CHAPTER FIVE
“It wasn’t Guerrero.”
Juliana blinked at the rough words and tried to push away the heavy darkness of sleep that covered her. She blinked a few more times, letting her eyes adjust to the faint light.
Where am I?
She glanced around. Saw the old, gleaming wood. Felt the lumpy couch beneath her.
Met Logan’s bright stare.
The cabin.
The memories flooded back. Fire. Death. A nightmare that she wouldn’t be waking up from anytime soon.
She pulled the blanket closer. “What? What are you talking about?”
He sat on the couch, his legs brushing her thighs. The move made her too aware of him, but then, she always felt too aware when he was close.
And he expected me to sleep in that bed upstairs? Oh, no. She wasn’t up for that kind of punishment. Too much pleasure. Too much pain waited up there.
She’d bunked on the couch. She wasn’t even sure where he’d gone.
“I got a call from Sydney.”
Juliana scrambled to a sitting position. Okay, maybe she was just trying to put some distance between her body and his.
Logan shook his head. “There’s a price on your head. Damn high.”
“We already knew that….”
The faint lines around his mouth deepened. “The money is being offered if you are taken in alive.”
“What?” No, that didn’t make any sense. “The car exploded. That’s not exactly a way guaranteed to keep me breathing.” Or Charles. Poor Charles. Dead in an instant, for no reason.
He ran a hand through his hair. “That hit…Sydney doesn’t think it was from Guerrero’s crew. The chatter she’s hearing all indicates that was from…someone else.”
Her heart slammed into her ribs. “You’re telling me that two people want me dead?” Could this get any worse for her?
Logan touched her. It could. The heat of his touch burned through her. His fingers wrapped around her arms. “Guerrero doesn’t want you dead. Syd is sure that he wants you brought in alive. And he’s willing to pay top dollar to make sure you arrive breathing.”
Her breath whispered out. “Because he thinks I have the evidence?”
A slow nod. Did he realize that his fingers were caressing her arms? Moving in small, light strokes against her skin. “I don’t have it,” she whispered. If she did, then maybe this could all end.
Logan could go back to his life.
She’d go back to hers.
“Syd is working with local law enforcement. They’re gonna find out who rigged the car.” He exhaled on a rough breath but didn’t release her. “The limo was swept before it left the senator’s house. It was cleared.”
But then it had still exploded.
She’d never forget the fury of the fire sweeping over her.
“I’ll be with you. Don’t worry. You’ll stay safe.”
Easy for him to say. He wasn’t the one being targeted by two killers. She stared into his eyes.
But…
But Logan had been targeted for death plenty of times before. She knew it. Death was his life. His job.
He was a survivor. A fighter.
If something were to happen, if one of those men hunting her came too close…
I don’t want to be helpless. “Teach me,” she said, pushing away the covers.
Logan blinked in surprise. “Uh, Julie…”
Under the blanket, she wore a loose T-shirt and a pair of jogging shorts. Not exactly sexy, but his gaze still dropped to her legs, lingered.
Her heartbeat kicked up a beat. “Teach me to fight, Logan.” He’d already taught her to make love years before.
Upstairs.
When the pleasure had hit her, she’d said that she loved him.
He’d never told her the same.
Maybe there was one thing he couldn’t lie about.
Juliana shoved those memories back into the box in her mind. “I want to be able to defend myself if…if—”
“When a bullet or a bomb is coming, there’s not much defense.”
No. “But when you’re trapped in some hellhole and the enemy is coming at you because he wants to torture information out of you—information that you don’t have—then being able to fight back matters.” She’d been helpless in Mexico. If something happened and Guerrero got her again… I won’t be helpless. “You can teach me some defensive moves. I know you can.”
His gaze wasn’t on her legs any longer. That too-intense stare raked her face.
“I need this,” she told him. She had to have some control, some power.
His nod was grim.
He rose, backing up.
The drumming of Juliana’s heartbeat echoed in her ears. She followed him into the opening in the middle of the room. Her toes curled over the old, faded rug.
Light flickered on when Logan bent toward the lamp at his right. Juliana finally started focusing enough to realize that Logan wore no shirt. Just a pair of loose sweatpants. His chest, ripped with muscles, was bare. Only…
Logan was sporting a tattoo now.
She hadn’t noticed the tattoo back in Mexico. But then, he’d kept his clothes on there. Thank goodness. Now it was tempting…all that bare flesh.
Juliana licked her lips. Down, girl.
Her gaze focused on the tattoo. The ink was black, dark, sliding up a few inches over his heart.
Forming a trident.
Why did that symbol look so sexy on him?
Why did she always have to want him?
“I use a mix of martial arts,” he told her as he came closer, positioning his body just a few inches from hers on that rug. “I can teach you a few moves to help with CQC.”
“Um, CQC?” No clue.
“Close-quarters combat.” His words were quiet. His body was too big. She was too aware of his every breath. “You want to be able to kill quickly, efficiently.”
She didn’t exactly want to kill, just stay alive. But Juliana nodded. She’d never heard him sound so cold before. Her hands pressed against her stomach. “And have you done that?”
He didn’t answer. She knew he had. Probably more times than he could count.
Not the boy you knew.
She wasn’t sure she’d ever known him.
“Can we…can we start easier? I mean…” I’m not ready to kill.
He must have read the truth in her eyes. A muscle jerked in his jaw. “When it comes down to it, if it’s your life or your attacker’s, you’ll be ready.” Then he moved in a flash, almost too fast for her to see, and in the next breath, Logan’s hand was around her throat. “If you hesitate, you can die.” His big fingers surrounded her neck, seemed to brand her flesh. She knew with one twist of his hand, he could kill her.
Logan stepped back. “But we’ll start easy, if that’s what you want.”
Had his voice roughened? His eyes had hardened, his body seemed to have tensed.
“Go for your attacker’s weak spots. Always make them your targets.”
Juliana forced her own body to ease its stiffness.
“When you attack—” Logan was circling her now, making her nervous “—use the strongest part of your body.” He stood behind her, came closer. His body brushed against hers. His arm slid around her, and his fingers curled over her hand. “Use your fists.” He lifted her hand, punched out with it and turned her arm. “Your elbows.” He surrounded her. So big and solid behind her, his arms sweeping out.
He spun her around so that she faced him. His fingers still curled over her fist. He lifted her fist toward his neck. “Punch at your attacker’s throat. Hit hard, with every bit of strength that you have.”
His gaze blazed down at her. “You have to be ready to take your attacker out,” Logan said.
She tugged her hand. He didn’t let go. Her eyes narrowed. “What if I’m just trying to get away?”
Another spin, and her back was to him again. He’d freed her, and she stood there, her body too tense and aware.
“I’ll be the attacker,” he said.
Her mouth went dry.
“If I come at you from behind…” And he did. In a rush, he had her. His arms wrapped around her body and he hauled her back against him. Juliana struggled, twisting and straining forward, but she couldn’t get free of his hold. Her struggles just strained her against him.
He was getting turned on.
Juliana froze.
“Hunch your shoulders,” he told her, voice gruff. “Don’t try to lunge away. Curl in…”
She did, hunching her shoulders.
“Then drop.”
She slid out of his grasp. She twisted and turned back up. Her hand fisted, ready to punch.
“When you’re free, go for my eyes. My throat.” His lips twisted. “My groin.”
She wasn’t going there. Not then. With an effort, she kept her eyes up.
“Use your elbow or fist in a groin attack. Hard as you can hit…”
She managed a slow nod.
“But if I come at you straight on…” And he did. He advanced and those big hands came for her throat once more. His fingers wrapped around her neck. Not hurting her. Again, she felt the ghost of a caress against her skin. “Then shove your fingers into my eyes.”
Vicious. Juliana swallowed and nodded. She would do whatever she had to do.
He didn’t drop his hand. Just stared at her. The air seemed to thicken with the tension between them.
“I’m not going to let them get you again.”
His fingers were behind her ear, caressing. She shivered at the touch and the memories it stirred. In the past, he’d liked to kiss her in just that spot.
“I’ll stand between you and any person who comes for you.”
She believed that he would. But Logan was flesh and blood. He couldn’t stop fire or bullets.
He could die, too.
Then what would happen?
I’d be without him again.
Her gaze lifted to his. There was arousal, need, so much lust in his eyes. But he wasn’t pushing her, wasn’t trying to kiss her, and his hand was falling away from her.
She’d told him no hours before. Told him to keep his distance. We’re done.
He’d called her on the lie.
She still wanted him just as much as always.
He cleared his throat. “If we just knew where James had stashed the evidence…”
“I’d barely spoken to him in years.” Because she’d seen what he’d become. Not the father she knew. He turned into someone cold, twisted. “He wasn’t sharing any secrets with me.”
Logan’s head cocked to the right as he studied her. “Maybe not directly.”
“Not indirectly, not in any way.” She hadn’t even seen him last Christmas. She’d spent the holiday alone. “Wherever he hid the evidence—I don’t know.”
Logan squared his shoulders. “Okay, let’s try this again. I’ll come at you and you attack back, as hard as you can.”
She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth, hesitated, then said, “Aren’t you worried that I’ll hurt you?”
He smiled. “I want you to.”
Okay, then. If it was pain he wanted… Juliana turned her back to him. She’d give him as much as—
His arms closed around her, tight bands that stole her breath. His last attack hadn’t been so hard and she hadn’t expected him to come at her full force. Panic hit for an instant. Panic, then—
I won’t be weak.
She hunched her shoulders, dropped low and slid out of his hold. She came up with her elbow, ready to hit him hard right in the groin, but Logan came at her. His body hit hers, and he pushed her back onto the rug, caging her body beneath his.
She lost her breath at the impact. He caught her hands, trapping them on either side of her head. “Use your feet, your legs,” he gritted out. “Fight back with any part of your body that you can. Never give up.”
No, she wouldn’t. She twisted and her leg slid between his. Her breath panted out. Juliana yanked up her leg, driving her knee right toward his groin.
Logan twisted to the side, and her knee hit his thigh. “Nice,” he said. “I knew you had a tough fighter inside.”
His breath wasn’t coming so easily, either. He still had her hands. Still had his body over hers.
She should tell him to move away. Should say…enough. But it suddenly wasn’t about fighting. Her heart was still beating too fast, but the ache in her body, that wasn’t from fear or adrenaline or anything but desire.
Need.
She’d had another relationship after Logan. It wasn’t as if he’d been the only man she’d taken to her bed. Actually, she’d been with two other men over the years.
But the pleasure had never been the same.
And if she was honest with herself, when she’d closed her eyes… I saw him.
She hadn’t been able to connect with the others, to let go. Not like she’d done with Logan.
“You shouldn’t look at me like that.” His voice was even deeper now, the sexy growl that she remembered. Lust could always make him growl.
“Like what?” But she knew.
“Like you want me to devour you.”
She didn’t move. The soft cotton of his sweatpants brushed over her leg. His hands were tight around her wrists but not hurting her. The man was always so conscious of his strength.
So strong, but she knew how to make him weak. Juliana had learned other lessons back in this cabin.
His hands released hers. “I think that’s enough for now.” He shifted his legs, pulling away from her.
Now it was her turn to grab him. Juliana’s hands curled around his shoulders.
Logan froze. “Julie…”
“I did lie.” They both knew it.
His pupils seemed to burn away the blue in his gaze.
“I still want you.”
The muscles beneath her hands tensed. Like steel. “And I’m dying for a taste of you….” He moaned, then his mouth was on hers. Not easy. Not tender. Not like before.
So long ago.
This was different.
His tongue swept into her mouth. Took. Tasted.
He was different.
Her nails sank into his skin.
She was different.
The faint stubble on his jaw brushed against her. She liked the rough feel of it on her flesh, liked his taste even more. Her breasts were pushing against his chest, even as her hips arched against him.
The need inside, the need she’d wanted to hold in check, was breaking through, bursting like water out of a dam. She couldn’t hold back, and right then, Juliana wasn’t even sure why she should hold back. Pride?
Fear?
His mouth tore from hers. His lips pressed against her throat. He used the edge of his teeth. Her eyes fell closed, and she couldn’t hold back her own moan.
“Missed…you…” His words were rough.
Her gaze flew open, but he was already sliding down her body. His fingers had eased under her T-shirt. Rough, calloused fingertips swept over her stomach, sliding over the flesh, shoving up the shirt and baring her to his hungry stare. Then he was touching her breast, stroking the hard tip and making her shudder.
Making her want him even more.
“Stop me,” he told her as his left hand fisted her shirt. His right hand kept caressing her.
She didn’t stop him. Instead, Juliana whispered, “I want your mouth…on me.” In the midst of a nightmare, why couldn’t she have her pleasure?
If death was stalking her, then she’d take the life that she could. The pleasure that was right before her.
Logan.
Then his mouth was on her breast. Not some tentative kiss. His lips closed over her. He sucked, licked, and the hand that had been stroking her slid back down now, heading over her stomach, down to the waistband of her shorts.
Goose bumps rose on her flesh. Need electrified her blood. Every breath brought in his scent, filling her with him. She was touching him, learning the hard planes and angles of his muscled body once again. He was bigger now. Stronger.
She wanted to kiss that tattoo.
His fingers brushed against the waistband of her shorts. “Juliana…” he rumbled against her breast.
She arched her hips. There was no stopping. Not now. There was only need. Pleasure was so close, just out of reach.
She caught his hand. Pressed it against her. “I want you.”
His gaze blasted her. “And I’d kill to have you.”
She believed him. His words terrified a part of her, a part that wasn’t wild with need and lust. This man—she knew how dangerous he was. To her and to others. But at that moment…
She didn’t care. She wanted his strength. She wanted him.
So when his hand slid under the elastic waistband of her shorts, Juliana arched her hips up, giving him better access. She wasn’t going to pretend she didn’t want this—him. She needed his touch more than she needed breath right then.
Her whole body was tense. Too eager. Her muscles straining. Then he was pushing his long, broad fingers under the edge of her panties. Touching her in the most intimate of caresses. His name broke from her even as she squeezed her eyes tightly shut.
He didn’t touch her with hesitation or uncertainty. He touched her the way a man did when he knew his lover’s body and knew how to give her the most pleasure.
His fingers slid over her flesh, found the center of her need. His touch grew more demanding. Her breath came faster, faster…
His mouth was on hers, kissing, thrusting his tongue past her lips. Her hands dug deeper into his shoulders. The pleasure was so close, driving her, making Juliana desperate for the release that would rip through her and take the pain away.
A shrill alarm cut through the room. The ringing pierced her ears even as she choked out Logan’s name. The pleasure hit, fast, brutal, but he stiffened against her.
The alarm’s shriek continued and Logan swore.
Juliana’s body shook when Logan pulled her to her feet.
“Someone’s coming,” he snapped.
Her heartbeat was still racing. She swallowed as she tried to ease the dryness in her throat. Her hands fumbled and she attempted to fix her clothes.
“You’re safe in here,” he told her even as he stepped away and opened a nearby drawer. When his hand rose again, she saw that he was holding a gun.
Someone’s coming.
Logan caught her hand and pulled her with him into the small room to the right, a room filled with about five monitors. On those monitors, she just saw trees. Empty woods. He must have been using some kind of night-vision cameras so that they could get the view, but she didn’t see anyone approaching the cabin.
“Someone triggered the alarm.” He yanked on a thick shirt, shoved into shoes.
Juliana shook her head. “They couldn’t have found us already.” It had just been hours. Hours.
Her thighs pressed together. The pleasure had left her emotions raw, and this—now? “They can’t be here,” she whispered.
But as she stared at those monitors, she saw the men creep from the shadows and close in. Men dressed in black with hoods covering their faces and big guns cradled in their hands.
The images were grainy on the screens. She leaned closer, narrowing her eyes.
And the gunfire erupted. No sound came with the shots, but she saw the men begin to fall. Two staggered back, clutching their chests. The others lifted their weapons. Fired at enemies she couldn’t see…even as they raced forward, their images flickering on the monitors.
“Give me a weapon,” Juliana said, surprised that her words were so steady.
Logan glanced at her and studied her face with narrowed eyes.
“Give it to me.”
Logan’s team was out in those woods. She got that. They were firing at the men. But if they didn’t take them all out, if someone got to the house…
Logan opened a thick safe on the left, nestled behind the screens. More guns were inside. Knives, too. What looked like a giant stockade of weapons.
He handed her a gun. “Here’s the safety. Make sure it’s off when you fire.”
The weapon didn’t feel heavy in her hands. She’d expected more.
It was cold. Hard.
The alarm was still beeping. She could hear the shots now, coming from outside. The battle was nearly at her door.
“Stay behind me,” Logan ordered.
She nodded.
His fingers curved under her chin. He tilted her head up and flashed a smile at her.
“Try not to shoot me,” he said, then he kissed her. A fast brush of his lips against hers.
His words surprised her enough that a rough laugh slipped from her. Laughing, now? Maybe she was as crazy as he was.
But then the shots came again, and the laughter was gone and only fear remained when she heard the voices shouting outside.
Logan had his own weapon up, ready, and—
Glass shattered. A window. Someone was coming in the window.
“Stand down!” Logan yelled.
Gunshots. They weren’t standing down.
Wood cracked. The front door? Being broken down?
Logan pushed her back against the wall on the left. The door to their room was open a few precious inches. He put his gun barrel through that opening. Aimed—
The blast of his gun had her ears aching. Someone groaned, then there was a heavy thud of sound.
Silence, a long beat. Long enough to make her think that the battle was over. Safety was close and—
Gunfire erupted as all hell seemed to break loose in the small cabin.