Bane (15 page)

Bane leaned back against the door as she walked past him to stand in the middle of the hotel room and glance around.

“Yes, it is that,” he said, thinking the room wasn’t the only gorgeous thing he was looking at. Before leaving the cabin she had showered and changed clothes. Now she was wearing a pair of dark slacks and a pullover sweater. Whether she was wearing jeans and a T-shirt or dressed as she was now, as far as he was concerned, she was the epitome of sexy.

Since her original destination had been the Bahamas, most of the items she’d packed were summer wear. Luckily she and Bailey were similar in size and height, so Bailey had loaned Crystal several outfits that would be perfect for the harsh Alaska weather.

“Come on, let’s explore,” she said, coming back to him, grabbing his hand and pulling him along.

He wished this could have been the kind of hotel he’d taken her to on their wedding night. As far as he was concerned, it was fit for a king and queen. There was a state-of-the-art kitchen, and according to the woman at the check-in desk, the suite came with its own chef who was on call twenty-four hours a day.

Then there was the spacious living room with a beautiful view of the Smokey Mountains. He figured the furnishings alone in the place cost in the millions. There was a private bar area that came with your own personal bartender if you so desired, and a connecting theater room that had box-office movies at the press of a button.

But what really had his pulse racing was the bedroom, which you entered through a set of double doors. The room was huge and included a sitting area and game nook. He was convinced the bed was created just for lovemaking. Evidently Crystal thought so, as well. He watched as she crossed the room to sit on the edge of the bed and bounced a few times as if to test the mattress.

“It will work.”

He lifted a brow, pretending he didn’t know what she was referring to. “Work for what?”

“For us. I think that last hotel probably had to replace the mattresses on the beds after we left.”

He chuckled, thinking he wouldn’t be surprised if they had. He and Crystal had definitely given both beds major workouts. He continued to stare across the room at her. There was just something about seeing Crystal sitting on the bed that was causing a delicious thrill to flow through him. When their gazes met and held, he decided there was something missing from the picture of her sitting on the bed.

Him.

Eighteen

C
rystal leaned back on her arms and gazed through watchful eyes as Bane moved from the doorway and headed in the direction of the bed. Straight toward her.

As much as she tried, she couldn’t dismiss the flutter in her tummy or the way her pulse was beating out of control. All she could do was watch him, knowing what he had in mind, because it was what she had in mind, as well. He was taking slow, sexy and seductive steps with an intensity that filled the room with his sexual aura. There seemed to be some kind of primitive force surrounding him and she could only sit there, stare and feel her panties get wet.

As if he knew what she was thinking, what she wanted, without breaking his stride he eased his leather jacket from his shoulders and tossed it aside. Next came his shirt, which he ripped from his body, sending buttons flying everywhere. And without losing steam he jerked his belt through the loops and tossed it in the air to land on the other side of the room.

Without a belt his jeans shifted low on his hips, and she couldn’t keep her eyes from moving from his face to his chest to trace the trail of hair that tapered from his chest down his abdomen to disappear beneath the waistband of his jeans.

And then there was what he was packing between those muscular thighs of his. She had seen it, touched it and tasted it. And what made her body tingle all over was knowing it was hers.

She studied Bane’s face and saw the intensity etched in his features. A few more steps and he would have made it to the bed. And to her. It seemed the room was quiet; nothing was moving but him and he was a man with a purpose.

By the time he reached her she was a ball of desire, and his intoxicating scent—a mixture of aftershave and male—wasn’t helping matters. Her head began spinning and she could actually feel her nipples tighten hard against her sweater, and the area between her legs throbbed mercilessly.

“Do you know what I love most about you?” he asked her in a low, husky voice.

“No, what?” She was barely able to get the words out.

“Every single thing. I can’t just name one,” he said, gazing down at her. “And do you know what I was thinking while standing there watching you sit on this bed?”

“No, what were you thinking?” He was asking a lot of questions and she was providing answers as best she could. Her mind was struggling to keep up and not get distracted by the masculine physique standing directly in front of her. Shirtless, muscular and sexy as sin.

“I was thinking that I should be on this bed with you.”

“No problem. That can be arranged. Join me.”

She watched his eyes darken. “If I do, you know what’s going to happen.”

“Yes, but we’re making up for lost time, right?”

“Right.”

“In that case.” She slowly scooted back on the bed. “Join me,” she invited again.

In an instant he was bending over to remove his shoes and socks. Straightening, his hands moved to the snap of his jeans and she watched as he pulled his jeans and briefs down his legs.

When he stood stark naked looking at her, he said, “You got too many clothes on, Crystal.”

A smile touched her lips. “Do I?”

“Yes.”

She chuckled. “And what, Bane Westmoreland, are you going to do about it?”

* * *

Hours later Crystal opened her eyes and adjusted to the darkness. The only light she could see was the one streaming in through the bedroom door from the living room. The bed was huge but she and Bane were almost on the edge, chest to chest, limb to limb. She didn’t want to wake him but she needed to go to the bathroom.

He wasn’t on top of her but he might as well have been. With his thigh and leg thrown over hers, he was definitely holding her hostage. When she tried untwining their limbs to ease away from him, his eyes flew open.

“Sorry, didn’t mean to wake you.”

He stared down into her eyes and she stared back into his. They were sleepy, drowsy, satisfied. He tightened his hold on her. “And where do you think you’re going?”

“The bathroom.”

“Oh.”

He released his tight hold on her and rolled to the side. “Don’t be gone too long. I’ll miss you.”

She smiled when he closed his eyes again. She quickly searched for her clothes but didn’t see them anywhere and didn’t want to turn the lamp on to look for them further. So she decided to cross the room in the nude, something he’d done plenty of times.

Moments later after coming out of the bathroom, she decided to go through her luggage to find something to put on. Their bags were just where they’d left them, not far from the door. She was able to see in the light coming from the sitting room, so it didn’t take her long to open her luggage and pull out one of her nightgowns. After slipping it on she noticed the satchel Bane had given her.

Not feeling sleepy, she decided now would be a perfect time to read. Opening the satchel, she saw Bane had placed the letters and cards in stacks so she could read them in order. He had also banded them together and labeled them. She grabbed the ones marked My First Year.

She decided to sit on the sofa in front of the fireplace. Using the remote, she turned it on and the bright glow and the heat gave her a warm cozy feeling.

Settling on the sofa with her legs tucked beneath her, she opened the first letter and began reading...

Crystal,

I made it to the navy training facility in Indiana. The other recruits here are friendly enough but I miss my brothers and cousins back home. But more than anything, I miss you. A part of me knows I need to do this and make something of myself for you, as well as for myself, but I’m not sure I can handle our separation. We’ve never been apart before, and more than once I wanted to walk out and keep walking and return to Denver and confront your parents to find out where they sent you. I want to let them and everyone know you are my wife and that I have every right to know where you are.

But on those days I feel that way, I know why I am enduring the loneliness. It’s for you to reach the full potential that I know you can reach. You are smart. Bright. And you’re also pretty. I want you to make something of yourself and I promise to make something of myself, as well.

Not sure if you will ever read this letter but I am hoping that one day you will. Just know that you will always have my heart and I love you more than life itself and I’m giving you space to come into your own. And the day I return we will know the sacrifice would have been for the best.

Love you always,

Your Bane

Crystal drew in a deep breath and wiped a tear from her eye.
Her Bane
. Putting the letter back in the envelope, she placed it aside and picked up a Valentine’s Day card. She smiled after reading the poem and when she saw how he’d signed the card, “Your Bane” once again, she felt her heart flutter in her chest.

She kept reading all the cards and letters in the stack. In them he told her how his chief had noted how well he could handle a gun, and how he could hit a target with one eye closed or while looking over his shoulder. “Show-off,” she said, grinning as she kept reading. His extraordinary skill with a weapon was what had made him stand out so much that his chief had brought it to the attention of the captain who had recommended him for the SEAL program.

She also noted that although her birthday and their wedding anniversary were the same day, he’d bought her separate cards for each. By the time she had finished the first stack she felt she knew how that first year had gone. His first year without her. He had been suffering just as much as she had. He had missed her. Yearned for her. Longed for her. She felt it in the words he’d written to her, and she could just imagine him lying down at night in his bunk and writing her. He’d told her about the guys he’d met and how some of them had become friends for life.

Crystal was halfway through reading the second stack of cards and letters when she heard a sound. She glanced up and saw Bane standing in the doorway.

“You didn’t come back. And I missed you.”

At that moment all she could think about was that the man standing there was
her Bane
. Putting the stack of cards and letters aside, she eased to her feet and crossed the room to him. They had been through a lot, were still going through a lot, but through it all, they were together.

When she reached him she wrapped her arms around his waist and said the words that filled her heart. “I love you, Bane.”

“And I love you.” He then swept her off her feet and into his arms. “I’m taking you back to bed.”

“To sleep?” she asked.

“No.”

She smiled as he carried her back into the bedroom. Once there he eased her gown off her and tossed it aside before placing her back in bed. “I began reading your letters and cards,” she said when he joined her there. “Thank you for sharing that period of time with me. And I kept something for you, as well. A picture journal. I’ll give it to you when we get to Alaska.”

He stroked a hand down her thigh. “You’re welcome, and thanks for keeping the journal for me.”

And then he leaned down and kissed her and she knew that like all the other times before, this was just the beginning.

Nineteen

“I
can’t believe this place,” Crystal said, after entering the cabin and glancing around.

Bane knew what she meant because he could barely believe it, either. The cabin was huge, but it wasn’t just the size. It was also the location and the surroundings, as well as how the cabin has been built with survival in mind.

They had arrived in Kodiak, Alaska, a few hours ago after spending another full day in North Carolina. They had been Garth’s guests on his private jet owned by Outlaw Freight Lines. Garth’s three brothers—Cash, Sloan and Maverick—had met them at the tiny airport. Their brother Jess, who was running for senator of Alaska, was currently on the campaign trail and their sister, Charm, had accompanied their father to Seattle on a business trip. Garth had joked that it was business for their father and a shopping expedition for their sister.

As far as Bane was concerned, Garth hadn’t been lying when he’d said that there was a strong resemblance between him and Cash. The similarity was uncanny in a way. And the similarities between the Westmorelands and the Outlaws didn’t end there. In fact, Sloan closely resembled Derringer, and Maverick favored Aidan and Adrian. The Outlaws had easily accepted their biological connection to the Westmorelands, but according to Garth, their father had not. He was still in denial and they didn’t understand why.

After making a pit stop at Walker’s ranch to drop off Bailey and Walker, Garth and his brothers had driven them on to the Outlaw cabin, which was deep in the mountains and backed up against the Shelikof Strait, a beautiful waterway that stretched from the southwestern coast of Alaska to the east of Kodiak.

“Let us show you around before we leave,” Garth said. He and his brothers led them from room to room, and each left Bane and Crystal more in awe than the last. And then the Outlaw brothers showed them the movable wall that led to an underground tunnel. It was better than what Bane had expected. It was basically a man cave with living quarters that included a flat-screen television on one of the walls. The sofa, Bane noted, turned into a bed. The pantry was filled with canned goods. Then there was the gun case that probably had every type of weapon ever manufactured.

“Our grandfather was a gun collector,” Sloan Outlaw explained. “Our father didn’t share his passion so he gave them to us to get rid of. He has no idea we kept them. As far as we were concerned, they were too priceless to give away.”

“Of course, over the years we’ve added our own favorites,” Maverick said, grinning, pointing to a .
458 caliber Winchester Magnum
, a very powerful rifle. “That one is mine. Use it if you have to.”

A short while later, after the tour of the cabin ended, they had returned to the front room. Bane looked over at Cash, the cousin whose identity he would assume for a while. “Hope I’m not putting you out, man.”

Cash smiled. “No problem. I need a few days away from Alaska anyway. A couple of friends and I are headed for Bermuda for a few days. Hate how I’ll miss all the action.”

The plan was to lead the group looking for Crystal to assume that she was in the cabin with Cash, an old college friend. But in order for that plan to work, in case someone went digging, the real Cash Outlaw needed to go missing for a while.

Oakwood would be calling in the morning to give Bane the final plans and let him know when word of Crystal’s whereabouts would be leaked so they could be on guard and get prepared. The DOD already had men in place around the cabin. They had been there when Bane and the group arrived. Other than Garth, no one had noticed their presence, since they blended in so well with the terrain.

A short while later Bane and Crystal were saying goodbye to everyone. After Bane closed the door behind him, he looked across the room at Crystal. He thought she was holding up pretty damn well for a woman who in the next twenty-four hours would be the bait in an elaborate trap to catch her would-be kidnappers. As soon as the DOD purposely leaked her whereabouts, it would set things in motion.

“I like them.”

He saw her smile. “Who?”

“Your cousins.”

“And what do you like about them?” he asked, moving away from the door toward her.

“For starters, how quick they pitched in to help. They didn’t have to offer us the use of this place.”

“No, they didn’t. Garth and his brothers paid a visit to Colorado the week before Thanksgiving to meet the Denver Westmorelands and from there they headed south to visit with the Atlanta Westmorelands. Dillon told me I would like them when I met them and I do.”

He drew her into his arms. “If we pull this off we’ll owe them a world of thanks. This place is perfect, and not just because of the underground tunnel. There’s also the location, the seclusion. I can see someone hiding out here, and I’m sure the people looking for you will see it, too.”

“I wonder when Oakwood will send his men,” she said thoughtfully, looking up at him.

Bane chuckled. “They’re already here.”

Surprise appeared on her face. “What? Are you sure?”

“Pretty much. I haven’t seen them but I can feel their presence. I noticed it the minute we pulled up in the yard. And because Garth is an ex-Marine, he did, too.”

“He said something to you about it?”

Bane shook his head. “He didn’t have to. He knew what to look for.” Bane didn’t say anything for a minute and then he said, “Nothing can happen to you, Crystal. I won’t allow it. Do you know what you mean to me?”

She nodded and reached up to place her arms around his neck. “Yes, I know.” And she really did. Reading those cards and letters had left her in awe at the magnitude of his love for her.

“Good.” And then he leaned down and captured her mouth with his.

* * *

Later that night, just as before, Crystal untangled herself from Bane and slid out of bed. At least she tried. But Bane’s arms tightened around her. “Where are you going?”

“To read. I’m on stack three now.”

He rolled over in bed so they could lie side by side. “Interesting reading?”

“I think so,” she said. “It means a lot knowing you were thinking about me.” Reading those cards and letters, especially the letters, had helped her to understand that he loved being a navy SEAL and that his teammates were his family, as well.

“I always thought about you,” he said huskily. He rubbed her cheek. “Sleepy?” he asked her.

“No. I plan to read, remember? So let me go.”

“Okay, just as long as you’re where I can see you.”

“I’ll just be in the living room.”

He shook his head. “Not good enough. I want you in here with me.”

She was about to argue with him, remind him the cabin was surrounded by the good guys, but instead she said, “Okay, I’ll read in bed if you’re sure I won’t disturb you.”

“I’m sure. I’m wide-awake, as well.”

He released her. After slipping back into the gown that he’d taken off her earlier, Crystal padded across the room to pull the third stack out of the satchel.

While getting the cards and letters, she pulled out the photo album she had packed. Going back to the bed, she handed it to him. “Here. This is my gift to you.”

Bane took it. “Thanks, baby.” He then got into a sitting position and began flipping through the photo album. He came across their marriage license and smiled. When she saw his smile, she said, “We were so young then.”

“Yes,” he agreed. “But so much in love.”

“We still are,” she said, settling into position beside him. In amiable silence, he turned the pages of the photo album while she read his cards and letters. “This is your high school graduation picture?” he asked.

She glanced up from reading the letter to look over at the photograph he was asking about. “Yes. And all I could think about that day was that because of you, I had done it. I had gotten the very thing I thought I hadn’t wanted and was actually pretty happy about it.”

He looked at several more pictures, and when he came to her college graduation picture he said, “Isn’t it weird that Cash was there on campus at the same time you were?”

“Yes. I can’t imagine what my reaction would have been had I ran into a guy on campus who reminded me of you. So personally, I’m glad our paths didn’t cross.”

She was about to go back to reading her cards and letters when Bane’s cell phone went off. He reached for it. “This is Bane.”

Crystal tried reading his expression while he talked with the caller but she couldn’t. The only clue she had that he was angry was the way his chin had tightened. And then when he asked the caller in an angry tone, “How the hell did that happen?” she knew something had made him furious. A few moments later he ended the call and immediately sent several text messages.

“What’s wrong, Bane?”

He looked over at her and paused before saying anything, and she figured he was trying hard to get his anger in check. “That was Oakwood. Someone in his department screwed up.”

He threw his head back as if to get his wrath under control and said, “Your location has already been leaked. The only good thing is that whoever they suspected as the mole took the bait, and he and his men are headed here believing that you’re hiding with Cash.”

“And the bad thing?” she asked, knowing there was one.

Bane drew in a deep fuming breath. “Whoever this guy is, he’s evidently pretty high up there at Homeland Security. He contacted the person in charge of Oakwood’s men and gave an order to pull out because a special task force was coming in to take over.”

Crystal frowned. “Are you saying Oakwood’s men are no longer outside protecting us?”

“That’s exactly what I’m saying. But I don’t want you to worry about anything. I got this,” Bane said, getting out of bed and slipping on his jeans. “What I need for you to do is to go and get in the tunnel below.”

“Is that where you’ll be?”

“No,” he said, picking up his Glock and checking his aim. “I might need to hold things down for a while. Oakwood ordered the men to return and hopefully they’ll be back soon.”

Crystal didn’t want to think about what could happen if they didn’t. Bane expected her to be hiding out below, where she would be safe, while he single-handedly fought off the bad guys until help arrived. “I prefer staying up here with you. I may not be as good a shot as you, but thanks to you I’m not bad.”

He frowned. “There’s no way I can let you stay here with me.”

“I don’t see why not,” she said, sliding out of bed to begin dressing, as well. “To be honest with you, I feel pretty safe.”

He shook his head. “And why are you feeling so safe?”

She looked over at him and a smile spread across her lips. “Because I’m not here with just anyone protecting my back. I’m here with Badass Bane.”