Chapter 25

Ian wiped the sweat from his brow, jeans and boots were not the greatest attire for rock climbing, but so far they’d made it three-quarters of the way down without an incident. The few times Alec had lost her grip, she’d dug in like a seasoned climber, although he was sure she did it only so she wouldn’t have to rely on him.

Holding a jutting rock, he looked over his shoulder to see how much further they had to go. Further than he’d like, he had no problem with free climbing, but a rope would make him feel a hell of a lot better than four feet of a leather strap. Dirt hit him, and he looked around to watch Alec struggling to stop sliding. “Ease my way and rest a bit.” Bracing his shoulder against the hard dirt, he prepared to counterbalance in case she didn’t get it under control.

When she moved close enough, he reached out and wrapped his arm around her waist, and pulled her to rest in front of him. He knew he was pressing her into the dirt but didn’t have a lot of foot room to give her more space. “Just rest a minute.” She nodded and rested her forehead forward. “You’re doing great.”

“This makes my workout look pansy ass.” She huffed out a breath.

Chuckling, he rested his head against the side of hers. “With the right equipment, you’d leave me a mile behind. You’re doing amazing.”

“When we get down from here and back to the city, I’m hunting down Espinosa and beating the hell out of him.”

“I’ll hold him.” He tried to ignore the press of her body against his. This was not the time. Failing, he moved back enough to take a deep breath. “Come on, another twenty feet and we’ll almost be able to walk down the rest of the way.”

He watched her shift to get her footing again before he moved away. “So, what’s the last thing you remember?” Pausing he checked his footing and where he was going to move next. “I’ve been trying to figure out how they got us.” Ian watched her test a rock she grasped hold of.

“I don’t know. The last thing I remember is you leading me into the alley, then I woke up tied to a chair.”

“They must have shot us up at the same...” his foothold slid a few inches, “second because I don’t remember...” he huffed out a breath as he stretched to reach the best place for his hand, “a damn thing.”

When she didn’t reply, he paused and watched as she struggled to make the same stretch he had. “A few more minutes and we can stand on solid ground,” he glanced over his shoulder to check he wasn’t exaggerating. They only had ten more feet of clinging to the dirt to go and then twenty feet of loose gravel and stone and they’d be at the bottom.

“How far is that town from here?”

Ian turned his head as some debris fell close to his face. “An hour’s walk, give or take.” He stopped and waited for her to get alongside him before moving onto the loose surface. “This next part is going to be tricky...” His foot slipped on the loose stone, and he had enough time to release the belt from his wrist before he started a full-body slide down the embankment. Having no choice, he bent his knees and road down it almost sitting. Instinct told him to reach out and try to slow the motion with his hands, but experience told him to just let it happen. Digging his heels in, he managed to gain some control and almost stopped when Alec’s body slammed into his and they rolled down the slope.

Rocks dug into his body as he tried to grab Alec and shelter her from the brunt of it. He barely registered the skin he was losing along his arms as he focused on keeping Alec from being dragged across the stones.

When the movement finally stopped, he was sprawled at the bottom, rocks digging into his spine with Alec half splayed over his body. After a few tries, she managed to move the bulk of her weight off him and dropped down onto her side.

“That was fun,” she panted out breathlessly.

Ignoring the stinging all along his arms, he closed his eyes and waited until the adrenalin slowed. “That wasn’t my best finish to a climb.”

“Well, we’re both in one piece, more or less.” With a groan, she sat up and leaned on her knees.

Struggling to his knees, Ian glanced around. “Now for the fun part.”

Brushing her jeans off, Alec winced. “What part is that?”

“Walking.” Getting to his feet, he paused until the dizzy sensation passed. “You okay?”

Shoving her hair back off her face, she gave him a very fake smile. “Just ducky. You?”

Taking her hand, he turned toward the trees. “I’ll live.” Ian surveyed the tree line. “We just have to not get lost and we should find civilization fairly soon.”

“I’m thinking your definition of civilization and mine are two different things.”

She stumbled, Ian wrapped his arm around her and looked down at her. She looked wiped. “Do you want to rest for a bit?”

Sighing loudly, she shook her head. “No, let’s just keep going.” Glancing around, she straightened. “We don’t know if there’s a way they can circle down to here, so I’d rather not be sitting here waiting for them if they do.”

“Okay, but let me know if you need to stop.” He hesitated to release her but knew they couldn’t go through the trees and branches wrapped around each other. Ducking under the branches, he hid his disappointment when he saw how thick the growth was.

They weren’t far in when he noticed how dark it was. “If you hear any water running, let me know. We need to rinse off the blood from the scrapes before the insects discover we’re a walking smorgasbord.”

Turning he watched her swat around her head. “Too late.”

Alec didn’t know how far they’d gone but judging by how tired she was and how sick of branches smacking her, she was sure it had to be at least an hour. Her face hurt from the scratches, her legs were like lead and each step was harder to take. If Ian hadn’t been sticking close and catching her, she would have been face down in the damp dirt more than once. All she wanted to do was sit down and wait for rescue. The only problem was no one knew where they were. They didn’t even know.

Swatting the mosquitos off her arms, she groaned. “We really need bug spray...” she waved her hands around in front of her face trying to discourage the bloodsucking insects from landing on her, “and a phone.”

Ian held a branch aside for her. “Next convenience store we see, we’ll stop and get some.”

She knew he was only trying to lighten the mood of their present situation, but she didn’t have the energy to smile. Stopping, she placed her hands on her hips and blew out a breath. “How long have we been going?”

Ian leaned back against a tree and closed his eyes. “Feels like days at this point.”

“What happened to that positive guy that entered this bush?” She watched him open his eyes slowly and meet her gaze with a tired one of his own.

“I think the bugs sucked it out of me.”

She nodded, only to be silenced when he lifted his hand.

“Hear that?”

Alec cocked her head and tried to listen. The sounds of birds and branches creaking were all she heard. “No.”

“Water? Not a lot, but it’s running water.”

He grasped her hand and pulled her past the tree he’d been resting against.

“As long as it’s running, we should be able to get a drink at least.”

The idea of something to quench the burning in her throat made her step a little faster. “A drink would be good.”

They cleared a small knoll a few moments later. The running water turned out to be a creek about ten feet wide and knee-deep. Alec looked one way and then the other, the water quietly trickled over the rocks jutting out of it. “It’s not exactly a rushing body of water.”

Releasing her hand, Ian went to the bank and knelt. “It’s all we’ve got.” He leaned over and scooped some of the water into his hands and lifted it to his mouth. Alec watched, waiting for his verdict.

“It’s not Evian, but it’s wet.”

Dropping to her knees on the damp creek bed, she leaned over and caught a glimpse of her reflection. With the blood and dirt on her face and disastrous hair, she resembled an escaping victim in a horror movie. Cupping her hands together, she filled them with water and lowered her head to take a drink. The water was cool, but according to her taste buds that was all it had going for it. Forcing her throat to swallow it, she tipped the rest out of her hand back into the creek, she leaned back. “It tastes like dirty fish.”

Ian shrugged and scooped up some more. “It’s better than dehydration.”

With a groan, she had to admit he was right. She’d seen people with severe dehydration and decided fishy taste or not, she wasn’t going to end up like that. When she’d managed to swallow several mouthfuls, she leaned back to see Ian stripping off his shirt. “What are you doing?”

With a grin, he tossed it on the ground and bent down to take off his boots. “I’m going to rinse off some blood, sweat, and dirt.”

Alec froze and watched as he rolled up his jeans and tossed the knife and leg strap on top of his shirt. When he straightened and stepped into the water, she could only sit there and study his back. She still didn’t know what his job entailed, but she knew the perfectly formed muscles on his back weren’t built by reading people’s thoughts. She didn’t even blink when he turned around and she got a glimpse of a sculpted six-pack that led up to a very nicely defined chest.

“Are you going to come in here with me?”

Jerking her eyes to meet his, she struggled to get her mind back on track. “Ah, I guess I better, who knows when we’ll get another chance.” Sitting back, she pulled off her boots and socks and rolled up her jeans. Every few seconds, she watched Ian out of the corner of her eye as he splashed water over his arms and head. “How’s your arm?”

He looked at the material still tied over it. “Throbbing a bit, but nothing serious.”

Standing up, she hesitated before pulling her shirt off.

“I promise not to look.” Ian grinned at her.

With a shake of her head, she pulled the shirt off and stepped into the water, without looking at him again. The cool water on her feet and legs felt better than she could have voiced. Leaning over, she brushed some up her arms and almost sighed at how good it felt, despite the stings from the scratches covering her arms. Suddenly feeling filthy, she splashed some onto her face and neck. The cool water trickled down her chest and she mentally thanked fate for wearing a black bra.

“Here.”

She opened her eyes to see Ian offering her his wet shirt. Taking it, she dipped it in the water and wiped it over her throat and chest. When he stepped in front of her and pulled it from her hand, she surrendered it without a word. Gently he wiped the dirt from her face and neck, his eyes not leaving hers as he did.

Suppressing a sigh, she watched as he leaned down and wet the shirt again as he moved to stand behind her. She felt ridiculously pampered, standing in a knee-deep creek covered in dirt and sweat and letting him sponge bathe her, but it felt so good there was nothing that would stop her from allowing it.

As he moved her hair from her neck and let the water run down her back, she did sigh and close her eyes. He continued down her back and sides then moved back up to brush it across her shoulders. Alec stood there, eyes closed, breath caught in her throat as his mouth brushed light kisses against the back of her neck.

Opening her eyes, she turned and looked up to see his watching her with an intensity that caused her knees to quiver. Pulling the shirt from his hand, she leaned down and dipped it in the moving water. Straightening, she grasped the waist of his jeans for balance and reached up to move the material over his forehead, down to his jaw. His eyes never left hers, despite the water dripping into them.

With a shaking hand, she wiped it over his shoulders before moving to do his back. When the uncontrollable urge to lick the drops moving down his spine hit her, she blinked and took a deep breath. Now is not the time for erotic thoughts, Blondie. Swallowing slowly, she stepped back in front of him, avoiding his eyes, and finished by soaking his chest and stomach with cool water.

Wringing the excess out of the shirt, she held it out to him, keeping her eyes focused on the bank of the creek as she did. He took the shirt from her, but caught her chin with his other hand, forcing her to meet his look. His pale blue eyes had darkened and the heat in his stare made her breathing hitch in her chest.

All thoughts of where they were and the situation they were in left her mind when he brushed his lips over hers. Stepping closer, she braced one hand on his chest over his heart and the other grasped his forearm. For half a second, she thought of pushing away from him, but the hold on her chin tightened as he deepened the kiss for a few heartbeats. Her mind was blank of everything but him when he released her mouth and rested his forehead down on hers.

“If survival wasn’t in question right now, I’d lay you down on that bank and finish this, Alec.”

Swallowing, she opened her eyes and looked into his. Unable to lie to him or fool herself any longer, she sighed, “I know.”

If she expected surprise by her admission, she would have been disappointed when he only smiled and kissed her lips quickly before stepping away.

“Let’s get going.”

With shaking hands and weak knees, she dressed in silence beside him. Admitting to him that she wanted him was one thing following through with it would be something else. She had no idea what she was going to do about it.

Resting with her back against the tree, Alec closed her eyes. If she saw another tree after this, it had better be in a very populated park. A buzzing beside her head had her open her eyes and swat at a bee and wave her hand around to discourage it from getting any closer. Turning, she watched Ian wander through the overgrowth of weeds and grass, he was grinning.

She waited until he was close enough, so she wouldn’t have to exert much energy speaking loud. “Tell me that smile means there’s a motel and shower hiding in the grass somewhere.”

Still grinning, he squatted down beside her. “Not that I found.” He opened his shirt and several apples fell on the ground. “But I found a snack.”

Alec picked up one of the malformed pieces of fruit. “You found an apple tree?”

Shrugging, Ian dropped down beside her. “What was left of one at least, it obviously doesn’t grow the shiny polished apples we buy at the store, but it’s better than nothing.”

Wiping it on her shirt, she nodded. “It can’t be worse than the fishy water.” Slowly she bit into it and chewed hesitantly. “A little on the sour side, but I’ll take it.”

They sat there and ate in silence. After the second one, even chewing made Alec’s jaw ache. Looking over at Ian, she saw the strain and exhaustion in his eyes. “Any thoughts about how much farther to go?”

Tossing the core with a flick of his wrist, he sighed. “No idea. I lost track of where we are when I lost sight of the drop we came down.”

Dropping her chin down onto her chest, she laughed softly. “You could have lied and given me some false hope here.”

Ian stood up and reached a hand down to her. “I figured you were more a shoot-from-the-hip kinda gal, wanting it straight up.”

Forcing her limb to reach and take his hand, she let him pull her to her feet. “Yeah, but I’d make exceptions this one time.”

He chuckled softly. “I’ll make a note that the next time we’re in the middle of a bush to lie to you.”

“Do that.” She snarled as a branch snagged her hair. He turned and helped her work it free without pulling.

“So, now would be a good time to get to know each other.”

Alec gave him a glare.

“Not that way...unless...” He stopped when she glared again. “I meant to talk. You know about something other than what we’re going to do the bastards that are responsible for us being where we are right now.”

Ducking under another branch, she huffed out a breath. “I’m not much of a social chatter.”

Pausing in his step he held a branch for her, so she wouldn’t get smacked by it. “Social chatting is for strangers and people you feel you have to be polite to. I’m neither of those.” Giving her a serious look, he moved past her. “When this is over, and I hope they’re close to doing that while we’re out here sightseeing, I’m not just going to fade out of your life.”

Alec stopped and watched him maneuver through a thorny bush. He stopped halfway and used his body to hold back the branches so she could get through with minimal scratches.

“I think you’re smart enough to realize that.”

She tried not to brush up against his body as she made her way out of the leaves. “I hadn’t thought that far ahead. Things have been strange lately.”

He grinned. “I’ve noticed.” There was a short distance without trees to squeeze through, so he walked beside her with his hand resting on her back, like strolling down a sidewalk. “I’d just like to get to know you.”

She stumbled. “Why?”

Steadying her, he looked down at her with a look that was the equivalent of ‘duh’.

“So you think right now would be a good time to chat and get to know each other?”

“Yes. You can’t avoid me right now.” Ian started walking again.

Alec studied the ground for a moment. “Fine. There’s not much to get to know. I live to work.”

Ian stopped and looked around as if he was trying to decide which way they should go next. To her, it was all the same, more trees.

“I know you love getting the bad guys.”

“I believe in justice.”

“I know but I think there’s more to the story than that.” He moved toward the right of the trees.

“Why does there have to be more?”

Ian shrugged without looking at her. “Because you work endlessly, basically have no social life, your apartment is almost sterile, void of anything personal...”

“Yours is the same.”

He grinned. “Exactly. I know there’s a reason.”

Ignoring the grin, she watched where she stepped. “Maybe I like a clean, uncluttered environment.”

“Then why do you purposely live in that neighborhood, in a building that should probably be condemned?”

“There are better things to spend money on than a frivolous home.”

He smirked at her. “I know. Things like donating most of your money.”

Scowling, she glanced at him before ducking under a branch. “It’s a good cause.”

“Yes, it is. I want to know why.” He swatted at a swarm of insects he’d stepped into the middle of.

“Why it’s a good cause?” She stepped wide to avoid the same bugs.

“No. I know why it is. What I’m asking is why you do it.”

Tripping, she grabbed the closest tree to stop from falling. “I have my reasons.” Glancing around she wished there was something to distract him so they could change the subject. “Do we really have to talk about this?”

“No.”

She almost sighed out loud.

“We could talk about which of the Adams brothers you were involved with before you sent them to jail.” This time she didn’t catch herself when she missed stepping over a rock. Ian grabbed her arm and steadied her. “I just want to know why you’re punishing yourself, Alec.”

There were a few seconds when she was too stunned to say anything. Moving away from him, she started to walk past him when he put his arm out and stopped her. “I’m not punishing myself.”

“I’d take a look at your memories myself if I could.”

Her heart was pounding in her chest. “You said you couldn’t...” she pushed his arm out of the way and went around him.

“I can’t. I could try, but I’d rather you talk to me.”

Alec spun around and glared at him. “And if I don’t, you’re going to barge into my mind anyways?”

“That’s not what I said.”

She stood there with her hands on her hips. “Look I get that you want to get to know me, but seriously you’re...”

“I’m not wasting my time so don’t say that I am.” He stepped closer, his eyes softening to a pained look. “I feel a connection with you, Alec and I can’t even remember if that’s ever happened before. You know more about me than anyone has in a long time. Your team is the only people that know what I can do.” He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Even if I wanted to, I wouldn’t barge into your thoughts.”

Determined to not give in, she backed up a step. “I suppose it bothers you that you can’t just know what I’m thinking.”

He smirked. “Actually, to be honest, it has a few times, but truthfully I like it.”

She gave him a bewildered look.

Shaking his head, he glanced around them for a moment. “I like that your mind is strong enough to keep your thoughts in and me out. It’s definitely a plus for me.” His eyes connected with hers again, a serious look in them. “Imagine finding out in the middle of sex that you’re a close second to the man the woman really wants or that she’s thinking about something mundane.”

That completely deflated her anger. “Wow. Low blow,” she whispered.

“It doesn’t get any lower.”

“That’s...it sucks, I’m sorry.”

He studied her for a moment and then a cheeky grin appeared on his handsome face. “Don’t apologize. I intend to make sure you’re only thinking about me when we make love.”

Alec felt her cheeks flush and couldn’t get beyond the visuals to comment.

“Don’t you get tired of being alone? Having to keep everyone at arm’s length?”

She shrugged.

“When was the last time you were really into someone? Heart and soul?”

“I don’t know,” she swallowed hard, “four years?”

“And then your morals prevailed, and you sent him to prison.”

Crossing her arms, she stared at the weeks they were standing in the middle of. “Something like that.”

Lifting her chin with a gentle touch, he dragged his thumb across her bottom lip. “I’m not backing off, even when you turn to ice.” Dropping his hand, he took hold of hers and squeezed. “Come on, let’s go find you a motel.” He stood there holding her hand and didn’t move until she lifted her gaze to his. “Just focus on finding Espinosa and kicking his ass when we get out of here.”

Sighing, she forced her legs to start moving. “You’re such a sweet talker, Ian.” His laugh made her smile as they began to trudge through the tangled ground covering in what she really hoped was the right direction.