Pure Dynamite (32 page)

Lyle swallowed clearly unable to recall the incident. "I'm sorry, man. I—"

Behind them, headlights swept the gravel lot. But as quickly as the car arrived, it sped away with a loud burst of music and laughter.

"A bunch of kids." Adam straightened. "This is
probably one of their drinking spots, which means the local cops patrol it. We've got to go."

Renata's knees complained when she finally climbed out of the car. They'd crossed the Kansas line shortly after sunup, having lost even more time with an unexpected detour caused by road construction. She knew their chances of being recognized in daylight were far greater, which was why Adam had ordered her to crouch down.

Lyle was once again unconscious-via-pills and Adam made no attempt to rouse him.

She squinted against the sun, taking in her surroundings. They were parked in front of a fairly new doublewide trailer set off alone near a creek. Wheat fields stretched as far as she could see in every direction.

"Welcome to the Middle of Nowhere." Adam unlocked the handcuffs and offered her a bottle of water.

She drank greedily, more dehydrated than she'd realized.

"Easy," he said. "Don't get sick guzzling it all at once."

His reminder irritated her. She was the doctor, damn it. She took another sip and capped the bottle.

He pulled her away from the car. "Did Lyle hurt you earlier?"

She bit back the urge to snap at him. Lyle pointing the gun at her head had frightened her terribly. "Physical hurt? No. But I know what he's capable of now, and that scares me. Especially since he mentioned getting rid of me
early."

For a long moment Adam didn't answer. Then, "I
promised in the beginning that you wouldn't be harmed. It's a promise I intend to keep."

He kept his voice low, nearly unintelligible, but sincere. Did she believe him? Oddly, she did. After watching him help the accident victims, she had concluded once and for all that he and Lyle were as different as sun and ice.

To her surprise, Adam moved behind her and started rubbing her shoulders at the exact spot that hurt.

"I know it wasn't comfortable riding on the floor like that."

She started to jerk away, then stopped recalling her plan to soften him. Exactly what Would it take to convince Adam to free her? Bribery? With what? Seduction?

The idea wasn't nearly as repugnant as it had been a few days ago. Was it because she'd do anything to gain her freedom? Yes...

I can do this,
she thought.
Just take baby steps. Fake it.

She shifted closer to him. "Lower, please."

His fingers found the knot of tension at the base of her spine. As he rubbed she pressed backwards, felt his body against hers.

A twig snapped the sound distinct.

Adam stepped away. "Get inside."

She scanned the horizon, sensed someone watching. She should have known the McEdwins would have sentries posted here too.

Adam brought Lyle in right behind her.

"Bed," Lyle said his voice slurred. "And before you ask, no, I don't need her to check me and I ain't sleeping with an IV"

The younger man had barely climbed into the bed before passing out again. Adam did a quick search of the room. He didn
't
expect to find another firearm hidden, but he wasn't taking any chances.

Renata watched, but didn't speak until they were alone in the living room. "He still needs the antibiotics."

"I'll press the issue later, after we've all had some sleep. Right now, he'll just fight us over it."

He unfastened her handcuffs and led her down a short hall to the other bedroom. Adam eyed the king- size bed. It looked like heaven. For what little sleeping he'd be able to do.

Guilt over Renata's predicament weighed heavy. Her well-being was his responsibility. He needed to get her out before Lyle's behavior grew more erratic.

He rifled through the stack of clothes that had been left. Both he and Renata had blood on their clothes from the accident. He probably had glass embedded in his shoulder. He tugged out a clean shirt and found several new articles of women's underwear. He eyed the bras, found himself wishing his request had been ignored. He'd enjoyed seeing her braless. And at night, when they slept, his hands had sought the silky expanse of her back, unfettered by straps.

"Come on." He tugged her toward the bathroom. Having the master bedroom meant they had a private bath. With a window. A ready excuse for not letting her shower alone.

Renata pointed to the window. "Do you really think I'd risk running away knowing there are people skulking around outside?"

His hand came up, cupped her cheek as his thumb stroked the soft skin beneath her chin. "I didn't think you'd take the risk you did before. And I'm not in the mood to argue, so please get undressed."

He turned, ignoring her as he peeled off his clothes before reaching in to turn on the water.

She caught a glimpse of broad shoulders, tight buttocks and looked away. Their last two showers had been fast, sterile affairs which were no less embarrassing.

She took a deep breath and tugged off her jeans. It was less awkward undressing while his back was turned and the sooner she got it over with, the better. She peeled off one shirt, then the other, reminding herself that she had a plan: seduction.

The moment she let the shirt drop from her fingers, Adam turned. His eyes flared as they swept over her. She caught the fire in his gaze, saw his erection move, swell.

He quickly turned away. "You first."

Confused by his actions, she stepped into the shower. He'd been affected but sought to hide it. As if he didn't want to be aroused by her. Why? And how could she possibly seduce her way to freedom if the man wasn't interested?

When she looked over her shoulder, she found him staring with undisguised heat.
He did want her.
She did have some power. Thank goodness. After days of feeling weak, the knowledge made her daring. Reckless.

She turned, faced him fully, and watched his eyes skim from her throat to her breasts. Her nipples drew tight.

Then his gaze dropped to her groin. The warmth that had been building inside her flared. Burned. She had never experienced a white-hot sexual craving. The sensation was heady. Intoxicating. And she shook with a desire that threatened to devour her as she waited for Adam to make a move.

He didn't. He simply stared.

Until she touched him.

She hadn't had a conscious thought to do so, but once her hand moved forward, she couldn't stop. He trembled, fiercely, and bucked as her fingers closed over the head of his penis, clasping it.

She looked down. He was rigid, fully erect. Her hand was tiny against his swollen flesh. Fascinated she slid her fingers lower, grasping the thick shaft. He was rock hard and grew longer at her touch.

Wet from the shower's spray, her hand slipped easily up. She glided her hand back down, shivering at the sensation of silk over steel, felt him harden even more. That he made no move to touch her in return puzzled her.

"God ... damn."

At his strangled curse, she looked up.

"You have to ask me to touch you," he whispered. "But if you're not going all the way, don't start."

His words shocked her. Titillated her. She closed her eyes, breathing with difficulty.
What the hell am I doing?
This was supposed to be about him getting excited. Not her.

If you’re not going all the
way.. .

She couldn't say yes. She didn't want to say no. Yet her hand remained around his erection, unable to release him.

Adam felt as if hot daggers were being traced over his skin, the edge touching but not slicing his flesh. Drawing blood one moment, ecstasy the next. The line between pain and pleasure contracted then expanded.
The dance.

He sensed her hesitation, knew she was torn. Yes, she was turned on. Yes, she wanted him. The proof was written all over her body. Her nipples were hardened into pearls. Beneath his stare, they grew tighter. Made him wonder what they'd taste like in his mouth.

He knew that if he touched her as intimately as she touched him, he'd find her wet. Eager. One finger would prove it, just one finger slid up between those dark curls. She would be hot. Tight.

And the regret would destroy her.
She thought of him as a criminal. A low life.

Christ! What if there were no lies between them? Just desire. The thought was too painful to contemplate.

For the first time in his life, Adam knew the feeling of wanting someone so bad it physically hurt. He had to back away. End it.

As much as he wanted her, he couldn't lose sight of the fact that she was not there of her own free will and didn't know the truth about him or what he was doing.

When they made love,
if
they made love, it would only be after she knew the truth and made her choice accordingly.

This, though, had to stop. He was only human, and she was still teasing his cock with those elegant little hands of her. It was killing him.

Grasping her wrist, he went to yank her hand away, to end it.

But she resisted tightening her hand around him so that when he pulled her fingers hugged his shaft, tugging against him. He felt the head of his cock pop.

Adam's world shifted. He swore violently. After days of torment, that one simple move pushed him over the edge. There was no turning back. No sucking it up. No holding on till later.
Damn her.

With a growl, he pulled away and grasped his own flesh. He hadn't jacked off since he was a kid. Hadn't had the need. Women had thrown themselves at him since he was a sophomore. He was jaded when it came to sex.

Except when it came to her.