Predator's Kiss (15 page)

Ryland sat up, and suddenly her breasts felt so lonely. She found herself wishing she could devise a way to keep him attached to her breasts for the rest of time. He smiled at her, a gorgeous, heartwarming smile that made her body erupt in goose bumps and fierce yearning.

“I want you to remember this moment,” he said as he slid off the bed and went in search of something.

“Where are you going?” she asked, already needy for his touch.

Ryland grabbed a container off the table and slowly walked back, grinning like a fiend. It was the jar of honey from their makeshift picnic. “Did I happen to mention how much I like honey?”

Lia’s eyes widened and she broke out into a huge smile. She rose from the bed and went into the bathroom to fetch a couple of large bath towels. She stopped at the bathroom door and gazed at Ryland, who was already on the bed. From her spot, she tossed him the towels and watched as he laid them out on the bed. “As it happens, I like honey too.”

Chapter 11

“Damn,” Ryland uttered, feeling sharp longing shoot through his gut and into his already painful cock. “Get over here, sweetheart.”

It was so gratifying to watch her walk back to the bed, swinging her hips in the most beautiful wiggle he’d ever laid eyes on. She reached the edge of the bed, and he automatically reached for her, pulling her down into an embrace. Sandwiching her between him and the bed, pressing his body against hers, kissing her everywhere. Kissing her senseless.

Feel goddamned senseless himself.

Her eyes were closed, as if unable to withstand the pleasure of it all. He grabbed the jar of honey. He opened it and the cracking noise caused her eyes to open. “Stay on your back, Lia,” he commanded.

The sweet fragrance hit his nostrils. It smelled almost as good as she did. He dipped his index finger into the jar and smeared it with the sugary concoction. Then, pausing just a moment to take in the adorable, hungry look in her eyes, he touched his finger to her pussy. He heard her breathe in sharply. As Ryland continue to paint her pussy, Lia took the jar and dipped her own finger into the honey. And while Ryland worked on decorating her inner lips with honey, Lia put her finger in her mouth and sucked.

If that wasn’t the sexiest moment of his life…

Her opening was sticky, coated in honey, and looked so delicious. He couldn’t wait another moment. He moved between her legs, placing them over his shoulders, and began to lick.

She arched her back and let out a throaty groan, clearly taken with the sensation. And God, he could have stayed there all day eating her, making her body quiver and jolt. Giving Lia pleasure had become a new goal for him, a goal her boyfriend had never shared. He couldn’t remember what day it was, or even his own name, but he’d already memorized the shape of her plump lips and the flavor of her straining clit.

She was heaven to him.

He licked her clean, and took a breather, his heart pounding just as much as hers seemed to be. He moved farther up her body and feasted on her breasts. But within seconds, temptation had claimed him again and he once again reached for the honey jar. He dipped another sly finger into the honey to anoint her once again, and then lowered his mouth to her sex once more. She thrashed on the bed, turning her head left and right, breathing more and more heavily as he ate her pussy.

He spent the next several moments thanking God for sending Lia to him, and for creating honey.

*

Lia was beginning to see stars. Real ones, dancing in front of her face, blinding her. She didn’t know if she was coming or going. Well, she had already come, twice so far. Ryland had continued his delectable, finger painting exercise on her sex. And each time, he had licked her until there was no honey left. She had come in an astounding fashion, had climaxed in his very talented mouth.

She’d thought her first orgasm with him was overwhelming. These recent ones had been off the charts.

And he hadn’t stopped. Even after her body had shaken with what she figured must be the last of the intense quakes, he’d gone back for more. Clearly ravenous for her. The little jar of honey was almost empty now. At one point in her delirium, she’d taken note of the price tag on the jar. $4.95. A five-dollar condiment worth its weight in gold.

But she couldn’t take much more. She was ready for him. Ready to have his body joined to hers.

Ryland was still occupied between her legs. “Please,” she begged, tugging gently on his hair. “Don’t make me wait anymore.”

He didn’t need any more urging. Bestowing one more teasing suck on her pussy, he sat up. Ryland moved over her, his massive frame darkening the area around them, engulfing her in his heat. He tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear and kissed her temple. “I know it’s been a long time for you. Are you okay?”

Okay, indeed. She nodded.

He dropped another kiss onto her head as his engorged cock thumped against her sex. “I don’t want to hurt you. I’ve been trying hard to get you ready for me.”

She couldn’t help giggling. “Yes. Your efforts are truly appreciated.”

Ryland nudged his cock against her opening and then retreated a fraction. She looked down between them and saw a bead of moisture on his tip. She touched it with her finger, watching it flex, loving the beauty of it. With leisure and fascination, she slid her hand around the gorgeous organ, loving the feel of the soft skin over such inner strength and power. Power to drive her into a delicious abyss of rapture.

He was panting above her. “Are you trying to torture me, woman?”

“You should talk.” She smiled and channeled her character Lady Adelaide, summoning all her heroine’s sexual bravery. “Are you going to take me now, Bear Man? Or are you going to make me wait some more?”

Ryland grunted and reached hastily into the bedside table. With mind-boggling swiftness, he found a condom and rolled it on. She waited for him to thrust deep into her, but he paused, looming over her and considering her face in a strange way. He surprised her then by lowering his mouth to her cheek.

As she lay there, dazzled, Ryland bit her on the cheek. Not hard enough to hurt her or leave a mark, but enough to let her know he knew what he was doing. He rested there for a moment, teeth locked to the apple of her cheek, groaning in apparent delirium.

“What are you doing?” she dared to ask, as her heart raced.

He paused a moment more, and then slowly withdrew his teeth from her skin. He bestowed several sweet kisses on the area he’d bitten and finally looked up, acknowledging her question. His black eyes were full of wonder. “I’m a bit of a biter.”

Out of nowhere, Lia remembered a citation in an encyclopedia she’d once used for a school project.
As part of the mating ritual, the male bear will bite the female on the cheek, displaying his dominance. He asserts his physical control over the female in this manner
.

The kiss of a predator.

As Lia pondered the information, he sank inside her, parting her lips with his incredible cock. Her breath caught and all thoughts of school projects flew from her head. It felt so much bigger than his fingers had. But it was perfect, so perfect. He nestled inside her, moaning now, obviously eager to start pumping. With a low moan, he began to move, withdrawing and plunging back into her with languor.

The delicious sensation was almost too much for Lia to bear. It felt as if a missile had been let loose in her core, tearing through her body, culminating in a gigantic fireball in her pussy. He slid deep inside her, touching places never before touched, and she gasped over and over. The intense pleasure, combined with a luscious tinge of pain, made her bite down on her lip, drawing some blood.

Ryland kissed her, tasting her blood. He raised his head, worried he’d hurt her, and his dark eyes were full of wonder. He licked his lips, and then joined his mouth to hers again, groaning.

Lia’s head swam. The initial shock had subsided, and now it felt exquisite having Ryland inside her. He thrust into her body, guiding her hips with his hands, and she reveled in letting him take such control. She’d never experienced such mind-numbing bliss. When he reached between them and tickled her already thankful clit, she thought she’d die. To feel him so connected to her, joining her spirit in ecstasy, was enough to make her come again. And as he continued to play with her clit, she did, shouting his name.

She heard him groan and felt him tense with the final, violent thrust of his own orgasm. He filled her, spilling his seed into the condom, and Lia suddenly wished they hadn’t used one. She didn’t want anything between them, not even a thin layer of latex. Emotions shook her and she struggled against the urge to cry, she was so hungry for him still. As he gently cradled her, the feelings swirling inside her were so volatile she was certain they’d either be the making of her or the death of her.

He’d touched her with such gentleness, yet such possessiveness.

He held her there for a while. His breath was on her cheek. His voice was in her ear. His lips were on her neck.

Utter bliss. Utterly spent.

With a kiss, he rolled off her. Ryland dashed to the washroom. Within seconds, he emerged, and she grinned at the sight of his condom-less penis. He joined her on the bed again, smiling. He looked up and down at her body. His gaze lingered on her swollen pussy. “You’re so pink, sweetheart. Does it hurt?”

Her face split into the happiest smile she’d ever bestowed on anyone. “No. That was indescribable. Way better than writing a sex scene. I recommend it. Five stars, for sure.”

They shared a soft laugh. Ryland lay at her side and drew her in for a warm embrace. He wove his fingers through her hair. She closed her eyes, and felt true happiness for the first time in her life.

“Lia,” Ryland whispered.

He uttered her name as if it were a balm for his soul, and her heart swelled with what could only be pure joy.

Still, one question lingered in her mind, one she needed to ask. “Ryland, why did you leave, you know, after last time?”

He looked down at her. His face had appeared intense and enigmatic to her since day one, but somehow the look on it made her reel now that they’d shared such a special moment.

“Because,” he responded quietly, “my heart was pounding so hard I got scared. I’m not one to get scared, Lia, but you scare the shit out of me. You’re incredible.”

“I don’t want to scare you,” she whispered.

“No, it’s good.” He chuckled. “Believe me. I can handle being scared like this.”

Oh
, she thought.
Well, that’s good to know
.

And as she snuggled deeper into his bear hug, two words appeared like beacons before her eyes. Unbidden and incomprehensible. Words she would never have used anywhere else, or with anyone else. Words that demanded her attention, even though she had no idea what to do with them.

Mate bond
.

* * * *

Around midnight, Ryland was awakened from the greatest sleep of his life. He’d slept with Lia in his arms, and even though both arms had fallen asleep several times, giving him painful pins and needles, he’d been deliriously happy. Because each time, he’d woken up and caught her scent and felt the brush of her soft hair on his chest. Pins and needles had been promptly forgotten at the sight of her burrowing in next to him. Peaceful. Satisfied.

At least until the loud knocking started on the door in the middle of the night.

Lia sat up, straight as a post, her eyes wide. “What is it?”

Ryland pulled her in for a kiss and soothed her. “Someone’s at the door. I’m sure it’s nothing. You rest.”

Lia just stared at him in the darkness. “Be careful.”

He grinned at her and got out of bed. He reached for his jeans and threw them on and stalked toward the door, meaning to give the party crasher a good thumping.

Lloyd was at the door. He spoke in hushed tones. “Ry, we have an issue at Cabin 12.”

Ryland started. “Cabin 12? That’s Soren’s cabin.”

“Soren,” Lia echoed, worried.

He turned to her. “Lia, stay here. I have to check on my brother.”

“The hell I am,” she retorted, vaulting out of bed and into her own clothes. “I’m coming with you.”

Ryland cursed, but figured she’d be safer at his side. He held out his hand while she slipped into her shoes and she ran to join him. Together with Lloyd, they raced out of the lodge and into the woods toward the cabins.

One of the officers met them outside Soren’s cabin. “Ryland, there’s been an attack on your brother.”

“What?” Ryland roared and threw open the door to his sibling’s cabin. “Soren!”

Soren sat on his couch, hunched over, clutching his shoulder. Ryland could see blood oozing from between his brother’s fingers. Soren looked up at his guests and managed a weak smile. “Hey, bro. Lia. Some fuckwad shot me. Oh, sorry. Do you want me to put a nickel in the swear jar?”

Lia ran to his side, as did Ryland. “Ohmigod,” she cried. “You too?”

Soren noticed her bandaged arm. “Seriously? He got you too?” He eyeballed her frantic face. “Have you ever slept with Floro Valdez’s wife?”

Ryland calmed himself even though he wanted to put his fist through the log cabin walls. First Lia, and now his brother? Who was this sick bastard? “Did you see what happened?”

“Nah,” Soren replied. “I didn’t see anything. Didn’t smell anything. I couldn’t sleep so I went out for a walk to the lake. I didn’t go far, just enough to stretch my legs. Next thing I know, the woods are echoing with this loud bang and my shoulder is hurting like a son of a bitch.” He glared at his wound. “Luckily, he had rotten aim. If he was trying to kill me, it didn’t work. Valdez clearly hasn’t spent enough money because he got a shitty hit man.”

“We need to get you to a hospital,” Lia said. “I was just grazed, but your shoulder looks really bad.” She stared at the spot in his muscle where the bullet was still wedged.

“No need,” Soren replied.

Lia turned to Ryland, questioning. He explained, “We shifters heal more quickly than humans do. Soren’s wound probably hurts like hell, but it’s not going to kill him. We just need to get the bullet out so the flesh can start healing.” He looked at his brother. “You want some whiskey, or something to bite down on?”