Chapter Thirty-Two
Mallory paced the front room of the cabin, stopping to check the windows every thirty seconds. Vaulcron should have been here by now.
The sound of a vehicle coming up the gravel road sent her nerves into overdrive. It could be one of two people. Vaulcron…or someone sent to kill her.
“Vaulcron?”
“I am here, my love.”
Mallory unlocked the door with trembling fingers. She jerked it open and ran the short distance across the yard, into Vaulcron’s waiting arms. “Oh God, you’re here. You’re really here.”
Vaulcron crushed her against him, holding her with a force that was nearly suffocating. She didn’t care. It wouldn’t matter of she ever breathed again, as long as he never let her go. “I can’t believe you came, after what I did.”
He pulled back enough to look into her eyes. “You are my mate, Mallory. Nothing you do will ever change that.” His lips twitched with humor. “Not even your hair.”
Mallory laughed through the tears that threatened to fall. “I had to change it to keep from being recognized.”
“I would recognize you anywhere, my love.” His mouth came down over hers in a kiss that stole her breath. She never wanted it to end.
“Far be it from me to interrupt, but I’d rather not die while witnessing a Gone with the Wind episode.”
Mallory broke off the kiss and swung her gaze to the owner of the voice. A tall Antonio Banderas lookalike stood there with amusement dancing in his eyes.
“That is Oz,” Vaulcron offered, loosening his grip and allowing her to slide down his body. “He is here to help.”
Mallory nodded to the handsome stranger, taking note of his great height. The man had to be at least six foot seven. “Nice to meet you.”
“The pleasure is mine. Now let’s get you out of here before we’re discovered.”
Vaulcron quickly scooped Mallory up into his arms and turned toward the waiting car.
Mallory rested her head on his massive shoulder. “How are we going to get out of here with the checkpoints in place?”
“The same way we came in,” Oz answered for him. “Very carefully.”
Vaulcron stopped next to the vehicle, opened the backdoor, and ducked inside before pulling Mallory down onto his lap.
She pulled the door closed behind her, situating herself against his body.
Oz got in on the other side and fished a wad of cash out of his shirt pocket. He tapped the driver on the shoulder and handed him the money. “Take us back to where you picked us up.”
The driver stared down at the money in his hand. “I can’t accept this. I am doing this on Melvin’s orders. I couldn’t accept payment for it.”
“Consider it a tip,” Oz, asserted, leaning back against the seat. “You’ve earned it.”
The driver hesitated a second more before stuffing the cash inside his shirt pocket. “Much obliged.”
Vaulcron’s scent surrounded Mallory, pulling her into a haze of desire that almost overrode the threat of being caught. Almost. “Could you hurry, please? Vice President Pratt said the GPS on his car might have led them to me. If that’s the case, they could be here any minute now.”
The vehicle suddenly lurched forward as the driver sped out of the drive, kicking up gravel and leaving the cabin behind in a cloud of dust.
“You are certain that you are not hurt?” Vaulcron’s deep voice rumbled in her ear.
Mallory basked in the feel of his hands running up and down her arms. “I’m sure.” She laid her head against his shoulder once more. “I had to do it, Vaulcron.”
His hands slowed their movement. “Had to do what, my mate?”
“Make you think I didn’t want you. It was the only way I could think to stop you from following me.”
Vaulcron pulled her tightly against him. “I understand your motives, Mallory. I only wish that you trusted me enough to tell me.”
She lifted her head. “I couldn’t tell you. You would have insisted on coming with me. I wasn’t going to risk your life again. I had taken you into the lion’s den once before, and we both know how that turned out.”
“I would give my life for yours,” came his whispered response.
Mallory’s heart twisted with emotion. “Exactly.”
The rest of the trip was driven in silence, with Mallory basking in the feel of being in Vaulcron’s embrace.
“We have arrived,” the driver announced. “The woman will have to swim as well. We can’t risk her being seen after the interview that aired earlier tonight. There could already be an APB out on her.”
Mallory sat up straight as the car pulled off the side of the road. “I have to swim the length of the Mid-Bay Bridge?”
Vaulcron opened his door and set her on her feet. “I will take you across.”
He closed the door, and the car took off before she could object. “How are you going to swim that distance with me on your back?”
He lifted her into his arms once again. “You will not be on my back.” He took off in a run, leaving her to hold on for dear life.
Stopping at the water’s edge, Vaulcron allowed Mallory to slide down his body, but kept his arms around her back. “Wrap your legs around my waist and hold on tightly to my neck.”
“What are you going to do?”
Instead of answering, he covered her mouth with his and dove beneath the water. “Breathe through your mouth,” he mentally instructed her, shooting forward with the speed of a shark.
Mallory’s heart pounded painfully fast. She gripped his body with her arms and legs in a hold that couldn’t be broken and held her breath.
“Breathe,” Vaulcron demanded, fitting his mouth more firmly over hers.
Mallory’s lungs began to burn from the need of oxygen. Just as she thought she would surely pass out, she instinctively inhaled.
Blessed oxygen entered her lungs. She kept her eyes squeezed shut and concentrated on breathing through Vaulcron’s mouth.
A warm sensation swirled through her mind, and she recognized Vaulcron’s attempt to soothe her. She held onto him in amazement as his breath sustained her through the dark waters of the causeway.