Free Mackenzie's Pleasure by Linda Howard Page B

to feel the softness of her flesh beneath his hand. He
    wanted to fold her within the warm protection of his body, tuck her in close, curl around her
    and keep her there with an arm draped around her waist. Only the knowledge that the last
    thing in the world she would want now was a man's touch kept him from doing just that.
    He wanted to hold her. He ached to hold her.
    She was dwarfed by his shirt, but he'd seen the body hidden by the folds of cloth. His
    night vision was very good; he'd been able to discern her high, round breasts, not very big, but
    definitely mouth-watering, and tipped with small, tight nipples. She was curvy, womanly, with
    a small waist and rounded hips and a neat little triangle of pubic hair. He'd seen her
    buttocks. Just thinking about it made him feel hollowed out with desire; her butt was fine
    indeed. He would like to feel it snuggled up against his thighs.
    He wasn't going to be able to sleep, after all. He was fully aroused, desire pulsing
    through his swollen and rigid flesh. Wincing, he turned onto his back and adjusted himself to
    a more comfortable position, but the comfort was relative. The only way he would truly find
    ease was within the soft, hot clasp of her body, and that wasn't likely to happen.
    The small room grew brighter and warmer as dawn developed into full morning. The
    stone walls would protect them from most of the day's heat, but soon they would need
    water. Water, food, and clothes for her. A robe would be better than Western-style clothing,
    because the traditional Muslim attire would cover her hak, and there were enough
    traditionalists in Benghazi that a robe wouldn't draw a second glance.
    The streets were noisy now, the waterfront humming with activity. Zane figured it was
    time for him to do some foraging. He wiped the camouflage paint from his skin as best he could
    and disguised what was left by smearing dirt on his face. He wasn't about to go unarmed, so he
    pulled the tail of his T-shirt free from his pants and tucked the pistol into the waistband at the
    small of his back, then let the shirt fall over it. Anyone who paid attention would know the
    bulge for what it was, but what the hell, it wasn't unusual for people to go armed in this part of the
    world. Thanks to his one-quarter Comanche heritage, his skin had a rich bronze hue, and in
    addition he was darkly tanned from countless hours of training in the sun and sea and wind.
    There was nothing about his appearance that would attract undue notice, not even his eyes,
    because there were plenty of Libyans with a European parent.
    He checked Barrie, reassuring himself that she was still sleeping soundly. He'd told her that
    he would be slipping out for a while, so she shouldn't be alarmed if she woke while he was
    gone. He left their crumbling sanctuary as silently as he had entered it.
    It was over two hours before he returned, almost time for the designated check-in time
    with his men. He had a definite talent for scavenging, he thought, though outright thievery
    would probably be a better term. He carried a woman's black robe and head covering, and
    wrapped up in it was a selection of fruit, cheese and bread, as well as a pair of slippers he hoped
    would fit Barrie. The water had been the hardest to come by, because he'd lacked a container.
    He'd solved that by stealing a stoppered gallon jug of wine, forbidden by the Koran but
    readily available anyway. He had poured out the cheap, sour wine and filled the jug with
    water. The water would have a definite wine taste to it, but it would be wet, and that was all
    they required.
    While he had the opportunity, he disguised the entrance to their lair a bit, piling some
    stones in front of it, arranging a rotted timber so that it looked as if it blocked the door. The
    door was still visible, but looked much less accessible. He tested his handiwork to make
    certain they could still get out easily enough, then slipped inside and once again braced the door
    in its