Fossen Delores - Marching Orders стр 2.

I just lost an admirer, Rafe reported to Rico.

Rafe barreled down the wide spiraling steps and made his way to the arch-shaped door beneath. Its meRafe, he called out. Open up, Anna!

Almost immediately he heard her footsteps on the cellar stairs. With each one, his heart was right in his throat. There was a shuffle of movement before she opened the scarred door a fraction.

Rafe came face-to-face with a handgun.

Anna peered out at him, her gaze combing the foyer. Relief raced through him. And a whole host of other emotions that he didnt want to take the time to analyze.

You came, she whispered, her voice shattering. She lowered her weapon. I cant believe you came.

He pushed her back into the cellar and kicked the door shut, barricading it with the two-by-four and equipment bag already on the stairs. Of course, I came. Im an Air Force Combat Rescue Officer, darling. A highly trained CRO. Saving beautiful

photographers is what I do best.

She made a soft sound of frightened laughter, slipped her firearm into her pocket and caught on to him.

Rafe was about to tell her how ticked off he was that she hadnt evacuated with the other journalists, but Anna stopped him. She latched her arms around him, and her mouth came to his. One kiss, and he forgot all about chewing her out.

Hell, he forgot how to breathe.

All Rafe knew was that hed never, never wanted a kiss as much as he wanted that one.

Anna broke the mouth-to-mouth contact but held on tight. Rafe pushed the damp strands of honey-colored hair from her face and looked down at her. Her dark eyes shimmered with tears. Outside, the sounds of the fight began to fade, a clear indication that the Alpha Team was closing in.

Annas alive and well? Rico asked into Rafes earpiece.

Before he could answer, Rafe had to clear away the lump thatd settled in his throat. Affirmative. Are we secure yet?

Only the area immediately surrounding the hacienda. Colonel Shaws arranging transport for Anna, but youre looking at two hours, maybe three. Ill give you a rendezvous point and time when I have it. Hold your positions until further orders.

Copy. Rafe clicked off the audio portion of his communicator. Two hours, maybe three. He could have waited weeks now that he knew Anna was all right.

How did you find out I was here? she asked, lifting her head from his shoulder.

The Alpha Teams doing some jungle maneuvers so Ive been keeping track of you since you arrived in Bogotá on assignment three days ago.

Anna gave him a considering look. And with all the jungles in South America, you just happened to choose the remote village of Monte de Leon for those maneuvers?

Rafe decided it was best to avoid answering that truthfully. In a way.

A troubled sigh left her mouth, but she didnt ask for an explanation. Which was a good thing. He couldnt tell her about the classified mission that involved the Alpha Team, or the fact that hed made sure he was close by in case something went wrong.

Rafe led her down the narrow steps and into the heart of the cellar. It was clammy, and the only light came from a bread-loaf size ventilation window at the back. He moved them as far away from that as he could, and with her snuggled in his arms, he sank onto a crumpled blanket in the corner.

Soon well both be on our way back to Texas. Promise. Everything will be all right, he assured her.

Rafe leaned in and brushed his mouth over hers. It might have been just a brief kiss if she hadnt made a sound of relief, and pleasure. A throaty, feminine sound that sent a trickle of fire through his blood.

So, he kissed her, really kissed her, and deepened it when she responded.

Their bodies moved together, completing the intimate embrace. She wound her arms around him. Rafe did the same. Until they were plastered against each other.

Not good.

She latched on to his shoulders when he started to move away. Is there any chance those rebels can get into this place?

Dont worry. Were safe.

Something he couldnt quite distinguish went through her eyes, and before he could figure out what, her mouth came to his again. Rafe felt the difference in her kiss. Not fear. Not this. This was all fire and need.

Anna, he warned when she lay back onto the blanket. If he wanted to keep things in check, this probably shouldnt continue.

But it did.

Anna caught on to the front of his uniform and pulled him down with her. The logical part of his brain yelled that this would be hellish torture, but the rest of him didnt seem to care. While still holding on to his weapon, he buried his other hand in her hair and took her mouth as if it were his for the taking.

Rafe kissed her chin. Her neck. And the tender flesh that he found in the vee opening of her shirt. Anna arched against him, whispering his name.

When her leg brushed against the front of his pants, she stiffened slightly, obviously noticing that he was a dozen steps past basic foreplay. She didnt pull away, though. Not that he gave her much of a chance. Rafe knew this couldnt go where his body wanted it to go, but he wasnt ready to stop just yet.