The Sheik's Rescue

The other man set the heavy box down, becoming more alert as well. “What the hell?” he muttered, his voice muted as he swung the rifle from his back so that it was covering the front of him.

Both men were now looking around, their eyes searching the foliage for threats. Calista and Goran automatically crouched lower, even though Goran’s automatic reaction was to confront instead of hide. He had to protect Calista now. He couldn’t put her in danger by confronting the other men, even though he was fairly certain that he could take both of them down without a bullet being fired.

“I’m going to the other side,” she whispered in an almost silent voice. Obviously, she was aware of how far voices carried.

Before Goran could stop her, she settled low near the ground and moved on her hands and knees, oblivious or just unconcerned with the potential snakes, spiders, or other creepy crawly things that might intersect with her path.

Unfortunately, she was already too far away for him to tell her to stop. He couldn’t raise his voice loud enough to reach her for fear that he’d be overheard and discovered. That was not the way to stage an attack, he mentally muttered.

But only thirty seconds later, he saw her a good distance away, almost on the other side of the small clearing. He’d figure out how she’d gotten so far in such a short period of time – but he’d figure that out later. Right now, he needed to take care of the two men who were now on high alert, their heads and eyes swiveling around in search of the threat.

Goran looked through the leaves at her and knew…he just knew what she was going to do. He couldn’t stop her, and in the back of his mind, he knew that her plan was pretty damn good. He still didn’t like it. The idea of her being in danger, no matter how slight, made him crazy.

So when she nodded at him, he was ready.

Calista stood up and looked around, acting as if she were lost.

“Oh, thank heaven’s you’re here!” she called out. “I was so worried that some of the horrible men who tried to hurt me earlier would come by.” She stepped out from the trees, pushing the thick leaves away as if they might somehow poison her. The reality was that there were some trees in this area of the world that truly could harm her. And right now, Goran wasn’t going to assume that she didn’t know the difference. Not anymore. He was quickly discovering that Calista was much more intelligent than he’d ever given her credit for.

The first guy did a quick double take, his rifle coming up but not pointing at Calista. “How the hell did you get down here?” he demanded, his body tight with tension.

Calista’s “dumb” act continued as she widened her eyes. “I don’t really know,” she lied. “I just…I think I sort of woke up over here in the dirt. Thankfully, it doesn’t get too cold here at night.”

The second man stepped forward, his attention completely focused on Calista. Stupid move, Goran replied as he stealthily moved towards him. Calista, damn her, moved out of the jungle, heading towards the first guy. He wanted to yell at her to stay away, to tell her that he could handle both men without any problem. But there was no way to tell her that without alerting the other men to his presence.

The thick, wet earth muffled the sound of his steps as he crept closer and closer. Calista continued to tell both men how grateful she was that they’d finally arrived, that she was thirsty for water, that she was hungry and “Ewww! How many spiders were there in this horrible place!” she cried out, jumping around as if a monster sized spider was about to attack. That last part allowed him to move faster, but it also allowed her to shift her body closer and closer to the second guy.

Seconds later, Goran had his arm wrapped around the first guy and, moments later, the lack of oxygen to his brain caused him to tumble to the ground. When Goran looked up, ready to help Calista with her guy, he watched in amazement as, while the guard was distracted by Goran’s movements, she grabbed the man’s wrist, rammed her elbow into his solar plexus, then followed that up by flipping the man over her shoulder, using her back for leverage. A fraction of a second later, Calista had the man on the ground, his face planted in the dirt with his arm pulled unnaturally behind his back and his fingers twisted into a painful movement.

“Don’t move, and I won’t dislocate your shoulder!” she hissed into the man’s ear, her knee pressing him down. The man wasn’t going anywhere, not with her hold on him like that. Goran ran over and tied the man’s hands behind his back using the plastic zip ties they’d grabbed from the shack. He tied the man’s ankles as well, then used another plastic zip tie to attach him to one of the trees, ignoring the man’s curses as he tried to break free from the restraints.

The other man was easier to tie up since he was still unconscious.

The entire event took less than three minutes. When both guards were restrained, Calista slapped her hands together, trying to brush off some of the dirt. When Goran looked over at her to ensure that she was okay, he noticed that she was filthy, covered in mud and sweat, and yet, she looked even more beautiful than he’d ever seen her.

Calista watched as Goran dragged the unconscious guard over to one of the trees, wishing that she had a comb. Or just some water to wash her face and hands. She must look filthy, but there wasn’t much she could do about it. She was just…a mess.

And yet, she couldn’t believe how sexy Goran looked at this moment. Watching him move towards the guards, the agile movements of his arms and hands as he brought the other man down. She felt her heart race and it had nothing to do with her own flipping of the guard to the ground. It was all because she was so turned on by Goran’s manly endeavors.

Just a few days ago, she’d thought he was just a politician! Wow, she’d been so wrong! The man had hidden his muscles underneath those elegant suits. And he’d hidden his athletic capabilities as well! Goodness, she’d never thought of herself as someone who was enamored of men who could fight, but here she was, literally vibrating with sexual awareness simply because Goran had taken an armed guard out of commission with his bare hands. Plus, he hadn’t killed the guy! Bonus, she thought.

“Good job,” she called out to him, lifting her eyes up to his as he approached.

“You’re so hot!” he whispered as one of those muscular arms whipped around her waist, pulling her against his hard body. “Don’t ever put yourself in danger like that again.” And then he was kissing her. This wasn’t a small brush of his lips against hers either. This was hard, demanding, sultry and erotic. She felt this kiss all the way down to her toes.

Unfortunately, they weren’t out of danger yet and he pulled back before she was satisfied with the kiss. As if that could happen, she scoffed! Calista wondered if she’d ever be satisfied with his kisses! Damn, he made her feel incredibly good!

Why hadn’t he kissed her like this over the past year? Why hadn’t he held her like this? Why hadn’t she discovered that he was strong and capable – and not just a pretty face?

All questions she’d ask herself at a later time.

“We need to get out of here,” she whispered against his lips.

“You’re right,” he replied, then smiled. “And now we don’t have to walk out of here.” He lifted his free hand, dangling a set of keys in his fingers. “Ready to go?”

She laughed, delighted with the man and lifting up onto her toes to give him one more kiss, ignoring the grumbling and cursing of the two men tied up to trees on opposite sides of the small clearing.

“Ready,” she muttered, her mind a bit flustered by his strong arm around her waist as well as the hardness pressing against her. She was confused and so turned on she could barely think straight. That was a danger when they were fleeing for her life, so she pulled out of his arms. “Want me to drive?” she asked, then laughed when he gave her a “get real” look as he slipped into the driver’s seat. She pulled open the passenger door and stepped inside, then slammed the door shut just as the engine roared to live.