by Shona Husk
“Are you sure?” His fingers brushed the slick lips of her slit before pressing into her core.
“Mmm.” It was all she could manage as her body arched toward his teasing touch. Yes, she was sure. If she only ever did this once, it was going to be with the only man who knew her secrets.
He withdrew his fingers and the head of his cock nudged at her slit and into her core, but he didn’t rush. He eased in slowly, a little deeper with each thrust until he filled her. He curved his body over hers, his chest against her back, one of his hands by hers while the other slid over her belly to her clit.
She wanted to move, to buck and feel him thrusting deeper, instead it was slow and deliberate. Her breathing shallowed as his fingers circled her clit. Her core tightened around his cock and he made each thrust slow and deep, never fully leaving her. Every nerve ending was sensitive. Pleasure shimmered through her body. She knew his spines would be erect, she could feel his breath on her skin. And they moved as one. Her eyes squeezed closed as the edge grew sharper. The pants and cries were hers, as she wanted more, needed more.
She needed to feel his cock thickening as he spilled inside her. Her hips jerked as she came, her body locked hard against his. All thoughts scattered as the release pulled her apart and she was only aware of his skin on hers and groan of pleasure as he came.
This time, as the pheromone-induced sleep crept up, she didn’t fight it. She let him drag her onto her side and into his arms, her back against his chest as they had just been. Safe. The thought echoed in her mind as she closed her eyes and went under.
It wasn’t even a quarter of a tric later when she opened her eyes. Instead of jerking awake and wondering what had happened or what nightmare had pushed her out of sleep, she drew in a breath and relaxed.
Callen kissed her neck. “I was wondering when you’d stir.”
“I’m not used to it.” The sleep, or little death, that happened when pheromones really got going was why blockers had been created—so men wouldn’t need to rest after sex. Soon everyone who could afford them was using them and the rest was history that ended in a hundred-year war.
She snuggled closer. As much as she liked blockers, why would anyone want to kill half the pleasure? How would one ever find someone that really made them come hard when blockers masked the effect? What had she been missing out on?
“Neither am I.”
“As in I’ve never experienced that.” If she hadn’t walked out the first time, she would have. But back then, she wouldn’t have trusted herself to sleep in his bed.
“Apparently it lessens when you’re with someone a lot.”
She liked that idea. Having him in her bed on a regular basis. She smiled, knowing he could see it. As much as she tried to tell herself it was just the pheromones mixing and drugging her, it was more than that. He was the first person she’d trusted since…since she was a child.
She knew he wasn’t going to betray her. He wanted to protect her, however, there was only one way she would ever be truly safe. She bit back a sigh, knowing there was no way she could ask him to risk his life when she wasn’t ready to do it herself.
“Chit for your thoughts,” he said.
She turned to face him. “How can I keep you in my bed for longer?”
“You could just ask.”
“Not that simple.” It would never be simple, no matter how much she wanted it to be.
“Sure it is.”
“He’ll find me eventually.” Yem wasn’t stupid and her escape would have cost him face.
Callen’s fingertips brushed her cheek. “Not if we find him first. I hear there’s a rich price on Yem’s scalp.”
“That’s because he kills everyone who goes against him.”
“You survived.”
“What are you saying?” Was he suggesting that they go after Yem?
“At the moment nothing, but we gather intel. You share what you know about his operations and we plot and plan and see if we get anything workable.”
“And then we take him down.” Her words were quiet, as if just daring to speak them aloud was dangerous.
Callen was crazy; he knew the risks and yet to be thinking about it, he must think they had a chance. He could do things that she couldn’t as Haliday, and as Haliday, she could go places and talk to people he couldn’t.
No one ever saw the Kingfisher coming for them.
Yem would be no different.
She smiled at Callen. “One condition.”
“What’s that?”
“Yem is the last scalp for both of us.” Bounty hunters got killed on a regular basis, usually by the people they were hunting. Sometimes out of revenge by associates. She didn’t want to be hearing about Callen’s death on the news.
He considered her for a moment. “Okay, but that means we put some of the chits aside so we can live on them.”
“And we live on Lekithia.”
“That’s two conditions, did you want to add a third for good measure?”
Haliday shook her head. “Do you agree?”
“Only if you will certify our bond afterward.” He grinned.
She blinked. “No Yem, no chits, no ceremony?” Hardly the most romantic proposal and yet she wouldn’t have it any other way. Once Yem was gone, she’d be free to live how she wanted and without looking over her shoulder. “You have a deal.”
He leaned in and kissed her. “Good. I have to get going. Prisoner to hand over, and hopefully, I’ll make my ship in time.”
“When will I see you again?” She watched him dress.
“Soon.” He placed his hands on the bed and kissed her again. “Definitely soon. Let me know your schedule and I’ll make sure we meet.”
“I’ll be at City 10 on Pirath in fifteen days.”
He looked at her. “I’ll be there, love.” Then he opened the door and was gone.
For a moment, she watched as if expecting him to come back, but she knew he wouldn’t. He was back on the job. She smiled, already counting down the trics until she saw him again. While she was on Pirath, were there any scalps she could take?
About Shona Husk
Blessed with a lively imagination, Shona spent most of her childhood making up stories. As an adult she discovered romance novels and she hasn’t looked back. Dark fairy tales and the paranormal have always fascinated her and it’s not uncommon to get to know spirits, vampires, were-creatures and demi-gods through her books. In her free time Shona likes to keep fit and get creative in the kitchen…Toblerone brownies, anyone?
Shona welcomes comments from readers. You can find her website and email addresses on her author bio page at www.ellorascave.com.
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Also by Shona Husk
Saved by the Trickster
Sex With Strings 1: Kissing Phoenix
Sex With Strings 2: Tasting Thanatos
Sex With Strings 3: Sharing Sirius
Sex With Strings 4: Enchanting Absinthe
Ellora’s Cave Publishing
www.ellorascave.com
Lunar Exposure
ISBN 9781419945076
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Lunar Exposure Copyright © 2013 Shona Husk
Edited by Briana St. James
Cover design by Fiona Jayde
Cover photography by Zimmytws, MarishaSha/Shutterstock.com and Tiago Fidalgo, Susan Justice/Renderosity.com
Electronic book publication May 2013
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Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six