Chapter 13

Chapter 13

Raura

He’s different when he comes back. There’s something about him that looks…

Broken.

That can’t be right. He’s unbreakable.

“What’s wrong?” I ask immediately as he walks through to the bathroom. He doesn’t answer, simply heading to the shower. He strips off, leaving his clothing in a mound. That’s not like him. He usually folds his things. Takes care of them.

Something bad has happened.

“What’s going on?” I follow him into the bathroom. He’s stepped into the shower stall and turned on the faucet. He stands beneath the steady stream, water cascading over his head and down the hard lines of his body. I watch it form rivulets around the muscles of his shoulders and his back. His head is bowed, and more water streams from his forehead to his chin before pouring onto his chest.

“Riot?” I stand beside the stall, my hand on the doorframe. He looks up at me, and my heart stops. There’s anguish there. “Please tell me what’s going on?” I’m growing anxious. “Is it Parker? Did he do something?” Something else dawns. “Is he sending you away? Taking me from you?”

The thought of it horrifies me.

“Come in here with me,” he says.

I frown. “In the shower?”

“Yes. Get in the shower with me.”

This is unexpected. But something tells me not to ask questions. I peel off his T-shirt that I’ve been wearing and step out of the oversized shorts. He moves back so I can step in beside him. My hair clings to my face as water pours over me. He raises a hand hesitantly and then brushes it away. It makes my breath catch. Or maybe it’s because we’re both dripping wet, and my naked breasts are just an inch away from his bare chest.

“What’s wrong?” I ask again.

He raises a finger to his lips and then glances around meaningfully.

Understanding dawns.

Shit.

“They’re watching?” I whisper, my jaw clenching as our suspicions are confirmed.

He nods, then leans in close, his lips almost brushing my ear. It sends a tingle through my skin. “We have to get out of this place,” he murmurs so low I can barely hear him. I tilt my head slightly to catch his words, and water streams down my throat to my shoulder and over my breasts. A quick look down shows me that my nipples have tightened to hard peaks. But I can’t worry about that right now because his words are registering.

“Get out?” I mouth the words.

He nods again. “As soon as possible. We can’t stay.”

“But why…?” I begin, wondering what caused this sudden change.

“I’ll explain later.” He aims another glance around the room, then cups my cheek in one giant palm. “I’m sorry, I’m going to touch you, or he’s going to wonder what we’re doing in here.”

“Touch me?” I lick my lips. His fingertips trail down my throat, following the path of the water to my shoulder. My stomach does a somersault, and my nipples tighten further – if that’s even possible.

“Put your arms around my waist,” he says, guiding my wrist down and draping it over his hip. My hand automatically cups his beefy ass, the muscles hard beneath my palm.

My God, he’s made of freaking rock!

“I don’t understand, Riot.” Although, right now, my body doesn’t care about understanding anything. I’m tingling all over as he runs his other hand down my shoulder to my arm, tracing little patterns.

“I can get us out of here,” he whispers. Riot’s hands trail down my back as he speaks, his breath hot against my neck. “I know this place inside and out after all these years,” he murmurs, his voice a low rumble that vibrates through me. “The guard rotations, security systems, everything.”

I shiver as his fingertips graze the curve of my spine. “How?” I breathe, struggling to focus on his words with the electric tingle of his touch making my skin prickle.

“They’ve taken me through most areas during my time here.” His lips brush my earlobe, and I stifle a gasp. “I’ve memorized it all – it was the only way to stay sane.”

My hands drift up his muscular back, feeling the rippling power beneath his damp skin. “You know a way out?”

He nods, the stubble on his chin scratching my shoulder deliciously. “We just need to get to the control room undetected during a specific window. I can disable the alarms and security systems temporarily.”

Pressing closer, my breasts graze his chest as I drink in every word. “When?”

“Every morning, the shift changes at 0300 hours.” His hand skims down to cup my ass, pulling my hips flush against his hard body. His very hard body.

Oh, my God!

There’s no mistaking what’s pressing up against me, but he doesn’t seem aware of it. I certainly am. “Right. Shift change at 0300 hours,” I repeat parrot-fashion.

“There’s a window period when the locks disengage so the guards can come through. We’ll have eight minutes,” he adds. “We’ll be ready when that happens. You’ll need to do exactly as I say.”

“And then what?” I whisper.

“And then you keep doing exactly what I say,” he says.

He still has my hips clamped against his. A whimper slips from my lips as delicious heat blossoms between my thighs. “Okay,” I manage, trying to keep my tone even despite the thundering of my heart. It doesn’t work. The word comes out choked. I hold myself stiffly, setting my hands on his shoulders.

Riot’s free hand slides into my soaked hair, angling my face up. “You need to act natural,” he speaks low, his stormy eyes darkening. “Touch me like you want me.”

Act? Hah! I don’t have to act.

“Okay,” I whisper again as, with trembling hands, I trace the thick muscles of his arms and then down his chest until I reach the ridges of his abdomen, the defined V disappearing beneath the water. I pull in a breath as I reach his rock-hard cock. My fingertips graze the tip where it’s pressed up against his belly.

“Raura, I didn’t mean…” he growls. It sounds like a warning. A warning that I ignore as I trace the thick length of his shaft. A muscle ticks in his jaw, and he leans forward, the intensity in his gaze stealing my breath as I stare back at him.

When his lips brush mine, I lose myself in the moment, in the strength of his body against mine beneath the water. His mouth is warm, his tongue snaking past my lips, a light graze of stubble brushing my chin. I clutch at him as we drink each other in, all thoughts of escape fleeing.

God, what am I doing?

I’m sure this is a bad idea, but I can’t seem to help myself. I cling to Riot, our bodies pressed together as our kiss grows hungrier, more frantic. His hands roam over my slick skin as mine map the hard planes of his muscular back and shoulders. I can’t get enough of the taste of him, the scent of his skin mingling with the steam.

Our kisses grow feverish, all restraint forgotten as desire takes over. I whimper into his mouth when he cups my breast, my body bowing in response. He slides his other hand between us, his fingers delving between my thighs, finding the molten heat of my pussy. My nails dig into the muscles of his biceps as I grind shamelessly against his hand.

Yes! Oh God, yes!

And then he stops.

Riot tears his lips from mine with a ragged groan. We’re both panting heavily, our chests heaving as we stare at each other in shock at the intensity of our shared need.

“I’m sorry,” he rasps, his voice gravelly. “It’s been…a very long time.”

Disappointment lances through me at his implication that this is purely physical, a response to years of deprivation rather than any deeper longing specifically for me. I drop my eyes, flushing with embarrassment at how desperately aroused I am, my nipples aching and my core throbbing with want.

“It’s okay,” I mumble, unable to meet his intense stare. “I’m sorry, too. I got carried away.”

“That’s understandable,” he says, his voice still low. “This is a…difficult situation.”

“Mm-hmm. Sure,” I squeak out.

‘Difficult’ barely covers it.

“We should get out of here.” He switches off the water and reaches out for a towel. I try not to squeeze my eyes shut when he wraps it around me, carefully securing it over my breasts.

Dead. I’m just dead.

The man could have had me right here, right now, if he’d wanted. And yet here he is, acting like a perfect gentleman.

There are more important things to think about, Raura!

Like getting out of here.

I step awkwardly out of the shower, aware that he’s getting out behind me, but too busy walking quickly out of the bathroom to look back at him. My hair clings wetly to my rapidly cooling skin, and I shiver as I get into the bedroom, wishing I’d thought to retrieve the clothing I’d been wearing.

Still wrapped in the towel, I’m perched uncomfortably on the edge of the bed when he emerges from the bathroom. He has a towel, too, and it’s wrapped around his lean hips, tiny droplets clinging to his skin. Who could blame them? A moment ago, I was clinging to his skin too.

God, you’re an idiot, Raura!

I press my lips together, trying not to flinch when he sits close beside me. He brushes my wet hair aside before lowering his lips to my ear yet again.

I really wish he’d stop doing that. My earlobes have just reached the top of my erogenous zone chart.

“We’ll be out of here by this time tomorrow, Raura. I promise.” The words are barely louder than a breath. But he seems so certain that I don’t question him. So I nod. My body is humming. Partly with the anticipation of getting away from this nightmare. But also because being so close to this man seems to set me on fire.

He straightens abruptly. “Bed,” he says firmly. “It’s time to get some rest.” He’s not whispering anymore, so I’m guessing that we can drop the act for the cameras now. I’m kind of disappointed.

You’re nuts, Raura.

He stands and unwraps the towel from his waist, folding it and hanging it over the back of the chair beside the dresser. I watch him hungrily, even though I’m trying not to. Any sign of his previous erection has subsided, although his cock is still a thing of beauty as he strolls to the side of the bed. He sits down and pats the mattress beside him, just as he has for the past two nights.

And I have to strip off and lie next to him…as if my body isn’t still screaming for fulfillment. Still aching at being close to him. But right now, that’s the least of my concerns.

In just a few hours, we’ll be out of this place.

We’ll be free.

Or we’ll be dead.