Unexpected (7 page)

Though sleep would surely elude her, she decided to pretend to doze off. It'd keep her fear masked and keep Eli from making small talk that she'd only be able to babble through. Even better, she wouldn't have to see the fat, fluffy clouds now drifting past the small window, reminding her that they were well above the ground.

She concentrated on Eli's breathing, deep and even and calm. She felt the warmth of his strong hand holding hers, his powerful thigh beneath her wrist.

She didn't wake up until they landed.

The jarring motion of the wheels on the runway nearly sent her into a panic. Her heart shot into her throat, but her survival instincts were honed razor sharp, so she didn't scream, didn't even move. She shifted her eyes around to take in the seat in front of her, the aisle to her left. Still on the plane, she realized with little comfort, but she was now warm and cozy. Safe.

Beneath her cheek, she felt firm muscle along with the slow thud of a steady heartbeat. Eli no longer held her hand. Experimentally, she moved her fingers and found another firm muscle—that twitched and throbbed.

Good God.

It didn't take a rocket scientist to recognize
that.

Everything came together. She was cuddled against Eli, her head on his shoulder, his arm around her back, supporting her neck and keeping her close. And her hand was in his lap, right over the zipper to his jeans.

The plane completed its landing without her notice. She was too busy praying that Eli had fallen asleep, too, despite the evidence of his arousal. But when she dared a peek up, she found him watching her, his eyes heated and tender at once. She went breathless, warm and trembling.

His hand came to her cheek, his thumb brushing her temple gently. “You must have been exhausted. Didn't you sleep well last night?”

His words were whisper soft, his head bent toward her so their noses almost touched. Feeling his breath on her lips, Ray swallowed a groan from the unexpected need that suddenly crashed through her. She wanted to put her head back on his shoulder. She wanted to breathe in his scent, taste his warm throat, curl her fingers around the lengthening erection that grew beneath her palm.

Instead she tightened her jaw and straightened, then carefully shrugged away his arm. “No, I didn't sleep well at all.” She rounded on him. “You and your girlfriend woke me up, remember? And I'd had a long drive the night before.”

The heat left his gaze, but the tenderness remained, tinged with amusement. “We'll be off the plane in just a minute.”

It wouldn't be soon enough to suit her, but she couldn't let him know that. “So?”

“So it's been a busy day with the shopping and packing. Breakfast was a long time ago and we've already missed lunch. You want to stop at a restaurant or go straight to the hotel?”

“We'll eat.”

Eli smiled. “Now, how did I know you were going to say that?”

Few men ever dared to tease her—usually only Matt or her best friend, Buddy. Few men left her feeling awkward. She'd been on many jobs where she was the only female around, and it had never before mattered. The men were just people, not people of the opposite sex. With Eli, she saw him strictly as a man with a capital, throbbing
M.

Maybe it was her age. Maybe her hormones were different now. If so, she'd ruthlessly beat them into submission because she wasn't about to start acting like a silly female.

Yet, as they left the plane and traveled through the airport, she was keenly aware of Eli beside her—and not because she felt responsible for him. Damn it, she knew his scent, the heat of his body. When he took her arm, it no longer offended her. Instead, a small thrill jolted her senses. And when he smiled at her, she suffered the queerest melting sensation in her belly.

She hated it.

Never in her life had she suffered so much frustration. The loss of control was unacceptable.

They ate at a crowded fast food place in the airport. All through their meal, Ray pondered the situation. But for now, there was no way out. She'd just have to get her act together.

The ride to the hotel was accomplished in silence. Ray stared out her window at the hot sun. The sky was white, without a single cloud in sight to soften the glare. Mataya would be even hotter, steamy, too, and she wondered at Eli's endurance. Would the change in weather drain him? Plenty of people had trouble bearing up under the sweltering temperatures. Some even became ill . . .

She realized she was fretting and stabbed Eli with a glare of fury. She
never
fretted, damn it, definitely not over an employer. But her indignation was wasted. Either Eli didn't notice her volatile mood, or he ignored it.

The cab stopped in front of the hotel and Ray climbed out, struggling to moderate her thoughts. Heat rose from the pavement in waves, instantly turning her skin damp.

Seconds later, Eli stepped up beside her. He carried both their bags. When she reached for hers, he held it away.

“Eli . . .” she said through her teeth, ready, even anxious for a fight.

He disarmed her by smiling. “What's the matter, Ray? You look like a thundercloud.”

She went mute. Damn but that smile felt like a lick in all the right places.

“Ray?”

Trying to think of a plausible reply other than being in estrus, Ray swung around and stormed to the hotel doors, holding them open for him since he wouldn't relinquish her bag. Once inside the lobby, she didn't have to worry about answering him. The small hotel was filled to overflowing with milling guests, making casual talk impossible.

“What the hell?” Eli asked no one in particular. He tried to catch a bustling bellhop but had no success. Finally, he led Ray to a sofa and dropped the luggage at her feet. “Watch the bags and I'll check us in.”

Ray snagged the back of his shirt, regaining his attention. He raised a brow in query.

“You're forgetting who's the boss on this trip, Eli.”

“Oh? Did you want me to watch the bags so you can check us in? I don't know if they'll allow you to use my credit card,
boss,
but if you insist, then . . .”

She felt like a fool. “Check us in. I'll wait here.”

“Now why didn't I think of that?”

She considered dropping him to the floor, but he was already gone, trying to obtain the key cards to their rooms.

It was a good ten minutes before Eli returned and he looked entirely too disgruntled.

“Tell me there's not a problem with our reservations.” She wanted a long hot shower and some quiet time alone.

“No problem. They're just crowded from a convention.” Eli didn't look at her, and in fact, he seemed so distracted she didn't voice a single complaint when he hoisted both bags and herded Ray toward the elevator. When he saw the mob there, he changed his mind and turned to the stairs instead.

“Okay, I give,” she said to his back. “Why are you looking ready to do bodily harm?”

“This from the woman with an expression so dark she could scare grown men.”

“Are you afraid, Eli?” she taunted.

“No, but then I know you intend to protect me, not murder me in my sleep.” He stared down at her. “Isn't that right?”

Undaunted, she said, “You admit you need my protection?”

“Of course.” Then he mused, “Funny that you're the only one threatening me, huh?”

Oh, it'd be
so
easy to throw him right now, to land one well-placed hit to a tender muscle. He wouldn't laugh at her then.

Her eyes narrowed in contemplation, and Eli leaned down close to her ear with a husky whisper. “Ray, I swear you look sexy as hell when you go into combat mode.”

Like a sail caught in the wind, she snapped straight. Sexy? She opened her mouth to blast him, but nothing came out.

Appalled at herself, Ray stormed ahead of him, taking the lead up the stairs. Eli gave her a room number for the seventh floor. Ray was in excellent shape, but still she was huffing by the time Eli finally stopped in front of a door.

He wasn't even breathing hard.

She eyed him with distaste, shoved her bangs from her forehead, and propped her hands on her hips. After balancing both bags in one arm, Eli slid the door card into the slot.

Ray thought to ask, “Is this your room or mine?”

He didn't answer. The door swung open and Ray was pleasantly surprised to see the room wasn't ritzy at all. In fact, it was almost utilitarian with one full bed, a nightstand, and a dresser with a small television sitting on it. It was clean and neat, but not what she had expected after the first-class airfare.

“Well, you've managed to surprise me, Eli. But I thank you. The room is perfect.” She smiled.

He stepped inside with her and closed the door.

Ray's smile slipped. “Did I misunderstand?”

He shook his head, but leaned on the door as if he fully intended to stay.

“Is this your room and not mine?”

Eli crossed his arms over his chest. “It's your room.”

“Good, that's what I thought.” It wasn't necessary, but she added, “I couldn't imagine you willingly staying in a room this plain. I figured you'd get a suite or something.”

As if she hadn't spoken, he said, “It's also my room.”

Her eyes widened and she examined the room again. The single bed and his earlier, outrageous compliment took on new meaning. Very slowly, she brought her accusatory gaze around to his. “Oh, I get it now,” she growled. He stared back without a single flinch. “One thing you ought to know, Eli.”

“What's that, honey?”

“My protection only goes so far—and you're really pushing it.”

Eli peeled himself away from the door, starting toward her with a measured stride. His eyes never left her face.

Rather than backing up with his advance, Ray widened her stance and faced him defiantly. Her preparation for battle only got her a look of appreciation, reminding her of what he'd said: he found her battle mode sexy.

And if she believed that, he could sell her a bridge.

He stopped right in front of her, forcing Ray to look up at him. Once again, she noted the differences in their sizes. She knew what she was capable of, and still he made her feel small and helpless.

“The hotel made a mistake, Ray. They gave away our rooms.”

Ray said nothing.

“They're having a convention and someone fouled up the reservations. This was the only room available. I couldn't imagine trying to find another hotel tonight, so I accepted. Under the circumstances, and considering you slept at my place last night, I didn't think you'd mind.”

Of course he didn't think she'd mind. Eli had no way of knowing her frustration. She'd never felt this level of sexual attraction before, so she didn't know how to deal with it. And that scared her.

But short of explaining to him that he made her so hot she couldn't stop thinking about jumping his bones, there was no way to refuse. Locking her jaw, she said, “You're right. The room is fine.”

“You don't look like it's fine.” Eli scrutinized her. “You look ready to flay me alive. I think that's exceptionally strange given how you strutted around in your underclothes just this morning.”

Much more of this and her teeth would be reduced to powder. “I do
not
strut.”

With a small smile, he said, “Yeah, you do.” His voice and his expression gentled. “What's changed, Ray? You don't trust me?”

Trust him? Ha. It was herself she couldn't trust anymore.

Needing some physical distance, Ray walked around the bed, pretending to look things over. “I'll admit it.” She summoned a credible laugh. “For a second there I thought you were getting ideas.”

Eli didn't share her humor. “And if I was?”

She jerked around to face him from the other side of the bed. “Don't.”

Briefly, he closed his eyes. “I would never force you, Ray.”

Of all the...
“I wouldn't let you!”

He smiled. “It's just . . .” His gaze wandered from her face to her body and back again.

Against her better judgement, Ray whispered, “What?”

It seemed Eli wanted to say more, but then he shook his head. “Nothing.” After shoving his hands through his hair, he picked up their bags and set them on the bed. “It's getting late. Why don't you get ready for bed and I'll ring the desk to make certain we get a wake-up call.”

So many strange emotions churned inside her. Disappointment, anticipation, and wariness. She didn't know herself anymore and that was dangerous. Digging through her things, she located the hideous pajamas and did her best
not
to strut as she headed to the bathroom.

Her shower, consisting mostly of cold water for obvious reasons, only lasted a mere three minutes. It wasn't long enough. God, she hadn't been this jumpy on her first mission, back when she'd been a green kid.

It was stupid to hide in the bathroom, so she threw the door open and strode out.

He was already propped up in bed.

As if someone had suddenly stapled her feet to the floor, Ray stopped dead in her tracks.

He'd removed his shirt.

The sheet only came to his hips and the sight of his bare chest, muscled and enhanced with dark hair, was enough to unravel her. It just wasn't fair.

On top of being funny and strong and accepting, why the hell did he have to look so good?

R
ay consoled herself with the fact that she could see the waistband of Eli's boxers. She didn't think she could have gotten into the bed if he'd been bare-ass naked.

Eli looked up at where she stood in the bathroom doorway. He took note of the new pajamas but kept whatever opinion he had to himself.

Still she stood there, and he sighed. “Would you feel better if I slept on the floor?”

That brought her out of her stupor. “Don't be stupid. We both need a good night's sleep.” After all, she told herself, she'd slept in the open with men, side by side, and she'd shared tents when they were available. This would be no different. She tried to convince herself, but the effort was wasted because her voice trembled when she said, “I don't have a problem with it if you don't.”

Watching her, alert to her every move, Eli lifted the covers and waited.

It was a good thing she was a sturdy woman in good health, with the way her heart punched inside her chest. Utilizing every ounce of control she possessed, Ray walked to the bed and slipped in beside him.

Eli waited only until she lay back, her arms propped behind her head, before he dropped the covers over her and turned off the light.

The darkness brought out her other senses with the acuity of a predator.

She could smell him, feel the heat of his body seeping over to her, weakening her muscles, penetrating deep inside her.

And she could hear him breathing, light, even breaths.

She knew without being able to see that he was propped on one elbow, staring toward her. An invisible fist tightened on her lungs, then in a husky whisper, his voice a caress, he said, “Good night, Ray Jean. Sleep well.”

 

 

Eli wasn't prepared for the impact of her body landing full against his, or her thumb pressing into his vocals.

“I told you
never
to call me that.”

If he wasn't strangling, it would have been funny. Lying still with the shock of her breasts squashed to his bare chest, the warm, smooth weight of her inner thigh against his hip, Eli barely noticed the menace in her tone. “Ray?” he rasped, faking confusion to keep her exactly where she was a bit longer.

“You called me Ray Jean,” she snarled in a low, mean voice. “I warned you not to.” Her breath fanned his mouth and her eyes were a bright glimmer in the dark room, only inches from his. She was in full mercenary mode—and damn, he had a boner.

Very slowly, Eli brought his hands up to frame her waist. She was narrow, firm; his thumbs nearly touched over her midriff, his fingers meeting over her spine.

As hot as he suddenly felt, he still had to struggle to keep from laughing. He found her defense of her name ludicrous—and endearing. Why? What significance did the name hold for her? He wanted to ask, but that'd fall into the category of personal stuff and he didn't want to scare her off. Other than not being able to breathe, he loved feeling her so close. Given a choice, he'd have kept her right there all night.

“You're choking me, Ray.” His voice was rough with the pressure she exerted on his throat.

Ray jerked, inadvertently tightening her hold. As if she'd only then realized what she was doing, her eyes widened, apparent even in the darkness of the unlit room. By small degrees, her fingers loosened and she started to pull away. Eli's grip on her waist stopped her.

“Eli?”

“Hmmm?” It would be so easy to slip his fingers beneath the pajama top and encounter warm skin.

“What do you think you're doing?”

Though she spoke in a mere whisper, he heard the fury, and the confusion. She'd been comfortable enough challenging him physically, but sexually she was at a loss.

“Me?” He tried to sound innocent. “All I did was say good night and you attacked me.”

She remained stonily silent, awaiting her release. Eli moved his fingers in a subtle caress, allowing his thumbs to move tantalizingly close to the soft fullness of her breasts.

It was very tempting . . . No, better not, he decided. She was rigid enough to break already. “Why, Ray? Why are you so touchy about your name?”

“Let. Go.”

He didn't want to. He wanted to pull her down flush against him, to feel all that vital energy directed at him. He wanted to take her mouth and . . .

“Don't make me hurt you, Eli.”

He couldn't help himself. The situation was so novel, and she was so deadly serious in her determination that he chuckled.

Bad idea.

Her hand moved so fast, he barely caught it in time. But he
did
catch it. The other moved, too, and he grabbed it as well, keeping both her wrists securely held. Ha. Now what would she do?

In the next instant, her forehead smacked against his. The blow was hard enough to ring curses from him and instantly gave her the release she'd requested.

She started to scramble to the side, saying, “You deserved that, Eli. I told you not to—”

Her words were cut short as Eli reacted, turning fast and hard, flipping her onto her stomach beneath him. Before she could counter the move, he had her pinned down. His ears were still ringing and colorful stars danced before his eyes. Had she meant to knock him out?

It seemed probable—and hilarious. He was in bed with a woman he wanted more than any other he'd known, and she had tried to scramble his brains.

He covered her completely, the weight of his big body crushing her smaller frame into the mattress. His fingers wrapped firmly but gently around her wrists, not giving her a chance to get hold of his digits, trapping her arms above her head. His legs were between hers—a nice position, that—totally immobilizing her. He pressed his face into her shoulder, which also held her face down so she couldn't bite him.

They were both breathing hard.

Without even meaning to, Eli pressed his hips inward, nudging his swollen cock against her firm buttocks, groaning at the feel of her, her softness, the carnality of their positions.

If they were naked, he'd be inside her right now.

Damn. He didn't want to frighten or hurt her, but he needed a moment to rid himself of the pounding in his head, as well as the insistent throb in his groin, before he let her loose. She didn't move, didn't make a sound, and he started to worry. “Are you always so physical, Ray?”

When she didn't answer, he wrongly assumed her silence was shock.

“Ray? Honey, you okay?”

Her voice was cold, remote, and beyond furious when she growled, “I'm not your honey.”

Relief brought back his amusement. “Such a nasty temper,” he chided. That had her struggling anew, which only caused her rounded behind to push into him again. Eli was caught between the pain in his head and the pleasure her movements brought him.

But given her current mood, pleasure wasn't too wise. “Settle down, Ray.”

“Get off of me.”

A note of hysteria tinged her command. She wasn't used to anyone else having the upper hand.

He wondered how many times a man had done this to her?

The thought of someone else making love to her, taking her from behind, made his possessive urges riot. But the thought of a man holding her down as a true captive, intent on hurting her, made him want to kill the faceless bastard.

He closed his eyes, and though he knew she hated it, he hugged himself closer to her. “Not yet, honey. You'd only lay me low again, and my brains can't take much more. I think I'll wait until you forgive me for calling you Ray Jean. And until you explain why you're so touchy about your name.”

Her silence sounded with the same effect as a scream. Hurting for her, though he wasn't certain why, Eli lowered his head until his breath fanned her nape. It was a risk, getting that close to her. His little soldier knew how to defend herself, and at the moment, she might not mind causing him real pain. On the other hand, he'd rather be shot than hurt her. So if she wanted to, she could probably get loose.

Did that mean she didn't want to?

“What's the matter, Ray? Talk to me, please.”

He felt her shuddering breath. Not tears, because she would never let herself cry. He kissed her temple.

“Why do you care?”

He countered that with: “Why would you think I shouldn't care?”

Her forehead dropped to the mattress; her muscles, tensed and coiled only moments before, went lax. Several seconds passed before she spoke. Her defeated voice was muffled by the covers. “My aunt . . . used to call me Ray Jean, just to remind me that I was female.”

Unable to resist, Eli rubbed his nose against her neck. “She was actually in doubt?”

Her shrug jarred the bed. “She just didn't think I was very ladylike, and she hated that—she hated
me.
She tried to insist I curl my hair, that I wear dresses and makeup. Whenever I did, she made fun of me for doing it wrong.”

Eli pressed his face into her neck and just held her.

“She ridiculed the way I walked, the way I talked. Everything. Her prissy daughters were held up as a constant example of what I wasn't.”

Understanding came, and with it, an ache in his heart that nearly did him in. “So you became just the opposite?”

She made a sound of disgust. “Don't be an imbecile, Eli.”

He smiled at the insult. No woman had ever called him names before. “Sorry.”

“I was already the opposite. No matter how my aunt pushed, I couldn't be like them. It's just not me.”

Eli breathed in the light, natural fragrance of her. Her wrists where he held her were small, the skin silky smooth. He could feel the contours of her body, the dip of her waist, the rise of her rump. God, he wanted her in so many ways. He wanted to hold her, to fuck her and make love to her and talk to her all night.

He also wanted her to trust him. “I think,” he whispered, forcing the words out despite his raging lust, “that you're about as much as any woman can be.”

Ray didn't say anything. She held completely still beneath him and that bothered him more than her curses or insults ever could.

When the silence stretched out uncomfortably, Eli said, “I'm sorry for upsetting you.”

She still didn't answer.

“Ray?”

In a small voice very unlike her usual commanding tone, Ray admitted, “I'm not used to someone getting the best of me. It's . . . disconcerting.”

Eli wasn't certain, but he thought he detected a touch of admiration in her tone. It pleased him. “I am a lot bigger, Ray. And stronger.”

She shook her head, and her hair brushed against his jaw and chin. “It's not that. I could still take you.”

Eli laughed outright. “You think so, do you?”

“I know so.”

“Then what happened?” He settled himself more firmly against her, spreading his legs a little, which forced hers wider, too. “Why are you beneath me instead of the other way around?”

She stiffened. “If you're going to be a jerk about it, I'll admit that I didn't want to hurt you.”

“Really?” She was so full of surprises. “What do you call choking me?”

She huffed. “It didn't shut you up, did it? I could have put you out then, but I didn't.”

The idea that she might have held back intrigued him. “Why not, Ray?” Did her restraint mean she cared?

“The agency would frown on it.”

He hadn't laughed so much in a long time. “That's your only reason, huh? Well, not to brag, you understand, but I held back, too.” Her head came up in surprise, affording him the chance to kiss her cheek. With his mouth still touching her, he said, “You may as well know there's no way you could ever best me. No holds barred, I'd come out on top.” And he was just horny enough to press into her and whisper,
“Again.”

“That cocky attitude is going to get you into trouble.” She looked over her shoulder to add, “Next time I won't concern myself with returning you whole hide.”

“So we're to battle it out, huh? I'll look forward to your efforts, Ray. Not that it'll change the out-come.”

Ray snorted in derision. “You want me to believe you'd actually fight me?”

He nibbled on her ear. She had very small, delicate ears, and his control weakened by the moment. “No. But I think I could appreciate holding you beneath me for a nice long time. What do you think, Ray? Is that threat incentive enough for you to think twice before attacking me again?”

Fury, or maybe interest, deepened her breathing. Eli couldn't tell which. “No.”

She had guts and gumption, and he admired both. “Good. I'm glad.”

“You're nuts is what you are,” she grumbled. “Now will you get off? We need to get some sleep.”

“If you promise to let bygones be bygones.”

“All right.” A heartbeat passed and she added, “For now.”

Very slowly, Eli removed his weight and rolled to the side. He waited until Ray had resettled herself, her body stiff beside his. He wanted to hug her, but knew better than to even try. “Good night. Ray.”

He was pleased when she returned grudgingly, her words barely audible, “Good night, Eli.”

Despite the heat in his body and the turmoil of his mind, he relaxed with a smile. Ray was unbelievably, delightfully unique from any person he'd ever known, especially the women. With all her outspokenness and arrogance, she was somehow more real. And he already looked forward to spending time with her, without the restrictions of familial duty and worry occupying his thoughts.

When his brother was back home where he belonged, he'd give Ray all his attention.

He was determined to have her, one way or another.

 

 

Bored but too restless to sleep, Jeremy stirred in the small confines of his hut. His own body odor, ripe as month-old fruit, rose to assault his nose. Good God, he needed a bath. The one time he'd mentioned it, though, the guerillas had offered to let him use the stream to wash. Of course, he'd refused. Hell, there were
leeches
in there. He'd seen some of the men—fastidious bastards who bathed every day—peeling the slimy, blood-bloated things off their legs, arms, even their groins.