Betting the Moon: Cannon Pack, Book 4 (11 page)

At last he let go of her breasts, placed his hands on her shoulders, and she opened her eyes. The longing, the simple yearning she saw in his face startled her, catching her off guard. Placing her palm against his cheek, she returned his look with one of her own.

She almost protested, unwilling to lose sight of his face when he turned her and put her back to him. She bit her lip and waited to see what he would do next.

“You look incredible in the candlelight.”

She blushed, and turning her head toward him, let her smile say what she couldn’t say with words before looking away again.

He unhooked the clasp at the back of her skirt, then unzipped her. The skirt puddled at her feet, and she stepped out of it.

Every nerve ending awakened, every sense heightened. Again, he didn’t touch her, prolonging the agony, the ecstasy. When he finally touched her again, he glided a finger from the top of her spine to the edge of her thong.

“Darlin’, you make me believe in miracles.”

Tears sprang to Mari’s eyes before she knew they were coming. Her throat closed up, and once again, she found it difficult to look at him. What was happening to her? What was happening between them? He had to know what he was doing was more than a mere seduction.

He answered her as though he’d heard her. “I don’t know what’s going on. Between us, I mean.”

She gathered her nerve, turned and brought her gaze to his. The expression on his face was open and vulnerable, urging her to speak. But she didn’t have his gift for sweet talk. “Tell me.”

“I’ve felt this…thing…between us from the first second I saw you.” He laughed, then backed away, leaving her alone. The cool air of the air conditioning brought goose bumps to her skin.

He began taking off his shirt, unbuttoning it as slowly as he’d done hers. Was he teasing her again?

“Would you listen to me? I sound like one of those sappy television movies for women.” Tossing his shirt aside, he dropped his jeans to the floor, kicking his boots off along with them.

She couldn’t help but drop her gaze. But not to look away this time. Instead, she took him in, thrilling at the long, thick shaft that curved at the end. She jerked her eyes back to his and saw the amusement there.

“Like what you see?”

“Uh, yeah. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything quite like it.”

He narrowed his eyes, his wonderful grin bringing up the corners of his mouth. “Now who’s trying to seduce who?”

He strode over to her and pulled her to him, cupping her bottom and lifting her off her feet. She giggled, more from nerves than anything else, and wrapped her legs around his waist.

“If I didn’t know better, I’d think you’d cast a spell on me.”

She tilted her head in question. “I wouldn’t do that to you. Not again. Unless, of course, you wanted me to.” She laughed. “Besides, I was wondering the same thing about you.” She answered his grin with one of her own.

He took her with him as he fell onto the bed. Rose petals surrounded her, feathery soft against her skin, and she breathed in their sweet fragrance. He buried his face against her neck, nipping at her and murmuring sweet words. She turned her head to the side, and he slid his hand to the string of her thong and yanked it from her. He growled, and she giggled at the tickle the sound made against her skin. Cupping her breast, he dragged his tongue along her neck, over her collarbone, then down the side of her breast. He licked, then nibbled, then licked some more.

She tunneled her fingers through the hair at the nape of his neck and held him to her. Moving his hand along her leg, he caressed the tender skin between her leg and her mons. Eager for him to explore further, she encouraged him with a soft mew.

Another growl escaped him once his hand found her pussy. Spreading her folds, he massaged her clit, and without warning, she climaxed. She cried her surprise, her joy, her excitement.

He lifted his amber gaze to hers. “You’re wet. So wet I may need a big, long drink of you.”

“Uh-uh-uh.”

He jerked his head back and frowned. “Huh?”

She adopted a sexy expression. “If you get a drink, I get a drink.”

“Darlin’, you can have anything you want.”

Mari giggled as he scrambled around, placing his shaft directly over her head. He grabbed her legs and pulled them apart, then after a quick and very wicked glance at her, dove his head between her legs.

She gasped and clutched his firm buttocks, digging her fingernails into his skin. A tornado of desire spread outward from her pussy, spinning up to her stomach. Tucker used his fingertips to spread her lips, then latched on to her nub. He pulled at her, sucking, then biting to make her writhe and squirm.

Wrapping a hand around his shaft, she pulled him to her face, rubbed his shaft against her skin and inhaled, drawing on the smell of man. But his maleness wasn’t all she smelled. Along with the musky aroma was another scent, an exotic scent that hinted of the wild.

He pulled her apart more, then stabbed his tongue inside her. She moaned and arched against him, trying to put him closer than humanly possible.

Cupping his balls with one hand as she stroked him, she slid her tongue over his length. He was soft yet hard, and she couldn’t resist sucking on the loose skin. He groaned, sending warm air over her throbbing nub and heralding another release. Her body shook, trembling then tightening for yet another climax.

“Take me in, Mari.”

She did as he asked, dragging his shaft into her mouth in slow, inch-by-inch moves. His buttocks clenched and his body stiffened. She could sense his gaze on her but didn’t let up, hoping to give him what he’d given her.

Running her tongue around him, she felt him grow impossibly longer, thicker. She pumped him, his skin smooth under her palm.

Letting out a loud growl, he thrust his hips to her, plunging his shaft down her throat. Still she took him and increased the lashing of her tongue. He was building toward a climax, but she didn’t care. She wanted him, all of him, no matter what.

“Mari, stop!”

He yanked away from her, and she reached out to bring him back. “Tucker, no.”

His face was in front of hers a second before his mouth found her nipple. Tugging her with him, he sat back and settled her on top of him. They stopped, each savoring the moment.

His eyes, almost completely amber now, bore into hers, signaling a silent warning that his beast was close to the surface. His nostrils flared, and his jaw clenched. Lifting her up by taking her under her arms, he held her suspended above him.

“I’ve never wanted any woman more than I want you.”

She panted, unable to catch her breath. “The feeling’s mutual.”

A smile filled his face right before he dropped her to him, driving deep inside her. She shouted, first at the quick pain as her body widened to hold him, then as another climax roared through her. She grabbed his pecs, holding on as he rocked into her. Her breasts bounced with each new thrust and wetness spread over their legs. She threw her head back, her mouth open, her eyes closed.

Moving with him, she rode him, taking him into her as far as she could. He latched on to her breast with hand and mouth, and sucked her nipple, harder, stronger. Spreading her butt, he slid his fingers into her crack, teasing her butthole and holding her cheek to keep her steady on their wild ride.

Harder, faster he drove into her. Sweat slid between them, down his chest to wet her fingers. She flattened her palms against his nipples and moved her hands in slow circles. Tightening around him, she gripped him, possessing him.

His eyes were all amber, his features hardened as though he fought an internal battle he wasn’t certain he would win.

Mari took his face in her hands and met his gaze straight-on. “Now, Tucker. Now.”

He froze, narrowed his eyes, then resumed his drive into her and quickened his speed. Pulling his mouth to hers, she kissed him and closed her eyes.

His growl flowed into her mouth, mixing with her cry. He shuddered along with her, their joined bodies reacting as one. Jerking movements followed, and he clung to her, still kissing, combing their moans. The pungent aroma of the sweat mixing together assaulted her nose, putting the scent of the flowers to shame.

Mari’s head swam with emotions, with a thrilling sensation of freedom she would never be able to put into words. As the climax reached its peak, then began losing momentum, he leaned against her, then turned sideways to crumple both of them to the bed.

Chapter Seven

Up the River with No Flop in Sight

Mari listened to Tucker’s singing and smiled at her reflection in the mirror. Brushing her hair, she giggled as he hit a particularly awful note. But who cared what he sounded like? What the man lacked in musical talent, he made up for in every other way.

Sighing, she walked away from the mirror and pushed the bathroom door open an inch. “Tucker?”

The singing stopped, and he poked his head out from behind the shower curtain. “Hey, you’re up.” The wicked grin stirred the warmth between her legs. “How about joining me? I’m crazy good with a loofah.”

If only he’d move the curtain more. Then again, maybe it was a good thing he didn’t. Otherwise, she’d never return to her hotel room and get ready for the day’s play. “I bet you are. But no thanks. I’m going to take a shower and change in my room. Meet you downstairs for breakfast?”

He bobbed his gaze the length of her and back again, the lust in his eyes unmistakable. “Aw, hell. I was counting on you washing my back.” He wiggled his eyebrows. “I’m a dirty, dirty boy.”

“You are too funny.” She laughed, then gave his idea serious consideration. “I’d love to join you, but we do have a tournament to win. See you in a bit, okay?”

“Okay. But don’t take too long.” He disappeared behind the curtain and started singing again.

Mari cringed at Tucker’s horrible rendition of
Bad Moon Rising
, then grabbed her purse and slipped from the room. Leaning against the hallway wall, she dug in her purse, trying to find her hotel key. “Now where the hell did I put it?”

“I would not know, but I am happy to be of assistance.”

Bascom took her arm and tugged her away from the wall. Mari gasped and tried to pull away from the vampire but couldn’t break free. “Let me go, you jerk.” Fear rushed into her, stiffening her body and paralyzing her brain.

“My, my. The ladies of this day and age never fail to shock me. No, wait. I doubt any lady would speak such profanity. Which means, my sweet Mari, that you are no lady.”

“You’re really going to think I’m not a lady when my knee connects with your balls.”

Bascom chuckled, the sound grating on Mari’s nerves more than fingernails on a chalkboard ever could. “Ah, if you would like to touch my balls, you need only ask.”

He skimmed a fingernail along her cheek. She twisted her head away from his finger but could still feel the cold on her skin. “Don’t touch me.”

“I do not understand. Why, oh why, would you want to lie down with a dog? Believe me, sweet one, I am sure you will find me a much better lover than that animal.” He let out an exaggerated sigh. “Alas, for now, I will have to settle for the dulcet tones of your lilting voice.”

She tried to wrench free again but had no better luck than before. The vampire’s fingers dug into her arm, but she refused to cry out.

“What do you want, Bascom?” Lifting her chin in an effort to at least appear braver than she felt, Mari glared into the dark glasses. If she screamed, would Tucker hear her? But what then? Would he make good on his threats and tear the vampire apart? Not wanting to put Tucker at risk, she racked her brain for the spell she’d planned to use against him.

What the hell was wrong with her? Why couldn’t she think straight?

“I need a little of your time.”

Her fear whipped into panic. “Not happening. I’m on my way back to my room, so if you’ll turn me loose…” She looked pointedly at his arm, then down the hallway. She steeled herself then shifted to glare at him. “If you don’t take your hand off me in two seconds, I’m going to scream bloody murder. Let me go before someone sees you, and I won’t say a word to anyone. Including Tucker.”

He took his sunglasses off before she could react. An instant later, she found herself shaking from the freezing cold holding her body and mind hostage. She nodded.

“Good girl. Now come with me. I have a special treat for you.”

She didn’t want to go with him and struggled against her body’s betrayal even as she fell into step beside him. Her mind screamed for her to stop, to shout for help, but nothing happened. Keeping up with his quick step, Mari followed the vampire down the corridor and into the other wing of the hotel.

Tucker continued to whistle a happy tune as he entered the dining room and scanned the place for Mari. Reporters, spectators and a few of the other players milled around the room, some standing in the buffet line and others already seated and enjoying their breakfast. But he saw no sign of Mari.

He stopped Mike Montana, a midlevel player who’d lost in the first rounds of the tournament. “Hey, Mike. Have you seen Mari Thornton? I was supposed to meet her here.”