A smooth operator, Chase had spent the day working his way past her defenses. As quickly as she put another in place, he tore it down with smoldering looks, lingering touches, and demanding kisses.
Her resistance all but gone, she leaned into him and surrendered to the rush of helplessness that came with giving in. His lips soft on hers, he teased with sexy nibbles, his mouth traveling from top to bottom and corner to corner, making her heart flutter and her pulse quicken.
“Oh God, baby. Let me in,” he begged, his breath hot against her skin. “Open for me.”
She parted her lips, and he groaned. Taking her face in both hands, he plunged his tongue deep, owning her with a wicked kiss. Fingers finding a grip on his T-shirt, she drew him closer and matched his intensity with her own overwhelming desire.
Sadly, Chase ended the kiss too soon, and with his black gaze locked on her mouth, he stroked his thumb back and forth across her swollen lips. “Gray, I need to te—”
She caught his thumb between her teeth and licked the tip. He came back to her in an instant. Replacing his thumb with his tongue, he kissed all common sense right out of her head. She reached for him again, and he captured her hands in his. “We can’t do this, baby.” He took his face out of reach by putting some space between them.
“I’m pretty sure we can if you let go of my hands.”
He laughed and brushed his knuckles over her cheek. “So you don’t mind if we have an audience?”
“What!” She did a rapid search out all three windows. “I don’t see anyone.”
“Come with me.” Before she could protest, he hopped out of the truck, and stretching his back, he walked through the gate. To annoy the hell out of him, she would’ve refused, but he turned to her with a smile that made her insides quiver and beckoned her to follow.
When she reached him, he took her hand, linking their fingers together. “Don’t be afraid,” he whispered in her ear before straightening and facing the empty field on the left. “If you’re gonna shoot me. Now’s your best chance.”
“You’re a pain in my ass, Mac.” A human blob with no discernable features emerged from the spot Chase had pinned his gaze on. Even standing at full height, the newcomer blended into the surroundings, threatening to disappear if she so much as blinked. “What gave me away?” The sniper uncovered his rifle with his free hand. She hadn’t known he carried one.
“Not a damn thing.” Chase shrugged a shoulder. “I just know you.”
Pulling Gray along, he dropped her hand to embrace the other man. He laid his palm on the back of the stranger’s neck, their foreheads touching, the gun pointed at the ground between them.
“All good?” Chase asked.
“All good,” he replied. “Leak’s not from here.”
Expecting to see a typical back-thumping male greeting, their warm hello surprised her. The other man broke the embrace first, his million-watt smile lighting up the encroaching shadows. He punched Chase in the arm lightly and turned to her. “Takoda Keenan,” he said, extending his hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Gray.”
“TakodaKeenan.” She shook his hand, arched a brow, and pegged Chase with a brief look. He hadn’t mentioned he worked with his best friend, and now that they’d arrived at their final destination, he had some explaining to do. “So you’re the one who’s related to Mutt and Jeff.”
Tak laughed. “Mutt’s my uncle. Jeff’s his sidekick. I take it you’ve met them already.”
“At the cabin,” Chase said, and taking Gray’s hand, he steered them back toward the Bronco.
“How’s the old man?” Tak asked, stepping up beside her.
Chase snorted. “As bossy and mysterious as ever. The colonel?”
“Called away this morning on an urgent matter.” Tak shrugged. “He should be back any minute now.”
They exchanged grins over her head, and Tak hopped up onto the hood of the Bronco, settling his rifle across his lap. “You go ahead and take the front seat, Gray.” He hitched his thumb over his shoulder. “I’ll ride shotgun up here.”
“Is it much farther?” she asked, groaning as she settled into her seat. “My ass is killing me.”
“I’ll rub it later,” Chase whispered in her ear, and before she could offer a snappy comeback, he kissed her cheek and shut the door.
Fifteen minutes later, Gray found herself alone in a rundown camp kitchen with a spoon in one hand and a half-empty carton of cold chicken chow mein in the other. Starving but too sore to sit, she stayed on her feet to shovel the food into her face as fast as possible.
After loading Tak down with their gear, Chase had deposited her where he wanted her and left, mumbling something about doctors and snow.
Persistent fucker.
She had a feeling she was about to go another round with him over the issue of a medical consultation she didn’t want and didn’t need.
