“Or else what?”
“You don’t want to know.” He grimaced as he realized how harsh he sounded.
“Yes, sir.”
He knew she was being sarcastic, but the sound of that “sir” coming from her lips made his cock stir, and his balls ache. Christ. He had to get himself under control. There was no way he could be attracted to Jenna. She was family. She was a baby compared to him, not just in years but in experience.
He’d eat her up and spit her out.
And even pushing all that other shit aside, there was no way Jenna would ever be able to handle his darker needs. No way he would want her to. She was soft and gentle and needed protection.
She definitely didn’t need to be handcuffed, gagged, and whipped. Although, damned if the thought didn’t send his arousal soaring. Damn, he was in trouble.
***
They hiked for what seemed like hours in the dark. Curt carried her on his back all the way. She’d asked him a few times if he wanted her to walk, but he’d just told her to be quiet in that low, commanding voice of his. She had no idea why the gruff sound of him barking out orders turned her on.
She put her reaction down to the stress of what she’d been through.
She dozed on and off as she slumped on his back. Occasionally someone else would offer to take her, but, thankfully, he always turned them down.
When they finally stopped, she felt completely exhausted, even though all she’d done was lay against his back. He’d done all the work. And when he sat her down, crouching in front of her in the early morning light, he didn’t even seem winded.
“You really are superman, aren’t you?” she said tiredly as she took the bar and water he handed her, placing Sergeant Teddy on her lap. She still couldn’t believe he’d done that he’d remembered how much she loved this old bear and had asked her father for it before he’d left.
It was the sweetest thing anyone had ever done for her.
He paused and raised an eyebrow. “I’m not superman, little bit.”
“No? You crept in, rescued me from the bad guys, snuck out while carrying me, then hiked for hours with me on your back. You’re not even winded. And you’re trying to tell me you’re not superman?”
“Nope, superman had a weakness. I don’t.”
He took the water from her numb hands, undid the top, then held it to her lips. “Drink.”
She took a few sips then tried to pull back, but he just gave her a look, and she gulped until the bottle was half empty. She pushed at his hand, and he set it aside.
“You’ll drink the rest soon.”
She resisted the urge to salute. Barely.
He ripped open the packaging on another disgusting protein bar. Just as she’d expected, the other had tasted like cardboard. She’d choked some of it down before slipping the rest into the pocket of her sweatpants. What he didn’t know wouldn’t hurt him.
He held the bar up. “Eat.”
“It tastes awful,” she complained. “Besides, I’m still full from the other bar.” She crossed her fingers behind her back at her small lie. “And my stomach has shrunk considerably since I’ve been captured so I don’t need to eat a lot before I feel full. I need to be careful not to eat too much too quickly or I could make myself ill. But you go ahead and eat. I’m just going to sit here for a moment and enjoy the fresh air.” The sun was getting higher now and it looked beautiful as it rose against the skyline.
“That’s all very interesting. Now eat.”
She sighed. “You’re getting even more stubborn and bossy as you get older. I’d hate to think what you’ll be like when you’re eighty.”
“Don’t plan on living that long,” he told her casually. “Now either you eat this bar, or I’m going to have to get strict with you.”
Hmm . . . strict, huh? Her body stirred.
Shit, what the hell was wrong with her?
“Bossy bastard, isn’t he?”