Stowaway (30 page)

She tried to frown but couldn’t feel her brows puckering. What she managed was a grunt of displeasure at his teasing.

“I’ll have to give him extra points for coming to the rescue, though. He’s smart and on the right side of the law. His superiors had nothing but good things to say about him, and the task force commander credits him for rounding up the last of the terrorists. You could do worse.”

Keri glared at him, knowing he enjoyed teasing her while she couldn’t respond. She wanted to warn him that payback was hell, but she had to settle for another grunt. Jack just smiled and kept up the banter until Nick returned to her bedside.

He’d splashed water on his face and combed his hair. She’d gotten used to the five o’clock shadow that always darkened his chin. The smile he gave her made her feel incredibly special. With him nearby, all felt right in her world again.

“Guess I’ll be going now,” said Jack, his tone still heavy with amusement. He patted her shoulder again. “Nice chatting with you.”

Such a tease, thought Keri. She loved her brother dearly but sometimes he deserved a slap upside the head. When the door closed behind him, Nick leaned over the bed and kissed her softly. Then he drew back and held her gaze.

“You scared the hell out of me today,” he told her in a low, deep tone that echoed throughout her body and resounded in her heart. His dark eyes glittered with emotion as he continued. “You’ve given me a few scares since we met, but nothing like today. I died a thousand deaths while Don had that gun pointed at you. I didn’t know what he’d done to you or what he might still do, but I never want to be that scared again as long as I live. You got that, Miss Merritt?”

Keri never wanted to be that scared again, either, or feel so utterly helpless. She never wanted another madman waving a gun in her home or threatening the men she loved. Unfortunately, she tended to love men who regularly dealt with madmen. The thought distressed her to the point of agitation as she tried, but failed, to communicate her own feelings. Sounds got trapped in her throat and her hands refused her efforts to reach out to him.

Nick swiftly apologized. “Sorry, sweetheart, I shouldn’t be laying this on you right now. I promised Nurse E. Morgan I’d let you get some rest. We can talk when you’re better. Why don’t you close your beautiful eyes and try to get some sleep?”

Keri forced herself to calm down. She knew she needed more time to cleanse her body of the toxin. Reluctant as she was to sleep, she was equally impatient to recover from the effects of the drug. Nick brushed a hand over her eyes. She closed them briefly but reopened them to watch him move around the room.

He shed his jacket and tossed it over the lone visitor’s chair. Then he moved to the window and closed the blinds, blocking the afternoon sun. In her peripheral vision, she saw someone enter, and then realized one of the aides had brought him a tray of food. Nick took a seat beside her again, and she slowly drifted to sleep while he ate.

Hours later, Keri woke to the feel of the IV being taken from her hand. She felt a jolt of panic until she heard Nick’s soothing voice.

“The night shift doc said you don’t need any more saline,” he told her from his position at her side.

After removing the needle and taping her hand, co-worker Liz Hart took her vitals and ordered her to sleep tight. He echoed the order, and she obeyed.

The next time Keri woke, it took her a minute to orient herself. The wall clock opposite her bed said three thirty. The room looked familiar, but not from her position. Then the events of the day rushed back, and she felt a surge or alarm until she lifted her arms.

Relief washed over her when she could feel her hands and feet again. She shifted her legs and twisted her head from side to side. Her gaze settled on Nick. Asleep in the straight-back chair, he looked horribly uncomfortable and indescribably beautiful. His right hand rested on the side rail of her bed as if he’d fallen asleep touching her.

She turned on her side, grasped his hand and tugged. His lashes flew up, gaze trained on her. Sleep cleared his expression, and he flashed her a smile.

“Hey there, pretty lady.”

“Hey there, pretty guy,” she replied, her voice hoarse but stronger. His soft chuckle made her smile and she actually felt her muscles responding. “That chair doesn’t look very comfortable.”

“Because it’s not,” he said, standing and stretching.

“How’s your shoulder? I wanted to pound Joy for pounding on it. She must have heard about the gunshot wound.”

“It’s fine.”

She locked gazes with him. “Would you tell me if it wasn’t?”

“No,” he said with a sleepy grin. Her heart did a little somersault. She badly needed to touch him and hold him, to feel him as close as he could get.

“Why don’t you put down this rail and climb in with me?”

She could tell the idea intrigued him. He gave it some thought and then reached behind his back and pulled his gun. He slid the clip out of it and laid it on the bedside stand. Next he crossed the room to make sure her door was closed, and he pulled a curtain around her for more privacy.

After dropping the bedrail, he kicked of his shoes and slid in beside her. Keri scooted against the opposite rail to allow him space, but as soon as he lay down, he gathered her in his arms.

She slipped her arms around him and held him tightly. His grip on her was crushing, but she didn’t complain. Feeling his body snug against hers proved that all her nerves had recovered from the poison. Her body came alive with sensation and pleasure. They held each other for a long few minutes, delighting in the contact.

“Damn, but I’ve missed you,” he said when they finally drew far enough apart to look at each other.

“I missed you too,” she said, lifting a hand to run her fingers through his hair. It felt as thick and silky as always. Next she ran her fingers over his beard stubble, thrilled by the fact that she could feel the bristly hair. “I think the drug has finally worn off.”

“We still don’t know what he used, but the doctors don’t expect long-term damage.”

“Did I miss anything while I slept?”

“Your dad and Jack stopped by on their way home. I think your dad will have a real shiner tomorrow. They stabilized Russ Carson and flew him to a bigger hospital in Knoxville. They caught the second Moville brother trying to cross the Mexican border. All the other terrorists will be transported to a federal lock up later today.”

“What about that Cooper guy in Miami?”

Nick stroked her hair. “No word yet.”

“Who’ll be transporting the prisoners?”

“They’re in FBI custody. Part of my team already headed back to Knoxville. They’ll fly back to Miami in a few hours.”

“Do you have to go with them?”

His hand stilled, and he stared into her eyes. “I should. The lieutenant wants a report filed as soon as possible. There’s Cooper to deal with, the McDowell hearing and a dozen other issues I’ve neglected for too long.”

She’d known he couldn’t stay, but it still hurt to hear him say he had to leave.

“Not the least being the destruction of your home,” she reminded.

He frowned. “That too. I’ll have to file insurance claims. What a mess. I hope Jenson is swimming with the fishes.”

Keri chuckled. “How wicked of you. My dad always said there’s nothing worse than a dirty cop.”

“I like your dad. And your brother. They’re good men.”

Her smile deepened. “I told you they could be trusted.”

“Yes, you did,” he agreed, nodding. “But we detectives like tangible proof.”

“Some things you have to learn the hard way.”

Nick didn’t respond. He cradled her head in his hand and guided her mouth to his. The kiss started out soft and easy, but gradually grew stronger and harder and more passionate. They’d grown breathless by the time their lips parted again.

He pressed his forehead to hers as they dragged in air. “Maybe climbing in bed wasn’t such a good idea.”

“I don’t have any complaints,” she told him. Then she slid a leg between his legs and felt the full strength of his arousal. “Ever made love in a hospital bed?” she asked as she slipped her hands down to his very delectable tush.

A rakish grin split his face. “What if one of your coworkers finds you in a compromising position? You’d be the talk of the hospital.”

“I’m sure I’ve already given the gossips a field day. First I’m brought to the ER after being drugged by a homicidal ex-boyfriend, and then you announce you’re my husband. They’ve probably already realized we spent the past ten days together. I’m branded for life.”

He dropped a kiss on her lips. “Branded. I like the thought of that.”

“You would.”

Nick pulled her close again and slipped his left hand into the opening at the back of her gown. Keri knew she’d totally recovered from the drug when his touch seared her bare skin.

“Not much under this gown, is there?”

“Just panties.”

He made a rough sound in his throat. “Tell me it’s not a purple thong.”

“It’s not a purple thong,” she whispered in his ear. Nibbling on his earlobe, she added, “Red bikinis. So skimpy that Edie gave me a
tsk, tsk
followed by a big thumbs-up.”

He groaned and squirmed. Then he pulled her onto his chest and slid to the middle of the bed. She settled on top of him and cupped his face in her hands. He ran his hands down her back to squeeze her buttocks. Then he massaged the back of her thighs until she moaned with pleasure.

He stared into her eyes. “Consider this physical therapy.”

“You don’t look or feel like any therapist I ever met,” she teased, peppering his face with kisses. “But you sure have great hands.”

He proved his prowess by sliding his hand between their bodies and dipping his fingers between her legs for a deeper, more intimate massage.

“Nick!” Her whisper was part shock, part plea as he continued his bold caresses. She squirmed and rubbed herself against him with increasing intensity. He lifted his head and captured her lips in a deep, wet kiss, his tongue mimicking the motions of his stroking fingers.

Keri locked her fingers in his hair and clung to him as he made the rest of her body tremble with need. Then he tugged at the neckline of her gown until it loosened and fell, baring her breasts to his hungry eyes and mouth. He moaned and caught her left nipple between his lips, sucking deeply. Keri clutched him tighter. When he shifted his attention to her other nipple, she felt the pull of desire deep in the core of her body.

“Nick, please!” she finally pleaded.

“Anything you want,” he swore hoarsely. His dark eyes gleamed with passion as he stared into her equally hungry eyes.

She reached between them and stroked the length of his erection. Just the feel of his thick, hard shaft made her body weep and her muscles clench with desire.

“I want this,” she whispered gruffly then amended. “I need this!”

“Anything else,” he corrected, dipping his fingers deeper and stroking her until she shuddered with desire. “There’s no lock on the door and no condom.”

Keri considered his objections, but nothing compared with her need to connect with him in the most elemental fashion. She desperately wanted the intimacy, but the mention of protection stirred a whole hornet’s nest of trouble.

“Are you diseased?” she finally asked him, staring deeply into his eyes.

He grasped her train of thought in an instant. “No. You?”

“Nope.” She hesitated, and added, “Pregnancy isn’t an issue.”

He stilled his caresses for a minute and just stared at her. “Why wouldn’t pregnancy be an issue? You want a baby? Our baby?”

Keri studied his features for a long minute. His rapt expression and hopeful tone meant he’d be happy if she wanted to get pregnant. His desire to create a child came as a chilling reminder that she couldn’t conceive one.

She rolled off his body until she felt the press of the steel rail at her back. “I can’t have children, Nick,” she told him in a flat, defeated tone.

“Whoa there, come back to me,” he reached for her, but she held him off. “What do you mean? You don’t want kids yet? Or you just don’t want them with me?”

“I like children, and I’d like a family. That’s not the issue. The wreck destroyed my reproductive organs. I had a hysterectomy two years ago.”

She could tell her admission shocked him, but then he quickly suppressed his reaction. He came from a big, loving family and wanted one of his own. Keri understood his desire to have children and mourned the loss for both of them. She might be his current heart’s desire, but she wanted him to have everything he wanted in life.

Unable to bear his pity or his gradual withdrawal from their relationship, she decided to make a clean break of it. When he tried to pull her into his arms, she struggled and shoved him away.

“Keri, please.”

“Drop it, Lamanto, or I’ll ring for a nurse,” she reached for the call button to back her threat with action.

“Don’t shut me out,” he argued. He gave her what little space he could and dropped his hands. “We can discuss it later or never discuss it again. There’s no need to push me away. You’re just feeling especially raw right now.”

“You have to leave soon. You admitted as much. Now’s as good a time as any to break things off. There’s no sense prolonging the inevitable.”

His eyes narrowed. “You don’t mean that. You’ve had a rough couple days and we hit a snag, but we can work it out. Just like the trust issues.”

“We can’t work out the fact that you hate my home and everything about my life. I’d hate living in your concrete jungle.” Tears filled her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. “Long distance relationships suck, and I can’t give you the family you badly want, so there’s really nothing left to discuss.”

Nick slowly climbed out of bed but continued to stare at her with unflinching regard. “You’re tired, battered and under a lot of stress. I’m going to leave before we say something that can’t be forgiven, but I won’t be gone long. When this terrorist mess is cleared up and you’re back to normal, we’ll finish the discussion.”

“There’s nothing more to discuss,” she insisted, fighting to keep her voice steady. She’d never convince him to leave if she got all female and weepy. “It was good while it lasted. Great, even, if you discount all the violence. I couldn’t have asked for a more exciting vacation fling, but I want my real life back.”