“There isn’t any other way to trigger this power surge?”
His lips curved into a sexy smile as his hand repeated its light caress. “Pleasure, pain or fear. I’m pretty sure you’re not afraid of me. Would you rather experiment with pain or continue—” He jerked his head to the left and his body tensed.
“What’s—”
He halted her question with an upraised hand, head cocked as he listened for the subtlest sound. “Get dressed. We’ve got company.” He stepped back and helped her down from the rock. Snatching her t-shirt off the rock, she pulled it on without bothering to find her bra. He donned his shirt but slung his jacket over his shoulder as he handed the backpack to her. “Don’t put it on. If we need to run, drop it. Understand?”
She nodded, still unsure why he believed someone was out there. Finally she heard the distant growl of an engine. But there were no roads. There was probably enough room for a small vehicle in-between the standing trees, but that still left the fallen trees and forest debris.
The noise faded as suddenly as she’d identified it and still Kyle didn’t relax. “Keep walking as if nothing’s wrong.”
“I don’t hear it anymore,” she whispered.
“It’s idling, but it’s still there.”
More of his “Therian” abilities? He’d heard the engine long before she had.
“Halt!” Two uniformed soldiers emerged from the trees on their right. One pointed a compact assault rifle at Kyle as the other one spoke. “This is a restricted area. How did you get back here?”
In the blink of an eye, Kyle’s demeanor changed. Gone was his ultra-cautious tension. His shoulders stooped and he ambled forward, apparently oblivious to the threat. “Dude, we are so lost. Just point us in the right direction and we’ll get out of your hair. Promise.”
The armed soldier took a menacing step forward and snapped, “Hands up. Now!”
“Whoa, chill out, man.” Kyle raised his hands as he inched farther forward. “There’s no need for threats and stuff. Is this like, private property or something?”
“We’re with the Forest Service,” the spokesman claimed. “Accompany us to our vehicle so we can verify your identities. We have no choice but to document this infraction, but you should be free to go once we’ve determined who you are.”
“Sorry, dude. No can do.” Kyle lunged at an angle, taking his body out of rifle range as he jerked the weapon out of the shooter’s hands. In a blur of aggressive motion, he slammed the stock against the side of the gunman’s head and spun to confront the speaker with the pilfered rifle. “Hands up!”
With obvious reluctance, the soldier complied.
“Who sent you?” Kyle tucked the rifle more snugly against his shoulder, punctuating the question with the subtle threat.
The soldier just glared at him in mutinous silence, so Kyle swung the rifle again, knocking the second soldier unconscious with one well-placed blow. “Let’s get out of here.”
“And go where?” Ava cried, not sure the violence had improved their situation. “We have no idea where we are. How do you know they aren’t from the Forest Service?”
“Forest rangers don’t carry M16s.” He checked the safety then swung the rifle onto his shoulder and reached for the backpack. “At least they spoke English. Chances are good we’re still in the States.”
“Chances are even better that whoever sent them to question us will send someone else when they don’t return.”
“All the more reason for us to get moving.” His gaze narrowed and he nodded toward the fallen men. “Check their pockets. See if they’re foolish enough to carry identification. And toss me their radios.”
Her pulse kicked up a notch as she approached the unconscious speaker. He’d landed on his side, so she patted his back pockets before rolling him onto his back. “Nothing. Not even dog tags.” She unhooked his two-way radio from his belt and tossed it to Kyle.
“I’m not surprised. Their uniforms are generic.” He placed the radio on a large rock and smashed it with the butt of the rifle.
As she patted the shooter’s back pocket, she felt the telltale bulk of a wallet. She pulled the wallet out and unfolded it. “Silly man. Colorado Driver’s License.” She looked up at Kyle and smiled. “Told you we hadn’t gone far.”
“I’m glad you were right, but there are places in Colorado that are still dangerously remote. What’s his name?”
“Daniel Edgewater. Does that mean anything to you?” She tossed the shooter’s radio to Kyle as well.