Embrace the Romance

by S. E. Smith

  “Checking for any danger. Instinct, training and a bit of science thrown in.” Hunter pointed to a small alcove. “Gehe.” Go.

  After circling Hunter’s legs twice, Bogan went to the corner and stretched out prone.

  “Las.” Stay.

  Hunter directed his attention to Narelle. Her heart rate picked up, and her nipples betrayed her by stabbing against the front of her synth suit. As if he knew, his eyes crinkled at the corners and her stomach wobbled in response.

  Narelle wanted to follow the line of questions but Hunter’s gaze held a knowing glint. “Are you thinking of backing out?”

  The taunt hit the mark, and Narelle stiffened. Yeah, he knew what he did to her. She couldn’t hide it. Even now her body readied for him. Swollen breasts, elevated respiration, and an undeniable ache at her core. All of it affirmed her growing arousal.

  “I gave my word, Hunter.”

  Hunter’s mouth quirked, the corner tipping up in a devastating half-smile. “Then get over here.”

  Damn him. He stood in the center of the room, his living space as simple as the man himself. Overstuffed chairs, functional table and light source and hard floors battered and streaked with age. Her gaze shot up toward where he probably slept. Narelle squeezed her thighs together and tipped her head toward the set of metal grated stairs and loft area. “Bedroom I assume.”

  “Mmm.”

  Gathering her courage Narelle met his stare with a smirk of her own and added an extra swivel to her hips as she walked toward him.

  Not that Hunter waited for her to reach him. Two steps brought him up against her and his arms whipped about her waist, causing Narelle to gasp. His mouth slanted over hers before she could protest. His tongue slid between her parted lips as he bent her backward over his arms.

  Narelle should have floundered in his hold. Panicked at least. But Hunter braced his weight and nibbled at her mouth as he murmured, “I won’t drop you after waiting this long.”

  A snort of laughter bubbled from her lips. Narelle placed her hands tentatively in the overlong strands of his hair. “That would be a waste.”

  Hunter lifted his head. Desire. Unlike her, he didn’t try to hide it. Cheeks flushed and lids at half-mast, his desire for her was clear to see. Electric currents charged the air between them. Narelle caught her breath, blinking at the savage expression that crossed his face.

  “I think I’m going to need every bit of tonight to sate my desire for you.”

  She swallowed. “One night is all we agreed to, Hunter.”

  “One night, Narelle. I remember the terms.” He gripped her hair in one fist and yanked. Her neck arched back, and she soaked her panties from the dominant move. His other hand pressed the small of her back until her chest smacked into his. Her hands flew to his shoulders for balance, but there was no balance for being with Hunter.

  His every action kept her off rhythm. And deep down inside, a part of her thrilled to his rough handling. Violent scarring marred one side of his face, the criss-cross hatches going down to his neck but none of it took away from his undeniable attractiveness. He focused on her with single minded determination, sparks flaring from his brown eyes. Tiny lines fanned from the corners stress or laughter she couldn’t tell, but she liked them as well.

  There wasn’t much about Hunter she didn’t like. Narelle started to say something else, maybe resume the teasing that came naturally to the both of them, when he swooped down and lifted her in his arms. She squealed, stunned to silence, and his mouth was on her again. This kiss was as powerful as the one before it but more. So much more, and she had no words to explain it.

  It didn’t deter Hunter who stumbled his way to the stairs. Their lips mashed together, heads twisting, tongues tangling. Narelle drowned in the sensations, searching for relief as her lower region pulsed and throbbed. Hunter broke away on a raw groan. Showing no signs her weight bothered him, he climbed the steps to the loft two at a time. When they reached the top, Narelle glanced around and realized it was nothing more than a platform space with the large bed taking up a good bit of the floor. Moonlight gleamed through a small window.

  In smooth easy glides, Hunter lowered her to her feet, his hands taking every opportunity to touch and stroke. By the time she stood on her own, Narelle was a goner. No need to protest or deny the inevitable.

  Not that it would mean anything. Both of them were going into this with their eyes open and Narelle hoped she didn’t let Hunter deep enough to hurt her.

  His rough thumb rubbed at the crease between her brows. “Such heavy thoughts and all I want to do is make you feel good, baby.”

  Hunter worried Narelle might change her mind. If she did…he didn’t want to complete the thought. He lusted, he wanted, he craved. His cock throbbed against the front of his pants and the thought of her leaving before he got to explore to his heart’s content hit him in the gut. She couldn’t walk out at this point. He’d fall to the floor on his knees and whine like a baby with his favorite treat snatched away.

  Her head tipped to the side as she toyed with his hair. “You think it’s that easy?”

  Hunter battled the pain of his growing erection and kept his groan muffled. He tugged her other hand and led the way to his bed. He was glad he’d brought the massive frame and thick air mattress. Not only did it fit his large form, but it enabled him a lot of room to play. And Hunter had every intention of playing with his sassy menace.

  “Ask me after.” He flicked a finger over her pouting lips, then ran his thumb over the delectable scar on her lip.

  Narelle bit the tip. Hard. “You’re cocky.”

  He cupped his hard length then slid the fastening of his pants open. Her waiting expression dared him to say it. Not going there. However, he wanted something else. “Take off your clothes, Narelle, unless you want me to rip them off.”

  Like a bloom in its first blush, pops of red seared her cheeks. The urge to swat him was also there. It took everything in Hunter not to laugh in her face. She wanted to hit him alright but was trapped by the bargain.

  Nimble fingers flew over the front closure, and the top of the sexy suit parted giving Hunter his first up and close view of the tantalizing green skin beneath. Large mounds, plump and ripe just waiting for his mouth popped out. Forgetting about his own clothes, Hunter choked as she slid the tight material down her torso, over her hips and then down her legs.

  Short red hairs formed a neat triangle at the apex of her thighs. His mouth watered from the sight. She had to bend over to undue her boots and Hunter almost stopped breathing. He ripped his shirt over his head not sure where it landed, toed off his boots and shoved his pants down then gripped his dick and pumped twice. “Fuck, Narelle. I need you now. I’m not sure how long I’ll last the first time.”

  Naked at last, she strolled toward him, mouth curved in a teasing smile. “What about those plans to make me feel good?”

  Words didn’t describe what she did to him. Of all the women to cross his path, only Narelle brought out this savage side to him. His craving for her bordered on obsession and although he realized this, nothing would steer him away from every bit of the pleasure he planned to drain from her tonight.

  As soon as she drew close, he pulled her in tight, smoothed his hands down the slope of her back and cupped her round ass with a firm squeeze. Narelle’s breath quickened and the tiny sound sent another surge of arousal through him. Hunter sported an erection hard enough to pound her through the mattress.

  A little nudge in the right direction and they fell onto his bed, though he was careful to keep his weight off of her. Narelle grasped at him and Hunter grinned. “I’m right here, woman. No need to claw at me.”

  This time she did slap at his shoulder but Hunter knew the perfect way to soothe her ire. He nibbled at the slim column of her throat. “Mmm, you taste better than I could imagine.”

  He nipped her ear and she jerked then melted in his arms. Her moan was a symphony to his senses. “That’s right, baby. Give into
it.”

  He continued to murmur nonsensical things as he licked at her skin and lapped at her collarbone until he stopped to stare at the breasts pointed in his direction. The gift before him deserved the right amount of attention so he used his hands to tease at the budded tips first, enjoying her hum of gratification. When Narelle undulated beneath him, he lowered his head to take one succulent morsel in his mouth and sucked.

  “Yes! Hunter, don’t stop.” Desperate hands dug at his hair and Narelle’s hips began to pump and twist about.

  The plea contained notes of want, need and demand. Hunter let her nipple go with a plop then placed a gentle kiss on the crinkled flesh before switching to her other breast. The minute his mouth made contact, Narelle arched up on a whimper. He firmed his hold at her waist, keeping her still for his torture, though his body wanted to explode.

  “I knew you’d be this hot. All those nights of dreaming about you, wanting you.”

  Hunter made his way down the luscious body splayed out on his bed, inhaling deeply the slight musky scent of her arousal. When he reached her feminine juncture, he parted the folds with two fingers and brushed his thumb over the swollen button, which darkened from green to a deep jeweled tone.

  The muscles in Narelle’s upper thighs quivered as he rubbed the nub back and forth, wetness gathering on his fingers. Smiling, Hunter lowered his head and feasted.

  Soon Narelle’s husky moans filled his bedroom, the bed creaked from her rocking hips and Hunter sensed her on the verge of coming.

  “Hunter! You bastard if you stop now, I’ll kill you.”

  The threat gave him pause, and Hunter laughed. He didn’t believe she had a shot in space of taking him, but the thought amused him. “Why the rush, baby?”

  He blew on her sensitized flesh and her hands slammed down on his head as her thighs locked about his ears. This time he dropped a kiss on her inner thigh and laughed long and loud. Only with Narelle did he always battle the need to let down his guard. She brought out the playful side of him. Hunter didn’t have a lot of cause to be playful in his life and valued these moments more than she’d ever know.

  “You made promises.” She tipped her head up to meet his gaze down the slope of her belly.

  Propping his weight on his elbows and breaking the stranglehold she had on his neck, he made a decision. He hadn’t intended to drag it out, but now he needed to watch her find her release again and again. “You’re right.”

  Hunter’s smile was wolfish and Narelle felt a brief flash of fear. But no, he wouldn’t hurt her. More and more, Narelle wondered if she was the one who’d end up hurting him. His eyes gleamed and warned of wicked plans.

  Two fingers slid between her wet mound and stroked. Narelle clenched then forced herself to relax at the delicious sensations he wrought. When she imagined this, the one thing she hadn’t expected was Hunter’s determination to see to her pleasure as well as his own. She rocked her hips in time to his touch.

  Another explosive burst drew close as Hunter built up the steady rise in flames licking through her insides.

  “Up,” he pulled his hands away and guided Narelle to her knees.

  “Hunter, what are you doing?”

  When he spun her around, she started to question him but Hunter’s hand glided down her torso and dove back between her spread thighs.

  Her head fell back against his shoulder. What he was doing felt amazing. Her thighs quivered and she couldn’t fight the rhythmic clenching as she worked against his hand. She looped her arms behind her about his neck, fingers thrusting into the wild strands of hair. “Oh, yes.”

  “Come for me,” he coaxed. “Come for me and let me see you in all your glory.”

  Wet slicked between her thighs. Short, hard pumps. Fast, smooth glides. Narelle gasped head thrashing on his shoulder as she fought to hold out longer. More. She wanted more before it ended.

  “Hunter.”

  “Let it go, baby.”

  Narelle tried to fight the power of his pull on her but his fingers pierced her knuckle deep, stroking a place so deep inside, she didn’t know it existed. She almost bucked off of him as her body betrayed her.

  Trembling, Narelle barely noticed Hunter turn her back and ease her down to the bed.

  “With me,” he growled. “I want you with me this time.”

  Smooth and easy, he glided into her ready channel with little difficulty. Inside she pulsed and stretched from his width but accepted the intrusion. Another shudder rolled over Narelle and she arched up chest to chest, hands clinging to the broad shoulders spread above her, while she tried to catch her breath.

  Her heart pattered off beat. The seamless ease with which he wrung an orgasm from her was frightening.

  Intense brown eyes filled with arrogance and victory, pinned her to the bed. Frozen, bound by more than the physical, Narelle struggled. No, no. This wasn’t how it was supposed to be. She shook her head but Hunter lowered his face to her throat, his muffled groan hard to miss. “I’ve waited for this.”

  Gentle swipes from his tongue, the press of firm lips at the pulse pounding out of sync then he braced up on his forearms, moved—and tore apart any illusions Narelle had of this staying simple. Using nothing but the sheer grace of his body, Hunter changed this from two people just having sex. It became deeper, ties seeking to bind her in a way she wouldn’t want to escape.

  Instinctively, Narelle knew it was deliberate on his part and a spurt of anger tugged at her senses. Feelings she refused to look at were ruthlessly shoved down in order to focus on the anger.

  How dare he? How dare he force her to feel more than she this…this bet warranted?

  Hair fell across Hunter’s brow as he grunted with each punch of his hips. “Tonight, we don’t hide,” he muttered. “You’re mine. All mine. Every bit of you.”

  Waves of pleasure dragged at her without mercy. Sweat glinted on his jaw as he kept his head down driving into her body.

  “Why?” The helpless cry broke free. She pounded a fist on his shoulder.

  Slowly, he eased out until only the thick crown of him remained. He licked his lips but never took his gaze from her face. “Because you want to shut me out and if all I get is tonight, you’re going to let me in this once.”

  When he slammed forward giving her every inch of him, Narelle fell into the intimate circle he created where only the two of them existed. Her knees clamped about his sides, toes curled into the sheets.

  With every stroke, he rocked her body back and forth on the linen. Narelle whimpered as his thrust grew erratic, hitting her in the same spot repeatedly. Her vision darkened as her breath grew ragged. Back bowed, she clenched her fingers on his shoulders as the world around her erupted in a haze of colors.

  “Yes! Fuck, yes!”

  Breath hot against her shoulder he collapsed right after. Sweat cooled on their bodies, moisture clinging to the crease between her breasts. Narelle panted, unable to stop running her hands up Hunter’s damp back. Damn him! Sex had never been this explosive before and with a man she knew good and well wasn’t right for her. Or maybe he was perfect for her.

  Narelle expelled her breath on a sigh, her quivering thighs loosening their fierce grip on Hunter. Her heart continued to thunder in her chest as his softening length slid free. A whisper soft kiss landed on her cheek as he shifted his weight and slid to the side of her on the bed, his arms clasped tight about her waist. Narelle flowed with the movement, ending on her side facing him. It required more energy than she could spare to resist.

  The tender look in his eyes did strange things to her and Narelle wanted to run and hide. Hunter must have sensed or read her mind because his hands held firm and his brows lowered, the relaxed look on his face fading. “Don’t.”

  Narelle considered a sniping response, but one look at the eager light in his gaze dared her. With a sniff, she rolled her eyes and flipped over, giving him her back.

  His muted chuckle as he cuddled close caused a reluctant smile to tilt her lips.
Another kiss landed on the curve of her shoulder, the wet dip of his tongue teasing in its wake.

  “All trouble and worth it,” he murmured huskily.

  Six

  Narelle woke in slow increments. The first thing she noticed was the heavy weight over her waist. A muscled forearm clamped possessively over her. At her back, warm heat created a cozy nest among the twisted blankets. More cozy than she should feel with this man. She wanted to doze back off and snuggle into the warm weight behind her.

  That would only make leaving harder.

  Easing away slightly, Narelle had one thought at the forefront of her mind. Get up and get out. All before Hunter woke and decided to talk about…their night. Or whatever this was. Every touch tonight, every smile in her direction sliced through her heart.

  Another slide and Hunter’s arm fell to the covers, granting her freedom. As she rose and stood beside the massive bed, Narelle’s gaze was drawn back to the man sprawled over most of it. A beautiful network of scars on the far right of his back marred the muscles. Her fingers had traced the lines of some, but the way he tensed at the touch warned her away from probing.

  Similar meshwork marks from knee to mid-calf ruined his right leg. With his leg bent it was hard to miss. It didn’t matter though. Hunter’s body appealed to her scars and all. Now that she knew what he looked like beneath the dark clothes he favored, it would be difficult to resist him in the future.

  Temptation called, and Narelle moved the sheet slightly, stopping after baring his lower half to her view.

  Military fit as she once heard a friend say about a former lover. Hunter retained a muscled, sleek frame. Toned and tight, she’d reaped the benefit of his powerful thrusts, the slap of those hard thighs. And his chest. Narelle knew her gaze had grown dreamy as she reminisced about stroking every inch over a chest he’d pressed against her like a leaden weight, keeping her immobile as he rutted into her sex.