by Aliyah Burke
“Still doesn’t tell me what the material is.” He placed it back in her hand.
Closing her fingers over the cool metal, she relaxed as it warmed beneath her touch. “I can’t tell you. I don’t know myself, exactly.”
“I know you don’t like to drink coffee this late but I think we’re going to be up for a while. I’m making a pot.”
Her stomach rumbled and she rubbed her belly. “I’ll make breakfast.”
They worked well together and when they returned to the table with plates full of food, he let her eat a few bites before insisting she tell him the rest. So she did.
Chapter Six
Stirring awake, Dex froze. Something was different. Outside the rain pounded on the windows while inside…Frost was in his arms.
He thought back to the circumstances leading up to her being there. They’d eaten and she’d shared with him a whole bunch of things he wouldn’t have believed if he’d not been well acquainted with her. She was blunt, stubborn as all get out but the one thing this woman wasn’t was a liar. He might not want to buy what she’d said, but he believed her.
So how did she get in my arms? He opened his eyes. The day was dark and gray, offering very little light through the windows. The living room. Memories flashed.
They’d finished talking on the sofa. We must have fallen asleep. He peered down at the woman lying on top of him. Out soundly, she had her arms around his upper body, holding tight like he preferred. Dex didn’t like a woman who didn’t want to hold onto her man. Why did he have to do all the possessing? Hold him tight. Dig her nails into his skin. That was what he liked.
We’ll get to the nails later. Here and now she appeared so tiny and fragile. While he knew better, it didn’t stop his own protective instincts from rising. This is why I don’t sleep with women I work with. Because then I begin to view them as women who need protecting and not able to hold their own.
His body wasn’t listening to his brain in any fashion. His dick had risen to the occasion and sought a way free from his sweats. She moaned and burrowed closer. Dex brushed some of her hair back from her face. He traced a finger along her blended features, a perfect mix of black and Asian.
How can someone who’s so small do what she claims she’s supposed to do? And why am I pissed she says she has a mate out there? “Out there means you haven’t met them yet.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead.
“Dex?” she mumbled, her voice all sleep-sexy.
“Yes?”
“Why am I lying on top of you?”
“I suppose it’s because I’m more comfortable than the couch.” He was pleased she hadn’t tried to move away.
“Smell better too,” she mentioned.
“Are we staying like this or should we take it somewhere else?”
“Do we have to get up?”
He took her hand and moved it to his groin. “I’m up, sweetheart.”
Her teeth grazed his skin as she whimpered. She flexed her fingers around his length and began stroking. “Tell me to stop,” she said.
“No. I want you, Frost. I want to feel your pussy’s heat around my cock. I want your nails raking my back as you orgasm. I want it all.”
She pressed kisses along his torso, moving up toward his neck and head. “This is a very bad idea, Dex. We work together. Plus what I told you before we fell asleep.”
“You’re single now, Frost. That’s all that matters.”
“It could make working together hard.”
“We’re both professional.” He slid his hands into her pants and cupped her ass, holding her tight against him. “We’ll find a way.”
Her lips brushed over his as she rose up to stare down at him. “You sound confident.”
“I am.” He cupped the back of her head, keeping their lips in contact. “We’ve been fighting this from the beginning. Why continue to fight?”
“You’re right,” she sighed.
That’s what he’d been waiting for. With a low growl, he wrapped her tight in his embrace and kissed her. The previous one he’d given her had only wetted his appetite for more. Hell had welcomed him when he’d left her there alone and walked away. That wasn’t happening this time.
He turned them so she was blocked in between him and the back of the couch. Dex took his hand from her pants and slipped it up her back, craving the feel of her soft skin against him.
“Off,” she mumbled.
He assisted her in removing her shirt. They were torso to torso, bare skin on bare skin. He thrust against her and she retaliated, bucking back. His cock was so hard it hurt. She grasped him again and began rubbing him through the fleece of his sweats.
“You keep that up and I’m not going to last long.”
“Is that a problem?”
“Yes, I have no intentions of this being over so quickly.”
She nipped his lip. “Trust me, neither do I.” She worked her hand inside his pants and purred. “Commando. I like that.”
The warmth of her hand surrounded his cock and he gritted his teeth at the sensation. There weren’t words to describe how this set him on fire. Her grip was strong yet gentle, the perfect combination.
“Fuck,” he uttered, hips arching into her touch.
“I hope so.”
“Lose the pants,” he ordered.
Within moments, they were both naked and she again lay atop of him, hair falling down around them. She placed her palms on his deltoids and rocked against him, her pussy slicking along his cock.
“Protection?” he asked. If she wanted him to cover up, he’d find a way to stop this and make his way back to the bedroom.
“No need. I’m on the shot.”
He gripped her hips. “Put me inside that hot pussy of yours.”
Her teeth captured a portion of her lower lip as she raised up a bit. She curved her fingers around the base of his shaft and angled him. Then she lowered herself upon him.
Somehow, he found a way to hold still and not thrust up inside her. She welcomed him in, an inch at a time until she rested on him, his cock fully in her pussy.
“So goddamn snug,” he rasped.
Her lids fluttered and she whimpered. “Move.”
Dex brought her closer to him, so he could suck on her breasts as he moved inside her. Every single inch of her was so responsive. Her heat hugged him tight and he longed to power deep.
He increased his speed when she began to move with him, undulating and riding the up and down motion with ease. Palms on his chest, she ground back into him, taking him deeper.
He stared at her face, loving the expressiveness. Passion bloomed there, no denying it. Her lips were damp and parted as she moaned. She didn’t attempt to stifle her cries. She raked her nails down over his pectorals and he trembled when she hit his nipples.
She tossed her hair and pushed up, riding him harder now. He held on to one hip and moved his other hand to her pussy. Using his thumb, he sought out her clit and rubbed it. Her vocalizations grew louder as her pussy tightened around him. She dug her nails in deep as she came, adding pain to his pleasure.
Pinching her clit until she finished coming, he was rewarded with another flood of moisture when he released her. That triggered his own climax and he exploded with a low roar, filling her with his seed.
She collapsed on his chest, skin slick with sweat. He wrapped his arms around her and found her lips. She kissed him with as much passion as he had for her. His cock hardened as it drew on.
Breaking away, he popped her on the ass. “Turn around,” he growled.
She rose off him and did as ordered. He stared at her. Hands on the arm of the couch and her naked ass in his direction, her pussy there, waiting for him. He readjusted and stroked himself, their combined juices adding to the ease. With one knee on the cushion and one foot flat on the floor, he put the head of his cock at her pussy and slid in.
Her moan of acceptance combined with the light shudder overtaking her ricocheted through her to his dick.
> * * * *
Knock. Knock.
Aminta stirred and cracked open her eyes. She lay in her bed, completely naked. The knocking came again. She sat up and glanced around. No Dex. No clothing near, either.
“Coming,” she called out. At the end of her bed on the floor were her clothes. She drew them on and sniffed herself. Okay, I don’t smell like sex. I can do this. She walked toward the door while running a hand through her hair in a meager attempt to remove the snarls.
She opened it and blinked a few times to register who stood there. Roz. Aminta squealed and threw her arms around her.
“Oh my God, I’m so glad to see you.”
Roz returned the hug and said, “Likewise. I figured you’d be keen to find out what happened so I decided a trip to Alaska was in order, and why the hell do you smell like sex? You know what? Never mind. I don’t want to know, I’m just glad you’re getting some. Is he here?” She looked by her. “This man who you’ve shagged?”
“Shut up,” she said, stepping back to allow Roz in and out of the rain.
Roz grabbed the hem of her shirt and lifted. “Did he leave marks?”
Aminta smacked her hand away with a laugh. “Back off.”
“You were always such a prude.” She clasped her hands together. “Go clean up, I’ll dig around for some food.” She held up a hand. “Unless I’m interrupting. Is he back in your room?”
“God, you’re hopeless.” Aminta headed for her room. “I’ll be right back.”
She cleaned up in short order and had dressed in something a bit more suitable for company, even though it was Roz. Her sibling was just covering the newly unpacked crock pot when she returned to the kitchen.
They shared another hug and Aminta smoothed some of her curls away from her face. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
“I am. It took a while and I still have some nights where sleep isn’t quite an option, but I’m okay.” She squeezed her hand. “I promise.”
Tears pricked her eyes. “I’m so sorry I wasn’t there.”
“No. You don’t get to do this, Mina.” Roz pushed her shoulder. “That’s not what this visit is about. We all do what we must and you were called here. If you’d abandoned this to come sit at my side, I would be pissed.”
“Okay.”
They were serious for a few more moments. Then Roz grinned and waggled her eyebrows. “Now, tell me about him. He must be something special.”
“I work with him.”
She clapped her hands. “Easy access.”
Aminta rolled her eyes. “You have no idea. He lives here in the cabin as well.”
“I knew you had it in you. I knew it. Now, what’s his name?”
“Dex.”
She shook her shoulders. “Ohh, sexy. Me likey. I’m assuming from that glow about you and the”—she touched Aminta’s neck—“abrasions there, he lives up to the sexiness of his name. Did he bring it?”
“Yes. More than once.” She scrunched her eyes shut. “It was sooo good.”
Roz whooped. “I knew somewhere in you lingered the woman I see before me. No way you could grow up where we did and be such a prude. I need to meet him and find out what it is about him that got to you.”
“It’s not that simple, Roz.”
“Why not?”
“I still don’t have my mate.”
She huffed. “So what? It doesn’t mean you have to live the life of a nun until you find him.”
“But I form attachments. I don’t want to be hurt if I fall for him and then find my mate is some small little pudgy dude who spends his days deciding who gets a loan or not.”
Roz snorted and touched her arm. “I can see you’ve given this a whole lot of thought.”
“I’m not like you, Roz. I don’t know how you do—did—it. How do you not fall in love with a man you sleep with?”
“Because for me it was about relief. That’s what I went in thinking—not wondering if it would last or where we were going next. I didn’t care. I wanted to know they could get me off and that was all I needed from them.”
Aminta laughed and stared at the ceiling. “I love how blunt you are.”
“Men do it. Why is it such a taboo for women? If you like sex, go have it. No one has the right to tell you there needs to be a ring on your finger first or in our case, that you have to have found your mate. Do you really think Cale could have kept it in his pants until he was forty, if that’s how long it took him to find his mate?”
“Not a chance.”
“This man isn’t married, is he?”
“No.”
“Then as far as I’m concerned—and as far as you should be—you’re both consenting adults.”
“I’m not supposed to be the topic here, I’m to be asking you how you are and finding out what happened?”
“I’m okay. They cut out my shoulder tattoo.”
Revulsion and fury tore through her. She took Roz’s hand and squeezed. “I’m so sorry.”
“It was just a mark.” She pulled up the sleeves of her shirt. “I have these ones now.”
The running horses were done in intricate detail. Aminta touched them. The power in her sign responded to the live outpouring she got from connecting to Roz’s. A warm spread of heat and low wattage electricity went through her. From Roz’s expression, she experienced it as well.
“Never gets old, does it?”
Her foster sister shook her head, curls bouncing. “Never.”
The door to the cabin opened and Dex stepped through. His eyes landed on her right away and he gave her a private grin.
Roz turned and whistled. “This is your partner, Mina?” She grabbed her gaze again. “Nice. He’s hot.”
“And not deaf,” she said shaking her head. “Dex, I’d like you to meet my sister Roz.”
He smiled, lips curving up as if he knew a secret he couldn’t wait to share. “Nice to meet you. I hope you’re feeling better.”
“He knew I wasn’t well?” Roz nudged her. “So tell, Mina.”
Dex shook her hand and placed the mail on the table before joining them. “Mina?”
“I call her Mina.”
He stretched out his legs and Aminta was hard pressed to not stare hungrily at his groin. “So where,” he asked, winking at her before holding Roz’s gaze, “did she get the name Frost?”
“That was given to her by the man who taught her to fly. He always said she flew with ice in her veins, so he called her Frost. I guess she wasn’t keen on Frosty.”
“Roz, there’s really no need to—”
“He asked the question, Mina. Lian brought us up with manners. It would be rude of me not to.”
She rolled her eyes. “I’ve seen you rude plenty.”
“Keep it up and you will again,” she said under her breath. “Not today.” Roz waved her off. “Go be moody elsewhere. Check on the food or something. I’m talking to him. I want to learn more about this man who you live with.” Roz gave her a pointed look at the last two words.
With a groan, Aminta rose and left them to get better acquainted. The rain continued to fall as she made some hot chocolate the way she knew Roz preferred. Laughter echoed from the living room.
Dex got along with her quite easily. She turned back to the stove. It’s already happened. I’ve developed feelings for him. She had to give herself a bit of a break—it would have been hard for her not to. They lived together and worked together. Their job was one rife with tension and adrenaline. She got to see the best of him.
Pouring the cocoa in a mug, Aminta shut off the burner. She grabbed some whipped cream from the fridge and added it then some chocolate drizzle. Once it had been crafted to Roz’s preference, she carried it over.
“Here you go.”
“Ohh, you keep this up and I may not leave.” Roz took it from her.
“Not sure your man would be pleased about that.”
Roz sipped and groaned before smacking her lips.
There are times I forget how
young she is.
“Probably right. In fact, I fully expect him to show up here looking for me. He’s been a bit of a bear since I almost died.”
“He’s your mate, Roz. Did you think he would be okay with that happening?”
“I don’t know what I thought. He almost died as well. It’s not like I was the only one in danger.”
She joined her on the sofa. “You’re the Guardian. For this to have almost killed you scared all of us.”
Dex leaned forward. “So you can call up weapons as well?”
Roz nodded. “All of us can. I must say, for someone who’s not in the world as we are, you seem fairly calm with all of this.”
“Not a good thing to panic in my line of work. Plus once I saw how fast Frost moved to take out that cobra, I knew there was something else going on.”
“Right,” Roz said. “That. I have something for you from Lian.”
“Wonderful.”
She finished her drink. “Yes, now, take me to explore this town of yours. I feel the need to do some shopping.”
“You have noticed it’s raining out, right?”
“I live in Oregon, Mina. We both do. What’s a little rain? I’m going to toss my bag in your room. I ‘spect you’ll be crashing with hunky here, so I get the bed all to myself. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
She left and Aminta just sat there, shaking her head.
Dex reached out and tapped her on the knee.
“Don’t even ask, Dex. She’s an attorney and a pain in my ass. I have nothing else to say on the matter.”
“I like her and you are more than welcome in my bed.” He shuffled closer and kissed her.
Aminta pressed into him and allowed her eyes to drift closed. “Good, because I don’t want to share with her.”
“Break it up, you two. I’m still here,” Roz said.
“Think anyone would mind if I took her up in the chopper but was the only one to make it back?” She mumbled her question against his lips.
“I’m right here,” Roz argued. “I can hear you.”
“You were supposed to. How long do we have until whatever is in that crock pot is ready?”