Solitaire (29 page)

How long Slade worked, Cat did not know. Minutes grew into hours, and his facial expression never altered. His jaw was set, lips pulled away from his clenched teeth, eyes narrowed as he glared at the wall that prevented their escape. Cat saw his rugged jeans darken with sweat and cling to his long, firm thighs as he began to make progress into the wall. The limestone was no match for steel and brawn. Each precise swing exploded into the wall, loosening a little more debris, moving them inches closer to freedom. Finally, Slade stopped. He wiped his wet brow with the back of his arm. Dust caked his massive chest, his hair and face.

Cat gave him the shirt so he could wipe his face. She set the lights down, and went to work with the crowbar to clear the gangue out of the way. Slade’s incredible strength gave her strength. She knew she could not match his physical power, but she doggedly labored at clearing a space for him to work in. Her shirt clung damply to her body as she lifted some of the larger rocks, throwing them behind her. Sweat stung her eyes and she shook her head to clear them. After half an hour, most of the debris had been moved aside so that Slade could take over.

“You did a good job,” he told her, coming up and sliding his arm around her shoulders.

Cat leaned against him and slid her hand across his chest, feeling the mat of wiry hair beneath her fingertips. “Aren’t you tired?”

“Not when I consider the alternative,” he told her, wrapping his long, callused fingers around the wooden handle of the pick. Leaning over, Slade kissed her cheek, then sought her lips. A satisfied growl rumbled from him as he kissed her quickly and hard. Reluctantly he released her and went back to work.

Glumly, Cat thought about what he’d implied: the air was growing more sparse as time went on. Each breath lessened the oxygen content. Each breath brought them closer to death’s embrace. She shifted her attention back to Slade, who had resumed his rhythmic attack against the wall. If possible, he seemed to be exerting even more energy and concentrated power against their foe, death. Huge chunks of limestone flew around him, and sparks flashed as steel bit into rock. The chamber echoed with the tortured crack of rock pulverized beneath his Herculean strength. With each swing of the pick, Cat held her breath. How long could Slade sustain his backbreaking pace? His muscles bunched and released, bunched and released. Looking at his set features, Cat knew she needn’t give up hope. Ever.

Five hours had passed and they sat huddled together in the pitch blackness. They had to save the battery-powered light for Slade to work by. The safety lamps required oxygen to remain lit and Slade didn’t want their precious supply to be eaten up. The electrical lamps on their hard hats would have to suffice. Cat wiped Slade’s shoulders and back with the wet shirt. She splayed her hands on his flesh, feeling an almost imperceptible tremor beneath her palm. He was close to exhaustion. Any other man would have quit hours before, physically unable to go on as long as he had.

“Let me massage you,” she whispered, positioning herself behind him. “You’re going to get cramps if I don’t.”

Slade nodded wearily and rested his brow on his arms, which hugged his drawn-up knees. “Thanks,” he murmured hoarsely. God, what he’d do for a glass of water right now. He said nothing, realizing Cat had to be as close to dehydration as he was. Her clothes were wet and clung to her like a second skin. He groaned as her fingers worked over his weary, protesting back muscles, helping them relax from the brutal workout he had given them. For almost fifteen minutes, Cat worked out the kinks and knots.

“Thanks, sweetheart,” he muttered, patting her thigh.

Cat laid her head on his back momentarily, shutting her eyes. “I love you, Slade. You’re incredible.”

He snorted softly, rubbing his hand up and down the length of her thigh. “I love you, too. But incredible? Hardly.”

“Your strength is unbelievable.”

“It’s called fear of dying. That’s what keeps me going right now.”

Cat wrapped her arms around him, feeling the ragged pound of his heart beneath her palms. “You must have moved a ton of gangue from that wall. That’s a lot.”

Slade knew what she had left unspoken: it was looking more and more as if a huge section of the manging wall had fallen. They were going to be trapped for a long time. Maybe longer than they had oxygen to last them. He wiped the accumulated sweat off his face.

“Come around here. Sit between my legs.”

Cat moved carefully in the darkness. She nestled between his thighs, one arm around his waist, and her head resting against his hard, flat stomach. “At least you’re with me this time,” she uttered tiredly. “Sharing a mine cave-in takes away some of the fear.”

Slade curved his palm against her cheek, savoring her warmth and softness. “Not as scared as before?”

“No.” Cat managed a choked laugh. “Maybe I’m getting used to them, Slade. I don’t feel that overwhelming fear.”

He glanced around, unable to see anything. “Yeah, this is my fourth one. They get to be pretty routine after a while. Only one thing occupies your mind, and that’s how much oxygen you have left.”

Cat pressed a kiss to his slick flesh. “That and water. What I’d do for some water for both of us.”

“I’d trade that vein of emeralds for a glass for both of us right now.”

She laughed with him. “Amazing how some events in life can put everything into very sharp focus, isn’t it, Slade?”

“Yes.” Silence settled over them. “Cat?”

She closed her eyes, her arm tightening around his waist, hearing an unexpected tremor in his deep voice. “What is it?” Was he going to tell her that they didn’t stand a chance? That most likely, they would die in here together? A fierce love for Slade welled up through Cat like a fist, taking her breath away as she prepared herself to hear those words.

“Marry me.”

“What?”

“I know it’s a little soon and we haven’t talked about it before this, but I want you to marry me.” Slade’s hand came to rest on her hair. “I can’t imagine life without you, lady.” There was a long silence and then he felt the wetness of her tears beneath his fingertips. He leaned over, holding her tightly, anguish soaring through him. His voice cracked as he brought her up against him.

“Damn it, I know life isn’t fair, but when I’ve finally found you, it could be too late.”

Cat stubbornly shook her head, burying her face next to his and trying to stop her tears. “No, it’s never too late–never!”

“I love you, Cat.”

“I’ll marry you, Slade…”

“You will?”

She managed a half sob and half laugh. “Of course I will!” Cat traced trembling fingers through his sweat-soaked hair, kissing his brow, eyes and finally his mouth.

Savoring her flurry of kisses, Slade held her even closer to him. “It’ll be a hell of a marriage.”

Cat groaned. “Tell me about it!”

“I’ll have your Kincaid stubbornness to contend with.”

“You’re not exactly a willow in the wind, Slade Donovan,” she pointed out archly.

He chuckled, the rumble moving up through his chest. “But we both have a good sense of humor. We know how to take a joke.”

“Only because I’m the straight person and you’re the comic of our team.”

Slade nuzzled his face between her breasts, absorbing her scent. “I need you, Cat,” he whispered thickly. “Now, forever. Living with you those months made me realize just how much I liked having you underfoot.”

A smile touched her tear-wet lips and Cat closed her eyes, realizing the futility of their situation. “What made you suddenly ask to marry me, Slade?”

He caressed her waist, then settled his hand on her hip. “Sweetheart–” he paused and swallowed “–if I can’t break through that wall, I wanted you to know just how damn much you mean to me.”

How long they held one another, Cat didn’t know. It no longer mattered. The chamber was stiflingly hot and stuffy; the ripe smell of their sweat assailed her nostrils along with the chalky limestone dust that still hung in the air and caked their mouths. Just as Slade took up the pickax and walked to the wall, she heard a distinct drilling noise from the other side.

“Slade!”

He turned, relief etched on his exhausted features. “I hear it…”

Cat clutched the hard hat, the light trained on the wall. “Alvin…he’s coming through. That’s an auger bit!”

A grin creased Slade’s face as he stepped back and joined Cat against the far wall. He slid his arm around her shoulders and pulled her to him. Leaning down, he kissed her hard and long. Releasing her, he murmured, “Well, gal, it looks like you have to make good on that promise to marry me now.”

She laughed, sinking against Slade, dizzy from joy that they were going to be rescued. “You mean asking me to marry you wasn’t a sham, Slade Donovan? Some last-minute admission before you said hello to your maker?”

His grin widened against his stained face. “Come to Bogotà with me and find out,” he challenged.

* * *

When they entered the Bogotà Hilton together, nearly every patron sitting in the lobby turned and gawked at them. Slade grinned at Cat as they came to a halt at the desk.

“I think we’re a sight for sore eyes.”

Cat grimaced, looking down at her disheveled appearance. “I think we’re a sight, Slade.” Although they’d washed and changed after they’d been rescued, they had come straight to Bogotà afterward, leaving the clean-up and newly discovered emeralds in Alvin’s capable hands.

Slade’s eyes sparkled as he took the registration card and signed them in. “We’ll buy any clothes we need,” Slade said, pulling out his wallet. He gave the clerk his credit card. Within minutes, Slade had the key to their room. “Come on, Cat. You and I are going to take a very long, hot shower. Together…”

* * *

From the balcony of their air-conditioned room, a flaming orange sunset bid them good-evening. Cat had groggily awakened from a much-needed sleep and gotten up, wrapping the thick white hotel robe around her. She looked over her shoulder; Slade was still sleeping soundly. A tender smile pulled at her lips as she sat down in the ivory satin settee facing the king-size bed where he lay.

Tucking her legs beneath her, Cat was content to simply watch Slade. She smiled softly. Once they had gotten beneath the hot, pummeling streams of water, their hunger for one another had been tempered. Pure exhaustion combined with the relaxing massage of the water had made them both too drowsy to think of anything else but sleep.

They had curled up in bed on the white cotton sheets, their bodies hot and moist against its cool, crisp texture. Nothing had ever felt so good, and Cat vaguely remembered curving into Slade’s waiting arms and promptly falling asleep. Now she looked at her watch; it was almost nine o’clock. They’d slept a long time. Her stomach growled, reminding Cat that she hadn’t eaten all day. Quietly, she rose and went to the phone to order dinner.

Slade awoke to the mouth-watering smell of beefsteak. He groaned and rolled onto his back, the sheet covering him from the waist down in twisted disarray.

“Slade?” Cat walked to the bed and smiled down at him, thinking how boyish he looked. She sat on the edge of the mattress, one arm across him, watching him awake. “Come on, time to rise and shine.”

Groaning, Slade dragged an arm across his eyes. “What time is it?” he asked thickly.

Cat leaned down and kissed his petulant mouth. “Ten o’clock. Time to get up and eat.”

Slade slid his hand up her long, robed thigh. “You have great legs. Did I ever tell you that?”

“I thought all such admissions were given in the crosscut.”

A grin tugged at his mouth and Slade moved his arm and opened his eyes. Cat’s hair was long, nearly touching her shoulders, and was shot through with gold from the light above. She looked like a ragamuffin in the oversize robe. “Spunky gal, aren’t you?” he challenged, sitting up and leaning against the headboard. The sheet pulled away, leaving him nearly naked, but he didn’t care. All of his attention was centered on Cat’s shining green eyes. Her smile made him go hard and hot inside.

“You wouldn’t want me any other way.” Cat patted his flat, hard stomach. “Come on, I ordered us a Texas-size meal. I’m starved.”

Slade glanced past her at the sumptuous meal overflowing from the cart behind them. “What? No spotted horse thief? Where’s my stewed kidneys? My johnnycake?”

Giving him a playful pat on the hip, Cat rose, laughing. “If you’re expecting Alvin’s cooking, forget it.” She went to the cart and drew up two chairs.

Slade got up and padded to the bathroom to retrieve his robe. He had an odd look on his face as he came back out with it. “Let’s trade robes, Cat. You’ve got mine and I’m sure as hell not going to be able to fit into this one.”

Nonplussed, her silverware poised above her thick, medium-rare steak, Cat grimaced. “Oh…sorry. I thought they were all the same size.” She got up and came around the table, struggling out of the robe, revealing her nakedness.

“I lied.” Slade grabbed her and carried her to the bed.

Cat laughed, throwing her arms around Slade as he settled down beside her. “You’re such a joker, Slade Donovan.”

Slade’s smile grew wide as he leaned over and kissed her laughter-touched lips. “But you love me anyway?” he coaxed thickly, tasting her sweetness.

With a tremulous sigh, Cat slid her fingers across his shoulders. “Yes…yes, I love you anyway.”

“Enough to marry me tomorrow morning?” He trailed a path of nibbling, moist kisses from her earlobe down the length of her neck, feeling her pulse flutter wildly at the base of her throat. Her fingers were wreaking havoc on him, too, as she followed the curve of his chest, brushing his nipples.

Closing her eyes, she arched against Slade as his mouth found the valley between her breasts. “Y-yes.”

Slade continued his gentle assault. “God, you smell and taste good. Are you sure? You sound a little doubtful.”

An exquisite ache was building in her and Cat moaned, her mind fleeing as his knowing fingers gently parted her thighs. “Slade….” His name came out like a breathless prayer. “Love me, just love me. Now. I need you so much…”

With a smile, Slade brought a hardened nipple into his mouth and sucked gently, feeling Cat press against him.