by Karen Kelley
He cupped both her breasts in the palms of his hands, then lowered his head to one, scraping his teeth across the hard nipple before sucking it inside his mouth. He immediately felt the heat of her body enveloping him.
“Oh, God, that feels good,” she moaned.
He swirled his tongue around the nipple. She clutched his head, bringing him closer. He still needed better access. He released her nipple and she made a noise of disappointment.
“I only want to get more comfortable.” He’d seen some throws in the cabinet where the games were stored. He went to it, opened the bottom drawer, pulled out the blankets, then laid them in front of the crackling fire.
He glanced at her as she semi-shielded her breasts. Shyness would not do. He wanted her to feel comfortable because he planned on stripping her out of everything else that she was wearing, so he switched off the overhead light. There was enough light from the fireplace that he wouldn’t miss seeing a thing. When he looked at her, he saw that her shoulders weren’t quite as stiff.
“Move your arms from in front of your breasts. I told you I wanted to see them.”
She arched an eyebrow.
“Or we can stop. I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable.”
She paused, then moved her hands away.
Damn, her rose-tipped breasts were perfect.
“Take off your shoes.” She wore tennis shoes so it was easy for her to toe off first one, then the other. “Now unfasten your pants.”
Her hands trembled, but he had a feeling it was more from anticipation than the fact he was ordering her to undo them.
She pushed the metal button through the opening, then slowly slid the zipper down. Did she know how much she was torturing him? Probably not.
He swallowed hard. “Now take them off.”
Again, she hesitated, but he wanted her complete surrender. He wanted her to let go of all her inhibitions and just feel the pleasure he was going to give her.
She peeled her pants down her legs, then kicked out of them. The only thing that shielded everything from his view was a very thin strip of white silk. His dick throbbed. Sweat beaded his brow. He didn’t know if it was from the heat of the fire or the heat from her.
“Lie down.”
She went to the makeshift bed and laid on top of the throws. He stood at her feet. He wanted to tell her to remove her panties and spread her legs. He wanted to look at her, see all of her, but he didn’t want to push her too fast.
Instead, he slipped the metal button out of the buttonhole of his jeans, then just as slowly as she had done, he brought the zipper down. She watched his striptease, her breathing becoming more ragged. He wanted her to be as turned on as he was.
He removed his shoes, then tugged his jeans over his hips, and down his legs before kicking out of them.
“Hurry,” she breathed.
“You don’t have to wait.”
Her eyes widened.
“Touch yourself.”
“I…I can’t.”
“You’ve never touched yourself?”
Her cheeks turned a rosy hue, and he had his answer.
“Touch your breasts.” He didn’t need to add, or we can stop, but his words hung in the air. Damn it, he didn’t want her to be afraid of anything around him. He wanted her to experience it all.
She ran her hand across her nipples, then bit her bottom lip. God, watching her touch herself was such a fucking turn-on.
He grabbed the waistband of his briefs. Her hands stilled. He stopped. She tweaked both nipples. He pushed his briefs over his hips and down his thighs.
Heat pulsated from her. He could feel it even from where he stood. Colors began to swirl around her. It felt as though he was on drugs.
Her legs opened. Roan didn’t think she even realized she was spreading them. He kicked his briefs out of the way and moved to his knees between her legs.
He touched the insides of her thighs, then jerked back. Damn, her skin was hot to the touch. Not so much that it blistered him, but hot enough. When he looked at her, he saw the disappointment on her face.
“I burned you, didn’t I?” She turned her head away. “I’ll just have to accept I’m doomed to a life of celibacy.”
“You’d give up so easily?”
She met his gaze. “You like the idea of becoming burnt toast?”
“Remember, I’m a member of an elite force. The best of the best. Our motto is never give up, never surrender.” He grinned. “I’ll be right back.” He jumped to his feet. “Don’t move.”
She smiled and shook her head. “I’ll stay right here.”
He hurried to the kitchen and filled a bowl with ice. In less than three minutes he was on his way back to the living room. She rose up on her elbows, frowning, then peered into the bowl.
“Ice?”
“Ice,” he said. “Trust me.”
“That’s what you keep telling me, but I’m not so sure I want to.”
“Lie back.”
She did, but hesitantly. He took one of the cubes, touching it to her leg.
She sucked in her breath. “It’s cold.”
“That’s the idea.” He ran it slowly up her leg from her knee to mid thigh before it melted. The lady was still hot.
Good.
He picked up another ice cube and ran it up and down the crotch of her panties. She sucked in a breath and raised her hips.
“Do you like that?”
“Um, yes.”
That one melted. He took another one and ran it over first one nipple, then the other. When it melted, he moved his tongue over one tight nub before sucking it inside his mouth. Her skin wasn’t too hot, but then, he always did like the heat.
He moved to her other breast, heard her moan when he sucked the tight little nub inside his mouth.
“Roan, I can’t stand it anymore. I need you.”
He sat back on his heels. “Need what? To do this?” He tugged on her panties until he could see her pussy. Sweet. Just as he’d imagined it would be.
“I love looking at you,” he said as he bent her knee. He slid one side of her panties over her knee and down her leg, caressing her smooth skin as he did. She started to lower her leg, but he stopped her. “No, keep it right like this.” He wanted her to open all the way for him.
Heat pulsated from her body in waves. He took an ice cube and started at her mound, running it along the perimeter.
“Roan, please. I can’t stand anymore. I feel as if my body is on fire.”
He didn’t want to stop. There was so much more he wanted to do. He wanted to lower his head and suck her inside his mouth, taste her. But he understood her need, because he felt the same way.
He took another ice cube. “Tell me if I hurt you.” He slid the ice cube inside her, taking his time so he didn’t cause her pain.
“Crap, it’s cold.”
“Not too cold, is it? I can stop.”
“It’s kind of sexy.”
Kind of sexy? God, she was killing him. He was already about to explode. He grabbed his jeans, reaching inside the pocket for a condom and quickly ripped open the packet and slid it down his length.
He eased inside her, breaking past the thin barrier. He hesitated.
“Don’t stop, please,” she said.
He felt as though he were diving inside an active volcano. Sweat beaded his forehead and upper lip as the colors swirling around him deepened to fiery reds and wild purples, hot pinks and vibrant greens.
But then the heat changed, as though it accepted him and began to creep up his body. It started at his toes, and like flowing lava it poured over his body. It was fucking fantastic.
She wrapped her legs around him, pulling him closer and he sank deeper. He pulled nearly all the way out, then plunged inside her again.
“Do you feel it?” she breathed.
Did he feel it? “Oh, yeah.” He felt every nerve as though it had a life of its own, but he felt her too. He felt the beat of her heart, and her lungs as they fil
led with air, then exhaled. Their bodies seemed to fuse and become one. Never in his life had he ever felt this alive, this aware of his surroundings, of the woman he was making love to.
He slid inside her slick body, then drew out. The blood pounded through his veins, drumming inside his head. Their ragged breathing filled the room.
“Ah, God, Roan, now…now!” she cried out.
He moved faster, she rose up and met each thrust.
“Yes, yes!” She stiffened beneath him.
He clenched his muscles as the lights exploded into thousands of shimmering stars that rained down on them. He couldn’t breathe. He gasped for air. Lyraka took a deep breath, but his lungs filled. He collapsed on top of her and with his last bit of energy, rolled to his side.
“Something strange happened,” she said with awe. “It was as though I felt everything you were feeling.”
“Me, too.”
“But more than making love.”
“As if we’d become one person.”
“We blended together.”
“Weird.”
“But exciting.”
He nodded. “Oh, yeah, it was that.”
“And we’re still alive.”
He hoped they were. He wasn’t quite so positive, but if he had died, it’d been a hell of a ride!
Damn, what had they done? What had he done!
“I thought you said you’d been with a man?”
“I have. Rick. Remember, I told you.”
“You’re a virgin. At least, you were.” Guilt flooded him.
She rolled to her side, facing him, her breasts rubbing against his arm. Damn, she was killing him.
“And now I’m not.” She frowned. “I guess I should thank you. It was fantastic.”
He laughed. Oh, Lord. He’d never been thanked by a woman before. Not that he thought he wasn’t pretty good in that department. But then, all Lyraka had to compare him to was Rick. From what she’d told him that probably didn’t say a lot.
He moved closer. Bad move. Now her breasts were against his chest. She sighed and snuggled against him. Her thigh bumped his penis and he reacted like any normal, red-blooded American male would react.
“You’re getting hard again,” she said with awe. “Do we have more ice?” She looked up at him.
Do we have more ice? He certainly hoped so.
Chapter 13
Sometime during the night, they’d staggered up to his room and crawled into bed. She languidly stretched as she woke up the next morning. God, so this was what it was all about. Relaxed didn’t even come close to how she felt right now. Contented? Yeah, closer to that. Like a cat. Meow.
That was what it was like to have an orgasm. No wonder Nerakian women were addicted to sex. She briefly wondered if chocolate would be as good. Maybe one addiction per lifetime would be enough to handle.
She turned on her side and opened her eyes, glancing at the clock. Six o’clock. She’d overslept.
And she was in her bed. Her forehead wrinkled. Had she dreamed sex with Roan? She moved the cover back. Her body still looked the same. Then she smiled. She didn’t have a stitch of clothes on. So, it hadn’t been a dream.
She shoved the covers to the side and got out of bed feeling as though a new kind of vigor filled every part of her body. Having sex was better than any energy drink she’d ever had.
There was a tap on her door right before it opened. Roan poked his head inside her room.
“Are you…” His words trailed off and something close to a gurgle came out of his mouth. He opened the door the rest of the way and strode inside her room, not stopping until he stood in front of her. “God, you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.” He lowered his mouth to hers.
She raised her lips to meet his, pressing her naked body against him. His tongue stroked hers.
Heat infused her, she jumped and moved back, touching her lips. “Your lips are hot.”
“You can say that again.”
She shook her head. “No, I mean, you’re hot-hot.”
He touched his finger to his lips. “You’re right, I am hot. I think I might have absorbed some of your heat last night.”
Her shoulders slumped. “Oh, no, I’ve cursed you.”
He laughed, drawing her back against him. “If that was a curse, can you curse me again tonight?”
She drew in a sharp breath as a visual filled her head and a rush of heat coursed through her. “I could curse you right now if you want.”
He sighed. “Frances and Cole will be here soon, and I don’t want to hurry through making love with you. But it is tempting.”
He cupped her breast, squeezing her nipple before the heat began to spread. “I’ll meet you downstairs.”
“Ass.”
He laughed.
She grabbed clean clothes and hurried to the bathroom. She didn’t want to spend another moment away from Roan. Maybe this one-on-one wasn’t going to be so bad after all.
She rushed her shower, then dressed, and ran a brush through her hair. It didn’t take her long before she was ready, but she stopped long enough to study her reflection in the mirror with a critical eye. Until now, she’d never thought much about her looks. She turned her head to one side, then the other. Not bad, she guessed.
Make-up hadn’t been a top priority for her. Who was going to notice if she wore any or not? Aasera had never worn make-up so there hadn’t been much of a chance to experiment.
Lipstick might have been nice. If she had any. Roan might think she was trying to fix herself up for him. He’d be right, but she didn’t want him to think it. Last night might not have meant as much to him as it had to her.
Ah, last night. Her body trembled just thinking about it. The incredible heat and the swirling lights. She’d wondered if she would ever get to see the lights at their strongest. She hugged herself. Roan had given her so much.
Roan. Darn! He was waiting downstairs for her.
She rushed out of the bathroom and down the stairs. He was in the kitchen drinking his coffee. She slowed her steps as she walked the rest of the way inside. Keep it casual. Their gazes locked, then his gaze swept over her, really slow. Her blood began to heat.
She heard the sound of a car coming up the hill. “Cole and Frances,” she said.
“I don’t hear anything.”
She shrugged. “I have better than average hearing.”
A couple of minutes passed. Roan went to the window while she poured herself a glass of juice.
“You’re right. It was them,” he said as their car pulled into the parking area.
“Of course I was right.”
“That must be some hearing.”
“It can get bothersome. It’s noisy in the city with all the cars and people. In the country there’s crickets and other noises that used to drive me crazy.” She took a drink, then lowered the glass. “What are we going to do today?”
A smile lifted the corners of his mouth.
Oh, yeah, she’d like to do what he was thinking.
Just as abruptly, his smile dropped. “Classroom.”
She grimaced. “I read all the books.”
“Sorry. This is part of it.”
“That doesn’t mean I have to like it.” She finished the rest of her juice and placed her glass in the sink. She wasn’t looking forward to the classroom. She cast a longing glance out the window. It was going to be a nice day today. The sun was already coming up. The perfect day for being outside.
She followed Roan to the classroom, then sat at one of the smaller desks. There were eight total besides the instructor’s larger desk.
“I want to go over the interview process this morning,” Roan said, flipping open a book and turning to the page he wanted. When he looked at her, it was as though he was a different person. Gone was the man who’d made passionate love to her last night, and in his place, was the instructor. She would’ve liked to spend more time with the man from last night.
The morning moved sl
owly, they broke for a quick breakfast, then an even quicker lunch. By early afternoon, she was ready to run out of the building screaming.
“You’re tapping the pencil again,” Roan told her.
She looked at the pencil between her fingers. So she was. She laid it to the side and ran a hand through her hair, then stretched her arms above her head. “I’m tired of sitting at this desk. Has no one ever heard about cushions in seats? I want to be outside.”
When he didn’t say anything, she studied his face. Could he possibly be thinking it over?
“Okay.”
Elation filled her.
“We’ll go to the obstacle course.”
That wasn’t exactly what she meant, but if it would get her out of the building, she’d agree to just about anything.
“I just need to grab a few things. I’ll meet you at the Jeep.”
When she went outside, she stood by the Jeep and raised her arms high above her head. Aasera once told her the Nerakians worshipped the sun. Maybe that’s why part of her longed to be outside.
There was something about the heat that made her want to feel it on her skin. Let the rays wash over her naked body. There had been times in her life that she’d sneaked away to the woods and removed her clothes. Patches of sun had found its way through the trees and bathed her in warmth.
Roan came out of the building with a backpack. He tossed it in the back of the Jeep. “Ready?”
She nodded and climbed in on the passenger side. What she wouldn’t give to walk through the woods with Roan, both of them naked. She drew in a deep breath at the picture that formed in her mind.
How good would she be at seducing him? Would the instructor drop his guard and let the man come out?
Crazy thinking. She wanted to be an agent. She closed her eyes and remembered last night. The sex had been so good. Powerful, explosive.
“You okay?” Roan asked as he pulled into the parking area.
“Yes, of course. Why wouldn’t I be?” She sat a little straighter in her seat.
“I don’t know. You seem quiet.” He turned the key and the engine stopped. “You’re not rethinking your decision to become an agent, are you?”
She shook her head. “No, this is what I want.”