Protecting Medusa

by Elizabeth Andrews

  Against her belly, she felt the evidence of that. She wrapped her fingers around his erection and squeezed. She’d missed him, too, even if she didn’t want to admit it. The vibrator wasn’t the same.

  He grunted appreciatively, then pinched both her nipples at the same time.

  Lightning zinged into her middle, dampening her inner thighs in a completely different way.

  “I don’t want to wait,” he murmured, sliding his mouth along her jaw to her earlobe. “Tell me I don’t have to wait, Mena.”

  She shook her head, unable to catch enough breath to speak.

  “Good.” He released her breasts and caught her ass, lifting her against the cool, wet tiles. “I want your legs around my waist. Now.”

  As always, the command in his voice made her heart pound harder, made her body wetter, and she obeyed him, locking her ankles behind him so the wide head of his cock could nudge into wet folds. Deeper, so tight muscles had to relax to allow him entry. Oh, dear Gods. All the way in, until there was nothing between them. No breath, no space.

  She forced her eyes open and found him watching her, his gaze predatory and hot.

  “You feel amazing all around me,” he whispered, rocking gently against her so the top of his shaft rubbed along her clit with each tiny stroke. “I won’t last long.”

  “It’s okay.” She managed a lopsided smile at him, threading her fingers through his wet hair.

  One of his hands left her ass to slide up and catch her breast. Cupping, squeezing gently, tugging at the aching peak. “I want you to come, too, baby.” His guttural tone told her he was already close. As did the pulsing of his cock deep inside her.

  The knowledge made her pulse skip, her body tighten in anticipation of the rushing pleasure. “I will.” She tipped his chin up, kissing him this time. When his tongue slipped past her open lips, she let him take over, moaning when he thrust harder into her on the next stroke.

  She couldn’t believe how quickly he stirred this need in her. The heat was enticing, like she might be the moth to his flame, unable to resist flying into the fire that consumed her each time he touched her.

  His hips moved faster, and his fingers on her nipple tightened possessively, teasing, tweaking, twisting until she arched hard, her inner muscles clamping onto his erection in release.

  “Yes,” he muttered against her mouth. “Come hard, baby. Let me all the way in.” He stroked faster, deeper, harder, until all she could do was hold on, trusting him to keep her safe. When his own orgasm broke, his shout bounced off the tiles around them.

  He rested his forehead on hers while they tried to catch their breath, his chest working hard against her breasts.

  Philomena kissed him, lightly, over and over. On his mouth, his chin, his cheeks, the tip of his nose, his forehead. She felt more tiny spasms tighten her body around his, and her breath caught.

  “This is going to kill me,” she gasped.

  He laughed, nuzzling his way along the side of her neck. “Wouldn’t be a bad way to go, huh?” His fingers squeezed her ass tighter for a second, then relaxed. He let out a long, slow breath. “Wow.” He opened his eyes and met hers. “Good morning.”

  She couldn’t help the smile that answered him. “It is.” She slipped her fingers through his wet hair and felt him shiver. “I’m starving.”

  He huffed another laugh. “Are you telling me to get off?”

  Philomena blushed. “No.”

  “Good.” He shifted his hips, making her aware his cock was thickening again inside her. “I’m not quite ready for breakfast yet. You?”

  She swallowed at the intensity in his eyes. Shook her head.

  “Good,” he repeated, easing his hips backward until he slipped free of her body and dropping to his knees in front of her. “I have another breakfast in mind.” He lifted one of her legs over his shoulder and licked along her slick outer lips, then delved inside, his thumbs holding her open for him.

  Philomena’s head dropped back against the tiles with a thump as her breath rushed out. She saw stars, both from the minor pain and the incredible pleasure coursing through her from his mouth on her flesh. He used his lips, his tongue, his teeth, teasing her to the brink, and then easing back, over and over, until she shook in his hands.

  “Please, Ryder.” She was almost there. Again.

  He caught her clit in his lips, lifting his dark gaze to meet hers. Flicked his tongue over it, once, making her jump, twice, making her gasp. Then scraped his teeth over it. She arched into his mouth, covering her own with both hands to keep in the scream as she came.

  Wave after wave of pleasure bloomed in her middle, spreading outward until even her fingers and toes were tingling and numb.

  Then Ryder got to his feet and turned her around, his cock sliding along the cleft of her bottom until he took himself in hand and bent his knees to drive up into her once more.

  Philomena tried to hold onto the slippery tiles, but couldn’t find any grip.

  He was demanding this time, even more than the last. His hips worked hard, each thrust deeper than the last, harder, until she thought he must be permanently a part of her. His rough hands at her hip and breast stoked the need in her until all she could think of was him. Inside her. Around her.

  He stopped moving suddenly, his breath coming hard.

  She sucked in a quick breath, opening her eyes.

  “I love you, Philomena,” he said clearly.

  She shot a startled glance back over her shoulder at him, but he’d started moving again, and she had to scrabble to keep her feet under her now, his thrusts punishing. Her body imploded after a few more moments, and he groaned with his own release, one of his big hands settling flat over her belly.

  She panted into the wall for a long time, his body surrounding hers, his warmth seeping into her when the cooler water would have chilled her. Her heart wouldn’t stop racing, and her decimated brain started to reform itself.

  Ryder kissed the side of her face, then eased his hips backward, a soft sound of protest brushing her ear when he withdrew his semi-hard cock from her body.

  She murmured her own protest, but he turned her around and caught her mouth with his, gently this time. She set her hands on his shoulders and hoped her knees would continue to hold her.

  After a long moment, he lifted his head. “Let’s get some breakfast and get out of here,” he said, tilting his head toward the door.

  She nodded, her pulse still moving too quickly.

  If he’d meant what he said, she was in a lot more trouble than she’d realized.

  Ryder wasn’t a man to say things he didn’t mean.

  Her mouth went dry as they climbed out of the shower. What the hell was she supposed to do now?

  Ryder didn’t push her to talk as they packed their things. Just helped her fit everything into her suitcase around the small metal box in the bottom, then loaded it all into the car. Steered her into the hotel’s dining room for the breakfast buffet after checking out.

  Mena remained silent as she ate.

  At least she was eating. He studied her over the small table. She had dark smudges under her eyes from not enough sleep the past few days, and worry lines on her forehead, no doubt from his declaration in the shower.

  He wouldn’t take it back.

  No, he decided as he finished his orange juice, he wouldn’t take it back. She needed to know it was more for him than just the serious chemistry they shared in and out of bed. It had started a long time ago, during conversations and emails about his son, in the way his son felt about her, and it blossomed the more time he spent with her. There was no controlling emotion like that. Not the way he could plan for most things.

  She could spout any nonsense she wanted about not wanting a relationship, or about not wanting a relationship with her sister’s ex, but he was here to stay. Period.

  He smiled at her when she peeked at him over her teacup. A tentative smile curved her lips, and he relaxed. Just a little.

  “
How do you feel about shopping?” he asked, setting down his glass.

  Her eyebrows rose. “Shopping?”

  “Our next destination involves some shopping.” He winked at her and snagged the last piece of his toast.

  “Oh.” She narrowed her gaze at him. “I thought we didn’t want to do big east coast cities,” she murmured after a moment, leaning nearer.

  “We’re not going to New York.” He grinned.

  “Oh.” She frowned now. “Give me a hint.”

  “That was your hint.” He leaned over and kissed her lightly. “I’ll tell you when we’re on the road.”

  Mena nodded, setting her fork down. “All right. I’m done.”

  Ryder laughed. “Impatient, are we?”

  She shrugged, her expression easing. “I feel like I need to move.”

  He nodded, understanding. Running for one’s life wasn’t a lot of fun, and even when in a secure spot, it often felt unsafe. “All right, baby.” He pushed to his feet. “Then let’s hit the road.” He held out one hand to her, gratified when she took it.

  Ryder didn’t fully relax, though, until they were on their way. There wasn’t a direct route from Niagara, but that was all right. It wasn’t as if they had a deadline, and a twisting route would make it easier to spot anyone following them--though there was no way any Harvester could know where they were. Even Kallan had told Ryder not to share their location with him while they were emailing about possible reasons for the anti-listening devices at Ari’s Virginia home.

  They meandered south through New York state near the lakes and into Pennsylvania’s northern reaches, winding through the hills. A snow squall hit while they were heading west, but it didn’t last. Mena relaxed as they drove, too, her bright gaze flitting over the landscape around them. When he finally hit the turnpike north of Pittsburgh and headed south, she gave him a quizzical glance, but he shrugged innocently.

  She rolled her eyes and started to pay attention to the signs along the road.

  “Monroeville?” she asked with a laugh after a while. “That’s your idea of shopping?”

  He winked at her. “It’s got a big mall.”

  “You’re such a guy.”

  He felt a burst of warmth in his chest at the affection in her voice. It might not be love, but it was something.

  Right now, he’d take what he could get.

  They settled into a hotel not far off the highway, less than a mile from the mall, and he arranged for the rental car company to pick up the car at the hotel. He’d get another. If anyone tried to track his car rentals, it would be harder to do with multiple companies and under different names.

  He shut off his phone and turned to find Mena stretched out on the bed, her chin propped on her hands as she watched him.

  He ignored the way his body heated under her green gaze. “You ready for supper?”

  “I suppose we should eat. Then call Jase.” Her gaze stayed on him.

  “What’s going through that mind of yours, smart girl?” he asked, dropping the phone onto the dresser and setting his hands on his hips.

  “This running around thing doesn’t seem to faze you at all.” She tilted her head to one side, a tiny frown creasing her brow.

  Ryder relaxed a little. “There was always a lot of running in my previous jobs, usually from men with big guns.” Among other things.

  Mena didn’t seem mollified by his answer.

  He moved toward her, nudging her aside to stretch out beside her. “What else are you thinking?”

  “I’m just trying to figure this out.” She turned her head to look at him. “I’d have imagined you would rather stay and fight than run.”

  His heart beat faster, and he was afraid he knew where this was heading. He’d wondered if she’d get there, and it seemed she had. Already. “There’s a time for fighting, and there’s a time to run,” he said slowly. “Knowing which is which can be difficult sometimes.”

  “I’d rather go back and fight. This is my life, and they’re screwing it up.”

  He knew it. Stifling a sigh, he shut his eyes for a second, then met her gaze. “And you can’t risk it. You have people who depend on you, who love you, and having you dead wouldn’t help them out at all.”

  Her mouth twisted. “But my family is out of there now, safe. If we timed it right, I could turn whoever comes back into stone.”

  “And if they bring a small army? You can only look at one person at a time.”

  Her frown deepened. “You could slow them down for me, right?”

  He didn’t bother trying to stifle his sigh this time. “No. Because we’re not going to go back and make you a sitting target for a family bent on killing you. Do you have any idea how many of them there are?”

  She shook her head, her gaze going wary at his tone.

  “Thousands. All over the globe.” He watched her digest that. “Ken emailed to tell me there was another, smaller meeting in New York City right before they headed to Virginia. These men aren’t playing games, Mena. They plan to kill you.” He didn’t tell her what that would do to him. It was enough for now if she realized what it would do to Jason and her mother.

  His phone rang while she was pondering his words. Ryder went to grab it, pushing the on button and sitting on the foot of the bed. “Yeah?”

  “Danny here. We’ve got a problem.” His friend’s tone was grim instead of the joking one he usually had.

  He shut his eyes tight, feeling the muscles at the back of his neck tighten. “What?”

  “I just heard from Joel, who finally caught some chatter when a couple of these guys were on their way out of the house. They’re willing to use her family to get to her, Ryder. I figure if they can track you from the business, to find the connections, they can track us, too.”

  “They can.” He pinched the bridge of his nose, feeling Mena move beside him, her shoulder brushing his arm as she sat up. “Get them moved. Let me know where when you get there.”

  “Will do.”

  He ended the call and took a slow breath, trying to calm his whirl of thoughts. Get his concern under control. They had the situation well in hand. This was just a little wrinkle.

  “What’s wrong?”

  He debated not telling her, but she needed to know, if only to understand why she couldn’t go home. “Joel caught some Harvester chatter, and they’re planning to use your family to draw you out.” He caught her bright gaze. “Danny will move Aggie and Jason.”

  Her cheeks whitened, and she sat back on her heels, her pulse jumping in the hollow of her throat.

  “We can’t go back, Mena,” he said more gently, touching her fingers where they gripped her knee, hard. “It isn’t safe.”

  She blinked and nodded slowly, her green gaze sliding away from him.

  Ryder forced her to relinquish the punishing grip she had on her leg, wrapping her hand between both of his. “They’ll be fine, honey. Danny is one of the best. He’ll get them somewhere even safer, and Jason will just think they’re having a big adventure.” He rubbed her cold fingers. “I promise.”

  Her lower lip trembled, until she caught it in her teeth.

  He took one of his hands away from hers and wrapped it around her shoulders, pulling her into his side. “It’s okay.”

  “No, no, it isn’t.” She pulled away and got to her feet. She strode across the room to the bathroom, then whirled, her green eyes shiny. “I’ll do whatever you want if it’ll keep them safe, Ryder, but this is definitely not okay. My mother shouldn’t have to run for her life. That little boy shouldn’t have to run for his life because of my incredibly bad luck in having this damned curse fall on me before he was even born.” Her chest rose too quickly with her breathing, and she angrily swiped away a tear.

  He pushed to his feet, his own chest aching. “That little boy loves you, Mena.” He took a few steps in her direction.

  Her breath caught roughly. “Which is why I’ll do whatever you tell me, but it might just be easier to let the Harve
sters have me.”

  He curled his fingers around her upper arms and gave her a quick shake, his own anger rising. “How would it be easier for Jason if you died?” He scowled down at her.

  “He’d be safe,” she whispered, green eyes wide as she gazed at him through her tears. “He could go back to just being a child, playing with his friends at school. He could have a dog. He wants a dog very badly, and it wouldn’t be safe with me, any more than he is now.” A sob escaped her, and she clamped her lips shut.

  Ryder closed his eyes for a second, regathering a measure of control, then pulled her into his arms. “He would be devastated if something happened to you, Mena,” he murmured into her hair, feeling her shake, tiny tremors which meant she was fighting her tears. “So would your mother. So would I.” He kissed the top of her head. “Smart girl, you know better than this.”

  She burrowed her face into the side of his neck, and her tears heated his skin.

  “You know they would do anything for you, just like you’ll do anything for them.” He maneuvered so he could sit in the cushy chair against the wall and drew her onto his lap, stroking her back as she shivered. “Remember? That’s why you were in such a hurry to leave after the first Harvester came calling. To keep them safe.” He rubbed his cheek along the top of her head. “Part of their well-being is them knowing you’re safe, too.”

  A muffled sound reached his ears.

  “It’s all right, baby,” he whispered. “It’s okay to be afraid. Go ahead and cry.”

  She shook her head. “I don’t cry. Leftover hormones.”

  He smiled, glad she couldn’t see it. “Then let it come. Get it out.”

  She shook her head again, but he felt more wetness sliding down his neck, dampening his shirt. Her fingers gripped his shoulders tightly, and she shuddered against him.

  Ryder settled into the seat, pulling her securely to his chest, and slid one hand along her spine to comfort her. He wondered when she had last cried, prior to their flight from the Harvesters. Probably a long time ago. Maybe after she’d become the Medusa? Perhaps she’d tell him someday.