Chapter 13

He'd definitely won more than the round, too. And if he played his cards right, he'd have Blake in his bed — and his life — for the rest of his.

Kian glanced at his pants over in the corner of the cabin, trying to figure out how to grab a condom and not let go of her. Because despite his brain sending the signals, they weren't getting through. One hand drawing lazy circles on her hip, the other playing with the ends of her hair. And the way she was tucked up against him, all he needed to do was shift and he'd be perfectly lined up. Could be inside her, again, in five seconds flat.

Blake followed his gaze, then looked up at him, all bright blue eyes, her hair like a ring of deep embers around her head.

She was definitely a goddess.

She palmed his cheek, giving him a gut-wrenching smile. "I already trust you with my life, and I'm on the pill. Maybe we could forgo the condoms because I'd really prefer that there wasn't anything between us."

He moved. Shifted like he'd been thinking about and found himself fully inside her a moment later. Or maybe it had taken more than a second. He didn't know. Couldn't really remember anything after her saying she didn't want anything between them. That she trusted him.

Blake clutched his back, probably leaving tiny, finger-shaped indents in his flesh. But he didn't care because she was right there with him. Body strung tight. Her heels hugging the small of his back. And when he tilted his hips — pressed into her, again…

It was all warm, wet pressure pulling him under. Threatening to have him unloading in record time.

"God, Kian."

That did him in. Broke the fragile hold he had on any semblance of rational thought. A few minutes in, and he was already fighting not to finish. To make it last longer than what they'd already shared against the wall. The round that was supposed to take the edge off and allow him to show her just how amazing it could be between them.

He forced himself to pause — think of something other than how fucking perfect she was. How her body complemented his. Soft and strong at the same time.

Blake inhaled then sank her fingers into his hair — dragged him down for more of her drugging kisses. The ones he knew he couldn't live without. She smiled up at him, eyes rolling when pressed harder into her. "I need…"

"Me, too. Hold on."

He gathered her in his arms then dipped a shoulder. It took a bit to roll and not have them continue onto the floor, but he managed it. Grinned up at her once he had her straddling his thighs. Her hands palmed on his chest. "Your turn."

Blake's eyes widened, before she bit at her bottom lip, adjusting herself until she must have found the right position. A few tentative pulses then she was sliding up, pausing with him slightly inside her, then lowering, grinding her groin to his.

Three minutes in, and he was questioning his sanity. Why had he thought having her drive would give him more control? Allow him to last longer? But the way she moved — hair fluttering around her like a sea of auburn fire, every muscle contracting, creating a patchwork of shadows along her skin. It was like watching a sexual dance. And when she angled her hips, hit that spot just right…

Her head tilted back, exposing the sexy line of her neck as she moaned. He wasn't sure if it was his name or a few guttural syllables that sounded close. He only knew that it had him levering up — trapping her between his chest and his legs.

He wrapped his arms around her, ravaging her mouth until she was panting. Looking at him as if he'd completely wrecked her. Taken her beyond some limit.

Kian froze, wanting to burn everything into memory. The flush of pink on her skin. Her lust-blown eyes. How every breath pushed her chest harder against his.

Blake leaned forward, nibbled his ear. "Back to you."

Hell, yeah, it was his turn, again. And he didn't waste it. A shuffle sideways, and he was able to spin — take her down on the bed. Bodies still joined. One hand holding her head. She wrapped herself around him, every inch touching. He'd thought about flipping her — taking her from behind, but he needed her like this. Gazes held. Her lips within easy kissing distance. And after their quickie against the wall, he wanted her comfortable. Safe.

Blake didn't seem to care if he was squishing her into the bed or if her hair was stuck beneath her. She simply attacked his mouth — tried to urge him deeper with a firm press of her heels. Kian intended on telling her, no. How he wanted to make it last. Make it special.

Until she nudged him, again, as she lifted into his small thrust. Took him back to the brink in under a second.

Gone. That's what he was. Lost in her.

He started moving. Slow then faster, increasing his pace until he was pounding into her. Thrusting so hard the springs were squeaking. The whole room rocking. Or maybe it was the boat cutting through the water. Either way, he was riding that high minutes later, his release burning down his spine. Blurring everything into the feel of her skin against his. The rasp of her breath against his neck.

Blake tensed, pushing her head into the bed as she cried his name, her body convulsing beneath him.

He managed to stop long enough to watch her tip over — that flush burning deeper as sweat beaded her skin, her body shaking. Then, he was coming. Hips jerking, every muscle contracted. The room faded into black, Blake's hold on him the only thing keeping him from floating away.

The room was dark when he finally pried his eyelids open — looked around. Blake's eyes were shut — was already halfway asleep.

Kian gave her a gentle shake. "Hey, beautiful. You need to eat something."

She huffed, tugging him near, not that he thought they could get any closer to each other. "Later. Roll over and hold me."

"How about I help you up, give us each a quick wipe down, then grab some food and feed you in bed?"

That got one eye slivered open. "You'll do all the work?"

"It's still my turn, right? You did relinquish yours when you said it was back to me. So, yeah, I'll do all the work."

Blake stuck her tongue out at him, drifting, again, until he gave her another shake. "Fine, but no crying foul if I'm sound asleep by the time you get back. That was…"

"Above expectations?"

"Epic."

He wouldn't pound on his chest like some Neanderthal. He had more restraint than that. But he wanted to. Wanted to strut around the room, then yell it to the moon. How he'd somehow landed the perfect girl. Though, a tattoo with her name sounded reasonable.

"How about plan B? I text Waylen to leave some food at the door, and you can use my chest as a pillow."

God, her smile. It was more than happiness. It was love. "That sounds perfect."

Kian motioned her to wait, tugged on his pants to dash out and bring back a damp cloth. Then he spent a few minutes gently cleaning her, using it as an excuse to simply drink her in. All that smooth soft flesh just visible in the hint of moonlight filtering through the porthole.

By the time he climbed in beside her — offered her his chest — Blake looked ready to pounce on him, again. She gave his body a long slow sweep, finally settling against him when he tsked and motioned her to move in close.

She sighed against his flesh, drawing patterns along his skin. "Are you sure about this?"

"You using my chest as a pillow? Definitely."

She snorted. "Russo. This whole crazy plan to island hop or cabin hop or whatever it is Waylen thinks will eventually get Russo out in the open so you guys can do some crazy SEAL shit and take him out."

Kian stared at her, unsure how to respond. He hadn't realized she'd overheard him, Waylen and Porter talking, earlier. That Porter didn't want Russo to walk away from this still breathing.

She shook her head. "SEALs. Just remember your promise not to die on me."

"It's hard to forget when you keep reminding me. And while we're at it, you keep your ass in one piece, too."

She merely smiled, then rested her cheek against his chest. But not before he saw the way her eyes had narrowed. Or the tight press of her lips as she'd turned away. She'd obviously meant what she'd said. That she'd make the tough call if it came down to that.

Not a problem. He'd just have to make sure it didn't. Convince her that he had her back, no matter what they faced. Was able to dive in front or tug her behind him at a moment's notice. Anything and everything to guarantee her safety.

Which explained why, four days later as they pulled into their next stop, he was still on whatever alert was above DEFCON one. They'd arrived at some secluded, off-grid area on Molokai where Waylen's friend Mano had a few rustic cabins. Nothing fancy, just enough to keep his team out of the elements — more like camping with style than actual structures. And about as deserted as they could get.

The perfect place to put an end to Russo.

The Scarab cut past them, Harlan driving with Porter taking a turn as scout. Looking far more at ease than Kian would have thought considering the water was a bit rougher today. The two men would do one more circuit, then pull in behind the main vessel. Make it look like every other place they'd stopped. Give Russo's men the green light to make their move.

And Kian's team would be waiting.

Blake finally ambled over to the railing once the other men had anchored the Scarab and joined them, gazing out at the lush forest set against the pristine blue waters. She'd been uncharacteristically quiet all day, and Kian got the sense something was brewing. That, maybe she'd figured out they were planning an ambush. Not that he'd liked keeping intel from her, but Porter had insisted that they stay on the down low until they knew for sure Russo was tailing them. Some marshal code.

Kian had resisted, but in the end, he knew it was Porter he needed to soothe so the man didn't turn and tell Blake to run, again. Because the guy would, no hesitation if he thought it was their only recourse. And Kian really didn't want to go down that route when they still had options. When his team was still Blake's best chance for a permanent solution.

She nodded at the wild landscape, mouth pinched tight, brow furrowed. "Molokai? Really?"

Kian grinned. "What's not to love? It's a tropical paradise."

"And as secluded as you can get, other than maybe Lanai. Though, that's probably up for debate." She turned to face Kian. "But it's the perfect place to stage your assault."

Kian didn't so much as allow his mouth to twitch, all the while cursing inwardly. He hated being right. "Assault?"

"Please. Do you honestly think I haven't noticed that boat tailing us for the past two days? They've been good. Have stayed mostly out of sight. But I know a gun-running vessel when I see one, and that cruiser has Russo written all over it."

Blake merely hitched out a hip when the men all exchanged a look. "Did you forget I was Coast Guard for fifteen years or did you just assume I was shit at my job?"

"Whoa. We didn't assume anything, least of all that you weren't anything but fucking amazing. We just didn't say anything because we can't be sure it's one of Russo's."

"Yeah, you can. Because no one else would be following us." She crossed her arms over her chest. "You all tote this whole team bullshit, yet, from where I'm standing, I'm the odd man out."

Porter stepped forward, cutting Kian off. "I'm the one who insisted we keep you out of the loop. Who told Kian to zip it, or I'd pull rank and spirit you out of here. You know the score, Blake. You've been through this more than any other witness I've ever had to protect. Your job is to keep your head down and out of the line of fire. Regardless of what you did before."

"Except where this is exactly what I spent the past several years with the TACLET doing. Or did that part also slip your mind?"

"You're not an officer, anymore."

"And they're not in the Navy, but you don't seem to have an issue with them playing the part of SEALs, again."

"Russo isn't looking to put a bullet between their eyes. Sure, he'll take out anyone who stands in his way, but you're the target. You know what happens if he's granted an appeal and you're not around to defend your testimony."

Blake closed the distance between them, going toe-to-toe with the marshal. "The man escaped from prison. Pretty damn sure that negates any chance at an appeal."

"Not if he owns a judge or three, and I have no doubts he does. The reason he never got the death penalty to begin with."

"All the more reason to have me help you eliminate him, then. Because that's also the plan, right? No second chances, I believe you said."

Porter groaned, running a hand through his hair. "Christ, you're a pain in my ass."

"My father didn't raise me to be a pushover. You know that better than anyone. And he didn't persuade me to forgo the Navy or the Air Force for the Coast Guard because he thought it was safer. He was afraid my talent, as he put it, would be wasted if I didn't get to do the really scary shit. So, stop pretending his blood isn't running through my veins, and keep me in the damn loop."

Raider motioned to Harlan that he'd deal with the situation, then inched forward, gently getting them to each take a step back. "I think you two need to go to neutral corners before Blake socks you in the eye, Porter."

Porter grumbled something under his breath before he turned then walked over to the railing — focused on the horizon.

Raider nodded, giving Blake an arch of his brow. "Your father is the reason you joined the Coast Guard? He must be extremely proud."

Her chin quivered for a moment. Not that the others might have noticed, but Kian did. Was so intimately in tune with her, he would know if she sneezed differently. "He was."

Raider glanced at Kian, then back to her. "He's no longer with us, then."

It hadn't been a question and Blake merely nodded. "He was killed in action five years ago."

Kian moved in beside her. "You told me flying ran in the family. Was your father a pilot?"

That got him a genuine smile. Not a happy one, but she was obviously immensely proud of her dad. "Navy pilot for damn near thirty years."

Well shit.

"I should have asked you that before, but…" But he'd been too busy falling in love — finally getting a taste of her — to ask the important questions. Something that was coming back to bite him in the ass, now. "Which reminds me. We don't even know your real name."

She looked down as she toed the deck. "Does it matter? I'm not that girl, anymore."

"Of course, it matters to them, Blake. Christ, you're fucking honorable to a fault." Porter rejoined them. "It's Carmichael. Blake Amelia Carmichael. Her father was Commander Jacob Carmichael. He was killed in a covert mission involving a joint special operational command with a SEAL team and a Ranger unit. Was the only reason those men ever made it home."

Kian closed his eyes, cursing under his breath before gazing at his buddies — acknowledging the truth mirrored in their expressions. This couldn't be happening. Out of all the missions they'd undergone, surely fate wouldn't have orchestrated this outcome. "Shit."

Porter frowned. "What… no."

Blake snorted, drawing all their attention. But she didn't glare at them the way Kian thought she would. Hell, the way she should. Instead, that smile lifted slightly. "It was your team."

Kian looked around, again, praying one of his buddies had all the right words. Knew what to say to make this remotely okay. That her father had died saving their asses, when Blake held up her hand.

She shook her head, a few tears slipping down her cheeks. "Don't. My dad knew the risks. We all did. And he lived and died doing what he loved. The only way he wanted to go out, if I'm being honest. I think that's why he never gave it up. Passed up a bunch of promotional opportunities. Transfers that would have made him an admiral long before that. He needed to be where the action was. Saving lives."

She walked forward, palming him jaw. "I'm just glad he was there for all of you when you needed him the most. Like he always was for me."

She retreated slightly, wrapping her arms around her waist. Looking lost and determined all at the same time, and he had to force himself to hold his ground instead of marching over — taking her in his arm. "But that means you know how I was raised. And I'm not sitting this out on the sidelines. So, either you all level with me, or I take the Scarab and finish this, myself. And I will. I'm as good behind the wheel of a boat as I am in the cockpit. Damn good shot, too." She looked directly at Lane. "And not just with an M4."

Lane chuckled. "I have no doubts you could beat my ass in a competition."

She snorted. "I said good. Not exceptional. But I can definitely hold my own, which is why I'm alive and four of Russo's men, aren't."

Kian glanced at Porter, giving the man a shake of his head. "You're right. And we should have told you the moment we suspected everything, Porter's warning be damned. But I'm not ashamed to admit my heart had a hard time finding the words. I love you, Blake. That's messed with my head. Changed how I see every threat. Just the thought of you getting hurt on my watch…"

Her gaze softened, all that love shining through. "It's not just your watch. And I'm done running."

"Then, we'd best get our defenses set up before Russo's men try anything. And we're pretty sure they will. It just won't go as planned."

She nodded. "Good. Because this ends tonight."