The days passed much quicker than Cash thought they would. He’d expected the time spent away from work and civilization would probably be boring, but it turned out to be anything but. He taught Ella to shoot a pistol, and she took to it like a fish to water, handling the Glock with skill and confidence. After a few days’ practice, she could make a nice cluster in the center of a target.

But it was the other thing that happened between them that made the days fun. Namely, he and Ella couldn’t keep their hands off each other. Oh, they did a good job of it while his teammates were around, but the second they had opportunity, they disappeared into her bedroom to fuck like rabbits.

He took her up against the wall, in the shower, on her hands and knees, in front of the mirrored dresser where he could watch every shudder of pleasure rippling over her creamy, smooth skin. He made her come innumerable times, biting her fist, biting the pillow, biting him while she muffled her cries.

He fucked her hard and soft, fast and slow, over and over. There wasn’t anything about Ella’s pleasure he didn’t know by now. He’d tasted her, savored her, teased her into oblivion. He’d come hard and often inside her body, always cloaked since she wasn’t on any birth control, but he longed to fuck her with nothing between them. To really feel her silken heat gloving him as he stroked into her tight, wet pussy.

That was a fantasy that would have to wait. If it ever happened. Because this thing between them had to end. It had been over a week since he’d taken her virginity, and though he wasn’t exactly tired of fucking her, he would be before this was over. He knew he would because it was coded into his DNA. Cash McQuaid did not stick with the same woman for more than a few rounds. He was like his dad in that respect. A serial womanizer who engaged in shallow relationships at best while looking for the next hot body to give him a new fix—though his dad had succumbed to marriage twice for some reason.

Maybe that’s why Cash’s stepmother had hated him. He’d been his father’s mini-me, the same good looks, the same swagger. Maybe looking at him reminded her too much of what his father got up to when he was by himself. The nights he came home late, stinking of beer and whiskey and, no doubt, a hint of feminine perfume.

Then again, his father had met her in a bar, so she’d known exactly what she was getting when she married Dan McQuaid. Her problem, not Cash’s. Even if he hadn’t known why she hated him when he was a kid.

The first light of dawn crept across the floor of Ella’s bedroom. Cash spent all his nights in here with her. His teammates knew. Of course they did. Nobody said anything, but they weren’t stupid. The first time someone had given him a sly look and a wink, he’d returned it with a stony face that said don’t go there or I’ll clean your clock.

He didn’t want them thinking those thoughts about Ella. She was sweet in her sexuality, pure. She didn’t have any inhibitions, but she’d also never encountered anyone who tried to make her feel dirty for liking or engaging in sex.

Holy hell, he loved that she loved sex. He loved bending her over and sliding into her from behind, watching his cock sink into her and knowing that he was the only one who’d ever done that to her. All the begging and pleading she did with him to make her come was for him alone. She’d never asked anyone else to do those things to her. It was a huge turn-on.

Yeah, it surely was, because he was growing hard again. She lay beside him, naked, on her belly with one leg bent and the other straight. So pretty. It wouldn’t take much to wake her. He could slip inside her, stroke her into an orgasm, and give them both a hell of wake-up call.

Except his phone buzzed on the dresser, ruining the fantasy. He fumbled for it, finally grabbing it, and read the text. It was from Camel.

---

Wakey wakey, sleepyhead. Blade says orders from HQ.

---

Shit. Cash sat up and slipped from the bed. He grabbed his jeans and dragged them on, then shuffled to the door and opened it quietly. He closed it behind him and walked down the hall, jaw cracking in a yawn as he entered the kitchen.

His teammate looked at him. There was no smirk, but there was a frown.

“You know, if you’d actually do some sleeping instead of—”

“Watch it,” Cash interrupted, knowing what word was likely coming next. “That’s my wife you’re talking about.”

Camel rolled his eyes. “Pretend wife, amigo. Even if you’re really married to her, it’s not real and you aren’t in love. You are in lust though. That much is obvious.”

A peal of anger rolled through him like thunder. “It’s not like that.”

“Really? You planning to stay married then? Start a family? Because you sure are spending enough time practicing on your wedded bliss.”

“Camel, for fuck’s sake,” Cash growled.

Blade walked in from the opposite direction and poured a cup of coffee. “You two fighting again? Maybe y’all should get married instead of Money and Ella. They allow that kind of thing in the military now.”

Camel frowned.

Cash growled some more. “Yeah, that’d be great if I liked sucking dick,” Cash said. “Not my thing. Though maybe it’s Camel’s.”

“Don’t know,” Camel said coolly. “Never tried it.”

“Jesus, can you two stop? You’re giving me a fucking headache.”

Cash didn’t know why, but he suddenly found that funny. “Just when Camel was about to offer to suck your dick.”

“Nope,” Camel said. “Not happening. Though I’d let either one of you suck mine under the right circumstances. Namely, the end of civilization as we know it and the death of every last woman alive.”

“So what are the orders?” Cash asked.

Blade sipped his coffee. “Colonel says we’re to return to HQ. Beyond that, I don’t know.”

“Maybe you’re off the hook,” Camel said. “Maybe there’ll be divorce papers waiting for you. Sign ’em and you’re free.”

Cash frowned. Divorce papers. He should want those pretty badly, but all he could think about was Ella lying in bed in the next room, her body naked beneath the sheets. If he went to her now, she’d be warm and wet and perfect. And he’d be lost.

“Yeah, maybe so,” he said, his mind half on Ella and half here.

Blade snorted. “Yeah, I don’t think you want a divorce.”

Cash frowned. Of course he wanted a divorce. Because what would it mean if he didn’t? “Can’t happen soon enough. I don’t want or need a wife.”

Camel cleared his throat. Cash frowned harder.

“What? You think just because I spend a lot of time alone with Ella, it means something? It doesn’t, asshole. It’s nothing more than what it looks like, okay? Soon as this is over, we’re going our separate ways—and you and I can double-date with those babes you were talking about last week.”

Camel was making faces at him. Significant faces. Cash closed his eyes as the truth began to dawn on him. Shit.

He knew who he’d see when he turned around. He didn’t know what she would look like. Devastated? Angry? Embarrassed?

He pulled in a breath and turned. A rock sat in his belly at the sight of her. Beautiful, sensual Ella. She didn’t look pissed or embarrassed. She looked haughty. Regal.

Of course she did.

“What’s for breakfast?” she asked coolly.

Camel nearly tripped over himself heading for the pantry and swinging it open. “Cereal? Bagels? Or would you like some eggs and bacon?”

Ella glided over to the island, her face showing no emotion whatsoever. Except for the tightness at the corners of her mouth, he wouldn’t have known she was affected by anything he’d said.

“Ella,” he began.

She held up an elegant hand, silencing him. Such a princess, his girl. His girl?

“No explanations, Cash. We both know what this is. And we’ll both be happy when it’s over and our lives begin again.” To Camel she said, “Cereal is fine. Thank you.”

Camel brought out every box they had, as if they hadn’t all been here a week and didn’t know what was in the pantry. Ella selected one. Blade got a bowl, milk, and a spoon and set it in front of her.

She didn’t move, and they rushed to pour everything for her. Cash watched in amazement. His heart throbbed. He wanted to grip her chin and press his mouth to hers. Then he wanted to take her back to the bedroom and claim her in the most primitive way he knew how.

That wasn’t going to be possible anytime soon. Hell, it might never be possible again if there were divorce papers waiting at HQ. He’d have to sign them. She’d sign them. They’d go their separate ways.

Everything inside him rebelled against the idea. She was his.

His teammates were watching him. His emotions were in turmoil. If he stood there much longer, he’d do something desperate. Like get down on his knees and beg her forgiveness—and to hell with his teammates and the incessant ribbing he’d endure for it.

Cash grabbed a cup, poured some coffee, and walked outside where the early morning air could clear his head.

---

“I’m sorry,” Cash said.

Ella didn’t look at him. Her heart pounded but she didn’t look. She wanted to, but if she did she’d melt. Because her heart had fallen for this man, and she didn’t know how to make it stop.

She loved him—desperate, lonely fool that she was—and he couldn’t wait to be rid of her. To eject her from his life.

You’ve always known he didn’t want to be married.

Yes, she’d known. But she’d begun to hope. The way he touched her, the way they were together—yes, it had made her hope. But what did she know about sex other than what he’d taught her? For all she knew, it was this way with everyone when you were attracted to them. Still, deep down, she’d felt as if what they had was something special.

Clearly she’d been wrong.

Ella closed her eyes as the hopes she’d cherished struggled frantically against the chains she’d bound them in. Because she couldn’t set them free again. It would only hurt more than it already did. He’d told her what the score was when they’d embarked on this journey. He’d tried to keep her at a distance so she wouldn’t get hurt, but she’d insisted on getting closer.

Her fault. All her fault.

“It doesn’t matter,” she replied. “You only told them the truth.”

They were standing in the bedroom where she’d gone to get her things. He’d followed her. Just like that first day when they’d arrived here. She’d wanted him so badly. She’d been reading a romance novel. A sexy one that made her ache inside, especially when she thought of Cash doing all the things to her that the hero did to the heroine.

Cash had followed her into this bedroom and made every fantasy she had come true. She was definitely not a virgin anymore—nor was she naïve or inexperienced. Cash had showed her everything, given her everything.

Ella shook herself. Today was different. Today they were leaving. Returning to the building where she’d met Victoria and held a gun for the first time. She had no idea what was going to happen today, but she had to be prepared for anything.

Even divorce papers and a goodbye. Because Cash wouldn’t mind those things at all. He’d said so just half an hour ago.

He blew out a breath. “It’s none of their business, okay? I reacted because they wouldn’t leave me alone about being married to you.”

Ella managed to lift her head and meet his gaze. His green eyes were troubled. She could almost feel sorry for him if she weren’t so angry and hurt by what he’d said.

“You did what you had to do.”

He gripped her arms. “I like you, Ella. A lot. I don’t want to hurt you.”

“I know that. You’ve been nothing but helpful. You saved me, Cash. I’ll never forget that.”

“You’re talking like this is goodbye.”

“Isn’t that what you want?”

He exploded. “No. It’s not what I want.”

“But you want a divorce.”

He let her go and stepped away. “It’s not a real marriage. It’s not like we dated for months and decided to get hitched. We don’t even know each other. Not really.”

“You know everything about me there is to know. I’ve left nothing out.”

“It’s not enough. Right now this thing between us is about sex. It’s new and exciting. But that’s not enough to base a marriage on. We aren’t married for real. We’re pretending to be married because it’s what had to be done.”

She was trying to understand him. “So it’s fine to keep having sex? But not to be married?”

He frowned. “You’re twisting this.”

“You’re fine with a divorce, but you don’t want the sex to be over. That’s what you said. You specifically do not want to say goodbye yet. Surely that’s not for my sparkling conversation alone.”

He blinked. “I never said I didn’t like talking to you.”

“We don’t talk, Cash. Not much anyway.”

His brows drew down. “We talk about the things that matter.”

“Do we?”

There was a knock on the door before he could reply.

“Time to hit the road,” Camel called out.

“Yeah, yeah,” Cash said.

Ella started for the door, but he caught her by the arm and swung her around. Then he took a step into her and kissed her hard. Ella’s anger started to melt whether she wanted it to or not. She tried to resist, but her body had other ideas. Ideas that would have seen them naked and entwined if there were time.

Cash broke the kiss and stared down at her with flashing eyes. “We aren’t finished, Ella. I promise you that.”