She was worried. “It’s not like Clay to be a no-show.”

Tanner peered through a gap in the motel room curtains. “He’ll be here. Maybe he thought he was being followed and had to take a long way around.”

She checked her phone for the thousandth time—no texts or voice mails from anyone. “How do you think it’s going for Reid and Gage?”

“I imagine the police are having trouble getting much out of either of them. I’m sure we’ll hear from them soon.”

“They’ll need a ride.”

“Reid will call. Or he’ll rent a car. Don’t worry about them.”

She sprang from the bed and started pacing. “I have to do something. This waiting is killing me.”

She hadn’t heard him cross the room. His hands settled on her shoulders, making her jump. She spun around, knocking his hands away. “Sorry. I’m a bit jumpy.”

“It’s understandable. You’ve been through a lot these past few days.”

“Not as much as Jake’s been through.”

Her phone rang, and she nearly jumped out of her skin. It took her shaking fingers three tries to answer the call. “Hello?”

“It’s Clay.”

“Are you okay? Where are you?”

“I’m fine. I’ll be there in a couple of hours.”

“Hours? Where are you?”

“I had to find a different ride. They were going to be looking for this one.”

“Please tell me you didn’t steal a car.”

“Okay.”

“Okay? That’s all you’re going to say?”

“Listen, Razor. It’s been a shitty day, so can we just skip the lecture?”

“Sorry. Just get here as soon as you can.”

“I will. And you’ll be glad to know I think I have an idea of how we can find these fuckers.”

“Really? How?”

“Not on the phone. I think I covered all my bases, but I’m not taking any chances. They could hear me.”

Roxanne had no idea what to say to that. “Uh. Okay. I guess we’ll see you soon, then?”

“Two hours. If I’m not there by then, then I was wrong.” He hung up, leaving her wondering what in heaven’s name he meant.

Tanner watched her as she hung up the phone with shaking fingers. His gaze was intent. “Well?”

“Clay is fine. He should be here in two hours. He said he might have a way of finding the people who took Jake.”

“How?”

“He didn’t say. He was worried they might hear him.”

“He thinks our phones are tapped?”

She shrugged, and sore muscles screamed in protest. Her head still throbbed, but it was localized now to the spot she’d hit, rather than a pounding through her whole skull. “Maybe. We should assume they are.”

Tanner nodded as he pulled out his phone. “I’ll text Reid and warn him.”

His fingers flew over the buttons, more nimble than they should have been, given the size of his hands. She watched the movement, remembering just how those fingers had felt on her skin, pinching her nipples and sliding between her thighs.

Her body warmed, and some of the shivers faded, leaving her feeling stronger and less fragile.

He tucked his phone in his pocket, unaware that she’d been watching him.

“You look tired. Maybe you should try to get some rest.” His concern for her was genuine, shining in his blue eyes as the lines around them deepened.

Just seeing him eased some of the tension behind her eyes. He was so strong and solid. She knew deep down that if she fell, he’d be right there to catch her. It had been a long time since she’d put that much faith in anyone—since she was a kid. She wasn’t sure she wanted to trust him quite that much. The last time she had, she’d been betrayed by the people who were supposed to love her the most.

“I am tired, but I can’t sleep,” she said.

He nodded in understanding and slid his hand over her hair. His touch lingered at her neck, his fingers stroking her bare skin.

Her whole body responded to his touch, lighting up like Christmas. Exhaustion faded, and worry dissolved more with every second. She loved how he could do that to her—how he could make the rest of the world disappear with so little effort.

“Just lie down. Give your body time to rest. I promise it’ll make you feel better.”

She knew what would make her feel better, and as thinly stretched as she was—as important as it was for her to hold it together—she wasn’t above using Tanner to get it.

Roxanne stepped closer until their bodies were touching from knees to chest. His heat sank through her clothes, making warmth pool in her blood. He tensed but didn’t back away. His jaw bulged, his lips tightened, and his eyes scrunched closed.

“Roxanne.” She couldn’t tell if he’d meant her name as a warning or a plea.

She dragged the pad of her thumb over his bottom lip, hoping to relax him. His lips parted, and a low groan of need vibrated against her breasts. He grabbed her wrist and stared down at her with an expression she’d never seen before. There was a fierce, almost predatory challenge in his eyes, while at the same time, he seemed uncertain.

“We can’t do this,” he whispered.

“I think we proved before that we can. Quite well.”

His nostrils flared, and he sucked in a deep breath. “You’re injured. We’re risking our jobs.”

“I’m fine, and no one has to know.”

“Reid will know. He always knows.”

“He already caught us. If he’s going to tell Bella, then there’s nothing we can do to stop him. We may as well enjoy ourselves before the ax falls.”

He closed his eyes as if to gather his self-control. “You were hurt today. As much as I want you, I can’t be the kind of asshole who would risk hurting you more.”

She wanted him. He wanted her, too. She could see it in the way his muscles clenched and the stain of lust darkening his cheeks. She could smell his heated skin. His fears were unfounded, and right now, she needed his touch to distract her from the waiting and the danger that Jake faced with every passing minute. Two hours of fear felt like a lifetime, but two hours in Tanner’s arms would pass in a heartbeat of pleasure.

Rather than give up, she pressed a kiss against his neck and felt the cords there tighten. “I think you should kiss me and make me better.”

His chest rumbled, and his hands gripped her hips, tugging her forward. She felt his erection against her abdomen, and her body melted, becoming soft and hot. The need to have him inside her again swelled, shoving out all else.

Roxanne slid her hands to his waistband and tugged the button free. Tanner grabbed her hands, holding them captive. He stared down at her for a long moment, his eyes roaming her face. “Promise me you’ll tell me if I hurt you.”

“You won’t.”

“Promise me, or I walk out that door right now and wait outside.”

“I promise.” She’d say anything to have him.

He lowered his head and kissed her, his lips barely grazing hers. It wasn’t enough. She wanted more—all of him.

She flicked her tongue out, tasting his mouth. He went still, except for a fine vibration that radiated out from his clenched muscles.

Roxanne slipped one of her hands free and pulled his head down, gripping his neck tightly so he wouldn’t pull away. She took her time kissing him, delving inside his mouth to taste him. Slowly, he gave in, yielding to her onslaught.

She felt every shift as he lost the battle with himself. First, his breathing sped, and she could feel the hard pounding of his heartbeat against her breasts. Then, his muscles unclenched, and a sinuous power took over. His arms snaked around her body, caressing her as they went. He held her against him and leaned her back so he could control the kiss.

With anyone else, she would have worried she’d fall, but this was Tanner. He was rock solid and as steady as they came. She’d trust him with her life.

Roxanne’s head spun. She couldn’t get enough oxygen. Her heart was beating hard, and her whole body was alive and tingling. Sweat beaded on her skin in a futile effort to cool her down. Everywhere Tanner’s hands passed, they left shivers in their wake.

She gripped his shoulders to try to steady herself, but he didn’t give her time. His big, hot hands slid under her shirt, lifting it. She didn’t even stop to think; she simply lifted her arms, letting him strip the garment off over her head.

His eyes darkened as he stared down at her. He traced one finger along the lacy edge of her bra, following the curve of her breast.

Her nipples hardened, and her breasts seemed to swell. Her bra became too tight, the fabric too rough. She needed his hands on her, his lips. She’d never been with a man who made her body sing with only his mouth the way Tanner did.

She unfastened her bra and flung it aside, then shoved his shirt up so she could rub herself against his bare chest. Tanner took the hint and stripped out of his shirt.

He was glorious. Hard, mouthwatering contours tempted her fingers to touch. She pressed her palms against him and closed her eyes, reveling in the feel of his body. No other man had ever turned her on like this with just the sight of him, but as breathtaking as he looked, the man inside was even more beautiful. He cared more for her comfort than his own pleasure. He worried about her. He’d risked his life for hers more than once. Maybe it was all part of the job for him, but the combination of kick-ass warrior and gentle protector was getting to her, tearing down defenses she hadn’t even known were there.

She could love a man like him if she let herself. It wouldn’t even be a long fall. The question was, would Tanner fall with her, or was what they had limited to the here and now?

Those thoughts were too heavy for her to deal with right now. She was already stretched thin, to the point of snapping in two. Any more pressure, and even the hope of something good would be destroyed.

She couldn’t let that happen. She had to take what he was willing to offer and not be greedy. Men like Tanner came along only once in a lifetime, and she was going to enjoy him while she could.

Roxanne kissed him while her fingers played over his chest and abs. Her hands skimmed his rigid contours, sliding down until his jeans barred her path.

That simply wasn’t going to do. She wanted all of him—as much as she could get.

She sank to her knees, drawing his zipper down as she went. He towered over her, his chest pumping with each fast breath, his jaw tight. His eyes held hers as she peeled his clothes down and stroked him with her tongue.

His whole body went tight as if she’d sent an electric current up his spine. He sucked in a deep breath and threw his head back.

A heady rush of power flooded her as she witnessed his pleasure. She’d done that to him, and she was only getting started.

She wasn’t making it easy. Her hot mouth slid over his cock, sucking and licking just the way he liked. Her grip was firm, her clever fingers stroking him as her mouth moved. She wasn’t shy or timid. She wasn’t afraid of hurting him. He wished he could say the same.

Sweat beaded up on his spine. His legs shook. He fought the urge to hold her head and thrust into her mouth, knowing his grip would press against the knot on her skull. Instead, he clenched his fists and stood there, letting her do what she wanted.

He was swiftly spiraling out of control—nearing that space where rational thought ceased to exist and he’d forget all his good intentions. He was seconds away from climax, and he wasn’t sure he’d be able to resist touching her while he came. The only part of her he could reach was her wounded head.

No way was he going to do that to her.

Tanner stepped back, pulling himself from her mouth. His cock was shiny, thick, and dark from her attention. She eyed it like she was starving for another taste, and in that second, he nearly gave in.

He shook with the effort of resisting her as he pulled her to her feet. “Does it hurt to lie down?” he asked.

“No.”

“Then do it.”

She offered him a hot smile that he felt all the way to his toes; then she sat on the bed.

Tanner knelt in front of her and unlaced her boots. His fingers trembled, but he managed to get the ties open and pulled them from her feet. Her pants were next, and he kept his focus on the job, refusing to look at any bit of bare skin until he was done. Once he had her naked, he kissed his way up her legs, parting them as he went. Small bruises marred her knees, which he paid special attention to, planting light kisses so he wouldn’t hurt her.

She shivered and scraped her fingernails over his scalp as if searching for hair she could tug on.

The inside of her thighs was magically soft. He didn’t know how she could be so tough while hiding so much softness. It was like a treasure no one else could see, and Tanner knew the secret.

His hands splayed over her thighs, pressing them wide. The contrast of his rough hands on her perfect skin drove him crazy, and he had to consciously keep his fingers from tightening on her, leaving marks of possession.

She opened to him, revealing her sex. It was flushed and slick with arousal. “I haven’t even touched you yet, and you’re ready for me.”

“Sucking your cock turned me on.”

Lust, pure and powerful, slammed into him at her words. Need took over, as instincts dominated thought. He didn’t care about careful anymore. All he wanted to do was drive them over the edge so many times, they wouldn’t even remember what it felt like not to be falling.

Tanner let out a growl as his mouth covered her. She bucked off the bed, but he pushed her back down and held her hips still while he explored. Her taste went to his head, clouding his thoughts even more. She was sweet and hot, making the sexiest noises he’d ever heard. Her fingers cupped his head, clenching and opening as he pushed her higher.

Her clit was swollen, and every time he flicked over it, she let out another high-pitched gasp. He pushed two fingers inside her, and her thighs tensed, shaking as her orgasm neared. She held her breath and tightened around his fingers. All he could think about what how good that contraction was going to feel on his cock once he got inside her.

A fine tremor started at her core and vibrated out through her limbs. She let out a long, breathless cry of release and dug her fingernails into his scalp.

Tanner nearly lost his load just witnessing her pleasure. He waited until the last flutter had passed before he moved away and shoved his jeans off. He was poised, ready to slide inside her when he remembered the condom. With a violent curse for his stupidity, he grabbed one and covered himself.

“Glad one of us is thinking,” she panted.

What he was thinking was that he could have been naked inside her right now. He’d never done that with a woman before, and despite how irresponsible it would have been, he would have enjoyed the hell out of it, at least until it was over.

He came back to her and saw the dark, angry bruise on her side where the bullet had struck. Something inside him seized up. He froze, realizing how close she’d come to dying tonight.

That thought gave him the control he needed to slow down. He leaned over her, kissing the bruise. She grabbed his ears and tugged on them.

He smiled down at her. “You certainly don’t have any trouble communicating in bed, do you?”

She smiled back. “I’d really like you to fuck me right now.”

“That’s pretty clear.”

Her thigh slid over his, grazing him with that magically soft skin. She pushed him back onto the bed and straddled his body. There was a look of conquest on her face, and a wicked grin on her mouth as she gripped his erection and eased down onto it. Tight heat enveloped him as she sank down, working to take all of him.

She let out a rough sigh and braced her hand on his ribs. The curve of her waist and the flare of her hips drove him wild. The way her breasts moved as she arched her back was almost more than he could take. Not even the bruise detracted from her beauty.

She was glowing with perspiration, flushed with arousal. Her blond hair, which had come loose, was wild about her face. Her eyes were closed in concentration, and the sleek muscles in her thighs and arms flexed as she rode him.

Tanner watched, refusing to miss a thing. He knew it would hasten his release, but he couldn’t stop himself from enjoying every moment with her.

He cupped her breasts, feeling her tight nipple rub against his palm. She gripped his wrists and sped up the pace. He could see her heart pounding in the hollow of her throat, and feel her muscles tighten as she worked herself toward another climax.

Tanner sat up, cradling her body against his. He helped her move, hitting the spot that made her breath catch in her throat. His own orgasm was barreling down on him, but he gritted his teeth and held back.

He caught her mouth with his. He had to kiss her again and swallow her cries of pleasure as she came. Her tongue mated with his, he sucked her bottom lip. Her rhythm sped up and her breath shot out in short, hard gasps.

Pressure built at the base of his spine. He wasn’t going to be able to hold back much longer. He wrapped his arm around her hips, angling them so he could hit the spot she liked on every stroke. Her cries guided his way, rising up like music he longed to hear over and over. His lips covered hers, drinking in the sound.

Roxanne let out a small whimper, then screamed into his mouth as the first wave of her climax hit.

Tanner lost control. His body took over as his orgasm tore through him, choking the breath from his chest. Semen pumped out of him with every liquid clench of her body. Her spasms dragged out his pleasure until he was sure it would kill him. Lights flashed in his eyes, and the last pulse rippled out of him.

He flopped back onto the bed, bringing Roxanne with him. He gulped down air, trying to refill his starved lungs. Her heart beat against his ribs, and her breath spilled out over his chest. She was limp and boneless, lying over him like a blanket, seemingly in no hurry to move.

He would have stayed like this for hours if not for the condom. But reality was a thing best not ignored, so he rolled her over and pulled his cock out of her body. She made a weak noise of protest but let him go.

His legs barely worked as he dealt with the condom and stumbled back to bed. She lay sprawled across the sheets, too beautiful for words—the kind of woman a man never tired of looking at.

That was what his folks had had. Dad never once strayed from Mom. He’d never even had eyes for another woman. He’d looked at Mom as if she were the only woman on the face of the planet until the day he’d died. From the time Tanner hit puberty, Dad always said that when he found the right woman, he’d know to stop looking. There wouldn’t be any question.

Tanner stared down at Roxanne. He couldn’t imagine looking at anyone else. He didn’t know her well enough to get ahead of himself, but one thing was certain. When he did find the right one, she’d be the kind of person who spoke her mind. She’d be the kind of person who would drop everything to help someone in need. She’d be the kind of person who would courageously put her life on the line for another. In essence, she’d be a lot like Roxanne.

There’d been a time in his life when thoughts like that would have scared him shitless, but a lot had happened in the last few months. He realized how fleeting life really was. He’d focused on his job for so long that he’d almost lost the ability to see anything else.

He was seeing Roxanne now, and a welcoming warmth began to uncurl inside him. He wasn’t sure what it was, but for the first time since Dad and Brody died, he felt as if he were waking up. The shambling stupor that he’d been living through fell away, and he actually saw a future for himself. He didn’t know what it would hold, but that hardly mattered. His life wasn’t over. He’d lost a lot, but not everything. He still had Mom and Reid. And for now, he had Roxanne. That was a hell of a lot more than most people ever got.

She was asleep when he came back, snuggled into the pillows. He pulled the sheet up over her body, partly to help himself focus, but mostly because the air in here was chilly. As sweaty as they’d gotten, it wouldn’t take long for her to cool down.

Unless he heated things up again.

That sounded like the best idea mankind had ever had, until he remembered that he’d just used his last condom. As close as he’d come to unprotected sex only a few minutes ago, he didn’t think it was wise to test his self-control.

She lay on her side, resting her head on her hands. The hard metal of her bracelet seemed to be cutting into her skin, so he eased her hand out from under her cheek and flipped open the tiny latch that held it shut. It sprung open, revealing three pale, parallel scars on her wrist—the kind made in a suicide attempt.

Shock hit him hard, and he sucked in a breath. Roxanne’s golden eyes popped open, and she snatched her wrist away from him, cradling it against her body in a protective gesture. “I didn’t want you to see that.”

He couldn’t imagine her ever having been the kind of person who would give up. It just didn’t sit right in his view of her, like an extra piece to an already-completed puzzle. He didn’t know what to do with the information, so he sat there, staring.

She let out a long sigh of frustration and turned away from him.

Like hell he was letting this drop. He moved around the bed and sat on the other side, forcing her to face him. “Why?”

“Why what? Why didn’t I want you to see the scars, or why did I try to kill myself?”

“Either. Both.”

“I didn’t want you to see the scars because I didn’t want you looking at me like this.”

“Like what?”

“With shock. Disappointment. Pity.”

“You tried to kill yourself. How am I supposed to look at you?”

She sat up, gloriously naked and flushed with rage. “No, I didn’t. I hide the scars because that’s the first thing everyone thinks. My life sucked sometimes, but I’d never take the easy way out. I’m not a coward, and I hate seeing everyone look at me as though I am. I saved myself. I killed that fucker.”

Confusion rattled through him. She’d killed someone? He grabbed her shoulders. “Slow down. What are you talking about?”

Roxanne looked away from him and pulled the sheet up over her chest. “I was kidnapped for ransom when I was fourteen. He told my parents he wanted ten million dollars to let me go.”

That was a shitload of money, even for rich people. “But he lied, didn’t he? He got the money and didn’t let you go.”

“No. He would have let me go. My parents refused to pay it. My dad actually bargained with him.” Hurt shone in her eyes, but not a single tear fell. “I heard the whole thing. Dad said they could have another kid. That it would be more cost-effective to raise a new child to adulthood than it would to get me back. As if I were some kind of investment, and letting me go was cutting his losses on a bad deal.” She hugged her knees. “Dad said I was worth no more than three percent of his net worth.”

Rage swam in Tanner’s belly, making larger and larger circles until he was shaking with the spread of anger that filled him. How could a father say that? Even if it was a lie? “You’re fucking kidding me.”

She shook her head. “The kidnapper cut me, trying to convince Dad to change his mind. He didn’t. I don’t think he believed I was his biological daughter, and he hated me for that—for being proof of Mom’s cheating. That’s where the scars came from.”

He couldn’t imagine that kind of evil, treating a child like a commodity—even if she wasn’t his child. If her dad hadn’t already been dead, Tanner would have had a hard time not killing him for the crime of being a heartless monster.

Roxanne drew in a deep breath. “I knew I was on my own. No one was coming to save me. When the kidnapper was in the middle of throwing a fit over Dad’s refusal to give him the money, I swiped the knife. When he came back, I stabbed him.” Her eyes took on a distant look. “I didn’t mean to kill him. I just wanted to get away. But I hit an artery in his thigh, and he died in minutes.”

Tanner needed to hold her. He reached for her to pull her into his arms, but she shied away. “Don’t. I don’t want your pity.” She snapped the cuff back in place, turned over, and shoved a cold wall of air between them.

“I don’t pity you, Roxanne. I admire your bravery. Those are battle scars—signs of courage. You’re the one who’s hiding them as if they’re shameful.”

“The kids at school didn’t see them that way. Did you ever wonder where I got the nickname Razor?”

He could see the other kids taunting her, mocking her for the scars. “Kids can be cruel. If you didn’t like the name, why keep it?”

“To remind me of what I’d done.”

“You were punishing yourself.”

“No one else would. I had to do something.”

“It was self-defense, Roxanne. That man deserved what he got.”

“I’m not so sure. I’ve often wondered what drove him to do something so drastic. Was it drugs? Greed? Or did he have a sick kid at home who needed medical care? He didn’t have a police record. No one knew who he was. No one claimed the body. To this day, I still don’t know why he did it.”

“It doesn’t matter why. He made the choice to abduct a child. That automatically makes him guilty.”

“I don’t want to talk about this anymore. I just want to sleep,” she said. “Please, leave me alone.”

There was nothing he could do to take back what she’d suffered. He had no real claim to any relationship with her. They weren’t even dating. If he’d been her boyfriend, he would at least have felt he had the right to push the issue. But the truth was, they had no future. Their jobs prohibited it.

If it had just been him, he would have walked away from the job without blinking, but it wasn’t just him. He had to think about his family. They needed him right now, and he couldn’t shirk that duty. He had to keep this job.

He stared down at Roxanne, aching to do something to ease her suffering. But all he could offer her was the rest she needed so that she wouldn’t crumble under the strain of searching for Jake. So that’s what he did. He got up and left her alone, hating every second of it.

Tanner grabbed a shower and got dressed. Clay was going to be here in about an hour, and he was planning on standing guard so she could get some sleep. Whatever the man’s plan was, Tanner hoped it was a good one, because he didn’t know how much longer he could stand to watch Roxanne hurt.