Targets Entangled (32 page)

“Go,” Stick ordered, his words penetrating the rushing sound of blood within Daegan’s ears. “I’ll take care of this.”

This was a prime example of a teammate having one’s six, but Daegan didn’t waste any time with conveying his appreciation. Stick didn’t need to be told that his friendship and brotherhood were valued. Daegan picked himself up from behind the portable generator he had lain prone behind and rushed forward toward Ferrin. Stick would take care of Daegan’s weapon, securing it away while he was free to go to Ferrin. He didn’t remember crossing the hangar bay to where Starr, Doc, and Gunny were locking down the scene, radioing the appropriate people. Doc had already assisted Ferrin, taking her from Starr and guiding her toward the hangar away from the body.

“Ferrin,” Daegan muttered, able to rasp out her name. His adrenaline was starting to fade and allowed him to comprehend just how close he’d come to losing her. He pulled her into his arms, her long hair getting caught in his fingers as he held her tight. He couldn’t imagine her being taken from his life, not hearing her laughter at his attempts to get her to try new things or see the sparkling excitement in her eyes when she was winning an argument. She was who he wanted to experience new things with as well as just be graced with her peaceful presence. “Damn, woman, but you know how to put a man through his paces.”

“Just don’t let me go,” Ferrin whispered, holding on to him with just as much intensity as he was her. “Hold me so I know I’m still here.”

“You’re not going anywhere.” Daegan inhaled deeply, barely able to smell the vanilla fragrance that she always emitted. Copper from the blood and the stink of fear from a dead man were disguising the sweet scent he’d come to associate her with. Daegan opened his eyes, needing to see that the person responsible would never be able to terrorize her again. “He can’t hurt you anymore.”

“No, he can’t,” Starr said, motioning for Lieutenant Irvine to take over the scene. Once Daegan made eye contact with her over Ferrin’s shoulder, Starr nodded her approval of his shot. “The situation would have turned. You held your own and I know how hard that must have been.”

“The hardest thing I ever had to do,” Daegan admitted, pulling away from Ferrin enough so that he could look at her face. He needed to see something other than the dead body lying just inside of the hangar. “
You
were the one to hold her own, siren.”

Ferrin nodded, unable to speak. She raised her hands to her lips he presumed to keep them from trembling, but he grabbed her wrists. There was blood on her hands as well as her face, and he didn’t want it made worse. Revulsion crossed her features when she looked down.

“Is it possible for me to just jump in the ocean?” Ferrin attempted a half smile, letting Daegan know she would be just fine once she’d had time to come to terms with what had happened. “It’s the closest water source.”

“And have you attract the sharks? I don’t think so,” Daegan replied, not wanting to see her this way any longer either. “Starr, I’m taking her to my stateroom to get cleaned up.”

“Understood.” Starr held up a hand to keep Lieutenant Irvine from speaking, the man clearly wanting to question Ferrin on what had taken place. “Meet me in the officer’s wardroom in an hour. I’ll arrange it so that Agent Joel can hear Ferrin’s statement as well as those crewmembers that were present in the radio room.”

“Jerry?” Ferrin asked, turning quickly in Daegan’s arms, although she kept herself pressed against him. He didn’t mind at all and wrapped his arms around her waist. He wasn’t sure he’d be able to stop touching her to reassure himself that she was safe. “Please tell me he’s alive.”

“The ship doctor is doing everything he can to save him,” Gunny replied, stepping back when Irvine joined the group. “Go with Daegan and get cleaned up. If there is any change to Jerry’s condition, I’ll call your stateroom.”

“Daegan, we need to go to the infirmary,” Ferrin said, tilting her head to look up at him with worried grey eyes. “I’d rather be there when—”

“A quick shower first,” Daegan stated gently, knowing full well she’d need some time to collect herself after the adrenaline wore off. His was fading, so he could only imagine the crash she was about to have. She wouldn’t want it to happen in front of people, especially those she worked with. Trigger and Diesel were leading security up through the ladderwell, needing the flight deck secured so that Irvine could conduct his investigation. Stick was standing to the side with Daegan’s case and indicating with his free hand that he was going to lock them up in the armory. “Come on, let’s get you cleaned up and then we’ll check on Jerry.”

“Lieutenant Irvine, I’ll contact Agent Joel and inform her of the situation,” Starr said, pulling everyone’s attention back to her. “S-2 is at your disposal and once you’ve gotten things squared away here, we’ll all meet in the officer’s wardroom in an hour.”

“You should have let me known what you’d planned,” Irvine reprimanded, his bulldog expression becoming even more petulant. Starr leveled her gaze at him, causing him to clamp his jaw in order not to say anything else.

“My team had things handled. Right now Gunny will monitor Jerry Tealer’s status while I speak with the captain and alert Agent Joel on the details.” Starr shared a look with Gunny before he turned and walked away. She motioned that the remaining team members do the same. “I’ll have the helicopter return and be at your disposal for transporting this man’s body to the federal authorities in Cabo Verde. I want an identification made as soon as possible.”

Daegan took Ferrin by the hand and led her to the ladderwell. She was silent on the way to his stateroom and those crewmembers in front of them would look over their shoulders every once in a while. That was, until he finally shot them a look that had them scurrying ahead of them. He’d noticed that she hadn’t gazed down at the body when they’d been up on the flight deck and he didn’t blame her. He’d been in enough of these situations to know that she would need an outlet and he would make sure she had one. She was a strong woman with a strong will, but even the toughest soul in existence needed time to process stressful events.

Daegan guided her through the main cabin and around the partition once they were inside his stateroom. He slowly undressed her, keeping his eyes on her expression the entire time. She didn’t speak and her lashes closed over her grey eyes, locking him out of her thoughts. He couldn’t take that.

“Ferrin, let me in.” She shook her head, a tear escaping and rolling down her cheek, blending with the blood on her jawline. Daegan’s chest tightened and his eyes burned in commiseration as he continued to remove her clothing. He’d been fortunate enough in his years of the service to never have a pistol pressed against his temple. He could only imagine the fear that instilled in a person. “I can’t help you if you don’t allow me to share your pain.”

Ferrin finally opened her grey eyes, revealing severe and tangled emotions. She shook her head, obviously at a loss for words. There didn’t need to be any, but he couldn’t stand when she’d tried to hide herself. He knelt without a sound, removing her boots and pants, eventually doing the same with her panties.

“Hang on, siren,” Daegan said, turning the knob and letting the water warm to a comforting temperature. He released her long enough to undress and then put both of them underneath the hot spray. Taking the soap, he gently washed away any reminder of what she’d been through, wishing he could do the same with her memories. He took his time and steeled himself as her tears came. He held her and did the only thing he could by just being there. When she was finally spent, she looked up at him with such a clear conscience it took his breath away. He had his siren back and she was stronger than ever. He rested his forehead against hers, never more grateful to have her here with him. “Hi.”

“Hi,” Ferrin whispered, reaching for his face with her hand. She tenderly laid her palm flat on his cheek and searched his eyes. It was almost as if she were making sure he was okay, which was ludicrous. He hadn’t been the one in a position to lose his life. “Thank you.”

“You might not be saying that in a few seconds,” Daegan muttered back, needing to say what had been on his parted lips since she’d appeared within the sight of his scope. No matter her reaction he needed for her to listen and hear the significance of his words. He was going to combust if he didn’t let them out. “I love you, Ferrin Hewitt—every intelligent, organized, beautiful, and cautious part of you.”

‡

F
errin reached behind
her and turned the water off, never taking her gaze from his emotionally charged blue eyes. She could actually feel the heat of his admission and the truth settled over her like a warm blanket. She felt cleansed, and not just the outside of her. She no longer felt the pressure of the barrel that had been pressed against her temple, but she understood that she wasn’t invincible. Today could have easily turned out differently and she would have missed being here with the man that completed her.

“You are my other half,” Ferrin said, sliding her hands up his chest and securing them around his neck, not willing to lose this safe cocoon they were in. “You’re the part of me that lives free, takes chances, and lets me know it’s okay to loosen my grip on the reins. We’re entangled in so many ways and I never want us to come undone. I want to roll through life with you on a Ferris wheel and take in the vivid views I’ve been missing. I love you just the way you are and I’m ready to go all the way, Einstein. All the way.”

Daegan appeared more alive than she’d ever seen him, including on his motorcycle as they were driving the stretch of beach with the ocean breeze in their face. He smiled and she returned it, knowing they would be okay as long as they had each other.

“There it is,” Daegan murmured, leaning down so that he could wrap his hands around her thighs and lift her up. “I’ve always wondered what my motto would be. All the way. I like it, siren.”

“How about we go all the way now?” Ferrin could feel his hot, hardened cock nestled in her folds as he carried her out of the small shower and around the partition to his rack. “You might even get me to talk dirty.”

“Promises, promises.” Daegan’s warm breath mingled with hers as he leaned down to claim her lips. By the time he was through with his quest, they’d made it to his rack and she was more than ready to have him inside of her. His next words told her that wasn’t going to happen. “Right now I don’t want you to say a word. I want you to lie back and let me love you.”

“You’ve already done that,” Ferrin countered, the ache inside of her more than just a throbbing vacancy. She squeezed her legs around his waist, pressing her clit harder against him. “I need you inside of me. Now.”

“Fine.” Daegan released his hold and she squealed as he lowered her to her bare feet. His heated stare let her know that he had something in store for her and her pussy tingled with anticipation. “Turn around and bend over, elbows on the rack.”

“Yes, sir,” Ferrin replied teasingly, needing this lighthearted lovemaking after…she wouldn’t think of that now. She quickly turned and bent at the waist, laying her forearms on the mattress and grabbing up the sheets in her fists. There were still droplets of water on them but she didn’t feel chilled in the slightest. “Take me all the way.”

The sound of a wrapper being torn was quickly replaced by her uneven breathing. She was anticipating the slight burn that his cock introduced to her pussy every time he entered her. When his warm hands were positioned on her hips, she spread her legs a little farther so he would have a better angle. She cried out in pleasure when he drove himself into her and then held the two of them still.

“Sing your song for me, siren.” Daegan slowly started to thrust in and out of her, not even close to the powerful surges she needed. Using her arms as leverage, she pushed back with all her might. She was pleased to hear the sharp intake hiss of his breath and the arousing feel of his fingers tightening on her hips. “All the way it is then.”

With those final words Daegan drove into her over and over until she felt the stimulating stirrings of her orgasm. Just when she’d gripped the sheets and braced herself for the onslaught of pleasure, he stopped. She blinked, looking at nothing more than the fabric in her hands and wondering why. She quickly glanced over shoulder and saw him standing still behind her with his eyes closed.

“Daegan, you need to finish,” Ferrin pleaded with little oxygen. She was on her back before she could say another word. Daegan slid back into her and she had no choice but to wrap her legs around his waist. His rack was low, so his knees were on the Persian rug he’d placed over the deck and her buttocks were hanging off of the edge. He gently brushed her hair away from her face and instead of the fast and hard pace they’d set, he’d slowed it down with that one gesture. “You’re not moving.”

“No, I’m not,” Daegan replied in agreement, not apologetic in the least. His lips were inches from hers as he searched for something in her gaze. The fragrance of his soap wrapped around them and blended with their own musky scents, creating an aphrodisiac like no other. “Being inside of you is where I belong. That sense of freedom I get from riding my bike or the sense of exhilaration that comes over me when I’m rock climbing a thousand feet off the ground doesn’t compare to the overwhelming love I feel when I’m inside of you.”