Chapter 8
CHAPTER EIGHT
T he sun was warm on his skin as he hiked along the trail.
They were about an hour out from the lodge. From this vantage point, the lake looked even more amazing. Like something from a postcard.
Park breathed deeply. He could almost believe he was just on a relaxing hike. Then his gaze sliced to the woman hiking ahead of him.
Jenna moved with sure steps. She was wearing a pair of tiny khaki shorts that showed off her toned legs. Her hair was in a braid and glinted like gold.
She hadn’t mentioned the hot, sexy moment they’d shared this morning. She’d been all business ever since they’d started the hike.
Stress relief. Colleagues with benefits . He should be fucking thrilled to hear that. Who didn’t want hot sex without the strings attached?
He had no idea why her words bothered him so much. He scowled. He should be grateful that he actually wanted her to touch him. When her hands were on him, all he thought about was her. And pleasure.
Forcing himself to stop thinking about her, he scanned around. The last thing they needed was to run into a damn bear. They should be making more noise, but they didn’t want to let Olson know they were coming.
Wild bear or sadistic murderer . Not much of a choice.
A few minutes later, Jenna stopped. She pulled her backpack off her shoulders and pulled out a water bottle. “Drink break.”
He lifted his chin and pulled his own water out. A moment later, she handed him a protein bar.
“According to the map, the trail gets a little steeper and rockier from here.” She pointed up the hill. “The hunting cabin is up that way.”
Parker ate the protein bar in three bites. “Then let’s keep moving.”
They trekked on.
As they moved through a thicker patch of trees, he suddenly heard movement off to their left. He held up a hand. Jenna froze.
Don’t be a damn bear . He slid his hand around his backpack, ready to pull out the bear spray he had clipped to it.
More noise, twigs snapping. Then a large body stepped out of the trees.
Holy shit . The moose idly made its way through the trees. It was huge. It had a glossy brown coat and a massive set of antlers. Park glanced back and saw Jenna’s mouth drop open.
The majestic animal didn’t appear agitated. It kept walking, giving no indication it cared about their presence. He knew aggressive moose could charge, but this one kept walking and soon disappeared into the trees.
The tense muscles in his shoulders relaxed.
“Oh my God.” Jenna let out a breathy laugh. “I had no idea it would be that big.”
“Me neither. I’ve seen plenty of caribou but not any moose up close.”
They shared a smile.
Jenna tightened her braid. “Glad it wasn’t a bear.”
“Me too.” Park set off in the direction of the cabin again.
It wasn’t long before he spotted the wooden structure. It was a simple, square building, with no frills. The ground around the cabin was rocky, with few trees.
Jenna and Park paused, carefully surveying the area.
“No sign of movement,” she murmured.
“Be careful.” Olson wouldn’t announce his presence. “I suggest we circle around and check the back.”
They did a loop of the cabin. There was still no sign of anyone. They reached the front door and Jenna opened it carefully.
There wasn’t anyone inside.
Park took in the canvas cots lined up against one wall, for hunters to sleep on with their sleeping bags. There was a built-in wooden table and bench, and a black, cast-iron woodstove.
“The dust’s been disturbed.” Park toed the floor with his boot, studying the scrape marks. “Someone was here.”
“It could’ve been anyone.”
Then he spotted a perfect shoe print. “Look. It’s from an Anvil tactical hiking boot.”
“The same custom boots Olson has.” She smiled grimly. “He was here. We’re on the right track.” She glanced around. “Let’s look around outside again.”
They went out the front door, and Park frowned. He didn’t get the impression Olson had stayed here long. He’d come here, then left.
Why? Did he feel too exposed?
Park turned and saw Jenna looking down the hill, lost in thought.
The crack of a gunshot echoed across the valley.
He watched her jerk and slam into the wall of the cabin.
No .
Park leaped. There was another shot, and the bullet hit the dirt nearby. He crashed into Jenna, taking her to the ground. He covered her body with his.
“Jenna. Fuck, Jenna .” There was blood on her head.
Another bullet hit the dirt.
“I’m okay.” She lifted her hand. “It just clipped me.”
Olson had almost shot her in the fucking head. Park’s heart raced out of control.
They needed cover.
He lifted off her but stayed low. “Stay down.” He grabbed her arm, and they crawled around the side of the cabin and around the back.
There were two more shots, and a window shattered.
“He must have a sniper rifle.” Park scowled. “He fired the shots from far away.”
Jenna leaned back against the cabin. Blood was dripping down the side of her head.
There were no more gunshots.
“Inside.” He helped her up, then smashed his elbow through the window at the back of the cabin. “We need to stay out of view.”
He cupped his hands and gestured for her to use it as a step. He helped her climb through the window, then he followed her through.
She crawled over to the wall and leaned against it. He hated seeing the blood on her head. If that shot had been a fraction the other way, she’d be dead.
A dark emotion gripped him, like claws around his throat. Jenna being killed wasn’t going to happen, dammit. It wasn’t a fucking option.
For a second, he was thrust back to another place. He was running toward his fellow soldiers, trying desperately to save them from a bomb.
Then boom .
“Park?”
He clicked back into the present.
“Are you all right?” She looked concerned. For him.
With his heartbeat thundering in his ears, he got his shit together and yanked his backpack open. He pulled out a first aid kit.
“Here.” He ripped the kit open, then pressed a wad of gauze to her wound. “We need to stop the bleeding.”
“Thanks.”
He swallowed. “Hold that in place.”
He quickly dug into his backpack and pulled out a set of binoculars. He crawled across the floor of the cabin and moved up below one of the windows.
“Park—”
“I’ll be careful.” He rose on his knees and looked out. Based on the shots, he guessed Olson’s general area. Through the binoculars, he scanned the far hillside. Nothing. All he could see were trees. But Parker knew Olson was there. Somewhere.
There .
He caught the glint of sunlight shining off something.
“Got him.”
“He was waiting for us,” she said grimly.
Park glanced at her, his gaze moving to the blood-stained cloth in her hand. That damn blood. He turned back to the window and looked through the binoculars again.
The telltale glint was gone.
“I think he’s gone, but we need to stay down and still for a bit longer, just in case.”
She nodded and sighed. She lowered the gauze, then touched a finger to her head gingerly. “I’d really hoped we’d find him here.”
“Well, we did. He’s in this area. We’re a step closer.” Park’s gaze moved to her wound. There was a small furrow on the side of her head.
She’d almost died.
His chest was tight and it hurt to draw a breath. He looked out the window again.
Olson would pay for this. Park vowed it.
I’m coming for you, asshole.
It was late afternoon when they hiked back, and Jenna saw the Drifter Lake Lodge up ahead. It gleamed like a welcoming beacon.
She’d done her best to clean her head wound, but it was stinging. She wasn’t going to tell Park. She glanced over at him.
He’d been tense and edgy the entire hike back. She’d felt the contained energy boiling inside him.
Every time he glanced at her head, a muscle ticked in his jaw. He was really mad that she’d gotten hurt. No doubt it brought up some bad moments for him.
He hadn’t said much the entire walk back.
She cleared her throat. “Are you all right?”
“No.”
When he didn’t say anything else, she sighed.
As they neared the lodge, she saw some people on the deck of the main building, having drinks.
“We should probably clean up and make an appearance at dinner. I mean, the newlyweds cover will probably keep people away, but I get the impression that Velma has a need to feed people. She’ll hunt us down eventually.”
Maybe a good meal might help Park settle.
He just grunted.
She followed him into their cabin.
“I’m going to shower first,” she told him. Then she needed to update Owen.
Park nodded, going to check his phone.
Jenna took a quick shower and carefully washed her head wound. It stung like hell. She dried off and looked in the mirror. She had a small groove just past her temple. Park was right, she was lucky as hell. She was probably going to be missing some hair.
She set her shoulders back. Still, she wasn’t going to dwell on it. She was alive and that was all that mattered.
The risk was worth it to catch Kyle Olson.
Wrapping the towel securely around her body, she headed into the bedroom. There was no sign of Park. Suddenly, her cellphone started ringing and she snatched it up.
“Hi, Owen.”
“Just checking in. No sign of Olson in my area.”
“I was about to call you.” She sat on the bed. “We had an interaction with Olson.”
“You saw him? Where?”
“We didn’t see him. Park and I hiked up to a hunting cabin. He wasn’t there, but he took a few shots at us with a sniper rifle. It’s nothing, but one shot clipped me.”
Silence. “Are you all right? Jesus, do you need medical attention?”
“I’m fine, Owen.” She didn’t need another overprotective male. “It’s a graze.”
“Where?”
She ran a hand through her damp hair and prodded the edge of the wound. “I’m all right.”
“Where, Jenna?” His voice hardened.
“Side of my head. It’s nothing.”
Owen cursed. “A bullet to the head is not nothing.”
“We’re getting close. I need you to contact the other search parties. Get them to block off any routes out of my area and close in. We aren’t letting Olson get away.”
“I’m coming to you. You need me.”
“I have Park.”
“Yeah, well, where was he today?”
“Knocking me down and covering me with his own body. Ensuring we got into cover.”
Owen’s harsh release of breath echoed on the line.
“Stick to the plan, Owen. I’ve got this.”
He sighed. “Be careful.”
“I will.”
“And Jenna, we know Olson is dangerous, but don’t forget that Parker is as well.”
He ended the call, and she set the phone on the bedside table. Park still hadn’t appeared, and she wondered where he was.
She moved toward the window and that’s when she saw him. Swimming in the lake.
Leaning her forehead against the cool glass, she watched his strong strokes. He owned the water, moving with strength and skill. Yes, he was dangerous, but she knew he wasn’t a danger to her physically.
She watched until he climbed out and grabbed a towel, running it over his wet chest. He was only wearing a pair of black swim shorts. He walked toward the cabin.
As he stepped inside, he was still damp. She saw beads of water on his skin.
When he saw her, his hand balled into a fist.
Clearly the swim hadn’t helped him cool off.
“Park? Talk to me.”
“He almost put a bullet in your head.” Park’s tone was lethal.
She hitched her towel tighter and moved closer. “But he didn’t. He missed, and you got me into cover. Almost doesn’t count.”
“It was too damn close.”
“I’m not letting there be a next time. I’m bringing the asshole in, one way or another.”
Park’s jaw worked. “What if next time…?”
She shook her head and pressed her hands to his damp chest. She saw his cut and noted that it was healing nicely. There was so much tension pumping off him. “What if the next time we nail his ass? My plan is to drag him away in cuffs and put him away for the rest of his life.”
“I watched good soldiers die. I wasn’t fast enough…and I saw a bomb blast tear them apart.”
Her heart clenched. “I’m sorry, Park. Your Ghost Ops teammates?”
He swallowed. “No. I was temporarily attached to a regiment in Afghanistan to help them on a particular mission. The rest of my Ghost Ops team were on another mission in the next province.” He released a harsh breath. “Those soldiers were so damn young. They joined the Army to pay for college and to have an adventure.” He gripped her wrists. “I can’t watch you die, Jenna.”
She lifted her chin. “I’m not planning to. I’m made of tough stuff, and we make a good team, Park. I know that together we can take Olson down. Are you with me?”
His chest heaved, then he gave her a clipped nod.
“Good.” Because she couldn’t help herself, she kneaded her fingers against his muscles. She felt some of his scars under her fingertips, but she realized she barely saw them. They were a part of him, but not all of him. Mostly, she noted that he was still so tense. “What will help you?”
He cocked his head.
“What will help you let this go? I want to help you feel better.”
His gaze flicked up to her wound. “Taking care of your injury.”
She moved and sat on the bed, then she waved at her head. “It’s all yours. I need it covered for dinner anyway.”
He grabbed the first aid kit, then knelt in front of her. Jenna felt flutters start in her belly. He was so close, and she was only wearing a towel.
Park methodically opened the first aid kit. He was so focused as he leaned up and cleaned her wound. She ignored the sting, waiting patiently as he pressed a bandage over it.
“It’ll scar,” he said.
She shrugged. “I don’t care.”
His gaze met hers. There was still so much boiling in it.
She swallowed and licked her lips. “I want you to let the darkness go. Don’t let it fester. I’m all right. I promise.”
“I need more.”
Her pulse skipped. “Okay. More what?”
His hands ran up her bare thighs. Electric sensations ignited all over her skin and she sucked in a breath.
“I want to touch you.”
“Okay,” she whispered.
“I need to hear you cry out my name.”
Oh . Goosebumps peppered her skin.
His fingers gripped the towel and hesitated.
Her throat felt thick. When he looked at her, she nodded.
He parted the towel. Another inch and he’d see her bare pussy. She licked her lips, desire roaring to life inside her.
“You going to let me touch you?” His voice was low and gritty. “Wherever I want?”
“Take what you need, Park.”
He moved so fast it was shocking. He pushed her back on the bed, then ripped the towel from her body.
All that intensity was focused on her. Right then, she knew nothing else existed for him but her. It was an intoxicating feeling.
He shoved her legs apart, his warm breath ghosting over her stomach, then he moved lower.
Without any warning, his mouth was on her.
There was no preamble, no foreplay. His stubble scraped her inner thighs and he lapped at her with long strokes.
She arched up. “ Park .”
“ Yes . That’s what I want to hear.”
Jenna moaned, her blood going hot. He explored her slick flesh, his hot tongue sliding through her pussy. Her hips lifted and she rocked against his mouth. One of his hands slid under her ass, gripping her hard.
The hungry way he licked and sucked told her how much he liked the taste of her. She panted, feeling her impending orgasm gathering, trying to keep some control.
“You taste so good, Jenna. Sweet, spicy.” He licked her like he’d never get enough of her.
God, it felt good . She lifted her hips up to his mouth, making incoherent sounds.
Then he sucked on her clit, pulling it between his lips.
Every muscle in her body was taut. His tongue shifted, delving deep, and he made an appreciative sound. His tongue found her clit again, moving faster. Her hips were moving, her thighs shaking. He sucked on her clit again and it pushed her over the edge.
She broke. She cried out his name, the tension in her exploding into waves of intense pleasure. Her body shuddered.
Jenna flopped back on the bed, feeling like a big pile of goo. Well-pleasured goo.
Park gently nipped her thigh. “Thank you.”
She gave a small laugh. “Park, I should be thanking you after that.” She grabbed his hand. “You okay?”
With a nod he rose. He paid no attention to the large erection tenting his shorts. “I’ll go and get ready for dinner.” He shot her a small smile, then headed for the bathroom.
She flopped back on the bed again. Her heart hammering in her chest.
That smile. She looked at the ceiling. Not one bit of this felt casual.
Yes, she was in so much trouble. She’d just crossed another line. Hell, she’d leaped across it willingly. This was already more than she could handle.
She should be focused on her job—her dangerous job—not this scarred former soldier. But the truth was, she was worried there was nothing she could do to get her mind off Parker Conroy.
No, that was a lie.
The truth was, she didn’t want to get her mind off him.