Page 70

Time to check again.

He’d done what he could to secure the house. He’d emptied out several soup cans, pried off the tops, half-filled the cans with pebbles and strung them on paracord. Then he’d tied the cord to trees and shrubs to make a kind of barrier around the house. He’d also rigged lines at the doors and at the single window.

At least an intruder would not be able to make a quiet approach.

Now, he pressed a light kiss to Annie’s hair, rose from the bed, pulled on his almost-dry camo pants, undid the alarm system at the back door and eased outside.

He was greeted by familiar night sounds. Always a good sign. He took a quick look into the lean-to. The horse had his head down and was asleep.

Nothing had been disturbed.

Dec was more and more certain that the men following them had gone west instead of north. Tomorrow, he’d give the satphone another try. If it worked, he’d arrange for a rendezvous. If it didn’t, he’d have to wait until they reached the market town at the border and hope somebody there would have a telephone.

One way or another, he’d get Annie to safety. To Santa Barbara and his cottage. Their cottage. From now on, it would belong to them both. Then he’d find a way to come back and deal with her uncle Cyrus, with the king of Tharsalonia, and with Altair Amjad.

He entered the cottage soundlessly, re-rigged the warning system at the door, took off his pants and rubbed down with a towel. Then he returned to the narrow bed.

In his absence, Annie had moved into the center of it. There was just space enough for him to lie on his side and wrap one arm around her.

She sighed and rolled onto her side. Shifted her sweet ass so it pressed into the cradle of his thighs.

A gentleman would have moved back a couple of inches and if that wasn’t possible, a gentleman would have grabbed a sheepskin and made himself a bed on the floor.

But Dec wasn’t a gentleman, not when it came to how he reacted to his woman. His body responded instantly, sending his blood straight to his dick.

Forget it, he told himself. She needed sleep.

His hand moved from her hip to her waist to her breast.

He closed his eyes, savoring the feel of it, the way the nipple kissed his palm.

He bit back a groan. Told himself what a no-good bastard he was even to think about having her again…

Too bad his dick didn’t get the message.

The head of it was seeking comfort, seeking Annie’s heat.

And, God, she was hot. Within seconds, she was wet. Her body was ready to welcome his.

He moved.

Just a little.

Half an inch.

A little more

She sighed. “Declan,” she whispered sleepily.

She reached back, put her hand between them, and stroked him.

He slipped inside her. Slowly. Slowly.

She said his name again and he slid deeper into her silky softness. She moaned.

“Baby,” he said thickly, rocking against her.

“Yes,” she said, “yes yes, like that. Like that. Like…”