Page 4 of Raven’s Claw (Raven’s Cliff #2)

Chapter Two

Jordan Archer stared out at the stormy night, counting the headlights as they punched through the heavy cloud layer, lighting up the café’s windows before fading into the darkness. Rain puddled on the slick sidewalks, the heavy downpour keeping all but the diehard patrons from venturing out.

It had been seven months since she’d limped out of compound, bloody and broken, Ember a fading memory in her rearview, and she still searched for shadows in the darkness. For a glimpse of a familiar face or a car that didn’t quite belong. A suggestion of the men hunting her.

She’d gotten lucky. The long-haul truck she’d flagged down had been heading west, and she’d made it all the way to the Raven’s Cliff — a fog-covered dot on the Oregon coast withno cameras, spotty reception and a population eager to look the other way.

She’d only intended on staying a couple months — just long enough to lick her wounds.

Regroup. Maybe source out that salvation her uncle had hinted about.

Until Kash Sinclair had breezed into the overly hip diner and turned her life inside out.

Had her breaking ranks — settling into a routine that was bound to eventually bite her in the ass.

And all so she could spend those precious thirty minutes a day with him and his furry sidekick, Nyx.

Share a cup of coffee across the counter while he talked about nothing and everything.

Likely, not what her uncle had considered salvation.

Not that she cared because that time with Kash was the only part of her life that made her feel human.

He hadn’t even asked her out — hadn’t tried to take their connection further than the easy friendship they’d developed over the past few months. But she’d be lying if she didn’t admit she wanted more.

Wanted him.

Which was crazy. While she’d had her share of sexual encounters over the past thirty-two years, they’d never been more than that.

A mutual release that hadn’t lasted longer than it took to get the job done.

She’d never gotten emotionally involved.

Never shared, and she sure as hell had never risked her safety — her sanity — over a roll between the sheets.

Knowing she’d risk everything for a chance to be with Kash hit hard. Confused her on a level she didn’t quite understand. Sure, the man was ruggedly handsome, with a sarcastic wit that immediately put her at ease. But it went beyond his stunningly good looks and easy charm.

It was the essence of who he was. Or maybe it was what he represented. Strength. Intelligence. And above all else, safety.

An odd concept for someone who’d spent her entire life meting out justice.

Being the ghost in the night others feared.

But ever since she’d learned the truth — that Rook and Scythe had used her for their own personal vendettas designed to further some hidden agenda — she’d been floundering.

Like a boat left adrift to fight the rising tide.

Kash was stable. A calming voice in a hurricane-force storm. One she was slowly becoming addicted to.

He was interested. She knew that much. His tone.

The subtle glances. How he found a reason to drop by, even if he wasn’t working.

And no one needed that much coffee. But she hadn’t exactly given off the kind of vibes that suggested she’d be open to more, and he seemed content biding his time.

Waiting for some kind of sign that she wouldn’t simply brush him off.

A fact that scared her down to her soul.

She should have run, already. Another town.

Another name. Whatever it took to stay ahead of Rook until she figured out how to access the intel without him and his death squad showing up on her doorstep like every other dead-drop site she’d tried to access and failed.

But the more time she spent around Kash, the more she’d started to believe that maybe he was strong enough to know the truth.

That he was one of the few men who could stand against Rook and walk away still breathing.

Kash hadn’t gone into depth about what he’d done in the service.

But she knew a black ops soldier when she saw one.

Just like the rest of his teammates. Foster Beckett and Chase Remington had been Air Force — a pilot and a medic respectively.

Though, if Beckett hadn’t been part of Flight Concepts she’d eat her damn apron.

The man exuded that kind of quiet confidence.

And Chase had definitely been more than the average stitch and run type.

Pararescue, she guessed. The guy they sent in when special operations went south.

Then, there was Zain Everett. Calm. Calculated, with a hyper-awareness that was off the charts.

The guy screamed Army Ranger turned SAR specialist. Likely a sniper.

Which meant Kash had been a Ranger, too.

And it was obvious they were more like brothers than teammates.

To say she envied their relationship was an understatement.

Which was part of the reason she hadn’t pressed for more. Kash had a way of bypassing her barriers. Getting her to lower her guard without anything more than a smile. And she knew, if she ever acted on the thoughts bouncing around inside her head, she’d confess far more than just her feelings.

She’d bare her soul.

Jordan sighed. She’d definitely lost her mind. Or maybe she’d just been lost for so long she couldn’t fight the pull anymore. Needed one last good memory before she faced the cold reality that Rook had been right, and she didn’t have a future beyond Scythe.

A clap of thunder startled her from her thoughts, and she cursed under her breath as she made her way back to the counter.

She needed to get a grip. Find a way to untangle herself from the dreams inside her head.

Being with Kash wasn’t realistic. Not because she thought he’d turn her down, but because of the kind of man he was.

Honorable. Steadfast. And she knew that if they crossed that line, he’d become more than just her lover.

He’d become her champion. And she couldn’t risk his life just so she could have a chance at one.

The door creaked open behind her, a rush of cold, winter air swirling in with the rain.

She turned, and her heart stopped. He stood in the doorway, one arm braced against the frame.

Looking as if he’d fall on his face if he tried to stand on his own.

His skin was tinged blue, his hair dripping water down his face.

He scanned the small room, his gaze locking on hers.

She swallowed, wondering if the chef had turned up the heat. Left all the burners on high. Something to explain the burst of warmth beneath her skin that didn’t involve Kash Sinclair.

His teammates brushed past him, heading for their usual table in the far back corner. Oddly subdued as they ambled past. Nyx limped along with them, glancing back at her handler before continuing behind Zain.

Kash waited until they’d settled at the table then took a step, teetering a bit until he found his balance. Her chest squeezed tight, all her reasons for not asking him for more fading beneath the weight of his gaze.

She wanted him. Wanted to run her fingers through his shaggy mass of brown hair. Stare up into his brilliant green eyes. Run her hands over every inch of smooth skin as he moved inside her.

But more than anything, she just wanted to feel.

Everything.

With him.

Jordan wasn’t sure if she said his name or if Kash was on some kind of mission because he took a breath then started walking.

Quickly closing the distance between them in firm, measured strides.

He didn’t say a word, just reached out, slid his cold fingers through her hair, tilted back her head and kissed her.

Had any man ever tasted this good? Like those words from that country song her boss played on repeat — fast cars and freedom . How she envisioned her life could have been if she’d gotten a different roll of the dice.

She must have gasped because Kash tangled his tongue with hers a heartbeat later, deepening the kiss as she wove her hands through his hair — pulled him closer.

Savoring the muffled groan that rumbled through his chest and into hers until he finally eased back, their breath mixing. His mouth still dangerously close.

Jordan blinked, staring up into all that stunning green. Trying to calculate how to get him to kiss her like that again. If she should just tiptoe up — dive in.

He brushed his thumb across her lips, looking as if he might dip down, again — shatter any lingering doubts — when he smiled. “Have dinner with me.”

She coughed. Why he was talking about food when all she wanted him to do was pin her to the wall — thrust inside?

Kash chuckled, giving her a ghost of a kiss before letting his forehead rest on hers. “Is the way you’re looking at me your version of yes?”

She froze, everything rushing back. The door. The café. His entire team watching from the sidelines. She swallowed, impressed when she didn’t end up spitting some of it across his face. “Don’t you think you should have asked me that before you kissed me?”

He shrugged, a hint of his boyish charm tugging at his mouth. “I needed to hedge the answer in my favor. Because I know your gut instinct is to say no.”

That cooled some of the heat. Had her inner voice chiming in. “Kash, I…”

The café door opened, again, another swirl of damp air breezing past them. The hairs on her neck prickled, something about the way the pair of boots scuffed the floor drawing her attention. She managed to drag her focus away from Kash — glance over his shoulder.