Simon drove through the Crazies, heading for the nearest small town to him. It took a while unless you wanted to drive like a fool and risk killing not only yourself but any of the other cars—no matter how few there were—on the road because you couldn’t handle a corner. A quick glance in the rearview and he saw Lars lying down on an old blanket he had back there. From there, he moved his focus to the woman beside him on the bench seat.
Geri. Her ballcap pulled once more low over her eyes.
When she’d curled up to him in bed, he’d nearly forgotten she was recovering from a head injury. Her curves drove him crazy as she pressed against him, using him like he was her own personal body pillow. He didn’t have any problems accepting that role.
Silken skin. Warm curves. And a temptation like he’d never experienced before. He’d known the moment she woke and pretended he wasn’t, to see what she would do. If she’d try to escape from his arms or what. But after she tensed, she settled back against him and soon fell asleep once more. The only sound she made was about how she finally felt safe.
He had no intent of allowing her to be injured and when he caught up with the fuckers who’d shot her, they would pay. He was no longer unarmed. Beneath the seat he had a thirty-aught-six. Resting comfortably against his back, tucked in his waistband was a SIG Sauer.
There were more weapons in the back of the vehicle. The fuck he was going to be caught unaware. He highly doubted they were going to have given up on locating her. Yes, it had been dark so they wouldn’t have been able to see his Bronco but he wasn’t an idiot, there were only so many people living up here and if they knew their vehicles, they would be able to figure it out.
He rubbed the scar on his lower right jaw. Even though it was covered by his scruff, he could still feel it as if he were still cleanshaven. In his periphery, Geri sat up and looked around.
“What?”
“I feel like I should know this place.”
“It’s where I almost hit you because you came flying out of the trees.”
She rubbed her arms as she continued glancing about. “So wherever I was I was up from here.”
“Would be a logical assumption.” The road had been cut into the hills, so she would have been going down. He thought about the area and recalled an out of the way road that headed up in that direction. Perhaps she had parked up there. He shook his head.
“What are you shaking your head about?”
“Just thinking about where you could have been running from. There’s another old road up that direction. But you’d said you fell down, so chances are you parked farther up in that direction before you fell.”
“Maybe Hank can track my car.”
Simon really disliked hearing that man’s name on her lips but he kept that to himself. This wasn’t about him, but her and making sure she was safe and out of danger.
“Of course,” he said. “If they found it first, they’ve got all the information they need on you to find you wherever you live.”
“I would hope when they realize I’m not a threat to them they will leave me be.”
“We both know that’s not likely. They tried to kill you but you got away. They believe you saw something or overheard it and they need that silenced.”
“Great.” Frustration tinged her tone.
He got it. It wasn’t ever fun having to deal with people who wanted to kill you.
“You have Lars to keep you safe. And you have me.”
She angled her head toward him. “Do I?”
“Yes.” He couldn’t look at her right now or he’d kiss her and willingly follow that action down the rabbit hole to whatever happened next. “I’m not leaving you alone until this gets handled.”
“You have your own life.”
“And when we’re done, you’ll have yours back.”
He took easy breaths, content with his decision to ensure she get her life back.
Geri reached across the seat and grasped his forearm. “Thank you. For everything.”
Simon met her gaze and nodded. “You don’t have to thank me, Geri.”
“I do.” She released him and settled against the door.
He noticed how she continually glanced back to where Lars lay, unconcerned with all that was going around him. Especially the increasing sexual tension between his owner and Simon.
They passed the rest of the ride in silence. He was glad she wasn’t the kind of woman who felt the need to always hear her own voice. One of the reasons he was where he was had to do with his craving for quiet.
The small town popped up and he slowed as he pulled into the gas station. There wasn’t much around. Tiny diner for those traveling through to grab a bite at. Good food in his opinion. A few other small shops, including a grocery store, and the one gas station.
He climbed out as Lars rose. Geri opened the door on the other side and with a small hand gesture had called the dog to her side. Simon filled the tank while she and Lars walked around in front of the station. He was glad she didn’t go in without him. Although, she had a damn good protector at her side with that dog. He would have sworn it was a military trained dog but she said he wasn’t. Simon wasn’t used to civilian dogs behaving in such a way.
Replacing the nozzle, he capped the tank and stepped away, heading for the door. She fell into step with him, Lars on the other side. They all went inside the store.
“Hey Simon,” Marley said from behind the counter. “You’re back soon, didn’t you just come in a day or so ago?”
“I did, but I forgot a few things.”
Marley was an old man with white hair that couldn’t decide on a way to lay so it stood spiked up in all directions.
“Looks to me like you’ve found the most important one. About time I see you with a good woman.”
He flushed and looked at Geri who watched him with a smile on her lips. “I think so too, Marley. Thanks.”
Once he paid, he ushered her out of the store and back to the Bronco.
They made a quick stop at the grocery store where he picked up more medical items when he paused before the dog food, he looked at the woman beside him. Her lips twisted in a sneer.
“What’s wrong?”
“This is shit food. I feed him… Never mind. Thank you for getting him something to eat. But maybe just a small bag, I’ll hope that Hank can find my car. I have his food in there.”
Nope, his dislike with hearing that name hadn’t faded any. He grabbed a small bag which in his mind would last maybe one day and led her to the front of the store. After a bit more ribbing from those he encountered, he got her outside to where he put the purchases in the back and let Lars out once more.
Outside the grocery store was an actual pay phone and he walked her to it, giving her some change from his pocket.
“Make your call.”
He stepped back to allow her some privacy. While she did her thing, he had something he wanted to do as well.
“I’ll be right back,” he informed her before walking off.
αβ
Geri shifted nervously on the seat as Simon drove up the other side of the mountain to the coordinates Hank had provided her with on her vehicle’s tracker. Lars had picked up on her uneasiness and she struggled to control herself, if not for her for him.
“Rifle or pistol?”
Simon’s question jarred her from her thought of what the fuck was she doing.
“Huh?”
“Which do you prefer? Rifle or a pistol?”
“Pistol.”
She’d had much more practice with one of those versus a rifle.
Without a word, he reached between his back and the seat to pull out a SIG from his waistband and passed it over to her.
“There you go.”
The grip was warm from his skin and she caressed the black matte before taking a deep breath.
“Thank you.” She held up a hand warding off his comment. “I know I don’t have to thank you but not everyone would have given me a weapon, either.”
“I don’t know what we’re going into. According to Hank there were no buildings around so my guess, and his I suppose, is that no one moved your vehicle, but we don’t know if between now and then that will change. I want someone at my back who knows how to handle themselves.”
“I was in communications.”
“Bullshit. You may not be Special Forces, but you’re Army. You’re a solider. You went through combat training. The knowledge on how to handle yourself is in your memory.”
He didn’t give her any opportunity to doubt her ability to face whatever was coming. She gave a sharp nod and tucked the SIG against the small of her back, grateful to have it.
“Tell me about Lars.”
“What’s to tell?”
“Anything. You need to not think about what’s coming up.”
So she talked as he drove, appreciating how he, again, had been correct in what she’d needed. Talking about Lars always made her smile and to be able to share things with Simon was a bonus.
He slowed and took the faint logging road to the left. The ruts rattling her. She sat straighter. Ahead of them was her Jeep. Relief hit her as she spied the blue-gray of her Rubicon. Nothing appeared to be out of whack with it. The soft top, still on. All four doors shut.
She had opened the door of the Bronco before he’d come to a complete stop. Lars right on her heels. She hastened to the back wheel and reached up beneath it for the spare she always kept there. Unlocking the door, she peered inside.
A quick check and she faced Simon who had come up beside her.
“All good here. I don’t see anything missing at all.”
Massive relief rolled through her when she located her wallet, identification intact.
He nodded. “Ready to do some hiking?”
“Let me change first. I could do with some clean clothes.”
She made her way to the back and opened it, sighing as she found her stuffed duffle bag. Digging through it, she pulled out a clean pair of socks, underwear, bra, and jeans. She wanted to wear his shirt.
Geri put on her bra first then turned to sit in the back. Toeing off her shoes, she drew on the clean socks only to take them off once more. Standing again, she shucked her jeans and underwear, his shirt falling past her knees, so she hadn’t any fear of modesty. Also, she wasn’t looking to find out where he was, so it didn’t much matter to her. Panties first, then jeans, to be followed by her socks. Leaning to the side, she dug out her hiking boots from where they sat in their proper space and tied them on.
She tucked his shirt into her jeans, then bent to gather up the dirty items she’d taken off and stuffed them in a plastic bag. Folding it shut, she stuffed it beside her duffle and claimed the SIG once more that she put in her waistband.
“Lars,” she called as she gave him a scoop of food from the container she carried for him.
While he ate, she got him some fresh water in the bucket that hung in the back seat. She’d transformed the entire thing for him. Putting a platform across the floorboards so it was all even in the back, she had blankets, water bucket, and more back there for him. Along with extra leashes and treats.
“You’ve done nice work with this,” Simon commented.
“Thanks. I do a lot of hiking and when I got him, figured it was only right I fixed it so he could come with.” She touched her wound and blew out a breath. “He’ll be done soon.”
“No problem.”
She looked up at the man beside her. He had her pinned between him and the rear wheel of the Jeep. Not that she wished to be elsewhere. Nervous she flicked her tongue over her lips, noticing how his gaze tracked the simple motion.
“Simon,” she whispered.
He placed his hands against the frame of her vehicle. His broad shoulders blocking out everything beyond them. Time slowed. Her heart thundered in her ears as he neared. Her entire world moved at the speed of molasses, creeping along. Even the sounds of nature had dropped to a crawl, echoing through her with each second.
The man had sinfully long lashes and as he blinked, hiding those blue eyes from her, she took another deep breath. Christ, was it finally going to happen for her? Would he actually kiss her and eliminate her wondering how it would be the moment his lips touched hers?
He opened his eyes and locked onto hers. She held her breath, scared if she moved or made any sort of noise, he wouldn’t finish what she desperately wanted him to begin. The remaining distance fell away and his lips landed upon hers. Firm. Intoxicating.
She couldn’t stop the whimper from leaving her throat any more than she could change the stars. Pushing up on her toes, she increased the pressure between them. His tongue swiped along the seam of her mouth before entering to explore.
Geri gripped his shirt, balling it into her fists as she accepted the weight from him, he rested against her. God yes! This was what she’d been craving, this kind of contact. The same she had the night before when she woke sprawled on top of him. yet this even put that to shame because right now, his lips were on hers.
Simon wrapped his arms around her, pulling her away from the Jeep and closer to him. She pushed her tongue into his mouth, seeking as much of his taste as she could acquire. He settled his hands on her ass, lifting her and she hooked her legs around him. her nipples so tight they hurt from wanting his touch on them. Her panties were useless as her body was beyond ready for him to push into her.
“Just so you know, I really want to fuck you right now. Tear off those jeans and thrust my cock into you until you scream my name.”
Her throat was dry. No words came but she nodded her agreement.
“So, so much,” he groaned. He bucked his hips into her. “Do you feel what you do to me, what you’ve been doing to me ever since you walked out of my bedroom in my shirt.
She grasped his hair and tugged, wanting him to look at her. He did and she nearly came from the heat in his gaze.
“Tonight,” she finally forced the word out of her mouth.
“Yes.”
One more hard fast kiss that had her wishing the sun had already gone down, there was a fire burning, and he was taking her to bed.
She hid her disappointment when he placed her back on her feet, his hands lingering on her ass. Forehead to forehead they stood there gathering their breath.
“Let’s go,” he muttered.
“Yes.”
Neither of them moved for another sixty seconds. Then they split apart as if they’d come to a mutual agreement to do so at that precise moment. Lars had left the vehicle and she locked it behind him. Simon raked his stare over her, reached for her hand, and together they set off, Lars trotting with them.