Rescued by the Captain (Winter Rescue)

6. Bria

6

brIA

Someone wants me dead? Holy shit.

My skin prickles with the thought. I look to my right and my reflection in the family photo shows I’ve become the color of snow.

A wave of memories confront me — first, that my name is Bria. Yes, that’s it. And several people want me dead. I worked at a corporation, and after I noticed that the books were off, I sleuthed around to find that they had cooked the books, defrauding hundreds of investors out of millions. I have — or had — the evidence to put several executives behind bars with the damaging evidence.

When I snap out of the daze, Donte stands in front of me. He squats, his large hands gripping my shoulders. “Talk to me, sweetheart,” he says with a careworn expression. “What’s going on?”

I inhale a deep breath. “You’re right.” Leaving his hold, I begin to pace the room.

“My name is Bria McKnight. I’m twenty-nine years old and I’m employed in an accounting department for an up and coming start-up in Omaha. Wait— I used to be employed at one.” I temporarily stop my pacing, rubbing my temples. “Last I remember, I was on my way home to Storm Canyon, right after being fired.” The fragmented images in my mind slowly become less muddy. “I was making the trip with my tail between my legs. My parents passed away this year, and I needed to take care of their final wishes.”

The recollection takes a somber tone. “My boss told the company I was embezzling. In reality, it was the boss’s bosses who were skimming money right and left.” I scrunch my eyebrows. “I must have had proof somewhere, but what could it be?”

Donte looks like he’s been thrust on a wild ride. “Well, that explains a lot,” he says breathily. He strides up to one of the windows. “No sign of the truck now and it looks like another storm is coming through, we aren’t getting out of here until tomorrow at the earliest. They don’t know you’re here with me.”

I bite my lip. No matter how many times I replay the memories I’ve salvaged, my mind reaches a blank on where I stored the evidence.

That’s not even the most unsettling apart. After a bit, my adrenaline subsides and a dreadful thought creeps in.

What if someone tried to kill me?

My heart throbs in fast, aching beats. I might’ve been left for dead by someone who is still out there. People who are out to permanently end my life.

And I don’t even know who they are.

Through shaky breaths, I clutch the table for support but I only end up stumbling over. Donte, quick on his feet, catches me just as I’m about to impact the wall.

“It’ll be okay,” he soothes my ear with his husky voice. Except this time, I find it impossible to tear myself from the horrors of my reality.

Why did I have to wake up if this is the life I’d return to? I don’t want to cope with endless fear, having to constantly throw glances over my shoulder thinking there’s a loaded barrel aiming at me or a shadow on heel.

I’m tired of feeling so weak, tired of bearing more anguish with the more that I learn.

Donte loosens our embrace. I wonder if he’s given up on my hopeless case, and has decided to do what’s best for himself— separate from this messy situation while he still can.

I honestly wouldn’t blame him, and a big part of me wouldn’t want him to get hurt.

Ever.

He’s obviously been through a lot.

But he holds my waist. Stares at me with the most intense, chocolate brown eyes and just when I think that I’ve been hypnotized, he comes plunging for my lips.

I gasp when our lips lock, the element of surprise is his superpower. He surprised me by rescuing me in the snow. He surprised me by cooking a delicious dinner. And he surprised me with a kiss that has my toes and the roots of my hair burning.

And everything in between, too.

For how strong he is, Donte’s kiss is tender. He tastes sweet and minty at the same time, like an exotic cocktail. I soak into his hungry mouth, pushing myself up against his hard abs. He’s so tender, so gentle, but I want him to devour me. Smother me in every inch of his tan muscles. I yank his shirt up, he steps back, breaking the kiss to pull his shirt off. He just stands there, looking at me. Hair slightly mussed, lips swollen from our kiss, desire glimmering in my hazel eyes.

He remarks in breathy awe. “God Bria, you’re gorgeous.” Then, he grabs my hips, trapping me in an even deeper kiss. As he feasts on my lips, he undoes the buttons of my blouse, exposing my skin to his lustful eyes.

“Let me distract you,” he says with a growl.

My thighs rub together, unable to contain the heat that builds between my legs. “I want you, Donte. Please, give me tonight.”