Chapter Eleven

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Faith felt her shirt disappear and was happy to have it gone. Then, Colt unhooked her bra and made her wait, drawing back to tantalize her—and himself—by removing it in slow motions. He lowered his head to follow the progress of the fabric as he inched it downward off her breasts, the taut peaks catching the lace, making her shiver. Then, it was gone, and he replaced the fabric with his warm mouth and talented tongue, which made her moan.

Sweet Mother of All! This man knew how to play her body in ways she hadn’t even known existed, and she wanted more. She wanted it all .

While he was teasing her nipples with his mouth, his hands were busy below, relieving her of her pants and panties. Before she knew it, she was naked on the couch, their clothing spread beneath her wherever it had landed. He moved between her legs, and only then did she realize he had lost his pants somewhere along the line as well.

Her breath caught at the sight of him. Hard, ready, and enticing. He caught her gaze as he knelt on the wide couch, holding himself over her in the sexiest push-up she’d ever seen. The muscles in his arms bulged but were rock solid. Just like the rest of him.

“Too fast?” he asked, his voice just a little breathless with need. Just like she felt, only she was panting, unable to really catch her breath as passion almost overtook her.

“Still too slow,” she got out between short breaths. “I want you now, Colt.”

His grin lit her world as he lowered himself a bit. “That’s my girl.”

She felt petted by his words, even as his fingers delved between her legs to test the truth of her readiness. It was a considerate move, but she didn’t want to wait. She squirmed under him, begging without words. Finally, he seemed to get the message.

He joined their bodies together, and she felt a moment of pure, perfect bliss as if two halves of a whole had been joined after a long time apart. She almost shook her head at her own flight of fancy. It was a silly thought. They’d only just met, really. Sure, she was attracted to him like no man ever before, but she couldn’t feel this intensity on such short acquaintance. Could she?

Then, he started to move, and the confusing thoughts fled her mind as pleasure built again and again. She moved with him as best she could, encouraging and complementing his movements. She was sobbing by the time her first climax hit her, and he was still going strong. She’d never been with anyone like this. Was it a shifter thing? This staying power?

All she knew was that her body was thrumming in time with his, ready for more even as she came down from the first orgasm. The second hit quicker, but he still hadn’t joined her. She watched him, her eyes wide as he returned her gaze. He was observing her every movement, her every shudder, as if learning how to bring her even more ecstasy.

She didn’t know if she would survive.

Maybe this wasn’t a shifter thing, but a Colt thing. She had no frame of reference or comparison to know. Even as her third orgasm approached, she clutched at his shoulders.

“Come with me, this time,” she coaxed, her voice soft and breathy. She couldn’t help it. She’d never felt such intensity before. “I want you with me.”

Colt’s eyes blazed as he let go his control, pumping into her with renewed vigor as she moaned his name and reached the highest peak yet. This time, as she’d asked, he came with her, pushing her just that little bit higher as they joined together in a moment of total bliss.

He held her throughout, rocking their bodies tightly together as a wave of pleasure broke over them both.

Long minutes later, Colt finally disengaged, but he didn’t let her go far. She stood from the couch while he searched through his discarded clothes for his phone. That’s when she realized they hadn’t used anything to prevent pregnancy, but then, she remembered her mentor’s detailed briefing about shifters. She’d said they were really only fertile with their mates.

From the little Colt had said, the likelihood of her being his mate was very low. And if he’d just had some sort of epiphany and realized she was, he was keeping quiet about it. She didn’t think he’d do that if it really were the case, so all in all, she was probably safe from getting pregnant with him. And, her mentor had told her, shifters didn’t get or carry disease, so she was safe on that count too.

Part of her was a little sad that she wasn’t his mate. Another part was relieved because she wasn’t sure what tomorrow would bring. She couldn’t think that far ahead. She wouldn’t think that far ahead. She wanted to just bask in the moment. In this night. This opportunity she didn’t think would ever come again. If she died tomorrow, facing demons from a hellish realm, then she wanted to spend tonight with Colt, celebrating life in the most basic way.

She went into her room, and he followed her right into the attached bathroom. She’d intended to clean up a bit, but he grabbed her around the waist and hoisted her onto the marble countertop, having thoughtfully tossed a towel onto it before placing her buttocks down on the cold stone.

He stepped between her legs and kissed her deeply. Just like that, her desire—which had been so thoroughly sated just moments before—was back. Ready for anything and wanting more, more, more…

Colt had felt his world shift in a fundamental way when he’d joined with Faith for the first time. He shouldn’t have been surprised, given the events of the last week or so, but he believed Faith was his mate.

Everything about her called to him—and his inner lion. The cat wanted to roar in satisfaction and possessive triumph, but that would probably send her running for the hills. Colt knew he had to finesse this. Faith wasn’t a shifter. She wasn’t familiar with how things worked in his world. He’d have to go slow and get her used to the idea that they were meant to be together. Forever.

Thinking that word didn’t scare him anymore. Not when it was connected with the most fascinating, beautiful and intelligent woman he’d ever known. Not when it was about Faith. His Faith. The only woman for him. Forever.

He thrust into her willing body in the bathroom, unable to let her out of his embrace. He drove her to ecstasy again and again, his inner cat roaring silently in his soul, staking his claim, bringing his mate pleasure.

After the bathroom countertop, he took her into the shower, having her up against the slick wall before he dried them both and carried her to the bed. He made love to her again, as gently as he knew how, before tucking her into his arms as she fell asleep.

Goddess, he was blessed. That was his last thought as sleep claimed him as well.

Faith woke the next morning feeling both languorous and antsy. The same antsy-ness that had made her come all this way to Houston. It was still there. A tad bit more urgent, but still at a background level that demanded attention, but not immediate attention. More a feeling that she had to be here, but the event that had drawn her wasn’t yet happening. She just had to be ready.

Knowing that, she got out of bed and headed for the bathroom. Much as she’d like to laze around in bed all day with her new lover, she really couldn’t afford the time. She smelled bacon and coffee, so she assumed Colt was out in the kitchen area, making breakfast. He might even have planned something romantic like serving her breakfast in bed, but they needed to get to work. No time for such gestures, though she appreciated the thought.

She had to be out there, searching for the location where she’d need to be when things started happening. That much, she knew. The rest, she was just winging.

Like what she was going to do if she ended up in the midst of a mage battle. The demons, she could handle, but the people who summoned them were another story. She just had to trust in the Mother of All to have her back if that sort of thing should occur. Right now, Faith had no idea how the events she knew were coming would play out.

It could be that she would just stop each demon as it was let loose. The mages would have to be dealt with in another way. Maybe that’s where Colt and the lion Clan came in? She couldn’t know for certain. Someone or something would have to deal with the summoners while she dealt with the summoned.

She went into the bathroom and took a quick shower, then dressed and was out in the kitchen before Colt finished cooking breakfast. He looked a little disappointed that he wouldn’t have the opportunity to bring the tray he’d been preparing into the bedroom, but she went over to him and gave him a big kiss, which seemed to make up for it.

“I’m sorry, Colt. I feel like we have to get out there and get on the hunt.” She tried to still her fidgeting as she drew back and stole a crispy piece of bacon off the top of the dish he’d put on the tray. Nibbling on it, she questioned whether or not there was time to stop and eat and decided that there was. “Let’s eat here, then get on the road, okay?”

Colt was instantly alert. “Whatever you say, sweetheart. Your wish is my command.” He removed the tray, transferring the plates to the table as she sat. “Don’t wait for me,” he told her as he turned back to the kitchen area and began clearing things in preparation for leaving. “I’ll join you in a minute. We’ll eat, and then, we can be off.”

“Perfect,” she told him after swallowing the last of the bacon she’d been nibbling. Faith put her napkin on her lap and grabbed the silverware, digging into the hearty breakfast. After the exertion the night before, she was hungry, and he’d made more than enough.

Colt cleaned up quickly and joined her at the table, eating just as quickly. He easily caught up with her, and a few minutes later, they were ready to leave. She helped him load the dishwasher with their plates and did a final wipe around the countertops, then they were on their way.

They agreed to take his truck and ride together. As they left the parking garage, Colt looked at her.

“Which way?”

“Um…left here, then head south. I’m being pulled in that direction, but I don’t know exactly where yet. I tried looking at a map on my phone, but that’s not helping, really. Just south. That’s all I know for now.”

“All right, south it is.” Colt followed her directions, and they were heading out of the heart of the city toward the suburbs in no time. After a while, he asked her more about how she thought she could find the right place.

“I’ll know it when I see it, I guess,” she said, shrugging. “I’ve never done this before, but it feels right, you know?” She looked over at him as he drove. He was such a confident, handsome man. So sure of himself in all things. And a masterful lover.

She had to stop thinking about last night and all the pleasure he had shown her. Thoughts like that weren’t going to help her narrow down her search for demons today. No, today, in the harsh morning light, such thoughts could only be a distraction. Though she’d be happy enough to revisit them—and the pleasure she now knew he could bring her—later tonight, when they were alone in that luxurious apartment. Yeah. Time enough for her naughty thoughts then, when she was free to do something about them.

At some point, she directed him to get on Interstate 45 and head south. She felt a directional tug, but nothing more specific. She huffed in frustration and knew he was picking up on her nerves.

“Tell you what,” Colt said gently. “We’re getting really close to the space center. What if we stop and play tourist for a bit while we regroup. I’ve always wanted to see the place, and we could probably grab some lunch there if we stay that long. They’re bound to have a cafeteria and a gift shop where I can buy some kitschy crap for my brothers.” He flashed her a grin that invited her to laugh along with him.

“Lacking any better plan, I say let’s do it,” she told him, getting into the spirit of things. If she couldn’t narrow down the direction any better right now, she might as well enjoy her time with Colt. He really was the most interesting man she’d ever known, and she liked the idea of making some fun touristy memories with him while they had the chance.

He pulled into the parking area and parked pretty far out on the edge of the giant lot. She was glad to get out of the truck after their long drive around and stretch her legs. He’d doubled back a few times and driven through a couple of the residential neighborhoods south of the city, but she hadn’t been able to narrow down the location any further. They might as well stop for a bit so she could try to refocus. Food would be good too. If they could find a decent place to eat something.

As it turned out, the space center was loaded with kids on school field trips, and they decided to find a restaurant somewhere farther down the highway after stopping in the gift shop to buy some suitably kitschy stuff Colt could give to his brothers when he saw them again. Apparently, it was a long-established ritual among the brothers. If they went somewhere cool on their own, they always had to bring back a T-shirt, hat, keychain, or some other item for the others.

They got back in the truck and traveled farther south before finding a reasonable-looking restaurant where they could get something for lunch. They were seated at a table and had placed their orders before Faith pulled out her phone and punched up a map of the area again. She sighed in frustration a minute later and put her phone face down on the table.

“I admit it. I’m stumped,” she said, looking over at Colt. “The sense of urgency I had when I woke has dissipated. It’s as if…” She thought it over before saying it out loud. “It’s as if they were planning to do it today, then something happened, and they decided to hold off for some reason.”

“That could be a good thing,” Colt offered, passing her the breadbasket. “That might give us a little more time to prepare.”

“True, but don’t forget—it gives them more time to prepare as well.”