Of course, that incident in another land—the one where he almost got Max killed while slaughtering numerous innocents at the behest of his leaders— still made him shriek at night sometimes, too. He had to keep those memories from Sonja if he was to protect her. He couldn’t be a good guard if he got emotionally involved, but that point had passed already. Spies were trained to be detached, but Derrick was never cut out for espionage. He went in after their parents died for distraction and to follow in Max’s footsteps.
He slowed himself down, took several deep breaths, and undressed before following her into the bathroom. As soon as he hit the doorway, he felt the sizzle of power like an electric spark between them. It felt black and wrong.
The crowd had grown after they entered the club, and by the time they got to the bear shifter and his entourage, he guessed she had been feeling pretty off kilter. Sonja’s shields were weak. He didn’t know that until now, but he suspected it had something to do with her ability to draw in the energy of the audience and scrub it clean.
Damn woman was infuriating. He got it, he understood. She healed; he hunted.
Right now, he’d use the one thing guaranteed to distract her, cleanse her.
He stepped through the threshold and saw blackness sparking before his eyes. The sight before him, Sonja in the shower, water running while hands scrubbed her body, drew his attention back to the raging erection between his thighs.
He took a few deep breaths and padded past the sink into the large glass stall. His mouth went dry at the sight of her figure through the steam.
And her sobs were audible.
He opened the door to find her naked, dripping, those blood-red curls clinging to her luscious body. Without thought, he stepped through the entrance and into the hot spray of water to envelop her in his arms.
She didn’t resist. Sonja practically molded herself to him, crying harder, sobbing into his chest. “I can’t do this!” She sniffled. “I fucking can’t do this! It was too much! All those fake people with their bullshit, and then that bear threatening me on someone else’s behalf. It’s just…”
He pressed his fingers against her lips and met her gaze. Staring into her blue eyes, he noted for the first time how they changed and became silver tinted. “So beautiful,” he whispered against her head while cradling her. “You did it though. You’re a survivor. You’re strong, Sonja. Look at me.” He pushed her against the wall, tilted her chin upward so she met his eyes again. Tears washed down her cheeks and made his heart ache but he wasn’t about to let her see that. Not when she needed him to be her rock. “You’re a fighter. You’re fierce. Beat this, baby. Understand?”
Again, that seemingly insurmountable power filled the bathroom nearly choking the life out of him. Derrick had to steady himself against the wall and find that tranquil center in his mind before she forced him to pass out.
She nodded, sobbed again, and hugged him. Soft breasts crushed against his chest and added to the building fire in his loins, but her warm tears stung him. He ran his hands over her ass, up her back, smoothing her hair and moving it out of the way.
She twitched, knees trembling. The energy remained heavy around them, but at least he could breathe now.
He held her close and inhaled her scent through the bleak energy clinging to her. She possessed more strength than she gave herself credit for, and that only added to his respect for her. Calming his mind, he whispered into her ear, “You knew this would happen, didn’t you?”
She shook her head against his chest, murmured, “Yes.”
Amazed at her prowess, he could only reflect on what he would have done in the same situation. He didn’t know if he could handle her world. For fuck’s sake, other men and beasts had surely done worse than he had. He’d seen the military dossiers on his enemies; they stuck around to finish the job when he bolted.
Still, his heart surged with pride at her ability to move forward despite the odds. “You still went with it?”
She pressed her hands against his chest and stepped back. “I had no choice. These guys aren’t going to stop until I either do what they want or I’m dead. And I can’t let that happen.”
He pulled her back into the folds of his body, damned if he’d let someone ever harm her or those she cared about. “Neither can I.”
She gasped, then murmured her thanks into his skin, the vibrations sending chills up his spine despite the heat of the shower beating down on them both. With a shaking hand, she brushed strands of his dark hair back from his face.
Her touch hardened him and made his nerves very aware of the swell of her ass and luscious curve of her breasts. He bent down and kissed her. Their lips met. The taste of champagne along with the soft, wet feel of her skin against the head of his cock excited him further.
Sonja stepped closer now and the head of his cock bumped her mound. Shorter than him by a good foot, her feisty attitude more than made up for her lack of height. Awareness of his passion for her made her scent change again and the bathroom filled with the scent of steamy feminine arousal.
Her soaked red hair looked even darker in the fluorescent light of Max’s bathroom and contrasted against her pale skin. Plump lips brushed lightly over his, her pink tongue darted out over his bottom lip.
He smelled her, the freshness, rain, and power. A wave of magic brushed over his skin and raised hairs on his inner puma’s fur.
Hungrily, she kissed him, nipped his bottom lip, and trailed her tongue down his neck.
He shuddered against her, balls and cock straining in agony. He wanted inside her. He needed her heat.
Yet she needed from him first and that mattered more.
If he didn’t give, she’d run the risk of being off balance. So Derrick pulled his mouth from hers and scraped his teeth against her neck.
She moaned against him, pressing her body to his.
His hands circled her hips; fingertips massaged the crest of her ass. Then he pulled her cheeks apart and continued kneading her soft flesh. “You’re so perfectly curved,” he murmured against her.
Her mouth found his nipple, took it between her lips.
Derrick stiffened, sucking in a breath and gripping her round ass tighter.
She groaned. The smell of her drifted toward his nose along with the steam-filled perfume of woman’s shampoo, the underlying scent of sweat, and her musky sex. He could inhale her fragrance for days and still it wouldn’t be enough.
Heart pumping faster against his chest, he pulled her lips from his nipple.
She relented, though she suckled and scraped her teeth over the now-hard nub. “I have teeth too, puma.” Her breath slowed, her voice dipped and became husky.
“I know.” He lifted her up with both hands and braced her against the wall. She wrapped her legs around him and trapped him at the head of her heat. “I’d like very much…” Her eyes still drooped in sadness and a swell of emotions swirling around. “…to fuck you now.”
The twinkle in her gaze and her approving nod gave him all the reassurance he needed. He couldn’t pull power from her but he could give her release. Through sexual stimulation, she could get lost in herself.
That was the idea, anyway.
Sonja squirmed against him, rubbing her lower half against his, tempting him, taunting him.
He had to make her wait; the release would be so much sweeter if he did.
Derrick lowered his head to her mouth, took in her tongue, and sucked it, stroked it with his, then explored her mouth, slanting his lips slightly for a different fit.
She tasted sweet, salty, and female. Even her magic had an underlying aroma, though the other things attached to her dulled it.
Derrick pulled back from the kiss, held her beneath her ass, and impaled her.
She groaned as water splashed on his chest, streamed down her body.
With one hand on her ass and her back against the wall, he thrust upwards, feeling the instantly tight-fisted heat that gripped him and made him howl in response.
She smiled against his skin and nipped him again.
Derrick began thrusting into her, slowly at first. Her legs tightened around him, driving him deeper.
He brought his mouth to her collarbone, sucked. Bit down into her flesh. With a free hand, he spread her ass, ran a finger along her crack, and pushed past her slickness.
She cried out, then clamped down harder on his cock.
Derrick drew back and thrust into her again, the delicious friction spurring him closer to release.
She tightened her arm around his neck, brushed wet hair from his face, and met his gaze.
He stared into her ocean-blue eyes, saw the silver sparkle, and watched with interest as the emotional baggage faded from her.
“Good, you’re almost smiling.” He barely managed to get the words out before she squeezed him again.
Her fingers tangled in his wet hair and pulled his head back.
She bit into his neck. “I can be like the puma, too.” She nipped again playfully.
Goddamn but the cat in him wanted to claim its mate. It knew from no other how she belonged to him when Derrick the human only found himself in this moment. While he rebalanced her, she pulled him from the wreckage of his past. Her movements hardened him further, made his pulse race. Hell, the rhythm of his thrusting had picked up.
He couldn’t find a way to slow down. He needed to, but she kept rubbing her body against his. Her breasts, pillowed against his chest, rubbed against him, driving him insane.
Spinning away from the wall, Derrick held Sonja and let the spray hit his back. He kept himself inside her and fought the urge to bring her to the floor and take her that way.
She wouldn’t get the savageness angle now, though the puma in him demanded he mount her and bring her to submission.
Sonja would never be a submissive woman; the cat would have to deal. He would grow used to it eventually, but her strength, her commitment, and that damned feisty spirit he’d quickly grown to love would continue to buck him.
Yet it didn’t mean he couldn’t try, couldn’t dominate her here and now, just to reassure himself that he could satisfy every need of his while giving her everything she would ever want.
It amazed him that he could still think clearly about her needs, despite his wants.
Her legs squeezed his waist even harder now. Sonja’s fingers locked behind his head. “What are you doing?”
He sealed his mouth over hers again in a kiss that seared him when she responded. “Taking you out of here so I can have you beneath me.”
She didn’t want to leave him, didn’t want to be without him inside her yet. “No,” she begged, her voice raspy with need. “In here. Please.”
He arched an eyebrow. His cock swelled inside her making her feel so full and complete. She couldn’t fathom separation from him. Not when she clung tightly to him and held on for dear life to the feelings that settled around her. Things that comforted her, protected her, they came from Derrick.
As soon as they’d arrived back at Max’s, she needed to rid herself of the disturbances in the club, all those dirty people, all the flack following her around. She strolled over to the bear with Derrick behind her because the poison attempt finally pushed her over the edge. She had to thank the gods he wasn’t an overly dominating SOB.
She expected to shower alone, cry, and clear her mind. But Derrick strode into the bathroom and stood before her, magnificently nude and aroused.
Only they didn’t get to have sex that night. Damn shame, but the crowd pulsed with all that negative shit and when she took it into her being and cleansed it, she realized she’d absorbed too much for even the one thing she planned on having happen since she spotted Derrick.
His pumping into her brought her back to reality, made things work for her. Knots in her magic, her body, loosened with each stroke, each thrust driving out the crap she’d picked up earlier.
His hips pressed him against her clit, driving tension tighter in her belly.
Pressure spiraled in her lower abdomen. Every nerve in her burned with animalistic need only Derrick could sate. Her skin tingled with delicious anticipation and her mind raced at the sensations rocking her entire being, swirling at the attentiveness of Derrick’s lovemaking.
His mouth caressed her shoulder, neck; lips caught her flesh and suckled.
He thrust again, filling her and caressing her clit with the gentle rocking of his hips.
She groaned against him, shuddered, and tightened her grip on his frame. The emotional baggage slid off her body along with the slickness of sweat.
“Fuck me, Derrick!” She begged, aware that she sounded less like her death metal diva self and more like the husky siren that was so not her. She didn’t care. Derrick embraced all of her.
He’d seen her cry and he came to comfort her. He saw her naked and came to slake the lust from both of them while helping her deal with the raw emotions coursing through her.
She looked through the steamy haze and saw passion pouring from Derrick’s purple eyes, the way his mouth opened until he latched on her and sent her flesh trembling with his skilled tongue. Suddenly, she felt her ass against the soft rug. Automatically, she spread her legs for Derrick.
He loomed over her, larger than life; she saw the puma-like features in Derrick’s face. His eyes narrowed, glowed a bright purple. His lips curled upwards, teeth bared.
In the back of her mind, she knew she should be scared. Instead, she soared, the hormonal rage rushing through her only adding to the intensity of things. The beast in Derrick clearly wanted a mistress and she could do that for the time being.
His grip on her ass tightened. Derrick’s pace increased. His breath came in rapid pants.
Each time he slammed into her, her pulse sped and breath came out harshly. Her heart raced. She smelled the wilderness in him, felt the ferocity of his emotions all over her like a second skin. It’d be perfect if she could allow herself to be loved. It’d be soothing if she could allow herself the comfort. Luckily, his body distracted her from the thought. Orgasm hovered near. She clenched her muscles around Derrick’s cock.
He bent down to kiss her, capturing her lips with hunger, taking her, claiming her.
Hands dug into her hips, spread her cheeks for more depth.
She felt all of him inside her, reveled in the sensation of her body opening up to the warmth of ecstasy spreading throughout her limbs. The slow buildup became a tumultuous downpour as Derrick’s mouth rained down kisses on her neck, her chin. His lips suckled pointed nipples, soothing the ache of her flesh.
Power spilled around her and suddenly she saw the puma in Derrick fucking her. Claws sunk into her flesh, drawing blood that ran down her thighs.
She’d heal, not that it mattered.
Part of her wanted this. She needed to burn the excess off, make herself an empty vessel again. Her body bucked against Derrick’s in response. The sound of skin slapping against skin echoed throughout the bathroom. Sweat covered her body, as did the heat from Derrick.
She had to be hallucinating. He couldn’t fuck her like this; that was…
It didn’t matter. Her body’s reaction to him driving into her pulled need from her like tape off an open wound. She screamed his name, clutched at the strong arms holding her in place, and felt the tidal wave of pleasure spill through her.
Grunts became growls. Her unwavering need became a call to Derrick through her own vocal groans while power flowed between them. She clenched around him, wrapped her arms around his muscular back as he drove himself into her with what appeared to be much thicker powerful muscles.
“Spill into me,” she called out. “Please,” her voice heavy with urgency.
Strong fingers shifted, a hand caught her breast, a tongue flicked over her sensitive nipple, pulling another orgasm from her.
She screamed, creamed over his cock, and fought to retain consciousness against the wash of contentment that filled the space between silence and chaos.
Then he stiffened, and the image above her returned to the familiar Derrick, his silky wet hair spilling down both sides of his face. The intensity in his eyes diminished only slightly as he came.
He growled her name and pistoned into her until he climaxed.
Then he remained quiet above her, the strain on his arms an intense one, obvious from the bulging muscles in his biceps and forearms.
Energy flowed from her to him and back to her in a steady stream that made her feel rejuvenated. All the negativity had left, been cleansed or forced out.
She closed her eyes, unable to hold back a smile.
* * *
Fingers stroked her hair while an arm held her around her waist. She’d slept peacefully—that much she remembered. Sonja opened her eyes to see Max sitting at the table, cigar in hand, a cup of what was probably Cuban coffee, and several papers spread out before him.
“We’ve got to make a move tonight if we’re going to lure them out and push them back.” He took a puff off the smoke, filling the air with the delicate scent of earth, cocoa, and sweetness. Max wore the same black pants and suit coat he met her in last night, along with black shoes that held an impeccable polish.
Speaking of Derrick…
Fingers continued to stroke strands of her hair. She liked the touch, wanted to revel in it.
“Yeah, we do. But…” He yawned behind her, blowing hot air against her cool skin. “Have we heard from Big Mo yet?”
Sonja glanced down, realizing that she and Derrick were still naked and in Max’s bed. “Guys,” she spoke weakly.
Max turned toward her. “Yes. We know. Well…” He sighed. “I know. You two get a room. After this is all over. And, fucking Derrick, you owe me a new bed. Bathroom rug and fuck all, get me a new shower…it smells of you two in there.”
Derrick chuckled. “Hey, consider it payback.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Max looked away scornfully.
Slow Burn Page 12