Master of the Abyss

She hadn’t meant the search-and-rescue trip; she’d meant Mimi. But he couldn’t deal with that now.

He smiled when Kallie shooed the children back to their games and picked up a towel from the grass. Probably heading toward the lower falls. Jake debated following her. No, he’d best be polite and let the Lowerys know of his arrival. He crossed the meadow and detoured to pet the old horse cropping grass in the shade.

“Hey, it’s Jake!” Tamara gave a shriek like a miniature cougar and ran to him, splashing through the stream. Little brown-haired imp. Kallie had undoubtedly looked like that as a child and had probably had the same energy level too. He swung the munchkin up with a laugh, tucked her under his arm football-style, and carried her to her parents.

“I was in the area and thought I’d drop in,” he said. “Help Kallie with setting up and cooking.”

From the smiles they exchanged, he hadn’t fooled them with that excuse. Either he was more obvious than he’d thought, or they noticed he had only a daypack and no tent. Mark grinned and pointed downstream. “She was planning to wash up.”

Wash up… Bending over, splashing her face with water. He could almost see how she’d have her ass up in the air. He remembered how it felt to hold her hips and drive into her heat. Bury himself deep and take his pleasure.

Hell, now he’d grown hard as a rock. He shook his head. “Be good parents and keep your children here.”

As Mark laughed, Laura snickered and said, “We can do that. Have a nice time, dear.”

“Oh, I will.”

* * *

Enjoying the peace, Kallie stripped and dunked in the stream. Such cold water. Goose bumps formed on her skin, and her nipples peaked. With a happy sigh, she settled onto the seductively warm, flat granite to sunbathe. Overhead the sky was a clear, blue bowl. Bees buzzed happily, and a dragonfly flitted at the edge of the water. Legs stretched out in front of her, she leaned on her hands as water trickled from her wet hair down her back.

A rustling sound came from the trees a few feet away. She lunged for her clothing…and Jake stepped out of the forest.

Jake. Her heart did a somersault. A painful one. He’s here. Here, here, here.

So tall and lean. His shoulders military straight. His prowling gait said, Attack me and I’ll kill you. Until then, I’m going to enjoy myself. In faded jeans, hiking boots, and a white T-shirt that set off his darkly tanned skin and curved over every muscle, he looked like sex on the hoof.

Her body woke as if someone had plugged her into an electric socket.

He spotted her, and his smile blazed in his face. “Well, what have we here?” As his easy gait changed to a stalk, the fire in his gaze made her insides melt.

She took a step back, not exactly sure why, but hell, she wasn’t dressed…at all.

“I planned to sit and discuss your concerns first. But then I saw you.” As he stopped in front of her, the sun lines at the corners of his eyes deepened with his smile. “Do you realize you’re naked?”

“Um. Yeah?”

He took her hand and set it on the thick bulge in his jeans. “Talking can wait.”

He only wants me for sex. That’s all. Well, maybe that was enough, she thought, although her heart squeezed in disagreement.

His brows drew together as his eyes narrowed. “Then again, perhaps we should talk.”

Like that would settle anything? He had his rules and wouldn’t change them. So maybe she’d make a few of her own. Yeah. Like they’d have a clandestine affair, never be seen in public together. Very James Bondish. Her laugh almost sounded natural. “We’ll talk later.”

The feeling of his thick cock under her hand set up an irresistible longing to have him inside her. She started to undo his belt and hesitated, a concern pushing through the heat searing the air around her. “Children, there’s-”

“Laura will keep them close.” He tilted her chin up, and the scrape of his fingers seemed to sandpaper every nerve on her body.

“Okay, then-”

His scowl stopped her cold. “We’re going to discuss the battle on Independence Day. My British army shouldn’t have lost. We had more soldiers. Better soldiers.” He frowned and shook his head. “No, the only way we could have lost was if someone poisoned my troops.”

“What?” Weren’t we just thinking about sex a minute ago?

“You’re a Yank. High in their councils. You must know what was done to my men.” His fingers tightened. “And I will discover everything you know, little spy.”

“But-”Spy? Apprehension mingled with excitement as she remembered his threat from the Fourth: “You’d best be careful, soldier. If I capture you, I’ll be forced to conduct an interrogation. There are many, many ways to make an enemy talk, and I know them all.”

“You will speak only to answer my questions. Do you understand?”

Her mouth went dry. “Yes, Sir.”

“Very pretty.” He curved his hand around her throat, not cutting off her air, but the sensation, the knowledge that he could, and the way her body surrendered sent a bone-shaking tremor through her. As he studied her, his fingertips rested lightly over her hammering pulse. “I might enjoy this questioning.” He paused, and his voice hardened. “You might not. What is your name?”

“Kalinda Masterson, Sir.” Her voice came out as only a whisper, and his cheek creased.

“Such a fast little pulse. By the time I’m through, it will be so loud the deer will flee.” He turned his hand over, and his knuckles teased her bunched nipples.

A flush warmed her skin all the way to her scalp. “You’re still dressed.”

“Did you have permission to speak?” His soft voice didn’t conceal the edge, and she could feel herself getting wetter.

She shook her head. “No, Sir. I’m sorry, Sir.”

He walked behind her and wrapped something-smooth like vinyl-around her left wrist, then the right, securing her hands behind her. “There. That should keep you in place while I ask my questions. Answer carefully, spy.” He ran his hand lightly over her hip and whispered in her ear, “I’d hate to mar this pretty skin.”

When he squeezed her bottom, a shiver ran through her. He wouldn’t. But her certainty kept fading with everything he did.

Returning to stand in front of her, he stared down at her, his gaze unfamiliar, colder than ice. “Where were you born?”

“Washington DC.”

“Ah. Right at the heart of our country. I might have known.” He threaded his hand in her hair and yanked her head back. His face next to hers, he growled, “What secrets did you learn there?”