Master of the Abyss

Chapter Seven

Kallie smiled at the pies lining the kitchen counter, brought by the townswomen.

On the first Fourth of July party, her uncle had been overwhelmed by offers to bring food. A man who loved rules, he created guidelines for what people should bring. Like the party itself, the guidelines turned into tradition. Women brought desserts, men over forty brought beer, men under forty brought munchies. Teens brought soft drinks. The Mastersons provided hamburgers and hot dogs, baked beans, and an appalling amount of potato salad.

She found a cherry pie and cut a hefty slab for Jake, smiling a little. He’d not greeted her coldly today-he’d kissed her in front of everyone. She pressed a hand to her chest. That had been a great kiss. He’d noticed her shirt too. If he hadn’t coaxed-bullied-her into changing how she saw herself, she’d never have considered wearing it. But I’m really not just one of the guys.

Jake had cared enough to bully her that way. Did that mean he cared a little bit for her?

Dammit, she wanted him to, because he was sucking her willpower away. He made her feel safe. Wanted. Cherished. And dammit, how would she ever find someone like him? She didn’t need gorgeous-although that was wonderful-but who else would have his strength, his intelligence, his sense of humor and honor?

She glanced out the window to indulge in another look at him, and her breath caught. Virgil stood in front of him in a posture that said her cousin wasn’t being polite. He must have seen Jake kiss her, she realized, and her stomach sank.

She’d dated off and on over the years, had a few lovers, but she never, ever brought them back here. It just seemed…safer…to downplay her love life. She didn’t want her cousins to be disappointed in her, to think she didn’t belong with them. She’d sure never tested them with someone who would blatantly kiss her in front of everyone.

When Virgil’s face suddenly turned hard, the air left Kallie’s lungs as if she’d slipped off a trail and belly flopped onto a slab of granite. She took two steps toward the door and stopped.

Nothing she could do would keep Virgil from trying to protect her. And Jake would go his own way no matter what Virgil said. Having lived with a bunch of obstinate men, she knew that intervening only made things worse.

Unable to watch, she abandoned the pie. Heading down to the creek, she was intercepted. Gina grabbed one arm, Serena the other, veering her off to one side.

Hands on hips, Serena gave her a spill-it look. “Okay, girlfriend, it’s confession time.”

Oh, hell. “Well…”

“I’ve never seen Jake come on to someone so blatantly,” Gina said. “Not since his girlfriend died. He’ll buy someone a drink at the tavern and take her home, and that’s about it. He doesn’t attend parties or anything.”

“Died? His girlfriend died?”

“Yeah. Don’t you remember the big deal…? No, you were still in Alaska,” Serena said. “Anyway, when did you start dating Jake?”

“Uh, I’m not sure dating is the right term.” Kallie grimaced. “I got the ‘one night only’ lecture, after all.”

Gina tilted her head at the sun, half-hidden by the western mountains. “Seems like daytime to me.”

“Let’s just say he wants to take it one…um, interaction…at a time.”

“Oh. Gotcha.” Serena snickered. “That was a really nice interaction you had going on there on the deck.”

Kallie tried to glare, but witnessed or not, the memory was sweet. “Yeah, it was.”

“Well, be careful, okay?” Gina clasped Kallie’s hands. “I don’t want you getting hurt.”

Kallie glanced up the slope. Jake had joined the older men. As he threw a horseshoe, the muscles under his shirt flexed in a way that made her mouth water. “It’ll be worth the pain.” Her gaze shifted to the deck. Wyatt stared down at her, then shifted his attention to Jake. “Maybe.”

“By the way…” Serena’s gaze ran over Kallie. “You look fantastic.”

“Way fantastic. If Jake hadn’t branded you, the other guys would be following you around, wagging their tails for attention.” Gina frowned. “I think Serena and I should have pushed harder to fancy you up. Then again, maybe it took a different kind of incentive to get you in girl clothes.”

Kallie laughed, her face heating. “You have the ugliest underwear I’ve ever seen.” Interesting type of incentive. But it felt…nice…to know she looked good.

“Kallie,” one of the children yelled from the deck. “The sun’s going down. Morgan said to ask you if we could play now.”

As the little boy jumped up and down in anticipation, Kallie laughed and did a quick visual of the party. In the dimming light, people started to pack up the board and card games. The air had cooled, and the wading pool had emptied of toddlers-it would now become the loading area for weapons. The war would begin as the twilight deepened.

“Morgan, break out the vests and guns,” she yelled. “It’s time to win our independence from England!”

All the potential soldiers cheered. A second later, twinkle lights flashed on around the property, designating the boundaries of the battlefield, as well as giving light to the seating areas and the deck.

From the deck, Morgan tossed vests to the combatants: red for the English, blue for the patriots. Cheers and complaints came from the recipients. Meantime, Virgil and Wyatt cleared the battlefield of tables and chairs and other obstacles.

As Kallie reached the deck, Jake appeared, tucking his fingers under her waistband to stop her. “What’s going on?”

“Water tag-or should I say, the American Revolution fought on the Masterson battlefield with water for bullets. Want to play?”

Jake stared at the soldiers suiting up-donning vests-and choosing their weapons from a variety of water pistols, and he had to laugh. The Mastersons were definitely insane. He grinned. “Damn right.”

Kallie patted his chest and shook her head. “You are such a boy.”

“True. Very true.” He pulled her forward, keeping his eyes on hers. Seeing the heat spark to life. He leaned down to brush her lips with his. “You’d best be careful, soldier. If I capture you, I’ll be forced to conduct an interrogation,” he whispered. “There are many, many ways to make an enemy talk, and I know them all.”

Even in the dim light, he saw a flush darken her cheeks and the way her nipples peaked inside her tight shirt. Her laugh came out husky and low. “Well. You’ll have to capture me first, won’t you?” She raised her chin in a definite challenge. “By the way, beware of the artillery and their bombs.”

“What?”

She nodded at a group of older guests lined up behind the deck railing. Tubs filled with red and blue water balloons waited at their feet. “Bombs.”

“You people are amazing. Bombs, huh?” His laugh broke off as the word registered. Bombs. War. Where was Logan? He spotted his brother standing inside the kitchen, oblivious to the game starting up outside. Hell.

“Jake, are you all right?”

“Where’s Becca?”

Kallie turned and pointed. “Down by the creek with Serena.”

“Thanks.” He jogged across the grass, not slowing when he realized Kallie trotted beside him.

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

Not taking time to answer, he stopped by Logan’s woman. “Becca,” he said sharply enough to have her spinning around. “There’s going to be water tag, and it’s set up to simulate a war. Guns. And bombs.”

Her face paled.

“Dammit, Jake.” Kallie slugged his arm to get his attention.

Bad little sub, he thought, then explained. “When we were overseas, Logan and his team were sliced to bits by an IUD. He’s the only one who survived, and still has nightmares.”

“Hellfire,” Kallie muttered. “Being a macho idiot like you, he won’t leave the party either, right?”

Becca shook her head. “Probably not.”

“Men. Okay then, coax him into the living room. Seems like there should be a game on-the World Cup for soccer?”

“That’ll work. Thanks,” Becca said and sprinted up the lawn toward the house.

“Nightmares?” Kallie asked Jake.

“Better now, but they were pretty ugly for years. After counseling, he managed all right during the day, but any noise might set him off at night, and he’s a hell of a fighter, especially when he doesn’t realize he’s not back in battle. That’s why I got him out here, why we started up the lodge-to get away from city noises and sirens.” He frowned at the creek, unconsciously rubbing the scar on his forehead.

Her eyes narrowed. “Did he attack you?”

His hand dropped, and after a second, he nodded. “On the ranch one night, I heard something getting at the calves, so I yelled at him to get his ass up. He got up…but he wasn’t awake.” He shrugged. “Scared us both a tad.”

That was a damned big scar. A chill ran down her spine as she realized how close Jake had come to dying at his own brother’s hands. But Jake still stood loyally at his brother’s side. Her heart turned over in her chest. Damn him, why did he have to be so…perfect? “Did you want to run a lodge?”

The corner of his mouth turned up in a wry smile. “Hadn’t considered it when I went to college. I’d planned to buy a spread next to my parents.”

“Ranching?”

He nodded. “Eastern Oregon.” Kallie followed his gaze to the glow on top of the mountains, the dark sky, and the stars popping into existence one by one. “But I would have missed this. And it suits me far better than ranching.” He added, “I miss the horses sometimes.”

A rancher. A soldier. No wonder he had an I-can-do-anything attitude. And even though his brother had attacked him, had left that scar on his face-something far, far worse than anything she’d ever done-Jake hadn’t abandoned him. Instead he’d changed his whole life to support Logan. Her heart wrenched, and she couldn’t help but wrap her arms around his waist.

“Hey.” He stroked her hair, then tilted her head. “You okay, sprite?”

Her lips trembled. Logan knifed someone and was still loved-so what horrible thing did I do that no one could love me? She pressed her mouth into a straight line, ignoring the way he narrowed his eyes. With a small laugh, she said, “I thought I’d cop a feel before I slaughter you in battle.”

His gaze stayed intent for a moment. Then he obviously decided to let her evade. He rubbed his knuckles along the line of her jaw. “You’re not going to play on my team?”

“Pfft, no way in hell.” She grabbed his hand and started toward the house. “I have a memory of someone beating on me very recently.” In fact, she could still feel the imprint of his palm on her butt. “You’re going to die. Uh…Sir.”

“Good luck, imp.” He caught her nape and pulled her close enough to murmur, “But you should know, I do take prisoners, and I’m looking forward to having you in my custody.”

The sheer carnal tone in his deep voice sent a shiver down her spine, followed by a blast of heat. She could feel the controlled strength of his hand on her neck-just enough to restrain, not enough to hurt. What would he do to a prisoner?

He chuckled, tugged a lock of her hair, and raised his hand to join the fray. Morgan tossed him a red vest. Looked like she’d wear patriot blue tonight.

Despite the sprite’s warning, the first so-called bomb took Jake by surprise. The water splashed across his vest and into the specially designed pockets that held water and determined the score, according to the rules Morgan had explained. If and when his vest pockets completely filled, he’d be considered dead and out of the war. He’d managed to evade most of the water from the pistols-all his military training should count for something-but nobody escaped the water bombs.

He eased around a stacked hay bale-and now he knew the reason for the scattered bales-and dodged back in time to escape a stream of water. Kallie’s army had slaughtered-well, drenched-his redcoats until only five or so remained, leaving them seriously outnumbered. And perhaps outplayed, he thought as another of his team fell over with an enthusiastic screech.

Catching a glimpse of Kallie edging around a hay bale, Jake took aim. Before he could fire, a balloon splattered over her, winning a yelp of surprise and then a low scream. “Ice water! Wyatt, you bas-you jerk.”

On the deck, Kallie’s cousin hooted and grabbed another bomb out of an ice-filled cooler.

Jake took advantage of her distraction and shot at her, catching her square in the back. She yelled and jumped out of sight, and then her infectious laughter mingled with the sounds of battle. Jake grinned. Damn, she’s fun. Now he’d best keep an eye behind him for a tricky little sub. He checked the remnants of his army: two youngsters and a college boy. Maybe if they split up and tried attacking from the flanks…

Not much later, as the twilight faded to black, the bombers increased their activity to end the war. A barrage of water balloons killed Jake and another two soldiers. The last man standing was an adorable little girl, a patriot about nine years old, and the sneakiest minifighter he’d ever seen. As he ruffled her wet hair and congratulated her, his gaze went to the second sneakiest: his own little sub.

Not mine.

Mine.

As Jake watched Kallie strip off her waterlogged vest, a surge of heat almost scalded him. The sprite was braless, and the ice-water balloons her cousin preferred had made her nipples contract into jutting points.

She didn’t notice, and he considered his choices. Let her stay clueless so he could enjoy the sight…but let others also enjoy? Mine. He wrapped an arm around her. “Leave your vest on, sprite.”

Her puzzled expression made him chuckle despite the burning need to lift her shirt and warm those cold, thrusting peaks with his tongue. “No bra? Ice water?”

“Oh, shit.” She yanked her vest back on faster than a marmot hiding from a fox. “I forgot how tight my shirt is.”

“You know, you look beautiful today,” he said, moving close enough to slide a hand under her shirt without being seen. “And I’m enjoying your lack of a bra.” Although his cock had turned hard enough to break bricks.

“I’m surprised you even noticed. You know, life just isn’t fair, giving me tiny breasts and a fat butt. That’s-” Her mouth dropped open as she stared up at him. “I cannot believe I said that to you.”

He didn’t even try to keep from laughing.

She grinned. “You’re such a jerk. It’s not funny.”

He lifted her chin and frowned into her lovely dark eyes. “We’re not playing tonight, but I am keeping track of the insults you’ve given your dom. I will deal out your punishment accordingly.”

Hearing her soft inhalation and seeing her lick her lips shook his control. What was there about a submissive’s nervous anticipation?

Staring up at him, obviously reading the change in his face, she swallowed slowly.

He chuckled and pulled her against his chest. “Sugar, I don’t think you understand men. We might prefer various sizes and shapes, but that’s less important than liking who we’re with. And being guys, if you have breasts of any size or shape, we’re gonna like them.” Concealed by their bodies, his thumbs caressed her nipples before he slid his hands down to cup her ass.

“However, it so happens that your ass is just the size I prefer.” He squeezed, heard her muffled squeak. “Soft enough to cushion me, big enough to grip hard. It jiggles too-and when it’s up in the air and I’m pounding into you, that jiggle is the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen.”

He squeezed again and then nudged her back. “Those breasts are mine to appreciate. Go change.”

How many times tonight could he put that red tinge into her cheeks? He grinned. As he turned away, he saw Wyatt and Morgan staring down at him from the deck.

After Kallie put on a bra and another shirt from Rebecca, she brought out more desserts for the table. She glanced around for Jake, trying not to appear too obvious. His low laugh drifted up from the grassy area, and she spotted him, surrounded by children, collecting the water pistols to store away. His wet shirt clung to his broad shoulders, outlining his contoured muscles as he ruffled Tyson’s hair. The little boy grinned up at him, leaning against him as they unloaded guns together.

She set down Mrs. McCaffrey’s three-layer chocolate cake, deliberately getting her finger in the chocolate-fudge frosting. As she sucked it off, she glanced at Morgan. “Need any help?”

He slammed the barbecue shut and scowled.

“What?”

“What do you think you’re doing with Hunt?”

“Just what I want to know,” Wyatt said from behind her.

She turned, keeping them both in her gaze. This two-against-one business annoyed the hell out of her. “Nothing much.”

“Looked like much to me,” Wyatt said. “He had his hands on you.”

Had everyone at the party noticed? “It’s… We’re…”

Wyatt shoved a hand through his hair. “Cuz, I don’t think you realize…Jake’s, well, he’s got a reputation.”

“I know, Wyatt.”

“You can’t possibly have any idea,” Morgan broke in.

“But it’s more than…that,” Wyatt said with a warning look at his brother. “He’s messed around with every woman in town. Dates and dumps.”

“I can handle myself.” This was why she never brought a date home.

“Uh-uh. You don’t have the experience to deal with someone like him. Or the stuff he-” Wyatt flushed. “You’re not…experienced, and he…is. He’s just the wrong kind of man for you. You’re a good girl.”

Oh, honestly. She rolled her eyes. “I’m not a girl anymore, you know, and I have dated men in the past.”

“Not like him. Hell, we should never have let you go to the lodge, no matter how tough you are.” Wyatt glanced toward the yard with a disgusted look. His face softened when he turned back to her. “He’ll break your heart, Kallie, and I won’t put up with that. If he keeps bothering you, we’ll teach him to keep his distance, and if it costs us the lodge’s business, so be it.”

“What? You can’t do that.” Throw away clients because of her?

“He’s playing you, Kallie.” Morgan gripped her shoulder.

Wyatt shook his head. “I know you’re having fun, but he’ll hurt you. He’s already messed with your head. Look at your clothes.” He motioned at her shirt, and the disapproval in his eyes shook her. “You’ve never dressed like this before. I think you should stay away from him.”

Morgan nodded.

“We’re really worried here, cuz.” Wyatt pulled on her hair lightly. “Don’t do this to us, okay? We just want you to be safe.”

A hand seemed to have gripped her around the chest, constricting until she hurt with every breath. “I’ll think about it.”

Even though Morgan smiled at her, she could see the concern in his face. “I know you’d never let us down. You’re a good girl.”

As the two walked away, she whispered, “I’m not a girl.”

Maybe she should move out. Find a house for herself. She looked around at the deck and yard filled with people, at the pastures with horses-her horses-and the mountains circling the green valley. Her sanctuary was up that trail. How could a quiet apartment of her own compete with grumbling men in the morning, fights in the hay barn, and the joy of cold beer in the evening as they compared trail stories and cop complaints?

I don’t want to leave. But she didn’t want to disappoint them either. And if she made them unhappy enough, they’d push her away completely.

But Jake. Thinking of him made her long to fling herself in his arms-however, he considered her just a short-term lover. Sure, he’d kissed her today, but she knew men, and he’d simply reacted to the red-shirted guy coming on to her. Could seeing Jake only another time or two make up for losing her family?

Her stomach coiled into knots, and she swallowed, tasting bile. Arms hugging her waist, she inhaled slowly, then again, forcing herself to be calm-to enter the quiet, white space for keeping silent when she needed to scream or fight or cry-when what she wanted had to take second place to not causing trouble and being a burden. Her stomach gradually settled.

The children milled in the yard, happily shouting “hurry ups” to Wyatt. They knew what to expect next.

Usually she helped. Today she perched on the far railing as Wyatt pulled open the big box. He looked around for her, realized she didn’t plan to join him, and just looked unhappy. Unhappy, not his usual of blustering and raging. Pain lanced through her; she’d hurt him.

He turned back to the children and yelled, “Red.” Several hands went up.

“What’s he giving them?” Logan asked. He leaned a hip on the table, motioning with his beer to the excited boys and girls. “Looks like a pack of sharks in a feeding frenzy.”

Grateful for the diversion, she said, “Those are glow sticks. Since fireworks are prohibited and dangerous in a dry forest, we light up the night in other ways.”

Just then the children started bending the sticks, letting the chemicals mix inside, and a myriad of colors went streaming through the darkness as they broke into little groups, dancing and waving the fluorescent sticks in the air.

“That is brilliant. Look at them move.” He shook his head in disbelief. “You go all out, don’t you?”

“We’re too far out of town to bother decorating the yard for Halloween or Christmas, so we splurge on this party. We’ve had quite a few years to accumulate everything.” He seemed so much like Jake. A little rougher, perhaps, but friendly in a quieter way. She’d noticed he had fewer lines of care worn into his face, and she had to wonder why. Setting the question aside, she smiled at Logan. “Did I mention we’re glad you came?”

His grin flashed. “I’m beginning to regret that we missed so many years. My Rebecca”-the way his voice softened squeezed Kallie’s heart-“is showing us how isolated we’ve become. There’re always people at the lodge, but that’s not the same as belonging to a community. We’ll work on changing that.”

As they watched the children play, she thought how much he seemed like Virgil too. A comfortable companion if you didn’t mind silence.

“What’s doing?” Jake sauntered across the deck with his easygoing walk, and somehow his sociable nature barely hid the dominance shimmering right underneath the surface. Logan took after a wolf-she tilted her head-and Jake was like Gary’s Great Pyrenees, greeting visitors with a waving tail, but bother the lambs and the giant dog would rip your throat out.

Her smile disappeared when Jake put his arm around her.

Acutely conscious of her cousins nearby, she sidled away. Jake dropped his arm, and narrowed his eyes.

She swallowed, glanced at Logan, and received the same focused look. It felt like being stripped bare. “I-”

“Shove off, bro,” Jake said, never taking his gaze from her.

As Logan silently walked away, Jake set his foot on the table seat and leaned his forearms on his thigh. “What’s wrong, sprite?”

When she averted her eyes, she spotted Morgan and Wyatt staring at her from across the deck. She winced.

Jake turned, following her gaze. “Ah,” he said in a hard voice, straightening. Just like Gary’s guard dog, ready to rip and tear. “Are they giving you grief?”

“No!” She grabbed his forearm, and his muscles were taut, ready for action. “I don’t want trouble, Jake.”

“My touching you would cause trouble?”

“I… Yes.” And yet, she wanted him to hold her, to touch her, to be with her so badly that her voice shook.

“Enough to tell me to stay away?”

The ache in her chest must be ignored. “I don’t cause trouble. This isn’t my home or…or my family. I don’t rock the boat.”

He studied her for a long moment. “Don’t you live here?”

“Yes, but…”

He watched her with no expression on his face, and she felt a surge of anger. How dare he judge her?

“Listen, Hunt, you haven’t wanted to be with me except for sex, and you’ve made that perfectly clear. In fact, I’ve heard your ‘one night only’ rule so often, it’s coming out my ears.” She hauled in a breath. “Well, it’s my turn. This isn’t the night.” There might never be a night, but she could explain that…later. Not now, when every word seemed to slash into her throat.

“I see.” His eyes never left hers. “I’m not sure your perception of your cousins is accurate, Kalinda, but I know you believe what you’re saying.” He nodded politely. “Enjoy your night.”

As he walked across the deck, her throat tightened, and she spun around, staring past the flickering lights, out to the dark pastures. Dammit, she couldn’t feel abandoned-she’d told him to go away.

And he had.