Page 44 of Deadly Betrayal

Embarrassment swamped her like a bucketful ofwater, deadening her arousal and leaving her cold and alone. Shealready missed his arms around her and the sound of his harshbreathing in her ears. She ducked her head. “Did I do something todisplease you?”

“Christ.” Surprised by the sharp expletive,she froze. Kaden would never hurt her. This she knew as surely asshe knew the sun would rise in the east. With two fingers under herchin, he forced her to lift her gaze to his. “You did nothingwrong. Shit. If this weren’t Afghanistan where a roll in the sackcould get you killed, you’d already be naked andwell-satisfied.”

Naked and well-satisfied.Two thingsshe’d never been in the presence of a man. His words conjuredimages in her mind, things alluded to in Western movies and books,things she’d never experienced. Things she desperately wanted toexperience with him.

But he was right. It wasn’t just her life atrisk. The Taliban would enjoy holding him up as an example of themoral corruption of Western society. If they were caught, Kadenwould be killed in a very public, very brutal way. However, if theywere together right before he left the country, no one would everknow.

Kaden groaned. “What’s going on in thatclever mind of yours?”

“If we get Laila back, if we are… successfulin this mission, and if you have an hour to spare before yourreturn home, perhaps you could show me…” She waved in the directionof his groin.

A surprised bark burst from his mouth. “Youreally want to see my cock that badly?” He reached for hiswaistband. This timeshestopped him.

“You misunderstand. If I survive this, Iwould like to…” She paused, unsure of the correct word in English.Some were too crude, others implied affection.

His eyebrows shot up his forehead. “You wantto have sex?”

Sex. Yes, that was the right word. Shenodded.

Kaden moaned and banged his head against thedoor again. Her gaze zeroed in on his groin where the looseshalwartented out from his legs. She grinned.

“You think this is funny, don’t you?”

“A little,” she admitted.

He scrubbed his face vigorously with thepalms of his hands. “Sure. If I survive the worst case of blueballs the world has ever known, I’ll give you what you want. Buthoney, it’ll take more than an hour. You have to give me anight.”

She barely heard what he said, her attentionfocused on the mention of his physical malady. “Your testes areblue? We must get you to the military base immediately. Thetesticular artery may have become twisted, cutting off circulation.If it is not treated immediately, you could lose—”

He cut her off with a full kiss, and shestruggled against the pleasure overwhelming her. He had to listento her. This was serious. Why Allah had designed a man’sreproductive organs to be so vulnerable, she’d never understand.Kaden cupped her cheeks. “There’s nothing medically wrong with me.I’m just horny as hell.”

“Horny?” Her eyes flicked to his head. Shedidn’t see anything unusual.

He smiled. “I’m turned on.” When shecontinued to stare, uncomprehending, he added, “Sexuallyexcited.”

“Ah.” That she understood, because she was“horny as hell” too. For the first time in her life.

Pain exploded through Kaden, leaving asearing path of fire under his armpit to the middle of his chest ashe collapsed on top of Jake.

Jake shouted something as he rolled themover.

Kaden tried to speak, tried to tell Jakeabout the sniper. Nothing would come out. He felt like he wasbreathing through a plastic bag. Jake was talking, Kaden could seehis mouth move, but his words were distorted and incomprehensible.The sniper. He had to warn them. Something came down over hismouth. He struggled to push it away—

“Kaden!”

A hand grabbed his arm. Years of militarytraining took over and instantly, he had the intruder on his back.Kaden gripped the other man’s throat, his fingers almost reachingaround it. Fists hit his chest, his shoulders. A strangled voicecalled his name.

Kaden blinked against the darkness and forcedhis eyes to focus on his captive. Oh shit.

Azita.

“Fuck. Fuck.” Letting go of her neck, hepulled her into a sitting position while supporting her back. “Areyou all right? Please tell me I didn’t hurt you. I’m so fuckingsorry.”

He snapped on the light to see if she wasinjured. She clutched his forearm as a cough rattled her slimframe. Retrieving a bottle of water from his duffel bag, he openedit and held it to her mouth. “Drink. It will help.”

With shaking hands, she swallowed severalsmall sips. Her headscarf was out of place, her neck exposed. Hisfingertips feathered the red marks already marring the sweetexpanse he’d been kissing just a few hours before. By morning,she’d have bruises. Fuck.

“I could have killed you.” His voice falteredon the admission. How could he have done this? The nightmareshadn’t made an appearance in months, not since he’d moved toMontréal to work with Nic and Jake. “I’m so sorry.”