Forcing herself to chew slowly, Olivia moaned in satisfaction. She’d never been a big fan of protein bars, but this one tasted spectacular. She swallowed a bite. Okay, so maybe spectacular was a bit of a stretch, but at least it wasn’t a stale chunk of bread.
She took another small bite, enjoying the sweet and salty combination of peanuts and honey. It was hard not to scarf it all down in one big bite. Determined to make it last, she allowed herself only a tiny nibble at a time.
****
Needing to cool down, Jake removed the remaining supplies from his bag more slowly than necessary.
The damn woman was still as stubborn as ever. If he were being honest, though, that part actually relieved the hell out of him.
There’d been times throughout the day when he’d seen the fear and uncertainty written all over Olivia’s face. But there was still some fight left in her.
While he didn’t know everything those bastards had put her through, Jake was certain of one thing—those fuckers hadn’t broken her.
He, on the other hand, felt as though his sanity was being chipped away with each minute that passed by. She’d actually apologized for damn near fainting, for fuck’s sake. Like she was an inconvenience or something. And now, she was savoring that damn protein bar like it was a fucking T-bone steak.
When Jake thought back to her earlier statement about how little the assholes had allowed her to eat and drink...Christ, it wasn’t enough that they’d kidnapped her and made the world think she was dead, they’d kept her thirsty and starved her, too?
Clenching his teeth together, Jake grabbed the tightly rolled bandages in one white-knuckled fist and stilled his movements. He breathed deeply through his nose, trying to control the anger boiling up inside him. He envisioned his hands around Cetro’s neck as he slowly and methodically ended the fucker’s life.
“Jake?” Olivia’s sweet voice cut through his murderous thoughts. “Are you okay?”
He looked down and found that his hands were shaking. Shit. He needed to get himself in check and keep his mind on the task at hand, which was taking care of her immediate needs. He could worry about the other later.
Hoping to ease her concern, Jake gave her a crooked smile from over his shoulder. “I’m good.”
Turning back so she wouldn’t see, he stretched out the fingers on both hands. Pushing his seething anger aside, Jake regained control and finished getting what he needed from his bag.
****
Olivia was surprised at how much better she already felt. The ibuprofen she’d taken had dulled her aches and pains and, though it wasn’t a lot, the water and protein had helped her gain a second wind.
More alert than she’d been in hours, she watched silently as Jake began tending to her feet. Medically, she could appreciate that he knew what he was doing, but it was the gentleness in his touch that truly captivated her. Such a stark contrast to the man who’d taken charge while under fire.
His hands moved with a graceful assurance while he carefully and efficiently cleaned the blood and grime from the bottom of her left foot. The alcohol swabs didn't hurt nearly as bad as expected—she’d only flinched a couple times, so far—which made her think her feet weren't as bad as she’d originally feared. She wanted to cringe at how bad they must look, and decided when this was all over, she was treating herself to the best pedicure money could buy.
With nothing else to do for now but sit still and observe, Olivia let her eyes travel upward to Jake's face. She took in his handsome profile. One corner of her mouth lifted when his brow turned inward, the way it always did when he was concentrating.
Every once in a while, a muscle in his jaw would bulge, and his lips would flatten together in a hard line. He almost looked angry, and she couldn’t help but wonder what he was thinking during those fleeting moments.
She didn’t interrupt him to ask. After believing she’d never see him again, Olivia wanted to cherish this stolen moment for as long as she could.
Looking at him now, she found his lips relaxed and slightly open. Such perfect lips. In her fantasies, he was always a fabulous kisser. And why not? The man had a body made for sin, and his mouth was no exception.
He was, without a doubt, the most handsome man she’d ever known. Even so, Olivia knew the very best parts of Jake were the ones you couldn't see.
She looked back down at his hands. His fingers were big and strong, parts of them calloused from years of hard work.
A warm tingling in her lower belly caught her off guard as they tenderly moved across her skin. Olivia recognized it immediately, and wondered how it was even possible to become so aroused by such a simple act.
With no conscious effort on her part, wonderful pictures began to form in her mind. She and Jake together. His hands on her body in other, much more sensual ways. Olivia stared at those large fingers, imagining the kinds of pleasure they could bring.
A wave of heat struck, and moisture began to pool between her legs. She felt her skin becoming flushed with desire and—
Jake muttered something about almost being finished with the one foot.
Olivia’s eyes flew up to his. She was monumentally relieved to find him still focused on what he was doing, oblivious to the X-rated thoughts that had nearly left her breathless.
Like the splash of cold water, his mumbling squelched all traces of arousal. Shame on you. That little voice of reason was right.
People were dead, and she was thinking of sex? Of course, given the rollercoaster ride of emotions she’d been on today, Olivia found she really wasn’t all that surprised.
She looked at Jake, again. Her very own badass guardian angel. He’d appeared out of nowhere, just when she’d needed him most. That reminds me...
“Jake?”
He kept working. “Yeah?”
“You
