Tempting Rever (12 page)

She was worried he’d say no, afraid he’d jerk away from her touching him when her hands caressed his jawline and her thumbs rubbed his cheeks, feeling how warm his skin was. He was so handsome to her in his wildly rugged way. His gaze was locked with hers as she got lost in the breathtaking depths of his eyes, seeing emotions flashing in the windows of his soul until he blinked, moving closer to her.

Relief hit her that he didn’t distance himself but instead inched closer, his wide hips brushing her knees, and instantly Brenda spread them to allow him to get nearer to her.

He stepped between her thighs, the material of his pants scratched a little on her tender skin but she barely noticed. He went chest to chest with her and two large arms wrapped around her waist while his face inched closer as he lowered his head. Their gazes remained locked until Brenda lowered her focus on his full lips that slightly parted, revealing sharp teeth that didn’t frighten her. She opened her own mouth anticipating he was going to kiss her.

Shutting her eyes at the last second, she felt him hold her a little tighter a second before gentle lips brushed over hers, his breath warm on her skin. It stunned her that someone so damn strong could be so tender. His lips left hers as their breath mingled and then his lips returned.

Brenda opened her mouth to his fully when their tongues met. Her hands slid from his cheeks into his hair so she could pull him closer as his arms tightened around her body, drawing her into him. A sweet kiss quickly blazed out of control between them.

He tasted so good to her, something sweet—similar to sugar—making her wonder why the guy always tasted candylike. Her curiosity dissipated when she felt the sharp tips of his teeth touch her lower lip but they didn’t cut her as she explored his mouth. He groaned softly as the kiss intensified. Her ass left the counter when he lifted her higher up his body.

Wrapping her legs around his waist, she clung to him desperately, her body flaring to life under his mouth. The rough material of his pants brought awareness to her spread sex tightly pressed against him, making her ache with need for more than a kiss.

Brenda moaned into his mouth, encouraging his arms to tighten around her even more until he held her so close that she could barely breathe but she didn’t care. He was kissing her and he was holding her in his arms.

Rever tore his mouth away, breaking the kiss. A soft cry escaped her lips in protest.

Brenda’s eyes snapped open, just staring up at him, mere inches separating them, seeing torment in his blue eyes. They both were breathing hard.

“I want you so much it hurts,” he said softly.

60

Tempting Rever

“Take me.”

Pain flashed in his eyes. “We can’t. Don’t tempt me, Brenda.”

“Do you love Tina?”

The pain in his eyes turned to rage in an instant. “No.” The word was a snarl. “I can’t stand her. It’s you I want.”

Pain flashed through her. “I hate this. I want to be with you and you want to be with me. I do not like your world right now with its damn rules.”

Rever lowered his head to nuzzle her neck, hiding his face on her shoulder while his arms held her tightly, just standing in the middle of the bathroom with her naked and wrapped around him. He took deep breaths, his chest moving against hers.

Brenda clung to Rever knowing this was probably the last chance she’d ever get to memorize everything about him. He just held her as if she didn’t weigh anything in his arms. Their gazes locked when he finally lifted his head and she saw something flicker in his eyes, an emotion she couldn’t read but the tender look was gone. He slowly moved, walking the few steps to the sink.

It nearly broke her heart when Brenda felt Rever withdrawing from her both physically and emotionally. He eased her down until her ass touched the sink and then his hold on her loosened until he completely released her. Rever stepped back a foot and then another but his gaze remained locked on her. She was never going to see him again but she could at least take the memory of him and that kiss with her wherever she went. They were both trapped in what fate had handed them.

“There’s only one thing to do.”

“I know I have to go with him and you’ve made it clear that we have no choice.”

His mouth tightened. “I don’t want another male to claim you and you don’t want Volder to touch your body. You should be mine.”

Shock hit her at his words but then so did sadness. She totally agreed but they had no way to stop Volder from taking her. Rever’s look hardened even more, a chilling coldness creeping into his eyes.

“I am a good warrior and an excellent fighter.”

“You’re going to challenge him?” Fear hit her. “You can’t. You said you have no right to do that and it’s against your laws. Won’t you get arrested or something?”

He gave a jerk of a nod. “Yes. I would be punished severely and it is our way that I would be sent to a work camp for years.”

She moved off the sink, her feet hitting the floor as she stood. “As much as I want to be with you that won’t work. You’d be sent away, we still couldn’t be together and I won’t let you do that for me, to sacrifice yourself that way.”

Rever hesitated. “I will return in a minute after I get your clothing.” He slowly looked down her body, a soft growl rumbling from his throat. “I want you too much to look at you like this. You are going to make me break my control again and I can’t do that right now.”

61

Tempting Rever

Brenda watched Rever spin on his heel to storm out of the bathroom. She turned, gripping the sink, and lowered her head in defeat. She was going to have no choice but to go with Volder. She sighed.

“It’s time to put on the big girl panties and just suck it up,” she ordered herself in a whisper.

In less than a minute Rever returned, dropping her bag on the bathroom floor. She turned her head to meet his gorgeous eyes. The cold look was still there telling her silently that he’d hardened his heart against her. She almost felt grateful that he was such a strong man, reminding her that she needed to be strong as well.

Wailing and throwing herself at his feet to beg him to keep her wasn’t going to do any good except it might get him killed or sent away to a Zorn work camp, which was probably comparable to prison. She cared about him too damn much to be that selfish by begging him to do something stupid on her behalf that wouldn’t even change the outcome. Rever would be locked up and she’d be forced to be with another man. She straightened her shoulders, meeting his gaze.

“Get dressed and put on pants. It will be cold where you are going.”

She nodded, looking away from him. Rever spun away, storming back out of the bathroom. Forcing her body to move, she bent over, removing her clothes from her bag.

Her back ached a little where she was scratched but it was just a small discomfort while she dressed. Ali had supplied her with new socks and boots so she put those on last.

In minutes Rever was back, pausing at the doorway. She frowned as she studied him, noticing that he’d changed clothes, and she couldn’t help but stare at his black uniform. He looked dangerously sexy in the thick leather that molded to his body. He had weapons strapped to his hips and more strapped to his powerfully built thighs and she studied the mean looking knife handles sticking out of sheathes that were strapped to him. Her gaze lifted to meet his.

“Let’s go. We don’t have much time.” He held out his hand to her, his blue eyes glowed with intensity.

“Go where?” Her gaze flew to his outfit again, thinking he looked ready for battle.

Her heart nearly stopped at that thought and her gaze flew back to his.

He took a deep breath. “I spent years patrolling the Outlander area. If anyone can survive with a woman out there it is me. As I said, I’m a damn good fighter, Brenda. It will be dangerous and it could get us both killed but we can be together.” He paused, his gaze locked with hers. “It is your choice. We’ll be hunted but I’m a warrior who will be on a familiar battlefield. It is the only chance we have to find happiness with each other.”

Everything he’d said about working in the Outlander area slammed into her, about how women didn’t live out there because it was too brutal a place with criminals and wild Zorn males. Fear hit her but as she stared up at Rever, something else hit her too, the realization that she’d rather die with Rever than live without him was crystal clear to her. She swallowed as she took a step forward, reaching for his hand, nodding.

62

Tempting Rever

“I’d follow you to hell and back, Rever. I just want to be with you.”

Rever smiled as his large warm hand clasped her smaller one. “Get your bag. You’ll need clothing.”

Blinking away relieved tears that he was willing to risk everything for her, she bent, gripping her belongings. She looked up at him. “Thank you.”

His smile died. “Don’t thank me for the very selfish thing I do. I will probably get both of us killed just for my desire to keep you with me. I don’t know how long Ral will keep Volder away but when they realize we have run together the hunt will begin so we need to go quickly now.”

A shiver of dread hit her. “They really will hunt us? Seriously?”

He gave a grim nod. “It is the Zorn way.”

“Then let’s get the hell out of here.”

Rever suddenly moved, bending just enough that his lips brushed her forehead. He nodded as he stepped back.

“We must hurry. I want to reach the Outlander area before night falls and we have a stop to make first.”

63

Tempting Rever

“Don’t speak,” Rever said softly half an hour later.

Brenda studied the building they stopped in front of in the middle of the woods but in the distance she saw a large wall. The top of it was thick like a catwalk and it had big, black-outfitted Zorn men who were carrying weapons that resembled guns as they walked along the length of it. If she didn’t miss her guess, this had to be some kind of border crossing. She gave a nod that she understood his command.

Rever’s face went blank of emotion as he took a deep breath. He released her hand, his gaze roaming the area, and looked to be waiting for something. It didn’t take long before two large men in the same outfit that Rever wore walked out of the dense trees next to the building. They looked mean and carried as many weapons strapped on their bodies as he did.

“Argis Rever.” One of them nodded. “Is this an inspection?”

“My father has instructed me to give this human woman a tour. She is an ambassador from Earth and she wants shown how we protect our cities.”

The other man frowned. “Why here? It is too dangerous.”

“I am not taking her past the zone line.” Rever shot the guard a dirty look. “She was curious about the Outlander areas so I am giving her a tour of the supply building to show her how prepared we are and that other human women would be safe in our cities. If she sees how we protect our citizens she will recommend to her Earth that they send more human females.” Rever smiled. “Wouldn’t it be nice to have thousands of them available to bound with?”

Both men turned their full attention on Brenda. She lifted her chin, putting on her best game face, and tried to not to curl her lip as both men leered at her, openly staring at about every inch of her body. One of them grinned.

“She has that much power over her women?”

Nodding sharply, Rever lied. “She is very important on her world. Upon her recommendation a lot more human women will travel to Zorn to bound with our males.

My father is a great leader who always wants to please his people.”

The dark-eyed man grinned. “Is this one bound?”

Rever tensed. “She is an ambassador. Control yourself. She is just here for a tour.

Let’s go. She has a banquet to attend in an hour. Take us inside now.”

Both guards turned, striding for the building. Brenda darted a glance at Rever. He met her look with a nod, motioning her forward. Her backpack was hidden in the woods so she didn’t have the weight to slow her down as she almost ran after the much taller men who had damn long legs. They rounded the building and she saw two thick 64

Tempting Rever

steel-looking doors that both of the guards paused in front of. The door slid wide open after one of them slapped his palm to a control pad.

“I am Borvon.” The tall blond man smiled at Brenda, his attention darting to her breasts and then back to her face. “We are heavily supplied in case of attack. Our males are the best warriors handpicked by Rever for our fighting skills. We have never had a breach. Your women would be very safe in our cities.”

Giving a nod, Brenda attempted to look impressed. She’d never taken acting classes but for some reason Rever wanted her to pretend to be someone really important. She had no idea how they’d get past those guards on the wall with their weapons but she trusted that Rever knew what he was doing even if she didn’t. Since he wanted her to play a part, she’d try her best to pull it off.

“Argis Rever,” she said softly. “I see you do handpick the best warriors. They look very capable.”

Full lips curved upward as Rever’s gaze met hers, seeing amusement flash there for just a heartbeat before it was gone.

“Of course. I told you that your human women would be secure living in our cities with our men patrolling the borders. We keep the wilder, less civilized Zorn on the other side of the walls. We are slowly controlling more of the Outlander areas until eventually there will be order all over Zorn. It is just a slow process since some resist change.”

“I see.” She gave a nod.

When they were led inside the supply building, Brenda saw motorcycle-type vehicles parked near the doors. Weapons were stacked on shelves along one wall and there were uniforms hanging neatly from hooks. The room was filled with a large assortment of other gear and sealed boxes. She eyed it trying to pretend as if she were greatly impressed. Rever moved, getting behind both men. She turned her attention on the guards, smiling at them and watched as both men leered openly at her body again.