Conspiracy Game(26)

“Did I hurt you?” Her voice caressed his skin, her breath warm and inviting, fingertips stroking back his wet hair. “I’m trying to be gentle, but you have so many deep cuts.”

“Sit on the end of the bed.” He sounded rough even to his own ears, but it didn’t matter. She had to get a distance away from him or he was going to roll her body under his and do all the things playing out in his mind that would shock the hell out of her.

Briony smiled at him. “Do you order everyone around?”

Her smile lit up her face. It did something special to her eyes, turning the deep brown to a melting chocolate. Another growl escaped, and he tried to look away, but she seemed to mesmerize him. “Yes,” he bit out between clenched teeth. “Just do what I say when I say and we’ll be fine, Briony.”

She laughed. The sound sent a shudder of pleasure rippling through his body. He was suddenly very afraid for both of them—for his honor and her innocence. “Have you ever heard of self-preservation? Because I don’t think you have much in that department.”

Briony seated herself on the edge of the bed. “I have plenty, thank you. It’s just that you really do expect everyone to do what you say whenever you command them. You can’t control other people, if they won’t allow it.”

His gaze drifted over her face possessively. “You aren’t one of those other people. I’m trying to do the right thing here and keep my hands off of you.”

Briony’s heart jumped. Her pulse pounded. His scent had been driving her crazy, like some aphrodisiac she couldn’t resist. She’d tried not to let him know, but she’d needed to touch him, needed to be close to him. She tried to tell herself it was because for the first time in her life she could be in the close confines of a room with another human being and not feel the pain of his thoughts and emotions. She moistened her suddenly dry lips and was instantly aware of his burning gaze following the sweep of her tongue along her bottom lip, turning her gesture into something sexual.

“At least you have the sense to be nervous.”

The sound of a fist against the door made her jump. Jack swept out his arm to block her with his body, gun coming up so smoothly she knew it was an automatic gesture.

“Briony!” Jebediah bellowed. “Open up.”

Jack didn’t know whether to be relieved or to curse. “The man has never been quiet,” he said. “Remember to stand to the side of the door.”

“No, he hasn’t,” Briony agreed as she unlocked the door, doing it the way Jack insisted.

Jebediah handed jeans and a shirt to Jack and a syringe to Briony. “Seth also has antibiotics in his medical kit.” He reached into the hall and dragged a tray in. “I brought food as well, figured you hadn’t eaten in a while.”

Jack nodded to him and took the tray.

“You look like shit, Jack,” Jebediah observed. “The rebels weren’t fooling around with you. If they cut you up any more, you’d be in pieces.”

“They skinned Ken.” There was a hard note in Jack’s voice, one of deadly purpose. “They cut up him up from his feet to his head. They’d just gotten started on me. I was lucky.”

Jebediah swore under his breath, and glanced at Briony and caught her blinking back tears. “You’re too soft, Bri,” he snapped. “You always have been. In the real world, shit happens and you have to be tough.”

Jack raised his head, gray eyes glittering with more than menace, with promise of retaliation. “Leave her the hell alone. She’s fine just the way she is.”

Jebediah bit back a retort as he shrugged. “I can call a few people, Jack, see what we can do to get you out of here; otherwise I’ll think of a way to smuggle you out.”

“I can call for an extraction, but I need to call people I trust.”

Jebediah’s jaw tightened. “You think someone set you up?”

“I know I was set up.” The cold gray eyes never left Jebediah’s face, watching with that same deadly intent. “Nice that you happened to be here.” The comment was casual enough, but nothing Jack Norton said was ever that casual.

“Look, Jack, I’m not in the military anymore. I work my family business and I have nothing to do with anyone. I have no ties to the CIA or any other organization. Whatever is going on here, I had nothing to do with. You should know me better than that. I have no reason to turn against my country or my friends.” Deliberately he reminded Jack of their past together.

“Money is a powerful motivator.”

“Don’t accuse my brother of such a terrible thing. We’re risking our lives to help you,” Briony snapped. She swiped his arm with antiseptic and waved the syringe at him.