aHunter4Rescue (aHunter4Hire) (27 page)

His
lips moved lower, trailing searing kisses along her jaw and neck until he
reached the button of her shirt. Her body was screaming for more and yet he
hesitated and looked up at her.

“Is
this what you want?”

She
nodded.

Words
were beyond her.

His
hand moved to the buttons of her shirt and undid the first and then the second.
Each one was unclasped in agonizing slow motion until her shirt was open. She
shrugged it off and groaned with pleasure as Ardal’s fingers caressed her skin,
trailing fire along the way. He explored her collar bone and rested a finger on
the pulse at the base of her neck. A slight smile tilted his lips.

“You
are so beautiful and alive.” A shadow crossed his eyes. “I do not think I could
have lived if he had killed you.”

“Shush.
We’ve been given a second chance and I’m not going to waste it.”

Fiona
slid her hands beneath his tee shirt, inching her fingers up taut muscles and
hair roughened skin. He felt delicious. When he shivered, her body answered
with a surge of triumph.

Her
touch thrilled him.

Her
exploration grew bold and she gripped the lower edge of his shirt and pulled it
over his head. His chest was exposed in all its glory. Firm abdomen muscles and
large well-developed pecs quivered as she caressed every inch of him with first
her fingers and then her lips.

Scars
from injuries marred the perfection of his skin, as did a tattoo on his left
upper arm. It had numerous hieroglyphic-type symbols running up and down in
lines. Her fingers moved across the lines, which contained at least twenty
symbols. There were ten lines in total.

“What
are these?”

“My
missions and campaigns.”

“So
many?”
Her eyes lifted to his, but there was no remembered
pain there. Just acceptance of the life he’d been born to.

She
looked at the symbols again and then moved closer so that her lips could caress
them. They represented what had made him the man she loved. She would honor
that. When she had finished, Ardal was stroking her jaw with his hands. He
lifted her head so that he could kiss her lips again.

He
built the fire gradually, letting his mouth and tongue move down to her neck in
a torturous, deliberate progress. She ached for more. Ardal continued to ignite
the flame within her until she twisted beneath him, her hips lifting to meet
him, begging for a closer intimacy. He didn’t disappoint.

He
unclipped her bra, brushed his fingers across her nipples sending shards of
ecstasy racing across her body. She gasped at the throbbing pulse of yearning
that seared deep within her womb.

“You
like that?” Ardal’s voice was husky with passion.

“You
know I do.” Fiona moaned as Ardal flicked his tongue over her nipple.

He
nibbled and soothed until she burned with need and then he suckled, sending a
jolt of excitement soaring through her. She hardly noticed when he smoothed her
pants and undies off her body. His mouth left her breasts and began to explore
her abdomen.

His
lips roamed until he reached the apex of her thighs. He hesitated a second,
inhaling deeply of her scent as if savoring it, before continuing his tasting.
His tongue darted out and licked her inner core until she shuddered with
pleasure.

He
continued to build the hunger until she could stand it no longer. Her fingers
moved down to his pants and fumbled trying to undo the fastening. It wouldn’t
budge.

She
stroked lower, feeling the rigid evidence of his arousal. Taking the palm of
her hand she rubbed down its length. Ardal jerked away, his muscles trembling
with tension.

“Two
can play this game.” Fiona purred with satisfaction. “Take your pants off. I
want to see and feel you.”

“Lovemaking
is for the woman’s enjoyment.”

“It’s
for both of us.” Fiona gazed at him, willing him to understand. “You have to
trust me.”

Ardal
shut his eyes briefly and then nodded.
“As you command.”
He stripped with quick, economical movements and then lay down beside her.

He
was magnificent.

She
ran her hand down the full length of him.

She
shuddered at the piercing throb of excitement that filled her. Would she be
able to accommodate him? The thought flittered through her brain for a second
before Ardal’s hands were working their magic again.

She
surrendered to sensation.

His
tongue and hands coaxed and enticed her body to a fevered pitch, leaving her
panting and begging for completion. She reached for him and stroked down the
long length of his arousal.

Ardal
groaned. “You will unman me.”

“I
need you inside me.” Fiona’s words came in breathless gasps.
“Now.”

“Show
me.”

She
pushed Ardal onto his back and straddled him. She reached between them and
guided him until he was on the verge of entering her. With slow, deliberate
concentration she eased herself down onto him until it felt as if he filled and
stretched her whole being.

She
shivered with bliss.

Then
she moved.

She
established an unhurried rocking motion. Her body set a rhythm that sent a
luscious spiral of rapture singing through her until she could handle no more.
That’s when Ardal gripped her back and hips and with a smooth twist of his body
swung her beneath him.

He
thrust into her and then pulled out before gliding in again. He continued his
leisurely strokes until Fiona was on the searing edge of climax. He captured
her mouth and scream as he plunged deep, driving her over the top to exquisite
ecstasy. Seconds later she felt his body shudder his fulfillment.

His
weight collapsed onto her and she held him tight, letting the soft glow of the
aftermath of their loving envelop and cocoon them. He grunted a protest and
then shifted their bodies so they were on their sides. Languidly she let her
lips roam his chest.

She
couldn’t remember ever feeling this euphoric.

Everything
was perfect, especially this man, her mate.

“You
have shown me heaven.” Ardal gave her a lingering kiss.

“It
was fantastic.” Fiona nipped at his lips. “Where did you learn to move like
that?”

“Instinct.”
Ardal moved his hips. “I need to pleasure you again.”

Fiona
laughed. “It’s too soon.”

“Not
for me.”

Another
thrust and Fiona felt the hardened truth of Ardal’s words deep within her. She
moaned as the coil of passion gripped her again. Who was she to argue with a
Hunter?

***

The
light fingers of dawn were touching the sky when Fiona woke. It had been a
night of lovemaking that had only ended a few hours ago. She would be sluggish
for the rest of the day, but what was sleep compared to the paradise that she’d
found in Ardal’s arms. The man was inexhaustible and she had the aching muscles
to prove it.

She
stretched her arms over her head. She felt good. Better than she’d ever felt in
her whole life. She touched Ardal’s cheek. He’d made her whole. Now it was time
to let him do his duty. She could face anything, knowing that he was with her.

She
grabbed her pants and pulled them on.

“You
need more sleep.” Ardal’s voice was gentle.

“It
wouldn’t do for your men to find us like this.”

When
she’d finished dressing she stood and pulled the curtains, shutting out the
glow of sunrise before switching on a light. Ardal’s eyes followed her every
move. A shiver of awareness skittered across her body. He was hers as much as
she was a part of him. There was a mutual give and take between them that would
only strengthen the longer that they were together.

How
could she bear it if he went away?

“I
cannot leave you.” Ardal stood and pulled her into his arms. “It would be like
cutting out my heart.”

“You’re
reading my thoughts again.” Fiona shook her head and sighed. “I hope you’re the
only Hunter in my head.”

Ardal
frowned. “You are my pair bond and mate. No other can touch your thoughts.”

“That’s
a relief.” Fiona relaxed into his embrace. “I’ve got some pretty crazy stuff
going on in there. You’re the only man I’d share it with.”

“I
hold your trust sacred. I will never betray it.” Ardal kissed her forehead.
“Until last night I did not understand the full meaning of being mated. There
is nothing that is more important.”

Fiona
grinned. “That’s because it’s new. Give it a few years and you’ll be like all
the other old married men.”

“Married?”

“It’s
sort of the same as your mating, except some people get divorced.”

“That
does not sound good.”

Fiona
shook her head. “It isn’t. They separate and decide not to see each other
again.”

“Never.”
Ardal’s hold tightened. “Even if you do not want me, I will always honor our
mating.”

She
swallowed the lump in her throat. “I love you, now and always.”

Ardal
leaned down and kissed her with a tenderness that brought tears to her eye. “We
will honor your customs and marry.”

Fiona
blinked back her tears and nodded. “Can we? It’s legally binding and would be
on record. I wouldn’t want it to endanger you or your men.”

“Catal
and the others will know how to avoid problems.”

“You’d
be my husband and I’d be your wife.” Fiona tried to keep her excitement down.
She had to think of Ardal’s safety.

“This
is important to you.” Ardal leaned back and let his eyes roam her face.

“It
would be a binding commitment that no one could sever or doubt.”

Ardal
nodded. “Then we will marry.”

At
that moment there was a pounding at the door and then Niail’s voice. “We must
leave.”

Fiona
threw his clothes at him. “Get dressed,” she mouthed.

He
reached out and caressed her cheek. She turned her face into his palm and
kissed it. A surge of emotion rushed through him.

Last
night she had given him heaven.

Now
he must do his duty.

Fiona
gave him a quick smile and then left the room. With a grunt he pulled on his
pants and shirt. The men would be waiting their orders. As much as he wished to
continue pleasuring Fiona it was time to begin their lives on earth. They were
Hunters and last night had shown him there was a need for them on this planet.

When
he got downstairs the smell of breakfast cooking permeated the small space.
Fiona was humming at the stove and Firbin was putting food on plates. He took
the dish offered him and sat at the table beside Niail.

“Are
the others ready?”

“We
await your command.”

Ardal
nodded. “I need you to take Gur and Turlo with you. You are to head west and
await your instructions.”

“You
give me the new ones?” Niail raised an eyebrow. “I am not good with trainees.”

“No,
but I trust you with them.” Ardal bit into a piece of bread. “Once you are
west, you will join with Ranon, Partlan, and Malac.”

Firbin
sat across from them. “What is the plan?”

“I
have given thought to our purpose on this planet. It is our home now and we
must find our way as Hunters.”

“So
we continue to do as Lorcan has?”

“No.”
Ardal’s voice was firm. “There is no honor in the choice he made. A Hunter must
always live with honor no matter where he finds himself.”

“True.”
Niail pushed his empty plate away. “There does not seem to be much of it on
this planet though.”

“That
is not true.” Fiona leaned between Ardal and Niail and took away their plates.
“You just have to look deeper to find it.”

Niail
watched Fiona walk to the kitchen. “I do not think I will get used to women
waiting on me.”

“It
works both ways on earth.” Ardal leaned back in his chair. “Each gives and
takes. It is a fairer division.”

Niail
frowned. “You believe this.”

“I
know it.” Last night had shown him how much greater the reward when it was
shared. “There is still a need for Hunters though.”

“What
will we do?” Lorcan leaned against the kitchen island. “Honor does not put food
on the table or buy weapons.”

“There
is much injustice and corruption here.” Ardal hesitated as he tried to find the
right words. “You said the law is not able to stop many of the wrongs that
happen.”

Lorcan
nodded. “Sometimes the police and lawyers are as corrupt as the criminals they
try to catch.”