Ghostwalker 09 - Ruthless Game

stood, holding her aching, burning breasts in her hands. She’d never felt so hard and unattractive as in that moment. She didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. She had loved tel ing Kane with her mouth what she couldn’t say out loud. There was no other man for her. Everything about him was perfect for her. He’d showed her nothing but respect from the very beginning. And as far as she was concerned, he was the hottest man she’d ever seen.
    His hands were gentle as he stripped away her jeans. She was a little embarrassed over her soft bel y when she was so used to having a tight body.
    She wanted him to see her at her best, and unfortunately, she was feeling awkward, uncertain, and her breasts hurt like hel . The need pulsing between her legs didn’t make her happy either.
    She stepped under the hot water and leaned back against him, letting his hands support her breasts and keep her upright while the heat penetrated her skin and al owed her milk to run free. The relief was gradual but felt like heaven. She was conscious of Kane holding her close to him, his body like the trunk of an oak, hard and solid, an anchor in every storm.
    She closed her eyes and just absorbed him. There was something about Kane that under any circumstances made her feel safe—and cared for. The way he looked at her made her feel alive, aware at al times of herself as a woman—not just as a soldier.
    He glanced at his watch and, although he showed no signs of hurrying or being impatient that she took her time under the hot water, she had the feeling that he was growing anxious. As soon as they turned off the water, he handed her a large bath towel and then dried off. She fol owed his example at a much more leisurely pace.
    He was ful y dressed in combat night gear by the time she was dried off.
    “What are you doing?” Rose frowned, watching him shove weapons into every conceivable loop and hidden pocket. “You don’t look like we’re settling in for a cozy evening.”
    “I’l have to go out and check on the two idiots outside. They’re hatching a plan to kidnap some girl from a vil age. I need to know if they’re real y going to go through with it. If Fargo leaves, Carlson wil make his try for you tonight, no matter what.”
    Horrified, Rose wrapped the towel around herself tightly. “They’re going to do what?”
    “That was the plan. It seems the booze isn’t keeping them warm enough at night. They’re bored and restless, Rose. Neither one of them has the discipline necessary for an assignment like this one. Whitney studies humans, and he enjoys throwing them into the very situations he thinks they should rise above, but he knows their natures work against them.”
    “Wel , you can’t al ow them to take a woman from the vil age.”

    He went silent. She tried to read his expression, but he wasn’t giving away his thoughts. Rose put a hand on his chest before he could leave the room.
    “You can’t al ow them to take a woman from that vil age, Kane; promise me.”
    His hand came up and trapped hers. “Sweetheart, I told you I would never lie to you. I’m not making promises I might not be able to keep.”
    “But ...” She began a protest, but he leaned down and captured her mouth.
    Tiny sparks electrified her mouth and raced along her insides, rushing through her veins like a drug. Heat spread through her body. Her mind went a little fuzzy, and she kissed him back, wrapping her arms around his neck.
    Kane stepped back, gently capturing her wrists. “We’l talk about this when I know more.” He kissed both hands and let her go. “Let’s just get the information, and we’l discuss it when we have to make decisions.”

CHAPTER 9
    “You said when you came back with more information we were going to discuss this, Kane. You just told me Fargo was already gone.” Rose stood directly in front of Kane, refusing to be intimidated by the sheer size and enormous strength of him.
    Kane took a step toward her, towering over her. “I didn’t expect him to leave so damned soon. It means Carlson wil be getting his courage up to defy Whitney without Fargo as a deterrent. If I kil them both, we’l be forced to leave because no one wil be reporting to Whitney. He’l know they’re dead, and he’l send a force after us. Mack hasn’t contacted us, and you said yourself the baby needs more time.”
    Rose breathed away her fury. She wasn’t real y angry at Kane, just the situation. Was she never going to be free of