Total Surrender (10 page)

His gaze penetrated her, and a long shiver wound down her spine. His gaze darkened. Yeah. He’d seen the shiver. Damn it.

“Are you sure?” he rumbled.

Her voice trembled. “Yes.”

“Okay.” He reached for her discarded clothing to lay out near the fire.

His acquiescence sounded temporary somehow.

As she shoved away sexual desire, the cold took over. She tried to bite her lip to prevent her teeth from chattering. Tremors shook her shoulders, but her feet remained planted. To get nearer to the fire, she needed to get closer to Jory, and the safest spot for her right now was on the other side of the sofa.

Finished with his task, he turned to survey her, more heat in his gaze than from the fire. “You’re still cold.”

She shook her head. “Keep your clichéd ass on that side of the sofa.”

He smiled and reached over the back of the couch.

She couldn’t help her smirk. No way could he get the leverage to lift her. Nobody was that strong.

So when he wrapped strong hands around her arms, she didn’t struggle. Then he lifted her. She yelped as she all but flew over the back of the couch to impact his corded chest.

So much heat enfolded her, she forgot all about the cold. Her breath caught, and her body began to hum.

Turning, he dropped onto the sofa with her cradled in his arms.

She gaped. “That’s not normal strength.”

“You don’t weigh
that
much.” He settled her more comfortably on his lap.

“Hey.” She wanted to punch him, but so much warmth came from his fit body that she had to fight the urge to snuggle right in. Or turn and straddle him. Her mouth actually watered with the need to run her lips across his unbelievable neck. Strong cords tempted every taste bud she had.

The fire heated her other side, catching her between two infernos. With the storm outside, the fire’s glow inside added a surreal intimacy to the moment. If she forgot herself, if she let go of suspiciousness and reality, she could jump right into the heat.

He snuggled her closer, and her eyelids dropped to half-mast. Maybe she’d been more chilled than she’d feared, because she was completely losing control.

“Just relax, Piper. You’re safe.” His breath brushed her hair, and her body went on full alert. Full, sexy, sitting on a hard male alert.

Her lips almost touched his bronze skin. “This is unbelievable.”

“I like it.”

She breathed out. “I’m sure. Don’t tell me. You imagined us in a romantic cabin with a storm outside—both of us nude and warming up. You’re kidding me, right?”

“That’s not how I imagined us.” His lips barely grazed her forehead. The husky tenor of his voice caressed her, zinged right through her, and landed hard between her legs. Right where she wanted him to be.

She knew better. Yep. She totally knew better, but she asked anyway. “How did you imagine us?” Then she held her breath. God, she truly was a moron.

“Under the stars, you on your hands and knees, me taking you from behind.”

Her nervous system sparked alive, while her chest hitched. The image smashed into her brain, vividly alive and vibrant. Desire flushed through her to heat her sex. “I, ah, didn’t expect you to be graphic.”

“Sometimes honesty is graphic.” He shifted, the powerful muscles in his chest moving against her back.

“This can’t happen, Jory.” Sitting in his arms, warmed by the fire, it was difficult to keep a grasp on reality.

“I know.”

His easy acceptance spiked down her spine. “You kidnapped me, and you’re my father’s enemy.” Yet confusion swirled through her brain. Not her body, though. Her body was all in right now, hungering for the man holding her so tight. “I’m sorry.” Why did she apologize? Maybe because reality sucked, and she wished for a fantasy. With Jory. She so had to change the subject, and she had to uncover the truth. Any truth, because too much wasn’t adding up. “You said you have brothers. Are you the oldest?”

He shook his head. “Nope. I’m the youngest of four.”

She blinked. “If that were true, I’d be surprised. You’re so in control of everything.”

His laugh rumbled through her. “Then you should meet my oldest brother, Mattie. Talk about in control.”

She played with a loose string on the blanket still covering her. “You also said that my… the commander… raised you?”

“Yes. They created us and raised us as an experiment—as soldiers. My first kill happened when I was thirteen. A drug overlord in a jungle that doesn’t even exist any longer.”

Her chest hurt with the idea of his childhood—real or imagined. He sounded like he was telling the truth, but he was trained, right? Though how could she be this attracted to him otherwise? “Is that true?” she whispered.

“Yes.”

He sounded so truthful, but how could that be? “I don’t understand. The military doesn’t just create people.”

“I don’t think the commander has exactly worked within the military guidelines his whole life. He really is the one who had the chips implanted near our spines.” Jory let out a low groan when Piper wriggled to get her balance on his hard groin.

She stilled. “Um. Sorry.” How could he be telling the truth? “If they created you, why were you in a cell?” Even half turned on by the impossibly hard body surrounding her, she felt nausea spiraling through her stomach. Could it be true?

Jory brushed his lips across her forehead in a gesture far more comforting than she’d ever received from her father. “We escaped five years ago. Blew up the Tennessee compound and got loose—even went to Disneyland for a week.”

Her mind spun. “I can’t take all of this in. It doesn’t make sense.”

Jory’s large hand cupped her head and pressed her into his neck. “Try to get some sleep. I’ll head over and secure a cell phone from the fishing cabin in a couple of hours when the men there pass out.”

She lifted her head to face him. “I’m not sure whether or not to believe you.”

“I know.” He smoothed the hair from her face. “I don’t blame you.”

Then why did she feel so damn guilty? Her gaze dropped to his lips. Full and sensual, she already knew the kind of electricity they could generate.

“Piper?” he asked.

Damn. She leaned forward, pressing her mouth to his. Just for saving her from the river, just for being somebody she wished she could know better. Just to quench the fire crackling in her nerves.

He inhaled, going still.

Possessed by something unreal, she flattened her hand over his chest and molded her lips to his.

With a sound of torment, his mouth moved, and he took over. Completely. Cupping her head, he held her in place, going deep. His tongue played with hers, while his body enfolded her.

She kissed him back, fire lighting down her spine. So much need.

The kiss went on forever until she was writhing on his lap, needing more than anything to get closer. So much closer.

Finally, he broke the kiss, levering back to study her.

They both breathed heavily, and lust had turned his eyes a dangerous midnight-filled smoke. His cock pulsed full and hard right beneath her buttocks.

He licked his lips.

She groaned.

Then he shook his head. “This can’t happen.”

“I know.” Her voice came out breathy. More than anything, her body wanted this to happen. Her mind knew better. “I’m sorry.”

His grin was slow. “Don’t be. This just became one of my
favorite memories.” At the sweet sentiment, he once again tucked her into his neck. “Go to sleep, Piper.”

She sighed into his heated skin and tried to relax. While her body’s need didn’t surprise her, the ache in her heart surely did. There was a lot more to Jory than she’d expected, and the fact that she wouldn’t be able to peel his layers hurt somewhere deep inside.

Not only had he kidnapped her, but she wasn’t sure whether or not to believe him. She wanted to, but honestly? Soldiers created in test tubes? Unbelievable. Even so, she kissed him on the jugular—a good-bye and sadness for what could never be.

He responded by tightening his hold and dropping his chin atop her head. “I know,” he whispered. “I know.”

J
ORY KEPT HIS
back to the cabin door, waiting. The rain continued to pummel the earth, while thunder bellowed and lightning struck like an angry child. As storms went, it was a master.

He’d tossed on wet clothes, run through the woods, and had easily confiscated a cell phone from the snoring fisherman to text a coded message to his brothers around dawn. Yet another day closer to the chips exploding—four days left on earth for him. More than anything, he’d wanted to call his family, to hear a familiar voice, but he knew better. The coded text would bring his brothers to him as soon as possible.

Man, he hoped they were all alive and well. Dr. Madison had lied to him before, and he wouldn’t be surprised if she’d lied again about their being alive. But in his heart, wouldn’t he know if something had happened to one of his brothers? Something deep in him, past his gut, would hurt. Bad.

Piper slept inside, sprawled on the couch, her slumber punctuated by restless movements. He’d waited until she’d fallen asleep before heading out for the cell phone. Yeah, he’d thought about tying her up to ensure she didn’t run again, but he just couldn’t bind her.

She’d trusted him completely in the river, and then she’d tried to save his life. In his book, that meant he worked with her instead of against her. If she wanted to run, he wouldn’t stop her.

Plus, the woman had been
out.

Now, he waited. For nearly two hours, he’d been on high alert… waiting. For any sign, any sound, any damn vibration in the air around him.

He could see vibrations. Always could.

But the storm was fucking with his perception, causing his shoulders to tighten harder than rock. And even after running through the storm for the cell phone, his dick remained at full attention. Having Piper on his lap had nearly killed him, and letting her fall asleep, so warm and naked, had taken every ounce of control he possessed.

She’d been vulnerable, and he might have been able to seduce her. But while he hadn’t had a mama to teach him right from wrong, he knew the difference.

Piper should be protected at all costs. Even from him. Shit. Especially from him.

A vibration of a different frequency caught his attention.

The door opened inward behind him, and only his sure stance kept him from landing on his butt. “Go back inside,
Piper.” He tried to keep his voice low and controlled while staring into the storm. Something was coming.

“No.” She slid to his side, her knuckles white on the blanket wrapped around her. Tentatively, she reached out to touch his arm. “Why are you standing outside?”

The pretty woman liked physical contact, and her touch was gentle. He shut his eyes to just feel. He’d been with women before, and he’d actually liked a couple of them. But this one had a softness to her, a natural way of touching that spoke to his heart. It was all Piper, and he wished he could know more of her. Know all of her.

“Jory?” she asked, still caressing his arm. She probably didn’t even know she did it, and that made the moment all the sweeter. “Come back inside. The storm is getting worse.”

She was a temptation, but he could hear a helicopter coming from a distance. Fast and flying low. The air shifted around him just enough that his eyelids flipped open. “Go back inside, beautiful.” Somebody was coming—either the commander or Jory’s brothers.

If the commander had intercepted the message, the bastard needed to believe Piper had been taken against her will. So she had to get inside and look like a prisoner.

If Jory’s brothers were coming, he wanted a chance to explain who she was before they started making plans.

More important, he wanted a moment alone with them.

“I’m staying,” she breathed.

A light flickered through the clouds. He settled his stance, gauging the forest for secured areas. Were his brothers coming, or would he need to run for cover?

If the commander had somehow intercepted his message, then he’d bring four soldiers on the copter, fully armed. Jory would need to incapacitate one soldier in order to confiscate a weapon. He’d need only one gun against the four soldiers.
The commander had no clue as to his true killing abilities, and neither did the other soldiers.

If the commander had sent only one helicopter, he’d drastically fucked up.

Jory turned and set Piper inside, shutting the door before she could blink, much less protest. Then he crossed to the side of the cabin and crouched, ready to attack the first man to hit the ground.

He welcomed the sense of battle into his movements. For years, as a cadet, he’d spent time waiting. Always looking out windows. He banished all memories of being a frightened kid in the facility waiting for his brothers to return from war.

There was no fear, and his reality was war.

Helicopter blades whipped through the early morning. An unfamiliar Blackhawk dropped onto the ground, slowly going quiet.

He prepared himself to spring. His muscles tensed, vibrating with the urge to run and rip off the door of the helicopter.

The pilot’s door opened, and a figure stepped into the storm.

Emotion hit him like a bat to the gut. “Mattie,” he croaked. Then he was running. Hard and fast across uneven ground, through the pelting rain, straight for his oldest brother.

They impacted with the sound of muscle hitting muscle. Matt caught him in a hug that was hard, fierce, and definitely home.

Tears and rain ran down his face, and he truly didn’t give a shit.

He leaned back and took a shuddering breath. “Matt.”

Matt nodded, emotion swirling in his eyes. Fierce and strong, he’d gotten even bigger in the last two years, danger all but cascading off him like steam. “You okay?”

So much more than the mere words lived in the question. “Yeah.” Jory’s shoulders settled. “I’m good. You?”

“I am now.” Matt grabbed his arms and looked deep.

Jory nodded. The only thing Matt had ever asked of him was to stay alive, and he’d done it. “Yeah. I’m really okay now.”

Matt nodded, his chest visibly settling. “We left you all alone. I broke my promise.”

Ah. Their mantra from childhood.
Never alone.
“No, you didn’t. You trained me to survive, and I did. You made sure I was never alone, and here I am. Definitely not alone.”

Something eased in Matt’s eyes. Something haunted now cleared.

A side door slammed open. Rough hands whipped him away from Matt, and Nate had him tight, holding on. He laughed and clapped him on the shoulder. “It’s you. It’s really you,” Nate said on an exhale, joy in the sound.

Jory smiled as he could actually feel tension drain from Nate. The middle brother had split his time between ensuring Matt stayed sane and trying to keep the younger brothers safe. Having a brother lost somewhere would’ve tortured him. “I’m fine, Nate. I missed you.”

“Missed you more, brother,” Nate croaked. He smiled at Matt, relief curving his lips.

“My turn.” Shane Dean yanked him close, hitting his back hard enough to bruise. “God. I knew you were alive. I
knew
it.”

As the youngest brothers, Jory and Shane had shared everything. He’d worried about Shane, who was often angry. Jory nodded and stepped back. “You okay?”

Shane wiped his eyes. “Yeah. Now.” He shook his head, his muscles visibly vibrating. “So many times everything got dark, and I thought we’d lost you. So fucking painful.”

Jory’s eyes filled again, and he hugged Shane one more time. “It’s all good. We’re together.”

Shane leaned back and chuckled right into the rain. “Good? It’s a fucking miracle. Thank God.”

Jory took them in. To see them. Three men, tough as steel, standing in the rain and welcoming him home. Identical gray eyes, rock-solid bodies, and pure emotion cutting lines in their faces.

“I’m sorry,” he said. He’d hurt them by disappearing, even though he hadn’t had a choice.

“Shut up.” Shane punched his arm as if he couldn’t help touching again. He’d kept his brown hair shaggy to his collar as a
fuck you
to their military upbringing, and he had to shove it out of his face in the wind. “Are you all right?”

“Yes. Was shot, was in a coma, and am now here.” He could barely speak in complete sentences. They were alive… and together. Finally.

Matt nodded. “We know. Saw the tapes. Do you know who shot you?”

“No.” It didn’t surprise Jory that his brothers had chased down what had happened to him. “Any ideas?”

“A woman is all we know,” Matt growled.

Jory bit back a wince. The only woman in his life was Dr. Madison, the closest thing he had to a mother. Even though she didn’t consider him human, the thought that she’d really try to kill him spiraled nausea into his stomach. “Madison shot me?”

“Maybe. Maybe not.” Matt ran a hand through his black hair, his gaze roaming over Jory’s shoulder. “Speaking of women, who is that? I can hear her heart beating hard enough she sounds like she’s about to have a coronary.”

Jory swallowed over the lump in his throat as he turned to view Piper. She stood on the porch, her green eyes wide, her hands clutching the blanket like a lifeline. “That’s a long story.”

“Then I suggest you tell it,” Matt said, keeping his gaze on Piper.

Jory grinned, joy all but whipping into him. Two years
apart, and Matt slid right back into giving orders. “Fine, but she decides her next move. I won’t have you kidnapping her if she wants to go back.”

Nate frowned, his rugged jaw square and stubborn. “Back where?”

Man, this was going to be tough.

A vibration cut through the air. Low and… heavy. An attack helicopter armed with missiles. Jory stilled and glanced up. “Did you bring reinforcements?”

“No.” Matt reached for a gun in his waistband and shoved a Glock into Jory’s hand. “Do you sense somebody?”

While his brothers all had enhanced senses and gifts, he was the only one to detect vibrations and changes in cosmic patterns. “Yes.” The air moved as if an attack helicopter flew low.

He turned to view Piper. Heat washed down his torso, and blood rushed through his head, echoing in his ears. If they sent in missiles, she’d die. “I’ll get the girl. Load up.”

Piper tried to tuck the blanket more securely into her breasts, keeping them covered. Chills swept up her bare feet against the rough planks. So Jory had gotten dressed and called for help? The reunion with his brothers—and there was no question they were brothers—had spiked tears in her eyes and pummeled her abdomen with emotion.

So he had been telling the truth.

The men were huge and cut muscular hard. Dangerous men, without question. Yet a sweetness lived in the moment as they’d reconnected. Family. Definitely family. One that wasn’t afraid to let tears show.

The reunion nearly broke her heart. How long had they been apart?

Why had her father lied about Jory’s family? More important, what else had her father lied about? A hollowness echoed through her abdomen.

Four pairs of identical gunmetal gray eyes focused on her, yanking her out of her thoughts. An absolute pinning focus. Her knees trembled. She couldn’t move.

She gulped air. Who the hell were they? Really?

Running seemed like a good idea, yet totally absurd. Her mind clicked scenarios and reality into statistical analysis. Shoeless and wearing a blanket, she wouldn’t make it three yards—and she’d probably lose the blanket.

So she lifted her chin and met Jory’s gaze directly. He’d been careful with her, and he’d saved her from drowning. If she had an ally in the gray-eyed group, he’d be it.

He glanced up, said something to the others, and then all hell broke loose.

A weird pattering sound filled the morning, while men dropped from the skies on ropes. Jory raced across the distance in a zigzag pattern. She held out a hand to stop him, her mind fuzzing.

He reached her, yanked her up, and smacked her in a chest hard enough to knock the wind out of her. Without missing a stride, he turned in one smooth motion before she could utter a word. She grabbed on to his shirt for balance and screamed. He ducked his head over her to zigzag back toward the helicopter. Mud popped up next to them, and she gasped. Her mind swirled.

They were being shot at.

Jory’s brothers’ helicopter whirred into action, and his family leaned out, all shooting at the men in black who’d dropped from the sky.

One of the brothers jerked back, growled, and kept fighting.

How badly was he shot?

Jory bent low over her, protecting her. Panic heated up her lungs, all reality faded, and she started to struggle.

She had to get out of there. Away from the shooting and blood.

They reached the helicopter, and her fists pounded into his chest. A man shouted as he ran around the cabin, and she turned to stare.

Her father. She gasped. He faltered and stopped firing, his black eyes blazing. “Your brother gave you up, Matt. Brought you right to me.” His voice rose like power over the fight and through the rain.

Jory faltered. “Asshole.”

“Let me go.” Piper shoved at Jory’s chin, squirming to keep him from throwing her in the copter. She didn’t know him—not really. Where were they going? What about her mother? Piper couldn’t just leave.

“Let Piper go. Now.” The commander braced his legs as if unafraid of any bullet.

“No.” Jory used his body as a shield around her, and she tried not to find comfort in his protection. This was over the top.

The commander slid dark glasses off his eyes, his gaze sliding to the front of the craft. “Matthew. So good to see you again. Come home, boy.”

Jory’s black-haired brother leaned out the pilot’s window, his gun out. “I have a new home, asshole. Leave us alone, or I’ll take you out.” He ducked back as bullets pinged into the side of the copter. “Everyone load up,” he ordered, returning fire.

He sounded a lot like Jory, in control and threatening.

The commander ducked to the side of the cabin and out of the open.

Jory bent low, holding her against the metal as his brothers fired around them, providing cover. “One chance to come with us. I won’t force you.”