Authors: Leia Shaw
“But –”
He hushed her with a
finger over her lips. “We’ve already discussed it. The three’s was
Aedan’s idea. He said he could use the practice anyway. So the only
choice you have is whether you want to be in the competition or
not. If it were up to me, I’d fight alone but I know how stubborn
–”
“I’m in.”
As he thought. He
sighed.
“But what if we lose
again?” she asked.
“Then we’ll keep
trying.”
Her forehead crinkled
and she bit down on her bottom lip. His gaze locked on that lip. He
yearned to kiss it, to nibble it. As he was about to lean in and do
just that, Samantha looked up at him, guilt and regret written all
over her face.
“Geo. I have something
to tell you.” She dropped her gaze to the ground and exhaled a deep
breath.
Why did he have the
feeling he wasn’t going to like this?
“But first you have to
promise you won’t be too mad at me. Promise you won’t beat me or
kill me, okay? Not until after I find Nikki anyway. After that
–”
“Samantha.” He tipped
her head up with a finger under her chin. “There’s nothing bad
enough that would warrant me beating you, and certainly not killing
you. So get that out of your head please.”
She bit down on her lip
again.
“Even if you anger me,
I’m quick to forgive. And I’d never, ever hurt you. Now tell me
what’s troubling you.”
After another deep
breath she said to his chest, “I can’t contact Gaia. I lied to
you.”
Yeah, he’d figured
there was something suspicious going on there. She really thought
he’d beat her over that? What had her father and brothers ingrained
in that head of hers?
“But I was desperate,”
she rushed to add. “It was only out of necessity. You know I’d do
anything for Nikki.”
“I know.” He couldn’t
be mad at her. Knowing now what was at stake, he’d have done the
same thing.
She lowered her head.
“I’m sorry. I was going to try my hardest to reach her. I still
will and you never know but…she hates me because of my family.
Knowing what I want for you, she’ll probably do the opposite.”
He touched her cheek
and stroked his thumb across the bottom lip she’d been chewing.
“You should have told me.”
“Would you have helped
me?”
To his shame, he
admitted he probably wouldn’t have. “I don’t know. Maybe not at
first.” How ironic that now his dilemma had become letting her
go.
He took her hand. “Come
on, love. Tomorrow is another day.”
Samantha’s head swam as
they walked back to their bedroom. She’d told Geo her big secret,
certain he’d at least rail at her. At his willing sacrifice for her
cause, guilt overwhelmed her. Then, not only had he stayed calm,
he’d promised to find Nikki too. Why was he risking his life for
her again knowing he would get absolutely nothing in return? Either
he was completely insane or…he loved her.
She exhaled a deep
breath, her stupor fading as they walked upstairs.
God I hope he’s
insane.
Because if he loved
her, well, she wasn’t sure she wouldn’t love him back. And there
were two problems with that scenario. One; they had no future. He
was stuck here and, well, she wanted to be anywhere but here. And
two; he was far too perfect.
It wasn’t normal to be
so level-headed all the time. Maybe she should provoke his temper.
He could only hold back his true colors for so long. If she saw him
rage, it’d break the spell.
Yes, I’ll bet he’s
just like my dad.
In the room, she turned
on him. “How can you not be mad at me? I lied to you. I tricked you
and risked your life over and over for my own purpose.”
He shrugged. “Not for
your own purpose. For your sister. It shows your loyalty and
devotion. And I would’ve done the same thing.”
Too good to be true.
She pushed.
“You should at least yell at me. What kind of man are you? Do you
typically let people use you? No wonder your brother got you kicked
out of the god realm.” Inwardly, she winced at the insult. “Bet it
was easy since you seem to lack any self-preservation.”
His head cocked to the
side and he examined her as if she were an interesting science
experiment. “What’s gotten into you?”
“You’re too nice.”
“You think I should
punish you?” Three ominous steps and he stood inches in front of
her, staring down with a dark expression.
She gulped. Courage
abandoned her like rats on a sinking ship.
Suddenly, he grabbed
her shoulders, spun her around and slapped her ass. She yelped in
surprise. He turned her back around and smirked. “There. Consider
yourself punished.” A kiss on her cheek then he strolled away.
That was it? She’d
purposefully challenged his masculinity and all he did was give her
a little tap on the butt?
“Now, are you done with
your little test?” he asked.
She snapped her head
up, surprised. “What?”
“Samantha.” He sighed
wearily. “I’m not like your father. I’m not perfect but I’ll never
hurt you in a fit of rage. I have more self-control than that. And
I care too much about you to risk hurting you that way.”
He cared too much? Just
how much? Her heart clenched and butterflies took off in her belly.
Because she was pretty sure she cared about him an awful lot. She
swallowed hard.
“Did I pass your
test?”
Suddenly ashamed, she
nodded. Stupid. She should’ve known better. “I’m sorry. I didn’t
mean what I –”
“I know. I get it. But,
dove, if my brothers couldn’t taunt me to anger, you couldn’t
either.” He walked to her and brushed his fingers across her cheek.
“My sweet, beautiful, fiery Samantha.”
She couldn’t move or
speak – caught in his gaze like a fly in a web.
“Do you believe me
now?”
“Yes.”
“Good.” He stepped back
and looked her over. “Now take off your clothes.”
She blinked.
He stripped off his
shirt then began unloading his weapons and placing them on the
table. When he saw she hadn’t moved, he said, “Come on. Take them
off.”
Struck momentarily
speechless by his toned upper body and smooth olive skin, she was
slower than usual in her retort. She caught Geo’s smirk and gave
her head a shake. “Arrogant man. Who said you were getting lucky
tonight?”
His smile widened. “I
did.”
“You can’t just declare
things like that.”
With brows raised at
the challenge, he took a step toward her. “Take off the clothes or
I’ll do it for you.”
Mmm
…as if she could resist that
body and his manly demands. But still, she liked this little game.
What would he do if she refused? He looked ready to tear through
her leathers and ravish her body. She shivered.
“Off, Samantha.”
His stern tone made her
want to melt into the floor. But she stood her ground.
He stalked closer. She
couldn’t hold back a coy smile. If her lying hadn’t provoked him to
hurt her, neither would a little rebellion. And she felt like
having some fun.
When he came close
enough, she shoved the heel of her hand into his chest, gave a push
then ducked under his arm as he tried to grasp her. She made it
three steps before he snared her around the waist and plopped her
onto the bed.
Geo followed her down,
straddled her hips and pinned her arms above her head. Laughter
bubbled up as she squirmed and tried to throw him off.
He chuckled and held
her tighter. With a mock stern face he said, “Lie still or I’ll
have to punish you again.”
She giggled. “Oh, no.
Please not that!”
With an arched brow, he
leaned in and bit down on her ear lobe.
“Ow!” Warmth slid
through her body, finding all her sexual places. She gave him a
saucy smile. “Thought you were going to strip me.”
“I am. When I’m sure
you’re not going to sucker punch me again.”
“Takes a sucker to get
punched like one.”
He laughed out loud.
“You’re asking for it.”
Slowly, he lowered
himself while he kept her wrists pushed flat on the bed. She
wriggled but couldn’t move from beneath him. The anticipation as he
opened his mouth sent blood pulsing between her legs. With his
chin, he made her turn her head then burrowed in close. His breath
warmed her skin.
“Geo!” She gasped. His
lips skimmed her neck before he bit down. She squeaked then he did
it again on her jaw.
A soft moan escaped
her.
Geo pushed up but kept
her wrists trapped. “I’m one second away from ripping off your
clothes. Only problem is you’ll have to wear my t-shirt for our
next fight.
Only
my t-shirt.”
She froze. “Okay.”
Panting, she relaxed into the mattress. “Okay. I’ll be good.”
With a satisfied grin
he let her go. Leaving her panting in the middle of the bed, he sat
up and leaned against the headboard. “Now, strip for me.”
Her eyes flared and he
wondered if she’d refuse. Though he liked this sassy side of her,
her surrender was equally alluring. And he was getting hard just
thinking about her baring that sexy body for him.
A flirty smile played
at her lips as she rose to her knees and faced him. She fingered
the zipper on her vest for a moment before pulling it down, slowly,
baring the pale and delicious curves of her cleavage.
“All the way off,” he
rasped.
She let the vest fall
open then slide down her shoulders. Her dark pink nipples – erect
and ready to be sucked – drew his eye. He could almost taste them
on his tongue. Gods, if this was the last naked body he ever saw,
he’d die a happy man.
He choked out, “Now the
pants.”
The little minx grinned
then placed her hands on each breast – but not hiding them, playing
with them. She pinched one nipple then the other, all the while
keeping her gaze locked on him. Oh, now he’d have to punish her
disobedience. And how fun that would be.
“Tease.” He reached for
her, wondering if it’d lead to another wrestling match. But when he
grabbed her shoulders, she went down willingly.
He placed her face-up
on the bed and hovered over her, cruising his gaze over her body.
Where to
begin?
The nibble on her bottom lip cinched the decision. He
took over her mouth in a fierce kiss. When he gave her lip a little
suck, she groaned.
The way she lifted her
hips and ground against his erection…he lost all control. With a
growl he stripped off her pants. A miracle they didn’t tear. Then,
before she could do more than gasp, he latched onto a nipple. He
licked and sucked each one while she squirmed and moaned against
him. Each time she put her hands up to push him, he batted her away
and bit her nipple.
Her fingernails sank
into his biceps and he smiled. Now he had her attention.
“Please,” she cried.
He’d turned her nipples bright red and hard. “Enough!”
He let go of the one
he’d been tormenting and looked at her. “You shouldn’t tease a
demon. We have different rules about payback.”
She arched a brow.
“Thought you weren’t a demon?”
He kissed each peak.
“In bed, I am.” Before she could make another smart-ass remark, he
nibbled his way down her side, holding her down when she
squirmed.
At the apex of her
thighs, he looked up and grinned. “Lie still, love, so I can make
you scream.”
Samantha was already on
fire. Her nipples ached from his delightful torture. Her skin felt
so sensitive, as if every nerve had awakened. Then he parted her
lower lips and licked – long and firm.
With a shout, she
arched into his mouth. Giving her a patient look, he pushed her
hips back down and continued. Licking, sucking, nipping – he
treated her poor little clit the same way as her nipples.
Pleasure built,
intensifying, until she couldn’t call it pleasure anymore. The way
he gripped her thighs to keep her in place, she couldn’t squirm
away. He sucked hard on her pleasure spot and every muscle tensed,
on the verge of…something. It was too much.
She wriggled and tried
to roll to the side. His arms wrapped around her thighs like
vices.
No.
He had to
stop. Another rasping lick went all the way up the length of her
slit, ending at her throbbing bud.
Overwhelmed, she
screamed, “Please stop!”
He looked up from
between her thighs and raised his brows. “Done teasing demons?”
Bastard.
Panting, she nodded.
He rose to his knees,
his cock giving a full salute. Just picturing
that
penetrating her made her
tighten with anticipation. But first…
“Let me return the
favor.” She licked her lips.
He ruined her plan for
revenge by shaking his head. “No, baby. Not this time. I need to be
inside you.”
With a quick flip, she
was on her belly, her hips in the air. Rough palms stroked down her
spine then over her ass. A contented sigh left her as she eased her
head onto the mattress.
Slowly, he entered her.
His hand, holding her in place on the small of her back, felt like
a white hot brand of possession. He pulled out, then, with endless
patience, eased back in again. She grunted in frustration then
pushed back toward him.
With a chuckle, he
obliged her silent demand and picked up the pace. Pistoning in and
out, the bed shook, and her breasts swung with each movement. He
reached a hand under her body to squeeze and roll her nipples.
Pleasure coiled inside her, waiting to burst free.
“Harder!”
So close.
He pounded into her,
hitting that spot deep inside – the one that made her want to fly
out of her skin.
She arched, raising her
butt higher to give him deeper access. “Yes!”
His cock speared into
her, jarring that place again, pushing her higher and higher. Then
she did scream – loudly as she came and came. Her whole body
shuddered as she clenched around him and rode out the longest
orgasm she’d ever had.