WILD MEN OF ALASKA

chapter SIX

Something else fired in Kate’s blood as Sergei cut through her bonds. She held still, barely breathing with him so near, hoping he didn’t notice her pulse racing.

“Have you had that blade on you this whole time?” she asked as he freed her hands and went to work on the ropes anchoring her to the chair.

“This blade vas my father’s, and I’m never vithout it.” He let the reality that he’d been armed the entire time during her multiple attacks sink in.

The last of her bindings fell away, and he slowly gathered up the rope, his eyes never leaving hers. She stood, massaging her wrists. The relief of being free washed over her. She wanted to stretch, bend at the waist and touch her toes, but, much like prey, she kept her eyes on Sergei as he flicked the switchblade closed and stashed it away in the front pocket of his jeans.

“Do you need to use the facilities?” he asked, depositing the rope back onto the counter.

Badly. She nodded.

“This vay.” He gestured with his arm into the great room of the lodge, which she took time to catalog.

There was a door in the kitchen that led outside and the French doors off the great room exited onto the large deck. He took her up the stairs that overlooked the stunning two-story room and the hand-laid rock fireplace. Tongue-and-grove pine covered the ceilings where log beams jointed together. Stunning place. One she would love to spend time in.

Sergei brought her into a large bedroom, where he was obviously staying. She stopped at the doorway.

“The lodge isn’t in use this time of year. I hadn’t planned on any ‘guests’. So the only rooms open are mine.”

“You live among the others?”

“No. Vhen everyone is here, I stay in bunkhouse. I like my privacy, and I don’t require much in vay of needs.” His words slid over her like a caress as though if he could have her, his needs would be met.

She didn’t want to enter the bear’s den. The mammoth king size canopy bed was made of logs. Imposing, much like the man. A quilt in hunter greens and rich browns covered the bed. Books on multiple subjects were stacked on both night tables and piled onto the floor. One window showcased the impassable mountains with nestling glaciers in the distance, while the other looked out over the black cove. The room must be on a corner of the lodge to be able to see so much of the outdoors. She understood why he had picked it.

Had he seen her coming? She’d come from the direction the mountain-side window faced. She could almost map her trail from here. If he had been gazing out of this window, he would have seen her inch down the mountainside. They shared a look, and she hated that he’d known. She was not this predictable. The man had to have a sixth sense.

He cocked his head to the side as she continued to stand in the doorway. “I’m not going to jump you, Katja. Unless you make a move on me first, then all bets are off.” He gave her his back as though he didn’t fear her in the slightest.

That burned.

It was not a trust gesture. It was I-don’t-think-you-are-a-threat-to-me gesture. He flicked on the bathroom light. She ventured into the bedroom, her blood simmering. He gathered up items from the counter, and the drawers. A razor, scissors, dental floss, and spray cologne.

“Feel free to shower if you’d like,” he said, carrying the few things he’d grabbed out of the room. “If you need more bandages there are some in the bottom drawer.”

Like she was getting naked with him so close.

“The door locks from the inside,” he added.

One thing she knew without a doubt, if Sergei wanted into the room, a standard bathroom lock wouldn’t keep him out.

He stepped aside for her to enter. “Don’t try the vindow. The drop is too far and the terrain nothing but ice. The fall vould kill you and there is nothing inside here to assist in your descent. You have twenty minutes in case you’d like to shower. I promise not to bother you until the time is up.” He shut the door behind him leaving her peacefully alone.

She didn’t waste any time.

Sergei heard the shower kick on. He’d give anything to know what Kate was doing in there. Knowing her, she wouldn’t lay down her guard long enough to take the shower he’d offered. But she’d surprised him before. Hell, everything she did surprised him. From the first moment he’d “chanced” to meet her in the outdoor market in the eastern Afghan city of Khost.

It was supposed to be a quick drop. Get in, get out kind of thing. That was until he’d seen her, talked with her. He’d fallen right then and there. The woman had an innocence about her he hadn’t encountered in years, if ever. What had she been doing as a spy?

In the last two years, she’d lost some of that innocence. A fair share of it at his hands. Part of him regretted the necessary evil of that and another part did not. But what he regretted the most was the pain he’d caused her. Not killing Perry, but not being there for her the morning following their unbelievable night together and the resulting aftermath.

He’d been able to do what he could from a distance, making sure she wasn’t court-martialled, by him turning state’s evidence. He’d given up his country for her, and she didn’t even know it.

She would soon.

The shower shut off. He glanced at his watch. Five minutes until show time.