Five Ways To Surrender

Her brows knit. “Are you sure? I can keep going, if you can.”

He smiled. “I know you can, but we’re running on empty. At the very least, we could use some sleep.” He nodded toward her. “And we need to take care of your cuts and scratches before they get infected.”

Alex crossed her arms over her chest. “I’m fine. I can keep going.”

“I have no doubt you can, but I need the rest and I want to see your backside. You can’t ignore your injuries.” He spun his finger. “About-face.”

She hesitated. “Really—”

“I know. You’re fine. But let me be the judge. You can’t see what’s on your back, but I can.” He twirled his finger again. “Just do it. The sooner we take care of you, the sooner we sleep.”

Swallowing hard, Alex turned her back to the man who was not much more than a stranger.

He lifted the tattered remains of her shirt.

Alex held on to the front to keep it from riding up high enough to expose her breasts in the lacy white bra she wore.

When he didn’t say anything for a moment, Alex’s pulse quickened. “How bad is it?” Sure, it stung and burned every time her ruined shirt rubbed against her scratches and cuts.

“It’s not great, but the good news is that you’ll survive, as long as the wounds don’t get infected.” He pulled a wet cloth from his pocket and patted her back with it. The cloth had been warmed by his thigh, and his touch was gentle. One hand held her side, steadying her, while the other removed dirt and debris from her wounds. When he was done, he released the tattered ends of her shirt and let them fall back down over her body. “The shirt has to go.”

Heat seared a path through her, heading south to her core. “It’ll have to do for now. I don’t have another.”

Jake stepped back. “You can have mine.”

When Alex turned to face him, a protest on her lips, she stopped, her thoughts flying out of her head as Jake unclipped the fasteners on his vest and lowered it to the ground.

Her mouth went dry and her palms filled with sweat. “What are you doing?”

He smiled. “Giving you my shirt. Granted, it might be a little sweaty, but it will be better than what you have on.”

He unbuttoned his uniform jacket and slipped out of it. Then he yanked his T-shirt up over his head in one fluid, ever-so-sexy move.

He stood in front of her wearing only his trousers and boots, his broad chest shining in the dim glow of the red-lensed flashlight. The man looked like a Roman gladiator, all hard muscles, strength and magnetism.

Alex lost her ability to form thoughts and words. Her gaze swept over the massive amount of skin stretched tautly over his frame.

When he handed her his T-shirt, she gulped. Her fingers touched his and a shock of fire raced through her hand and up her arm. “Thank—” she squeaked, cleared her throat and tried again. “Thank you.”

The man turned his back to her, allowing her the privacy to shed her shredded shirt and slip the T-shirt over her head. It smelled of male, that outdoorsy scent that made her insides quiver. The fabric slid over her breasts and torso and hung down to her knees.

“I’m decent,” she said. “Thanks again.”

He turned, a smile spreading across his face. “It’s a little big.”

“But better than nothing.” She wadded the torn shirt into her fist.

“Let me have that.” He reached out for the ruined shirt.

Again her hand touched his. This time he glanced up sharply, as if he too felt the electric shock. Just as quickly, he looked back down at the fabric in his grip. “I want to bind the wounds on your hands.”

“They’ll be okay,” she said.

“You need some protection to prevent further injury to your palms if you slide down another hill.” He ripped a piece off the front of her shirt. Then he took her hand and wrapped it gently over the cuts and scratches, tucking the end in to keep it from unraveling.

The whole time he held her fingers in his, she couldn’t breathe; nor could she control her wildly racing pulse.

When he had finished both hands, he released her and stepped back. “We need to get some rest. Morning will come all too soon.”

“Shouldn’t we stand watch?” she asked.

“Actually, I’d planned on staying awake and keeping an eye out for trouble.”

“You need rest as much as I do.” Alex lifted her chin. “I can take the first shift.”

“I don’t mind staying awake all night. I’m used to it. It’s part of the job.”

“I can stay awake half the night,” Alex insisted. “I’d rather you get some sleep to keep sharp.”

He studied her for a moment. “Keep an eye on the valley below. If you see any movement whatsoever, wake me immediately. Even if it’s an animal scurrying out from under a rock. Wake me.” His brows drew downward. “Understand?”

She popped a salute and smiled. “Yes, sir.” Then she took up a position at the mouth of the cave and sat, leaning her back against the stone wall.

A glance at Jake proved he was taking her up on her offer to get some sleep. He lay on the hard floor of the cave, bunched her shirt beneath his head and crossed his arms over his chest. “Do you need the light?” he asked.

“No,” she said. “The stars are enough light for me to see by.”

There was a soft click, and the red glow from the flashlight blinked out.

Alex could just barely discern the outline of the man lying on the ground, but she didn’t need to see him to know he’d be there for her if she needed him. The least she could do was let him sleep while she kept watch.

Staring out into the night, she scanned the valley below again and again, going over all that had happened leading up to their escape. Some things still niggled at her.

“Are you army Special Forces or something else?”

“Something else,” he replied.

“Delta Force?” she guessed.

He snorted. “Please.”

Not army Special Forces or Delta Force...

“Mercenary?” she tried again.

“I don’t get paid enough to be a mercenary,” he replied.

“What does that leave?” She glanced over her shoulder. “Marine?”