His jaw remained tight—although she was pretty sure that was because he was still furious at the reasons that had sent them into retreat.

She wasn’t in the clear yet.

“How much farther?” she asked. Again.

His solemn expression broke. “I swear, you’re as bad as the kids in the commercials. ‘Are we there yet? Are we?’ Still thirty minutes if the road doesn’t get blocked by another tree.”

Becki curled her legs under her and twisted until she was facing him, seat belt still tucked around her body. “I’m bored. There’s nothing to do.”

His snort of laughter made her smile.

“You do that far too well,” Marcus noted. “Although I’m not surprised. Adrenaline junkies don’t make the best travelers.”

“Actually, that was me channeling my kid brother. He’s eight years younger than me, so the last couple vacations I did with the family he was young enough to be an annoying brat. He got way better in his teens, but he sucks at sitting still.”

Marcus nodded. “You mentioned you were a lot alike. You haven’t stopped squirming since you got in the truck.”

“I feel guilty for running away,” Becki admitted. “And pissed off that I’ve allowed myself to be chased from Banff by stupid people.”

“Consider yourself kidnapped then, if it makes it better,” Marcus offered. “Don’t beat yourself up over doing what’s right for you. We’ll have the radio to stay in contact with the real authorities if they need you for anything. The rest of the people trying to track you down are not worth worrying about.”

She knew that. And she and Marcus had already discussed the team not needing more training from her at the moment—areas other than ropes would fill the final week of boot camp. Now she had to adjust her brain and accept this time was for her. To make the most of it.

The edge of fear stealing back over her soul infuriated her even as it scared her. She’d been breaking free of her worries a little at a time, and now they all seemed to be crowding her again. Depression and darkness—running away from Banff was no guarantee she could escape from anxiety.

Becki leaned her head on the seat back and watched a drop of water edge backward on Marcus’s window, pushed by the wind outside.

“You think I’ll keep remembering details?”

Marcus nodded. “It’s likely. From what I’ve heard, there’s usually an emotional reason for a memory block like yours. Now that more of the story has come forward, you might figure out exactly what happened.”

She dreaded and longed for that to happen, the conflicting emotions also making her crazy. “I’m running hot and cold at the idea.”

He didn’t say anything for a moment, just adjusted his fingers on the wheel. “You’re strong enough to handle whatever the truth is.”

The absolute conviction in his voice made her throat tighten. “Thank you.”

Marcus glanced at her briefly, nodded, then focused back on the road.

Time to change the topic. “Tell me more about the cabin.”

“The lap of luxury.” He slowed to maneuver past a fallen tree. “Four walls, a roof, and the best view ever. The place is actually David’s. He bought it back when I was still gallivanting around the globe and was too stupid to go halves with him. Now he refuses to let me buy him out.”

She peered out the front window. “It’s got the privacy thing down pat.”

He laughed. “Don’t worry, there really is everything we need. Consider this your holiday before heading to start teaching.”

“Right.” Ahead of them the road leveled, the trees clearing to low brush as they rounded the edge of the mountain. To the left the clouds were lifting, revealing a long line of peaks loaded with fresh snow. They were far enough down to stay below the snow line, the gravel road wet with moisture but not covered with fresh snow. “Tell me there’s a fireplace and I’ll be happy.”

“Airtight stove, not open fire, but the effect is still the same. The light shining through the glass window will look beautiful on your naked skin.”

Well, now. “There’s a change of topic.”

“You’re really surprised that I’m bringing up sex? We’ll have a bit of time on our hands. I thought you might as well know up front how I plan to occupy some of it.”

“Some?” Becki teased. “Marcus, the last time we were holed up together for three days we did little more than have sex. Oh, wait. When we had to take a breather, we occasionally ate.”

“We have a bit of food with us. Only for emergencies.”

The laughter that escaped felt good. This was what she needed. Maybe he was distracting her on purpose, but suddenly the notion of completing what they’d started that morning seemed a very good idea. “I can handle sex in front of the fireplace. I wonder if there’s a sturdy table in the kitchen area. Or a big bed? David strikes me as a king-size kind of guy.”

Marcus choked for a moment, glaring briefly in her direction. “Stop thinking about my brother and beds, if you don’t mind.”

Oh, really? Becki leaned back in her chair and decided the tormenting-slash-distracting could go both ways. Although the idea of fooling around with David didn’t turn her on. He’d been her teacher for too many years.

“It’s not David I wanted to get tangled up with. Just wondering if he’s got the same furniture designer you have. You know, the headboard with the convenient handholds. The couch at the perfect height that if I lean over the back you can fuck me from behind.”

Marcus growled softly, a rumble in the back of his throat. He adjusted position in his seat and sure enough, the front of his jeans was more crowded than before.

Becki wiggled impatiently, snapping open the button on her pants and unzipping. “I won’t expect the type of bathroom you have in your house—that kind of opulence would be pushing it, but then a tiny shower has advantages as well. No room to move without rubbing skin against skin.”

“Are you trying to make us go off the road?” he asked.

“You’ve got better control than that.” Becki stretched her legs out to the floorboards and eased her hand into her pants. “Hmm, thinking about all the things we can try over the next few days—you don’t mind if I start early, do you?”

She slicked her fingers over her clit and gasped, not worrying about staying quiet. Okay, maybe even making more noise than she usually would.

Marcus peeked at her once or twice, but he managed to keep his focus forward in the most impressive way. She ignored him for a moment, slowly stroking herself, planning what she’d do when they got to the cabin to reward him for everything she was currently putting him through, the sexual teasing the least of it.

“Becki. Pull your hand out of your pants now.”

“Why? Ohhh . . .” She moaned the word softly, dragging it out to taunt him. “Feels so good.”

“You know I’m going to get my revenge at some point. I think what you’re doing right now is usually referred to as poking the bear.”

“I hope the bear plans to poke back.” She pulled her hand free reluctantly. “But if you insist—”

“Let me taste,” he demanded.

She lifted her hand to his mouth and he sucked her fingers, licking them clean. Circling with his tongue as he teased, pulsing his lips around the digits lightly as she pulled her hand free.

The tingling between her legs had nothing to do with her provoking him anymore.

“Slip off your pants.” Marcus’s voice dropped a notch. Deeper. Darker.

He stared straight ahead, but somehow she knew he watched her. Becki didn’t hesitate. She wiggled out of her khakis and abandoned them on the floor with her shoes. The leather under her butt was soft and warm, the bare skin pressed against the material because there wasn’t much back there between her and the seat.

“Thong as well?” she asked.

“Yes.”

She slipped them down her legs and dropped them on top of the pile on the floorboards.

“Put your feet on the dashboard. I love how flexible you are.” He leaned forward and adjusted the air vents. “Now touch yourself. Tell me what you’re doing.”

A quiver raced up her spine. It was one thing when she was the one in control, trying to drive him mad. Now, having him turn the tables on her, she felt everything that much more intensely. Becki adjusted herself so she reclined a little more, widened her knees, and crept her fingers over her belly. Let the anticipation build.

“Talk to me,” Marcus reminded her, maneuvering them over a bumpy section of road. The swaying vehicle made her shake slightly in her seat, and she pressed her entire hand over her sex to try to ease the rising fires.

“I want to take it slow. Pretend you’re the one touching me. There’s an ache inside, like a ghostly memory of being filled with your cock this morning. I want to have that back, to remember what it feels like to be stretched by you.”

She dipped her fingers in, sliding over skin that had gone wetter as she thought about what they were doing. Her touch felt good but lacked so much. “It’s not enough. My hand. I can tease, but there’s no comparison between this and having you inside me.”

“Rub your clit. Get yourself off fast.” Marcus whispered the words.

She slid her fingers higher, moisture coating her labia. Becki used both hands, opening herself with one and using the other to rub in tiny circles over the sensitive spot at the apex of her sex.

Marcus flipped a switch on the dashboard. A rush of sound filled her ears, the strong current of air from the heaters rushing out and striking her sex dead on.

“Oh my.” She increased the speed, pressing harder as the tingling pulses rose, beckoning on her climax as the strange sensation of wind blowing over her wet body added to the tension. It wasn’t as good as a vibrator, but it was enough to make her tremble on the edge.