Seducing the Moon

by Sherrill Quinn

  He let Pelicia enter the room before him. He closed the door and let the blanket drop to the floor. Walking up to her, he brought her hands to his mouth and pressed a kiss in each palm. Then he framed her face with his hands and slanted his mouth over hers.

  Pelicia leaned into him and moaned, her tongue twining with his. With a groan that rumbled from deep in his gut, Declan went to one knee and slipped first one of her shoes and then the other from her slender feet. Standing, he reached behind her and unzipped her dress. She slipped the straps off her shoulders and the dress pooled at her feet, leaving her clad in a pair of lacy black panties…and nothing else.

  God. She was beautiful. Her breasts were full, slightly uptilted, with nipples already hard. He swept her up into his arms and took the few steps to the big bed. Bracing himself with one knee on the mattress, he gently laid her down.

  Before he knew what she was about, she put her hands on his chest and pushed him over. “It seems to me,” she murmured, her eyes a deep, dark blue sparkling with arousal, “that you’re the one who needs taking care of.”

  She placed her hands on his knees and nudged his legs apart, moving between his thighs. Her soft palms slid with excruciating slowness up his thighs, making his muscles bunch and spasm as those soft fingers came closer and closer toward treasured territory.

  Blood surged into his cock. He twitched with the need to grab her, take her.

  Claim his mate.

  Clenching his fists at his sides, Declan forced himself to remain still. If she wanted to take care of him, who was he to say no?

  An imp of pure sexual mischief sparked in her eyes as she bypassed his erection and slid her hands over his abdomen. She nuzzled his sac with her nose while she lightly raked her nails across his skin. When her tongue darted out in a quick lick, he grunted and surged against her.

  “Ah, darlin’?”

  Her second lick was a long, slow stroke that brought his hips arching off the bed.

  “This doesn’t feel like you’re takin’ care of me, Pel.” His words came out in a low growl of need. “It feels more like—”

  She drew one of his balls into the wet heat of her mouth.

  “Torture,” he groaned.

  She switched to his other testicle, laving it with her tongue while her hands stroked up his chest, fingers rubbing against his hard nipples.

  “God, Pel, you’re killin’ me here.”

  “I’ve only just begun.”

  Her breath puffed against his moist skin, making his balls draw up tight against his body. His cock throbbed, the skin stretched taut across the tip.

  “Just remember,” he managed to say, using what little brain cells he still had working. “Payback can be a real bitch.”

  “Oh, I certainly hope so.” She peeped up at him from under her lashes. Sliding her hands down, she ran her fingers lightly through the trail of dark hair that swirled down his abdomen and didn’t stop until she reached the thicket that surrounded his cock. He couldn’t stop the groan that rumbled from his chest.

  She was beautiful. He could smell her arousal and it heightened his own. He opened his mouth and closed it again without speaking. He loved her—he always had. But he wasn’t sure about her feelings anymore.

  He was sure he didn’t want to get shot down again.

  He was also sure that he wasn’t ready to ruin this moment by saying something that would make her withdraw from him. Sex could be a conduit to more—they’d seemed to reach some sort of understanding, but had that been because of the danger they’d faced?

  Could it last now that they were safe?

  He knew he wanted her forever.

  But what did she want?

  She took his shaft in a firm grip and closed her mouth over the head of his cock, her tongue swiping up the drop of fluid seeping from the tip. He flexed his fingers, curling them around the bedding at his sides.

  Later. They’d talk later.

  Big hands came up and grasped her head. Long fingers threaded through her hair. “Yes. Christ, Pel. Suck me.”

  Gripping his erection in one hand, Pelicia palmed his balls, rolling them in her fingers. She stroked his cock with her fingers as she took as much of him as she could into her mouth.

  “Take it, darlin’.” He pushed her hair out of her face. She looked at him, seeing his eyes glowing wolf-amber but she wasn’t afraid. It was arousal that turned his eyes gold and tightened his jaw. His head fell back, giving her a perfect view of the strong column of his neck.

  God, this was one beautiful man. And he was hers.

  Or, at least, he had been. He could be again if she was brave enough. He had said he loved her, and it was clear to her that she still loved him. But was it enough?

  He groaned and pumped his hips, pushing more of his cock into her mouth. She was doing this to him, making him crazy with lust. She flushed with heated arousal, her pussy swelling and pulsing with need.

  Later. She’d think about where they went from here later. Right now, she needed to focus—the feel of him, so hard, so thick. Life pulsing under her tongue.

  She licked her way around the head to the sensitive underside. Nibbling gently, she moved along the heavy shaft until she reached the base, where she promptly drew one of his tight balls once again into her mouth.

  He gave a shout and arched against her. Swirling her tongue around the hair-roughened skin, she gently suckled him while lightly squeezing his shaft with one hand. The other rested against one of his heavy thighs. She could feel his muscles trembling, and it was an incredible rush that she could bring this strong man to the brink of sexual insanity.

  It made her so hot she was ready to come just from touching him.

  She moved to the other testicle and gave it the same tender treatment, moaning around him as his hips pumped beneath her. He tasted of salt and vinegar. She whimpered with her own need.

  Pelicia rose up on one elbow and stared down at him. His eyes were squeezed shut, his breath coming fast and hard from flared nostrils as he fought to hold onto his control.

  This would never do. She didn’t want him in control—she wanted him wild with passion.

  “Release the hounds,” she murmured and brought her lips back to his cock.

  When that hot mouth closed over him again, Declan knew he wouldn’t last much longer. And he wanted to be inside her when he came. With a deep growl, he lifted her away from him, depositing her on her back on the mattress next to him as he came down on top of her. He sipped from her lips then trailed his mouth over her chin and down her slender throat.

  When he reached the sensitive spot where neck met shoulder, she sighed and tilted her head, giving him better access. He lingered, his cock jerking as she shifted and gasped under him.

  Impatient need riding him, Declan moved down to her breasts and took one nipple into his mouth. He suckled her, gentle at first, then harder, his cheeks hollowing as he feasted on her.

  Her hands came up and grasped his head, fingers curling through his hair. He switched to the other breast and brought his hand to the nipple he’d abandoned. Pinching and rolling and tugging, he kept it hard while his mouth and tongue worked the other one.

  “Declan, please,” Pelicia moaned, her hips moving restlessly under him.

  “Oh, I plan to please you, darlin’. That’s what this is all about,” he muttered against flesh wet from his mouth. He kissed a path down her belly, feeling her shiver. Moving between her legs, he swept her panties off her and stared at her pussy. Her folds were swollen and slick, her cream coating the plump lips.

  His fingers trembled slightly as he parted her sex. With a groan, he leaned in and swiped the flat of his tongue up her slit from her opening to her clit. He tongued through her folds, flicking now and again against the swollen pleasure nub, before finally settling in for a leisurely suckle.

  He speared one finger into her sheath, and she shivered and moaned. When he added another finger and began thrusting into her, she drew her knees up farther and l
et her legs fall open, widening herself to his touch. Her hips began to meet his thrusting hand.

  Declan redoubled his efforts and soon she cried out and arched. Her sheath clenched around his fingers, her hands tightened in his hair. Cream gushed into his palm. He moaned around her clit.

  As her climax eased, he gentled his touch, dipping his tongue into the well of her body, tasting the sweet-salty flavor of her arousal.

  “Declan, I want you. Now.”

  He surged over her, catching her mouth with his, letting her taste herself on his lips. With a last, lingering kiss, he rolled to his back and motioned to his erection. “Ride me,” he husked.

  He didn’t need to tell her twice. Pelicia threw her leg over him. He put his hands on her hips to help her as she eased down onto his shaft. When the curve of her ass rested against him, she paused, letting her body adjust to the thick invasion. He felt so big, filled her so completely.

  Bracing her palms against his wide chest, she began to rise and fall, faster and faster, the drag of his cock sending shock waves from her core to her clit.

  His face was hard and dark with need, amber eyes glittering as he brought his hands up to cup her breasts, rubbing his thumbs over the hard tips. Her breath hitched as her arousal spiraled tighter and tighter. One last slide down and it broke over her, arching her back, making her cry out in a raw voice.

  Declan stiffened and shouted with his own release, his fingers digging into her hips. After a few moments, Pelicia collapsed against him.

  His big hands roamed her back. She snuggled her face into the crook of his neck.

  His sigh was heavy against the top of her head. “I hope I’m not gonna ruin things by sayin’ this, but…I love you, Pelicia.” His fingers curled around the back of her neck, the tips lightly massaging the base of her head. “And I am so sorry for how I treated you, what I put you through.”

  She rose up until she could look into his face. His eyes were dark and serious, and in their depths lurked a fear she’d never expected to see.

  If she wanted to get even with him, now was the time.

  But that wasn’t what she wanted—it had never been about that. She’d come to accept that a while ago.

  It was about love.

  About loving him.

  About him loving her.

  She traced the line of his lower lip with her index finger. “I love you, too. You have to know that,” she whispered. “There was more to this”—she gestured vaguely at their bodies—“than just sex.”

  His eyes went liquid, shocking her from saying more.

  “You must love me,” he murmured, “to put up with my shit.” He reached up and cupped her face. “I’m sorry it took me so long to come ’round.”

  She swallowed back the jangle of emotions clogging her throat. She’d never seen Declan this vulnerable. That his feelings ran so deep had never been a question—he’d just never before let her see it. It was something she’d always wished for and now that she had it, and could see how uncomfortable it made him, she didn’t want to prolong his emotional distress.

  Time to lighten things up a bit.

  “Yeah, well,” she drawled, “I guess in addition to putting up with your shit I have to also put up with your slowness.”

  As his lips tilted in a grin, her heart lifted. She laughed.

  “Aye, I guess you do. But, seriously, thank you.” He rubbed his palm up and down her slender arm.

  “For what?”

  “For trustin’ me.” When she rose up until she could look at his face, he met her gaze. Emotion thickened his voice. “For givin’ me another chance.”

  She stared at him a moment. Drawing a deep breath, she held it, pressing her lips together. Then she sighed. “Don’t muck it up this time.”

  It obviously wasn’t what he’d expected her to say and it surprised a short bark of laughter from him. “I’ll do my best, darlin’.” He pressed his lips softly to her. “I’ll do my very best.”

  “I know you will.”

  They shared another gentle kiss.

  “So…what now?” Pelicia stared down into his eyes, feeling uncertainty flare again. It was obvious to her that she wouldn’t be taking her friend up on her offer of a place to stay in London, but did that mean that she and Declan stayed here in the Isles of Scilly and ran a bed and breakfast together? Somehow she just didn’t see him in the role of innkeeper.

  He reached up and stroked his fingers down her cheek. “Is your passport up to date?” He slid his hand to her neck, resting it where neck met shoulder as if he needed that physical contact.

  Her breath caught in her throat. “Yes,” she responded slowly, searching his gaze with hers. Exactly what was he asking?

  He licked his lips, looking nervous. Another first—she’d never seen him without that sometimes infuriating self-confidence before. “I want you to come back to America with me.”

  She swallowed, plagued by her own nervousness now. Go to the States? Just pick up and…what? Leave everyone and everything familiar? Leave all the memories of her grandfather’s betrayal that were attached to them?

  “Go with you to America as…what? Your live-in girlfriend?” If he wasn’t ready to commit, she wasn’t ready to draw up stakes and move halfway across the world.

  Gentleness softened his eyes. “As my wife.” He slid his hand around to cup her nape. “I love you, Pelicia. I want to spend the rest of my life with you.” That hint of uncertainty darkened his eyes again. “Can you put up with me turnin’ furry once a month?”

  Her heart thumped so hard she thought she might go into cardiac arrest. He wanted to marry her? “I can put up with your furriness,” she responded, holding his gaze. “As long as you can respect my need to know what’s going on. No more secrets.”

  “Agreed.” He drew her down and they shared a sweet, soft kiss that brought tears to her eyes.

  Before things could progress any further, a knock sounded on the door, and from the hallway Ryder, his voice muffled by the closed door, said, “I’ve phoned the police. They’re due to arrive any moment.”

  “Guess that means we should go downstairs.” Declan pressed a kiss to Pelicia’s shoulder. “But first, just so we’re clear…” He sat up and looked down at her. “You are comin’ back with me, right?”

  She smiled. “Right.”

  His grin chased away the last of his uncertainty. With a yell of triumph, he rolled out of bed. He went to the dresser and grabbed a pair of clean jeans, underwear, and a T-shirt.

  Pelicia slid off the mattress and stepped into her underwear, then picked up the rest of her clothes.

  As he pulled on his clothing, he watched her getting dressed, grinning when she arched a brow at him.

  “Enjoying the view?” she asked.

  “Always.”

  She sat on the bedside chair and put on her shoes. When she stood again, he took her hand, and they went downstairs together. They had just walked into the parlor when someone knocked on the front door. She and Declan stood in the doorway of the small room as Ryder crossed the foyer.

  “Here goes,” Ryder said and opened the front door.

  Instead of the local constable, Sully pushed his way into the house and glared at Declan with eyes the color of rich, primal amber. “What the hell have you gotten me into, you son of a bitch?”

  Don’t miss Shannon McKenna’s latest, TASTING FEAR, out now from Brava…

  Liam sounded exhausted. Fed up. She didn’t blame him a bit. She was a piece of work. Her mind raced, to come up with a plausible lie. Letting him see how small she felt would just embarrass them both.

  She shook her head. “Nothing,” she whispered.

  He let out a sigh, and leaned back, leaning his head against the back of the couch. Covering his eyes with his hands.

  That was when she noticed the condition of his hand. His knuckles were torn and raw, encrusted with blood. God, she hadn’t even given a thought for his injuries, his trauma, his shock. She’d just zoned out, flo
ated in her bubble, leaned on him. As if he were an oak.

  But he wasn’t an oak. He was a man. He’d fought like a demon for her, and risked his life, and gotten hurt, and she was so freaked out and self-absorbed, she hadn’t even noticed. She was mortified.

  “Liam. Your hand,” she fussed, getting up. “Let me get some disinfectant, and some—”

  “It’s OK,” he muttered. “Forget about it.”

  “Like hell! You’re bleeding!” She bustled around, muttering and scolding to hide her own discomfiture, gathering gauze and cotton balls and antibiotic ointment. He let her fuss, a martyred look on his face. After she’d finished taping his hand, she looked at his battered face and grabbed a handful of his polo. “What about the rest of you?”

  “Just some bruises,” he hedged.

  “Where?” she persisted, tugging at his shirt. “Show me.”

  He wrenched the fabric out of her hand. “If I take off my clothes now, it’s not going to be to show you my bruises,” he said.

  She blinked, swallowed, tried to breathe. Reorganized her mind. There it was. Finally verbalized. No more glossing over it, running away.

  “After all this?” Her voice was timid. “You still want to…now?”

  “Fuck, yes.” His tone was savage. “I’ve wanted it since I laid eyes on you. It’s gotten worse ever since. And combat adrenaline gives a guy a hard-on like a railroad spike, even if there weren’t a beautiful woman in my face, driving me fucking nuts. Which puts me in a bad place, Nancy. I know the timing sucks for you. The timing’s been piss poor since we met, but it never gets any better. It just keeps getting worse.”

  “Hey. It’s OK.” She patted his back with a shy, nervous hand. He was usually so calm, so controlled. It unnerved her to see him agitated.

  He didn’t seem to hear her. “And the worse it gets, the worse I want it,” he went on, his voice harsh. “Which makes me feel like a jerk, and a user, and an asshole. Promising to protect you—”

  “You did protect me,” she reminded him.

  “Yeah, and I told you it wasn’t an exchange. You don’t owe me sex. You don’t owe me anything. And that really fucks me up. Because I can’t even remove myself from the situation. I’m scared to death to leave you alone. And that puts me between a rock and a hard place.”