Page 64 of Grave Peril

Chapter 16

Rip put the empty juice can on the table and stared at the wall. Alone, he rocked in the wooden chair, frustrated. He was sick of being incapacitated.

He’d checked in a few times with Travis, and his boss wasn’t pleased about the minimal medical care. But his strength was coming back. The surgeon must have given him a blood transfusion, due to the blood loss from the knife wound to his gut.

The emergency surgery had saved Rip. And he’d been doing his best to recover. Using first-aid supplies that his brother had on hand, each day he’d changed the bandage covering the wound. There had been no sign of infection, and his pain had been minimal after the first few days.

Lela had cared for him, making sure he ate and doling out the pain meds. Day by day, Rip had felt more like his former self. And he’d graduated from sponge baths to a real shower. He wasn’t ready to pump iron or go for a five-mile jog, but he wasn’t an invalid, either.

Rip rocked in the chair and stewed about Lela. She’d broken down the wall around his heart long ago. But it didn’t mean that he deserved her. What she didn’t get was that it wasn’t about loving or not loving her.

The real issue was that he’d been momentarily distracted, starry-eyed, and let himself get stabbed. The fact that he hadn’t died was a miracle, because he should have. And then where would that have left Lela?

She would have been alone and defenseless. In a lapse of alertness, Rip had nearly failed the woman he loved. There was a pattern here that was inexcusable. He couldn’t allow such a thing to happen again.

Rip stood, determined to make things right. He went into the bedroom and found Lela on the bed. She was leaning against the headboard and had her arms around her bent legs. Her head had been down, but she looked up.

Standing at the end of the bed, Rip bared his soul. “Whatever it is you think you know about how I feel…you’re wrong.”

Her expression was sad, but her eyes were clear. At least she hadn’t been crying.

“Like I told you out there,” Rip said, “I’m not afraid of love.” He steeled his courage. Somehow, talking about feelings was scarier than facing a deadly enemy. He guessed he had less experience with relationships, sharing emotions in particular.

“I’ll tell you what I’m afraid of,” Rip said. “I’m afraid that I’ll fail to protect you.”

Thankfully, Lela didn’t make him say more. She looked at him, understanding dawning in her eyes.

Rip intended to make her see how he felt, that she had his heart. Showing his love was so much easier than talking about it. “Stay right there,” he said.

In the bathroom, Rip took off his shirt and unwound the wide bandage from his chest. A glance in the mirror assured him that his condition was good. Gauze and tape covered the stitches, but otherwise there were no visible signs of injury.

When Rip returned to the bedroom, Lela was in the same spot but had stretched her legs out and had her hands in her lap. He took in the sight of her thick, wavy hair that flowed past her shoulders, her beautiful brown eyes, and her full, kissable lips.

Lela was gorgeous, and sexier than any woman he’d known. He craved being with her. The feeling was beyond any he’d experienced before. But more than anything, he wanted to show her the truth. He wanted her to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that she was the only woman who had his heart.

Rip went to her and pulled her into his arms. He caressed and kissed her tenderly, although his arousal urged him to do more. When he covered her mouth with his, the touch of her soft lips sent molten heat to his belly.

Slowly, Rip undressed her. He kissed her satin skin and tasted her sweetness. Then he stripped, revealing his heated erection. There was no question of how much he wanted her.

Rip took position on his back and guided Lela to straddle him. Looking at her luscious breasts, the curve of her hips, and the lust in her eyes nearly sent him over the edge.

But Rip maintained control for her. She moved over him, clenching around him, and her stroking was about to make him come unglued. Then she leaned back with her hands on his thighs and her hair dusting his skin. She thrust in an erotic rhythm, moving faster and squeezing him harder.

When Lela’s body stiffened and she cried out, Rip climaxed too. Hot and wet, she gripped him as release crashed through her body. Then Rip moaned with pleasure as he peaked. He spiraled into ecstasy, into a universe that was theirs alone, forming a bond that could not be broken.

Lela relaxed and hovered over him, supporting her weight. Leaning down, with her hair draped around his face like a sensual curtain, she kissed him deeply. Then she pulled back and looked into his eyes.

“Rip…” Lela’s voice made his heart swell with emotion. She touched his cheek. “You drive me crazy.”

*****

That night, Rip slept better than he had a right to. He opened his eyes to see Lela next to him, her hair falling over the pillow. She’d stayed by his side even when it had endangered her life. She was strong, resourceful, and goddamn sexy.

He rolled onto his back and looked up at the planked ceiling. Reflecting on what had happened, he got ticked off all over again. The assassin had nearly taken him out, and Lela would have been next. If anything happened to her, Rip wouldn’t be able to live with himself.

The assassin was still out there. Rip had to nail the son of a bitch. And he couldn’t waste time.

Rip was tired of Lela having to run and hide. It was time to take the assholes down, from the cartel boss to Ortiz. And that included taking the assassin out of action.

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