Touch If You Dare (28 page)

He kissed her again, almost violently, and she realized that it was no longer her choice. She’d offered herself up to the monster, and he’d accepted the gift.

His hands moved to her waist with astonishing speed, anchoring her on his pelvis. He plundered her mouth as he settled her deeper onto his lap, his fierce groan of pleasure licking at the heat already pulsing through her belly. His erection hardened beneath her, and excitement tingled between her thighs, curling into her belly. One move, and he would be inside her, plunging deep, taking her, making her his.

Oh, dear God. Was she really going to do this? Wasn’t there something inherently flawed with the premise of making love when one of the partners was insane and under the influence of hate? Did he even know it was her?

She pulled back. She couldn’t do it.

“Reina.” He caught her face between his hands and she saw the smallest fleck of blue in his eyes. He was coming back. Because of her?
Because of her.

“Don’t leave me,” he said, his voice raw, throaty, barely recognizable. “I need you.”

The entreaty in his eyes nearly broke her heart. A man like him asking for help? “I’m here.”

His eyes flashed with a lethal darkness that made her skin grow cold, and then he grabbed her behind the neck and pulled her down. His kiss was instant fire, racing through her body. His lips were hot, his skin was burning, his muscles rigid. The internal battle was waging, but he was hanging on, fighting for survival.

She abandoned all hesitation and kissed him back. His response was instant, powerful, and intense. His fingers dug into her skin, leaving marks. His mouth closed over her nipple, a hot, wet assault of brutal, soul searing need. His desperation for her was ripping at her in every kiss, in every touch of his hands. She felt the hell slagging at his mind, sensed the demons he was trying to outrun. He was seeking refuge in her touch, in her kisses.

This is what she’d wanted. This is what she’d craved. She was meant for him, for this, to be his salvation, to make a difference in his world. To use her love to temper the blackness within him.
I’m here for you, Jarvis.

She wrapped her legs around him as he attacked her breasts, and he groaned, a deep-throated sound of satisfaction as his hips began to pump, his erection slamming against her, building, preparing for the ultimate invasion.

His body was so hot, his muscles rock hard, sliding beneath his skin as he drove against her, as his mouth consumed her, kissing her again, so deeply, so fiercely she could hear the crash of their teeth, feel his tongue so deep she felt like he was a part of her, taking over, owning her.

His possessiveness was evident in every thrust of his body, in each demanding kiss, and it stoked fires in her that had no business responding to domination by a male who would soon explode, ripping her heart from her soul.

But she was so empty inside, a gaping well of fear and loneliness, and his fire was filling the chasm with warmth, with belonging, with something that made tears slide from the corners of her eyes as she clutched at his shoulders. He gave her light and hope, filled her well with renewed energy. She scrunched her eyes shut.
God, no, Reina. Don’t get sucked in emotionally—

But it was too much, too intense, and she felt herself falling, succumbing to the hot desire pulsing through her, to his intense yearning and need for her.

She didn’t want to resist. She wanted to fall under his spell. The strength in his body, the fierceness of his soul… it was intoxicating.

He grabbed her hips again and lifted her up.

She stared down in the turbulent depths of his eyes as he positioned her. His gaze was riveted to her face, as if she were an anchor he was holding desperately onto. She met his gaze, losing herself in the man fighting to surface.

She felt him pressing at her entrance, and a feeling of absolute rightness pulsed through her. This wasn’t a raw slap-and-tickle to save the world. This was Jarvis, and they were connected in ways neither of them even understood. This was right, this was their moment, no matter how it had come about, or what happened afterward.

“Yes,” she whispered.

He thrust. Nothing gentle, nothing seductive, just one powerful move and he was deep inside her.
Oh, dear God.
It felt so right.

Jarvis went utterly still, and a feral growl ripped out of his throat.

She knew what he meant. She kind of wanted to growl herself—

Then he started moving, and she forgot about anything but their connection, the feel of his body sliding into hers as if this was what they’d come to this earth to do. She moved her hips, and then he was sinking deeper. Faster.

She gripped his shoulders, bowing her head as she fought against the wave trying to take her. Trying to hang on for as long as he needed.

“Reina. I need to see you.” His voice was still raw, desperate.

She lifted her head and met his gaze. His face softened. “You’re okay. I’m not tainting you.”

She nodded at the fear in his eyes. “You can’t poison me. It’s okay.”

“It’s okay,” he repeated, as if trying to convince himself. His gaze was fixated on her as he ground deeper and faster, until she couldn’t think, couldn’t do anything but hang on and succumb to the sensations rolling over her.

Fire began to lick down her limbs, igniting each inch of her until the sensations exploded inside her, overwhelming her soul and her body. She screamed his name and his deep roar mixed with hers, his body convulsing as he drove again and again, as if he was stripping himself of everything in his soul and turning it all over to her for safekeeping.

He groaned and fought it, as if he couldn’t trust himself to let go, to allow it to happen.

“I’ve got you,” she whispered. She wrapped her arms around him and cradled his head to her heart. “Everything’s going to be okay.”

His body went rigid beneath her, his hands dug into her hips, his body did one final shudder, and then he bellowed as the orgasm took him over the edge. She clung to him as they both rode the vibration tearing through them again and again, until it stripped them both of every bit of life they had in their souls. He gave a final lurch and collapsed back onto the floor, dragging her down on top of him, his breathing raw and harsh on her neck.

Too exhausted to fight, she sank into his embrace, into the protective circle of his arms as he tucked her against him and pressed his face to her throat.

The storm was over. Who had won?

When Reina felt the soft brush of Jarvis’s lips over her hair, she had her answer. She knew that hate had been defeated, at least for the moment.

“You give me peace, Reina Fleming,” Jarvis whispered softly. “Peace I never thought I could have.”

And with that one comment, her tension released, and tears filled her eyes. They’d done it.

“Reina?” Sudden worry lined his face. His whiskers were prickly, making him look rugged and untamed, but his long eyelashes framed eyes that held enough blue to keep the black at bay. He traced his thumb over her cheek so tenderly it made more tears form. “How do you feel? Are you okay?”

Reina cupped his wrist, holding his hand to her face, loving the tenderness of his touch. “Oh, no, I’m fine.”

“You’re fine.” He repeated the words with a breath of awe, of disbelief, of wonder. He traced his finger over her cheekbone, as if she were some fragile treasure he was afraid of breaking. “I really don’t affect you, do I?”

She laughed. “Well, I wouldn’t say
that
…”

He smiled and kissed her again, but this time it was tender, soft, none of the brutality and desperation of before. A flirt. “I’ve never been able to do this before.”

“Do what?” She was afraid to move, afraid that the moment of intimacy would disappear. It had been so long since she’d felt treasured, but being in his arms, feeling his kiss… it was a moment she would always hold dear in her memories.

“Indulge.” He feathered kisses over her eyebrows. “Touch.”

She closed her eyes as he trailed his fingers down her spine, lightly drifting over her buttocks. “That feels good.”

He laughed softly. “Yeah, you could say that.” He nuzzled her neck, her throat, her breasts, his kisses so gentle and seductive, like a hot wind blowing over her ultra sensitive skin. “You brought me back, Reina. I have no idea how you did it.” He paused. “You don’t have any idea of your strength, do you?”

His words reverberated deep inside her. They touched upon the person she’d wanted to be, but had never succeeded at being. But she sensed his belief in her, his certainty that she was some indomitable force that could knock down any obstacle. Which was just sort of absurd, you know, given how everything had come out at Symphony Hall. Oh… right… She’d forgotten about all that…

Jarvis tangled a lock of hair around his finger. “What’s that look for, rock star?”

“My sickle broke.” She rubbed her hand over his chest, enjoying the feel of his toned muscles. Touching him felt so good. Like he was hers, to do with whatever she wanted.

Jarvis rubbed his jaw, his brow furrowed as if he were trying to remember. The lines around his mouth were deep, but his expression was calm and focused. Determined. The warrior was back in residence, which was good for everyone involved. “Did I break it?”

“Sort if. You were trying to be the hero, which was very sweet. You were trying to kill Augustus for me.” She sighed. “So, yeah, we’ve still got the same problems as before, only worse. I don’t have a sickle, and your brother is turning out to be a bit of a selfish jerk who won’t help you—”

“Cam!” He swore under his breath, set her to the side, and jumped to his feet. His body was lean and lithe as he strode across the cell and grabbed his jeans. But the raw marks on his wrists from the chains were a brutal reminder of what he’d just been through, and where he was headed. “We’ve got a problem.”

His tone was all business and distant, and she stiffened at his sudden departure. Yes, yes, she understood they were in the middle of war, but at the same time, it hurt to have him so easily dismiss her. Hadn’t he felt that tenderness and that connection? Apparently not. Apparently, it really had been just sex for him, which sucked, because the way her heart was aching at his withdrawal made her fear that it had been a lot more than sex for her. “Which problem are you referring to?” She grabbed her own pants, trying not to feel completely naked and exposed, which was kind of hard when she
was
naked and exposed.

Come on, Reina, pull yourself together.
She needed to grab her bra, get some clothes, focus on the mission. He empowered her, he believed in her, but that
didn’t
mean she had to start really caring about him, right? Of course right.

Except she knew she had. Way too much.

***

Jarvis still couldn’t believe it as he replayed the conversation with his brother in his head. His memories from the time when he’d snapped were returning, a bit foggy, but at least he could recall them. “Cam’s the assassin that I’m helping you find a victim and investors for.”

Reina turned sharply, her lacy thong dangling from her fingers. “I know.”

“And he’s fired up about it.” Jarvis had barely registered the discussion at the time. He should’ve grabbed his brother and bailed right then. But he hadn’t.
Shit.
He’d been so worried about Augustus killing Reina that he’d deviated from his
one
purpose in life: to protect the world from hate by containing himself and protecting his brother. He grabbed his boots and shoved them onto his feet, glaring at Reina. “I could have saved him, but you distracted me.”

“Me?” Her hands went to her hips. “For your information, we all sacrificed to get you out of there. Did I stay to try to take Augustus? No. Did Blaine drain himself to protect you long enough so you could escape? Yes. Did Nigel stay behind to try to save your brother? Yes. To help you.” She stalked across the room and poked him in the chest. “So, do
not
ever use that attitude with me. I do not distract you. I help you, for heaven’s sake!”

He stared at her, warring between admiration for the fact she stood up to him and shock over what she’d just said. “Save Cam’s life? What happened to him?”

“You deflected a pink star into his chest when you were going mad.”

“Jesus.” He didn’t remember that at all. He grabbed his phone to check on his brother, but before he dialed, he saw a text from Nigel.
Crisis averted. But your brother got away. Love is powerful shit, man. I like you better. We’re tracking him now.
“He’s missing, but okay.” He strode toward the door of the cell. “We have to go after him—”

“We won’t find him.” Reina tugged her jeans over those legs that had been wrapped around him only moments before.

He stopped, unable to stop himself from staring. Shit, he didn’t want to walk away. He wanted to grab her, bury himself in her, and never lose that feeling of peace again.