Hone growled the entire time, and he almost lost it when Roderick pressed a kiss to her wrist.
Cassie tugged her hand free. “Are you related to him?”
“Distant relations.”
“Figures. You’re all flirts.”
“You wound me,” Roderick said and winked at Hone.
“I doubt it,” Cassie said. “Every one of Hone’s cousins are terrible flirts. It must be something in the water.”
“It’s bred into our genes,” Roderick replied.
Hone leaned into his vehicle and grabbed a hat from the glovebox, his pulse lowering to a more regular speed. “Put on your hat, Cassie. I’ll grab our bags.”
“Hone, I’ll park your vehicle in the garage and won’t use it unless the weather changes.” His nostrils flared as he tested the air. “Won’t happen this weekend.”
A few minutes later, they were on their way, driving down tree-lined streets, past wooden bungalows that were some of the oldest and most expensive houses in Auckland.
“Want to listen to music?” Hone asked, still not believing Cassie’s reaction to Roderick. Deep in his gut, he sensed Cassie was the one for him.
“Yes, please. Actually, I wouldn’t mind listening to the news first.” She leaned forward and turned the power switch before Hone could use the driver’s controls.
A deep male voice came through the speakers. “…a scrub fire north of Whangarei is causing concern. Firefighters and a helicopter are on the scene. Police suspect the fire was deliberately lit…”
“How can people do that? It’s so dry at this time of the year.”
“We have relatives up there,” Hone said. “It can’t be too bad yet because they would have contacted Auntie June.” He spoke without thinking and silently cursed at Cassie’s arched eyebrows. “Auntie June is the organizer in our family. She gets things done,” he added before she could ask her questions.
The news ended, and Hone switched to the music system.
He took the turning to the motorway and drove over the Auckland harbor bridge. Yachts and small fishing boats darted across the water, leaving swirling white waves in their wake.
“There’s a cruise ship in today,” Cassie said as she glanced back at the cityscape.
“Yeah, we get quite a few over the summer months.”
“Where are we staying?”
“I’ve booked a room not far from Matakana. One room.”
“One bed?”
“Yes.” Hone waited for her reaction.
“We’re going to share the bed?”
“I’d like to,” Hone said.
“Good. I’d like that too.”
And just like that his cock grew full and his balls started to ache. It was a different feeling from when he needed sex to maintain his taniwha shape. This desire came from deep in his gut, seared his heart, and his dragon gave a sexy purr. He couldn’t wait to get to their accommodation and was glad he’d listened to Manu and gone for an upscale place rather than a basic motel.
* * * * *
“Boss, I’ve lost them. They took a motorway off ramp. I followed, but they vanished.”
Matthew frowned. “As long as they stay away from the house. That’s the main thing. I’ll station Jerry as lookout and get him to give you a call if she turns up there.”
“And if she does?”
“We keep a close eye on her. If she remains at the house, it won’t be a big problem, but if she takes it into her mind to wander the rest of her property that’s another matter.”
“Pity we can’t plant another crop.”
“Too risky,” Matthew said. “Have another drive around and see if you can locate them. If not, come back to the farm.”
“Okay, boss.”
Matthew hung up and pondered the problem. The temptation to plant another batch of plants gnawed at him. It was easy money, and once they shifted this current crop, he’d never need to worry about money again. A hazard to contemplate.
Chapter Fourteen
Cassie slid a sideways glance at Hone. The motel—no, it was a hotel, really—was gorgeous with views over the sea, even from the car park. Perched on a hill, with a track down to a secluded beach and lots of privacy, it was ideal. Romantic even.
Even as she thought that, Hone reached for her hand and twined their fingers together. Her heart went pitter-patter and a shot of desire pierced her belly.
“Is this okay?”
“It’s perfect.”
“Good. Still want to share that bed with me?”
“Yes.”
“Now?”
Cassie turned, noticed the hint of color in his cheeks, the absence of his usual grin. “Yes.” She didn’t try to play games or act coy. Not when she wanted him. Bad.
Hone lifted her hand and kissed the back of it, his lips branding her skin and driving heat to the heart of her. “Let’s get the bags and check in.”
Their room lived up to the promise of the exterior of the hotel. The main building housed reception, the restaurant and a small gift shop while the majority of the rooms were bungalows, located a distance apart to give the occupants privacy. A large bed drew her attention, the plain white covers and paua-shell throw—the combination of teal, turquoise, blues and pinks giving a shot of color—more inviting to her than the stunning view.
Hone set down the bags. He took off his hat and sunglasses, purpose in each careful action.
When she stared at him, he removed her hat and glasses. “I can’t see you as well now.”
“You don’t need to see for what we’re about to do.” His husky voice promised all sorts of sensual pleasures. “You want this, right?”
“Yes.” She never hesitated. She intended to have hot, naked sex with Hone Taniwha without any commitment between them. She hadn’t even slept with Kevin for the first three months of their official dating relationship. Stern warnings from her mother crept through her mind—about milk and cows. She flipped them off and took the hand Hone extended to her.
For once, she intended to please herself, and Hone pleased her very much.
His fingers tightened around hers, and a shiver—the pleasurable sort—frisked her nerve-endings. She sucked in a quick breath, puffed it back out.
Hone paused. “Are you scared of me? Because you needn’t be. I’d never hurt you.”
Physically, maybe. But when he cut her loose… She accepted the truth—Emma had warned her, and she’d decided she could live with the fallout. She would cope with the aftermath, because for once, she was following her heart instead of her mother’s strictures.
Summoning her inner siren, she spread her arms wide, did a little wiggle of her hips. “Shut up and kiss me, Hone.”
She thought he’d pounce, but he surprised her. With his gaze locked on her face the entire time, he drew her nearer until the tips of her breasts brushed his chest. His eyes glowed with a strange red light that should’ve scared her. Instead, his intensity pleased her, made her feel desirable.
His lips brushed hers, gentle as a butterfly, yet packing more power than any other kiss she’d received. Her lids fluttered shut, enclosing her in a world of sensation. The whisper of his hands over her shoulders and back as he fitted their bodies together. The press of his lips as he deepened the kiss. The scent of soap and aftershave. The shift of his muscles beneath her fingertips.
Then his lips were gone.
Confused, she opened her eyes to greet the reddish heat reflected in his brown irises and his quizzical gaze.
“What?” she whispered, frightened to break the fragile peace in her heart.
“I want to take off your clothes, see those luscious curves of yours, touch them.”
Cassie issued a happy sigh and released her inner tension. The open window faced the sea, and although it was designed for privacy with a gray tint, light still blazed into the room. He’d see her. All of her. She sucked in her tummy as every insecurity and Kevin’s complaints about her size whacked her over the head.
No, dammit. She refused to let her fears spoil this moment. She chose to believe Hone desired her and everyone else could go hang while she enjoyed the hell out of the coming bout of sex.
“You go right ahead,” she pushed out, striving for a sexy purr. Her words emerged on the croaky side, but Hone didn’t hesitate.
After another whisper-soft kiss that left her craving more, he turned her and slid down the zipper at the back of her dress. Her bodice gaped, and she fought the impulse to catch it and hide her breasts.
No. No. No.
She would not let her mind fix on body image and all the crap that went with it. Last warning. She forced her hands to her sides and let gravity do its thing. The cotton sundress slid down, snaring on her hips. Hone’s quick tug sent it swooshing to the floor. She stepped out of the circle of fabric.
“Turn around,” Hone said in a hoarse voice.
That weird red light glittered in his gaze. His lips curved up in sexy-man approval. “Gorgeous underwear.”
Her shoulders straightened and pride roared through her. She did look good—glamorous even—in her favorite set of black lingerie.
Without warning, he moved, scooping her into his arms. He deposited her on the bed, then sat back to remove her black sandals. Instead of progressing quickly, as Kevin had, he massaged her feet.
“Pretty toes,” he whispered.
She made a note to thank Emma for the pedicure suggestion.
His hands moved up her calves, stroking and rubbing until she wanted to melt into the mattress. Arousal stroked over her body, prickling her breasts and standing her nipples to attention.
One of his fingers traced the hi-cut lacy leg of her black briefs.
“Part your legs for me, sweetheart.”
Her legs parted before the thought to obey filtered through her mind.
Hone inhaled, and his red-brown eyes drew her slightly blurry attention. “You want me.”
“Yes.” Nothing less than the truth.
He rose up the bed until he was close enough for the fuzzy edges of his face to come into focus.
“I can see you properly now.”
His finger traced the lacy edge of a bra cup. “Have you always worn glasses?”
“Since I was four.” She chuckled at the memory, recalling her mother’s despair at a less-than-perfect child. “Both my parents have good eyesight. I inherited this from my father’s side, per my mother.”
“From the little I’ve heard about your family, your mother sounds like a witch.”
“Complete with broomstick at times,” Cassie agreed, her lips twitching. “She expects perfection. It’s the way her parents raised her, and sometimes she forgets that an imperfect moment or object can have its own charm. I just agree with her, make my own decisions, and live with her disapproval.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. In her own way, she loves me. It’s easier now that I’m older. Now let’s kick her out of this bed because talking about my parents and sex at the same time is slightly freaky.”
He ran his middle finger along the edge of her other bra cup, then surprised her again. Instead of whisking off her bra and panties, he settled in to kiss her. Long kisses. Slow kisses. Soft kisses. Passionate kisses.
Before, there had been one type of kiss in her repertoire. The perfunctory kisses made to prepare a body for sex. She clung to Hone, her fingers digging into his T-shirt clad shoulders as lips shaped and tested and learned.
“I can’t get enough of kissing you,” he said hoarsely.
“You kiss divinely. I should be wary of all that expertise, but wow!”
He laughed, the rough sound coming from deep in his throat. He shifted his body a fraction, notching his erection against her sex. A zinger swept her, stealing her breath, her ability to process ideas. Her lids closed.
“Open,” Hone whispered.
She raised her weighted lids with difficulty and stared at him. That weird red light in his irises drew her. Flames. That’s what it reminded her of—fire.
“Good girl.”
He removed her bra with an expertise that made her blink. Her black panties slid down her legs, leaving her naked while he still wore jeans and T-shirt.
Her insecurities rose to thumb their bony fingers at her. She batted them away with difficulty and focused on Hone’s gaze.
“I’m a big man, Cassie. I’ve never been attracted to petite women. I prefer a woman with shape and curves like yours. Jack, Manu and all my cousins are the same. Why do you suppose jealousy struck me so hard when I thought Manu was making a move on you? Because you’re exactly his type.” He answered his own question.
“It’s not that exactly. Well, not all of it. I feel vulnerable when I’m the only one without clothes.”
“The clothing helps me keep control. I want you, Cassie. I’ve wanted you since the first moment I saw you. And what I want more than anything right now is to savor you and give you the first time you deserve.”
“Oh! Oh,” she said once his words sank in to her lust-fogged brain. He grinned that charming, boyish grin of his and a wave of pure lust struck her. “Your eyes are weird.”
“Family trait,” he replied lightly. “It means I want you.”
Hone stopped talking and kissed her. He palmed one breast, shoving her onto an entirely different plane of desire. She gasped as he parted their lips.
“Keep those pretty eyes open. I want to see you.”
He took the same time with her breasts as he had kissing her. His busy fingers plucked and tugged her nipples and shaped each breast until she trembled. It felt as if a single caress of her nipples would send her exploding into orgasm. The warm heat, the strong suction created a nerve ending path to her pussy.
She moaned her pleasure, raising her hips in silent demand. While his mouth was busy, Hone’s hands wandered her ribs, her stomach and her hipbones until she thought she might lose her wits.
“Eyes, sweetheart.”
She groaned, unware she’d screened her sight yet again. It was becoming harder and harder to keep them open when every inch of her body sang to the maestro’s touch. She managed it—just.
Hone moved down the bed, parted her legs farther and lifted her to meet his lips. He licked the length of her slit.
Her muscles tensed. She shuddered as he settled in to tease her. He licked her entrance, pushed his tongue deep, the friction rougher than she’d expected.
“Hone, please.”
He lifted his head. “Please what? I need your words. I’d like you to tell me what you want.”
“In detail?”
“Yeah, I like a woman who knows what she wants.”
“Make me come with your tongue. Slide your fingers inside me, or better yet, your cock.” Her cheeks heated at voicing her demands, but she forced her thoughts to words, anyway.
“Perfect. When we’re together, I want a lover who participates.”
“I—I—what do you mean? Am I doing something wrong?”
“Hell, no. All I’m saying is I like honest reactions and if you want something, I expect you to tell me.”
“Then please hurry,” she blurted.
“I didn’t say I wouldn’t delay gratification. I don’t believe I ever said that.”
“Oh.”
His grin kicked up a notch before he resumed his licking and stroking. A moan of protest burst free, and his laughter puffed air against her sensitive clit. She jerked her hips and managed to frustrate herself further.
“Oh, please. Hone.”
He was strong, his hands holding her lower body steady for each tormenting stroke.
Cassie swallowed, desperate for release, her heart beating so hard she thought it might explode under the strain.
A growl escaped Hone as her eyes closed yet again. How he knew they were shut, she had no idea.
“You taste good. Love your scent.” Her juices coated his chin, shone in the late afternoon daylight as he licked his lips. “Is it me or is it getting hot i
n here?” He straightened and jerked off his T-shirt.
She’d seen his tattoos before—the tribal twist going up one arm and the snarling dragon on his back, but now she had a right to touch those inky scrawls.
“Let me explore your tattoos.”
“Soon,” he agreed, and she got the impression he was pleased with her request.
He bent again to lick between her legs, this time with skill and purpose. A low level buzz started at her core and slowly radiated upward in a wave. It kept coming and coming, and when he slid two fingers deep into her channel, twisting them a fraction, he hit the perfect spot and she exploded, the force of that wave crashing over her, consuming her, wrecking her and spoiling her for every other man.
Her muscles turned limp.
“Those pretty eyes are closed again.”
She forced them open and found him grinning at her. “Your eyes are red.” His pupils elongated and it was like looking at an alien creature. Sure her mind was playing tricks, she blinked and when she studied him again, he appeared normal. Just those freaky red-brown irises, smoldering at her and banked full of passion.
“Red eyes, huh? How bad is your sight?” Humor lurked on his features, his full, sexy mouth quirking as if he held back a laugh—one of those rich belly laughs. A lusty all-is-right-in-my-day laugh.
“Shush. Let me up. I want to explore you.”
“Don’t think so.” He dug around in his jeans pocket and pulled out a condom, which he set aside to fling off his footwear and the last of his clothes.
His body…it was fantastic. She’d seen him at the beach after swimming, with beads of water glistening on his sculpted chest and abs. This time she got the whole picture and a man comfortable in his own body. His cock stood to attention, full and big enough for her to wish her sight wasn’t blurry around the edges.
“My turn,” she said when she realized he was grinning again. A hard blink did nothing to zap away the redness. Made her wonder if she was about to fuck with the devil.
He barked out a laugh.
“Um, did I say that out loud?”
“Yep. I promise you, sweetheart. I’m not from hell, and all I want right now is to fuck you and give us both pleasure. Sound good?”
“Yes.” A whisper-soft affirmation.
Blood Moon Dragon (Dragon Investigators Book 2) Page 12