Read Online Thrill Ride by Julie Ann Walker - Free Book Online Page A

squad that’d been sent in to put his head on a platter.
    Damn impressive.
    And before he could think better of it, he blurted, “If we had more time, I’d be sorely tempted to kiss you smack on the lips right now.”
    And then it was as if his wish was granted. Because everything came to a stop, the world ceased spinning in its orbit, and she turned to stare up at him, hope and desire and something he dare not name glittering in her dark eyes. “Rock, I…” Her voice trailed away as she took a short, hesitant step in his direction.
    Seemingly of its own accord, his chin dipped down.
    Right there. Her succulent, heart-shaped mouth was right there, and, mon dieu , her breath was warm. Her thigh bumped his, and he leaned forward, and—
    The sound of a twig snapping behind them had them jerking apart and leaping over the embankment. Holding on to each other, propping each other up as best they could, they skidded and slid down the sheer grade. Reaching the bottom, they stumbled into the cool, fast-moving water.
    Rock had to release Vanessa’s fingers as the current took their feet out from under them, and he immediately missed her warmth, the soft feel of her small hand tucked trustingly within his own. But he had only a moment to consider what a colossally dumbass notion that was—what a colossally dumbass move kissing her would have been—because the current picked up and, suddenly, it was game on.
    For several minutes, all either of them could manage was to tread water as the river took them where it wanted. And even though the water was a welcome reprieve from the stagnant jungle heat, Rock couldn’t enjoy the dunking—and the resultant cooling effect it had on his overheated libido—because his heavy pack kept trying to drag him under. He fought it along with the current, all the while scanning the northern embankment for the spot where the rocks protruded into the water. There, in that one particular spot, they could exit the river without leaving any telltale footprints.
    Where is it? Where is it? Where—
    Ah, there it is!
    “Head for the rocks!” he managed even though his mouth was full of water. Good thing he was an ex–Navy SEAL and felt as at home in the drink as he did on dry land, or else the repeated pull of his pack against his shoulders would’ve had him settling to the bottom of the river to serve as food for the fishes. As it was, he had to kick with everything he had in order to keep his head above the water.
    “The current’s too strong!” Vanessa sputtered, splashing beside him as she fought against the raging river.
    No. They couldn’t miss this opportunity. Their only hope of survival at this point was escape and evasion. And the first step to accomplishing those tasks was to make sure they got out of this damned river undetected.
    The muscles in his legs burned like wildfire, his shoulders threatened to pop right out of their sockets as he battled the heavy current. When he pulled even with Vanessa, he latched on to the collar of her shirt, dragging her with him as he slowly, methodically made his way toward the edge of the river and the quickly approaching rocks. She helped him as best she could, but she was just too light to fight the river on her own.
    Still, they only had one shot at this. And the time was… now!
    Raking in a deep breath, he allowed himself to sink to the bottom a couple of feet down, grabbing Vanessa around the hips. The instant his jungle boots touched silt, he pushed up with every last ounce of strength he had, catapulting her toward the rocks in the process and managing at the last minute, just barely, to reach out and snatch hold of the large branch that’d fallen across the river.
    Instantly, the current caught his legs, trying to yank him downstream, but he gritted his teeth and held on for everything he was worth until he was able to hook his free arm around the branch. Straining, feeling the vein in his forehead pulse in time to his heartbeat, he was