"WE'VE GOT IT!" PAUL CASWELL threw the computer slip down before Danner. "Not everything. That bastard changed the code three times during the message. But we've got a start. The location of the golden retriever. Addie."
"If he hasn't moved her by now," Danner said bitterly. "We should have had that translation yesterday."
"He hasn't moved her," Caswell said. "I sent a man to the house as soon as I got the first line of address." He paused. "But it will be difficult to get at the retriever. She's staying at John and Sarah Logan's place on the Seventeen Mile Strip."
"Logan." He started to curse. Dammit, he knew that name well. "Difficult? It will take weeks to find a way to take the dog away from him. I can't afford to stir up a hornets' nest with Logan. He's even got the ear of the president. Keep watch on the retriever and go after the other dogs. If they try to move the retriever, go after her. And I want that second location by tonight."
"We're doing the best we can," Caswell said. "And in a few hours we'll know everything that's going on at Logan's place. We might be able to find a weak link."
He needed a weak link, Danner thought. Marrok had been running rings around his men since Santa Marina. He'd thought Enright would be the answer, but the bastard was moving as slow as those translators trying to locate the dogs. But it was going to end. He had to find a way to bring Marrok to his knees. The thought of Marrok humbled gave him a flash of enormous plea sure. Perhaps he'd make Marrok watch as he slaughtered the dogs one after the other. That would make him realize how futile it was to oppose him.
And he'd kill Marrok, and that would be the final triumph.
His cell phone rang, and he glanced at the ID. London. He stiffened and hope surged through him. He punched the button. "It's about time. What have you got for me?"
"GET UP." BRIDGET OPENED DEVON'S bedroom door and stuck her head in. "We're going to get Wiley and bring him here."
"It's still dark." Devon drowsily lifted her head and looked at the digital clock on the bedside table-5:37. "Is there an emergency?"
"No, but we may be running out of time."
"I thought only Marrok knew where all the dogs were located?"
"I knew about Addie, and he gave me Wiley's location when he thought we might have to move them. He still hasn't told me where Nika's being cared for. Trusting bastard, isn't he?" She added, "There's toast and coffee on the kitchen table. I'll be back to get you in thirty minutes."
The door closed behind her.
Devon shook her head to clear it and sat up. Bridget had obviously been sincere about having Devon work with her. So get going and do your share. She swung her legs to the floor.
Thirty minutes.
She was waiting on the porch twenty minutes later, watching Bridget walk toward her from the helicopter.
"You're early," Bridget said when she reached her. "But Walt's ready to go."
"So am I," Marrok said from behind Devon.
Bridget stiffened as she and Devon turned to see him come out of the house.
"Though I wasn't invited," he said. "I wouldn't have even known about your excursion if Walt hadn't decided he had to check in with me."
"You said you wanted the dogs brought here," Bridget said. "I'm bringing Wiley to you. Don't you trust me?"
"Sometimes. Most of the time. But I have no right to trust anyone right now. You're behaving a little erratically lately."
"Bullshit."
He smiled. "Perhaps. But I still think that I'll be the one to take Devon to pick up Wiley. You stay here and hold down the fort with Lincoln. Maybe you can renew old ties."
"I told you that you shouldn't be with her. It's not safe."
"Did it occur to you that if something's going to happen to Devon, that I'd want to be there to stop it?"
"It occurred to me. I hope the best for her. But my job is to keep you safe."
"No. Where did you get that idea? Your job is to keep the dogs safe."
She gestured impatiently. "Same thing."
Devon was tired of listening to them wrangle. "I'm not a piece of meat you're fighting over. Back off. Both of you."
Marrok chuckled. "A very nice piece of meat." His gaze shifted back to Bridget. "You heard her, back off." He nudged Devon gently forward. "Let's go, Devon. Walt's waiting."
Devon hesitated. She didn't want to spend any extra time with Marrok. She had been avoiding it, and now she'd been tossed back into his company. Oh, what the hell. It wasn't as if she was afraid of being with him.
He said quietly, "You set the pace, Devon."
"That's right, I do." She ran down the steps and set out for the helicopter. "That goes without saying. So long, Bridget."
Bridget didn't answer. When Devon glanced back at her, she was frowning as she stared at both of them walking away from her.
"She doesn't like being thwarted," Marrok murmured. "I don't blame her. Neither do I."
"I could tell," she said dryly. "Just don't use me in your games."
"It never used to be a game. This is the first time Bridget and I have had a real conflict. She's behaving out of character."
"She's certainly being overprotective of you. You'd think I was some kind of Typhoid Mary."
"Did she scare you?"
"Of course not." She wasn't telling the truth. The determination that Bridget had shown in trying to keep her away from Marrok had been disturbing. It was more chilling than the first time Bridget had told her about the danger surrounding her. It was somehow more real to her since Bridget was feeling strong enough about the premonition to act on it. "I don't believe in fortune-tellers."
"I didn't either until I met Bridget. It's strange, all the time I spent with Paco, I fought against believing in his so-called magic. I played his game, but I took everything with a grain of salt. Yet Bridget was different. Maybe because it couldn't be more clear that she didn't want it to be true."
"That's not very comforting," she said dryly.
"Bridget didn't actually say you were going to die." His lips tightened. "And it's not going to happen. I intend to make sure it doesn't."
"I can take care of myself. I don't need you or Bridget." She shook her head. "For Pete's sake, drop it. I'm not going to fret about something this weird. Tell me about Wiley. Isn't that the dog we're going to pick up? He's the German shepherd, isn't he?"
"Yes." He opened the helicopter door for her. "You'll like Wiley. He's not easy. He'll be a challenge for you."
"What do you mean?"
"He's always been a little standoffish. He doesn't trust easily. He was mistreated as a pup before Paco got hold of him." He followed her into the aircraft. "That's why I wanted you to meet him on his home turf with his guardian as a buffer."
"Let's get out of here," Walt said as he started the engine. "Bridget is staring a hole in me. I'm going to hear about tattling to the boss."
"Children tattle," Marrok said. "And I would have been most unhappy if you'd kept quiet."
"That's what I figured." Walt lifted off and headed west. "It was only a case of deciding which one of you I wanted to piss off."
Devon went back to the previous subject. "Who is Wiley's guardian?"
"Sid Cadow," Marrok said. "He's an old rodeo rider. Tough as nails. Sid is almost as much a loner as Wiley. He's in his fifties and had almost all his bones broken at one time or another. He has no family and isn't sociable."
"A strange choice for you to make."
"I don't think so. They suit each other. Neither one of them is great on trust. But Sid loves that dog. It's probably the only thing he does love. I'd hate to be the man who tried to hurt Wiley."
"And you're taking Wiley away from him?"
"He can come back to the ranch with us. It's his decision."
"Where are we going?"
"He has a cabin in the hills in northern Arizona. But when I was a kid he had a place not too far from the reservation where I was born." He added, "As a matter of fact, he used to frequent the bar where I spent most of my time when I was in my teens. That's where I got to know him. He was as much a barroom brawler as I was and used to bust my chops regularly until I learned how he was doing it. Then we came to an understanding."
"So you're friends?"
He shook his head. "He and Wiley are friends. I just pay the bills and receive a certain toleration in return."
"Does he know how special Wiley is?"
"Yes, I told him after he'd had Wiley a year. By that time I knew he wouldn't give up Wiley. I'm not sure he believed me. He does believe that Wiley may be in danger. I think I got that through to him."
"And how is he going to take this move?"
"Not well. I called him and told him why I was coming. He told me to go to hell."
"Not promising."
"No. But we'll have to see, won't we?"
SID CADOW WAS STANDING AT THE door of his cabin, watching them come up the path. He was a huge man, with a shock of white hair and skin that looked like tanned leather. His expression was forbidding.
"I ain't going to let you take him," he said flatly. "No way."
"He's going, Sid. You can come with him, or you can stay here, but Wiley is going to the ranch," Marrok said. "It's time we put an end to this hiding."
"We're getting along just fine." He looked at the black-and-tan German shepherd who was streaking around in circles with Ned. "I take good care of him."
"I know you do."
"And if anyone came hunting for him, I'd shoot his nuts off."
"He's going to the ranch," Marrok said. "His life's got to change now. If you're willing to change with him, I'll find a place for you."
Devon could see the hackles rising on both men. Marrok wasn't handling Cadow right, dammit. Would it have hurt him to be a little more diplomatic?
"I don't need anyone finding a place for me. I get along." He turned to Devon. "Who is she?"
"A vet. Devon Brady. She's going to work with the dogs."
"How do you do, Mr. Cadow?" Devon said. "Wiley is a beautiful dog. And very fit. You must exercise him quite a bit."
"We go for long walks in the hills," Cadow said curtly. "It's quiet. We both like quiet." He called to Wiley, "Stop that foolishness. You're acting like a pup."
"That's not bad," Devon said. "He's obviously a very dignified dog. A little fun won't hurt him."
"He remembers Ned from the Paco days," Marrok said. "I've seen them play like that for hours."
"I play with him," Cadow said defensively. "He likes to play fetch with a stick."
"Most German shepherds do," Devon said. "My dog, Tess, used to nag me for hours. She was black and tan, too. She was very, very smart and very loving."
"She couldn't have been as smart as Wiley. I could tell you stories…"
"I bet you could," Devon said. He didn't mention how loving Wiley could be. It would have been too personal. He was too prickly to let anyone that close. "Does he swim? Tess could swim like an otter."
"When I let him. The current in the river is pretty strong." He scowled. "Did you really have a German shepherd or are you giving me bull?"
"Yes, I had my Tess. Or maybe she had me. Sometimes I couldn't tell the difference."
"Had? She died?"
"Yes. It broke my heart. I still miss her." She looked him in the eye. "But your Wiley has a chance of living for a long time. Don't be stupid and make him live it without you."
"I won't. He ain't going."
She made a motion as Marrok opened his mouth. "You know better than that."
"Because Marrok thinks Wiley belongs to him? He's my dog now."
"He belongs to both of you. You've invested enough love to ensure that Wiley is at least part yours. But Marrok has a history with him, too. And, he's right, we can't hide him from Danner any longer. Now call him and tell him it's okay for him to go with us. I know he won't leave you unless you do."
"You're damn right he won't." Cadow hesitated. Then he whistled and called. "Wiley."
Wiley skidded to a stop and bounded toward Cadow. He sat down in front of him, his tongue lolling, panting.
"Told you he was smart," Cadow said proudly. "You ain't seen nothing."
"Then come with us and show us what he can do." Devon reached out and let Wiley sniff her hand before she put it gently on his head. He didn't move, but she could sense the caution ingrained in him. "What a lovely boy, you are," she said softly. "Just like my Tess…"
"Sid?" Marrok asked.
Cadow hesitated before saying grudgingly. "Maybe I'll let him go for a little while. As long as I'm there to take care of him."
"Good," Marrok said. "Go pack your bag."
"I've got to close up the cabin. I'll follow you down." His hand reached out and caressed Wiley's head. "I'll be with you in a couple hours, pal. Promise."
"Tell him it's okay to go with us," Devon said.
Cadow hesitated again before he said gruffly. "Okay, go along with them, boy. It's all right with me." He turned on his heel and went into the cabin.
Marrok whistled, and Wiley ran to him. "Let's go. Come on, Ned, Wiley." He set off down the path toward the glade where the helicopter waited. "Devon."
"Dogs, first. As usual." She caught up and fell into step. "So here I come trotting at your heels."
He gave a snort. "Trotting at my heels? You're joking. You took over back there."
"You were both being belligerent. I didn't want a fight."
"There wouldn't have been a fight."
"Two alpha males each wanting his own way?"
"I like Cadow."
"But you must have had a lingering competitiveness because of your history with him. You weren't giving him a chance to defend his family. You had to give him an out, let him make the move."
"I gave him a choice."
She gave him a glance.
"And I didn't need him to tell Wiley to come with me. He would have done it anyway."
"I know." She looked back at the cabin. Had the curtain moved a little? "He's watching us. He had to think that Wiley only came along because he ordered him to do it. Otherwise, it would have hurt him. That dog's the world to him."
"I told you he'd grown to love him."
"You didn't tell me that it would tear him to pieces if we took him. We have to make it as easy for him as possible. Did you mean it when you said you'd find a place for him?"
"I don't lie."
"Good, then I don't have to coerce you. Wiley is that one, the special dog, to him. I know what it's like to be torn away from a dog you love."
"Tess."
"Yes."
"What about your Gracie?"
"I love her. Every dog is special in its own way. There's enough love for every being. Just sometimes a dog reaches out and touches some corner of your heart that no one else can reach. Sarah said something like that about Monty. It's the truth." She glanced back at the cabin. "It wasn't only loneliness that caused him to become attached to Wiley. I could see it. I could see me in him."
"Do you? I see no resemblance at all." He was silent a moment. "And I'd rather look at you. He resembles a beat-up old saddle."
"That has its own worth and beauty," she said. "And you know what I mean."
"Yes. I just thought I'd try to lighten the mood. You… touched me."
She looked at him in surprise. "Why on earth?"
"How the hell do I know? You feel things." He was silent a moment before continuing awkwardly. "They hurt you. It makes me want to protect you, keep all the bad stuff at bay."
She couldn't take her eyes away from him. He had changed again. A few minutes ago she had wanted to shake him, and now she was melting. He was telling the truth, and that trace of clumsiness was almost endearing. The blending of sexual, slightly wicked, male and puzzled boyishness took her off guard. "I protect myself."
"Not so good. Or you wouldn't be here with me." He suddenly smiled. "But I'm going to try to take your word for it. It will relieve my conscience when we come together."
Heat rippled through her. The boy had vanished, and the male was dominant and on the hunt. "Don't hold your breath."
"No," he said softly. "But it's close. Don't you feel it? It's right there under the surface waiting to happen."
Dammit, she did feel it. She could scarcely breathe, there was a tingling in her wrists, the palms of her hands, her breasts. If he reached out and touched her, she'd go up in flames.
He didn't reach out. "Why not? I wouldn't hurt you. We need it. I wouldn't ask for more than you want to give." He added haltingly, "Though you make me feel like that wild kid I was all those years ago, I'm not him. I can make it good for you. I've learned things…"
She swallowed to ease the tightness of her throat. Her heart was beating too hard. "From that madam in Bangkok I suppose?"
"Damn Walt," he said. "Yes, and other places, other times." He looked away from her. "But I promise it wouldn't be like any other experience either of us has ever had. We're… different together. You know that."
"I don't want to talk about it anymore."
"Neither do I. I want to do it." He paused. "And so do you." He drew a deep breath. "We're almost at the copter. Stop fighting. I know that I'm not what you want on any permanent basis. I'm not stable, I'm too wild for you. For God's sake, be honest with me. Be honest with yourself. For a one-night stand, I'm exactly what you want."
The heat was flushing her cheeks. "I'm not into one-night-" She stopped as she met his gaze. Be honest, he had said. Heaven knows she was tired of avoiding the truth. "What do you want me to say? You know what I'm feeling. But I made one gigantic mistake, and I'm scared to death of making another one. It wouldn't be a smart or responsible thing to-" She hurried her pace to the helicopter. "And I'm a responsible woman, dammit."
"I see you've got Wiley." Walt had opened the helicopter door for them. "Have any trouble?"
"A little." Marrok gestured, and the dogs jumped into the helicopter. He reached out a hand to help Devon, but she was already climbing into her seat. "Sid will be coming to the ranch later." He got in and fastened his seat belt. "Now there's only Nika to bring in."
"Do we pick her up today?"
"Maybe. I'm going to stop at Paco's cave on the way back, and it depends on how much time it takes there."
Devon's eye's widened. "Why?"
"I told you that I've been meaning to find a way to get Ned to go up to the cave that would ease it for him." He nodded at Wiley. "An old friend to share his memories."
"Will it work?"
"I don't know. I'm going to try." He told Walt. "Give us a few hours."
"Heaven forbid I rush dog therapy," Walt said as he took off. "Even though Danner may be on our heels."
"Don't worry, Bridget would be on the phone drawing me back into the fold at even the hint of that happening." His lips twisted. "Maybe even if there wasn't a hint if she thought she could get away with it."
FIFTEEN MINUTES LATER THE HELICOPTER set down on the plateau where Walt had flown the jet once before. Marrok got out of the copter and gestured to the dogs. Wiley jumped to the ground. Ned cringed back against the wall of the aircraft.
"Come on, Ned," Marrok said quietly. "Time to face it."
Ned didn't move.
Wiley gave a low whine, tilting his head as he stared up at the Lab.
Ned stared back at him, then slowly got to his feet and jumped out of the helicopter.
"Good boy," Marrok said. He turned back to Devon and held out his hand. "Are you coming?"
She looked at his hand. Strong hand, beautiful hand. It was the first thing about him that had caused her to notice how magnetic he could be. She hesitated. She could refuse, and he would not insist.
She should probably do that.
Dammit, she was tired of doing only what she should, she thought recklessly. Maybe, as with Ned, it was time to stop hiding her head and face it.
She reached out and took his hand and jumped out of the copter. His grasp was strong, warm, but that was all of which she was aware before he released her and turned away. He started across the plateau. "Two hours, Walt."
"Right."
Devon had to hurry to keep pace with Marrok as he started up the slope. "Where are we going?"
"The cave. Ned and the other dogs sometimes used to sleep there when Paco was alive." He was watching Ned and Wiley trot up ahead of them. "Ned doesn't want to go. You can see how stiff he is."
"But Wiley doesn't seem to mind."
"I told you, Wiley led a hard life before Paco took him in. He's used to hard knocks. He loved Paco, but he's learned to live with losses."
She smiled. "Good Lord, you sound like a canine psychiatrist."
He shrugged. "I know these dogs. They're all different, with different needs." He glanced at her. "Just as we are."
"What if Ned won't go into the cave?"
"I won't force him. I'm hoping he'll follow Wiley."
"Why do you think it's so important that Ned come to terms with Paco's death?"
"Because I had so much trouble coming to terms with it." His gaze was once more on the opening of the cave at the top of the slope. "I did everything Paco wanted me to do regarding his death. I got the dogs back from Danner and gave them safe havens. Yet I couldn't face going back to the cave for over a year." His lips tightened. "I don't like not being in control. I finally forced myself to go back to the cave, and I stayed there for two weeks. The first few days were hell. Nightmares, memories, guilt, and sorrow. Mostly guilt. It got better. I worked my way through it. By the end of the second week the memories were kinder. The guilt was there, but I'd accepted it. The sorrow never went away."
"Paco wouldn't have expected you to feel guilt, would he? It doesn't sound like him from what you've told me."
"No, but that didn't stop me from feeling it. It should be easier for Ned. He doesn't have all my baggage. All he knows is sorrow and bewilderment." He was still staring at the cave opening. "You know, I felt as if Paco was with me during that last week. It… helped me. Maybe he'll decide to help his old friend, Ned. Pretty crazy, huh? That's probably carry ing a bond between dog and human a little far."
She didn't speak for a moment. "No, it isn't. After Tess died I was heartbroken. It was like losing a child or a best friend. But after a little while I began to feel as if she was still with me, that if I turned around, she'd still be there. It brought me comfort. I felt that maybe that's what she wanted. If a creature is so loving and giving in life, why shouldn't that spirit live on? Yes, I believe in bonds that exist after we're separated." She smiled. "So I'm counting on Paco helping out Ned. Why not?"
"Why not, indeed?" he asked gruffly. "You did love your Tess, didn't you?"
"She died too soon. They all die too soon. Even if the spirit lives on, I still wanted her here, with me." She added, "And if I'd had access to Paco's panacea that would have made her one of your dogs of summer, I would have jumped at it. Anyone who has a dog they love would do the same. Even if your shi'i'go didn't have the potential to help humans, I'd still throw in my lot to protect it. That's why it's a matter of-" She stopped as she saw that Ned had stopped on the slope and was staring at the cave opening. He was shaking. "Poor boy." Devon covered the distance between them in four strides. She knelt beside the Lab and put her arm around Ned's shoulders. "It's going to be fine," she whispered. "We're all with you."
"Let him go, Devon," Marrok said. "Look at Wiley."
The German shepherd had run up to the cave and had turned and was sitting down, looking at Ned. He was waiting, she realized. Silent, alert, strangely wise, waiting to help his friend.
Her arms fell from around Ned, and she sat back on her heels.
She was waiting, too.
Ned's gaze was fixed on Wiley as if he were listening.
He finally gave a low whine. He began to climb the slope toward Wiley, his tail tucked between his legs.
"He's afraid," she murmured to Marrok.
Marrok didn't reply.
Ned had reached the top of the slope and was standing there, gazing at Wiley.
Wiley got up and went into the cave.
Ned hesitated, then slowly followed him.
"Remarkable," Devon said. "Did you realize that Wiley would have that powerful an influence on Ned?"
"No, I only hoped," Marrok said. "That's all you can do." He was climbing the slope again. "Now we have to see if it worked."
"Are we going inside?"
"Yes, but not immediately." He stopped at the large flat rock where they'd sat that first time they'd been here. "We'll give Ned a little time."
"And maybe give Paco a little time?"
"I'd never demand help from Paco, dead or alive." He sat down and linked his arms around his knees. "He gave me more than I deserved."
She dropped down beside him. "That's entirely possible. But it doesn't seem to matter. You give what you want to give. And he'd probably approve of everything you've done since he died."
"I didn't kill Danner. Paco believed in revenge." He shrugged. "But it's only a minor delay." He closed his eyes. "The sun feels good, doesn't it?"
"Yes." Her gaze was on his face. "I remember that you said the sun healed you. You don't seem to need much healing. I haven't seen you favor that wound in your shoulder. How is it doing?"
"Good." He didn't open his eyes. "I'll rub a little more of Paco's potion on it when we go inside."
"Why don't you take it with you instead of having to come here to use it?"
"I could be superstitious. Perhaps it wouldn't work anywhere but here."
"That's ridiculous."
He opened his eyes. "Haven't you noticed? I'm not always reasonable. I lived too long with Paco." He stretched. "And I'm not feeling at all reasonable right now. I'm feeling basic and primitive, and I want to feel not think."
She felt tension tighten her muscles. He looked primitive. Lazy and sensual and every muscle catlike basking in the sun. She couldn't take her eyes away from him. It was crazy. One moment she had been thinking of Paco, spirits, and bonding, and now that was all gone.
Feel, not think.
Yes, that was what she was doing. Big-time.
"Thank God." His gaze had shifted back to her face. "I do believe your precious responsibility is about to take a backseat." He got to his knees. "Yes?"
"I'm always responsible," she said unevenly. "It's my nature."
"But we're still going to get what we want, aren't we?" He reached out, and his hand hovered over but did not touch her cheek. "That's why you came."
She remembered that reckless moment in the helicopter when she had taken his hand. If he touched her now, she would probably dissolve. "I'm very much afraid we are."
"Don't be afraid." His brilliant smile lit his dark face. "Never with me. It will be like coming home."
"Somehow I don't think so." Her voice was shaking, and she had to steady it. So was her hand as she reached out to touch him. "I don't feel at all like-"
"Don't touch me." He drew a ragged breath. "Not yet." He jumped up and pulled her to her feet. "Everything else first. I'm not going to want to stop."
"What-" He was pulling her toward the cave. "I won't go there, Marrok. I'm not one of your town girls who-"
"Hush. The dogs."
In the past few minutes, she had almost forgotten Ned and Wiley.
"Just a little while longer," he muttered as he jerked her into the cave. "I just have to check to see-"
Ned and Wiley were lying against the wall of the cave. Ned did not appear relaxed-his eyes were open and his hip was touching Wiley's. "At least, he's staying put," Marrok said. "That's a start. Now it's up to them." He released her to go over to the ice chest. "And we can get the hell out of here." He opened the chest and drew out the stoppered vial of Paco's potion he had rubbed into his wound. "Now."
"What are you doing? Are you hurting?"
"Oh, yes." He took her arm and pulled her from the cave. "But not my shoulder." He was half pushing, half lifting her up a path past the cave. "It's going to be rough. There's no comfort to be had up here. But with any luck, we won't care."
Her arm was tingling, hot where he was touching her. Her breath was coming short, hard. "Just stop. I don't care where we-"
"I just thought we'd get off the rocks and the shade might-Oh, screw it." He jerked her close and rubbed her body against him. "My God…"
Her stomach was clenching, and she was raw, burning… " Clothes…" she muttered. "Let me go. I have to-"
He was already unbuttoning his shirt and tossing it aside. "I'll help…" He unbuttoned three buttons and was jerking her shirt over her head. "Sorry. I'm in a hurry…"
So was she. Her clothes were gone in seconds. He was pulling her to the ground. The flat rocks were hot and hard against her back and buttocks as he came over her, in her.
Everything was hot and hard; the rocks, Marrok, the tension that was tearing them apart…
"Good." His voice was guttural, his eyes closed. "Don't move. Let me get used to-"
"Don't move?" She couldn't believe it. She was going crazy. He was holding her still, his thighs pressed against her. She couldn't stand it. "Get used to this." She lunged upward, her nails digging into his back.
Fullness.
Heat.
His back arched, and his lids flew open. "You shouldn't have done that," he said thickly. "I was trying-I want it to last."
"Then use one of your tricks you learned from that prostitute in Bangkok. I can't wait."
"I'm afraid I can't either. Not this time." His hips began moving in a deep, swiveling motion.
She cried out, her fingers closing on his shoulders.
"You like that?"
The sensation was indescribable. "Yes," she whispered.
He plunged deep. "And this?"
She bit her lower lip to keep from screaming. "Stop asking me questions. Just do it."
"But I want to ask you questions. I want to know what you like. So I can do it again." He began flexing, moving, plunging rhythmically. "And again. And again."
She had to put an end to this. Or a beginning…
She reached down between them. "Do you like this?"
He inhaled sharply, his cheeks flushing. "Oh, yes. But I don't believe I can take much of that."
"I didn't think so. Neither can I, you bastard. Now stop playing and give it to me."
"Whatever you want," he said huskily as he went deep. "As much as you want…"
"IT WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER in the cave." Marrok's breath was coming in harsh rasps as he moved off her. "It would have been better anywhere but here. For God's sake, I couldn't even wait to get away from these rocks." He put his arm beneath his head and stared up at the searing blue of the sky. "It's not what I planned. Hell, I didn't have a plan. I just wanted it good for you."
"Well, it wasn't… bad." Understatement of the century, she thought dazedly. Primitive, rough, mind-blowing. It was probably the sexual high of her experience. But she wished Marrok would just stop talking and do it again. Once, a dozen times… Good God, that sounded sex-starved. "I like these rocks." She got up on one elbow and gazed down at him. "And I regard it as egotistical of you to take credit or blame in this par tic u lar endeavor. I was actively involved."
He frowned. "I seduced you."
"Bullshit. My choice. I wanted you, weighed caution and lust, and tossed caution out the window." She bent her head and brushed her lips across his shoulder. "And I believe I'm going to do it again."
He shuddered. "My, my. Am I the one being seduced?"
"Yes. You're moving too slow."
His hand moved to cup the back of her head. "I'll try to remedy that. I was being careful. I didn't expect you to be this enthusiastic."
She raised her head to look at him. "Why not?" Then she slowly nodded. "Lester?"
"You had a bad marriage."
"Yes."
"Did you like it with him?"
"At first. Then he started to hurt me. Do you really want to talk about this, Marrok?"
"No, I wanted you to tell me that you hated him touching you."
"I did toward the end. But I'm not going to lie to you. I like sex. It was what drew me to Lester in the beginning. He spoiled practically everything else in my life. I wasn't going to let him twist that for me." She made a face. "Though he saw to it that I avoided men like the plague. It wasn't safe for them."
"Good. That cuts down my competition." He bent his head and licked her nipple. "Did I tell you I like your breasts?"
"No, I don't remember our talking much."
"I do." His hand wandered down her body to her belly. "And I like your skin here. It's tight, but there's a sort of voluptuous fullness…" He started to stroke her, pet her. "I can see why Enright wanted to get you pregnant. There's something erotic and primitive about thinking of you with my child." He kissed her breast again. "I'm sorry," he whispered. "I didn't use anything. Is it going to be okay?"
"Do you mean did I protect myself? Of course." It was a lie. It hadn't been necessary for her to use contraceptives for a long time. "I'm not worried." And that was the truth. She had made a choice and she was content with it. Whatever happened, she would deal with it. It had been worth it. "And will you quit petting my belly as if I were Ned?"
"There's no resemblance." He bent down and delicately licked her stomach. "Enright will never touch you again," he said thickly. "And you'll never have his child."
"Stop talking about him." Her fingers tangled in his hair. "Why can't you just live in the present and enjoy?"
"I told you I had my brooding moments. This must be one of them."
"Then get out of it." She pushed him back and laid her head on his shoulder. "I'm not going to let you spoil this for me." Her lips moved across his shoulder. The skin was tan, smooth, hot beneath her lips from the sun. She paused as she reached the jagged wound on his shoulder. "This is healing very well. You said you healed quickly. Is it because you're around Ned and the other dogs?"
"Perhaps. I don't know. I've been around them most of my life, so how could I tell the difference?"
She brushed her lips across the wound. "Well, it's very clean. I don't think you need your Paco's medicine."
"Maybe not. But I've had fantasies about you rubbing it into the wound since that first day we came up here. Having your hands on me…"
"Have you?" She reached over him, took the vial out of his shirt pocket and opened the stopper. "Pretty weird, Marrok…" She put a tiny bit of liquid on her forefinger and gently touched the wound. "You find this erotic?"
He shuddered. "I find everything about you erotic. At the time it was the only way I could think to get you to touch me."
She rubbed a little potion on his nipple. "How does that feel?"
"It stings a little."
"Shall I stop?"
"God, no."
She rubbed some fluid on his other nipple. "Your heart is beating so hard. I can feel it."
"I wonder why."
"I'm wasting this potion."
"It's not a waste. I can make more."
"Oh, good." She moved down. "Then I can rub some right here…"
He groaned.
"You do like it. But I'll have to get back to that. My hands are shaking."
"Let me do it to you."
"I couldn't stand it. Not right now. But you can do something else for me." She threw the vial aside and moved over him. "Come in, Marrok. Let me feel you…"
"GET UP," MARROK SAID. "WE'VE GOT to pick up the dogs and get down to the plateau."
She didn't want to move. "In a minute."
"Now." He kissed her quick, hard. "Walt's going to be here anytime. Open your eyes and get moving."
"I think he'd wait."
"Yes. He'd probably enjoy waiting," he said dryly. "In case you haven't noticed we're naked, out in the open, and that helicopter will come in low. Great visuals."
Her eyes flew open, and she began to laugh. "I didn't think of that."
"I did." He tossed her shirt to her. "I find I don't care for the idea of Walt gaping at you in the altogether."
"Why not? From what Walt said, you two seem to have gone through similar experiences."
"This is different. Get dressed."
She didn't move. "How is it different?"
"How the hell do I know?" He held her shirt out for her. "Put it on."
She slipped her arms into the sleeves. "It wouldn't bother me. I'm not ashamed of my body, and I'm not ashamed of anything I've done."
"I know," he said gruffly. "You're damn incredible. I didn't expect this kind of openness. No inhibitions. No guilt." He started to button her shirt. "When you make up your mind, you go to the max. It's kind of… wonderful."
She felt a surge of tenderness. She wanted to go back into his arms and hold him.
No, not now. It had been too good, and she felt warm and languid and vulnerable. She might do something, say something to spoil it. Yet she had to tell him one thing. "You're trying to protect me again, Marrok. You don't have to do that. I know it's only sex, and I did what I wanted to do."
"Shut up." His lips tightened. "I'll do what I please." He got to his feet. "Now finish dressing while I go and round up Wiley and Ned."
She watched him stride down the path before she slowly began to put on her clothes. What a strange man he was. Mature, yet he had that streak of boyishness. Reckless, and yet he was a caretaker. Volatile, and yet she felt oddly steady whenever she was with him.
Don't dwell on Marrok's character or the life that had made him what he was. It would be a mistake. When she had decided to have sex with him, she had abandoned her usual code of conduct. She had wanted him and reached out with no thought of restraint. And, by God, she wasn't sorry that she had accepted him as a ship that passed in the night. But there was a danger if she let herself enjoy anything but the sex. She had known from the moment she met him that they were worlds apart in both temperament and background. Marrok's life had made him diamond hard and incapable of being vulnerable to anyone. And you had to be vulnerable to let yourself be open to any emotional commitment.
So enjoy this brief sensual episode but don't forget that episodes always come to an end.
A ripple of pain went through her and panic followed. See, it was already happening. Veer away. Don't think about Marrok now.
Think about the dogs of summer.