Page 38 of Line of Resistance

Nate paused before slowly turning her way. “Shit.” He fished out his phone and shut it down. “A few hours ago I would have said yes, but that was before someone came out of nowhere to shoot up my Jeep before hauling it away.”

Eloise smirked. “I thought it was me they were after.”

“It should have been.” Nate pointed one gloved finger at her. “You’re a menace.” His lips barely twitched as he turned back to continue trekking across the sloping valley leading them toward shelter.

She managed half a smile at his tease, but the whole situation was beginning to get to her. The hike had sweat sinking into her base layer, making everything wet from both the inside and the outside. Her steps started to slow as the exhaustion from being stranded in her car and chased by homicidal maniacs hit. Eloise peeked around Nate’s broad body, expecting the little cabin to be close, but the damn thing seemed just as far away as it had ten minutes ago. For the first time since all this started, she felt a little bit like crying. But only felt like it. Wasn’t going to actually do it.

Crying was for quitters. And she wasn’t a quitter.

A distraction would help. Something that would occupy her mind without requiring too much thinking since her brain was starting to shut down.

“You said having an untrackable cell was one of the perks of working for Alaskan Security. What are the rest?” She didn’t really expect an interesting answer, but maybe listening to Nate ramble about his job would help the time pass a little faster.

“I get to kill people who deserve to be killed. That’s pretty fun.” Nate continued walking, like he didn’t just admit to being an assassin.

Elise stopped in her tracks, blinking a few times like that might help her brain process what must be incorrect information. “I don’t think I heard you right.”

Nate swung around to face her, looking calm and confident and in control. “You heard me right. I figured you should have a heads-up just in case shit gets ugly.”

“You’re saying you might have to kill people?” Eloise looked from side to side. She would know if she was unconscious, right? Would have realized she passed out and was caught in some weird dream where Nate was talking about murder the same way most people talked about what they ate for breakfast.

He came toward her, steps slow and careful. His hands came to rest on her shoulders, heavy but gentle. “Breathe.”

She sucked in air. “I am breathing.” Her eyes snapped to his. “You can’t just drop information like that and expect me not to have a reaction.”

“I did expect you to have a reaction. That’s why I’m telling you now instead of after you’ve had to watch me kill someone who was trying to hurt you.” He stepped closer, the invasion of her space not as unwanted as it should have been, all homicidal things considered. “Because if anyone tries to lay a hand on you I won’t think twice.” He leaned closer, eyes serious. “And for the record, Matt is lucky he’s still breathing. I could have made him disappear and I wouldn’t have felt even a little bad about it.”

Well damn. Now she was a little disappointed he wasn’t slightly more murderous. Eloise shook off his hands. “Coulda, woulda, shoulda.” She lifted her brows at him. “But that seems to be the story of your life, doesn’t it?”

She started to stride away, but only made it two steps before Nate’s hand snagged her arm, whipping her back to face him. This time he didn’t simply look serious. This time he looked just as deadly as he claimed to be.

“I don’t mind letting you play with me, Eloise, but there are limits.” He inched in closer, using his hold to keep her from backing away. “And if you keep pushing me you’re going to find out what they are.”

“Are you threatening me?” It sounded a little bit like a threat, but not quite, and that not quite part had an unfortunate ache starting between her thighs.

“Take it however you want.” Nate’s lips were dangerously close to hers as he continued. “All I’m saying is you keep fucking around you’re going to get everything I’ve ever promised you, so you better start deciding if you want it or not.”

Before she could react, he turned and continued down their intended path, leaving her stunned and pissed and honestly a little turned on.

No, a lot turned on.

“Better hurry.” Nate glanced up as the snow started falling faster. “Unless you’d rather freeze to death than spend another minute with me.”

The decision should be an easy one but she hesitated. Suddenly being alone with Nate seemed very dangerous.

Maybe it wasn’tthatcold. Maybe she’d be fine in the snow.

Nate stopped and turned, throwing his arms out at his sides. “Are you fucking kidding me?” He stalked toward her, the hardness in his expression making her take a step back. He didn’t slow down as she started to retreat, closing the distance between them in long strides that ended when he bent at the waist and hauled her over his shoulder, just like he did at the bar.

Eloise yelped as the world turned upside down and her hair found its way into her eyes and up her nose. “What the fuck? I was still deciding.”

“I changed my mind. You don’t get options.” Nate’s steps were faster now as he hauled both her and all her gear up the hillside. “You’re enough of a pain in the ass that you’d try to freeze to death.”

Eloise swiped at her hair, attempting to get it free of her mouth and eyelashes. “It might be better than dealing with you.”

Once again, Nate proved to be immune to her snarky ways. If anything, he seemed to freaking enjoy it. His laugh was loud as hell, carrying through the cold air as they continued toward the small building she’d seen in the distance. The deep, rich sound of it was almost as annoying as realizing she was significantly warmer with her entire front pressed against Nate’s body. The steady chattering of her teeth had somewhat subsided as the heat from his chest sank into her legs and his back blocked the bulk of the wind from reaching her upper half. Add in not having to fight her way through the snow, and she was almost reconsidering kicking him in the nuts when he put her down.

But only almost.

---