by Adrian, Lara
“I guess so.” She’d already said too much about her past and the people who inhabited it. If she kept talking, eventually she would have to start lying to him and that was a line she refused to cross. “I’d rather not think about that time in my life. It’s behind me now. That’s where I want it to stay.”
“All right.” His deep voice was quiet, but his eyes hadn’t yet released her. “I’m sure it wasn’t easy being alone at such a young age. I’m glad you had someone like Jack to look out for you, even for a couple of months. And I’m glad you had Nikolai and Renata looking out for you here on this hill too.”
“So am I.” Kaya stared out at the endless night sky and the glowing city lights in the valley below. “That first night I sat up here by myself, terrified of what I’d done, I realized it didn’t matter whether you were born human or Breed. The only real monsters were the ones who live to hate and hurt other people. I decided then and there if I was going to die for something, it was going to be fighting against those things. I suppose it’s ironic that the best role models I ever had for that were the warriors of the Order. About a year ago, I ran into Mira and her team on patrol in the city. She and I became friends right away. I admired her so much--envied her, really. I couldn’t have been more excited when she and Nikolai finally agreed to give me a chance to join the team.”
Aric leaned over and pressed a kiss to her forehead. It was a chaste brush of his lips, but it touched her as deeply as the hottest meeting of their mouths. “You’re an amazing woman, Kaya Laurent. You’re also going to make one hell of a warrior. No, scratch that. You already are. The Order is lucky to have you.”
She smiled. “Is this the part where you try to make me feel good?”
His low, answering chuckle stroked her senses like velvet. “Yeah. This is that part.”
When she glanced at him, she found his eyes ablaze with amber sparks. Silently, he caught her around the nape and dragged her into a slow-burning, doubt-melting kiss.
Kaya reached for him, too far gone to pretend she had even the slightest trace of fear or reservation. They had made no promises to each other. No expectations that this desire that had erupted so swiftly between them stood any chance of becoming something more than just this one night.
She couldn’t give him anything more than that.
And he hadn’t asked her to.
He hadn’t demanded anything at all. His kiss right now was a study in control, too, despite that she could feel the power in his strong hands as he held her. She felt the sharp points of his fangs graze her tongue. Getting this close to the side of him that was pure predator and otherworldly should have given her some pause, but it only inflamed her more.
His fingers drifted along the side of her neck now, trails of heat radiating from his broad palm and long fingers. Her pulse throbbed as his thumb slowly caressed the sensitive skin below her ear. The unhurried melding of his lips against hers sent pleasure spiraling through her veins. It felt so good, heat pooled in her center, blooming into a deep, fierce yearning.
A growl rumbled in his chest before he tore his mouth away from hers. “Tell me if you don’t want this, Kaya. If you’re not sure--”
“I am.” She held his gaze, reaching up to stroke her fingers over his rigid jaw. “Right now, this is the only thing I’m sure of . . . that I want to be here with you. Just tonight.”
His eyes turned molten as she spoke, his pupils narrowed to thin black slits in the center of pure fire. His strong hands drifted to her shoulders, then down onto her breasts. Through the thin fabric of her shirt, her nipples peaked, the buds hard and aching as he kneaded each small mound.
Kaya moaned, wanting to feel more of his touch. She caught his hand in hers and guided him to the hem of her top. Aric understood what she needed, even without the use of the words she couldn’t find. His touch was sure yet tender as he unfastened the clasp of her bra and caressed her bare flesh with his heated palm.
Everywhere he touched her, she was in flames. He kissed a slow path up the length of her throat, then along her jaw line, until his lips found hers once more. Kaya welcomed his passion, opening to him as his tongue swept the seam of her mouth. He groaned as she sucked him in deeper, growled with pure male approval as she wrapped her fingers around the back of his head and held him more firmly against her mouth.
He caressed her naked breasts, then his hand slid down her belly and into the loose waistband of her jeans. His thick groan when he found her wet cleft vibrated all the way into her marrow. She shuddered, lost to the wicked pleasure of his fingers.
“You’re trembling,” he murmured, drawing away just far enough to study her face. “Am I going too fast?”
“No.” She shook her head, eyes riveted to all of the changes that were playing over his handsome, unearthly face and powerful body just from giving her pleasure. “You’re doing everything just right.”
Above the collar of his dark T-shirt and beneath the short sleeves that clung to the smooth power of his muscled biceps, Aric’s dermaglyphs pulsed with color. The Breed skin markings deepened from their normal golden hue to shades of burgundy, gold, and violet. Kaya ran her fingers along the swirling curves and tapered arches of his glyphs, awed by their inhuman beauty.
“I’ve never been this close to a Breed male before,” she admitted quietly. “I mean, not like this.”
“Never?” He grunted, a smile bowing his full lips. “In that case, I guess I’d better make this memorable.”
“It already is.”
On a dark purr, he claimed her mouth in another searing kiss. He kept touching her, kept kissing her and stroking her as he slowly removed her clothing, unveiling her body to him from the waist up.
His fevered gaze rooted on the tiny scarlet birthmark that rode her belly, just above her navel. Kaya moaned as his tongue traced the teardrop-and-crescent-moon symbol that had declared her a Breedmate from the moment of her birth. That mark had earned her only scorn and abuse from the people who called themselves her family. Now, Aric lavished it with worshipful kisses, his eyes crackling with care and respect and unfathomable desire.
“You’ll be my first too,” he said, his voice rough like gravel. “I’ve never touched a woman with the Breedmate mark before.”
“Why not?” She was almost afraid to ask, dreading that she’d misread him somehow. If he uttered a cold word now, it would crush her.
“Because, beautiful Kaya . . . I’ve never met someone I wanted as much as you.”
On a dark purr, he eased her down onto her back on the blanket. His mouth tasted every inch of her exposed skin, his roving tongue and teeth making her arch and shiver with arousal. Slowly, he made his way down to the buttoned waistband of her jeans. His hands moved swiftly, deftly, removing the rest of her clothing and shoes in moments.
Then his kiss continued, starting at her ankle this time and making a maddeningly unrushed trek up the length of her bare calf and knee, to the tender flesh of her inner thigh. When his mouth found her naked sex, she arched into him, her hands fisted in the blanket. Aric’s kiss here was as reverent as the one he lavished on her Breedmate mark.
“Fuck, Kaya . . . you taste so sweet.”
She sucked in a shaky breath, tipping her head back as the spiral of pleasure coiled tighter in her core. He parted her legs wide, his golden head moving shamelessly between them. She clamped down on her bottom lip when his tongue circled the tight bundle of nerves between her slick folds. He suckled her clit ruthlessly, his mouth and fingers stroking her into a frenzy.
She couldn’t hold back her release even if her life depended on it. Pleasure crashed over her, wave after glorious, unstoppable wave. She cried out, surrendering the raw, broken sound to the woods and sky around her.
Aric was watching her when she dragged her heavy eyelids open, her breath and body heaving. His fangs flashed in the moonlight, razor-sharp points filling his mouth. The burning coals of his gaze stayed locked on her as he stripped off his clothes, then settled himse
lf on his bent knees in the open V of her legs.
His glyphs were alive and seething with rich colors now, but she only needed to glance farther down to see the even more impressive evidence of his arousal. His cock jutted thick and proud between his muscled thighs.
She reached for him, filling her hands with the length and girth of him. He closed his eyes as she stroked him, his face going taut and intense with what seemed to be barely leashed control. Finally, he let out a rough snarl and rose over her.
Kaya moaned as he settled into the wetness of her cleft then pushed inside on a slow, unending thrust. She gasped as he filled her, stretching her nearly to the point of pain. His hips bucked and rocked against her, the steady tempo he started with soon gaining in power.
“Christ, you feel incredible,” he uttered in that deep gravel growl that made her melt. “I don’t want to stop moving inside you. Fuck, Kaya. I can’t stop.”
“So, don’t.” She smiled up at him, craving everything he gave her. “Don’t stop, Aric.”
He roared his approval, a wordless, animal sound. All she could do was hold on as he crashed against her, his big body dominating her, stirring something dark and fevered to life within her too.
As pleasurable as he felt inside her, it was Aric’s wildness that sped her orgasm this time. He held her like he couldn’t get close enough, kissing her as if he wanted to drown in her. Driving so deep she could no longer tell where his body ended and hers began. When he came, it was on a long, guttural shout, his eyes blazing, locked in an unbreakable hold with hers.
Kaya felt boneless, adrift in a sea of intense sensation and unexpected, confusing emotions. She looped her arms around his neck, as stunned and unprepared as he seemed to be for the power of what they had just shared.
He stared at her as his body slowed above her. There was tenderness in his fiery gaze . . . and torment. A low curse escaped him, muttered quietly under his breath as he reached up to sweep some of her dark hair from her face.
When he started to withdraw, Kaya held on tighter.
She gave a small shake of her head. “Don’t. Not yet. I’m not ready to end this dance and say goodnight.”
His mouth quirked. “You mean, good-bye?”
She couldn’t pretend to see the humor in that now. Even though she knew her own survival depended on keeping her distance from this male and the tumult of feelings he was awakening in her. She didn’t know what ached more, the need she felt for Aric or the futility of that desire.
He bent his head down and nipped her lower lip. “Tell me, lovely Kaya. Has anyone ever made you come while you watched the sun rise?”
She shook her head, incapable of words.
His playful grin broke her heart. “Good. That means we’ve got another first to share before real life calls us home.”
He rolled over onto his back, bringing her atop him. Their legs entangled, bodies still intimately joined, he drew her head down to his and claimed her mouth in a possessive kiss as he thrust his hips and began all over again.
CHAPTER 13
There were few things Nikolai relished more in life than the sight of his Breedmate nestled peacefully in the safe haven of their bed. For a warrior who’d known little else but combat and bloodshed for most of his long life, it stunned him how helpless--how infinitely humbled--he felt each time he looked at his beautiful Renata and realized that she was his.
That she lay in their bed heavy with his child--their son, who would be arriving anytime now--only made Niko’s love for Renata deepen all the more.
And his desire.
Slowly, so as not to disturb the ebony-haired siren as she slept, he lifted the coverlet and slipped back into bed with the same stealth he’d used to leave it a short while ago. It didn’t surprise him that Renata stirred now despite his care. Their blood bond connected them on a level that went beyond basic senses. She would feel the depth of his arousal for her thrumming in his veins even before she felt the physical evidence of it tucked against the rounded curve of her naked backside.
Her soft little moan made his cock twitch with unabashed interest.
“Your feet are cold,” she murmured, sleep roughening her already sultry voice.
Niko dropped a kiss on her bare shoulder as he wrapped his arms around her. “Nothing else on me is cold, I promise.”
He pulled her closer, until they were spooned together with no space between them. Renata laughed quietly as she settled against his hard body. “Is that a Magnum in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?”
His answering chuckle sounded as hungry as he felt. “Baby, I’m always happy to see you.”
He moved against her, unable to resist the heat of her soft curves. He would never tire of holding her, whether they were simply lying under the covers in each other’s arms or enjoying more vigorous activity. Both of which he intended to indulge in this morning.
He had never known what true contentment felt like until fate blessed him with Renata.
“Where’ve you been?” she asked, sighing as she nestled into his embrace. “I woke up a few minutes ago and you weren’t here.”
“I heard a noise downstairs. Someone was just coming in after spending the night outside. A couple of someones, that is.” He grunted, still bemused by what he saw. “Evidently, Aric and Kaya decided to catch the sunrise together.”
“What?” Renata shifted in his arms, turning to face him. Disbelief shone in her jade green eyes. “Are you saying you think they had sex last night?”
“Judging from the way they were looking at each other as they came inside, hell, they might be going at it again somewhere right now.”
It was a joke, but Renata didn’t laugh. “Niko, they only just met.”
“Since when has that ever made any difference?” He grinned. “It didn’t make much of a difference to us.”
“I don’t know if I like this.” Renata frowned, concern bracketing her mouth. “She only acts like she’s tough, Niko. Inside, Kaya’s still that scared kid we found camped out on our hill a few years ago.”
He couldn’t argue that, nor would he try. Renata knew a thing or two about acting tough to cover deep wounds. As formidable and strong as his amazing Breedmate was, even when Nikolai first laid eyes on her, she’d been scared too. She’d been scarred in ways that staggered him even now.
“What if Aric breaks her heart, Niko?”
“What if she breaks his?” He shook his head, reaching out to sweep aside a tendril of dark hair that fell over her pinched brow. “Just about the most dangerous thing a man can do is let a beautiful, broken female into his heart. And into his bed. He’s a goner before he realizes it.”
Some of the worry in her eyes faded as he cupped her face in his palm and kissed her. When she finally surrendered all of her troubled thoughts on a slow sigh, Niko gathered her close and deepened the gentle meeting of their lips into a kiss that made them both moan with need.
With their legs tangled and Renata’s body pressed against the front of his, Nikolai couldn’t think of any better way to greet the day. His son, however, seemed to disagree. A hard kick rippled beneath the stretched skin of Renata’s rounded belly.
“Oh!” Her eyes flew wide and she drew back with a laugh. “Did you feel that?”
He nodded, unsure if he felt more wonder or annoyance at the baby’s interruption. “Our boy is going to have to work on his timing.”
“First, he has to get here.” Renata’s smile was filled with love as she placed her hand tenderly atop the swollen rise and made idle circles with her fingers. “I can’t wait to hold him in my arms, Niko.”
“Maybe there’s something we can do about that.” He smirked, letting his hand trail off her hip and into the heated juncture of her thighs. Her gaze was skeptical, but she didn’t deny him when he stroked her sex. God help him, she was already hot and wet, silky against his fingertips. “They say making love during late term can bring on labor.”
“Is that right?” She laughed so
ftly, her voice breathy as he found her clit and toyed with the hard bud. “Since when do you know so much about pregnancy?”
“I know I love the way it looks on you. And I love making it happen.”
He kissed her again, devouring the low moan that escaped her when his finger slid between her folds and into the entrance of her body. Despite the depth of his hunger--or his teasing about hastening her labor--Nikolai rolled her onto her back with tender, reverent hands.
On his knees between her spread legs, he gazed down at her, entranced. Worshipful. Renata had always been gorgeous, but right now his mate was a goddess. He had never loved her more.
“How did a son of a bitch like me ever get so lucky?” he murmured, bending to kiss her belly. “I love you, Renata. Christ, I love you both so damned much.”
“We know. And we both love you too.” Her mouth curved beneath shining eyes that danced with devotion. “Now, let’s talk some more about this interesting theory of yours.”
“Talk about it?” He smirked, both his fangs and his arousal throbbing with enthusiasm. “Maybe we should test it instead.”
Her sultry smile was all the permission he needed. She reached for his erection and her touch nearly undid him on the spot.
It might have, if not for the abrupt buzzing of his comm unit lying on the nightstand next to the bed. The incoming call showed on the display was restricted, but there were few people who knew how to reach him this way. Given the early morning hour, it couldn’t be good news.
Niko bit off a curse. “Evidently, our son’s not the only one with lousy timing.” He grabbed the device and put it to his ear. “Talk to me. What’s going on?”
One of his contacts in the local JUSTIS office, a fellow Breed, was on the other end of the line. “There’s been an attack down here in Pointe-Claire today. We’ve got a report of multiple fatalities.”
“Shit.” Niko’s veins went tight. The affluent neighborhood of the city was home to a large population of Breed civilians who not only lived in the area, but fed there as well. The last thing the Order needed to hear about was more bloodshed between mankind and their blood-drinking neighbors. “Tell me what happened.”