Nowhere to Hide (Delos Series Book 1)

by Lindsay McKenna

  He moved his lips above her scar, continuing that slow line of licks and kisses up the center of her body. Her hand released the top of the towel and he felt feral pleasure as she pulled it aside, exposing her small, perfect breasts for him. Even better, those pink nipples were hard little points that invited him to lick them, and he allowed his lust to flow like molten fire through him.

  Lifting his head, he looked into her half-closed eyes and said, more deeply aroused than ever before, “I need you, Lia.”

  “Don’t stop,” she whispered, lifting her hands, sliding them around his face. “Don’t ever stop, Cav. I need you, too.”

  He captured one of her hands, kissing the palm, heard her swift intake of breath as he moved his tongue into the center of it and then kissed it afterward. He wasn’t going to mention the scar unless she brought up. Gauging from the look over her smoldering gray eyes, she yearned for more of what he was sharing with her, Cav said, “I need to get undressed. Are you protected, Lia? I’m completely healthy.”

  “I’m just over my period by four days. And I’m clean, too.”

  He grimaced. “I don’t have any condoms on me.” He saw her give him a tender look.

  “That’s nice to hear. Don’t worry, I’m fine without one.”

  So was he. “Stay where you are,” he commanded gruffly, standing.

  Lia lay back, enjoying watching Cav undress. His movements were always spare, his muscles lean, tight and ropy. Watching him pull the polo shirt over his head, she appreciated the dusting of dark hair across his massive chest, and how the clean lines of his collarbones exposed his broad shoulders.

  But her whole body went on red-hot alert when he quickly climbed out of his boots, jeans and boxer shorts. A pleasant kind of shock, a yearning, filled her as she saw the length and hardness of his erection.

  She felt her juices flowing with just the thought of him inside her, filling her, giving her excruciating pleasure. And Lia knew Cav would do all of this because he was a tender, considerate lover, unlike any she had ever known.

  As he came and leaned over her, helping to remove the towel from beneath her, she felt her thighs becoming damp, imagining him filling her with his power, his masculinity, his care and love. As she shifted and got to her knees in the center of the bed, holding his narrowed green and gold gaze, she smiled up at him.

  Cav came and sat on the edge of the bed. Lia slid her arms around his shoulders, drawing near, her nipples brushing his chest, making him tense. Her scent filled his flaring nostrils and he smelled her sex fully this time, his hands moving to her hips, sliding down her thighs, his fingers brushing around their curves, meeting her juices flowing down them. His erection throbbed.

  Instantly, Cav exerted steely control over his body. He liked Lia’s unexpected boldness, liked that she wasn’t afraid to show him that she wanted him. As fearful as she had been, she was now the opposite, which delighted and relieved him. He knew Lia was a fighter at heart and she could be bold and even brazen if she was given a chance. And Cav was going to give her all the chances she wanted.

  Her eyes closed, her arms tightening around him, drawing his lips closer to her breasts as he continued to slowly slide his long fingers along her inner thighs, so close to her entrance.

  She quivered and he smiled. “You’re so wet…so ready…” He closed his lips around a pleading nipple, suckling her slowly, deeply. She began to come apart, a little cry escaped her as she tipped her head back, her body curving into his, her fingers digging frantically into his strong shoulders.

  Cav smiled and released the nipple, tasting her, breathing in her fragrance, and then, cradling her head in one of his hands and with the other, guiding her down onto the bed beside him. She lay on her back, staring up at him, her breath ragged.

  “How long has it been for you?” he asked, skating his hand lightly across her hip and down her firm thigh.

  “A long, long time,” she gasped, arching as he began pulling her thigh a little wider, giving him access to her.

  “Then,” he growled, moving his lips across her parted ones, “I’m going to go slow. You tell me if it hurts, all right?” He lifted his head, his eyes fixed on her smoky gaze.

  “I will…it all feels so wonderful, Cav…and I want to please you, too…”

  He caressed the side of her breasts, watching her expression turn to utter pleasure. “In time,” he rasped, “it will happen, baby. Right now, let me love you, introduce myself to you. We have the whole night in front of us and I intend to know your incredibly loving heart and beautiful body intimately.

  CHAPTER 22

  Lia dazedly wondered why in the world she had made such a big deal about her belly scar. Cav was lying beside her, his leg across hers, gently opening her thighs and exposing her sacredness, the heat and love of his hand lingering on her torso, moving across her belly, ignited with nothing but sheer, ongoing fire, transforming into pleasure for her.

  She had wanted to be a full partner with him, but he wasn’t allowing her to right now, his arm beneath her neck, holding her against him. A current of pure tenderness blazed from his eyes as he swept his hand across her body, down her hips. She was drowning in pleasure, all her objections dissolving beneath his touch.

  Sounds caught in her throat as she leaned closer to him, feeling his fingers touch her wetness, moving closer to her arching entry. She lay there, eyes closed, lost in the powerful heat rising between them.

  Some part of her functioning brain understood how Cav felt at this moment—his fierce, undying love for her aroused as never before. She was completely open to his desire to make love to her, and to put her on the receiving end first, rather than second. He was so unlike most men she’d know, who expected to get satisfied first.

  With Cav, everything was different. New. Wonderful.

  And Lia surrendered to him in every way because she knew that some point, he would allow her full access to him, too. And she loved him enough to compromise because ultimately, they would both be gifted with one another.

  Now, as he moved to take her mouth, he eased his fingers against that swollen, throbbing knot just inside her entrance. Her hips bucked as the extreme contraction, the fire, licked upward into her, and she cried out. His mouth curved hotly upon hers, intensifying the tightening within her, his fingers sending wave after wave of lust within her. The moment his tongue tangled with hers, a violent, almost painful release flooded her channel.

  Her scream was caught and absorbed by Cav as he continued to milk her willing, opened, trusting body. Lia felt as if her entire being was coming apart as he held her tight, his captive, not allowing her anything but sizzling, deepening pleasure. Her entire world burned up and transformed. The orgasm undulated through her, sending her into a world she’d never entered before.

  She nearly lost consciousness as she floated in that world, feeling her body respond to Cav’s passionate ministrations. Whimpers caught in her throat as he continued to ask her body to give him more, and it did. She was hurled out into a cloud of burning heat, barely aware of anything but him, his mouth taking hers, his fingers coaxing her hungry body.

  Lia had no idea of how long she floated, the ripples of gratification moving in every direction within her. Cav was giving her such intense satisfaction that as he left her wet lips, all she could do was sigh, the corners of her mouth curving upward as she lingered in this hot zone. She felt him release her, felt him kneeling between her parted thighs, and slowly opened her eyes, once more drowning in the gold and green of his gaze.

  Weakly lifting her arms, she tugged him forward, wanting him to enter her. She saw the tension in his face as he grazed her entrance, the pressure moving slowly within her. He was now stroking the knot within her, on fire with wanting, needing satisfaction.

  He had been right, she realized, closing her eyes. She was so tight and small. But he wasn’t an ordinary man, either, and she felt him grip the covers on either side of her head, the warmth of his body hovering across hers as he con
tinued to introduce himself into her. With every stroke, quivers of raw pleasure moved through her. Cav filled her. She knew he was monitoring her every sound and movement. Sensing the brute power under his control, she wanted that part of him, too, but her body had to be able to accommodate him. He leaned over, capturing one of her nipples, she groaned, arching upward, drawing him even deeper into herself, the fanning of the flames arcing from where he suckled her, straight down into her filling channel.

  She felt a momentary burning, and he stopped to allow her body to compensate for his size, but he never stopped suckling her nipples. Lia urgently lifted her hips, taking him deeper inside her, despite the momentary discomfort. It was swiftly replaced with pleasure, and she eagerly met him, moving her hips in slow rhythm with his.

  As he left one nipple, capturing the other, the scalding sensations increased and she gripped his narrow hips, driving him as far into her as he could go. Sounds of joy flowed from her as her back arched, hips fused with his, luxuriating in him in every possible way. Her heart was beating wildly in her chest, her body alive as Cav began a new, loving assault upon her, stroking in and out slowly, accustoming her awakened body, engaging it now on every level.

  The pleasure increased tenfold for Lia, and she once more felt that building pressure within her. He must have sensed her needs, because he moved powerfully against her, sliding one hand beneath her hips. As soon as he angled her against him, Lia cried out, awash with another intense orgasm that swept through her, constricting around Cav. She felt the hot release of fluids coating him within her. This time, she was hurled out so swiftly into that delicious pleasure zone that she nearly fainted. Never had she felt such driving, deep satisfaction as he was presently giving her.

  Lia felt Cav tense and heard him breathe deeply as he covered her with his sleek, powerful body. She could feel him trying to hold off, but she wanted to give him equal satisfaction and wrapped her legs around his hips, moving strongly against him, increasing their connection, wanting to break through his control, wanting to give back to him, wanting to love him as much as he was loving her.

  And it was love, she realized, feeling him begin to tremble violently, hearing his breath change, getting shallow. His hand slipped from beneath her hip and he held her face between his hands. Then, he thrust hard inside her, holding her, growling her name. She opened her eyes, sinking into his stormy green and gold ones.

  Suddenly, he gasped, tensing, his brow against hers, groaning as Lia felt his own climax flood deeply within her. She smiled faintly as he prolonged all those wonderful sensations this first time. Cav had given her so much, but most of all, he’d given her back her freedom. And if that wasn’t love, what was?

  Cav groaned against Lia’s neck, kissing her, nuzzling her, feeling her thrumming with satisfaction. He felt so weak but he knew his full body weight was upon her. His mind wasn’t working at all, but he knew he couldn’t continue to crush her into the mattress.

  Groaning, he slowly pulled away, but she resisted his withdrawal, her hands sliding to his shoulders, pulling him back down upon her. It felt so good being inside her tight, small body, and he breathed in her heat and the heady musky scent of their immersion into each other.

  He slid his fingers into her hair, caressing her strands, rising up enough to take her mouth tenderly now. How he loved this woman. He was overcome with the intense desire to always protect her, to make her, his own, to stamp himself into her in every way. She was his universe, and he kissed her long and sweetly, feeling her smile beneath his mouth, her hips moving slowly, continuing to engage him, continuing to give him pleasure. There was nothing but unselfishness in her, something that Cav had immediately recognized. As he carefully eased off her a bit, despite her objections, he opened his eyes, studying her.

  Lia’s hair was mussed, her cheeks a deep pink, her gray eyes large and lustrous. Her feminine softness captured him fully as he smiled down at her. Words weren’t necessary. Cav could feel his body pulsing and throbbing with fulfillment. There was no one like Lia in the world and she was his. He didn’t want to dominate Lia but wanted to feel an equal kinship with her. He considered them co-owners of each other. He leaned down, kissing the shell of her ear. “I don’t know how we got so damned lucky to find one another, but I’m so glad we did, baby….”

  Lia slid her fingers through his short hair. Cav’s face looked so different, so relaxed. “Me too,” she said, her voice wispy sounding. “I never realized it could be this good, Cav. Did you?”

  He shook his head, awe in his deep, gruff tone. “No, baby, I didn’t.” He slid his fingers through the curls sticking to the dampness of her brow, pushing them above her hairline. “But it’s you, you know? Us. We’re good together. I always knew we would be.” He kissed the tip of her nose, watching as she grinned with delight.

  “You just had to work me up and over that fear of my scar, was all,” she pointed out archly.

  He heard the humor in her low, smoky voice and continuing to feather his fingers across her scalp, seeing that she enjoyed it. “We all have hurdles, Lia. Every last one of us.”

  “You looked so whole and confident to me when I’d met you, Cav.”

  A sound rumbled through his chest, his grin deepening. “That’s because I’d worked through some of my hurdles a little earlier than you did, was all.” His voice deepened with emotion. “You need to know, Lia, that you’ve been healing me ever since we met. I had wounds that were still open and when I was around you, they began to heal.” He kissed her mouth tenderly, easing inches from her wet lips and rasped, “You’ve helped me so much and I don’t think you ever realized what you’ve been doing for me all along.”

  “Oh, Cav…no, I didn’t realize it…”

  “You do now, baby. We’re slowly healing one another over time. We’ve entrusted ourselves to each other.”

  Sighing, she framed his sweaty face, lost in the happiness in his gaze. “Thank you for helping me with that last one…”

  “That’s what love is about—helping one another, offering a hand, and wanting to see your mate grow and be happy.” Cav pressed his mouth to her brow, her cheek and then slowly captured her willing mouth beneath his.

  Wanting to kiss her with all the love he held in his heart for her, Cav pushed his hips forward to show that he was here for her as long as she wanted him.

  As he left her lips, he opened his eyes, holding her glistening gaze. “You’ve done the same for me, Lia. I wanted you to walk free, baby. To be able to be who you really are, not what had happened to you. You’ll never forget that event, but now it no longer holds its former power over you. You had the courage to destroy its power. I wish you could see, from my eyes, how much you’ve grown since we met.”

  Tears leaked from the corners of her eyes, her lower lip trembling as she caressed his face, never wanting this moment to end. “You loved me enough to be patient.”

  “That’s true,” he murmured, moving his thumbs across her cheeks, removing her warm tears. Cav silently celebrated that Lia wasn’t trying to stop from crying this time. He knew how sensitive and vulnerable she was, and reveled in her latest positive step. “I like you open like this,” he growled against her cheek. “Never stop being yourself. I saw who you were, Lia. I fell in love with that woman. And she’s incredibly beautiful, whole and perfect for me. And she always will be.”

  Lia was warm. Moving up through the delicious layers of sleep, almost to the edge of wakefulness, she smiled, cuddling into Cav’s body wrapped around hers. The sense of love, of being fully protected, flowed through her. Joy was on its heels as she nuzzled beneath his jaw, absorbing the hard, tensile warmth of his chest, his hair tickling her nose.

  Her other hand was draped across his narrow waist. Her one leg was entangled with his, drawing her as close as she could be against his hips. Feeling his erection thickening against her soft belly, she sighed, remembering the other two times that they’d awakened and made urgent, hungry love with one another. Each time it
was better and better.

  Lia was still floating in that cloud of absolute pleasure she hadn’t know existed until Cav had taken her there with his hands, mouth and body.

  Now? Now she knew what real love was. It was more than the physical. It consumed her on every level. She felt so whole right now, more than at any other time during her life. And it was because of Cav, his love for her overlaying her own for him. Her heart dwelled on them as a couple. They had both been terribly wounded. Cav had walked a much harder road than she had as far as Lia was concerned. And he’d had the inner strength and desire to break free of it and become the man who lay in her arms this morning. His courage made tears come to her closed eyes.

  Cav had turned around, recognizing her own imprisonment by the past, and miraculously helped her to break free and clear of it.

  Lia knew the scars would always be there to remind her of that night. But it didn’t mean that the past had to keep her imprisoned. She moved her hand slowly from Cav’s waist, her fingers moving up his chest, tangling into the silk of his dark hair across it.

  Cav’s love for her had set her free. Love had done this. She knew she had a part in this, too, but Cav had taken her that last mile, carrying her, supporting her, asking her to walk into a new life, with him. And she had.

  She was almost incredulous now, looking back at her ridiculous fears about that last scar. Cav was right: it was no worse looking than the others he’d already seen and accepted, simply because he loved her. Shaken by how love could change someone like herself, Lia felt a special gratitude for Cav’s unexpected arrival in her life.

  He’d been a caring bodyguard for her while she was dealing with political dangers swirling around La Fortuna. He’d been her safe harbor emotionally when she was stretched and strung out so tightly that she thought she’d never make it. His sensitivity toward her was almost awe-inspiring.

  Just seeing him as a security contractor didn’t even begin to plumb his depths. Lia wanted to spend the rest of her life discovering this man and all his layers of being. She was starved to hear what he thought, how he saw things, including her, himself, and the world around them.