Slade Read online

  “I promise.”

  The tension in his body eased. “Good. We’ll eat their food, take their supplies, and get out of here before someone comes to check on them. I’m sure teams of my people have reached the area and are searching for us.”

  “But those men have hunting parties out there looking for you, Slade. They were talking about a fifty thousand dollar reward.”

  Slade cursed. “On capturing me or killing me?”

  “I don’t know but I’m pretty sure it didn’t matter as long as they killed you. They just said it was fifty thousand dollars. They mentioned someone named Thomas who wouldn’t pay them if something happened to his son. That was the first guy you killed inside the tent.” She gave him a smile. “I guess Thomas won’t be happy when he finds out his son is dead.”

  “My bad.” Slade shrugged. “He’s definitely dead and I hope none of them get paid their blood money. Did you hear anything else?”

  “Bill, that’s the dead guy over there, used a walkie-talkie to talk to a base camp. I’m assuming they set up a few of them around here. There are more teams out there hunting for you but I guess we’re a few miles from them. Bill was supposed to check in with them first thing in the morning.”

  He smiled. “He won’t be.”

  “They knew I’m a doctor when they found me.”

  “Your things were at the crash site. It was probably easy to figure out who you were and they can communicate and share information. I’m sure there is a search going on for us. Justice would have publicized our faces to help find us.”

  “Oh. Sorry. I thought that might be important.”

  “It was a good catch on detail.” Slade winked at her. “Hungry? I am.”

  She nodded. “I have to pee first though.”

  “You go find privacy while I find you some clean clothes. They have water. I see the bottles from here. Take one with you and wash, Doc. I’ll take care of the body over there and start sorting supplies.”

  “Thank you.” Trisha suddenly cupped his face and leaned closer to him. “You saved my life, Slade. Just…thank you.”

  A slow smile curved his lips. “Since I saved your life does this mean I’m guaranteed to get lucky tonight?”

  Trisha laughed. She couldn’t help it. It was the amused look on his face. “I can’t believe you said that.”

  Sturdy shoulders shrugged. “I always want you, Doc.”

  She climbed off his lap and stood. Slade rose to his feet as well. Her body trembled from the stress and tired muscles but she ignored it. She was more concerned with the fact that she was naked from the waist down. She knew Slade couldn’t help but see that as she moved away from him. She walked over to retrieve a bottle of water.

  “Tease,” Slade growled as she bent over and retrieved one of the bottles her for a sponge bath.

  She straightened and shot him a look over her shoulder. “Aren’t you supposed to be finding me some clean clothes instead of watching me bend over?”

  “I’m doing both.” He headed for the tent. “Do you want to lean over and pick something else up before I go inside? I could throw things in your path for you to have to move.”

  She laughed, walking toward the clump of bushes that would give her privacy. “No thank you. I’m good.”

  She quickly attended to her immediate needs and then removed her shirt and torn bra. She stood naked in the shade as everything hit her at once. Trisha fought tears as she examined her injured wrists. Her mouth hurt and her cheek throbbed hotly and ached where she’d been struck. She also felt really, really dirty. Bill had touched her and just the thought of what he had wanted to do to her body made her want to throw up.

  She crouched, attempting to open the water. She wasn’t strong enough to twist the lid off and her trembling didn’t help. She made a soft sound, fighting the urge to start sobbing, and hugged her body as she stared at the bottle.

  “Doc?” Slade’s voice came from right behind her.

  She didn’t move. She huddled naked and kept her back to him. It embarrassed her to fall apart the way she was and remembered he wasn’t fond of tears. She knew if she looked at him he’d see how close she was to completely losing it.

  “I found clothes for you,” he said, his voice soft as he moved closer.

  She hugged her chest tighter. The urge to break into sobs grew stronger. The past events of the last twenty-four hours were just too much. She wasn’t used to people trying to kill her or men attacking her.

  “Trisha?” Slade crouched down behind her and his arms wrapped around her. “It is okay, sweet thing. I’m here. You’re shaking.”

  Hot tears streamed down her face. She heard Slade softly curse and then he sat on the ground, pulling her into his arms. She didn’t look at him. She wrapped her arms around his neck instead, held on tightly, and buried her face against his chest.

  Slade’s arms hugged her harder and his fingers dug into her hair. He cradled her against his chest and rested his chin on the top of her head.

  “You’ve been very brave,” he rasped softly. “I’ve been trying to keep you mouthy and fighting but it’s been too much, hasn’t it?”

  She nodded against his chest. “You hate tears. I’m sorry.”

  His hand stopped rubbing her scalp and he sighed. “I don’t hate tears on you. Don’t be sorry. You deserve to cry. It’s actually been a bad two days. I’m so sorry I left you here. I would have killed him first if I thought he would hurt you but I made a mistake. I was certain he would treat you right until I got back and I thought it was best to leave you here with him in case more men came. My reasoning was that they already had you and wouldn’t hurt you because they had a need for you to treat their team member.”

  “It’s not your fault.” Trisha used her forearm to wipe her tears. “You saved me. Thank you, Slade. I know you didn’t have to and you risked your life fighting that man to do it. You killed him for me. You killed all of them to rescue me.”

  His fingers brushed her hair again. “You’re mine, Doc. I’d fight anyone to get you back and I’ll kill any man who touches you.”

  His words sank in. Trisha lifted her head, stared at Slade. His blue eyes met her shocked ones. “I’m yours? What does that mean?”

  He hesitated. “Now isn’t the time, okay? We’ll have this discussion later when we’re home. Let me help you get cleaned up. We’ll eat, salvage their supplies, and get out of here. I’m hoping we are back at Homeland by tomorrow.”

  Trisha studied him. “Okay.” She wanted to ask him a hundred questions but let it go. For now. His? Her heart raced a little. She wouldn’t mind belonging to Slade. Not at all.

  His hand eased out of her hair. “Stand up and I’ll help you wash. Then we’ll get busy. I don’t want to hang around here. The camp is known to their men and besides that, I hate their smell. The camp reeks of their stench.”

  Slade helped Trisha to her feet since she wasn’t steady. Slade wet her shirt and started at her back, rubbing her skin. Trisha held her hair out of his way. Slade’s hands were gentle as he washed her down and then ordered her to turn to face him.

  Trisha met his steady gaze. She stood naked in front of him and she watched as Slade slowly raked his gaze down her body. His mouth pressed into a firm, grim line. He looked furious. More tears threatened to spill and she had to blink them back.

  “Why are you angry?”

  His gaze met hers. “No one should touch you the way he did. You have bruises. I’m furious. Anyone who marks your beauty pisses me off. I’m not upset with you. I’m just enraged that I wasn’t able to protect you better.”

  She understood. Slade washed her arms and shoulders but his hands hesitated at her breasts. Then he quickly and efficiently wiped them down. Her body responded to the water and air as her nipples tightened. Slade growled and dropped down on his knees in front of her.

  “Don’t look at me that way.” He sighed loudly. “Please.”

  “What way?”

  His gaze narrowed when