Page 7

Chapter Seven

Kane

K ane Chaplin stood at the edge of the camp; his gaze fixed on the horizon where the first light of dawn was beginning to streak across the sky. The desert around them was still and silent, the oppressive heat of the day yet to settle in. But even in the coolness of the early morning, Kane felt a restlessness gnawing at him, a tension that had nothing to do with the mission and everything to do with the woman who had invaded his dreams.

Maggie.

He placed his hand on her head and pressed down lightly. “On your knees.”

She sank gracefully to her knees. God, she was gorgeous—her skin flushed with need, her nipples stiffened, and the scent of her arousal like perfume in the air.

Maggie ran her tongue around her full lips and opened her mouth. Kane’s cock throbbed as he thrust it past her lips and into the warm, wet heat of her mouth. Her tongue swirled around his length, and he couldn’t hold back a groan. He gazed down at her, watching his cock sink all the way into her mouth until her nose was pressed up against his groin.

Why was it Maggie who did this to him? Why was she so different than all the rest? He didn’t have an answer to that question. He just knew that she was smart, sexy, and as courageous as any of those he’d ever served with. She wouldn’t be easy to dominate. He was sure she’d challenge him every chance she got. Theirs would not be a quiet, easy D/s relationship. It would be a continual dance for power, and he welcomed the thought of it.

He held her head in place as he began thrusting his cock in and out of her luscious lips. Each time he started to withdraw, Maggie sucked on him with all she was worth, trying to keep him inside her so she could torture him in the most delicious way with her tongue. She wasn’t content to simply let him fuck her mouth. No, she was trying to take control and force him to do as she wanted. Well, she would learn that while he could be indulgent, he would still be in command.

God, she felt good. He grasped her head between his hands and began to plunge in and out, over and over, until finally, he drove to the very back of her throat and as she swallowed, he began to spill himself down into her belly.

When dawn came, Kane awoke to his lonely bed, the image of a naked Maggie kneeling before him still fresh in his mind. He sat up and clenched his jaw, trying to shake off the memories of the night before, the vivid images that had taken to haunting his sleep. They had started out innocent enough—a replay of the day’s events, the usual scenarios of combat and strategy. But then Maggie had appeared, her presence turning the dream into something altogether different. He could still feel the warmth of her skin beneath his hands, the taste of her lips on his, the way her body had fit so perfectly against his.

Kane cursed under his breath, dragging a hand through his short, dark hair. He wrapped his hand around his incredibly hard cock and began to fuck it instead of her. Harder and faster; he pumped his length until finally, with a groan he hoped wasn’t as loud from the outside of his tent as it sounded to him, he climaxed, spitting out his cum onto his belly. This was getting out of hand. He was supposed to be protecting Maggie, not fantasizing about her. But no matter how hard he tried; he couldn’t push her from his mind. The more he saw of her, the more he admired her strength, her intelligence, her determination. And the more he wanted her.

He had always prided himself on his discipline, on his ability to compartmentalize his emotions and focus on the task at hand. But Maggie was making that increasingly difficult. She was everywhere—in his thoughts, in his dreams, in every corner of the camp. And it was putting him on edge, making it harder to keep his guard up.

Kane exhaled slowly, forcing himself to concentrate. Today, Maggie had insisted they head into a nearby town for supplies, and he needed to be sharp. The area was relatively safe, or so they had been told, but Kane knew better than to let his guard down. The recent discovery of surveillance near the camp had made him wary, and the possibility of an ambush was never far from his mind.

As if on cue, Maggie appeared at the entrance to her tent, already dressed and ready to go. She moved with quiet efficiency, her long blonde hair pulled back into a braid, her eyes focused and determined. Kane’s heart gave an involuntary lurch at the sight of her, and he quickly looked away, pretending to check the supplies in the back of the Jeep.

“Kane,” Maggie called out as she approached, her voice steady but tinged with an underlying tension that matched his own. “Are we ready?”

“Yeah,” he replied, not trusting himself to say more. He kept his tone clipped, professional, trying to maintain the distance he had so carefully cultivated since their return to the dig site. “Let’s move out.”

Maggie didn’t push for conversation, and for that, Kane was grateful, but it appeared that she might have something on her mind, but he wouldn’t push her. When she was ready to talk, she would. She seemed to understand him in a way few people—male or female—ever did. Maybe that was part of her allure. They climbed into the Jeep, and he took the driver’s seat, his hands steady on the wheel as they pulled away from the camp. The road to the town was little more than a dirt track winding through the arid landscape, with nothing but endless stretches of sand and rock on either side.

The silence between them was heavy, but not uncomfortable. Kane could feel Maggie’s presence beside him, a subtle reminder of the connection that had been growing between them since the start of this mission. It was a connection that scared him more than he cared to admit because it was making him feel things he hadn’t felt in years.

As they neared the town, Kane’s instincts began to tingle with the familiar sense of impending danger. His eyes scanned the horizon, every shadow and movement scrutinized with the precision of a man who had spent most of his life in combat zones. The town itself was small, a cluster of low buildings and market stalls, with few people out this early in the morning.

Kane slowed the Jeep as they entered the outskirts of the town, his senses on high alert. Something didn’t feel right. The usual sounds of life—the chatter of villagers, the clatter of market goods being set up—were conspicuously absent. The town was eerily quiet, and Kane’s instincts screamed at him to get out, to turn the Jeep around and leave before it was too late.

“Maggie,” he said, his voice low and tense, “stay close. I don’t like this.”

Maggie nodded, her expression serious as she unbuckled her seatbelt and checked the small pistol he had insisted she carry. Her brother had told him she was good with firearms. It was more for show than anything—she wasn’t a soldier, after all—but Kane appreciated that she was willing and able to use the gun if necessary. It showed that she was ready, that she understood the gravity of the situation, and it might make others think twice about trying to get to her.

They parked the Jeep in the shade of a building and climbed out, keeping to the shadows as they made their way toward the center of town. The few people they encountered moved quickly, their eyes averted, their steps hurried. Kane’s unease deepened with every step.

They reached the market square, and Kane’s eyes flicked to the rooftops, the alleyways, every possible angle from which an attack could come. He caught a glimpse of movement—just a shadow, but it was enough. His hand dropped to his sidearm, his muscles coiled and ready.

“Get back to the Jeep,” he whispered to Maggie, his tone leaving no room for argument.

But it was too late. The trap had already been sprung.

Gunfire erupted from the rooftops, the sharp crack of AK-47s shattering the morning silence. Kane grabbed Maggie and pulled her down behind a stack of crates, his body shielding hers as bullets whizzed overhead.

“Stay low!” he shouted; his voice barely audible over the din. He returned fire, his shots precise and controlled, taking down two of the militants who had exposed their position on a rooftop. But they were outnumbered, and the situation was rapidly spiraling out of control.

Maggie’s breathing was fast and shallow, her eyes wide with shock, but she didn’t panic. Instead, she scanned their surroundings, as if she, too, had her mind working furiously to find a way out. Kane noticed the shift in her demeanor, the way she focused in the face of danger, and it sparked a new level of respect for her. She wasn’t just a civilian caught in the crossfire—she was a quick thinker, and she wasn’t about to give up.

“We need to get to the Jeep,” Maggie said, her voice steady despite the chaos around them.

Kane nodded, knowing she was right. Staying here would only get them pinned down. They needed to move, and fast. He reloaded his weapon, keeping one hand on Maggie’s arm as they prepared to make a run for it.

“On my signal,” Kane said, his voice calm and commanding. “Stay close, and don’t stop for anything.”

Maggie nodded, her grip tightening on the pistol in her hand. Kane took a deep breath, his mind calculating the odds, the angles, every possible outcome. Then, with a burst of adrenaline, he stood and fired a volley of shots at their attackers, creating a momentary gap in the gunfire.

“Go!” he shouted, pulling Maggie to her feet.

They sprinted across the square, dodging between stalls and crates, the ground kicking up dust beneath their feet. Kane’s heart pounded in his chest, every sense heightened as he kept Maggie close, his eyes scanning for threats. They were almost to the Jeep when a group of militants rounded a corner, blocking their path.

Kane reacted instantly, firing off several shots that took down two of the men, but there were more behind them. He and Maggie were pinned down, and the militants were closing in. The situation was dire, but Maggie didn’t hesitate.

“There!” she shouted, pointing to a narrow alley that led away from the market square. Without waiting for a response, she grabbed Kane’s arm and pulled him toward it.

They darted into the alley, the narrow space providing temporary cover from the gunfire. But the militants were hot on their heels, and Kane knew they wouldn’t have much time. The alley twisted and turned, leading them deeper into the maze of buildings. Maggie’s quick thinking had bought them a few moments, but they needed to make the most of them and get back to the Jeep if they were going to have any chance of escaping.

Kane could hear the militants shouting to each other, their voices growing closer. He glanced at Maggie, seeing the determination etched on her face, the way she moved with purpose despite the danger. She was handling the situation with a level of composure that impressed him more than he expected.

“We’re almost there,” Kane said, his voice breathless as they rounded another corner. “Keep moving.”

The alley opened up into a wider street, and Kane could see the Jeep just ahead, parked where they had left it. But the militants had caught up, and the sound of gunfire echoed through the narrow space. Kane shoved Maggie behind a stack of barrels, using the momentary cover to return fire.

“We need to make a break for it,” Kane said, his mind racing for a plan. “I’ll cover you. Get to the Jeep and start the engine. I’ll be right behind you.”

Maggie’s eyes met his, and for a split second, he saw something there—something more than just fear or determination. It was trust, an unspoken understanding that they were in this together. She nodded, her jaw set, and without another word, she bolted toward the Jeep.

Kane laid down suppressing fire, taking out two more militants as Maggie reached the vehicle. He could hear the engine roar to life, and he knew they had only seconds before their attackers closed in. He fired a final volley of shots, then sprinted toward the Jeep, his body moving on pure instinct.

Maggie had the Jeep in gear, ready to go as soon as Kane jumped in. He barely had time to slam the door shut before she floored the gas pedal, the vehicle lurching forward as they sped out of the town. Bullets pinged off the metal frame, but they were moving too fast for the militants to get a clear shot.

Kane kept his weapon trained on the rear window, ready to fire if anyone gave chase, but after a few minutes, the gunfire faded into the distance. They were safe, for now.

Maggie didn’t slow down until they were several miles away from the town, the desert stretching out before them in all directions. Her hands gripped the wheel tightly, her knuckles white, but her expression was calm and focused. Kane glanced at her, his heart still racing from the adrenaline, and found himself marveling at her composure. He reached over and loosened her grip.

“Why don’t you let me drive?” he asked softly. Maggie just nodded. When they’d switched places, Kane said, “You did good back there.” He was glad to hear his voice was steady despite the chaotic thoughts running through his mind.

Maggie gave him a quick, sidelong glance, her lips curving into a faint smile. “Thanks. I didn’t grow up a rancher’s daughter in Kansas for nothing.”

Kane chuckled softly, the tension in his body slowly beginning to unwind. The danger had passed, but the adrenaline was still coursing through his veins, making it hard to think straight. He was impressed—no, more than impressed—by how Maggie had handled herself. She had kept her cool under pressure, thought quickly on her feet, and hadn’t hesitated when it mattered most.

They drove in silence for a while, the vast emptiness of the desert a stark contrast to the life-or-death struggle they had just escaped. Kane’s mind was a whirlwind of conflicting emotions, his thoughts bouncing between the mission, the danger, and the woman sitting beside him.

The dig site was quiet as they returned, the other members of the team still unaware of the ambush they had narrowly escaped. Kane parked the Jeep, his hands still gripping the wheel for a moment longer than necessary before he finally let go. He felt a strange sense of loss as he watched Maggie climb out of the vehicle, as if something important had just slipped through his fingers.

Back at camp, the near-death experience left them both shaken. Kane could see it in Maggie’s eyes, the way she moved a little slower, her usual energy dampened by the weight of what they had just gone through. It was a reminder of how close they had come to losing everything, of how fragile life really was out here.

Maggie walked toward her tent, but then she paused, turning back to look at him. Her eyes were searching, filled with an emotion that Kane couldn’t quite place. He got out of the Jeep and moved toward her, feeling an invisible pull drawing them closer together.

“Are you okay?” he asked, his voice softer than he intended.

Maggie nodded, but the tension in her shoulders told a different story. “I’m fine. Just... processing, I guess.”

Kane understood that feeling all too well. The rush of battle, the high of survival, and then the crash that came afterward, when the adrenaline wore off and the reality of what had happened set in. It was a familiar pattern, one he had experienced countless times before. But it felt different now, with Maggie.

He hesitated, then reached out, gently touching her arm. “You were incredible today, Maggie. You kept your head when most people would have panicked.”

She looked up at him, her eyes wide and vulnerable in a way he hadn’t seen before. “I was scared out of my mind, Kane. But I couldn’t let that stop me. We had to get out of there.”

Kane nodded, his thumb unconsciously brushing against her skin in a soothing gesture. “And you did it. We made it out because of you.”

For a moment, neither of them spoke, the silence between them charged with unspoken emotions. Kane could feel the tension easing, the walls they had both built beginning to crumble in the face of what they had just been through. There was a rawness, an honesty in Maggie’s eyes that drew him in, making him want to close the distance between them.

“Maggie...” he began, his voice thick with something he couldn’t quite name.

But she didn’t let him finish. Instead, she stepped closer, her hand coming to rest on his chest, just over his heart. The touch was gentle, tentative, but it sent a jolt of electricity through him. He could feel her warmth, her pulse quickening under his hand.

“I’m glad you were with me today,” Maggie whispered, her voice barely audible. “I don’t know what I would have done without you.”

Kane’s heart ached at her words; at the vulnerability she was showing him. He wanted to tell her that he felt the same, that being with her had made him feel alive in a way he hadn’t in years. But the words stuck in his throat, caught between the desire to protect her and the fear of getting too close.

Instead, he did the only thing he could think of. He leaned down and pressed his lips to her forehead, a tender gesture that spoke of the feelings he couldn’t put into words. Maggie closed her eyes, leaning into him, her body relaxing against his.

For a long moment, they stood there, wrapped in each other’s presence, the world outside fading into the background. Kane could feel the steady beat of her heart, the rise and fall of her breath, and it grounded him in a way nothing else could.

He pulled back slightly, just enough to look into her eyes. The fear, the tension, the walls—they were all gone now, replaced by something softer, something more real. Kane knew, in that moment, that whatever was happening between them, it was more than just a passing connection.

It was something worth holding onto.