He continued to hesitate. Stiffened as a cold blade of death cut painfully into the skin of his neck.
“Déjà vu, dead man.” The voice exploded through the stillness of the snowflake-drenched night air, much the same way it had several months earlier when Cade Outlaw had stopped Will from killing Red. Just as he planned tonight.
“This knight-in-shining-armor fetish you’ve got regarding saving this chick’s ass is getting to be a real pain inmyass,” Blade replied. He didn’t ease up on the trigger.
If Cade followed through in killing him, Blade would make sure Red joined him in the afterlife. It almost seemed sweet and fitting. To die with the woman he’d been lusting after for months.
“I’m glad you still have your humor, Blade. I’m sure it’ll keep you warm in your grave,” Cade growled quietly.
“Just as Red will keep me warm in my grave when I pull the trigger,” Blade warned.
The harsh press of the skinning knife against his neck loosened. A warm trickle of blood dripped along the side of his neck. The cut couldn’t be deep or he’d be dead. It appeared Cade had other plans for him.
“I made myself clear what would happen if you came near Red again.”
He sounded pissed. That was a good sign. It meant Cade had feelings for Red. Will would have to play those emotions to keep himself alive.
“I guess you should have killed me. Then and now. You’re getting soft in your old age, Outlaw.”
“The ladies don’t think so,” Cade retorted coolly.
Sex. Always on the mind of a man these days—especially with so few women around.
“Drop the rifle…nice and easy…and I’ll let you live,” Cade instructed.
“You already let me live, and because of it you’re at a disadvantage.” Blade slightly jerked his assault rifle up in acknowledgement. Tension zipped through the air from Cade.
“Or maybe that’s an advantage, Outlaw. Depends on how you look at it. A group of hunters are tracking you…and the female. About four miles west. They’ve made camp for the night. You’ll need an extra hand if you don’t outrun them.”
“I know. Now drop the rifle, Blade. Then drop any other weapons you have on you and we can join Red at camp.”
It was the truth. There were several men following Cade’s trail. Will just hoped Cade believed him. “I’m serious, Cade.”
“I know, Will.”
Okay, so the guy was keeping his enemy alive in case he needed help? Will had to give it to Cade, he was either an idiot or he had the balls to trust that Will would help when the chips fell. The trust probably came because Blade was Colter Outlaw’s good friend.
Fuck. He should kill Cade and take Red for himself. He just might be sorry if he didn’t.
Blade sighed. He surrendered his rifle and allowed Cade to search him for his other weapons.
* * * * *
The handcuffs that bit into Reena’s wrists and the shackles lacing her ankles did nothing but cause sensual images of having sex with Cade to whirl around in her mind.
Men! She’d come out here alone for a reason. To de-stress. Instead she wasn’t getting anythingbutstress. Where the hell was Outlaw, anyway?
Desperation shifted through her as she stared into the snow-swirling darkness. Nothing moved except snowflakes. They were coming down hard, spiraling out of the night like tiny demons and covering the ground in a white fluffy blanket.
It was getting colder, too. Crisp air chilled her cheeks and every time she breathed another plume of mist shot from her mouth, blinding her. Despite that, a fevered neediness raced through her.
Her pussy throbbed. Wetness had drenched the area between her thighs and her body had tightened with sexual tension when Cade had secured a plastic sheet over the small lean-to on the other side of the fire pit.
He hadn’t spoken anything more while he’d set up the sleeping quarters, but she’d caught him casting her glances. Hungry and hot looks that made her very aware he hadn’t been with a female in awhile.
Damn him!Where was he anyway? He’d taken off to search for the plate she’d whipped into the forest and to take a leak more than ten minutes ago. More than long enough. If she’d thought he would be gone this long, she could have masturbated, had an orgasm and been good to go. It would have been tough with her hands shackled, but the rough bark of the fallen tree she sat on would cause enough friction. Maybe she could start…
Footsteps echoed in the dark perimeter outside the warm glow of the firelight and her pulse pounded with alertness. Maybe Cade had been gone so long because someone had killed him? Her people? Or someone else?
