Eventide of the Bear (The Wild Hunt Legacy #3) (34 page)

He looked into her wary eyes. “Not a cook as well?”

“One of them said it was good I was learning.”

At the hurt in her face, he wanted to claw something. “I’m sorry, Emma. I should have known she’d come after you.”

Emma shrugged. “She didn’t say anything I didn’t already know about myself. I just—”

When Ryder fisted
her hair, Emma forgot what she’d been saying.

He gently, but determinedly, tugged her hair, forcing her to meet his sharp, perceptive gaze.

Her heart did a slow flip-flop within her chest.

“What exactly is it that you know about yourself?”

Lovely. Force her to speak the humiliating words aloud. “That you weren’t interested in me…that way. For mating.”

He gave a deep, masculine laugh. “Oh, little bear, you’re very wrong. Have I mentioned you’re gorgeous?”

“Uh…” He had, hadn’t he? She hadn’t believed him.

“And I don’t usually kiss females unless I want them…that way.” He smiled slightly. “Do you remember that I’d been looking forward to mating with you at the Gathering?”

“Oh. Well. The kissing was you and Ben helping me get used to males. And the effect of the moon.” Wasn’t it? Her heart started to thud rather fast. He meant so much to her. Thinking he didn’t find her attractive had…hurt. Had that female lied to her?

“I see. Little bear, the moon is waning now.” His mouth closed over hers, forceful, demanding.

Her startled inhalation brought the scent of his desire for her. His thick erection pressed against her hip. He wanted her. He did.

He pulled her hair, deepening his possession of her mouth. His other hand held her hips firmly against his cock.

Like icicles under a hot sun, her bones were melting.

He lifted his head. “Genevieve was trying to make you feel bad. Ben and I can cook and clean, although it’s nice you can, too. We don’t need a housekeeper, Emma.”

They weren’t using her. Even more, they were planning a future with her in it. The knowledge was heartening. Frightening. “But…”

“I can find babysitters anywhere for Minette.” Ryder kissed and nipped her jaw, then down her neck, sending shivery sensations outward. “However, a female who loves the cub like you do? Whom she loves? That’s worth more than money—and can’t be bought.”

How had he known how much she loved his cubling?

Slowly, under his lips and teeth, her body was coming alive, even as her spirit revived like flowers in a spring rain.

“Do me a favor and ignore Genevieve and her mean-spirited females.”

His beard-stubbled jaw against her neck created an exciting abrasion that sent tingles all the way to her depths.

“I’d suggest you pay attention to me and Ben, instead. Especially me, right now.” He’d pinned her left arm against his side. His right arm was around her waist; his hand gripped her right elbow. The amusement in his eyes said the werecat knew he had his prey trapped.

A shiver shook her deep inside.

With his free hand, he unbuttoned her shirt until the front gaped open and bared her round belly to his gaze. His gaze smoldered, and he purred in appreciation. Slowly, he stroked from her neck to her breasts. His skillful fingers undid her bra’s front clasp to free her breasts. Cool air wafted over the exposed skin. Barely breathing, she tensed in anticipation of his touch.

“Been wanting to enjoy these.” He cupped his lean, callused hand over her right breast and lifted, as if weighing it. The heat from his palm sank deep, pooling like a sunlit lake in her groin. When his thumb circled the areola, her clit began to pulse with urgency.

“Oooh…” Her breath left her on a long sigh. This desire wasn’t the raging flood caused by a full moon, but a slow, inexorable tide of sensation that wakened nerve after nerve until her entire body felt sensitive. She struggled to touch him, in return.

His grip on her elbow tightened, staying her movement. He considered her, and the corner of his mouth tipped up. “All right.” Releasing her breast, he grasped his T-shirt behind his head and yanked the garment up and off.

He was s
hirtless.
The feeling of his smooth, heated skin against her side and back was more tantalizing than having him entirely bare all at once. The tanned skin was taut over his muscled chest—a lure she couldn’t resist. She made a needy sound.

Releasing her elbow, he kissed her fingers and pressed her palm against his sternum.

Oooh, yes.
“You’re so warm,” she whispered.

“You make me that way.” He nuzzled her temple, nibbled the top of her ear, and triggered flutters deep in her core.

She ran her fingers down his neck and frowned at ugly scars from bites and nails. When her gaze met his, she knew. That cruel female had hurt him physically as well as emotionally. Pushing the thought out of her mind, she moved her hand away. Instead, she traced the contours of his chest, the valley between his pectorals. He had satin skin over rock-hard muscles.

He mirrored her movements. When she brushed over his collarbone, he ran his fingertips over hers. She ran her hand over his washboard abdomen and felt him stroke her much softer belly.

Experimentally, she touched his button-flat nipples and gave one a light pinch.

“Good idea.” His fingers tugged on one nipple and then the other.

A storm of sensation blew through her, abolishing inhibitions, leaving only desire in its wake.

“Mmmhmm.” His dark voice held a buzz of satisfaction as he continued. Watching her face, he rolled her sensitive nipples between his fingers, slowly increasing the pressure, until the throbbing peaks jutted into spikes.

The tightness in her clit grew to an aching demand. Her thighs rubbed together uselessly. Despite the dying fire, the room had taken on a pulsating warmth.

Ryder moved his hand down, and her abdominal muscles quivered under his palm. When he unzipped her jeans, she caught her breath.

“Stand up, little bear,” he murmured. “I need a taste of you.”

Gripping her hips, he lifted her to her feet next to the couch. While she was still getting her balance, he yanked her pants down to her thighs and tugged off her shirt and bra. Before she could register that she was naked from the waist up, he rose and scooped her into his arms.

“
Ryder
.” Why did he and Ben keep carrying her around?

Laughing, he laid her on her back in front of the fireplace. Within a minute, he had her jeans completely off.

Propped up on her elbows, she felt the still-glowing coals bathe her right side in warmth. On one knee, Ryder stared down, his eyes almost black, heating her more than the fire. Silently, he took her in, making her conscious that all of her was revealed, every bulge, every scar.

She started to sit up…Then she scented his lust. It matched hers. His gaze lingered on her breasts, her stomach, the golden down of her sex. Under his hot perusal, she felt…beautiful.

“By the God, you’re too fucking gorgeous. I don’t know where to start.” His gaze passed over her peaked nipples and returned. “There will do.”

His arm behind her back supported her as he pressed feather-light kisses over her breasts. His breath bathed her skin a moment before his mouth closed over one nipple, engulfing it in wet heat. His tongue touched her, tasted her, and a ferocious quivering set up low in her belly. When he sucked, she felt her toes curling.

Oh, by the Mother, yes.

His free hand settled on her other breast, squeezing and caressing. He nipped the peak he was working on, and she gasped at the zing of pleasure. He sucked even more fiercely. Nipped again. His mouth was hot, wet, and determined.

Her breasts swelled, the skin tight and hot. Her nipples ached and tingled, and sent urgent messages south. She ran her hands up into his hair—thick and wavy, cool against her skin.

“You’re so pretty,” she whispered.

He gave her an appalled look and bit her harder.

She gasped. And squirmed. Oh, she needed…more.

“Easy, little bard. We have all the time in the world.” He pulled her arms forward, forcing her to lie flat on the soft Oriental carpet. Following her down, he straddled her hips.

Needing to touch, she ran her hands up his sinewy arms to his powerful shoulders. The way his muscles flexed and bunched as he moved made her breathing hitch. How could someone so graceful be so strong?

He kissed his way in a weaving pattern across her torso, licked around her belly button, and moved down.

Her fingers twitched on his shoulders with a sudden surge of anticipation.

Firmly, he parted her legs. As he settled between them, his abrasive jeans rubbed the inside of her legs. Bending, he inhaled and smiled. “Mmm.”

Her whole body filled with a carnal hunger.

His warm hand on her pussy made her tense in anticipation. He lowered his head. His lips touched her…just above her clit.

Oh, oh, oh.

As he held her folds closed over her clit, his tongue licked long and slow over the top. She could feel it, but it was…too distant. Too tantalizing. “Ryder…please.” Her voice came out in a distinct whine.

“Shhh, little bard.” After a few licks, he opened her a tiny amount, letting more of his tongue graze over the target.

Not enough. With a frustrated sound, she lifted her hips.

“Uh-uh,” he chided under his breath, setting one merciless hand on her pelvis to pin her in place. Then he opened her labia slightly, enough that his tongue could run over one side of her clit, then the other.

Like a whirlwind, urgency spiraled upward through her whole body. “Moooore.” She caught his hair in an unbreakable grip.

“Fuck, you taste good.” His tongue and lips were far too knowledgeable, and exquisite pleasure grew until his tongue moving over that one acutely sensitive spot filled her world.

Her grip in his hair tightened as her thighs started to tremble.

“Emma, look at me.” He lifted his head.

“Don’t stop.” Her eyes opened. “Ry—” The air thickened in her throat.

He was watching her. His gaze was so filled with desire and appreciation that she could only stare back.

And then he lowered his head. As if the momentary break had been hours long, when his lips closed over her clit, the heat of his mouth felt scalding. His lips tightened around her and he…sucked.

Fierce urgency pulled her right under, submerging her in sensation.

He licked and sucked again, and licked… The current turned into a whirlpool, pulling her under, the pressure expanding, widening, engulfing her body. Her pulse roared in her ears as she fell into a tsunami of pleasure, tumbling over and over with each incredible breaker of sensation. She could hear her soft cries echoing from the walls.

As the waves of pleasure diminished, she realized Ryder was stripping off his boots and jeans. He settled himself over her body. So very hard, every muscle seemed to be chiseled from stone.

Propping himself on one arm, he kissed her slowly and deeply, even as he fitted himself to her opening. And paused. One black eyebrow lifted in silent inquiry.

“Yes,” she whispered. “Yes.”

Holding her gaze, he pressed in, his shaft hot. Her breathing hitched as he slid deeper and deeper, startlingly long. He stretched her, filled her. The feeling of being taken was…wonderful.

When he was fully in, he waited, not moving, studying her face.

She tensed. Was he disappointed?

He slid his cock out.

With a gasp, she grabbed his hips to stop him. No success.

“You feel as good as I knew you would, little bear. Fuck, you really do.”

He wasn’t disappointed. She closed her eyes for a moment in relief. And, by the Mother, she liked his bluntness. Neither Ryder nor Ben held anything back. Just laid it out.

But with the happiness came other, more urgent needs. And he wasn’t moving. When she bucked her hips and tried to pull him in, he chuckled.

Wicked werecat.

Then he pressed in, penetrating her deeply, before withdrawing again. In and out, three measured thrusts as if establishing that they fit.

Didn’t the slick hotness convince him? “More,” she breathed.

His black gaze assessed her before his lips curved. “Seems you can take me without a problem.”

He was worried? “Yes.”

Despite her agreement, he idly played with her breasts with one hand as he continued to thrust slowly. Far too slowly. Her clit ached and throbbed as he brushed over it with each stroke. Under his attentions, her nipples tightened.

Her urgency grew. She dug her nails into his rock-hard butt. “Faster.” Her voice came out husky and desperate. “Harder.”

His laugh was deep and pleased. “So be it.”

Abandoning her breasts, he moved fully on top of her, and—
oh, Goddess
—he cast off his restraints. Each stoke hammered her, hard, deep, and overwhelming.

Her muscles clenched around him as the tension built, spiraling up and up, taking her mind with it. Sweat slickened their skin. Her hips met his with every thrust, and the slap of flesh on flesh echoed in the room. As his cock thickened, her body tensed and then pulsed in glorious waves as another climax rolled over her. “Oh, oh, oh.”

With an approving hum, he slid a hand under her bottom to lift her up. He thrust deeper. Once. Twice. His jaw tightened, and the cords on his neck stood out. He growled as he buried himself to the root and filled her with his heat.

“Mmm.” He lowered his head, rubbed his cheek against hers affectionately, and rolled, setting her on top of him without withdrawing.

Limp and sated, she sprawled, cheek against his chest, and listened to the solid
thump, thump, thump
of his heart. Cupping her ass in one hand, he rubbed her back with the other in long, slow, mesmerizing strokes. “You’re amazing, little bard. And I like the music you make when you get off. Mating music.”

Now
that
would be a tune to compose. She grinned. He’d probably be upset if she called it “Ryder’s Ride.”

With a happy sigh, she let herself drift.

Sometime in the night, she wakened to Ben’s rumbly voice. “Ah, I was wondering why she hadn’t joined me. Was afraid she might’ve run into trouble on the way home.”