The sound. Husky. Sexy. Sensual.
His.
Then he took a second—one he would carry with him for the rest of his life—to just look at her. Her thick hair was spread out behind her in a black mass. Her eyes were even darker, mysterious and full of desire. Her cheeks were flushed, and her lips were full and red.
Alive or dead, he’d somehow keep this image of her. “I’ve never met anybody so perfect,” he said.
Her blush deepened. “Denver.” She reached out her hands in welcome. Pure welcome.
He shed his clothing, dropping it to the floor. Even so, he took another second to tune in to the outside world. To check for threats. Nothing. Good. He slid onto the bed and covered her, careful not to crush her. She was so delicate. He wanted to savor her, show her how much she meant. “I’d do anything to keep you with me.”
Her lips pursed, and she ran her hands through his hair. But she didn’t argue. He could tell she wanted to, wanted to tell him to stay, but she remained silent.
He kissed her again, taking her deep, memorizing her taste. “Noni.”
She breathed and shifted her weight, spreading her legs so he could settle more firmly against her. Wet. She was definitely wet. He stroked her, his fingertips touching everywhere, learning every spot. She arched against him, trembling.
Tears gathered in her eyes, and he kissed them away. His body ached, his heart clutched. He couldn’t stand causing her tears. She was sweet and soft and kind…and he wanted to give her everything he could. But he held himself back, pleasing her. Touching her until she moved against him, asking for more. When she moaned, it was his name on her lips.
Slowly, he entered her, kissing her deeply, his hands captured in her hair. He had to pause several times to let her adjust, and his body rioted. His cock ached with a demand so strong it pulsed in time with his rapid heartbeat. He was a guy who could control his heartbeat if he tried, but at the moment, he was subject to it. There was no slowing it down.
Even if he’d wanted to try.
She lifted her legs and clasped her ankles at his back, her nails scraping down his sides. “Please, Denver.” Her soft plea nearly broke him.
He thrust inside her, and her internal walls clamped around him. His eyelids closed, and he pressed his forehead to hers, pulling out and pushing back in. God, she was perfect.
Her internal muscles gripped him, cascading around him.
“Denver?” she whispered.
He opened his eyes to see her darker ones on him. Focused. Seeing everything he was and would ever be. He increased the speed of his thrusts, diving deep, his vision nearly hazing.
Her release hit, with her entire body tightening around him almost to the point of pain.
He withdrew and hammered inside her as far as he could. The world exploded inside his head, outside his body. Pleasure swamped him, pouring through him with the most powerful release of his entire life.
He paused still inside, his forehead dropping to hers again. “God, Noni.”
She went limp beneath him, and her arms fell to the side. “I know,” she panted.
He rolled to the side and curved around her, his hand flattening across her thigh. “You okay?” he rumbled.
She nodded, and the back of her head caught his chin. “Sorry.”
“No worries.” He cuddled her close, trying to keep in the moment. “You always smell so good.”
“I make lotions and potions,” she murmured, her voice sleepy.
“Why is that?” He ran a hand down her arm, enjoying the softness of her pretty skin. “I know you make a good living, but I’ve never asked why lotions.” He hadn’t wanted to get too close when they’d been together before, and now he wanted nothing more. “Tell me.”
She sighed. “I like creating.” Her fingers played along his hand. “It’s fun making up recipes—the right one for each person. And some of them have been passed down through my family. Through my people.”
It was the first time he’d heard her talk about her lineage, and there was definite pride there. Love. A connection to people of the past. He wished he had that. Even a semblance of that.
But at least he had his brothers and now. That was more than he’d ever expected to have.
“Denver?” she asked quietly.
“Hmm?” He pressed a kiss to the back of her head, trying to stay in the moment.
“There’s a baby in the other room I have to be strong for. Brave,” she whispered.
He wanted to help her. To shield them both. He had to stay calm and focused, but his heart started to pump faster. To propel him to act. He could lose them both, and his control started to unravel. “I know.”
“So I should start now. Being brave.” She wiggled her butt against his groin, awakening it. “Don’t answer. But I have to tell you. Just once and tonight. I love you.”
Tears slammed into his eyes, and something clogged his throat. He couldn’t breathe.
She snuggled closer and tucked her face into the pillow. “I just wanted you to know. Before you left.” Then, with a sigh that almost sounded like relief, she fell into a peaceful sleep.
Denver held her, alternating between needing to snuggle her closer and wanting to get up and punch a wall. Life was so fucking unfair. The fact that she loved him, that she trusted him with not only her safety but her daughter’s too, put her in danger. The real kind.
He dropped his face into the nook of her neck, breathing deeply. It truly didn’t matter if he was ready to kill Cobb and Madison or not—he couldn’t harbor any doubts. To ensure Noni and Talia’s safety, he’d become the monster they’d created him to be.
The killer they’d genetically engineered.
He was in an empty classroom with the lady doctor. He still didn’t know her real name, but he knew her.
“You did so well on the aptitude tests,” she said smugly, sitting on the teacher’s desk, a bright red high heel dangling from her foot.
He sat in the front row, his hands on the wooden desktop. A couple of pieces of gum were stuck just under the edges, and he was careful not to touch them. Outside, boys yelled in a vigorous game of kickball, and he had to force his gaze to stay away from the wall of open windows.
The smell of freshly cut grass and new summer wafted inside. He waited quietly.
She arched a dark eyebrow. “You’re becoming more and more quiet, Denver. Each time I see you, you say less, and we both know you’re not mute. You can speak any time you wish.”
He’d never talked much, and considering Ned Cobb beat the crap out of him on a regular basis, why talk? Even the sheriff liked to get in on the fun with his nightstick. The sheriff and Ned were brothers. Now, that was a fuckin’ gene pool to avoid. “Sorry,” he said as she let the silence draw out.
“Are you?” she asked quietly, smoothing down her slim black skirt.
He shrugged. Not really. Silence had always been his friend.
She tugged on her white blouse, which was so pressed it had its own lines. “I, ah, I brought you something.”
He tensed. In his world, presents were always bad.
She reached into a big black bag and drew out a handheld video game. “One of the other kids I study created this in his spare time. It’s a rather complex spatial relations game.” She held it out.
A game?
He swallowed and stood, moving around the desk and approaching her like he would a snake about to strike. When she handed over the game, he stood there, unsure where to go. What to do.
“What do you say, Denver?” she asked quietly, her blue eyes sparkling.
He glanced at the game and then up at her. “Why?”
She blinked. “Excuse me?”
“Why did you bring me a present?” His breath heated, and his stomach hurt. It didn’t make sense. People didn’t give him things. Ever.
A very small pink blush colored her high cheekbones. “I thought you’d like it.” She smoothed her hair back from her angled face. “Do you?”
&
nbsp; “Yes.” He glanced down. Ryker and Heath would love to play with a game. He almost smiled. They’d have fun. Catching himself, he made himself meet her gaze. “Thank you very much for the present.”
Pleasure lit her face. “You’re very welcome.”
He shuffled his feet. At ten years old, he really wasn’t sure how to talk to adults. To anybody but Ryker and Heath, actually. “Why me?” he whispered. She hadn’t brought gifts to Ry or Heath, and she studied them, too.
“You’re special. I’ve told you that from the beginning.” She watched him as if taking mental notes on every movement he made. “You understand that, right?”
No. There wasn’t a damn thing special about him. He didn’t want to lie to her, so he didn’t answer.
She sighed and looked around the dismal classroom, one of several at the boys home. “I know you don’t get it right now, but I have to believe someday you’ll put the puzzle pieces together. It’s obvious if you ask me.”
He shook his head. “I saw your suitcases by the door.” When she stayed there, so did the sheriff, which just meant more pain for Denver. “You’re leaving.”
She reached out and cupped his cheek.
His stomach revolted.
“I am leaving, but I’ll be back. You and I are going to work together forever, Denver. I promise.” She smiled.
Denver’s phone jerked him out of the dream and into the present. “What?” he whispered as he answered.
“Den? It’s Ryker. We found the evidence that we’ve been compromised in South Dakota,” Ry said, the sound of rapid movement coming over the line.
Denver sat up. “Can you get to Montana to meet us?”
“Yes. We have a clear escape that they can’t trace or follow, so we’re heading to Montana. We’ll meet you there by tomorrow night,” Ryker said tersely. “Where’s your location? Jory will monitor all of us via satellite. He’ll watch your area as well.”
Denver gave his location. “Be careful, brother.”
“Ditto. See you soon,” Ryker said, hanging up.
Denver breathed in Noni’s orchid scent. As soon as he got her to safety, he was going hunting. There really was no other option.
* * *
Noni jerked out of a deep sleep. Her body was pleasantly sore, and her heart ached. They’d had sex plenty of times, but last night had been different. The whole sex-versus-making-love debate now made sense. It had been more than sex.
She lifted her head and listened. Denver breathed softly at her back, his arm wrapped around her waist. Silence came from the other room. Even so, she slid from the bed.
He shifted slightly in the bed.
“Just checking on Talia,” Noni whispered, tugging his T-shirt over her head. For good measure, she found clean panties and drew them on. “Go back to sleep.”
His breathing deepened. It was probably exhausting planning a mass kidnapping attempt. She bit back a chuckle and tiptoed into the other room, closing the door behind her.
She switched on a small lamp and moved quietly toward the baby.
Talia gurgled, kicking out her legs.
“Oh, you’re awake, are you?” Noni asked, reaching down to lift Talia to her chest. “Wonderful. A night owl.” The baby snuffled into her neck, and Noni ran a gentle hand down her back, moving to the nearest chair.
There she sat and rocked the baby, turning her so they could look at each other.
“So. Guess I should tell you some things.” The feeling of love nearly took the words away from her, but Noni persisted. “I don’t know what I’m doing.”
Talia kicked her legs again and giggled. Was that a giggle? Maybe. It was more of a gurgle. But definitely a smile. Yep that was a smile.
Noni breathed out, the feelings overwhelming her. “But I want you to know that I’ll do my best. No matter what, it’s you and me.” She tilted her head. “And Franny and Verna.”
The baby squirmed and seemed to look toward the closed bedroom door.
“Not him,” Noni whispered. The baby had no clue what she was talking about, but she felt the need to say the words out loud. Just to hear them. “He’s leaving.” She cleared her throat, rocking gently, the words feeling like glass in her mouth. Painful and sharp. “Not all men leave, and we’re not going around calling them all ‘dickhead.’” She winced. That probably wasn’t language she should use with her daughter. “See? I don’t know what I’m doing.” God forbid, Talia’s first word would be dickhead.
Talia found her hand and stuck it in her mouth.
“I love you, baby,” Noni whispered. Geez. Twice in one night. She was getting sappy. “Those are words I’ll say every day.” That seemed like a good plan as a mom. It was the only plan she had. Survival and love. She could do those things. “How about one day, after you earn your doctorate, you find a nice quiet banker to love? Or maybe a dentist.” It’d be helpful having a dentist in the family. “Just not a renegade, rambling vigilante. Trust me. They break your heart.”
Talia snuffled again.
“Not sure I’m a good example in the area of love,” Noni said. “It’ll be more of a ‘Do as I say’ situation.” See? She was getting this down already. Kicking her feet out onto the table, she leaned her head back and closed her eyes. This was a pleasant way to sleep. She was just so tired.
A sound, some sort of rustle, had her eyes opening. She lifted her head.
The door to the outside burst open.
She jolted and jumped up.
Smoke filled the room.
She turned to shield the baby. Adrenaline, hotter and faster than she’d ever felt before, rushed through her veins.
Three men in all black and wearing gas masks ran inside, guns in their hands.
Denver burst through the bedroom door, buck-assed naked, fury on his face.
The nearest guy fired twice, and Denver leaped to the side and just as fast took the guy down in a hard tackle. He slid an arm around the guy’s neck and something popped. The guy’s neck?
The man flopped unconscious and hadn’t even hit the ground completely before Denver was up and fighting the second soldier hand to hand.
Noni screamed, moving to get behind him to protect the baby. The third guy grabbed her injured arm, yanking her toward the door. Pain shot up her bicep. Tears streamed down her face, and her throat clogged. The smoke was terrible.
Talia started wailing, her arms and legs flailing.
Noni stumbled, and the guy righted her. She turned to see Denver break the other guy’s arm and then hit him hard in the gut. The guy doubled over, crying out in pain.
Noni struggled, holding the baby tight.
The soldier holding her lifted a hand and shot Denver three times. Were those darts?
He started to go down.
“Secure him,” the soldier holding her yelled.
The other soldier dropped to his knee, his broken arm against his ribs. “Can’t,” he coughed out, blood dribbling from his mouth.
Sirens trilled in the distance. Thank God. Somebody had heard the fight and had called the cops.
Denver flopped onto the floor and tried to move closer to the guy.
The wounded soldier shoved to his feet and stumbled toward them, more blood pouring from his mouth. “Get out of here before the police arrive.”
“She’ll kill us,” the guy holding her said.
“No choice,” the second guy yelled. “Run now.”
Noni struggled hard, trying to loosen his hold while still protecting Talia.
Denver growled and tried to crawl toward them. She glanced frantically at him but couldn’t see blood on his body.
Fury lanced through her. She kicked the guy next to her in the knee, and he pivoted, clapping her over the ear. Pain sparked behind her eyes, flashing bright. He reached for the baby, and she fought him, all the way to the door.
With a low snarl, he ducked and lifted both her and Talia up, turning to stride into the billowing snow. She screamed louder, and he ignored her, planting her in
the back of a dark SUV. She struggled to both hold Talia and push on the useless door handle, pressing her face against the cold darkened window to look for help.
The last thing she saw was Denver stumbling out the doorway, darts still in his chest. Terror screamed through her. Then he dropped to his knees and fell face-first onto the ice.
“Denver,” she whispered, terror taking her. Something sharp pierced her neck and then darkness descended all around her as she slipped into unconsciousness.
Chapter
26
Denver woke to the sound of a person wailing. And corn nuts. Loudly crunching corn nuts. Something was also beeping.
He opened his eyes to see he was in a hospital bed. Muted lights shone down, an IV pumped liquid into his arm, and his other arm was handcuffed to the bed. His entire body felt like it had gone through a cement mixer and was still coated with heavy rocks. He could barely move. His brain seemed to be firing too slow to catch a thought.
Where was he?
“Mornin’” came from his left. “You’ve been out cold awhile.”
He partially turned to see a country deputy complete with cowboy hat, munching on corn nuts, seated in a plastic yellow chair.
Denver blinked. “Who is screaming?”
That quickly, it cut off.
“Dead great-grandma down the hall,” the deputy said, continuing to chew, his brown eyes seeming bored. “Makes folks sad.”
Denver shook his head. He was supposed to be somewhere else. Everything was fuzzy, and his tongue was thick. This wasn’t right. “Where’s Noni?”
“Dunno.” The guy had to be about thirty. He stretched his long legs out and crossed his cowboy boots at the ankle as if he had all the time in the world. “She the baby? We saw baby stuff in the hotel room.”
The baby! Denver tried to sit up but his body wouldn’t work. Panic rushed through him. He banged his cuffed hand on the rail. Hard. The morning fight filled his mind. Three men, dart guns, gas masks. They had worked like a superior fighting unit. Oh God.
“Doc said you had enough tranq in you to knock out a grizzly.” Munch. Munch. Munch.