CHAPTER 22

Maybe it was the aftereffectsof danger, or the warmth of the fire, or the effects of the brandy he was drinking, but desire curled through him, coalescing in the area around his heart. Looking at Kalli now, her fine-boned features taut with ruthlessly contained emotion, he felt his own control slipping.

It would be so easy to give in. To surrender to the undefinable but strong pull she exerted over him. He was tired of fighting it. Sometimes he forgot why he fought so hard. But then he remembered. The turmoil, the anguish, the indescribable sense of loss...

But maybe it wouldn’t be like that this time. Kalli wasn’t irrational or unstable. And wasn’t he already experiencing the sense of loss at the thought of parting from her at the end of this mission? Maybe they could explore this feeling.

The thought produced such relief that he was immediately suspicious of his own rationale. He would take some time to analyze this decision. But right now, the mere idea of allowing himself to contemplate a future with her was... freeing.

Kalli was still fiddling with the emergency kit. Avoiding his eyes. Was it just the tantalizing promise of her alluring body, or was it her womanly essence? He had never needed anything as much as he needed her right now.

“Kalli, look at me.”

She turned around, and her eyes widened. Maybe she read his intent. Maybe she shared it.

“Come here.” He patted his thigh, inviting her to sit on his lap.

She shook her head. “You have been wounded. We shouldn’t...”

“Oh, we definitely should.” He imbued the words with all the desire he felt. And something more he couldn’t name.

She felt it, for she moved towards him. But still refused to sit on his lap. He lifted his hand, and she took it, allowing him to tug her closer.

“Be careful. We don’t want the wound to re-open.”

“Forget about that. It’s just a scratch, and you already patched it up.”

“We still shouldn’t. For other reasons.”

Ah! Here was the real heart of the matter. She was withdrawing already. Wasn’t this what he had wanted? A temporary, uncomplicated affair? He should have felt relief.

He couldn’t stand it.

“This doesn’t have to be the end.” There, he’d said it.

She inhaled a quick, surprised breath. He saw hope and wariness clash in her eyes. “What do you mean?”

He pulled her down, and she finally sat on his lap. Her slight weight was a comforting, grounding presence. But she held herself away from him with her hands on his bare chest.

“I haven’t figured it all out. I just know that I don’t want this to end.”

She was silent for a long moment. Her eyes searching his. “Neither do I. You know that. But I need to know if you intend to give our relationship a try. If you will get rid of your parbot—”

He interrupted her question by placing a hand on her nape and bringing her head down to take her mouth in a scorching kiss. This he understood. This fire, this need. She melted into him, responding with equal fierceness despite her misgivings. Their lips slid against each other, the slick friction sending ribbons of desire down every one of his limbs, and especially to his cock.

She felt it and wiggled. Whether to get comfortable or provoke him further, he didn’t know, nor cared. Her lips on his were life giving. He wanted more of it. His mouth opened in invitation, and her tongue slid in with unbridled sensuality.

He enjoyed being in control, but right now, he was happy to allow her to ravish him. To sit back and take all she had to give, allow her to pour all her desires on him. And she did. Her chest plastered against his, her hands fisting on the locks of his hair, pulling his head this way and that in order to change the angle of their mouths, to deepen the kiss. He relaxed under her onslaught, his tongue meeting hers. Enticing, welcoming. But otherwise, he made no move to take over, allowing her to set the pace, to seduce him.

For long, blissful moments, she kissed him this way. Weaving a spell of bliss around him. But all too soon, she retreated. Her mouth left his, leaving only emptiness. His hands tightened on her waist, unwilling to let her go, to let the ecstasy fade.

“Dariux,” she whispered, leaning her forehead against his. “You didn’t answer me.”

Damn it. They were back to that.

“Don’t ask me yet. I know I’m being selfish. Forgive me, I don’t want to hurt you. But I need you. Please seduce me. Make love to me.”

Her gaze hesitated for a heartbeat, fluttering between his eyes and his mouth, settling on his lips. And she kissed him again. He groaned with unashamed relief. Her touch the only reality left to him.

His hands slid from her waist up her torso to caress her pert breasts through the fine material of the nightgown. He could feel her nipples pebble under his caress. A low moan escaped her throat, and she arched against his hands, seeking more of his touch.

“Straddle me,” he commanded against her mouth.

She hurried to comply, and he took advantage of the new position to sneak his hands under the nightgown. For a moment he thought about removing it, but somehow, caressing her under the gown felt more intimate. So he left it on, sliding his hands up her slender thighs, stopping for a few moments at the juncture with her hips. His thumbs traced the creases that led to her private folds. They tempted him to go there. She would be wet and hot. It would be so easy to bring her to culmination. She would explode like a firework.

But no. Not yet. He wanted to make this last longer. To stoke the flames until they were both desperate. It would be ten times better in the end.

He forced his hands to continue upward. Tracing her ribs before they enfolded her breasts. They were the perfect size for his hands. He cupped his hands, pinching her nipples between his thumb and forefinger. Right there, it would exert enough pressure for her to feel stimulation, but not enough to drive her over the edge.

She undulated her hips, gasping. Oh, she was on fire now. He was as well. His cock was hard as iron, fit to burst. But it was so much fun to tease her that he didn’t mind the temporary deprivation. But she would not take his teasing passively. Wrenching her mouth from his, she nuzzled the side of his neck, then bit the lobe of his ear while her fingers pinched his nipples. Hard.

“Oh, fuck.” He arched up as his cock leapt and leaked a bit, protesting the confinement of his trousers.

“I will,” the seductive siren whispered in his ear. “But if you are trying to drive me crazy, two can play that game.”

“I surrender. You have slayed me.” He gasped as she bit his shoulders while her hands moved lower, stroking his length through his trousers. “Take me.”

Undoing his fly with dexterity, she freed his erection and took it in both her hands. She sat up and looked down, a frown of concentration marking her brow while she studied his cock.

Her single-minded focus was too much. He let his head fall back and closed his eyes, concentrating hard on breathing. Deep inhales and exhales, to slow down his rampaging desire, to allow her to play and explore without spilling on her hands.

She ran a thumb over the slit, smearing his pre-cum over the head of his cock. His breathing fractured, and he opened his eyes. To find her studying his face.

“Kalli, please. I can’t last much longer.” He pinched her nipples to emphasize his plea. “Now.”

Her gasp of pleasure was gratifying. She was as far gone as him.

She rose on her knees, positioned him at her entrance, and sank down. Her moan of pleasure blended with his groan of relief as slick heat enveloped him. He gripped her hips. Immobilizing her while he took a few deep breaths to regroup.

“Don’t move.”

She didn’t. But her internal muscles tightened around him, extracting a strangled laugh from him. His fingers tightened on her hips. He was going to leave marks on her fair flesh, but he couldn’t let go.

“Witch. You are going to make me come too soon.”

“Maybe that’s my intent,” she whispered against his mouth. “Maybe I want to splinter your rigid control.”

“No. I don’t want this to be about control. I want it slow and tender. Kiss me, Kalli. Make love to me.”

She understood. And bless her, she did. Cupping his face tenderly, she kissed him. Annihilating his awareness as the kiss went on and on. A mating of lips and tongues as intimate as their bodies joining below.

There was no frenzy this time. No wrestling for control or straining to reach the end. But a mutual enjoyment of each other and the moment.

The climax, when it came, took them by surprise. A release of emotion just as much as of pent-up desire.