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  Then she kicked Tom’s ass and Micah’s dick had gone harder than rock. He had never seen anything half as provocative as Becca pounding a man twice her size into the ground.

  “Pull over,” he snapped.

  “What?” Becca shot him a concerned glance before turning her attention back to the road. “What’s wrong? Are you going to be sick?”

  “Just pull over.”

  He unfastened the seat belt and waited for her to shift the car into park.

  “Micah, what—”

  He leaned across the console, fingers spearing into her soft hair, drawing her closer, and claimed her mouth. His tongue slid along the seam of her lips, plunging inside as they parted for him.

  Sweet heaven.

  It had been too long. She’d called him a pirate captain that first night, and it fit his current mood. He suited savage action to the description. Micah dominated the aggressive kiss, demanded her submission to the forceful thrust of his tongue. With teeth, lips and tongue he plundered her mouth, ruthless in his passion, taking everything she had to give and demanding more.

  More of her addictive taste.

  More of her sweet warmth.

  More of Becca.

  The need for oxygen separated them, both gasping for breath. Becca wore a sexy, dazed expression, her lips red and swollen from his kiss. God, she was beautiful.

  And beyond miraculous, she’d fought for him.

  “Okay. Now we can go.”

  “What?”

  “That helped, but we have to get wherever we’re going. Fast.”

  “I…uh…”

  Damn, she had no idea of the effect she had on him. Her eyes had gone all glassy and slumberous. Her cheeks held a sexy pink flush. If she didn’t get the car moving again, he’d have her stripped bare with his cock driven deep into the tight clasp of her pussy in a matter of seconds.

  “Becca.” He gave her trembling hand a slight squeeze. “Drive, honey.”

  Not wanting to delay any longer, Micah studied the scenery before talking again. It was late in the fall season. The trees were shedding leaves, which covered the ground in vibrant shades of gold, orange, red and brown. Considering the chill in the air, once the sun went down they were in for a cold night. He hoped wherever they were going had a fireplace.

  “So what happened with Weltman? How’d you get him to agree to let me out of there?”

  She shot him a nervous glance. “I went to talk to him about the situation and how the lab setting was detrimental to making any progress. There was a security guy in the office who agreed, but added a condition. I have to call and check in with him. I was given a company phone.”

  They were traveling a winding mountain road, but she held the steering wheel in an overly tight grip. He knew there had to be a lot more to the story. “And…”

  She sighed heavily. “He made it clear that should I miss calling in it would take less than ten minutes for his ‘team’ to invade my house.”

  “Fuck!” Sure sounded like Slater. “Where’s the phone?” he snarled.

  His sudden change in demeanor had her cringing away from him. “In my purse.” She gestured toward a handbag Micah hadn’t noticed resting between the seats. He grabbed the bag and dug through the various feminine paraphernalia until his fingers connected with a duplicate of the phone he’d used when working for Nanotech. “Damn it!”

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Cell phones can be tracked. The phones are programmed to check for a signal every few seconds, which connects it to any nearby antenna towers and exchanges information. The position of the phone can be pinpointed based on the signal strength. Plus, these particular phones have been fitted with a GPS chip.” He dug around in her purse.

  “But it’s not even turned on.”

  “Doesn’t matter. The company can still track the device.” And he would know. Micah had picked out the official communications devices used by Nanotech and installed the chips himself.

  He powered up the phone long enough to jot down the stored contact information then located a metal nail file in the bottom of her purse. With great care he pried open the casing and removed the wafer-thin chip, along with the SIM card. Glancing out the window, he spotted a small independent grocery with several cars in the parking lot. “Pull in to the grocery store.”

  “You can’t just ditch the chip.”

  “Just pull over, baby.” He didn’t take the time to explain. Once she’d parked the car in a space he said, “Stay here.”

  She’d pulled in next to the perfect solution—a local vehicle with a trusting owner who didn’t lock the doors. A rip in the cloth-covered seat provided a handy hiding spot for the chip. In less than two minutes they were back on the road.

  “So Nanotech will be keeping tabs on whoever owns that car now?”

  “Yeah.” He removed the battery from the phone and dropped both into her bag. “Is there a landline where we’re going?”

  “Yes.”

  “Good. Make all of your calls from there or payphones in town. Dial star sixty-seven to block caller id. Keep the calls short. If they try to draw out the conversation come up with a reason to end the call quickly. And don’t tell them where you are for any reason.” He made a mental note to check her car for tracking devices.

  A wicked gleam flashed in Becca’s eyes. “Good thing I didn’t correct their assumption we’d be going to the house Nanotech provided for my use. They set up the phone service there and probably have a duplicate set of keys to the place.”

  They’d come full circle to his original question. “So where are we going?”

  “I rented a cabin under an assumed name. The physical distance from the lab is only a few miles, but on these mountain roads the drive takes almost an hour to drive it. Cross-country it’s much less.”

  Micah watched her closely, seeing a side of Becca he had been unaware of. He never doubted she was smart, but he looked at his sexy accomplice with new appreciation. Dr. Rebecca Southerby had been endowed with rare, highly valuable qualities found in so few men, much less in women. She had the determined, courageous heart of a warrior and the instincts of someone experienced in battle.

  Sure, she’d passed out the first time he’d shifted in her presence. That was a lot for anyone to grasp. In a very short time she’d proven herself to be fearsome, adaptable and fast one her feet in difficult situations.

  The woman was damn near perfect…for him.

  She made him feel things, which was a disturbing prospect. Micah was a soldier, a tough fighting man, not some wimpy guy all in touch with his emotions and shit. What a crock. Real men weren’t sensitive and they sure as hell didn’t possess some imaginary feminine side they had to get in touch with.

  Screw that!

  Rebecca glanced at Micah and stifled an inward groan. The man was scowling again.

  “What’s wrong? You’re all pouty again.”

  “I don’t pout,” he grumbled.

  She couldn’t hold back her laughter. “Yeah, right. I’m getting whiplash over here. Your moods swing faster than a menopausal woman. What happened now?”

  “Nothing.” His voice took on a petulant note.

  “Don’t have a hissy fit. Sheesh! Forget I said anything.”

  “That’d be easier if you’d shut up for five minutes and let me think.”

  “Well,” she huffed. “All righty then.”

  The car filled with thick, almost smothering tension for the rest of what turned into a long drive. At least it cured her pent-up sexual frustration. His current bad attitude had her keeping her distance. Not that she blamed him for the stressed-out reaction. He’d been through hell.

  They finally turned onto the private drive and he went into he-man military mode.

  Oh joy.

  “What kind of security does this place have? How close is the nearest neighbor? And have you taken the time to walk the perimeter?”

  She sighed heavily. “Relax, Rambo. There are locks on all the doors a
nd windows, no close neighbors and when exactly do you think I had time to walk the perimeter, even if I was so inclined?”

  Muttering something about women—derogatory, no doubt—he jumped out of the car soon as she put it in park and went skulking off into the woods. Well, good, let him go do his alpha he-man routine. She could use a few minutes alone to breathe without him critiquing how she inhaled and exhaled.

  Rebecca headed into the cabin alone, locking the door behind her. Let Rambo knock to get in. Served him right.

  After hanging her jacket on a coat tree, she glanced around the homey cabin and fell in love with the place all over again. She could easily picture herself living here.

  Straight ahead in the sitting area a hunter green, butter-soft leather couch and recliner sat atop braided cotton rugs. The wooden tables appeared handmade. Cute knickknacks were placed through the inviting room.

  Off to her right, the kitchen table was covered by a red gingham cloth and the windows bore matching curtains. A large hutch contained stoneware table settings in an apple motif. Throughout the kitchen was a collection of antique teapots in a variety of shapes, sizes and designs.

  A doorway to the left led into a bedroom with its huge rustic pine bed covered by a patchwork quilt in warm tones of ivory, rose, sage and cinnamon. Matching pillows were artfully scattered across the top of the bed.

  Only one bed.

  For the two of them.

  And the weather was perfect for snuggling close. If only he wasn’t being such a jerk. He’d been through a lot so she cut him some slack but he’d better get over himself soon if he wanted to get lucky tonight.

  Rebecca sighed and shook off the wayward thought, instead considering her favorite feature of the cabin. An enclosed porch extended along the back of the building and in one corner stood the hot tub. Images of her and Micah all dripping wet in the hot swirling water drifted through her mind and heated her body.

  Oh yeah! She was definitely anticipating some water play.

  Her blood had heated up but the air held a distinct chill that made her shiver. She placed a few logs in the fireplace, along with a bundle of dried herbs wrapped in birch bark she’d purchased at a rustic little shop in town. After lighting the fire, she warmed herself before the hearth. Within a few minutes the cabin filled with the scent of bay leaves, sage, rosemary, lavender and cinnamon.

  Figuring she might as well get some dinner started, she headed into the kitchen. Busywork should distract her thoughts from Micah and anticipation of the night to come.

  She preheated the oven and whipped up some sweet corn muffin batter, which she poured into a pan and put in the oven. While the muffins baked, she opened a large Mason jar of gourmet Southern chili and put it on the stove to heat. With her task completed, Rebecca found herself staring out the window, rubbing her flat tummy, her mind filled with thoughts of the future.

  Would Micah be pleased to learn about the baby? Would he want to be a part of their lives? Or would the thought of fatherhood scare the crap out of him? Did she stand a chance in hell of turning them into a family? That’s all she ever really wanted—a comfortable home and her own little family.

  An arm clasped around her waist from behind and Rebecca screamed. She hadn’t heard a sound but someone had gotten into the locked cabin.

  She attempted several defensive moves, but her attacker countered them all. Before she knew what was happening, Rebecca found herself turned around, her body flattened against hard masculine planes with arms holding her tighter than steel bands, giving her no room to maneuver. Blood pounded in her ears and her heart rate was through the roof.

  “Whoa, baby. Easy. It’s just me.”

  Her head snapped up and she took in Micah’s bewildered expression. “H-how did you get in here?” And how the hell had he managed to sneak up on her?

  He flashed a sardonic grin. “I specialized in black ops, baby. No cheap door lock is going to slow me down.”

  Okay, she’d give him that, but she hadn’t heard a sound other than the hum of the refrigerator and the crackling fire. He’d been completely silent. She hadn’t detected even the lightest footfall on the wooden floor, no squeak of floorboards, not even the brush of clothing as he moved. He must have been one heck of an operative.

  “Sorry for being a jerk earlier.”

  He took her totally off guard. She hadn’t expected an apology. And just like that, she melted. “You’re forgiven.”

  His breath warmed that wonderful spot behind her ear as he spoke in a raspy tone. “Something smells good.” She shivered as his hot, damp tongue flicked teasingly over her skin.

  “Chili and corn muffins.” She was proud of how level and calm her voice sounded. “I thought we would sit by the fire and eat.”

  “I wasn’t talking about dinner, baby.” Micah chuckled and her knees shook. “Although, I am very hungry,” he nibbled her earlobe, “for you.”

  Chapter Ten

  Holding Becca in his arms had Micah tied up in knots. A sense of peace and contentment warred with growing frustration and searing desire. Hands down, the latter won.

  He fumbled with the controls to turn off the stove and lifted her. Becca’s arms wrapped around his neck as her legs closed over his hips, perfectly aligning her warm pussy with his cock, which jerked to attention. The material of her skirt bunched up, baring the creamy skin of her lean thighs and capturing his gaze.

  “I need you, Micah.”

  “Soon.” He tugged at her blouse, pulled it free of her waistband, fingers searching until he found her soft flesh, smoother than the finest silk. “I’ve been going crazy seeing you but not able to touch.”

  He suited action to words, divested Becca of her clothes and laid her on a cozy rug before the hearth. Firelight chased shadows over the subtle hills and valleys of her body, teasing him with tantalizing glimpses of the delicate delights he sought.

  Starved for the sight of her, Micah’s hungry gaze roamed her supple body noting the new glow to her skin, which appeared to shine from within. Her breasts were fuller than he remembered, the rosy nipples a deeper shade of pink. She was the same beautiful woman he desired, yet there were distinct differences.

  “Micah.”

  Her plaintive tone didn’t alter his course. She shifted restlessly, reached for him. “I’m not done looking.” With one hand, he held her wrists pinned above her head. “I could spend weeks staring at your gorgeous body and never get my fill.”

  “You will not!” She began to struggle against his restraining grasp in earnest. “If you don’t touch me, I’ll kill you.”

  The idle threat, combined with her scrunched-up expression, made him laugh. “Where do you want to be touched?” His free hand glided along the elegant column of her neck, dipping into the hollow of her throat. “How about here?” His fingertips softly traced her prominent collarbone then down the inside of her arm and teased the side of her breast. He circled the mound and decided he was right, it was fuller. “Or maybe here?”

  Becca moaned and arched her back, thrusting her breast against his hand, seeking a firmer touch. “Micah,” she pleaded.

  Giving in to what they both wanted, he cupped her breast, weighed and measured it against his palm. He tweaked her pouty nipple between his thumb and forefinger. She sucked in a hard breath and pulled back slightly, and he made note of her increased sensitivity.

  “How about if I taste you too? Would you like that, Becca?”

  “Oh yes,” she groaned.

  As responsive as ever. He loved it.

  He trailed the very tip of his tongue around her areola, which puckered tighter. When he blew a stream of warm air over the damp tip, her entire body shuddered and arched higher. He took her taut nipple into his mouth, sucked lightly and pressed the nubbin between his tongue and palate.

  Becca went wild, cried out, writhed. Her hips bucked in an instinctive rhythm older than time, rubbing against his hard cock like a cat in heat. One moment she was all soft and fluid motion beneath
him, incoherent nonsense spilling from her lips, the next she tensed, stilled and moaned as an orgasm took her by surprise.

  Jesus, that was hot. He’d never seen a woman orgasm just from having her nipples sucked. “So responsive.”

  When the shudders subsided and she calmed, Micah brushed damp strands of hair from her face. “You ready for more?”

  “Mmm…” she mumbled. “Yes, more.”

  While the release had taken the edge off for her, Micah’s body was hard and ready. Still, he refused to hurry, wanting to enjoy the time they had together, however limited it might end up being.

  “Good.” He pressed her wrists to the rug. “Keep your hands there, baby.”

  “But, Micah,” she complained. “I want to touch you.”

  “Not now, baby. I’m on a short leash. If you touch me this is going to be over before we even get started.”

  Those big green eyes blinked up at him from beneath thick lashes and he was lost. A warning growl rumbled from his throat. The sound, more animal than human, would frighten most people. But Becca was far from average. The extraordinary woman affected him in ways he couldn’t comprehend, awakening needs and emotions he had no idea how to handle.

  The only thing he knew for certain, felt with every erratic beat of his heart, Rebecca Southerby was his. She belonged to him, with him, the same way he belonged to her. The very thought scared the hell out of him, but there was no going back. Not now, maybe not ever.

  “Micah.”

  He met her gaze, staggered by the depth of emotions playing across her delicate features. The breath caught in his throat.

  “It’s okay. I want you to let go.” Rebecca hated the idea of him holding anything back from her. She wanted it all. Every ounce of passion and desire. “I want all of you.”

  Especially your love.

  Not knowing how he’d take such a declaration, she kept it to herself.

  The future was uncertain, but she wanted to take a chance with him. She didn’t want to consider not having Micah in her life, in their child’s life. He was theirs, and she’d fight to the death to keep him.