His woman?

Yeah. He smiled. They may be short-lived, but while he lived, he had a woman. Piper.

She held both hands up and out to ward him off. "Now wait a minute here."

"Why?" He leaned over until his hands clutched the mattress on either side of her hips, forcing her to sit. "I feel like I finally have your attention."

She shook her head, a jerky movement. "There's no taming women, for goodness' sakes."

He nodded, his arms caging her. "I don't want to tame women, just you."

She eyed the door, his groin, and then his face, her thoughts a blueprint to her escape plan. "I'm not sure exactly what that means, but I don't think I like it."

"I wouldn't either, were I you," he said somberly, having way too much fun all of a sudden. G.o.d, she was wonderful to mess with. "So how about we come up with a plan we both think is safe?"

"That's fine"-she spoke slowly, carefully-"but part of the plan has to be protecting my mother and my going back to work. Even if your brothers have the computer program, I'm close to figuring out the coding sequence so you don't have to. Plus, if Chance is really held captive there, I have to get your plan to him. At least to let him know you're coming."

Oh, she was trying to work with him, and Jory could appreciate that. "If the commander gets you inland to the facility, there's a d.a.m.n good chance he won't let you go." How could she not understand how dangerous the commander could be?

Piper rolled her eyes. "My mother will call the National Guard to come looking, so I'm not too worried."

"What if he takes your mother, too?"

She frowned. "I hadn't thought of that." Then she rubbed her chin. "I think maybe I should send my mother on a cruise or vacation somewhere until we get this figured out. Just like you did Edna."

Jory nodded. "That's not a bad plan, except unless you've been planning it, the commander will get suspicious. Like it or not, he'll see that move as you getting your mother to safety before all h.e.l.l breaks loose, which would be an accurate interpretation."

Piper bit her lip. "What if she wins a vacation like Edna?"

"Still suspicious." Jory stepped back and sat down. "The only way to get your mother to safety is if you go with her. I'll keep the commander busy enough he won't come looking."

Piper picked at a loose string on the blanket. "No. Unfortunately, I'm in the best position to not only get word to Chance but to unravel the codes for the kill chips as well as open a line to yours. I'm it, Jory. Use me."

"I can't." His hands actually shook as he gave her the truth.

She tried to roll her eyes again but failed miserably. "Listen, it was just s.e.x. Really. It was great s.e.x but just bodily functions for us both. The fact that it's been so long for you has emotion clouding the issue."

Did she just say just s.e.x? It was one of the best f.u.c.king nights of his entire life. His shoulders went back, and his vertebrae straightened. "Just s.e.x?"

"Yes." Relief slackened the muscle along her jaw. "It's okay. No emotion, no promises. Stop making something out of last night that wasn't there."

He shook his head and focused on the scent of the lie. She was lying so he'd allow her into danger, and he could understand that. So he'd ignore the figurative kick to his b.a.l.l.s and not shove her stubborn a.s.s back on the bed and kiss her until she relented. The night meant something-to both of them. He could hear her heart even now, and he could see beneath her surface. "You're the worst liar I have ever met. Don't even think about playing poker with my brothers. Ever."

Her eyes widened and her eyelashes actually fluttered. "I'm not lying or trying to hurt your feelings. But you making more out of last night than was there is causing a problem in what was a perfectly good plan. I can take care of myself."

"Remember that taming?" he asked softly.

Flaming red climbed from her chest to her face. "Stop threatening me."

"Then stop lying to me." He could tell she was lying, and he appreciated her need to help him and his brothers. But either they worked together, or he'd have her cute b.u.t.t locked down somewhere with her mother. "You have one chance here, Piper."

She studied him, her gaze probing deep. Finally, apparently believing him, she nodded. "Fine. We'll agree together, but I have to lie about who had me. If I admit I was with you, they'll know the truth. About us."

He studied her. That was a good point.

She smiled. "So let's work together. What's the plan?"

Smart girl.

The rumble of an opening garage door vibrated the floor. He stood and reached for her clothing on the antique settee. "Get dressed. My brothers are here. Together we'll figure out a way to keep you safe and possibly get the information to Chance." Before he sent her somewhere safe that the commander could never find.

Maybe Chance could somehow get the codes on his way out, because Jory doubted one day was enough for Piper to get the information, considering she'd probably spend most of it being debriefed.

Jory paused at the doorway. While he didn't particularly like this new side of himself, he had no choice but to be honest and embrace it. "But if you deviate from my plan in any way, Piper, you'll understand the meaning of the word taming."

Her snort as he left the room failed to rea.s.sure him. Shaking his head, he loped into the kitchen just as Nate entered from the garage.

Nate lifted an eyebrow and shut the door behind himself. "You had s.e.x."

d.a.m.n it. The downside of having genetically enhanced brothers slapped Jory in the face. "Shut up."

"You shut up." Nate ran a hand through his tousled hair, his gaze thoughtful. "You okay?"

Jory grinned. "Fabulous."

Nate snorted. "If you say so. Will she work with us now?"

A rare temper tickled the base of Jory's neck. "That's not why I slept with her."

Nate scratched his chin, gray eyes darkening. He leaned back against the pristine bright yellow counter and crossed his feet. "Jesus. You're not falling for the commander's daughter, are you?"

"You fell for Dr. Madison's daughter." Two seconds in Nate's presence, and he was a five-year-old little brother again. "I like her."

"Okay." Nate shrugged, the innocuous movement failing to mask his sudden concern. "Will she help us?"

"Yes, but I don't want her in danger."

Nate shoved off the counter. "Right. No danger." He eyed his brother. "We can send her to the ranch right now if you want. Get her off the radar and to safety."

Jory's world settled. That quickly, with one statement, he remembered he was a Dean brother, and he'd never be alone. Now neither would Piper, and his brothers would protect her to their last breaths. "Never alone, Nate."

"Exactly." Nate watched him carefully. "If we need to get her out of here, we have to come up with another plan to get those boys."

Jory nodded, on alert. "She's everything to me, and I know it's been quick."

"So?"

Yeah. So? "If anything happens to me-"

"She's covered. I promise." Nate smiled. "She's pretty and brilliant. I'm happy for you."

Jory forced a smile, tempted to share the truth about his chip with his brother. But he needed Nate focused and not obsessed with saving him. "Thank you."

Nate nodded. "So current plan or new plan?"

Good question. "What is the current plan?"

Nate scrubbed a hand down his face. "We found a cabin about a mile away and took the bodies there. Nice job on the clean neck breaks, by the way. Left print and DNA evidence around the cabin before making sure the bodies will never be found. Now we need the woman to go there, escape, and call for help at a gas station about a mile away."

"Piper." Jory crossed his arms.

"Huh?"

"Her name is Piper." He spoke through clenched teeth. "Stop calling her the woman."

"Sorry. Piper. She's ours now, huh?" Nate glanced at his phone. "Okay. So this is your call, and I'll back you no matter what. Do you think Piper can jump out of a window, run a mile, and then lie her a.s.s off to her father?"

CHAPTER.

19.

PIPER EYED THE rustic cabin in the middle of nowhere as Jory's brother pulled his SUV up next to Jory's. She and Jory had spent the drive discussing the plan, and even now, she shook her head. "This is kind of crazy."

"I know." Silence descended in the forest, and he rested his hands on the steering wheel. Moments later, a bird called, the sound oddly chipper. "You don't have to do this."

"If I don't do this, we won't be able to help Chance. I know you don't think I'll have time to work on the codes, but I do." Taking a deep breath, she turned toward him. "Have you told your brothers about your chip yet?"

"No." His jaw hardened. "I'd like to keep the information to myself as long as I can, or they'll spend their time trying to figure out my chip and not save their own a.s.ses."

"Okay." Although, she'd figure out his chip if it was the last thing she did. "There's not much they can do without the computer codes, anyway." Too bad the d.a.m.n things changed every thirty seconds, or she could've just copied them down. "If Chance or I can't get the code algorithm out of the facility, what will we do?"

Jory shrugged. "We'll go in. There's Nate."

A sharp rap sounded on her window, and she jumped, turning.

Nate opened her door. "Are you ready?" His gaze remained shuttered and his face expressionless, but as he took her arm to a.s.sist her from the SUV, his hold was infinitely gentle.

"No." Her feet squished in the wet leaves.

He barked out a laugh. "Fair enough. You fight me as hard as you can, okay?"

"No." Jory stood on the other side of the SUV, his head easily clearing the rooftop. "I've got this." Slamming his door, he strode around the vehicle to reach for Piper.

Nate paused. "You sure? The scene and struggle have to look real."

"I'm sure." Jory turned Piper until her back pushed against his front and then he wrapped his arms around her. A quick kiss to the top of her head, and he tightened his hold. "Fight."

The kiss caught her off guard, and she kept her gaze averted from Nate. The idea that Jory wanted his hands, and his hands only, on her was sweet and took root. The whole situation would be so much easier if she didn't like him.

But she did. He was infinitely likable. And s.e.xy as h.e.l.l.

He lowered his head, and his breath brushed her ear. "Fight me, baby."

She shivered and tried to ignore the blast of heat to her abdomen. Taking a deep breath, she began to buck against him, patting him on the thighs.

He paused. "I need you to actually fight. I promise, you can't hurt me."

She sucked in air and nodded. Then she wriggled against him, shoving her b.u.t.t into his legs and gently digging her elbows into his ribs.

He chuckled. Then a slap cascaded across her a.s.s hard enough to stop her breathing.

She jerked her head around, her eyes widening. "What the h.e.l.l?"

"Fight me." He held up his hand. "Or you get another."

Anger blasted through her. He wanted a fight? Oh, he'd get one. She punched him in the stomach, and pain shot up her arm. He nodded and began dragging her toward the cabin. She gave it all she had. Kicking, shrugging, throwing elbows, she made sure to leave evidence of a struggle as Jory dragged her along the path and to the front door. Her boots sc.r.a.ped the warped porch, and she kicked hard. Finally, Jory shoved open the door and pulled her through a gathering room and a kitchen to propel her into a bedroom.

A dingy queen-sized mattress took residence against the wood paneling, a crumpled pillow had been shoved against the wall, and a patched wool blanket had been folded at the edge. The precise crease along the blanket's edge seemed creepy in the dusty s.p.a.ce. A one-clasp window was set in the center of the wall with the bed. No other belongings were in the room.

The area smelled stale and like old fish. Dead old fish.

She shook to gain her balance and stomped her boots to leave mud on the scuffed floor. Even though the fight had been pretend, her heart beat a rapid tempo against her rib cage, and her breath panted out. No matter how hard she'd fought him, Jory hadn't hurt her. Not even one little pinch. His strength in containing and somehow not harming her sent little tingles through her. She shoved her hair from her face. "You okay?"

He grinned. "Fine."

The guy wasn't even out of breath. Then he cleared his throat. "You need to use the bathroom, touch the sink, doork.n.o.b, everywhere. Leave your DNA and prints, because supposedly you stayed the night here."

A blush rose over her face at where she'd really spent the night. "Do you really think they'll sweep the cabin?"

"Yes."

She didn't even want to imagine how the Dean brothers had gotten the now deceased PROTECT men's DNA and prints all around the cabin. Instead, she eyed the narrow bathroom off the bedroom. "I don't need to go."

He grasped her elbow and drew her to the door. "No choice." He was in full soldier mode, and something about his confidence served to calm her enough to concentrate. Then he turned and caught a pair of black surgical gloves tossed at him by Nate, quickly yanking them on his hands.

Creepy. Way over the top creepy.