Fatal Exposure (19 page)

A groan rumbled from his chest. “I want this pussy all over me, honey. Can you give me that?”

Before she could ask what he meant, he spread out on his back beside her, easily lifting her onto his stomach. She straddled his waist as he poured oil down the center of his taut abdomen.

“Rub it in.” His husky voice was barely audible. A shiver rippled down her spine and stung her core at the mere idea of seeing his muscular body oiled beneath her. She touched her trembling fingers to his searing skin, but he grabbed them and shook his head, a sly grin quirking his lips.

“No, sweetheart, use your smooth little pussy. I want to feel it on me. All over me.”

“Oh,” she said with a ragged breath. Her breasts grew heavy and her womb burned. Sex was sex but what he was asking was somehow much more intimate.

Determined to be bold for him, she rolled her pelvis forward, inching over his navel, his narrowed hairline coursing across her sensitive flesh. Ahh. Her core coiled tight. Such a simple act but so powerful. His rough hands gripped her hips, biting into her skin. “Keep going. Please.”

She pushed off her feet and slid farther along the lubricated path, her hot pussy brushing along his skin. His stomach muscles constricted underneath her and he bit into his bottom lip.

“Goddamn, Ava, your pussy is scorching me. Tell me how bad you want me.” A hint of vulnerability flashed through his usually steely gaze. “Tell me you love me.”

The truth bubbled up her throat, but she pursed her lips. How could she lead him on? Yes, she loved him with every cell of her body, but what would it change if she were to admit it? She couldn’t. Not yet, if ever.

To distract him, she braced his shoulders and ground her hot center up his abdomen to his chest. Then back down again. Her core ached for him. She

was soaking wet with combined oil and juices, smearing the trail along his lean torso.

“Enough,” he growled and shifted her weight until her pussy covered his cock.

Right there. Just an inch until heaven. The last bit of her resolve kept her from guiding him to her slit and capturing him inside her quaking walls. He chuckled and rolled her onto her back.

“Stubborn, aren’t you?” His slick upper body skimmed her budded nipples until he rested on top of her.

Ava drew in a much needed breath. “Kade.” She cupped his stubbled cheeks and noticed that his eyes looked heavy. Oh, God.

“I’m right here. I’m not going anywhere. And neither are you. I love you.” He skated his oiled hands over her thighs and boosted her legs over his hips.

Her drenched center propped against his cock, and with one slow drive, he stretched her throbbing pussy, filling her.

No. Yes. No. No. Yes!
“Oh, God.” She breathed out and flung her head back against rug.

“Does this feel good, sweetheart?” He pulled halfway out and gradually slid back in.

“God, yes.”

“Tell me you love me, too.” He worked the head of his thick cock into her tight channel as his hands gripped her ass and held her in place. One lubricated finger gingerly nudged her sensitive anus, prodding in just past her puckered entrance.

Sparks sizzled from her nerves, heating her pussy, and stinging her skin. Her core twisted and tethered with each stroke, dip, and plunge until her insides detonated.

“Kade,” she cried out and grabbed his neck, pulling his mouth down to hers. She welcomed his tongue, sucking on it, trying to show him how much she loved him. Needed him.

Hoping the drug didn’t work.
Please, pleasedon’t work.

She’d take it all back if she could. If she’d only known her instincts were right this time. Kade Gavin wouldn’t hurt her. He loved her.

The weight of his body on top of hers grew more apparent, and he drew his hands and mouth away. His head dropped down beside hers. Seconds passed and the only sound Ava could hear was his steady breathing.

“Are you okay?” she asked, her shaky voice giving her away.

In a sudden, startling jolt, he jerked up to a sitting position, hauling her with him onto his lap, driving deeper in.

“Thank God.” She trembled. Not only from the aftershocks his long, thick cock was granting but from the relief of knowing he was awake and vigilant. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him, licking his full lips, his teeth, his tongue. He slid his large, rough hands down her backside and grasped her ass, shoving her farther down on him. She shuddered from the impact, her pussy walls clenching and tingling.

“Tell me you love me,” he whispered against her mouth. “Tell me you’ll forgive me.”

“I can’t.”

He lifted her and let her slide back down. “Don’t be afraid. I won’t ever hurt you again. Or...” His voice trailed off, and his grip on her ass loosened.

“Let anyone else.”

Ava could tell his eyelids were reddening and getting heavy.
Please, don’t let him fall asleep
.

“I do love you, Kade,” she said, attempting to keep him alert. Not knowing it would feel so good rolling off her tongue. “I love you so much.” She cradled his cheeks with her hand.

He blew out a breath and eased her hands away.

“We need to get dressed.”

Holding back tears, she watched as his paling expression transformed from loving to another emotion altogether. Disappointment, maybe? Did he know?

“Quickly.”

She stood, found her pants and shirt, and tugged them on over her oily skin. The only thing keeping her from breaking down was ignoring how he struggled to dress, stumbling and bumping into furniture.

What could she do to help him? Something. She hurried into the bathroom and wet a hand towel, then ran back out to wipe his hands free of the lubricant. “There. Is that better?”
As if that was hisproblem. Stupid.

“What did you give me, Ava?” he asked, startling her. Of course, he knew. He wasn’t an idiot. She finished cleaning her own hands and faced him. She owed him that much. With his jeans and boots on, he sat on the couch with his elbows against his knees, fingers intertwined.

“I’m sorry, Kade. I’m so sorry.”

“What was it?” All color drained from his face, and his jaw visibly ticked.

“They were in the bathroom, the pink and white pills.” She brought her hand to her mouth, both trembling with regret and fear. “I panicked. I

thought you only wanted the money. I thought you were going to let me die. And I can’t—I won’t die.”

He clenched his eyes shut and seemed to have a difficult time reopening them. “Okay,” he said, calmly. “It’s okay.”

Really? He wasn’t losing his temper? “Aren’t you angry with me?”

He shrugged one shoulder as he looked up at her with heavy, reddened eyes. “No time, sweetheart. Have you ever shot a gun?” His words were slurred.

“Only once. It was a part of my self-defense class. I was supposed to practice longer, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. It was super powerful and way too intense. My instructor—”

“Ava,” he said, breaking her nervous chatter.

“We have to concentrate, okay?”

She bit her lips and nodded her head.

“Let’s get your shoes.”

“Where are—” She stopped short at the sight of him attempting to stand. His legs wobbled and his hands shook.

When he finally stood to his height, he pointed to his shirt on the ground. “Can you hand me that?

I’m going out to the shed.”

“The shed?” Why hadn’t she thought of that?

She shook the silly question out of her head. All that mattered now was getting out of this alive
with
Kade. “I’m going with you.” She picked up the shirt and handed it over.

“No, it’s too far out. Your feet won’t be able to stand it.”

She started to argue, but Kade’s attention went to the ceiling. Ava followed his gaze and noticed a blinking light on one of the speakers.

“Damn it.” He turned toward his monitor on the desk. “The alarm didn’t sound. Moreno’s close.”

“How—”

“Goddamn Jax must have messed with my equipment.” Kade held a shaking hand out to Ava.

“Come on. I’m not going to leave you alone in here. I don’t know how long we have.”

Chapter Eleven

The old wooden shed stood at least thirty feet away from the back door. Ava could see it as clear as day under the full moon that projected off the white snow.

“It’ll be a cinch.” She looked up into Kade’s dazed eyes. It killed her to see him so out of sorts because of the stupid mistake she’d made. He shook his head. “Get on my back. I’ll carry you.”

A nervous laugh erupted from her throat, but she quickly squelched it when Kade narrowed his eyes at her. “Sorry. It’s just that, well, you know. You’re kind of out of it.”

“Get on, Ava,” he mumbled. “We don’t have time to waste.”

She figured it probably wasn’t a good idea to argue, considering Zack could show up at any moment. She grasped the back of Kade’s shoulders and jumped up, wrapping her legs around his lean waist.

He stumbled slightly but gained his balance. They began their trek through the snow and Raven followed at Kade’s feet as if she knew her master were in danger.
Smart cat
.

“I’m sorry, Kade,” she whispered into his ear as she clung to him.

“It’s not your fault,” he said through heavy breaths. “I didn’t give you a reason to believe in me, but I hope you do now.”

“I do.” She kissed his neck. “If we get out of this alive, I’m going to make it up to you.”

He stopped to hoist her farther up on his back and then trudged the rest of the way.

“Here,” he said, breathless, and set her down at the threshold of the old, dilapidated building. He grasped the doorframe, which didn’t appear strong enough to hold itself up, let alone a man his size. The moonlight beamed in from two broken windows on each side of the shed. Ava wandered in and spotted her tennis shoes on a shelf next to a jar of rusted nails. “Finally. I’ve never been happier to see a pair of tennies in my life.” She grabbed them and turned toward Kade. “So, what did you do with my heels—”

The six and a half foot man fell to his knees in front of her. The wooden floor shook and the jar of nails tipped over, spilling onto the shelf.

“Kade!” She knelt down in front of him and grabbed his shoulders. “Kade!”

His eyelids lifted halfway as his body swayed.

“Oh, fuck,” he murmured. “I forgot the gun.”

“It’s okay. We’ll go back and get it. But you have to get up.” She grabbed his bicep and attempted to lift him.

It was pointless. He was deadweight.

“Come on,” she begged him. “I need you.”

“You have to run. Take the truck. Leave here.”

“No.” Ava let go of his arm, and his body buckled and fell to the side. “Kade,” she said, panicking. “Oh, God, don’t give up on me.” She bent over him and cradled his face. “I’m so sorry.” Her eyes blurred

with tears. “But I love you, and you can’t just quit on me.”

Nothing. No response. Barely a breath escaped him.

Ava leaned over his unconscious body and whispered into his ear, “I’m not leaving without you. Dead or alive.”

Fuck surviving if it wasn’t with Kade.

But she wasn’t dead yet. Neither of them were. Holding back the urge to break down and sob, she shoved on her shoes and then softly pecked his lips. “I’ll be back.”

That
wouldn’t
be the last time she kissed him. She stood and headed toward the cabin.

The back door was still open. She closed it behind her and jogged over to the hidden weapons. With as much force as she could muster, she pushed against the secret compartment until she heard the click. The drawer popped open, revealing an array of handguns and two rifles.

She picked up a small pistol, the least intimidating. Her heart pounded fast. Guns
killed
people. Ended their lives. Kaput. Over. And here she was holding one and contemplating how she was going to shoot a living, breathing person. In the head? In the heart? Did she want to maim or murder him? And who knew if the bullet would hit where she targeted. The one and only time she’d shot a gun, she’d been way off.

“Drop it,” an eerily familiar voice said from behind her.

Ava jerked around to see Zack standing in the shadows in the corner of the room with a revolver aimed directly at her head. A crooked grin adorned his wickedly handsome face. He looked the same as

the first day she’d laid eyes on him. But now she knew his outer charm was deceiving. Pure evil flowed through his veins.

She took a slow breath and attempted to steady her shaking hands. But the pistol dropped to the rug below.

“Good girl,” he sneered and stepped toward her.

“It’s about time you started listening to me.”

“What do you want?” She could smell his strong cologne as he neared and stood in front of her. It brought back memories of him on top of her, naked, having his selfish way with her and not giving a damn if she was satisfied. Nausea rolled in her belly. She should have known he wasn’t the man for her then.He pressed the gun to her temple and stroked her cheek with his free hand.