the answer to that.” He stuck
the fork into the slice of cake and left it there before pulling her to him. She
went willingly.

His mouth met hers in a heated kiss that left her
hungry for more. She pushed up his t-shirt, her fingers greedy on his skin. She’d
ached to touch him like this for a long time.

He grabbed the hem of his shirt and ripped it
over his head, baring his chest for her. She splayed her fingers across his
pecs before digging her nails into his taut skin. She leaned forward to trace a
nipple with her tongue, earning a groan from deep within his chest. “Ah, Janie.
You know how much I want you.”

She cradled his face between her hands, capturing
his gaze. “I want you, too.”

“Are you sure? I don’t want to hurt you.” His
gaze pleaded for her to say yes, but she knew if she said no, he’d stop.

“I’m positive.” She stepped back and began
unbuttoning her blouse. She watched his hunger intensify as she flipped open
each button, his reaction making her hotter as well. When she finished opening
her shirt, she slid it off her shoulders, letting it fall to the floor with a
whisper. “Are you going to make me do this all by myself?”

He slowly nodded. “I like watching you.”

She gave a nervous laugh. “Really? I never
pictured you as the type to stand back and watch.”

“Me, either.” Still, he didn’t move.

She arched a brow, and he responded with the same
gesture, urging her to continue. The thought of stripping in front of him in
the brightly lit kitchen, of watching his reaction to the real her, appealed to
her. She wanted this man to see her for exactly who she was. She wanted to bare
it all and know that he loved her regardless. If there was no chance of
unconditional love, she needed to know that going in.

She popped open the button on her pants. A sultry
grin tilted his lips. She slid the zipper down, and he watched as she grabbed
the waistband and started to shimmy out of her jeans.

“Shit,” he whispered as his gaze devoured her. He
took a step forward, but she stopped him.

“Uh-uh. You wanted the show. You’re going to have
to wait.”

A laugh erupted from him. “I can’t wait.”

“Too bad.” She turned her back to him and watched
over her shoulder as she reached around and unhooked her bra. Her breasts,
weighted by passion, fell forward without the support. She slipped the straps
from her arms and tossed her bra over her shoulder toward Sam. He snatched it
out of the air and bit it with his teeth.

She laughed as she turned, her mirth morphing
into heated passion as the expression on his face also changed.

“Janie,” he warned.

“Not yet,” she whispered. She cupped her breasts
from beneath, massaging them, tugging on her nipples as pleasure rushed through
her.

He took a step forward, and she stepped back,
bumping into the counter behind her. She slipped her fingers beneath the
elastic of her panties, but before she could draw them down, Sam crushed her
against him, his mouth hot and demanding on hers.

Big, greedy hands coursed down her back, cupped
her bottom, hauling her against his hard desire. She wrapped her arms around
his neck, kissing him back with heated need.

A swift thrill shot through her when he lifted her,
setting her on the counter. He settled between her legs, her heat beckoning him
to touch her as he sucked a sensitive nipple in his mouth. She leaned back,
arching into him, letting pleasure radiate outward from the point where he
consumed her.

She needed him. Ached for him. Yearned to have
him inside her.

She wrapped her legs around him, and he seemed to
sense her needs. He switched breasts, holding her in one hand as the other
searched out her fiery core.

A low whimper escaped her as his fingers
maneuvered beneath her panties, so close to where he needed to be. She closed
her eyes, her fingers delving into his hair, and she prayed she could hold on
to her sanity.

Blinding pleasure shot through her as he slipped
a finger inside, and she cried out.

“Janie,” he whispered.

“Take me, Sam.” She cradled his head against her
chest, as he urged her toward a higher level.

He slid her panties from beneath her and tossed
them somewhere behind him. When he opened her thighs again, she stiffened,
realizing his intentions. She’d never allowed anyone to be so intimate with her
before. “No,” she whispered.

“Let me taste you, Janie.” He dipped his head,
and she braced herself for the sensual impact.

The feel of his tongue against her made her cry
out. “Sam, please. Take me now before I die.” The intensity was too much, and
she shuddered in response.

He chuckled as he lifted his head, and she clung
to him as though losing him really might cost her her life. He slipped his
hands beneath her, lifting her and setting her on a stool.

He quickly disposed of the rest of his clothes,
grabbing a condom from his wallet. She arched a brow, giving him a teasing
smile.

“What? You know I was hoping.”

She did, and she was glad he wanted her so badly.

When he was ready, he walked forward. She opened
her arms and legs, wrapping him in her embrace. He kissed her hard, and then
scooted her to the edge of the stool. He positioned himself at her core, and
she trembled when he pushed inside her.

He stayed buried for a moment, and she took the
time to adjust to his size.

“This feels so good, Janie. So right.”

“Yes,” she whispered, part of her afraid of the
intensity of what she felt. The other half celebrated the joy.

He started to move, and she clung to him, clung
to the amazing sensations, physical and emotional, that consumed her.

He pumped into her harder and harder, and soon
the physical overtook the emotional. Blinding gratification consumed her, owned
her. He pushed past any previous limits she’d experienced, and she wondered if
she could take in anymore before she exploded from pleasure. Need collided with
indulgence, and she let herself ride the wave until pure carnality shattered
inside her.

She gripped his shoulders, held on as it washed
through her.

As her heart rate slowed, her vision returned,
and she found Sam watching her with avaricious need. A tremor raced through her
as he started moving again.

She sucked in a breath while she could and held
on as the hot, pulsing ache started building within her again. When Sam had
spent every cent of pleasure available to them, he carried her to his bed, her
body a quivering mass of satisfaction.

*        *        *

Sam held Janie tightly in his arms. She’d melted
against him, and he could tell by her slow breathing she felt safe and
hopefully happy. He’d needed this, and he’d needed to give her this as well.

They both deserved some happiness, and he wasn’t
at all surprised he’d found it with her. He’d known the moment he’d laid eyes
on her that she was someone special.

He stroked the curve of her hip, her skin soft
against his fingers. Everything about her was lovely and delightful, and he
couldn’t imagine ever growing tired of her.

He sighed, wishing they could stay in this moment
forever. Unfortunately, there were a few things that stood in the way of their
happiness. Number one was Paul Castell. Sam should have told her the rest of
his news hours ago, but hadn’t been able to make himself to do it.

“Janie?”

“Mmm?” she said, her face resting against his
chest.

“I…man, I’m an idiot.” He was going to tell her,
and it was going to ruin their perfect moment.

“What do you mean?”

“I’m going to tell you something, and then I’m
going to wish I’d shot my toe off instead.”

She gave a small laugh and lifted her head. “You’re
not making any sense.”

He traced his fingers along her jaw line wishing
he could kiss her instead of talk to her. “I’ve searched for the perfect time
all day to tell you this, but the timing was never right. Today turned out
better than I expected, for both of us, right?”

She nodded, but the smile she’d worn for most of
the day had disappeared.

“Oh, God. Here it goes. I apologize for not
telling you sooner. Castell’s attorney has requested the judge consider a
service by publication on his suit against you.”

She froze. Then blinked as though working through
his latest bit of information. “What does that mean exactly?”

“It means they don’t have to serve you in person.
A notice in the Oregonian will do. It means the civil suit against you can go
forward.”

“He’s determined to get me.” Her words came out
hollow and scared, summoning Sam’s protective instincts.

“I’m not going to let him hurt you, Janie.” He’d
die first.

“What do I do?” she whispered.

“Nothing. Stay here and stay safe. Even if they
do serve you through the newspaper, it will take some time for the case to go
to trial.”

“Enough time for you to get him first?”

“That’s what I’m counting on, yes.” He couldn’t
tell her about the planned raid. Too many lives were at stake, and he didn’t
want to get her hopes up. “I’ve got a team following some leads. You never know
what might happen in a few days’ time.”

He could tell by her silence that she still
wasn’t satisfied.

“Why couldn’t you have told me this morning?”

He sighed. “I should have.”

“Then why didn’t you?”

“I didn’t want to upset you.”

“
So
? I still had the right to know. The
right to be upset if I wanted.”

“God, Janie. I know. But you’ve been through so
much. I wish I could spare you completely.”

“Don’t you understand that by doing that, it
makes it harder to trust you? I keep telling you, I’m not the weak victim you
think I am. I can stand on my own feet. I’ve brought this mess upon myself. As
much as I’d like to pretend it doesn’t exist, I’ll see it through to the end
one way or the other.”

He hugged her to him. “I know you will. I know
you’re strong. My intentions are good, Janie. I just want to help you.”

She was quiet for a few moments. “I know. Thank
you for that.” She hugged him back. “But please promise you’ll be upfront with
me, okay? I’m a big girl. I can take it.”

“Okay.” He would comply with her wishes the best he
could.