High Risk (26 page)

He didn’t snap out the first thing that came to mind, because if he did, she’d probably
wave his assurances away. Instead, he took a step back. “For the record? I understand
what you meant about Dane and the mountain.”

She nodded, small jerky motions. “Thanks.”

The doorbell rang, and she shot to her feet.

Marcus waved her down. “I’ll get it.”

He cautiously opened the door a crack. What he found on his doorstep made his temper
flare. “You’re not welcome here, Ted.”

The other man shrugged. “Had to try. I’m not the only one looking for information.
Of course, if I get a story then the others will probably back off a little more.
No promises, but it might work. If Ms. James wants to talk?” The reporter raised his
voice at the end.

Marcus crowded forward. “Get off my property.”

The man stared over Marcus’s shoulder. “Sure. No problem.”

Marcus didn’t believe that for a second. This intrusion was only the first attempt.
He knew it. Ted knew it.

When he turned to face Becki, he could tell from her expression she knew it as well.

“They won’t go away because you told them to,” she warned. “They never did when I
was in Yellowstone.”

He paced to her side. “We’ll do what we can to help. All of us will. Maybe there will
be some huge political scandal in the next few days, and they’ll all scurry off to
bother someone else.”

Becki folded her arms over her chest, fingers cupping her upper arms as she rubbed.
“I hate this. I hate not knowing. I hate being poked.” She stared into his eyes, concern
creasing her face. “If they go by rote, we’ll be trapped in your house or swarmed
every time we leave. I’m sorry.”

Marcus slipped his fingers around her neck and pulled her against his chest. “Now
that’s one of those ‘Don’t be stupid and apologize for things you didn’t cause’ statements.”

“I asked to spend the night with you.”

“And it would have been so much better for you to be alone in the dorm rooms this
morning. Where Ted and everyone else would have complete access to you. Bullshit.”

Marcus had thought this through a dozen times, setting aside his conclusions because
she’d asked him not to make decisions for her, but the solution rose again. It was
the only decision that made any sense.

Only he had to phrase this correctly. He’d learned that much.

“Get in touch with your Yellowstone contacts. Once you know what they need, I have
a foolproof solution to get the media off your back.”

Becki backed away, taking a moment before looking at him. Standing strong, but with
that edge of lost in her eyes. “Are you rescuing me, Marcus?”

“That’s what a team does. Do you trust me?” he shot back.

Becki paced to the window and looked out. There was a small break in the clouds, allowing
a bit of brightness to light the view of the town. It also showcased the footprints
just starting to melt on the deck.

She shivered.

Turning to face him, she lifted her chin high. “I trust you one hundred percent.”

Rule three. Trust your team.
The fact that she’d put him into that role—acknowledged there was a connection beyond
casual between them—was enough to make something inside him very content in spite
of the circumstances that brought them there.

Marcus nodded. “Let’s get organized.”

CHAPTER
28

On the seat behind them lay gym bags packed with clothing. Food-stuffed boxes rested
in the truck bed—David met them at the off-ramp to the highway to transfer a load.
He gave Becki a brief hug, slapped Marcus on the back, then sent them on their way.

The three-hour drive that followed was more than enough time to let her relax. Becki
had taken to staring at Marcus since the rain coating the windows and the clouds around
them continued to obscure the view.

He handled the truck with impressive competence. They’d left the main highway behind
more than an hour ago. The less-traveled path they currently followed required four-wheel
drive, the section steep enough to make her heart race, but he maneuvered the massive
vehicle along the narrow rocky road without a qualm. His sure and controlled motions
mesmerized her, along with the complete comfort he displayed driving in the foul weather.

His jaw remained tight—although she was pretty sure that was because he was still
furious at the reasons that had sent them into retreat.

She wasn’t in the clear yet.

“How much farther?” she asked. Again.

His solemn expression broke. “I swear, you’re as bad as the kids in the commercials.
‘Are we there yet? Are we?’ Still thirty minutes if the road doesn’t get blocked by
another tree.”

Becki curled her legs under her and twisted until she was facing him, seat belt still
tucked around her body. “I’m
bored
. There’s nothing to do.”

His snort of laughter made her smile.

“You do that far too well,” Marcus noted. “Although I’m not surprised. Adrenaline
junkies don’t make the best travelers.”

“Actually, that was me channeling my kid brother. He’s eight years younger than me,
so the last couple vacations I did with the family he was young enough to be an annoying
brat. He got way better in his teens, but he sucks at sitting still.”

Marcus nodded. “You mentioned you were a lot alike. You haven’t stopped squirming
since you got in the truck.”

“I feel guilty for running away,” Becki admitted. “And pissed off that I’ve allowed
myself to be chased from Banff by stupid people.”

“Consider yourself kidnapped then, if it makes it better,” Marcus offered. “Don’t
beat yourself up over doing what’s right for you. We’ll have the radio to stay in
contact with the real authorities if they need you for anything. The rest of the people
trying to track you down are not worth worrying about.”

She knew that. And she and Marcus had already discussed the team not needing more
training from her at the moment—areas other than ropes would fill the final week of
boot camp. Now she had to adjust her brain and accept this time was for her. To make
the most of it.

The edge of fear stealing back over her soul infuriated her even as it scared her.
She’d been breaking free of her worries a little at a time, and now they all seemed
to be crowding her again. Depression and darkness—running away from Banff was no guarantee
she could escape from anxiety.

Becki leaned her head on the seat back and watched a drop of water edge backward on
Marcus’s window, pushed by the wind outside.

“You think I’ll keep remembering details?”

Marcus nodded. “It’s likely. From what I’ve heard, there’s usually an emotional reason
for a memory block like yours. Now that more of the story has come forward, you might
figure out exactly what happened.”

She dreaded and longed for that to happen, the conflicting emotions also making her
crazy. “I’m running hot and cold at the idea.”

He didn’t say anything for a moment, just adjusted his fingers on the wheel. “You’re
strong enough to handle whatever the truth is.”

The absolute conviction in his voice made her throat tighten. “Thank you.”

Marcus glanced at her briefly, nodded, then focused back on the road.

Time to change the topic. “Tell me more about the cabin.”

“The lap of luxury.” He slowed to maneuver past a fallen tree. “Four walls, a roof,
and the best view ever. The place is actually David’s. He bought it back when I was
still gallivanting around the globe and was too stupid to go halves with him. Now
he refuses to let me buy him out.”

She peered out the front window. “It’s got the privacy thing down pat.”

He laughed. “Don’t worry, there really is everything we need. Consider this your holiday
before heading to start teaching.”

“Right.” Ahead of them the road leveled, the trees clearing to low brush as they rounded
the edge of the mountain. To the left the clouds were lifting, revealing a long line
of peaks loaded with fresh snow. They were far enough down to stay below the snow
line, the gravel road wet with moisture but not covered with fresh snow. “Tell me
there’s a fireplace and I’ll be happy.”

“Airtight stove, not open fire, but the effect is still the same. The light shining
through the glass window will look beautiful on your naked skin.”

Well, now. “There’s a change of topic.”

“You’re really surprised that I’m bringing up sex? We’ll have a bit of time on our
hands. I thought you might as well know up front how I plan to occupy some of it.”

“Some?” Becki teased. “Marcus, the last time we were holed up together for three days
we did little more than have sex. Oh, wait. When we had to take a breather, we occasionally
ate.”

“We have a bit of food with us. Only for emergencies.”

The laughter that escaped felt good. This was what she needed. Maybe he was distracting
her on purpose, but suddenly the notion of completing what they’d started that morning
seemed a very good idea. “I can handle sex in front of the fireplace. I wonder if
there’s a sturdy table in the kitchen area. Or a big bed? David strikes me as a king-size
kind of guy.”

Marcus choked for a moment, glaring briefly in her direction. “Stop thinking about
my brother and beds, if you don’t mind.”

Oh, really? Becki leaned back in her chair and decided the tormenting-slash-distracting
could go both ways. Although the idea of fooling around with David didn’t turn her
on. He’d been her teacher for too many years.

“It’s not David I wanted to get tangled up with. Just wondering if he’s got the same
furniture designer you have. You know, the headboard with the convenient handholds.
The couch at the perfect height that if I lean over the back you can fuck me from
behind.”

Marcus growled softly, a rumble in the back of his throat. He adjusted position in
his seat and sure enough, the front of his jeans was more crowded than before.

Becki wiggled impatiently, snapping open the button on her pants and unzipping. “I
won’t expect the type of bathroom you have in your house—that kind of opulence would
be pushing it, but then a tiny shower has advantages as well. No room to move without
rubbing skin against skin.”

“Are you trying to make us go off the road?” he asked.

“You’ve got better control than that.” Becki stretched her legs out to the floorboards
and eased her hand into her pants. “Hmm, thinking about all the things we can try
over the next few days—you don’t mind if I start early, do you?”

She slicked her fingers over her clit and gasped, not worrying about staying quiet.
Okay, maybe even making more noise than she usually would.

Marcus peeked at her once or twice, but he managed to keep his focus forward in the
most impressive way. She ignored him for a moment, slowly stroking herself, planning
what she’d do when they got to the cabin to reward him for everything she was currently
putting him through, the sexual teasing the least of it.

“Becki. Pull your hand out of your pants now.”

“Why?
Ohhh . . .
” She moaned the word softly, dragging it out to taunt him. “Feels so good.”

“You know I’m going to get my revenge at some point. I think what you’re doing right
now is usually referred to as poking the bear.”

“I hope the bear plans to poke back.” She pulled her hand free reluctantly. “But if
you insist—”

“Let me taste,” he demanded.

She lifted her hand to his mouth and he sucked her fingers, licking them clean. Circling
with his tongue as he teased, pulsing his lips around the digits lightly as she pulled
her hand free.

The tingling between her legs had nothing to do with her provoking him anymore.

“Slip off your pants.” Marcus’s voice dropped a notch. Deeper. Darker.

He stared straight ahead, but somehow she knew he watched her. Becki didn’t hesitate.
She wiggled out of her khakis and abandoned them on the floor with her shoes. The
leather under her butt was soft and warm, the bare skin pressed against the material
because there wasn’t much back there between her and the seat.

“Thong as well?” she asked.

“Yes.”

She slipped them down her legs and dropped them on top of the pile on the floorboards.

“Put your feet on the dashboard. I love how flexible you are.” He leaned forward and
adjusted the air vents. “Now touch yourself. Tell me what you’re doing.”

A quiver raced up her spine. It was one thing when she was the one in control, trying
to drive him mad. Now, having him turn the tables on her, she felt everything that
much more intensely. Becki adjusted herself so she reclined a little more, widened
her knees, and crept her fingers over her belly. Let the anticipation build.

“Talk to me,” Marcus reminded her, maneuvering them over a bumpy section of road.
The swaying vehicle made her shake slightly in her seat, and she pressed her entire
hand over her sex to try to ease the rising fires.

“I want to take it slow. Pretend you’re the one touching me. There’s an ache inside,
like a ghostly memory of being filled with your cock this morning. I want to have
that back, to remember what it feels like to be stretched by you.”

She dipped her fingers in, sliding over skin that had gone wetter as she thought about
what they were doing. Her touch felt good but lacked so much. “It’s not enough. My
hand. I can tease, but there’s no comparison between this and having you inside me.”

“Rub your clit. Get yourself off fast.” Marcus whispered the words.

She slid her fingers higher, moisture coating her labia. Becki used both hands, opening
herself with one and using the other to rub in tiny circles over the sensitive spot
at the apex of her sex.

Marcus flipped a switch on the dashboard. A rush of sound filled her ears, the strong
current of air from the heaters rushing out and striking her sex dead on.

“Oh my.” She increased the speed, pressing harder as the tingling pulses rose, beckoning
on her climax as the strange sensation of wind blowing over her wet body added to
the tension. It wasn’t as good as a vibrator, but it was enough to make her tremble
on the edge.

“Come for me, Becki. Let me hear you lose control. Let me hear you.”

His words stroked as hard as her fingers, and together they were enough to make pleasure
bloom inside. Body squeezing down, a soft barely there climax.

She wanted him, not her hand, to be taking her over.

She twisted her head to look at him, finally aware they had reached the end of the
journey. Ahead of them a small cabin was neatly set into the trees. When she would
have sat up and put herself in order, though, Marcus interrupted.

“The only thing you need to do is get ready to deal with me.”

Oh my.
Becki squeezed her legs together, squirming upright in her seat as the lust in his
voice wrapped around her like vocal seduction.

They pulled to a stop outside the cabin, but they could have been anywhere for how
much attention she paid to their location. It was all about him, about Marcus as he
put the vehicle into park and flipped the steering wheel out of the way. One more
move slipped the seat back a foot, then he turned all his focus on her, and Becki
nearly stopped breathing.

He smiled. The sinful smile she was addicted to. “Take my cock out, sweet Becki. Take
it out and get me wet.”

Delight trickled over her and she moved, opening his button, unzipping his jeans carefully.
His cock strained against the fabric, the thick ridge making her eager to obey him
and give him what he’d asked for. She reached through the fly of his briefs and his
cock snapped into her palm, hot and heavy as she fisted him.

She’d barely had time to stroke him twice before he growled at her. “Use your mouth.
Cover me and take me deep.”

Becki knelt on the seat, tugging her hair out of the way with one hand and using the
other to hold him upright. She licked the tip where a drop of creamy liquid had gathered,
his masculine flavour racing through her system. Then she stopped teasing and moved
forward readily, opening wide and lowering her head until his cock nudged the back
of her throat.

She closed her eyes and repeated the motion, pulling her lips tight around him as
she lifted, leaning her head to the side to let him see what she was doing.

He hummed with pleasure, his fingers threading through her hair. Then he tightened
his grasp and tugged. A sharp motion, short and controlling, and the buzz of passion
in her veins heightened.