Jungle Inferno (33 page)

* * * * *

The rain had stopped by the time the chopper landed on the bluff next to the cabin.

The wind, however, was still strong but Ed battled it skillfully as he set them down. The door to the cabin banged open and Tia, clad in an oversized sweatshirt and rolled-up jeans raced out to the clearing. She stood impatiently to the side as Troy and Rick leaped down, then lifted the litter out. When Faith followed them Tia threw her arms around her.

“Thank God, thank God.” She hugged her friend. “I was so worried. Even though Dan called to tell us you were all okay, I had to see you with my own eyes.” Faith hugged her back, then tugged loose. “Let’s go inside. It’s freezing out here.” The men had carried Mark into the second bedroom and shifted him onto the bed.

Troy was busy shifting the IV bags and setting up equipment. He turned as Faith came in the door. “I could only do basic first aid on the chopper,” he told her. “Give me about a half hour, okay? Those wounds really need better cleaning, some of them need packing and others may need stitching. And it won’t hurt for me to bathe him. He’s got twenty layers of jungle dirt on him.”

“Can I help? Please?”

Troy studied her face, then nodded. “All right. I can use the help. Find something clean to change into and wash up real good. I’ll get everything ready.” It took more like an hour and Faith had to bite her lip to keep from crying again at Mark’s condition. How he’d managed to stay alive was a miracle in itself. Finally they had him thoroughly cleaned, stitched, bandaged and medicated. Faith pulled a little wooden chair up to the bed and sat down.

“I’ll stay with him.”

“All right. I’ll bring you in a better chair, though.”

She gave him a watery smile. “It doesn’t matter. I could sit on nails and not feel it.”

“I’ll bet you could,” he grinned.

The others came in to check on Mark and Tia brought her a mug of tea, having found more teabags in the cupboard.

“You should eat something,” she said. “You can’t live on tea.”

“Later. But thanks.”

She reached for Mark’s hand—the one without the IV in it—leaned forward to touch her forehead to his body and finally, now that it was done, gave in to the flood of tears.

* * * * *

It turned out, of course, to be the scandal of the year. Maybe of the decade. A member of the Senate Armed Forces Committee and the chief of staff to the Secretary of Defense selling information to the world’s most notorious arms dealer. Selling out the men and women fighting to preserve the very freedom those men enjoyed and putting the country they served at risk. Secretary McLean looked as if he’d aged twenty years and Georgia Winslow went into what could only be called seclusion.

The Department of Justice was ruthless in rounding up everyone who had ever been involved with them. And thanks to the efforts of Major Gregorio and Colonel Ryan, they had the information on the money trail and scooped up everything in their accounts.

At the cabin in Maine the men of Phoenix monitored the television reports, angry at the callousness and greed of two men who had jeopardized so many lives, not to mention the security of the country. Joey improved daily, excited that his captain was actually safe and alive and even managed to visit Mark’s room.

Dan, Rick and Mike were gone, back to Phoenix headquarters, although they checked in daily. Only Troy remained behind to take care of his two patients.

Major John Gregorio had flown up on a sunny morning and brought them further information. He spent an hour with Mark, visited with Joey, quietly thanked Troy and asked him to pass along his gratitude to the others.

He shook Faith’s hand firmly before he left, a look of admiration in his eyes.

“You’re a courageous woman, Miss Wilding,” he told her. “You’ve got guts and determination. Captain Halloran’s a lucky man.”

The Phoenix attorney had taken care of Faith’s situation with startling efficiency.

She already had a check from the insurance company and an offer from her publisher to replace her materials. She’d spoken to her parents and assured them she was fine, Mark had called his folks and Tia had gone back to San Antonio to begin rebuilding the materials Faith would need to go back to work.

By the following week the wind died down, the temperature rose and Troy had helped Faith bring Mark out to the cabin porch to get some fresh air and sunshine. Joey was now stashed someplace else and everyone else had tactfully removed themselves, leaving the cabin for Mark and Faith. After she got him inside and the helo lifted off, she insisted that he lie down.

“Only if you join me,” he grinned.

She gave his arm a playful swat as he dropped onto the bed. “You’re in no shape for any funny stuff, soldier.”

“You’d be amazed at what I’m in shape for.” He smiled, but his eyes were dark with need.

“Mark.” Faith busied herself taking off his shoes and socks, tugging down his jeans, pushing him under the covers. “I’m serious.”

“So am I.” He reached up and pulled her down on top of him, then rolled her to his side. “I’m a sick man. You have to do what I tell you. And what I’m telling you is to get under these covers with me right now.”

“I don’t think…”

“Right. Don’t think.” The smile left his face. “Please, Faith. It’s been so long. I need to hold you next to me. Naked.”

Biting back further protests, Faith kicked off her shoes and pulled off her socks.

Removed her clothes and dropped them on the straight-back wooden chair. Gave him an assessing look as if to assure herself he was really okay for this kind of activity, she reached into her large tote and pulled out a box of condoms.

Mark’s eyes lit with amusement.

“A woman who comes prepared. I like that.”

She took one foil packet out and tossed it on the nightstand. By the time she pulled the covers back to slide in beside Mark he’d gotten himself out of his shorts and t-shirt.

His arm came around her to pull him next to her. She’d thought he’d be cold but when she touched him his heat was rising from his body.

She took a moment to indulge herself, running her hands over him, exploring him, assuring herself he was really here and alive. He was thinner, leaner, still recovering from near-starvation. And when she touched the bandage still covering the wound on his leg she wanted to cry.

“It’s okay, Tidbit.” He stroked her back. “I’m fine. It’s over and done and I’m home.”

“I could have lost you.” She buried her face against his shoulder.

“Not a chance.”

He tunneled his fingers in her hair and pulled her head toward him. They’d had a lot of kisses since the rescue but none as hot and searing as this one. His tongue probed inside her mouth at once, touching every slick surface, dueling with her own tongue.

She was so hungry for him she wanted to just devour him. He ate at her mouth, his tongue everywhere, his lips still rough welded to hers.

He shifted slightly so she was lying more on her back, his mouth still glued to hers, and traced her body with his free hand.

“When I was in that tent,” he told her, breaking the kiss, “I thought about this all the time. Touching you. Feeling the weight of your breasts in my hands. The swollen tautness of your nipples. Your skin that feels like rich satin.” Faith rested her hand on his chest, running her fingers over the soft hair against the hard wall of muscle. Scraping his nipples with her fingernails and smiling when he sucked in a breath.

“Feel my cock,” he whispered, his voice husky. “Feel what just your touch does to me.”

She slipped her hand down his flat stomach to find his penis hot and rigid and very swollen. And erect. Curling her fingers around it she pumped up and down, once, twice.

“Not too much,” he cautioned. “I dreamed about this all the time I was in that stinking jungle. I want to last more than five minutes.”

“No worries,” she promised. “Tell me what to do to make it easier for you.” She knew he was still fighting residual pain and some difficulty with movement.

“Straddle me,” he said. “Climb on my chest. I want to see and taste that delicious pussy of yours.”

Lithely she moved herself so her thighs were on either side of him and her cunt was barely an inch from his mouth. He opened her with his fingers and for a long moment just stared. She knew she was very wet. Had been from the moment she felt his naked body next to hers.

Very slowly he brushed the tip of one finger back and forth over her clit and her cream gushed onto his chest, making him smile.

“Damn. You’re really ready for me, aren’t you?”

“I’ve been ready for weeks.”

He worked her clit, watching her face, his eyes dark with passion. She rocked back and forth, his soft chest hair rubbing against the wet lips of her pussy. She felt his hands on the cheeks of her ass as she moved her that final inch closer to him and then his tongue was on her, licking her, tasting her, and fire streaked through her everywhere.

Mark was afraid
he
wouldn’t last long? She had her doubts about herself.

He lifted his mouth from her pussy, gripped her hips and slid her backward.

“I think we need that condom about now.” She almost didn’t recognize his voice.

Faith moved off his body, but before she got up from the bed, she pulled the covers back and let her gaze sweep over him. His cock stood proud and erect, waiting. Yup, he was ready.

“You’re going to have to do most of the work, Tidbit,” he cautioned.

“My pleasure,” she assured him.

She ripped the foil packet open, climbed back onto the bed and slowly, slowly rolled the latex onto him.

“Can you possibly hurry it up a little?” he asked through gritted teeth.

She gave a tight little chuckle. “I want to make sure you enjoy every minute of this.”

“Believe me, I’m enjoying it. Come on, Faith, I want to be inside you. Right now.” She positioned herself over him, her thighs on either side of his, and slowly lowered herself onto that thick shaft. When he was all the way inside her she leaned her head back and closed her eyes, letting the sensation of him sweep over her. This was it. This was where she belonged. This was what life was all about. Mark so deep inside her they were almost one person.

And then she moved, slowly at first, then increasing the tempo, watching his face, his eyes, seeing the flush of desire on his cheeks. His hands gripped her waist and he pushed her to increase her pace.

“Faster,” he told her. “More.”

This wasn’t the erotic fireworks or sizzling combustion of previous couplings. This was slower, sweeter, deeper. This was so much more than sex. It was love. It was forever.

Faith rocked back and forth then sped up her tempo again. When the orgasm hit them it was slow and long and sweet, starting low in her belly and rising like an encroaching tide to sweep through her body. Mark’s hands tightened their grip on her and his cock flexed inside her as he spurted into the sheath. Her cunt muscles pulled at him tighter and tighter, drawing every drop of cum from him as her climax continued to roll through her. She was stretched out on an endless rack of pleasure and Mark was right there with her.

She had no idea how long the pleasure gripped them, but at some point it eased and she fell forward on his chest. Her breath was trapped in her throat and her heart hammered fiercely against her ribs. She looked up at Mark’s face and saw him staring at her, so much emotion in his eyes it made her want to cry. She smoothed her fingers over his lips.

“I love you,” she whispered.

“I love you more,” he said.

They lay like that for a long moment before he spoke again.

“Help me get this condom off and then I think I need a nap.”

“Right there with you,” she grinned.

For so long she’d been afraid she’d never be able to sleep next to him again. Now she cuddled close, spooned against him, the steady beat of his heart thudding against her back in a comforting rhythm. She closed her eyes and gave thanks.

* * * * *

Later, after soup and hot bread, they sat out on the porch to watch the sunset, side by side on the wooden settee. Mark picked up Faith’s hand, playing with her fingers.

“We wasted time, Tidbit. Far too much time.”

“You didn’t know,” she started.

He placed a finger on her lips. “I was too rigid. Too set on what I should and shouldn’t do. Lying in that tent, afraid I’d never see you again, I made a promise to myself.”

“Oh?” Her lips curved in a smile. “And what was that?”

“The minute I can stand up before a justice of the peace, or a minister, or whatever you want, we’re getting married. And I don’t want you to argue with me about it.” She felt tears starting again. For days now she’d felt like a leaky faucet. “Are you sure you want to make the kind of decision now? You’ve been through so much.”

“That’s the very reason I want to do this.” He placed a fingertip under her chin and turned her to face him. “I love you, Faith. I’ve wasted enough of my life putting it off.

You’re going to have to rebuild your house. I want us to do it together.”

“I don’t want you to give up what you’re doing,” she insisted. “It’s dangerous but I know how committed you are to it.”

“Yes, I am. What I do is important to me and I couldn’t live with myself if I turned my back on it. But I’ll do it a lot better knowing you’re in our home waiting for me. Say yes, Faith and let’s get this show on the road.”

“Oh, Mark.” She leaned over and hugged him. “Of course I’ll marry you. Just as quickly as we can.”

“You are the anchor in my life,” he told her.

“As you are of mine.” She gave him a watery smile.

“But remember. No matter where I am, no matter how remote or isolated my location, I’ll always be able to tell you how much I love you. You’ll always be able to hear my message.”

“Same goes, my love.”

“And those messages will be the bond that ties us together. No matter what.” He kissed her then, a kiss so full of love and promise her heart swelled. A kiss that sealed a future as bright as the sun shining on their faces.

About the Author

I always wonder what readers really want to know when I write one of these things. Getting to this point in my career has been an interesting journey. I’ve managed rock and roll bands and organized concerts. Been the only female on the sports staff of a university newspaper. Immersed myself in Nashville peddling a country singer. Lived in five different states. Married two very interesting but totally different men.