Cabin 1 Read online

  I spun on my heel and stomped up to Gage, now wearing a pair of jogging shorts over his spandex. Good. I didn’t need that distraction.

  “What the hell is your problem, Gage?”

  “What the hell is yours? Sending your little boyfriends over here to check on you? Think I can’t do my job?”

  “You’re unbelievable, you know that?” I breezed past him and started down the hill to my golf cart.

  “Funny choice of words coming from you, Niki Avery.”

  My eyes popped with shock—no, rage. I spun around. “How dare you.”

  “Hey man, just stating the facts.”

  “I am not a liar. I am not my father.”

  “Apple usually doesn’t fall too far from the tree.”

  “This apple does. And you should know.” I turned and started speed-walking down the hill, him hot on my heels.

  “Now, what the hell is that supposed to mean?”

  “Oh give me a break. You know exactly what it means.” I dropped into the golf cart, my foot fumbling to release the brake.

  “Scoot over.” He snarled.

  My mouth dropped. The gall of this guy.

  “I said scoot over. I have the keys. Scoot over.”

  I heaved out a breath and scooted over. Dammit.

  “Go on… Tell me more of what you think of me, Niki. Didn’t have enough of a go at me last night?” He jerked the wheel and we took off into the woods. The sun had disappeared below the mountains, twilight darkening the woods—fitting for the firestorm of energy between us.

  I went in like a son of a bitch.

  “You and your brothers, you’re all the same. Bad apples. You’re nothing but a cocky playboy with the emotional capacity of a five year old. You’re a drunk who can’t control your impulses, or articulate your feelings to save your life. You’re a ladies’ man, the worst kind, who look at women as flashy toys, shiny objects, instead of worthy opponents.”

  I grabbed the side as he took a corner much too quickly. I didn’t dare look at him, hell, I could feel his rage radiating from where I was sitting. We hit a bump, I came out of my seat.

  “Slow down, Gage.”

  He didn’t, of course, just kept going until finally, he skidded to a stop in front of Cabin 1.

  His neck snapped to me. “When was the last time you were with him?”

  “What?”

  “You know exactly what I’m asking.”

  “That is none of your business.”

  “It is my business. I need to know.”

  I shook my head and snorted, then stared into the woods for a few seconds before I responded. “Paul and I dated for two months, and broke up a few weeks ago. He’s an attorney; that’s how we met. He helped me through a lot of my cases, to be honest. Anyway, we didn’t work out so I broke up with him and that was that.”

  “Only two months?”

  “Yeah, and barely dated, even. Maybe five dates.”

  His jaw twitched. “Ended a few weeks ago?”

  “Yes.” I snapped.

  “Have you seen him since?”

  “No, not that that’s any of your business. And for the freaking record, we didn’t even sleep together. There. There’s the answer to the question you don’t even have the balls to ask directly.” I could literally feel my hands shaking. I got out of the cart, then turned, braced my palms on the top and leaned down, glaring. “And I want to make one thing clear. I believe in monogamy. I’m a one man woman, Gage, and I expect the same in return. Men like you don’t change. Men like you can’t be tamed, so let’s forget about the kiss last night. And keep your fucking hands off me.” I pushed off the top and stomped onto the porch.

  I didn’t hear him, didn’t see him, but I felt him right behind me as I stopped at the front door.

  “Turn around.”

  I didn’t move.

  “Turn around.”

  Folding my arms over my chest, I turned.

  He stared down at me, all storm, all anger… all desperation.

  “Is that really what you think of me?”

  I lifted my chin. “It is.”

  He nodded, looking me over from head to toe, his mind racing. Finally, he said, “Do you think that’s who I want to be, Niki? My life took a nose dive when my dad died. I miss the military like I’d miss my right arm. We all do. But we did what we had to do, and we’re all adjusting. In different ways. My oldest brother, Phoenix…” Gage blew out a breath, shaking his head. “… believes our dad was murdered, and between you and me, I’m beginning to think it, too. How’s that for a revelation? So yeah, I’m a bit on edge tonight. Yeah, I’ve drunk too much since I’ve been back, and yeah, I’ve screwed a lot of women, Niki…” He reached up and placed his palms against the door, on either side of my head. Closing me in, trapping me… making my heart skip a beat.

  “Maybe it’s because I’ve never met a woman who challenged me.” He leaned closer, his voice low. My heartbeat tripled in an instant.

  “I’ve never met a woman who made my head spin like a top in a hurricane. Who makes me act like a crazed jealous lunatic because I can’t bear the thought of her being with anyone else. Who I’d step in front of a fucking bullet for.” He leaned inches from my lips.

  I was all but gasping for air.

  “You, Niki Avery,” he whispered. “Are a worthy opponent.”

  18

  Niki

  His lips met mine with a force, a hunger, like a tidal wave, explosive, disintegrating my anger, fear, all of my thoughts and commanding submission. Like being tossed around on the bottom of the ocean, I was completely lost in his kiss, not knowing right from left, up from down, only knowing that I wanted this man.

  At that moment, nothing else mattered.

  My hand fumbled with the doorknob as his tongue swirled around mine, his hard body pressed against mine. My hand was swatted away, and while keeping his mouth and focus on me, he entered the security code.

  Click—the door flew open, taking our bodies with it. I stumbled backward unable to withstand the force of the man bearing down on me like his next breath was his last.

  He backed me up, my hip swiping an end table, sending it teetering and clamoring on the floor. I trusted him, blindly, as he pushed me backward across the dark cabin, and into the bedroom, dark as night. I was spun around like a rag doll and slammed against the wall, pinned underneath him.

  A painting fell to the floor.

  “Jesus, Niki.” He murmured between kisses as he grabbed a fist full of my hair in his palm.

  My heart felt like a jackhammer in my chest. I closed my eyes submitting myself to the moment. To the rush.

  He lightly pulled my hair, tipping my chin up, exposing my neck to him.

  A vampire about to devour its prey.

  My eyes fluttered open, focusing on the blue glow of twilight outside.

  Fitting.

  My scalp tingled as he gripped harder, squeezing the strands of my hair like he was clinging onto life. Burying himself in my neck, he licked, kissed, nipped. Goosebumps flew over my skin from the heat of his breath, his tongue trailing down my jugular.

  Primal.

  He pressed himself into my hip, pinning my entire body. My hair in his hand, my neck beneath his lips, my hips under his erection.

  My body at his mercy.

  I’d had sex before, but had never—ever—felt an animalistic passion as I did right then. It was an uncontrollable urge, a want, a need to feel him inside me. For him to take me. Like my body was screaming out for him.

  It was him.

  It was Gage Steele.

  I dragged my fingernails over the taught skin of his tanned back. A groan escaped his lips as he pressed harder into me, grinding, his fingers combing through my hair.

  I was gripped at the biceps, lifted, swirled around and backed up to the bed.

  He stopped in front of me, his massive chest rising and falling heavily. Wide shoulders, round pecs, a scarred six-pack leading down to a bulge in his shor
ts that would make even the most seasoned hooker blush. With eyes wild with fiery passion, he looked me over, every inch of my skin tingling under his gaze.

  Keeping his eyes on me, he backed up and clicked on the bathroom light. A dim golden light pooled into the dark room, barely illuminating the space.

  “Off,” he demanded, nodding to my sweater.

  I stared back, slowly gripping the bottom of the cashmere, the fabric silk sweeping against my skin as I slowly took it off.

  His jaw clenched.

  I continued my erotic strip tease, removing the red, lace bra and keeping my eyes on his as it fell to the floor.

  His breath picked up.

  I liked it.

  My nipples perched, began to tingle… not at the cool air sweeping over my bare skin. At the fire of his gaze. I slowly pulled off my shoes, my pants, revealing nothing but a matching red thong. His hands curled to fists at his side, his jaw locked.

  I stepped closer to him, slowly, demanding his eyes on my body.

  “Off.” His voice low, deep.

  I slid out of my panties, tossed them to the side.

  Breath escaped him.

  Yes, come get me.

  He took a step forward, I took a step back.

  His brow arched.

  I smirked.

  He took another step, I backed up.

  One more, then I slid onto the bed. “Your turn.”

  The corner of his lip curled, the cockiness that was Gage, then he slipped out of his shorts… and spandex.

  It took everything in my power to keep my jaw from hitting the floor. I gaped at the length, the thickness of him, the pure manliness, unmatched.

  Dear, God.

  Locking onto his gaze, I laid back on the bed, my hands drifting to my breast, my finger circling around my nipple. He stared down at me, unmoving, watching, a king waiting for his show. Wanting more. Wanting to see what I could do.

  Of course he did.

  One hand working my breast, the other trailed down my belly, swirling around the tiny trail of hair. I lifted my legs, placing my feet on the edge of the bed, opening up to him. My skin flushed under his gaze, and I began to quiver with nothing more than the erotic show happening between us. How could I be so turned on without him even touching me?

  A flush colored his neck.

  I grinned.

  My finger drifted lower, lower, until I felt the blissful zing of pleasure. Circling, I bit my lip. One finger dipped in.

  He licked his lips.

  Two fingers.

  His hand drifted to his erection, a stroke to meet my own.

  I groaned watching it.

  And the groan did him in.

  He closed the inches between us and gripped my thighs, spreading them wider, exposing all of me to him. I was wet, throbbing already, wanting, wanting, wanting.

  Needing.

  Desperate.

  After sliding his hands under my ass, he gripped my waist and pulled me to the edge of the bed.

  You’re mine, the simmering look in his eyes told me.

  Yes, I was.

  His hands moved to my knees, widening even more, then pressing my legs back.

  He got onto his knees.

  My heart skipped a beat.

  And then he devoured me.

  His warm mouth closed over my sensitive skin, now tingling with friction. I gripped the bedspread the moment his tongue entered me, again, and again. I swayed under him, matching his rhythm. He wasn’t done, God, he wasn’t even close to being done. The warm, wet tip of his tongue trailed along my inner lips, hot, dripping wet, and finally, slid onto my clit. Warmth pooled between my legs as I began to throb with each racing beat of my heart.

  He circled, softly, slowly at first. I squeezed my eyes shut, gripping the bedspread in a desperate attempt to release the sexual tension building at break-neck speed through my body. With his tongue lightly circling my clit, he inserted a finger, two… three. His pinky tickling farther below, tempting the forbidden spot.

  I was on the brink of shattering.

  “Gage.” His name rolled off my tongue in a desperate plea. “Gage…”

  I screamed his name as the orgasm ripped through me.

  My body fell limp with the euphoric release. Finally, I forced open my eyes. Gage stood over me, ripping off the top of a small, silver wrapper. He rolled on the condom like someone who knew what they were doing.

  And my God, I wanted to know what this man could do.

  He put his hands on my knees, pushed my legs open again, gripping, forcing them wider.

  His tip found my opening, my breath hitched.

  I opened wider to him, opening my legs, myself, my soul to him.

  Take me.

  Have me.

  Make me yours.

  He slid into me, his eyes drifting closed as I squeezed around him, tight, warm, wet with my orgasm.

  “Fuck, Niki,” he buried his face next to my ear and began the slow rhythm, the buildup to the storm.

  “Open, Niki,” he pleaded. “Open.”

  I arched my back and groaned as he reached depths I’d never felt before. I squeezed around him, wanting more even though I knew my body couldn’t handle it. He settled into me, deep, hard, filling every inch of me.

  “Niki,” he breathed, dreamily.

  He slid out, then back into me. Again, and again. And again.

  His pace quickened, each thrust deeper than the last, each thrust opening me up more and more. Faster, harder, he pushed into me, removing my armor and stealing my breath.

  Make me yours.

  I tilted my chin up, offering my throat to him as my nails dragged down his back, slick with sweat, flexing with each movement. Stars burst in my eyes, fireworks, my body moving in waves with each thrust. His lips caressed my neck, the heat of his quick breaths matching my own. Dizzying, I wrapped my arms around him seeking any kind of control in a stormy ocean where we both were completely, utterly, lost in the moment. In one another. The bed shook, my head spun as he powered into me with the force only Gage Steele was capable of.

  I closed my eyes, lost, drifting through the experience like a butterfly in the wind.

  “Gage,” I whined his name, panting.

  “Again.”

  “Gage,” I repeated, digging my fingernails into his skin, as the world began to spin around me.

  “I’m yours. Take me, Gage. I’m yours.”

  Then, we shattered together.

  Like fire and gasoline.

  19

  Gage

  I stroked her hair, the soft brown silk weaving around my fingers, tickling my skin and making me want to rouse her for round two.

  Three, I mean.

  The moonlight bathed her naked body like liquid silver, emphasizing curves worthy of a goddess.

  My goddess.

  A sharp pang of possessiveness pulled me out of the moment like a baby being ripped from the womb.

  She’s. Mine.

  I realized then, at that moment, I’d do anything to keep her. To protect her. Anything to keep her safe, happy.

  Anything to keep her mine.

  I’d give my life for hers. In a fucking heartbeat.

  Worthy of that? Worthy of me? I inwardly laughed. Was I worthy of her?

  The real question was, would she let me in?

  Niki Avery had single-handedly stripped me of the armor I’d built around myself over the last year. Hell, maybe my whole life. As I gazed at her profile, so angelic, so serene, I wondered why. What was different about this one? Why her?

  Because it was real—emotional, for Christ’s sake—the opposite of every conquest I’d had before… which were merely reasons to forget. To forget my mundane life. To forget my dad. To deaden the constant hurricane coursing through my veins. No, with Niki, I felt life. Light. Like my soul had been ripped from my chest, clutched in her hand, and kept for her keeping. Like I had given myself to her. And goddammit it felt good. It felt right.

  It was the f
irst time I actually felt.

  I knew, at that moment, that I loved her. I knew it in every inch of my body.

  I was in love with Niki Avery.

  I couldn’t help myself, and I leaned down and kissed her cheek.

  She stirred, slowly turned her head and looked up at me with sleepy, satisfied eyes. Those lips curled upward, and mine did, too.

  “How are you not asleep?”

  I smiled, traced my finger down the slope of her nose.

  “I can’t sleep.”

  “You mean you don’t sleep.”

  “Sometimes.” My finger ran along the bruise below her eye, my gut clenching.

  She gripped my hand. “Stop.”

  “I’ll kill the guy who hurt you, Niki. I’ll find him and I’ll kill him.”

  “You’ll find him, Gage, but you won’t kill him.” Her eyes narrowed with intensity, warning. Command. “I won’t let you.”

  I stared back at her, her eyes locked onto mine daring me to challenge her. A moment slid between us, and it felt as though the last piece of metal slid down my body. I’d do whatever Niki Avery told me to do, or wouldn’t, for that matter.

  She smiled, releasing my hand and turning fully toward me, the moonlight illuminating her face.

  I frowned, tilted my head, zeroing in on the bruise below her eye. My thoughts started to spin.

  “You said he punched you, right?”

  She nodded, a frown matching my own now.

  “With his fist, right?”

  “Is there any other way to punch someone?” She sat up. “What’s going on?”

  The wheels turned in my head.

  “Gage. What?”

  “He was directly in front of you, right? When he hit you?”

  “Yes… where are you going with this?”

  “Niki. Your attacker is left handed.”

  She gasped, covering her cheek with her hand. “Oh, my God you’re right. The bruise would have been on the opposite side of my face.”

  “Exactly.” I scrambled out of the bed. “We need to tell Lieutenant Colson and Haddix this immediately. This is a hell of a lead.” I grabbed my shorts and searched the pockets. “Dammit, my phone is still outside the cage.”

  “The cage?”