She moaned his name on a deep, throaty groan, and he just about blew his load. Shit, she was sexy, and he wanted her more than his next breath, needed her more than he’d ever thought possible.
But he wanted to make it good for her, for her to remember — to feel tomorrow— that he’d been between her thighs.
His mouth never leaving her breasts, Ryker scooped Laila up and set her on the bed then followed her down, pressing his body into the lean softness of hers.
He pulled back just enough to yank off the scrap of silk that passed as shorts. Desire, hot and raging, exploded within him when he saw she wore nothing beneath them.
“So killing anyone who saw you in the hall,” he muttered, kissing his way down her abdomen.
“No one saw,” she said with a laugh that turned into a gasp when he nipped at her hipbone.
“I don’t care.” He looked up at her, made sure she met his gaze. “You’re beautiful.”
Her cheeks went rosy.
“It’s true.” He pressed a kiss to her navel. “Your skin is like silk.” Another kiss, lower this time, and he slipped his fingers between her thighs. “You’re even softer here.”
2302 HRS Sunday
KTS Command
Ryker’s Bed
LAILA WAS ON FIRE.
Ryker’s fingers were calloused, and the friction of them between her legs had wave after wave of pleasure coursing through her body.
Her skin was hot, her pulse thunderous, and as much as she liked it when his mouth followed his hand — sucking softly, licking and teasing her into a frenzy — neither of those parts were the one she wanted.
“Ryker…” she said, her tone bordering on begging.
“Stay with me, Laila,” he murmured, pushing her higher before slipping a finger inside her.
It wasn’t enough.
“More.”
His mouth went firmer, the strokes inside of her stronger. She was soaring, pleasure — intense and heady — engulfing her, lighting her on fire.
It still wasn’t enough. Not nearly enough.
“Ryker.”
He didn’t move.
And she’d run out of patience.
With a quick strike, she yanked his head from between her thighs and flipped him over. His shirt was torn off with a short burst of strength.
She would have to spend some quality time with the wide expanse of muscles, the slight sprinkling of chest hair, the flat abdominals. Her mouth watered with the urge to taste.
But the ache between her legs was louder, more intense.
“Lai–“
“Shut up,” she ordered and kissed him.
The bastard kissed her back for a moment then turned his head away and cupped her cheek. His words were gentle. “I want it to be good for you,” he said. “I want it to mean something.”
Her heart went soft, and if he didn’t already own it, those words would have secured him that victory.
“It does mean something,” she said, her eyes locked with his, willing him to see the truth. “It means everything because—“
“Don’t say it.”
She blinked.
The corner of his mouth turned up. “Not right now. Because I won’t know if it’s my massive… sex appeal—“
She snorted.
“—or something else that made you say it.”
She would have laughed at him, at the ridiculousness of that statement, if only his stare wasn’t so serious, if he didn’t look so vulnerable.
“I would only say it if I meant it, you know that.” But she didn’t let him respond, just bent and kissed him. “I love you,” she said against his lips.
“Laila—“ But his protest broke off into a groan as she let her mouth travel further south.
His fingers wound into her hair, and the moans of pleasure quickly turned into curses and pleas.
She pulled back and glanced up at him. “Still want to go slow?”
“Fuck, no.”
“Thank God.”
“Condom. Nightstand,” he said.
It took what felt like an eternity — but was in all likelihood only about ten seconds — to tear open the little package and roll it down on the hard length of him.
Then she was sinking onto him, and he was filling her and — good God — he felt right.
This was different than before. Everything meant more. Every caress more pleasurable. Each stroke of his hips created earthquakes of desire inside of her.
Until she was breaking apart, and he had to lift her up and down, up and down as she chased her orgasm.
It didn’t take long before she was over the edge with him following suit.
Laila collapsed on his chest, a boneless heap of muscles and skin that would have had a hard time managing a sentence, let alone taking down an assassin.
Long moments later, she was able to move, to slide to the side and let Ryker crawl out of bed to deal with the condom. She took some pleasure in the obvious shakiness of his legs as he stumbled toward the little sink on the far side of his room, disposed of everything, and washed his hands.
When he crawled back into bed and took her into his arms, she glanced up at him. “Aren’t you glad we didn’t go slow?”
“Fuck yeah,” he said and kissed her soundly then flipped her onto her back, “because now we get to do that.”
Laila wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back.
They didn’t go slow the second time either.
3 months later
0730 HRS
KTS Command
Laila’s quarters
LAILA WAS TRYING TO SNEAK OUT without waking him up.
Ryker knew why. He’d gotten in just a few hours before, straight off a mission in Southeast Asia. They’d gotten a tip on the human trafficking ring that Daniel had been involved in, supposedly a shot at discovering who was really pulling the strings.
It had been a bust.
But they would keep looking.
After a quick shower, he’d come directly to Laila’s quarters, and they’d shed their mutual frustration on one another’s bodies, until they were both too boneless to do anything but sleep.
Of course, Laila was scheduled to run command on a mission to protect a water source for a small tribe in Africa. Which was why she was trying to sneak out. Her plane departed in less than an hour.
The last three months had been like this.
They were essentially ships in the night, passing one another constantly, stealing moments and late night — or early morning — rendezvous.
And still, the time had been the best of his life.
“Hey,” he murmured.
Laila paused with her back to him as she was pulling up her cargos. She always did a little shimmy at the end to get them just right, and that flick of her hips just about killed him.
She turned to face him, and Ryker forced himself to focus.
“You should get some rest,” she said as she crossed to the bed and kissed him. “You’re leaving tomorrow.”
“I love you.” He grabbed her neck and slanted his mouth against hers. “Be safe.”
“I love you too and always.” Her eyes were intense when they met his. “You too. Promise me, no extra risks.”
Ryker nodded. “Of course.”
She sat on the edge of the bed and started tying on her boots.
“There is one more thing,” he said. He reached for his pants on the floor and pulled out a small black box.
This was something he needed to do, wanted to do. It was also something he knew wouldn’t happen right away.
But he needed to give Laila the promise. Wanted the world to know she was his.
Not that he’d tell her that part of it. After all this time, he knew some of her moves, but she could still kick his ass.
Laila’s promotion to commander had worked to their advantage in their relationship — well, as far as KTS not having issues with their fraternization. Though they saw each other less than if they’d
been on the same team, it was better that they were separated.
As much as he liked working with Laila, as much as they were professionals on their missions, their relationship — the mutual desire, the need to protect — was a distraction that might put the team as a whole at risk.
“What thing?” she asked, and Ryker felt a bubble of anxiousness swell up in his gut.
What if she thought it was too soon? What if she didn’t want to get married, now or in the future? What if—?
Screw it.
“Marry me?” he asked then blurted when her mouth dropped open. “It doesn’t have to be now. It could be ten years from now.” He paused, and when she didn’t say anything, his heart sank. “You know what? I love you—“ He snapped the box shut. “This doesn’t matter so long as we’re together—“
She threw herself at him, wrapped her arms around his neck, and slammed her lips down onto his. “I love you, Ryker. I want to marry you. Well, maybe not today. But in a year or two when work isn’t so nuts… then hell yes.”
“You don’t have—“
“Shut up and show me that ring again.”
His lips twitched as he opened the box.
“Aw, Ryker.” Her eyes went a little glassy. “It’s perfect.”
They generally didn’t wear anything identifiable on missions, so he hadn’t gotten her a giant rock. Just a plain platinum band.
The inscription on the inside was what made it special.
Here’s to getting my head out of my ass. I love you.
Her laugh made him grin. God, he loved this woman.
“You’re so sweet,” she said and smiled. “I love you.”
“I love you, too. So damned much.” Ryker kissed her then slipped the ring on her finger. “Now go kick some ass.”
Laila laughed as she shouldered her pack and walked out the room to do just that.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Enrapture
RACHEL VAN DYKEN is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of regency and contemporary romances. When she's not writing you can find her drinking coffee at Starbucks and plotting her next book while watching "The Bachelor".
She keeps her home in Idaho with her husband, adorable son, and two snoring boxers. She loves to hear from readers.
You can connect with her on Facebook at facebook.com/rachelvandyken or join her fan group Rachel's New Rockin Readers. Her website is www.rachelvandykenauthor.com.
The Initiation
KRISTIN VAYDEN’S inspiration for the romance she writes comes from her tall, dark and handsome husband with killer blue eyes. With five children to chase, she is never at a loss for someone to kiss, something to cook or some mess to clean but she loves every moment of it! She loves to make soap, sauerkraut, sourdough bread and gluten free muffins. Life is full of blessings and she praises God for the blessed and abundant life He's given her.
Ice
WHEN ELISE FABER is not writing bestselling dark and sexy paranormal romances, she is often found on the ice rink where she and her husband hold regular hockey date nights. She is the mom to two exuberant boys and addicted to Dancing With the Stars. The beaches, mountains and redwood forests of Northern California serve as inspiration for her books. Connect with her on facebook (facebook.com/elisefaberauthor), twitter (@faberelise) or www.elisefaber.com
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Table of Contents
ENRAPTURE
PROLOGUE
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
THE INITIATION
PROLOGUE
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
ICE
Note from the author
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
ALSO FROM BLUE TULIP PUBLISHING
Hurt Page 19