Amber Eyes (Amber Eyes #1)(6)

Jericho sucked in his breath. Did Hunter have any idea what he was saying? Or the memories he dredged up? Hunter had sworn never to put another woman between them, literally or figuratively.

Beside him, Hunter cursed. “That wasn’t what I meant, Jericho, and you damn well ought to know it. Look, bringing her back here was your idea, not mine. I’d just as soon she not die here.”

“Keep your panties on,”Jericho murmured as he relinquished his bundle into Hunter’s arms.

He got up and went into the bedroom to drag the covers from his bed. Next, he hit Hunter’s room and made two trips with blankets and pillows.

When he came back the last time, he saw Hunter sitting on the floor in front of the fire, the woman curled into his arms, nearly swallowed by Hunter’s embrace. There was a look of determination and, oddly enough, tenderness on Hunter’s face as he stroked one hand through her hair. In that one unguarded moment, Jericho saw more emotion on his friend’s face than he’d seen in years.

Silently he went about making a pallet on the floor by the fire. Hunter scooted over to give Jericho room as he arranged more blankets and pillows.

When Jericho was finished, he stood and stripped his shirt off. He sat on the couch so he could pull his boots off, and he tossed them toward the front door. They landed with a thump, and he stood once again to unfasten his jeans. If he was going to be lying on the floor, he was going to be as comfortable as possible.

Stripped down to his underwear, he stepped onto the mound of blankets and gestured for Hunter to relinquish the woman. Hunter carefully leaned over and eased her into Jericho’s arms. While Hunter stood to undress, Jericho positioned her to his side, lifting the blankets so that she fit flush against his body so his warmth would bleed into her.

She stirred lightly. A soft, whispery moan escaped her parted lips and blew gently over his neck. As if seeking more of his heat, she snuggled deeper into his chest, her legs twining with his.

God it felt good to have a woman in his arms again. It had been so long. Too damn long. All soft curves and swells. There was nothing like holding a woman this close.

Hunter got down on her other side and turned away from her and Jericho. Without a word, he moved until his back was molded tightly to hers. Jericho could feel the tension radiating from Hunter. It was tangible. If Jericho were smart, he’d turn his back as well. She needed their warmth and nothing else.

It was too easy to remember the last—and only—time he and Hunter had slept with a woman between them. Back when they were young and foolish and thought they had all the answers.

He glanced down at the still-sleeping woman nestled so sweetly in his arms.

“Who are you?”he murmured. “And where did you come from?”

Chapter Four

Kaya stirred but quickly stilled and held her breath. Warm. So warm. She let her breath out in a soft sigh of contentment and then opened her eyes. All she saw was human flesh. Her nose was pressed solidly against a chest. She carefully inhaled, recognizing the scent immediately.

She came fully awake as panic engulfed her.

She tried to roll but rammed into another human. Hunter. Hands came out to steady her, but she bolted upright, shaking them off and scrambling frantically away.

“Hey, easy now,”Jericho murmured even as he reached for her arm.

Her gaze swept the room looking for possible escape routes. Locking onto the front door, she made her bid for freedom.

Strong arms caught her and locked her against a muscular chest. She cried out, unable to stanch the quick flash of fear.

“Shhhh,”Hunter soothed.

He gripped her tightly, holding her prisoner. Her heart beat wildly, her br**sts nearly flattened by his forearms. No clothes. A moan nearly escaped her. She was naked, in a strange man’s arms.

The cougar howled within, worried and anxious. It took every ounce of her strength not to give over to the beast.

“No one’s going to hurt you. Breathe. Your heart’s beating way too fast.”

Breathing was impossible around the panic swelling her throat. She stared at Jericho just a few feet away, pleading silently with him to make Hunter release her.

“Hunter, let her go.”

“I can’t do that,”Hunter said, his breath blowing across her ear. “She’ll bolt for the door.”

“She won’t make it, and you’re scaring her to death.”

He was right. She couldn’t make it to the door now that they were focused on her. She’d never get past them the way she’d done before.

Slowly, Hunter loosened his hold. She took advantage and lunged away, her knees scraping the floor in her haste. She fell forward, her palms smacking the wood as she caught herself. Jericho was there, touching her shoulder, and she rolled, instinctively putting up her hands to protect herself.

He didn’t touch her again. He crouched over her, clad in only his underwear. His expression was hard, but something in his eyes comforted her. What?

“We aren’t going to hurt you,”he said in a low voice. “We found you in a cave, nearly dead from exposure. We brought you back here so we could warm you up and take care of you.”

She scrunched her eyebrows together. “Why?”

He blinked in surprise. To the side, Hunter moved, and her gaze darted cautiously to him. But he ignored her and collected his clothing from the floor.

“Would you have preferred we left you to die?”Jericho asked.