by Dianna Love
Her face fell, then her eyes lit with understanding. “You mean that jackal shifter who attacked me? He didn’t even want to do it with me,” she admitted.
Easing her to the side so he could bend his elbow and prop his head, he said, “That doesn’t make sense.”
“It didn’t to me either at first until he said the Cadells were going to sell off his girlfriend because she was fertile and I wasn’t. He was determined to put a baby in me so they’d sell me to the Black River pack instead.”
Rory cursed. “That bastard. You said he didn’t ... rape you before you zapped him, right?” He hadn’t meant to ask that and bring up a bad memory, but it just came out.
“No. When I panicked, my power sort of electrocuted him before he could do anything.”
“Fucker deserved to die.”
“You told me that in the van.”
“Worth repeating.”
She smiled with lazy happiness. His gaze drifted to where her tits pushed to get out of that T-shirt.
“Does that look mean, you uh, want to … ” she murmured, blushing.
He closed his eyes. “We can’t do this. You’ll regret it later. I can’t live with that.”
She said, “Want to know what’s hard to live with?”
“Yes.”
“That attack. I’ve been trying to wipe the memory of that jackal from my mind since it happened. I kept thinking I never want a man to touch me again, but evidently I do. I want you to touch me. I want to feel alive and free, because it may not last long. I want a good memory to replace that ugly one.”
His heart thumped the more he listened. She’d said men had always been in control. They’d want, want, want and never considered what she wanted.
Blood rushed through his body, going nowhere near the head where he needed it so he could figure out what to do.
His body knew what to do, but the head on his shoulders had to deal with the fallout.
She cupped his cheek. “You think too much, Rory. Why don’t you let go once in a while and just feel?” She took his free hand and laid it on her breast. His fingers had been itching to touch her.
His hand refused to leave her, so he massaged her breast and her moan went straight to his groin.
When he played with the hard nub, she reached down between her legs.
He lifted the edge of the T-shirt above her breasts and his mouth went dry. “You’re so pretty.”
She paused her hand and said, “A breast man, huh?”
“Well, I am for yours, but you’d be pretty if you didn’t have any at all. That’s just a bonus.”
Was he going to do this?
Lifting up, she kissed him and of all the things she could have done to draw a yes out of him, her kiss broke through his wall of determination.
Chapter 23
Siofra sucked Rory’s lip and held his head so he wouldn’t pull back. She kissed his cheek where his five o’clock shadow had a good start on a beard.
You’re so pretty.
She would hear those words forever, because she planned to keep his husky words close to her heart. Rory could be grouchy, a hard ass, secretive, and impossible to read at times, but this right here was truth.
His hands reached for her in a hungry way. His touch had the crazy mix of being magic and masculine. Not a young boy like her first time. This was a man who knew what to do with a needy woman.
His fault she was so damn needy right now.
She’d been dreaming of him making love to her and it never quite happened. In her dream, he’d get her hot and wet, just like in that hotel room when he kissed her, then he’d vanish.
Not now.
He was right here. She placed her hand over the front of his boxer shorts and confirmed what he’d been toting around behind the zipper. She’d wrestled with her attraction to him since that kiss, asking herself what she was doing kissing a shifter.
But this man had been created good and honorable. Even his people seemed like decent shifters. She had little experience with romantic relationships, but she’d met a lot of men during the years of her camp life.
She knew mean, abusive and evil.
Rory was none of those.
He was ...
He pushed her panties off and hijacked her thoughts when his fingers feathered across her sensitive folds. Oh, yes, she wanted to stay right here in this moment forever. How could this man be so gruff and rough at times then incredibly gentle when he touched her? He twisted up her core and had that crazy energy singing inside her.
“You’re so wet and sexy,” he whispered as he dipped inside her with one, then two fingers.
“More,” she demanded.
“Not until you’re ready, baby.”
She caught the rhythm of his fingers and moved to ride his hand. How much more ready could she be? She whined, “Don’t stop.”
“Not a chance, baby.” He dropped his head to suck on her breast. His tongue played with the tip and she arched up to him.
He pulled his fingers out of her and stroked her with a perfect touch at the same moment he nipped her breast.
Pain and pleasure tore through her and she let go. She called out his name, begged him and gripped his arms to hold on. He wouldn’t let her down off that ride. She kept coming until she’d given up everything and fell back, weak.
“Stop,” she pleaded, laughing.
He laughed, too. “You said don’t.”
She spoke between breaths. “I ... had an ... ambitious plan.”
“Did you get what you wanted?” His voice was deep and husky.
She knew right then that he’d remembered her anger over men only getting what they wanted, never caring about her. This man would always put a woman first.
Of all the things she’d ever wanted, that right there topped the list.
When she could move, she reached over and curled her fingers around his dick.
He hissed, “Careful, baby. I’ve been on the edge for hours.”
Really? That stroked her ego. She suggested, “Then let’s take the edge off.”
“I want to, more than you know.”
Her heart sank. He was stopping now? She wasn’t done by a long shot. “Why?” She couldn’t keep the heartbroken sound from her voice.
Brushing his fingers over her face, he said, “Don’t even think I don’t want you. I do. But I didn’t actually plan on this so I am not, uh, prepared.”
What was he talking about? The light bulb went off. She asked, “You mean you don’t have condoms?”
“Nope.”
“I already told you. I’m infertile.” She’d never been glad to say that, but if it meant having a special night with Rory, then at least something good would come of her pain. “I’m clean, too. They had us checked all the time in the camp and I haven’t been with anyone in five years ... since I was sixteen.”
A battle of indecision warred in his face, making her feel encouraged, because he was close to agreeing.
“There’s no guarantee that you won’t get pregnant,” he said, sounding disappointed. “I won’t risk that.”
She put her palm to his cheek, longing to tell him how much she wanted a baby if she lived free to raise it. But that wouldn’t happen so she gave him the truth. “There is a guarantee against me getting pregnant.” Admitting it this time did make her sad. “For months now, every time they called me into the clinic, I’d end up being put under without being told what was going to happen. Each time, I’d wake up in my room, not feeling good. Three to ten days later, I’d start bleeding profusely. They finally admitted they’d put a fertilized egg in me each time and my body rejected it.” A tear slid down the side of her nose and she sniffled. “I can’t get pregnant, but I can have ... this. I want this.”
He licked his lips, but not in a hungry way. He was thinking. Then he kissed her tears away and said, “I can’t change what I am and I have no plans to ever take a mate.”
Giving him a smile, she said, “I can’t change what I a
m and this isn’t about mating. I just need something good to happen in my life for the first time ever. Something I can hold onto when times get dark again, because with my luck the sunshine will eventually go away.”
“Not if I can help it. We’ll find your friend and then I’ll figure a way to keep you both safe.”
She took a deep, shuddering breath, wanting to believe him, believe in him. If only life was that simple, but she couldn’t set herself up to hope that much and face disappointment again. For now, she was on the day-by-day plan.
Today’s plan was simple. She had a chance for a moment of happiness and refused to let it go. “Thank you, but it doesn’t change my mind. The one gift you can offer me right now is to not stop.”
He nodded, but it seemed to be to some silent conversation he was having with himself. “Then I want this to be the best.”
She liked the sound of that and could be honest enough with herself to admit it intimidated her, too. What if she turned out to be terrible at this? Would he then regret it?
He didn’t give her a chance to dwell long on doubts, because he lifted her T-shirt all the way off and shed his boxer shorts.
She would have had good reason to feel intimidated by his size, but she wanted to put her hands on him even more now.
His mouth covered her breast and his tongue flicked crazy fast. She clenched her legs when a new spike of heat coiled down there.
He played with her other nipple, matching the motions of his tongue. She cried out and tried to reach past him, but his big body prevented any hope of gaining release on her own.
She couldn’t take this forever. “Please ... ”
Moving his hips up, he rubbed the head of his dick through her folds and a sizzle of energy raced between her breasts and her groin.
Begging hadn’t worked. She teetered along a feverish edge of need, ready to take the fall. The next time Rory brushed his cock over her wet folds, she opened her legs and lifted up.
He must have only needed that sign to slide inside her slowly, pulling out then pushing in further.
“More,” she hissed, unwilling to wait.
He growled softly and pushed all the way home then stayed there and lifted up on his arms.
She was breathing hard, staring into brown eyes flecked with gold and full of hunger. “What?” she whispered.
“I need you more than I should right now.” That sounded like a confession.
He kept winding himself around her heart. She admitted, “I need you, too.”
He dropped his head and kissed her, not moving his hips or any other part. His tongue pushed inside her mouth and made friends with hers, then he swept his lips over hers and kissed a path from her cheeks to her neck.
When he lifted up again, his eyes were golden and his power buzzed as if it was inside of her. Huh, maybe it was.
She had no time to think. He started moving, pushing his hips in and out as he held her gaze captive. She loved the feel of him. The harder he pushed, the more she dug her nails into his arms.
He didn’t seem to mind.
In fact, his eyes lit with excitement.
She lifted her hips, bringing him deeper and climbing that razor edge again.
This time, he didn’t leave her waiting.
Reaching between them, he went right to the core of her heat, stroking as he shoved inside, once, twice ... yeah, she split into thousands of pieces. Lost track of everything except the feel of riding that wave as he drove into her faster.
He shouted and filled her, still pumping until he slowed then stopped and dropped onto her.
“Umph.” She laughed. “You weigh a ton.”
“Liar.”
She laughed some more. He had his arms blocking all of his weight, but she liked to tease him.
Time floated along until some annoying buzzer interrupted everything.
He grumbled, “Fucking alarm.”
Her exact sentiments.
But she celebrated being free for now and having Rory close to feel. “How much time do we have? I want a shower.”
“Half hour enough?”
“Sure.”
~*~*~
Rory rolled half off of her, still dazed by that orgasm.
That had been ... rare. He couldn’t remember it ever being that satisfying for him. Sure, he got a release during sex, but this had felt different.
Siofra gave him a shove, which wouldn’t have moved him if he hadn’t rolled all the way off on his own.
Still laughing, she pushed off of him and ran to the bathroom to start a shower.
He let her. Women were all different and some had to process what had happened immediately.
Would Siofra now think twice about what they’d done? Would she be hurt or distant? If she was, he had no one to blame but himself.
He really did suck, because he refused to feel any regret. He’d enjoyed every minute of loving her body.
Siofra yelled out, “I may be in here awhile. I’m achy and I’m as good as you at getting off.”
Fuck, he was in.
He leaped from the bed, ripped the curtain to the side.
She stood under the shower with her head thrown back as water rushed over her body.
Yep, that’s all it took. His dick saw that as a second wake-up call.
Rory eased in and joined her under the cascading water.
She smiled and brought her head up. “Hey you.”
He leaned down and kissed her. “You are so sexy.” The longer he kissed her, the hotter things got in spite of the cool water she had running.
Wrapping her arms around his neck, she whispered, “I want you.”
He lifted her up and slid her down on his cock, water splashing all over them.
She latched onto his shoulders and lifted up, then dropped down. He cupped her hips to hold her still or this would be too fast.
“Hold on, babe.” He wanted to be sure she got what she needed no matter what. Moving a hand to stroke her, she moaned and tightened her legs around him. He gritted his teeth to hold back his release as he brought hers on. She clenched him so hard he felt chills from his own release waiting close by.
When she dropped her head to his shoulder she said, “You feel so good.”
“Not as nice as being inside you.” Clutching her hips, he began moving slowly until he was pounding into her.
She moaned and dug her fingers into his arms.
Game over.
He came hard again, heaving breath after breath. He finally leaned an arm against the shower wall as she slid down. The other arm held up a limp Siofra whose legs couldn’t hold her.
She mumbled, “How much time left?”
“Not enough to go again, nymph.”
“Nymph?” She leaned in and bit his nipple gently.
His dick answered with a thump and she laughed.
When had having a woman laugh during sex seemed perfect? Never before now.
He wanted her, not just a sexual want, but ... her. This woman. One word said it all.
Mate.
Want warred with commitment. He’d made a commitment a long time ago to not mate, but things were confused in his head.
Not in his chest. His heart pounded away like it had been given an electrical shock to wake it.
She put her feet down and stood, a little wobbly, which only made him feel like a king.
“We’ve got to get going soon,” he said, grabbing a bar of soap and lathering it all over her body.
“Seriously? You think that is going to make me want to put clothes on?” She gave him a comical look, part annoyed and part amused.
Where had this woman come from to connect all the dots to make him smile? He’d never smiled this much.
He ignored her squeals of delight when he touched a sensitive area and groans of complaint when he moved on.
Once they got on the road, he could do some thinking. He couldn’t make any decisions with a lust-swamped mind. This could be the most important decision of his
life and one he couldn’t be wish-washy on.
Before he could consider a mate, he had to fix his jaguar.
Siofra couldn’t have children, which was no deal breaker for him since he didn’t want to continue his shifter bloodline. Not that his child would be a Gallize. It normally wasn’t because it skipped a generation at least.
Could he have a mate after all?
Flipping her around to face the wall, he joked, “This side should get me in less trouble.”
“Not if you get creative.”
He chuckled until he saw a tattoo on her back. The design was of an eye with a pointy oval pupil that had a triangle in the middle. Two long lashes below curved up to form a Celtic braid design encompassing the eyelid.
Fuck. That was the mark of Cadell.
She’d said she wasn’t one of them.
“Rory? Did your arm get tired?”
Washing the rest of her, he asked, “What’s this tattoo?”
She grumbled, “Ugh. I hate that thing. They did that when they took me from my dad. I saw some of the other little girls at camp with the same mark. Those jerks said it meant we belonged to the Cadells. When I got older, they tried to tell me my dad did it before I was captured, but why would he? Such liars. I never see it and no one talks about it, so I try to ignore being branded like cattle.”
Rory had never seen the tattoo in person, but he’d been taught about it as part of his training.
From what he’d learned, some Cadell fathers marked a first female child with the iconic tattoo. Everything about this design and her story fit.
Siofra hadn’t lied about being a Cadell.
She had no idea she was actually one of them.
That explained the power.
His stomach sank.
She definitely wasn’t a Gallize female.
Chapter 24
Siofra stood at a bulletin board inside a grocery in Portland, Maine. They had arrived as the grocery store opened for business.
This was her one hope for finding Baatar.
She adjusted the handwritten index card advertising a missing forty-year-old truck with rusty body and bad seats. The email she included would go nowhere. Rory had checked that it belonged to no one.