Tempting Faith Page 20

  He bent over her back and kissed her neck. Then he bit her, hard enough to make her jump. A shiver ran through her. With one hand, he reached between her thighs and found her waiting wetness. He touched her sensitive core, and she spread her legs farther. He bit her again, then pressed his hardness against her and plunged inside.

  She moaned and pushed against him, until the backs of her thighs pressed against the front of his. He continued to rub her center, matching the rhythm of his strokes. With his other hand, he reached around to feel her breasts. They bounced with each thrust, the hard nipples brushing against his hand. He squeezed gently. She cried out, and he felt the quick pulsing of her orgasm.

  When her contractions had stopped, he withdrew, turned her onto her back and thrust into her again. Her eyes were wide and unfocused. She grabbed at his shoulders, pulling him down close, then kissing him hungrily. She bit his lower lip, sucked it in her mouth and soothed the hurt. She grabbed his buttocks and pulled him so close he thought he might explode inside of her. She clawed at his back and tossed her head from side to side.

  He felt the pressure building inside him. She moved her hips faster and faster. As all his energy collected between his legs in preparation for that moment of release, he felt her contractions begin again. She lifted off the bed and clutched at him. Her eyes met his. He saw the pleasure in her face even as he felt her body quiver around his.

  And then he couldn’t think at all. He could only feel and stare at her, knowing she saw the same ecstacy in his expression. The climax went on and on, draining him of all thought, all coherency, until he could only collapse on the bed and pull her down next to him. Tremors shook their bodies. Sweatslicked skin slid on the cotton sheets.

  She touched his face, then leaned close and kissed the bullet wound on his arm. He touched his lips to the scars on her arm. They stared at each other in silent understanding. He had never felt this contentment, this connection, and it scared him to death. He pulled her close and shifted so she could rest her head on his shoulder. He didn’t want her to see the fear in his eyes.

  *

  Cort held her in his arms until she fell asleep. He brushed her hair from her brow and stroked her cheek. Unfamiliar tenderness welled up inside of him, stretching his heart into new and painful vulnerability.

  When Faith sighed and rolled away from him, he slipped out of the bed and looked down at her. The light from outside illuminated her long hair which flowed over her bare shoulders. He could make out the four scars across the back of her arm. The scent of her perfume mingled with the pleasing aroma of sex and animal heat. He pulled the covers up around her and walked silently out of the room.

  In the kitchen he found his jeans and slipped them on. While he made coffee, he put on boots and a sweatshirt. Then he filled a mug and carried it to his bedroom, where he collected his gun and made his way to the foyer. He sat on the worn vinyl couch by the door and waited.

  His muscles ached pleasurably from their lovemaking. He was tired, but he wouldn’t sleep. Not until he knew Faith was safe. Pictures filled his mind. Pictures of her and the way she gave herself completely to him. Of naked female flesh, full breasts, long legs. Of the expression on her face as she lost herself to pleasure and forced him to do the same.

  He smiled slightly and sipped his coffee. The smile faded as the pictures changed, mingling past and present, and he remembered how Dan had died in a field, shot down by arms dealers in the dead of a South American night.

  He would never know why Dan had decided to go to the other side. Just as he would never know if he could have killed his friend. He’d been so sure at first, confident he could have done what was asked of him. He’d told himself it was just another mission. Now he knew better.

  The comfort of a job done well mattered little in the cold hours before dawn. He suspected blackness had filled his soul many years ago. It was a price of his occupation, one he’d paid without question. The state of his soul had never mattered before. But Faith had reminded him to look past the obvious to what was important.

  Cort chambered a round into his Beretta and checked to make sure the safety was on. Sparky padded down the hall and sat down beside him. The large black leopard rested his head on Cort’s thigh. Cort scratched the animal’s ears and listened to the sounds of the night. The big cats outside paced and called out; all was well in their world, if not in his.

  Yet, if given the chance to do it all again, he would change nothing. Not the suffering he’d seen, not the questions, not even what he had tried to forget. Sparky leaned heavily against him and huffed out a sigh. Cort rested his hand on the animal’s powerful shoulders.

  Better to have seen hell and survived, he told himself, better to have a dark, empty soul, because he knew what he was capable of. He knew all the variations of the game, and he trusted his ability to keep Faith and the cubs safe. In the past, his missions had been a battle of wits—him against the enemy. This time the stakes were much higher.

  Sparky stretched out and rested his head on his paws. Cort welcomed the company on his vigil. He knew the leopard shared his desire to protect. Whatever it took, Cort would pay the price. He was the best at what he did, and he would give his life before he would let anything happen to Faith.

  *

  At first light, Thomas backed the car out of the abandoned barn and returned to the main road. He drove past Bowmund and on to the next town. There he left the rental parked on a side street, walked to another car rental agency and got a goodsized van using one of his false IDs. The police would find the black sedan and notify the other rental company, but Thomas didn’t care. He hadn’t used his real name there, either.

  He drove back to Bowmund, collected his belongings and checked out of the motel, paying the bill with cash. He got in the van and started driving.

  He’d had a lot of time to think about what went wrong last night. His goal had been to collect the cubs without anyone knowing. But why was that necessary? All the stealth was getting in his way. Last night, those damn cats had spooked him. So much so, his shots aimed at the woman had gone wide.

  He was no closer to getting the cubs than he’d been a week ago. Time was running out. The people guarding the cubs weren’t stupid. Now that he’d shown himself, they were probably making plans to move the cubs. He had to get the job done tonight. But he couldn’t do it alone.

  He drove to a liquor store next to an alley. The store was closed. Parking the van close to the building, he went to the public phone on the outside wall and dialed a number.

  “Yes?” a man answered.

  “It’s Thomas.”

  “You have the cubs?”

  “No.”

  The man on the other end was silent. Thomas would have preferred him to get angry. Despite the cool morning, sweat collected on his back and his upper lip.

  “I need men and supplies,” he said quickly. “I want to take the cubs tonight.”

  “I’ll send what you need,” the man said. “But this plan must work the first time. Our mutual employer returns tomorrow.”

  Thomas fought down a flash of panic. “He’s early.”

  “He would have arrived today, but there has been some unpleasantness with the federal government. It will be straightened out by the end of the day. You must get the cubs.”

  “I understand.” Thomas quickly explained his needs and made arrangements for a meeting at four o’clock that afternoon. By the time he drove up the mountain it would be dark. He would wait until around ten, and then go in and take the cubs.

  “Do not fail,” the man told him.

  “I won’t,” Thomas promised, and prayed he wasn’t lying.

  Chapter 14

  Faith shifted in her bed. Her hand bumped something hard and flat, and she heard the rattle of silverware. She opened her eyes and saw Sparky leaning over the bed, eating off a tray beside her.

  “What on earth.?”

  The leopard looked up briefly, then reached over and lapped up a pile of scram
bled eggs with a single swipe of his tongue. The toast followed in a quick gulp.

  Faith grinned and pushed herself into a sitting position. She leaned against the headboard and brushed her hair out of her face.

  “I don’t think that’s for you,” she told the cat. He didn’t look chastised.

  Faith heard footsteps in the hallway. She pulled the sheet up to her shoulders. Sparky grabbed all three strips of bacon and made a beeline for the door.

  “What the hell?” Cort said as the leopard sprinted past him. He entered the room, took one look at the tray and spun around to chase the animal. “You bring that back here.” His voice faded as he jogged down the hall.

  Faith giggled and used the moment to duck into the bathroom. With every move, unfamiliar muscles reminded her of what had gone on the previous night. She didn’t regret what had happened. How could she? Cort had shown her things, made her feel sensations, she’d never imagined. Their bodies had reacted as if they’d been specially formed to bring each other pleasure. The trick was going to be whether or not she could keep Cort from figuring out she’d given him more than a night of pleasure. Sometime between hot hungry kisses and sweat-slicked thrusts, she’d also handed over her heart.

  She stared at her face in the mirror. She didn’t look especially different. Her eyes seemed a little brighter this morning, her mouth smiled easily. Her lips were still swollen from his kisses and the abrasion from his stubble, but other than that, she had no outward evidence that she was in love.

  Love. She leaned against the sink. A big mistake. Cort was like all the other men she had known: He would leave her. This time however, she had only herself to blame for her heartbreak. She’d known from the beginning that his stay in her life was temporary. So why had she let herself care?

  She heard him enter her bedroom and knew she couldn’t hide out in the bathroom forever. Better to face him and get it over with. When she’d washed her face and brushed her teeth, she pulled her robe from the back of the bathroom door and slipped it on. She paused with her hand on the doorknob and reminded herself Cort had admired her for her courage. She couldn’t let him down.

  She drew in a deep breath and opened the door, then breezed across the hall to her bedroom. Cort was stretched out on the bed, on top of the covers, his arms folded behind his head. Worn jeans and a white shirt outlined his lean body. His tanned skin accentuated the gold flecks in his brown eyes. One lock of hair tumbled onto his forehead. After last night, she probably had the right to sit on the edge of the bed and brush it back with her fingers. No doubt he wouldn’t even blink if she then leaned forward and kissed him. He might even respond.

  But as she hovered by the foot of the bed, shyness gripped her. It had been a long time since she’d had to face the awkwardness of the morning after. It hadn’t gotten any easier with time.

  “I meant to surprise you,” he said, pulling back the covers and patting the bed. “That cat ate your breakfast. I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t be.” She smiled hesitantly. “I appreciate the thought.”

  “Come here.” He motioned for her to come closer.

  She took a step in his direction.

  “No, here.” He touched the sheet. “I want to say good morning.”

  She moved forward and gingerly sat on the edge of the mattress.

  He raised himself up on one elbow. “Don’t,” he said, taking her arm and pulling her close to him. “Don’t regret last night.”

  “I don’t. It’s just—”

  He didn’t let her finish. He drew her closer and then claimed her mouth with his. The kisses demanded little from her. He pressed his lips fully on hers, then slid them back and forth until she parted to admit him.

  His tongue swept over hers, gently, slowly, as if this sweet contact had nothing to do with the tempest from the night before. Without breaking contact, he lowered her onto the bed. She let her eyes drift shut and gave herself up to the feel of him.

  It was different this morning. In the light of day, after admitting her feelings to herself, she felt raw and exposed in his presence. And yet she needed to be with him, to be held by him. The one man who would cause her heartache was the only man who could comfort her.

  But it was more than comfort. He moved closer to her and loosened her short cotton robe. He tugged on the belt until it gave way, then parted the edges. She felt the cool morning air on her bare skin. Before she could open her eyes or even think about protesting, he cupped one breast in his hand.

  She moaned. Their loving last night had left her tender. He seemed to know that instinctively, for he cupped her curves with the gentleness of a man handling priceless crystal. He barely grazed her nipples with his fingertips, yet electricity shot through her.

  She reached up to slip her fingers through his hair, then moved down to grip his shoulders. He kissed her lips once more before moving to her neck, then lower to her breasts, where he sweetly sucked her into mindless passion, then lower across her belly. His fingers led the way, seeking her most sensitive spots. His mouth followed, loving the places that made her tighten and writhe and toss her head from side to side. Closer and closer, until he kissed her most secret place. He touched her with the tip of his tongue, making her jump. She drew her knees up and parted her thighs. He tasted her fully, then cupped her buttocks and gently assaulted her center, moving in a slow rhythm that threatened to drive her mad with passion before allowing her to seek her release.

  It built slowly at first, like a single spark beginning a fire. The embers caught and grew, glowing hotter and hotter. Her skin burned as if lit from within. Her breasts swelled, and between her legs the flames enveloped her. Her heart pounded in her ears. From outside, she could hear the guards talking, the cats as they played and called to each other. Yet that world wasn’t real. All that mattered was Cort and the magic he plied between her thighs. The flames grew and grew, pushing her higher with each flick of his tongue, yet the explosion surprised her.

  She found herself tossed to the wind, carried aloft by the heat, then brought back to the real world, caught safely in Cort’s arms. He held her tightly in his embrace as her body quivered in aftermath. Oddly, her eyes burned and she fought the need to cry. She wasn’t sad or in pain. It wasn’t her nature to give in to tears. She wondered why he was able to reduce her to such raw, exposed need.

  He shifted until her head rested on his shoulder. “That was because Sparky ate your breakfast,” he said as he stroked her hair.

  She sighed in contentment. “What do I get if he eats my dinner?”

  He chuckled. She heard the sound and felt the vibration in his chest. “You’ll just have to wait and see.”

  She reached down and cupped the hardness straining at the button fly of his jeans. “You deserve a reward for going to all the trouble of cooking my breakfast.”

  He lifted her hand and brought it to his lips. “Later,” he promised and kissed her fingers one by one.

  She pulled her arm back and gazed at him. “Cort?”

  “It’s all right.” He smiled. “I pleased you. That’s all I want right now.”

  “But you, ah—” she glanced at his crotch “—obviously—”

  He cupped her chin in his hand. “Yes, I am aroused. Yes, I could make love to you right now and it would be great. This was a different kind of pleasure. Let me enjoy it.”

  The tears she’d fought moments before threatened again. She blinked several times, then nodded and rested her head back on his shoulder.

  “Thank you,” she whispered.

  “You’re welcome. How do you feel?”

  “Are you fishing for compliments?”

  “I don’t have to,” he said smugly. “How’s the arm?”

  She rotated her shoulder. “I’d almost forgotten. It feels fine.”

  “Maybe you should try take to it easy. You didn’t get a lot of sleep last night.”

  “Neither did you.”

  He shrugged. “With everything that’s going on, you need
your rest.”

  Something in his tone caused a vague feeling of discomfort to steal over her, dissipating the lingering glow of their lovemaking. She raised herself on one elbow and looked down at him. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were trying to keep me in bed this morning.”

  “Is that so bad?”

  Yes, because it was completely unlike him. “What’s wrong?”

  Cort hesitated long enough for her stomach to lurch. “Nothing specific,” he said at last. “I don’t like the fact that Ken is still missing and I can’t get ahold of Jeff. I’ve called a couple of friends and we’ll have a few more security people here by nightfall.”

  “Are the cats all right?”

  “Fine. I fed them earlier and I was about to start on their cages.”

  “I can do that,” she said, sitting up and reaching for her robe. “They’re my cats. I’m responsible for them.”

  “I wish you’d consider spending a couple of days in L.A. or San Francisco.”

  “No.” She rose to her feet and tied the belt at her waist. “This is where I belong. I’m not afraid.”

  Cort shrugged as if to say he’d done the best he could, then he stood up and started toward the door.

  “Is that—” She stopped talking long enough to clear her throat. She didn’t want to ask, but she had to know. When she spoke again, she forced her voice to come out level, so he wouldn’t know she was trembling. “Is that what this was about?” she asked, glancing at the bed. “Were you trying to distract me?”

  “Faith, no.” He crossed the room in three strides and gathered her close to him.

  She hated herself for the weakness that invaded her body, knew she would regret clinging to him as if she was drowning and he was her lifeline, but she couldn’t help herself.