TherianPromise (6 page)

“Don’t be afraid,” he whispered against her lips. “I’m not
going to hurt you.”

She wasn’t afraid, exactly, just tense beyond belief. She
closed her eyes and silenced her mind, trying to relax so she’d stop trembling.
He needed this because he’d healed her. It was only fair that she… His mouth
covered hers and her thoughts scattered as sensations erupted all over her
body.

Her nipples tingled, her bra gently rasping as he slid her
up and down on his thigh. Her core felt tight yet liquid, ready for more than a
kiss. Aching desire sped her pulse and heated her blood, making her anxious and
needful.

His tongue teased its way past her lips as his fingers
traced her spine. She took her cue from him, exploring with cautious abandon.
He was hot and hard everywhere she touched and not just with her hands. The
unmistakable ridge of his erection pressed into her belly, assuring her this
was more than just distracting for him.

Taking the kiss deeper, he echoed the sensual rhythm of
their hips with the possessive stroke of his tongue. One of his hands grasped
her bottom, maintaining the steady rocking, as his other unfastened her bra.
She murmured a protest against his lips as his hand slipped beneath the
loosened material and cupped her breast. He teased her nipple with his thumb
while his fingers gently massaged her fullness.

This was more than just a kiss, far more than a simple
distraction. The ache between her thighs became a distinct pulse and her clit
seemed to echo her heartbeat. She arched into the next rotation, pressing hard
against his thigh. He pinched her nipple and the sharp sensation zinged down to
her clit. She gasped, inadvertently separating their lips as the tension wound
even tighter.

He lifted her to the rock and tossed her bra aside. Sunlight
touched her breasts for a moment before his lips closed around one nipple and
his hand covered the other. Her skin tingled and warmed, her desire for him
burning hotter than the sun.

This was insane. She’d never been this turned-on before and
they’d done little more than kiss. He latched on to her breast, the slow,
demanding suction accentuating the persistent throb between her thighs. Her
head dropped back on her shoulders and she pressed herself deeper into his
mouth.

What he was doing felt good, but she needed his kiss. Wanted
the slide of his tongue against hers and the intoxication of his taste.
Grasping his face between her hands, she drew him up until his mouth hovered
over hers. His gaze burned into hers, but his lips remained just out of reach.

“Say it.” The demand was firm yet whisper soft. “Tell me
what you want.”

“Kiss me.”

As soon as the words passed her lips, he pulled her forward
and wrapped her legs around his waist. She clutched his back as his mouth
claimed hers in a starkly sexual kiss. Her breasts flattened against his chest
and his tongue thrust in and out of her mouth, mimicking a bolder penetration.

Her skin came alive with tingling heat, over-sensitized yet
pleasurable. His hands moved over her back and arms, drawing the tingles into
her chest. She couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think, could only feel the sizzling
currents he stirred within her.

He tore his mouth away from hers and they both gasped. Hot
tendrils of energy flowed from her into him as pleasure radiated through her
body. She shivered and groaned, clutching his back with her arms and his waist
with her legs.

Leaning forward, he braced her against the rock without
releasing her from his embrace. “Are you all right?”

She nodded then rested her head on his shoulder, not quite
ready to disentangle her body from his. It had felt similar to an orgasm yet
distinctly different too. She still felt sort of muddled. “Did you take
enough?”

He chuckled, his breath stirring her hair. “Are you offering
more?”

Easing back just far enough to look into his eyes, she used
their closeness to hide her naked breasts. “No. I just want to make sure this
was worth it.”

His brows arched at the subtle slur but amusement gleamed in
his green eyes. “I’ll have to try harder next time.”

“There better not be a next time.” She wasn’t sure why she
kept challenging him. He’d done nothing to deserve her attitude, but the
impulse popped into her mind before logic could temper the reaction.

“You don’t need to piss me off.” He grasped her hips and
rubbed his erection against her sex, gaze narrowed and bright. “Just say the
word. I’ll be glad to finish what we started.”

“I’m sorry.” She unhooked her ankles and started to scoot
back, but he caught her knees and kept her pelvis flush with his.

“If you’re ready for more, we might be able to get the hell
out of here.”

She stilled, painfully aware of her hardened nipples and
flushed skin. “What do you mean?”

“If you’re willing to keep going, I should be able to trigger
another spike like the one that brought us here.”

“Or I might teleport us to Antarctica.”

“You’re no longer in danger.” He swept his hand down her arm
but his gaze remained on her face. “If I help steady the surge, all you’ll have
to do is visualize the destination.”

“There isn’t any other way to trigger this power surge?”

His lips curved into a sexy smile as his hand repeated its
light caress. “Pleasure, pain or fear. I’m pretty sure you’re not afraid of me.
Would you rather experiment with pain or continue—” He jerked his head to the
left and his body tensed.

“What’s—”

He halted her question with an upraised hand, head cocked as
he listened for the subtlest sound. “Get dressed. We’ve got company.” He
stepped back and helped her down from the rock. Snatching her t-shirt off the
rock, she pulled it on without bothering to find her bra. He donned his shirt
but slung his jacket over his shoulder as he handed the backpack to her. “Don’t
put it on. If we need to run, drop it. Understand?”

She nodded, still unsure why he believed someone was out
there. Finally she heard the distant growl of an engine. But there were no
roads. There was probably enough room for a small vehicle in-between the
standing trees, but that still left the fallen trees and forest debris.

The noise faded as suddenly as she’d identified it and still
Kyle didn’t relax. “Keep walking as if nothing’s wrong.”

“I don’t hear it anymore,” she whispered.

“It’s idling, but it’s still there.”

More of his “Therian” abilities? He’d heard the engine long
before she had.

“Halt!” Two uniformed soldiers emerged from the trees on
their right. One pointed a compact assault rifle at Kyle as the other one
spoke. “This is a restricted area. How did you get back here?”

In the blink of an eye, Kyle’s demeanor changed. Gone was
his ultra-cautious tension. His shoulders stooped and he ambled forward,
apparently oblivious to the threat. “Dude, we are
so
lost. Just point us
in the right direction and we’ll get out of your hair. Promise.”

The armed soldier took a menacing step forward and snapped,
“Hands up. Now!”

“Whoa, chill out, man.” Kyle raised his hands as he inched
farther forward. “There’s no need for threats and stuff. Is this like, private
property or something?”

“We’re with the Forest Service,” the spokesman claimed.
“Accompany us to our vehicle so we can verify your identities. We have no
choice but to document this infraction, but you should be free to go once we’ve
determined who you are.”

“Sorry, dude. No can do.” Kyle lunged at an angle, taking
his body out of rifle range as he jerked the weapon out of the shooter’s hands.
In a blur of aggressive motion, he slammed the stock against the side of the
gunman’s head and spun to confront the speaker with the pilfered rifle. “Hands
up!”

With obvious reluctance, the soldier complied.

“Who sent you?” Kyle tucked the rifle more snugly against
his shoulder, punctuating the question with the subtle threat.

The soldier just glared at him in mutinous silence, so Kyle
swung the rifle again, knocking the second soldier unconscious with one
well-placed blow. “Let’s get out of here.”

“And go where?” Ava cried, not sure the violence had
improved their situation. “We have no idea where we are. How do you know they
aren’t from the Forest Service?”

“Forest rangers don’t carry M16s.” He checked the safety
then swung the rifle onto his shoulder and reached for the backpack. “At least
they spoke English. Chances are good we’re still in the States.”

“Chances are even better that whoever sent them to question
us will send someone else when they don’t return.”

“All the more reason for us to get moving.” His gaze
narrowed and he nodded toward the fallen men. “Check their pockets. See if
they’re foolish enough to carry identification. And toss me their radios.”

Her pulse kicked up a notch as she approached the
unconscious speaker. He’d landed on his side, so she patted his back pockets
before rolling him onto his back. “Nothing. Not even dog tags.” She unhooked
his two-way radio from his belt and tossed it to Kyle.

“I’m not surprised. Their uniforms are generic.” He placed
the radio on a large rock and smashed it with the butt of the rifle.

As she patted the shooter’s back pocket, she felt the
telltale bulk of a wallet. She pulled the wallet out and unfolded it. “Silly
man. Colorado Driver’s License.” She looked up at Kyle and smiled. “Told you we
hadn’t gone far.”

“I’m glad you were right, but there are places in Colorado
that are still dangerously remote. What’s his name?”

“Daniel Edgewater. Does that mean anything to you?” She
tossed the shooter’s radio to Kyle as well.

Kyle caught the radio and shook his head. “I’ll have Eli run
a background check on him, see what he can uncover.”

She had no idea who Eli was and there were too many other
questions she needed answered first, so she didn’t ask. She stood and brushed
off her knees. “Can you still hear their vehicle?”

“Yep.” After smashing the second radio, he headed off
through the trees.

She quickly followed, more than ready for the adventure to
end.

The Jeep lacked any official markings, but it was stripped
down and utilitarian, obviously meant for military use. Kyle slung the backpack
onto the floor behind the driver’s seat then placed the rifle on top of the
pack. After covering the weapon with his jacket, he climbed in and closed the
door. Ava hurried to the other side and sat in the passenger seat.

The Jeep had left an obvious trail as it approached. Kyle
shifted the vehicle into gear and took off in the opposite direction. Ava
wholeheartedly supported the decision. If it was the policy of whoever sent the
soldiers to ask questions at gunpoint, Ava had no interest in meeting them.

They found a swift-moving stream and followed the water
downhill. Hopefully the stream would empty into a river and the river would
lead them back to civilization. The grassy bank was just wide enough for the
Jeep. Occasionally Kyle steered into the water to avoid a tree or rock
formation. The vehicle dipped and swayed with nauseating force, but it was much
better than being on foot.

The stream was a tributary just as Kyle had hoped. The river
wasn’t much bigger than the stream, but the wide, rocky bed indicated a greater
capacity. It also allowed Kyle to travel faster than he’d driven along the
mountain stream.

They rounded a bend and found a charming railed bridge
spanning the river. “It’s dirt, but it’s a road,” Kyle muttered as he carefully
maneuvered up the steep embankment and onto the road. Continuing his downhill
strategy, he wended his way along the dirt road.

Lengthening shadows and cooling air warned of impending
twilight. After an hour or so, Carissa relaxed enough to stop looking behind
them. The mercenaries were likely on foot and Kyle had destroyed their radios,
but it was possible they weren’t the only team combing the valley.

She blew out a shaky breath and settled back in the seat. If
the mercenaries had arrived a few minutes earlier, they would have been treated
to quite a show. What was wrong with her? She’d never made out with a man she’d
just met. Even if the primary purpose had been transferring energy, the method
had been undeniably sexual.

A guilty flush crept up her neck and she looked at Kyle. His
face was ashen, jaw clenched, and he gripped the wheel with both hands. “What’s
wrong?” He looked even worse than he had before.

“Hunger’s back.” The throaty growl in his words sent a
shiver down her spine.

Damn it. That’s what she was afraid he’d say. She looked
around the secluded road for any sign of civilization. There was none, but even
if they pulled over and tried again, why hadn’t the transfer worked the first
time? “Can you…take more from me?”

“I might have to.” He groaned, clutching his abdomen with
one hand while he maintained control of the Jeep with the other.

“Pull over and let me drive.” He didn’t argue, further proof
his distress was real. She waited until they’d switched seats before she spoke
again. “Are you afraid you’ll hurt me? Why don’t we just do it now?”

“I thought a snack would get me through until I could eat a
proper meal.” He slumped in the seat, arms crossed over his belly, head resting
back against the seat. “Apparently, I need more than a kiss can release.
Without a trained feeder, I’d need a full-body connection.”

“You mean—”

“Sex.” His eyes squeezed shut as his body convulsed.

She watched in helpless alarm. Even if she was willing to
have sex with him, he didn’t appear capable at the moment.

The spasm passed and he took a deep breath. “I need to be
inside you to fully access your Therian energy.” He relaxed enough to open his
eyes and added, “I know that’s not what you want.” He wiped his brow with his
forearm then motioned toward the road. “So, drive. I’ll fight it as long as I
can, but eventually my cat will take control.”