by Rae Rivers
“Tell me to back off,” he whispered in her ear as he cupped her between the legs.
Inhaling deeply, she closed her eyes and rested her head against his chest, hating the way her legs parted at his touch.
“Tell me you don’t want this and I’ll walk away and take a cold shower.”
Her eyes flew open on a gasp when his leisurely strokes triggered instant waves of pleasure.
“You would?” she whispered, her words a choked groan, not caring when the towel slid to the floor.
“Yes, if you asked me to.” He nibbled her ear and increased his strokes, his free hand coming up around her waist to cover her breast.
And this time, there was nothing gentle about his touch. He held her everywhere, firm, possessive, bold.
“But we both know that’s not going to happen,” he murmured, releasing her breast to capture her chin in his hand. He tugged her head back, exposing her throat, his mouth inches from hers.
She felt the climax building, shredding the last of her resolve, and leaned against him, not trusting her legs to support her.
Sensing her surrender, he quickened his pace, his fingers working their magic, until she felt the eruption of pleasure from deep within.
Her soft groan broke the silence and her arms came up to cling to him as she came with a fierceness that left her reeling.
“So what’s your answer, Kate?” he murmured against her ear as she soared. “You want me to back away?”
Still holding onto him, her face turned into his, she shook her head.
It was all the invitation he needed.
****
He caught her waist, drew her legs up around him, and walked toward the wall behind her. He lifted his arms as she tugged off his T-shirt with the same desperation, grinning as she reached for the zip of his jeans.
She smelt like vanilla, the scent washing over him, teasing his senses. He reached for her hands and held them up against the wall on either side of her head. Using his body to ground her, her skin deliciously smooth against his, he ravished her.
And she met his demanding kisses with a mutual urgency.
When her hand tugged free to trail across his body to the opening of his jeans, her fingers closing around him, he gritted his teeth at the rush of heat that reared inside. He was hard, pulsing, and grunted when she began to stroke him.
She smiled at his response, enjoying the effect she had on him, and lowered her gaze. “Wow, impressive gear,” she said, grinning.
“Thanks, you’re seeing it at its finest.”
She laughed, the sound whipped away as he caught her mouth in another fierce kiss.
“I have to have you,” he murmured between kisses, needing her with an urgency that unsettled him.
“Now, Declan,” she whispered in a husky tone.
Still holding her, still kissing her, her body wrapped around his, he walked to the bed. He nudged her onto the sheet, shifting her body so that she lay sprawled in front of him.
A vision of pale, naked flesh, a mass of dark curls, and wide eyes filled with intense desire. He longed to plunge himself inside her but urged himself to take it slow, to savour her.
Kicking aside his jeans, he kissed, touched, and explored every inch of her until she was writhing on the sheet, her breathless gasps fuelling his own need.
And when he couldn’t stand one more minute not being inside her, he reached into the drawer beside the bed, scrounging for a foil package.
He covered her body with his, nudging her legs open with a knee. They parted willingly, her surrender driving him wild, and he kissed her with raw abandon.
Lifting his head, he inhaled her scent, allowing it to seep through him, knowing he’d never smell vanilla again without thinking of her. The thought made him smile and he left a trail of kisses in her neck, along her jaw, until she was trembling, breathless, and flushed with heat.
Nestled between her legs, his body against hers, he dragged in a deep breath, reaching for control, calming the whirl of energy inside.
“Declan,” she whispered in a raspy voice that snapped his attention back. “Now.”
He pushed forward, resting his forehead against hers, their gazes locked with such heated intensity that he felt the effect deep within.
“Are you sure? Your wound?”
“I’m fine. Now, Declan!” she groaned, clutching his hips as her legs widened to accommodate him.
With a soft grunt, he entered her. Slowly at first, the motion extracting a low groan from them both.
Coming home. That’s what it felt like. Shit.
He paused, shoving aside the thought, and realised he was losing himself in this woman at a rapid rate. Impatient, she wiggled her hips. Desire arrowed through him and his breath caught.
“Don’t do that,” he grunted.
She wiggled again, grinning at the strangled sound he made. “Then don’t stop.”
“No chance in hell of that happening now.” He withdrew and pushed into her again with a slow, deep thrust. She wrapped her legs around him, drawing him deeper, and met him thrust for thrust as he began his slow, rhythmic pumping.
He found her hands, laced their fingers above her head, his gaze unwavering on hers as he moved inside her. She shifted her legs around him, the motion drawing him in even more, and he released a low growl.
He revelled in the tension building between them and increased his pace, pushing deeper and harder.
She closed her eyes as she came, her soft moan triggering his own release. Like a caged beast, he shoved into her with a hard thrust and they came together in an explosion of ecstasy, their joint groans ripping through the silence of the room.
It took them several moments to level their breathing, and he shifted his weight off her without breaking away. Their fingers were still entwined and he released her hand to touch her face.
He kissed her, enjoying the breathy remains of her climax, and revelled in the satisfaction of knowing he’d made her his. Again.
God, he’d never felt so pleased – so enthralled.
Content.
The thought doused the heat with an icy chill.
He withdrew and reached for the duvet at the foot of the bed, covered them, and collapsed beside her.
He lay there, panicked, trying to catch his breath which suddenly had nothing to do with desire.
Sex, for him, was usually simple and uncomplicated. It satisfied his basic needs.
He felt her. Every beautiful damn inch of her.
Even though he wasn’t touching her.
Dammit.
It took every ounce of strength not to bolt from her bed. When her breathing finally grew heavy, he untangled himself from the sheets, from her, tugged on his clothes and left.
CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN
Waking alone had a certain sting to it that Kate refused to acknowledge. Instead, she reached for a steely indifference, threw back the covers and stomped to the bathroom. The shower did little to lessen the frustration that stirred inside, and even less for the flush triggered by every memory of Declan.
Wow.
Her body tightened, her nipples hardened, and she groaned.
Steely indifference be damned.
By the time she made her way downstairs, her stomach was riddled with butterflies itching for flight.
As she reached the last step, the front door opened, the hinges of the solid, heavy door creaking. Declan walked in, carrying fire wood, Levi trailing behind him.
The top of his head was dusted with a thin layer of fresh snow, the white ice a contrast to his jet black hair. He paused when he saw her, his eyes narrowing a fraction, his expression a blank canvas.
She took a few deep breaths, trying to steady the rush of emotions. Levi trotted forward with her trademark wagging tail and Kate patted her head.
At least there was one friendly face there to greet her.
“You’re up,” he said, opting for a casual tone that irked her. He stomped his boots to get rid of the s
now and shut the door. “How’s the wound?”
“Fine.” Healed, in fact.
“Everyone’s in the study. Sienna’s in party mode and could use some help.” He crossed the room and backed into a door, nodding at Kate to follow him.
Disappointment flared, along with a fresh bout of irritation. What had she expected? Taking a deep breath, she shoved aside the urge to run, and followed.
The smell of polish greeted her when she went inside; not surprising considering the heavy wooden book shelves that lined most of the walls. They added a serious appeal to the room, decorated with darker furniture, a leather couch, and three large desks kitted out with the latest technology.
Ethan was at his desk and Sienna stood beside the couch, surrounded by heaps of clothing that looked suspiciously like Halloween outfits. Her expression brightened when she saw them.
“Oh, great, you’re here,” Sienna said, smiling. Her fire red hair had been subdued into a knot at the nape of her neck and she wore a white shirt, leggings, and knee length boots. “We were about to grab some brunch. Hope you’re hungry.”
“Starving,” Kate admitted, edging closer.
Sienna held up a costume. “What do you think?”
Black. Skin tight. Catwoman.
Kate grinned.
Declan glanced at the suits as he knelt in front of the fireplace and offloaded the wood. “You planning a robbery?”
Sienna lowered the costume, her grin matching Kate’s. “Not tonight.”
“Anyone dressed in that can only mean trouble.”
“It’s cute, don’t you think?”
“Sure, if you’re attending a Halloween party.” He rose, dusting off his hands, and shifted his narrowed gaze to Sienna. “Going ahead with this party is insane.”
Her expression fell. “You say that like we have a choice.”
A muscle clenched in his jaw, but he didn’t argue.
“You know what this party means to our friends, our business. Tara’s gone to a lot of trouble.”
Declan looked at the clothes. Colourful and boisterous, hinting that tonight’s party called for something other than formal wear. “So what’s with the gear?”
Sienna reached into the pile and pulled out a Captain America costume, double the size of hers. “It’s our costumes for tonight’s party.”
“What are we, twelve?”
“Don’t be a grouch.”
Ethan leaned back in his chair, toying with the leather straps around his wrist. Kate caught a glimpse of his Keeper ring, identical to Declan’s. Against the navy blue T-shirt he wore, his eyes were a shade darker. “If it wasn’t for Sienna, you’d have nothing to wear tonight. Show some gratitude, brother.”
“I’m not in the mood to play dress up for some stupid party that shouldn’t even be happening.”
“We’re having this party, Declan.” Sienna dumped the costumes. “If we lived in hiding, then all the crap that comes with this life would destroy the tiny bit of normality we strive for!”
The admission was a powerful one, which neither of the brothers denied.
Sienna exhaled, sending Kate an apologetic glance before lowering her voice. “Tonight is a celebration and we’re part of this community. You know we can’t cancel at such short notice without causing alarm.”
“Harper is also part of this community. If he pitches up, no one will question it.”
“We’ll be ready for him.”
“As Catwoman?”
“Don’t be snarky.”
“If he tries something, there’s nothing we can do with everyone watching. Our powers are bound at events like these.”
“I agree, Declan, but Sienna has a point,” Ethan said, his tone taking on a more serious edge. “With the upcoming harvest in a few days, we need to mingle with our friends. Cancelling the party now would unsettle everyone.”
Kate placed a hand on Declan’s arm. “They’re right. And if Harper shows, we’ll deal with him.”
“Whose side are you on?”
“The side that helps me figure out how not to be a pawn in this stupid war.”
His gaze flickered between the two women and he shrugged. “Fair enough, but if Harper shows tonight, neither of you get to reel me in. And I’m not going as Captain America.”
“No, you’re not,” Sienna replied.
Kate glanced at the costumes. “So what’s tonight’s theme?”
“Superheroes.”
“Great,” Declan grumbled, taking a seat at his desk, “we get to hang out with Spiderman and Batman. Love it.”
“We always have fun at these parties,” Sienna argued, ignoring his sarcasm. “With any luck, Harper won’t show.”
“It would be an incredibly stupid move on his part if he did,” Ethan said. “By now he knows we’ll be rallying around Kate.”
Kate felt a flash of warmth at his words. Besides her mother and Hazel, no one had ever looked out for her before. It was … refreshing, comforting. It tugged at the part of her that had insisted she could operate alone.
Declan waved a hand at the costumes. “So which is mine?”
Sienna grinned. Reaching into the pile, she pulled out Iron Man.
A boyish grin broke free and Declan nodded. “Oh yeah.”
CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT
When Declan walked into the living room, Ethan shoved a whiskey in his hand. “What’s this for?” he asked, giving his brother’s black and silver suit a nod of approval. Ethan had transformed into an excellent version of Thor. He had to admit, Sienna’s costume choice of The Avengers wasn’t completely lame.
At least she hadn’t opted for Spiderman.
“Thought you might need a mood booster,” Ethan replied, adjusting his red cape.
“I hope you brought the bottle.”
Ethan chuckled and motioned to it with his hammer.
“I can’t take you seriously when you wave that thing at me.”
“Yeah, me neither,” Archer said, joining them. He wore a black sleeveless jacket, a bow and arrow attached to his back.
“If you’re Hawkeye, then Sienna must be … ” Declan’s words trailed off as Sienna walked into the room.
“Black Widow,” she finished, giving a courtesy twirl, a gorgeous vision of pale skin and fire red hair. She wore a skin-tight black jumpsuit marked with the symbol of the Avengers on each shoulder and a pair of high-heeled boots.
He heard Archer’s grunt of approval and took a sip of bourbon, almost choking on it when Kate walked through the door.
For a moment, all he could do was simply stare, caught off guard by the way his body reacted to seeing her.
Her skinny Catwoman jumpsuit hugged her hips, reminding him of the curves he’d spent all night exploring. Her hair was curlier and left loose around her shoulders, silky and gorgeous. In her hand, she held the cat ears, a mask, and a black cape.
Hot damn.
He crossed the room, hoping no one would notice that his suit had grown abruptly uncomfortable. Damn, would he ever get enough of her?
Suddenly, the idea of sharing her with a room full of town folk seemed as appealing as a root canal and he had the insane urge to toss her over his shoulder and drag her back to bed.
His bed.
She gave his suit a quick once-over. “Nice, warrior boy.”
He reached for the mask in her hand and adjusted it around her head, pleased to see the transformation. With her mop of dark curls and the mask, she wasn’t easily recognisable.
“We don’t know who’s siding with Harper and he may have people watching you,” he told her, relieved that his voice held no hint of the strain his body felt. He fastened the cape around her neck. “You’ll need to mingle around the room so not to give away that you’re with us.”
“I know. Sienna explained everything.”
“Stay close, don’t wander off.”
“I’ve got it, Declan.”
“And if there are any problems,” he said, unable to keep the grittiness out of
his voice, “remember I can hear you from across the room so all you need to do is murmur my name.”
Her face relaxed into a smile that took his breath away. “You should have worn a White Knight suit.”
“I told you –”
“Yeah, yeah,” she interrupted, clearly remembering his earlier response to a similar statement, “but I’m finding that harder to believe the more I’m with you.”
He frowned at her words but didn’t offer a reply. He turned to his brothers. “Shall we go?”
They all made their way out the door, looking either ridiculous or cool, depending on which way you looked at it.
Declan caught Kate’s arm before she walked out, drawing her back toward him.
“Something you forgot?” she asked, her tone taking on a playful ring.
He dipped his head closer, his lips an inch from hers, and gave a brief nod. “Yeah, this,” he said, covering her mouth with his.
Her sharp intake of air made him hard and he slid his hands in the nape of her neck.
Their kiss was brutal for the available space left in his suit and he lifted his head.
“Of all the damn superhero suits, you had to wear this one?” he grumbled.
“What would you have preferred? My options were limited.”
“I’d prefer you naked, in my bed, away from all those people.”
“You had me naked but you walked out on me.”
And suddenly, he couldn’t remember why. “I had things to do.”
“Liar.”
He hitched a brow, surprised by her candour.
“You ran, Declan, and I’m okay with that, but spare me the crappy excuses.”
“Considering there was a time that you left me butt-naked, I’d say we’re even.”
“That was different. We were on neutral ground then.”
“And we’re not now?”
“Far from it.”
True. His town, his home, his family. And dammit, he hadn’t once thought about what it would be like for her in Rapid Falls.
Her words sent a wave of guilt through him and he pressed his lips to her forehead, exhaling slowly. “I was an ass.”
“Is that your way of apologising?”