For the Bond (Romantic Suspense) (Beyond Blood, #3) Read Online Free PDF Page A

but it didn't feel like it. Peeking around, I saw nothing but trees and brush. A barren land, all to ourselves.
    “Here, come put this on.” Kite waved me over to the open trunk. Inside, I saw all the shiny gear and guns. The balls of paint looked like candy in their plastic cases. Kite lifted a pair of goggles, helping me fit them on my head. When they were settled, he grinned and tapped me over the left eye. “I'm going to give you your marker, treat it like a real gun. Remember everything I taught you?”
    “Definitely,” I said, holding out my hands. Lethal or not, I loved the idea of having some kind of weapon. The 'marker' as he'd called it was big, but that was due to the tank on top. Twisting it around, I tested the weight. My finger stayed away from the trigger. I really had committed everything Kite had shown me to memory. “How bad is this going to hurt?”
    Unzipping his jacket, Jacob set it in the trunk. The new one he slid into looked both smaller and more heavy duty. It was a mossy green color. “It will sting. The goggles will keep your eyes intact. Otherwise, these won't do anything too terrible.”
    Hands came down on my shoulders. “Do not,” Kite said, suddenly very serious, “Shoot me in the balls. Understand?”
    That did it, I started giggling. Covering my mouth, I felt a flush of warmth over their teasing smiles. Maybe this really was going to be fun. I liked that. I actually liked that a lot. There was no heavy, choking thought about Cece and her accusing stare. God, I felt light enough to imitate a balloon.
    Hoisting the gun, I grinned. “Okay, tell me how this works.”
    They took their time, explaining how to work the gun, and that each of us would get our own color of paint. “If you get hit,” Jacob said, pushing lightly against my collar bone to pantomime a flying ball. “We get one point. If you hit either of us, you get five points. We'll play to ten, that means you just have to hit us each once or one of us twice.”
    I swallowed the lump that had grown in my throat. Jacob hadn't removed his finger, I could feel its pressure through the jacket they had given me. “What are the points for?”
    “To decide who wins.” His nail curved, dragging down my chest. Never too far, just enough to make my heart throb.
    “But what does the winner get?” I asked warily.
    Kite swayed into my vision, his handsome face sharp in his slyness. “Whatever they want.”
    I had an idea what they wanted. The lust was shining in their eyes.
    “It's all in fun,” Jacob said. His hand fell away, leaving a hollow itch where he'd been touching me. As casually as I could, I rocked in place. The cold air was a useful tool with them both around. “The threat of losing is just a motivator.”
    “If I win, you'll really let me have anything?” I asked.
    They were both adjusting their equipment, one mind shared by two different people. “Whatever your mind can conjure,” Jacob chuckled.
    That was when I knew. They don't think I have a chance at beating them . People like this, they didn't promise riches when it was obvious I'd ask for the moon. In a real wager, I would have demanded they promise—promise beyond a shadow of a doubt—that they would never hurt me. Those skilled hands that made me moan, I didn't want them around my throat. No bullets, no barrels, nothing. I didn't want to rely on my letter to keep them in check.
    I wanted... fuck, I wanted to trust them.
    “You alright?” Jacob asked, his goggles hiding away the icy gaze I found so thrilling.
    Lifting the gun, I nodded briskly. “I'm ready. Let's do this.”
    We faced off in the middle of the clearing. Around us, the buzz of forest life was drowned out by my pumping blood. Jacob tapped his watch. “I'll count to five minutes. You should go and run, Marina. Hide from us. What you do after that is up to you.”
    “You're giving me a head-start?”
    Kite was grinning, rocking from one foot to the next. “Sure. This is our