Two fingers thrust inside her. Or was that three?

  “Raaaaafe!” He was stretching her to impossible limits. She throbbed, pulsated…contracted…

  He sucked, grazed her hard pearl with his teeth…and roared as she came.

  Mind spinning through the clouds they were suspended in the midst of, she clutched at his shoulders and rode the waves of ecstasy for dizzying minutes.

  When the final gasp left her, he pressed a kiss to her quivering pussy and ripped another from her.

  Then he moved up her body, and in the dark, he found her lips.

  They shared a quiet moan and the flavors of each other in a lingering kiss that went on and on much longer than she was accustomed to for post-sex interaction.

  When he finally lifted his head, emotion rushed into her chest. Was this how it was done? Why couldn’t she have figured this out on solid ground rather than suspended midair?

  “You were amazing.” His voice prickled over her senses like the stubble of his beard on her throat where he nuzzled.

  She sank her fingers into the hair on his nape. “You too. My god, that was…”

  “Exhilarating?” he supplied.

  “Yes. But you’re crushing me. Can we switch positions?”

  “That depends on what you plan on dreaming, kitten.”

  Her heart welled at the nickname. She was actually starting to like it, which was saying a lot for a woman like her. She took pride in her strength and kittens were the exact opposite of that.

  “Let’s switch.” He managed to roll them. She held her breath, waiting for the tent to drop and the fall to come.

  But he managed to settle her on top of him where they started.

  After her release, she should be tired, but her mind was shooting down trails. She couldn’t help but recount all that happened since this trip began and rocketed ahead to where they’d end up.

  Give her a pair of skis and Rafe would see just how fast she could make it the place he was taking her to meet the FBI.

  Of course, skiing off-trail would come with its own set of dangers, but at least she wouldn’t be lying here paranoid about somebody sneaking up on them. She’d already seen one man killed.

  She shuddered at the mere thought of Rafe taking a bullet for her.

  “Do you think those guys tracking me are close?” she whispered.

  “They won’t think to look here.”

  “Good. Do you hear that freezing rain hitting the tent?”

  “Of course I do.”

  “Do you think we’re safe with that happening?”

  “If I didn’t think we were all right, I’d move us to a better spot.” He tensed underneath her for several drawn-out heartbeats. “I’m sorry about all this, Zoe.”

  “About what? You didn’t send those men after me. Or turn the world to ice.”

  His grunt made her wonder exactly what it was that he was sorry about.

  There could be only one thing left—touching her.

  She straightened her spine. Well, she didn’t have any regrets. Throwing herself at a man was about as far out of character as she could get, yet she was thirty years old with nothing in her life but the love of a sport that might not be there for her tomorrow.

  She might miss her last chance because she was out here in the middle of nowhere. Or her life could return to normal only for her to break her leg next time she strapped on a pair of skis.

  Those guys could catch up to them and make sure she never identified them.

  There was never a promise of tomorrow.

  Rafe’s voice came as a low vibration like a volcano about to erupt any minute. “Look, you and I are uneasy with each other when we aren’t…” He stopped and tried again. “We know how to…fight. But we don’t know how to communicate otherwise. The first thing we do in a platoon or a new team is reach a level of trust with each other. So we’re going to play a game.”

  She twitched with surprise. “A game? What kind of game?” Her inner competitor clapped in glee.

  “A question game. You ready?”

  “Yes.” She giggled.

  He tipped his head to look at her. “What’s funny?”

  “Just picturing you and another huge special operative cuddling while you ask each other questions.”

  “Very funny. Okay, first question… What’s your biggest goal?”

  “Easy. Olympic gold.”

  “Favorite food.”

  “Not cold pizza out of a pouch.”

  “What is it, then?”

  “Strawberries.”

  Was it her imagination or was he staring at her mouth as if envisioning her eating the fruit and the red stain left behind on her lips? She swiped her tongue across them.

  “What’s your favorite food?”

  “Steak. Duh.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Such a typical man answer. Okay, back up. What’s your biggest goal?”

  “Easy. To give my all. Failure’s not an option.”

  “That’s two. The failure thing I get. I’m driven to succeed at everything I set my sights on too.”

  “Then I’d say right now my goal’s to get you out of these mountains safely.” He dragged in a breath, inflating his chest so much that she was nearly tossed off. She wiggled closer.

  “Next question,” he said gruffly. “Tell me your perfect date.”

  “Where did you get these questions? Out of a magazine?”

  “Yes. Read the article in the checkout line. I get bored.”

  She twisted her mouth against his chest and shook with a laugh. “Okay, perfect date… Is it too predictable to say hitting the slopes for an afternoon and then dinner and drinks in the lodge afterward?”

  “Haven’t you already experienced dates like that?” The sound of his voice was beginning to have a calming effect on her.

  “The skiing bit, yes. But as soon as I beat guys at the sport, they’re not game for dinner and drinks…or more.”

  “You’re telling me that you choose wimps with tiny egos that are crushed when a woman beats them. Got it.”

  Zoe paused. She’d never thought of it that way.

  After a moment, she recovered. “What’s your perfect date?”

  “Hanging off the side of a mountain in a tent.”

  She sucked in a breath. “Seriously?”

  “You gotta admit this is one hell of a date. Though I’d take any day outdoors. Winter’s my favorite season, but I’ll take anything to do with nature.”

  “You consider this a date?” Her voice held an edge of snark that brought a smile to his lips.

  His words drove images into her mind. Of them stopping along a trail so he could claim her up against a tree. Rolling in the tall grass among those purple wildflowers growing on the ridge.

  “Did you attend private school?” he asked.

  “That’s an odd question. No, it was public school.”

  “I figured you’ve been working toward gold your whole life. A lot of those kids have tutors so they can train in the peak times and do their schoolwork after hours.”

  “I didn’t decide to shoot for it until I turned twenty-two.”

  “That surprises me. A rich girl like you must have had plenty of opportunity to have a coach growing up.”

  “I told you, my family’s not rich. And who cares if they were?”

  “You give off vibes to me. Sorry if I pegged you wrong.”

  She stiffened and propped herself up to look at him through the darkness. “What kind of vibes?”

  “Well you participate in a very expensive sport. You travel with a personal coach.”

  “Who is missing!”

  His voice took on a softer tone in response to her outburst. “We don’t know that, kitten. We just can’t contact anyone to find out yet. I know this is the worst thing that’s ever happened to you—”

  She jerked but couldn’t get away from him. “Who said it’s the worst? You don’t know anything about me, Rafe.”

  Suddenly, the closeness of the tent suffocated her. She struggled to free herself from his grip. “You think I’m a spoiled little rich girl that nothing bad’s ever happened to. You’re so wrong. My brother was an Olympic hopeful in the biathlon. I wasn’t even of the mind to compete in any sport until he saved me.”

  She felt Rafe’s laser focus on her. “How did he save you?”

  “I was just starting to get into skiing. I was headed down a slope and I heard a shout. I looked up to see him running toward me with a rifle in hand. I looked over my shoulder and saw a bear chasing me.”

  “Oh, god. What did you do?”

  “Skied faster. I didn’t want to die. But in the end, my brother shot the bear. After that, he took me home, fixed me a hot chocolate and sat me down to have a very serious talk about what a natural I was at skiing and how I should pursue the sport. After he…died…I went all in on skiing. But I got a late start. Now I’m almost retirement age. What am I going to do after I’m too old? I don’t even know what I want to do with my life…and it’s nearly…over.”

  Rafe’s warm hand cupped her cheek. She kept the tears from bursting through the dam and leaned into his strong, supportive touch. Right now, he was all she had.

  Chapter Ten

  Rafe didn’t always feel like an ass, but when he did, he really went for it. He’d purposely thrown up that wall between Zoe and him. Again. Why?

  He’d caused her pain, and for that he didn’t deserve to cradle her beautiful face in his hand or the privilege of lying with her like this.

  Gently, he urged her down on top of him again. She followed his lead and lay stiffly, but he tucked her head beneath his chin. “Forgive me, Zoe.”

  Her silence worried him. He hadn’t meant to be drawn into her life at all, other than to keep her safe on this journey. But she’d sucked him in with those big brown eyes, her determination…and her soft heart.

  He brushed his lips over her forehead. “I’m sorry. I’m too rough and out of practice in talking to people. ”

  When she didn’t respond, he continued, “At least you’re in touch with your issues. I don’t recommend my route.”

  “What’s your route?” she whispered.

  He drew her closer. “Left the Marines. Was recruited into special forces. The only people I see are the guys on my team, and they’re rough, tough motherfuckers. My mother’s dead. Dad took off. And my grandmother raised me…but I’m sure I let her down every single day when she needs me and I’m out here. Plus…”

  “Go on,” she urged softly.

  “I carry a lot of darkness inside me. I’ve done things that I’ll never be able to speak about to another human being. I’ve seen horrific things in battle. I’ve learned how to tune out the good and tap into that dark side of me. So much so that I think it’s all I’ve become.”

  “That’s not true. I’ve seen your eyes go warm when you look at me.”

  His chest tightened.

  “You don’t smile often enough, but the times I’ve seen it, you’ve made me want to put more on your face. None of us are only good or bad. The world’s not black-and-white, Rafe.”

  Falling into silence with his musings about what she’d said, he cast his senses outside the tent, listening hard for sounds other than the constant rain pelting the nylon.

  “Your rough childhood probably didn’t help with the disconnect you feel now,” Zoe interrupted his thoughts.

  He smoothed his hand over her hair. “Grandma did everything to make it as normal as possible. I played sports. Had campouts. She let me have all the adventures I needed, which is how I grew to love the outdoors.”

  “She was probably happy to get rid of you for a while.”

  Her blurted statement broke through some of the thick scars he carried. A laugh bubbled out of his throat. Zoe curled into him, laughing too, releasing the tension of their worries.

  When he found her mouth, it was the most natural thing in the world. Their lips sealed in a tender, seeking kiss. But in seconds, the flames fanned into a wildfire.

  Out of control.

  He slammed his mouth over hers, tongue plunging inside. She met him stroke for stroke, her hands working at his coat zipper while he tore at hers.

  He tore from the kiss. “We have to go slow and easy up here in this tent. Or stop.”

  “I don’t want to stop.”

  He laughed against her lips, feeling her smile stretch under his. When he cupped one breast and grazed his thumb over the straining nipple, she issued a coo of want.

  “Rafe! I need you—now.”

  “Slow or nothing.”

  “Bossy.”

  He grunted with amusement. “We’re going to hold off, because I can feel you’re too keyed up for the pace we need to keep up here.”

  As if recalling their precarious position, tethered by ropes to the mountain and still wearing harnesses themselves as a safety precaution, she went still.

  “You’re right. But when we get to the top…”

  “When we get to the top and I know it’s all clear,” he agreed.

  Rain hammered at the tent. Zoe let out a breath. “If we live that long.”

  He kissed her again, tenderly. “I give you my word that we will.”

  Ohhh, Zoe had never had a man like this before—raw, rough and wild.

  And without a barrier.

  The feel of his velvet steel plunging in and out of her bare walls slowed her brain to a crawl. All she knew was ecstasy as Rafe drove her toward a thrilling, bottomless drop, only now they were on solid ground.

  She kissed him with all the passion she normally reserved for the slopes. He returned the deep passes of her tongue gasp for gasp and moan for moan.

  The sound of his hard body slapping hers filled the air, background music to the constant throb in her body. She shivered and clung to the precipice of passion, so close yet too far away from the blissful end she craved.

  He pinched one nipple, rolling it between thumb and forefinger until she arched and rocked and let out another cry.

  “You drive me insane,” she rasped.

  “So do you. And I fucking love it.” He threw her a wolfish grin that filled her with an even crazier amount of happiness that no normal woman would be feeling in this situation.

  When he slowed his rhythm, cock head plunging more shallowly with each stroke, she dug her nails into his ass to urge him on.

  “I need you deeper.” The plea left her as a whine.

  The pools of his eyes were an even deeper green like staring into twin puddles of water in a shelter of pines. He angled his body and drove deep inside her. She gasped.

  “Like this?” He filled her completely twice before pulling out halfway again.

  “Raaaafe!”

  “And this?” He thrust to the root again.

  “Oh, god. Keep doing that. I’m going to come!” Her insides were splintering and heat licked over her skin. The grind of his cock deep in her core and the way he angled their bodies meant that he bumped into her clit with every thrust.

  Liquid heat gathered inside her. As she soaked him, he let out a growl of need that sent her spinning.

  She hovered within reach of that bright star of bliss. One more thrust. No, two.

  “Make me come!” Her demand and the ferocious look on his face sent her over the edge.

  She came in a rush of sensation…and emotion.

  Tumbling from the force of feelings she never expected coupled with ecstasy, she barely realized that Rafe was also coming until the first spurt struck her inner walls.

  A heavy puff of air exploded from him. Arms quaking, he claimed her mouth and fed her a sexy hiss of completion.

  Zoe’s chest squeezed. This man—her lover now—was so damn hot. She’d never been with any man who riled her up so quickly.

  She broke the kiss and wrapped her arms around him, pulling him down while aftershocks broke over them in small twitches.

  “I’ve never actually had a…release…without more help before.” Her quiet admission made the man in her arms go still.

  He raised his head and met her stare. “Really?”

  “Really.” She didn’t know what made her brush the hair off his forehead, but his expression softened.

  “Then those guys were all assholes.”

  A smile spread over her face. She pulled him back down, and he buried his mouth against her throat, spattering kisses up to her ear and causing shivers.

  “Is the kitten cold?” he grated out, trapping her earlobe between his lips.

  “How can I be cold? You’re putting off enough body heat for five people. What gives, Special Operator?”

  He huffed a laugh and rolled off her, pulling free of her body in the same move. When he settled her against his side and drew the sleeping bag over them, she snuggled close. They’d barely made it up the mountain face to solid ground and recovered their hidden backpacks before throwing themselves at each other.

  His voice came out quiet. “I spend days, sometimes weeks in the elements.”

  This time she shivered for a different reason. “What happens next, Rafe?”

  He was silent for what felt like an eternity. Finally, he said, “I’m not in any position to give anything to a relationship, Zoe.”

  Her jaw dropped in surprise. Then amusement bubbled in her belly. “You mean we’re not going to live happily ever after just two nights in a tent?”

  When he stilled again, she realized this was a habit of his—to stop and think before acting.

  The laugh she could no longer keep trapped inside rippled out. She shook in his arms. “You didn’t really think that I meant…us…did you?” She caught a glimpse of his face and laughed harder. “You did. You must think I’m so clingy! Oh god. No! I meant do we ever get off this freaking mountain? The FBI has to be looking for me.”

  Rafe’s shoulders flexed under her hands. She prepared for him to take enough offense to her teasing to get up and walk away for a few. Instead, he hauled her closer and locked her head under his strong jaw so she couldn’t move.

  “My team and the FBI will know about the rookie by now.”

 

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