G-Man and Handcuffs (3 page)

She laughed and pushed herself up, groaning.
“I think we need a nap to restore our strength.” Pulling the rope
off his hand, she messaged his wrist while he wiggled his other arm
free.

Once he had the feeling in his arms back, he
gathered her in his embrace and turned to curl his body around
hers. “Today turned out differently than I thought it would.”

She sighed. “I can’t believe it happened
this way, but I wouldn’t change a thing.” She closed her eyes. “It
was perfect. You are perfect.”

If she listened closely, she could hear the
water down at the creek, the soft rustle of the leaves above them
moving in the breeze, and the soft creak of the hammock swinging
side to side.

“Shit.”

She lifted her head and opened her eyes.
“What’s wrong?”

“I didn’t wear a condom.”

Lying back down, she patted his arm as it
curled around her stomach. “It’s okay. I checked the calendar. I’ve
been on the pill thirty-five days now.”

Chapter Four

“What in the world?” Jolene jogged down the
creek and stopped in front of the deflated raft. “I check the boat
before I go out on every trip, and I know I didn’t hit anything
earlier.” She picked the edge up and peered underneath, but nothing
caught her eye. “Dammit. I haven’t even had this one for a
year.”

“Jolene, your supplies are gone.”

She dropped her arms and turned. “What? This
doesn’t make sense.” She peered at the surrounding area. “I’ve had
problems with bears at the house, but they can’t carry everything
away.” Kicking the ground, she planted her hands on her hips. “My
tackle box, my poles… even the floatation devices are gone.
Shit.”

Tony squatted down and studied the material.
“It wasn’t an animal.” He reached behind him and drew the pistol
out of the waistband of his jeans. “There are knife marks on the
raft.” He stepped over in front of her and scanned the banks of the
river. “Stay in front of me. I’m taking you back to the house.”

“I don’t understand.” She hurried along the
trail, but kept glancing over her shoulder at Tony. “I’m the only
one who lives out here.”

A rifle shot blasted the air, and she
screamed.

“Run!” Tony pushed her from behind, urging
her to go faster.

She ignored the sticks and
rocks poking into the bottoms of her bare feet. Keeping her gaze on
the front door of the cabin, she pumped the air with her arms and
kept running.
Who’s doing this to
me?

She hit the front door, turned the handle,
and stepped inside to let Tony in. Struggling to catch her breath,
she moved to peer out the window, but Tony grabbed the back of her
shirt.

“Stay back. I don’t want you standing out in
the open. We don’t know if he was aiming at us or just an asshole
who needs to learn some basic rules.” He moved over to his duffle
bag and removed two full magazines and a knife. Shoving the extra
bullets in his pocket, he gazed over at Jolene. “Are you okay?”

She nodded her head. “What are you
doing?”

“I’m going to go out there and find the
asshole who's shooting at us.” He lifted his foot and placed it on
the edge of the coffee table. Slipping the knife into a sheath in
his boot, he motioned his head toward the back of the cabin. “I
want you to get your rifle…just in case.”

Jolene moved two steps toward the bedroom
and the front window exploded, splattering the room with glass. She
dropped to her hands and knees. “Tony!”

“Stay down.” He stretched out on the floor,
snagged his bag and on hands and knees made his way over to her.
“Crawl into the kitchen and get behind the counter.”

She didn’t move. He had blood running down
the side of his face. “You’re hurt.”

“I’m fine.” He shook his head. “It’s just a
cut from the glass.”

Frowning, she reached out to find out where
the blood was coming from, but he shook his head. “Now, Jolene.
Move.”

Scrambling to the kitchen,
she huddled in the corner against the cabinets. The window above
the kitchen sink blew out, and she buried her head on her knees.
Tears wet her cheeks.
Oh God, don’t let us
die.

“I want you to plant yourself right here.”
Tony lifted her head. His thumbs strummed the tears off her face.
“Whatever happens, do not move. Do you understand me?”

A wave of chills washed over her skin, and
she shook. “I-I’m scared.”

“I know you are, baby.” His mouth tightened.
“The bullets probably won’t get you through the logs, so it’s
important that you stay right here. You’ll be fine, if you listen
to me.” He gave her a quick kiss. “Don’t open the door. Stay right
here on the floor no matter what you hear, okay?”

Jolene chewed on her bottom lip, but managed
a short, quick nod, letting him know she’d do what he asked. “Be
careful.”

He kissed her one more
time, turned around, and leaped to his feet at the same time
another bullet broke out the glass somewhere in the back of the
cabin. She squeezed her eyes shut and began to rock.
Please be safe, please be safe, please be
safe…

As the bedroom window shattered, Tony
slipped out the front door and sprinted toward the brushy area
along the trail to Jolene’s cold shack. From there he’d be able to
view the front of the house while having a protective structure
between him and the shooter.

He forced his shoulders to
relax. He hated leaving Jolene alone in the house with the chance
that the shooter might enter the cabin through one of the back
windows, but remaining inside left them both at a
disadvantage.
Come on, asshole; show your
face.

Another blast came from
the back of the house. Jolene screamed. Every muscle in his body
tensed. He’d have to work his way around the house through the
woods and try to come up behind the shooter. Darting to the left,
he was headed for cover when a different kind of yell stopped him
cold.
Jolene!

Running full speed toward the cabin, he hid
against the side of the house, near the broken front window, and
strained to hear what was going on inside. He flipped the safety
off his 9mm and leaned over to peek through the window. His
heartbeat accelerated.

A stocky man dressed in
black jeans and an old Metallica T-shirt stood at the entrance to
the kitchen. His right hand held a revolver. He ducked down below
the windowsill.
Fuck.

Going on instinct and years of training, he
rose and crashed through the door. “Hold it right there.” His
weapon clutched with both hands, he aimed at the bastard’s chest.
“Drop the gun.” He kept his gaze on the man. The perpetrator
glanced back and forth between Jolene and him. “Don’t even think
about it.” His finger tightened on the trigger.

The man hesitated.

“I said, drop the weapon!” Tony stepped
closer.

“This has nothing to do with you.” The man’s
upper lip twitched, and he stepped backward. “I got business with
her.” He pointed the pistol in Jolene’s direction before swinging
it back around to Tony.

Tony moved closer to the kitchen, forcing
the man to back up. The farther he could drive the man away from
Jolene, the better he’d feel about the situation. “You mess with my
woman, and you can expect to fuck with me.” His arm remained
steady. “Now drop the gun…nice and slow.”

The man dropped the gun and ran to the back
of the cabin. Tony flipped the safety on the 9mm, shoved the pistol
into the back of his jeans, and ran after the shooter without
losing a second. He tackled him in the doorway to the bedroom.

“Let me go. I wasn’t gonna hurt her, man.”
The gunman tried to twist out from under Tony, but he already had
one of the guy’s arms flung behind his back. “She owes me…all that
flirting and attitude she gave me earlier.”

“Tell Big Roy in the slammer. He loves to
teach men who hurt women what it means to show some respect around
a female.” Tony laid his hip against the man’s arm. “Jolene! Bring
me the cuffs from my bag.” He leaned down and whispered, “Lucky for
me, Big Roy owes me a favor. I’ll make sure he introduces himself
to you.”

Chapter Five

Tony strolled around the house with the
headset of the satellite phone stuck to his ear and talked in a
loud voice to Bryce. Jolene shook her head and snuggled down in the
corner of the couch. He’d worked for the last hour with that
contraption, trying to pick up the best signal.

She saw no need for it, here in the cabin.
If she had to call someone, she drove down the mountain to the
ranger station and used her cell phone. Pulling the afghan over her
bare legs, she glanced at the clock. Maybe she could convince him
to give it a rest for the night and join her outside for a shower
under the stars. They wouldn’t have too many more nights where they
could enjoy that privilege. Fall would be starting soon up here in
the higher elevations.

“We’ll be here. Thanks, Bryce.” Tony lowered
his arm and carried the phone over to the base station on the end
table. “Sorry that took so long.” He put the high tech toy in the
charger.

“Everything okay?” She lifted the blanket.
“Come cuddle with me. I’m cold.”

Tony sat down beside her and pulled her over
onto his lap. “Donovan, Bryce, and Taylor will be here in the
morning to help me put in the new window.”

“That’s great.” She turned to face him. “Did
you find out about—”

“Kevin Jenson?”

She nodded.

“He goes in front of the court next week. In
the meantime, he’s locked up. Besides the charges you are filing
against him for the sexual assault on the boat and aggravated
assault on both of us here at the house, he was also wanted on an
out of state warrant for drug possession and intent to deliver.” He
cupped her breast. “You won’t have to worry about him anymore.”

She sighed and leaned back against him.
“Good. I just want to forget about that mess. Once we get the
windows put in, there will be no reminders of what happened, and we
can get on with our lives. This cabin was meant to hold good
memories and happy times shared with people you love…not…that.”

“It might take a little longer for things to
go back to normal.” He rolled her nipple between his fingers.
“Donovan is going to stay up at Nalley’s Point in the ranger
station for awhile. He’s the one you haven’t met yet.”

She slid her hands around him. “You know all
the guys you work with are welcome here. This is your home too,
now.”

He shook his head. “He’s bringing a woman
with him.” He sat her up and helped her off with her T-shirt.
“Don’s been staying at a safe house with a woman under his
protection. The lady goes by the name of Marie. It’s no longer safe
at their location, so I secured the ranger station for him. He
could bring her out here.” He groaned. “I’m going to stay with them
until Marie has to testify. We thought it would be a good idea if
you come too. Donovan thinks it might be better for Marie to have a
female around as the court date grows closer.”

“Of course. I’m glad to help out.” She
shivered. Tony squeezed, tugged, and fondled her breasts. “It’ll be
closer to hike through the woods to the ranger station than take
the long road up the mountainside. Most vehicles wouldn’t make it
that far, unless you are used to driving in four-wheel drive. The
Forestry Department's cabin is very isolated.” She hooked her hand
behind his neck. “Come here, G-man.”

She opened her mouth and licked her lip. He
groaned and kissed her. She tasted their after-dinner wine on his
tongue, and she mewed. She wanted him.

Pulling away, she climbed off his lap and
stood up. “Let’s enjoy our last night alone for awhile.” Crooking
her finger, she gave him a come-hither grin. “You. Me. Outside.”
She walked backward toward the door, not letting him out of her
sight. “We’re going to enjoy the peace and quiet. Just us and the
stars.”

Turning around at the door, Tony’s duffle
bag caught her eye. She paused. Leaning into him, she placed her
hands on his chest and whispered, “Why don’t you go ahead and get
things ready, get undressed, and I’ll join you.”

“Aren’t you coming?” He tilted his head, his
hands already reaching for her breasts.

She pushed him out the door. “In a minute.
You go and get the water nice and steamy for me.”

Waiting until he’d walked
out into the darkness and disappeared from view, she quietly
unzipped the bag and searched through the contents.
Come on, G-man. Don’t let me down. You’re always
prepared for everything.

Her pinky brushed against
cold metal, and she hurried to grab the item. Holding a pair of
shiny handcuffs in front of her, she grinned in triumph.
Yes!

Not wanting to waste any more time, she
slipped off her shorts and panties in the living room before going
outside. Rounding the corner of the cabin, she held the surprise
behind her back.

The drone of water splashing against the
rock pad beneath the showerhead created a flush of warmth to circle
inside her. They’d used the outdoor bathing area many times, but
tonight she’d rock his world.

Without a barrier to block her view of Tony,
she slowed down and enjoyed the scenery in front of her. G-man in
all his glory stood under the shower spray. His head tilted back,
eyes closed, and gloriously illuminated by the moon. She’d never
seen such a beautiful sight. Not the one hundred year old trees
surrounding her little piece of heaven, the river she lived on or
the wildlife that came right into her yard compared to her man.

Jolene stepped in front of him, got down on
her knees and took the head of his cock in her mouth. The splash of
water trickling off his body landed on her, and her nipples
hardened. She flicked the end of his hardness with her tongue.