Stolen Moment [Enslaved & Enticed] (Siren Publishing Classic) (12 page)

“They’ll need shelter,” Rylie said.

“They have the Jeep,” Turner countered.

“Yeah, they can sleep in the Jeep,” Tasha agreed. “I’m not sharing a tent with that man.”

“It’s obvious they’re coming here,” Rylie said.

“And you’ve hired me to protect you,” Turner countered.

Right then, Rylie wasn’t sure if she wanted Turner’s protection from Trey. Most of all, she wanted to know why he was here. Something must be up.

Sand blowing in the wind pushed Rylie to take shelter in the tent. She caught sight of Turner lifting the scarf that he kept around his neck up over his mouth and face. Rylie heard the walkie-talkie buzz. She lifted it from her belt and pressed the button.

“Go ahead,” Rylie said.

“Why do you think they’re here?” Tasha asked.

Rylie had some suspicions
,
but she didn’t want to alarm Tasha until she knew for sure. “I don’t know. Maybe it has to do with our dig.”

Sand pelted the canvas tent. Rylie peeked out of the entry way, just as the Jeep was pulling into their base camp. Wolf and Trey swung from the Jeep and headed for Turner. Rylie stepped out into the whipping storm. Trey grabbed his bags from the back of the Jeep and rushed for the cover of the tent. Wolf and Turner headed for the other tent nearby. Rylie backed inside as he zipped the tent closed.

“What are you doing here?” she asked.

“I’m moving in.”

“What?”

Trey went to work on a cot he produced from the side of his bag. “I’m funding this little expedition of yours. I want to see firsthand how things are going.”

Rylie couldn’t believe she walked right into his arms again without knowing he funded this trip. “Not possible.”

The corner of his mouth hitched, and she hated how much she loved it. He was on his haunches as he dug through his bag. It was then she realized his face was bruised, and two little white strips kept a cut on his brow closed. A dark five-o’clock shadow was starting on his jaw.

“What happened to your face?” she asked.

“Accident at work.”

It was more than just an accident and she raised her brows. “Really?”

He stopped his search through his bag to look up at her. “I got hurt taking down a suspect.”

“Are you okay?”

A flash of something purely male glinted in his eyes as his gaze went from her dirty boots to blonde hair. She was two days without a bath and planned on dragging the jugs of water she procured from her trip into town to get one later. Having a roommate was going to put a damper on her plans. Maybe her dig odor would keep him away. She turned, giving herself a quiet sniff. She was disappointed to smell her lavender body splash.

“I may need to find someone to nurse me back to good health.”

She liked the pass, but she wasn’t about to fall for it again. “For the love
…
you need to keep walking until you find someone to take care of that.”

He laughed. “I think we’re stuck with each other for the time being.” He stood dusting his hands off. “I have a vested interest in you finding the disk
,
too. Have you found it?”

She glowered. Was the disk cursed too? Would it hurt those she loved if she found it? “Not yet.”

“Huh. Well, I guess we’re in it for the long ha
u
l.”

The wind howled, but sand no longer fired against the sides of the tent. The sandstorm was blowing through as fast as it came on. Trey continued to unpack. “Excuse me, but I have work to do.”

“Are you going back down to the chambers?” he asked.

“Yeah, I am, but you’re not.”

He smiled. “Okay, we’ll do it your way.”

She didn’t like the look in his eye as she unzipped the tent and headed back outside. She marched her way over to Tasha’s tent where Tice was sitting on the lawn chair in front of it. Rylie raised her brows.

“She kicked me out. I guess I’m sleeping in the Jeep.”

“You can bunk with Trey. I’ll bunk with Tasha,” Rylie said.

Tice chuckled. “No offense, but I am not sleeping in the same tent with Trey.”

“Why not?” She didn’t hide the exasperation from her voice.

He deadpanned. “The man has been hell bent on making my life hell for the last three weeks. You wouldn’t have anything to do with that, would you?”

Rylie narrowed her eyes dangerously.

“That’s what I thought. You might want to settle this business between you two. Might make my life not such a living hell.”

Tasha made an appearance, glowering at Tice as she did. “Are we going back down?”

“Yep, let’s go,” Rylie said.

They headed toward the hole in the ground where they would repel down into the chamber. Rylie focused on the slip of her boots in the sand instead of the thought of Trey in her tent. They circled the manhole size break in the ground.

“They’re not leaving?” Tasha asked.

“Nope. We’re stuck with them.”

“Why?”

Rylie frowned as she gathered her harness from the ground where she’d dropped her equipment. She slipped it over her hips, tightening the strap around her waist. “Trey funded us.”

“What the fuck do you mean he funded us? I thought the museum did?”

“Not this time. I don’t know how he’s been doing it.” Rylie shook her head.

Rylie went to work doing a safety check on the rope and the anchors. Things looked good. She was standing over the dark hole as Trey came out of the tent. Rylie could sense rather than see the tension on his face as he headed her way. She flipped on her head lamp as she edged her boots on the side and tested the rope. She grabbed two glow sticks from her pocket, snapping them, and dropping them down into the chamber.

“I’ll see you below,” Rylie said.

Golden sand slid toward the opening as though it suddenly turned into a landslide. Fear snaked through Rylie’s belly. Her gaze flew across the sand as the slide that started as a trickle turned into a rush of flowing sand toward the mouth of the chamber. Tasha grabbed for the rope.

“Get back!” Rylie yelled. “You’re not tied in!”

The ground started to shake. Tice and their armed escorts were sprinting their way. Rylie’s hands tightened on the rope. Part of the ground gave way, causing Rylie to swing right hard. There was nothing she could do to stop herself from falling. Everything slowed as Trey ran for them, diving for the anchor that held in her place. His hands grabbed for the rope. Their eyes locked. There was nothing he could do to save her.

Tice grabbed Tasha and dove backwards as Rylie dropped into the hole like a rock, but she didn’t stop. The rope in her hands spun out, snapping. Rylie screamed as she landed flat on her back thirty feet below.

Dust plumed up around Rylie’s body. There was a huge pile of sand that broke her fall. She groaned, flipping over and coughing. Nothing was broken. Her head was a little buzzed from the impact, but she could see straight.

“Rylie!” Trey shouted.

Light jumped around the floor. “I’m okay!”

“Don’t move! I’m coming down!”

Rylie sat up, dusting off her hands. She pulled on the snapped rope between her legs until the frayed end appeared before her eyes. She frowned. Ropes could crap out given enough force. The ground giving way must have snapped it where it was anchored. Rylie tested her legs as Trey edge
d
over the wide mouth above her head. She was lucky. It could have been so much worse. Trey repelled down fast. He turned, hunching down to touch her face.

“You okay?” he asked.

“I’m okay.”

She couldn’t hide the emotion from her voice. It was such a close call. He pulled her into a tight hug. His heart hammered against her ear. His hands dove into her hair.

“I thought I lost you.”

She heard his voice whisper through her mind.
“Trey.”

“I’m here, babe. I’m not going anywhere.”

“I love you, Trey. I can’t live without you.”

“I know, babe. That’s why I came for you.”

He pulled away. “Let’s get out of here. It’s not stable.”

“Rope!” Tice called. Another rope was thrown through the wide opening.

Trey helped her to her feet and clipped her into the rope. He locked in her ascender, giving it a test. Their eyes locked. Something clicked hard in her heart. She loved him. She wanted him.

“Ready?” he asked.

“Yes, I am.”

He lifted her up off her feet and kissed her hard. Rylie’s legs instinctively circled his hips, and her hands circled his head. She’d missed him something fierce. Tears moistened her eyes as he kissed her with a desperation she felt all the way through her soul. Her pussy fluttered with desire, instantly wetting her panties at the thought of having him again. He broke his lips away, breathing hard. He pressed his forehead to hers.

“I love you, Rylie. I can’t do this without you. I
need
you.”

She felt breathless. “You came all this way to tell me that you love me?”

“Yes. I did.”

Tice whistled from the opening and sand rained down on top of them. “I’m glad you two love birds have made up, but mind hurrying this up.”

Trey let go of her. “She’s coming up now.”

Rylie used her feet to anchor off the side wall as she used the ascender to take her up. When she got to the top, Tice was there to pull her over the edge. She worked her equipment off fast to lower it to Trey.

Night was just starting to settle in as Trey surfaced from the chamber. Cool nighttime air blew across the sand.

“She’s bunking with me,” Trey said.

Tasha’s mouth dropped open as the realization sunk
in
hard. She glared at Tice who gave her an easy smile.

“You can bunk with our armed escorts!” Tasha snapped.

“No room,” Turner said.

“I guess that makes us roommates, babe,” Tice said.

“Nope. You can sleep in the Jeep.”

Tice pretended to be hurt. “I didn’t know you were afraid of the big bad wolf.”

“I’m not!’

Trey lifted Rylie off her feet. “I’m okay to walk!”

“Not until we know you’re okay.”

He carried her easily to her tent, easing her down to her feet when they were finally alone. There was so much she wanted to say to him, but couldn’t find the words.

“Trey.”

“I know, babe.”

“I love you. I can’t imagine my life without you. I shouldn’t have pushed you away. I’m sorry.”

“Rylie.” He kissed her passionately. “I love you too. All this time, I was too afraid to talk to you. I thought I’d lose you forever if you found out the truth. I wish I had.”

She touched his face. There were tears misting his eyes. She felt the power of his love sear her heart. “I know, baby.”

“I can’t do this without you, Rylie.”

“I can’t either.”

“I
need
you.”

“Trey,” she whispered.

“Marry me, Rylie.”

He eased them down onto her cot, making the metal groan. Rylie ran her hands over Trey’s face as he kissed her with sweet little nips.

Trey eased himself to the side as his hand slid down to flip open the button
on
her cargo pants.

Rylie knew that this moment was something much more than the accident. It was then that she knew Trey would do everything in his power to protect her from pain. He was kissing his way down her neck as he flipped open the buttons on her shirt. He pulled it open and groaned appreciatively when he saw her red lace bra she special ordered from Victoria’s Secret. Rylie’s heart was hammering as she stilled Trey by putting her hands on his jaw.

Their eyes met. Outside the wind howled, blowing sand against the tent. Another storm was blowing across the desert. “Yes,” she whispered. “I’ll marry you.”

Something purely male and possessive flashed through Trey’s eyes as the news made him smile. His hand teased her nipple through the lace of her bra. He kissed her, sealing the deal. Trey teased her blouse slowly off her shoulders. A shudder rippled through her as the coolness of the desert night kissed her skin. He undressed her and soon he was standing before her naked. His cock was hung heavy and full.

Rylie leaned forward, licking him into her mouth as she stroked him down. She felt his cock twitch and his balls tighten up. She worked his cock with her mouth, tongue, and hand until he was pulling her away. Every muscle in Trey’s body was flexed hard.

“I’m going to spend all night making love to you,” Trey said.

Rylie bit her lip as his heavy lidded gaze fell to her spread thighs. His hand dipped to her pussy, thrumming a finger over her clitoris. She bowed and he came down on top of her, entering her in one thick stroke. Rylie dug her nails into Trey’s ass as he pumped in and out of her with a controlled ease that made her feel wild. She wanted him faster and harder, but he kept their slow, easy pace. She bucked her hips, feeling her orgasm spiral through her pussy. She cried out as her orgasm worked his cock. Trey’s mouth came down over hers, swallowing her cry of pleasure.

She felt his sex harden and kick out deep inside her pussy. She worked him hard as his cock stiffened.

He thrust in a quick, short, intense stroke. His penis vibrated and he came. This time the heat spread and lingered inside. His shaft pulsated and her muscles followed greedily. Several minutes later the pulsating stopped and he held her close.

“You’re mine,” he whispered.

“Yours.”

“You’re mine, Rylie. Forever.”

He kissed her hard. A shiver scattered over her arms when he pulled her close. “I love you, Trey. I’ve loved you since the first moment I saw you.”

Three weeks later

Sunlight stretched lazily across the skyline. Dawn was on the horizon. It was so beautiful, surreal. Rylie loved looking out Trey’s bedroom window as she awakened. For the first time in months, Rylie felt as though she were at home and that she was safe. She was adjusting to life again. She’d found a purpose working with Trey’s team. The pendant was gone forever, and they were going to take the rest out of the game one
by
one, starting with the cuff. Wolf was taking the lead on this one. That meant more time for her to spend with Trey.