Viking Warrior Rebel (8 page)

His gaze smoldered and zoomed in her lips. They parted of their own accord, and her breath hitched. His hand on her back pulled her closer, while the other cupped the back of her neck. “Fuck it,” he whispered and descended on her lips.

The kiss seared her senses, firing through every nerve of her body. Heat pooled at the junction of her thighs. She moaned and he slanted his head, deepening the kiss. His tongue explored her mouth, sending darts of pleasure zinging through her body.

She laced her hands behind his neck and pressed into his warm, solid body. His hard shaft rubbed against her stomach, and he growled into her mouth. Holden backed her up against one of the aspens. He grabbed the back of her knee and hooked her leg over his hip, angling down so all that male hardness pressed in just the right spot. Liquid heat shot from her core through her limbs. She groaned her approval and buried her hands in his hair. A powerful need built inside her, and she wanted to get closer to his solid body.

More. Mine
, whispered the berserker, feeding on the sexual energy radiating off Holden. Horrified, Astrid froze in place, panting heavily.
What the fuck.
Her berserker could not be claiming Holden.

He immediately stopped, leaning back to gaze into her eyes. “You okay?” he asked, a frown marring his face.

She looked away and slid her leg out of his grip until she stood on solid ground with two feet again. “This is not right,” she managed to whisper.

He leaned his forehead against hers, and she closed her eyes to savor the sensation, while desperately forcing the berserker back into slumber. “This is the most right I've felt in a long time,” Holden countered. “We need to stop kidding ourselves about how badly we both want this.”

She did want him, but she wanted to complete this mission more and to break this weird connection her berserker seemed to think it had with him. “I can't risk losing focus. I have to get Scott back to his sister.”

He pushed her hair behind her ear and turned the motion into a caress of her jaw. “We're going to make that happen.”

He stood too close, the heat from his body distracting her. She stepped out of his embrace. The temptation to become lovers was too strong. She needed to think this through. “Then let's concentrate on coming up with a plan.” She took another step back.

Holden reached for her but then dropped his arms. “Alright.” His jaw clenched. “My suggestion is that we rest until darkness falls. Then we return here and hit them hard.”

“Okay.” Astrid watched him warily, but he didn't look at her. Instead, he picked up the backpack and headed down the ridge the way they'd come up. She paused for a moment and then followed, catching up with him halfway down. He shot her a quick sideways look and then grabbed her hand in his. Her first instinct was to pull it back, but then she relented. Maybe getting this sexual sizzle out of their system would make it easier to concentrate on the mission. Freya's wagon, it's not like it could get any harder. Her mind scrambled whenever she was near Holden.

She lengthened her stride to match his. They walked hand in hand the rest of the way to the car and got in without any further talk. Holden drove them back out to the main highway and headed for Golden. Halfway there, a sign advertised a motel, and Holden steered the car into the parking lot. He turned sideways and looked at her. “This okay?”

Astrid peered through the windshield at the building in front of them. Someone had gone to a lot of trouble to make wood carvings look like gingerbread. The facade of the building seemed to be straight out of Hansel and Gretel, complete with colored lights standing in for candy decorations. “It definitely looks festive,” she said.

Holden opened the door and got out. “Let's see what crazy stuff they did to the interior.” He grabbed her hand again when she got out of the car, and they walked up to a set of double doors with an entrance sign above. Holden held the door open and motioned for her to precede him. A gentleman-like gesture, but it also meant she'd encounter any potential danger first. She clutched her hand around the knife in her pocket but needn't have bothered.

The woman on the other side of the reception desk greeted her with a cheerful smile. Her tight gray curls and big, red plastic glasses made her look like Red Riding Hood's grandmother. Hopefully, the wolf was not around today. “Hello,” she called. “What can I do for you?”

Holden stepped up from behind Astrid. “Do you have rooms available?” He smiled, oozing charm and goodwill.

The woman immediately responded to his flirty ways. “Why, yes, you are in luck. I just had a cancellation.” She consulted a ledger on the desk. “A king.”

Astrid cleared her throat. “Is that your only room?” Sharing a room would be temptation enough. Sharing a bed would mean the inevitable, and she wasn't sure she'd yet made up her mind about taking Holden as a lover—again.

The grandmother frowned. “We have only the one. And it may be your only chance of a room tonight. We're hosting a big family reunion, so I am all full up.”

Luke threw a credit card on the counter. “We'll take it.” He turned to Astrid. “I don't want to drive all the way back to Denver. The added distance will put us more than an hour out from where we need to go tonight.”

Astrid decided to interpret the only one room available situation as a sign from the gods. Now she just had to make up her mind about whether the gods had made a good or bad choice for her.

Luke looked around the gingerbread hotel room and shuddered. The wood carvings and lights on the outside of the hotel had been cute, but the room decoration was taking the theme too far. Painted gingerbread men and women danced from floor to ceiling on off-white walls. The bedspread was made to look like a huge birthday cake. Basically, the decor looked like a five-year-old had been the interior designer. Astrid seemed unaffected. She sat down in one of the armchairs by the window and removed her boots. Stretching her long legs out before her, she wiggled her toes and sighed contentedly.

As usual, he only had to look at her to grow hard. Although, his dick had been erect since the kiss on top of the ridge. For the first time, he'd been distracted on a mission. His Marine team had called him Hyper because of his ability to become hyper-focused. That intensity had carried over into his work in the DTU. Sometimes he didn't sleep because his brain just wouldn't stop processing case details. But a few hours with Astrid on a mountain ridge had made him completely forget why he was on top of that hill in the first place. The kiss had seared his brain, and all he could think about was getting her naked and then getting inside her. He forgot all about the wolverines, their hostage, or his own mission.

He'd forgotten about Donovan. Unforgivable.

He bent down to unlace his own boots and to hide how angry he was with himself.

At least Astrid had managed to keep her head in the game and stop him from making a complete fool of himself. What had he been thinking?

He hadn't. He'd been listening to his dick, and that damn fool had almost talked him into getting naked with Astrid. Outside. With enemies just below them.

She'd been unusually quiet on the ride over to the hotel. Did she regret the kiss? Even while he was back focusing on the mission, he still wanted her. Even though the bed was draped in that monstrosity of a blanket, his mind kept picturing her naked between the sheets. “The pizza should be here soon,” he heard himself say. Lame, but at least he'd broken the silence. There was no food service in the area other than a pizza carryout place. There was also no cell phone service, so the nice lady at reception had called in the order for them.

Astrid nodded. “Yep.”

Well, so much for trying to break the awkward silence and distract himself from the sexual tension practically crackling between them. He tried again. “Are you hungry?”

This time she looked up at him, her eyes dark and stormy. “Starving.” She might not have meant the double entendre, but her words went straight to his dick. He inhaled sharply as his crotch tightened.

Astrid must have picked up on his attraction. Her pupils dilated, and she leaned forward as if pulled by an invisible force. He felt his own body move toward her chair and reminded himself of why he was on this case. It was about Donovan, about his brother.

But they were stuck in this candy room for a few hours until they could get the hostage out under cover of darkness. And he needed Astrid. Needed her like he needed his next breath.

Luke kneeled by the chair and buried a hand in her luscious blond waves. She looked at him, her eyes deep pools of green. She stilled for a heartbeat but then moved in for a kiss, a sigh escaping as her body turned soft in his arms. He angled his head for better access and deepened the kiss, pulling her closer to him. It wasn't enough. He needed to feel her whole body.

He stood and pulled her up with him out of the chair. Her breasts pressed against his chest, and he could feel her nipples grow hard through the cotton fabric of her shirt. A growl escaped from his throat. Trailing kisses down her jawline, he caressed her hip through her jeans and steered her backward toward the bed. All he wanted was to throw her down and pound into her, but he reeled himself in just enough to be able to carefully lower her onto the hideous bedcover.

Taking a deep breath, he sat back and looked down on Astrid lying below him. Her lips were red and swollen from his kiss, which stirred up deep alpha male pleasure inside him. Her glorious green eyes were slightly glazed over, and her blond hair fanned out around her head. She looked like a Norse goddess of seduction, if there was one. His dick ached with the need to be inside her, but he had to slow this down or he'd blow his load before he got out of his jeans.

A knock on the door and a muffled “pizza delivery” had Luke cursing out loud. He'd forgotten all about their food and was tempted to tell the guy to just fuck off.

Astrid giggled. He shot her a stern look meant to intimidate her, but she only smiled back. “Don't you dare move,” he growled and went to get the door.

The pizza delivery guy's welcoming smile at the two twenties Luke shoved his way turned into shock when Luke grabbed the box out of his hands just before slamming the door in his face. Luke tossed the pizza on the dresser and returned to the bed.

Pulling his T-shirt over his head, he lowered himself over Astrid, seeking her lips with his own. She moaned softly as he caressed the side of her face and increased the pressure of the kiss, exploring her mouth thoroughly. Her tongue darted out, dancing with his, and this time she deepened the kiss, turning it into a frantic mating thrust.

He couldn't get enough of her. Needed to feel her hot skin against his own. Using both hands, he grabbed her hips and then slid his palms up under her shirt, caressing her breasts. She inhaled sharply, and he growled his approval when she arched against his palms. In one quick swoop, he pulled her shirt off over her head. He leaned back briefly to take in the lovely view of her bare skin before planting his hands on both sides of her. He braced himself against the bed as he traced the edge of her lacy bra with his mouth. She was perfection.

He nuzzled the thin fabric away from her breast and lightly bit her nipple before taking the whole juicy confection into his mouth. Astrid arched beneath him, a growl escaping from her throat. She reached for the button on his jeans, and as her fingertips brushed the swollen head of his dick, his abs clenched and his balls ached from the effort of not coming right then and there. She quickly unbuttoned him and pulled down the zipper.

When she reached in and grabbed him, he covered her hand with his own. “Sweetheart, if you don't slow down, I'm not going to last long,” he mumbled against her chest.

She grabbed his hair and kissed him, nipping his lips and then tracing his jaw with her tongue. “Then you better find some protection. I need you hard and throbbing inside me right now,” she whispered, her voice dark and raw. It was the hottest thing he'd ever heard.

Luke pulled his hair out of her grip, and she growled deep in her throat as he left the bed to find the condom he'd put in his wallet as soon as he knew he'd be chasing Astrid to Denver. His brain had insisted he shouldn't bring it, since sleeping with her would make it difficult to stay objective. His dick had celebrated and told him to put the rest of the pack in his carry-on.

Pulling the foil package out of the wallet, he headed back to the bed, chucking his jeans and socks on the way. Astrid half sat up and reached for him, but he gently pushed her back down. Leaning over her, he kissed her again as he reached behind her to unsnap her bra. He congratulated himself on getting it done in one try. Not a small feat considering how badly his hands trembled with the effort of not grabbing her and pushing himself inside her in one deep stroke.

He slid the shoulder straps down her arms and let his gaze caress her skin. She moved restlessly and reached for him again, but he evaded her hands. “I want to look at you. You are so beautiful.”

She snorted. “You don't have to use pretty words on me. Besides, you've already seen what's on offer.” The time before, in his apartment, had been a frantic tangle of arms and legs, her lips hot on his. They hadn't taken the time to remove their clothes completely, never mind turning on the lights before he'd pushed inside her. Just like now, she'd driven him mad with need, but this time he wanted to see her. To taste her.

“We were in the dark.” He lifted his head to lock gazes with her. “And I only use pretty words when I mean them.” The reluctant smile on her lips touched something deep inside him. He pushed the feeling aside and concentrated on the feast in front of him.

Cupping her breasts, he licked and nipped, biting a little harder when his teeth grazing her nipple had her arching high off the bed. Her hands caressed the back of his head and then buried themselves in his hair as he trailed his mouth lower.

He found a spot just above her hip that had her moaning out loud, so he spent extra time tasting her golden skin before moving over to see if the other side was as sensitive. Judging from how her fingers grasped his scalp, it was. Her sounds of pleasure drove him further toward the brink. He needed to taste her.

He pulled her jeans and panties down, and then starting from her knee, he kissed his way up toward the sweet spot at the junction of her thighs. As his fingers mimicked his lips' movements on the opposite leg, he took extra care with the area around her stitches. The wound was almost healed. She'd removed the sutures already. Something in the back of his mind nagged him about that, but he was distracted by Astrid's sweet moans as his breath fanned her core. All he could think of was tasting her. To suck and nip her in the most intimate spot, to really make her his this time.

Easing a finger inside her, Luke slipped his tongue between her folds. Astrid's response was a guttural groan that made him want to beat his chest and congratulate himself on his prowess. He slid another finger inside her and curled both fingers forward as his tongue searched out her clit. Thrusting the tip of his tongue on the sensitive nub repeatedly, he matched the rhythm with his fingers, curling and uncurling.

Astrid's hands pounded against the ridiculous cake bedcover, her thighs clenching. She pulled her legs up, bracing her heels on the bed as she arched against him, pushing her core closer to his mouth. “More,” she demanded in that deep, sexy voice.

He obliged by sucking hard on her clit, and she clenched around his fingers before shattering beneath his mouth, crying out as the orgasm claimed her.

When her body stopped convulsing, he had to cover his mouth to hide the triumphant grin on his face. He wasn't successful. “You're pretty pleased with yourself, aren't you?” she asked, arching an eyebrow.

“Shouldn't I be?” He lay down beside her. “I didn't hear any complaints.” He angled his hips away from her so he wouldn't bump his throbbing dick. It ached with the need to be inside her, but he could wait a millisecond longer.

Astrid had other ideas. She grabbed his shoulder and pushed him on his back. “No complaints here, but let's see what you can do with other parts of your anatomy.” She reached for the foil package he'd dumped on the bed. In no time, she'd ripped it open and covered him with one long sweep of her hand. The cold latex and the pressure of her hand made him gasp with pleasure. “Hold on,” Astrid whispered, straddling him.

She slowly lowered herself onto his cock. Her hair created a curtain around their faces, the tips of her strands brushing against his collarbone. The hotness of her clenching around him—in contrast with the whisper caress of her hair on his skin—was the most erotic thing he'd experienced. He grabbed her hips and arched against her as he pulled her down.

Astrid moaned when he was fully sheathed and then sat back, taking him even deeper. She cupped her breasts, tweaking her nipples as she looked down at him. Her eyes glittered, unfocused. He had to grit his teeth to not immediately come inside her. He wanted her to come again.

Luke lifted her hips and bent his knees so he could ram deep inside her. He repeated the motion, each time going faster. He angled his thumbs inward and massaged her pubic bone. Astrid sucked in a deep breath and then moaned loudly. He felt her sheath tremble around him, and he pushed into her and then held still, his thumbs pressing down hard just above her core. She screamed, her orgasm milking him.

His balls clenched and he shouted her name as he came with her, blowing his load so hard he forgot to breathe. Stars flittered in front of his eyes, and he thought he might pass out.

Luke crashed back into his body and tried to remember how to force his lungs to take in air. He was dimly aware of Astrid slipping off him. She lay down beside him, curling into his chest. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “Any complaints?” she asked.

He turned toward her and found an impish grin stretched across her lips. Her eyes glittered with mirth. “None,” he said. “Except for maybe having to eat the pizza cold.”

She laughed, a light sound that slipped inside his chest and warmed places that had no business being warmed. No matter how irresistible she was, Astrid was still a job. This would make the case difficult to handle objectively, but he would somehow manage. He owed it to Donovan to take down the genetic lab and the men behind it who had fucked up both his own and his brother's childhoods.

She didn't seem to notice the dark turn his thoughts had taken, because she laughed again. “Let's hope it's at least lukewarm.” She got off the bed. “I hate it when the cheese loses it gooeyness.” She went into the bathroom.

He'd just disposed of the condom when she came back out, a towel wrapped around her body. “Don't cover up on my account,” he said, already missing the view of her curves and warm skin.

Astrid blushed a pretty pink. “I'm not shy, but even I draw the line at eating naked.” She grabbed the pizza box and returned to bed.

“We'll have to explore food and nakedness some other time then,” Luke joked as he got out of bed and headed to the bathroom. The silence behind him made him turn around. Astrid looked at him, a slice of pizza halfway to her mouth. Her eyes looked troubled. “What?” he asked.

“I like going to bed with you, but I'm not in a place where I can promise any kind of relationship.” She took a bite of the pizza and chewed while watching him carefully, as if gauging his reaction.