Page 50 of Duty Bound

“He doesn’t need to know.”

“Fuck.” He reached behind her head and pulled her toward him, crushing her lips against his. She gasped, the sound swallowed by his mouth opening under hers. His sudden agreement had her heart slamming against her ribs. Gone were the excuses. He was all fiery passion, rock hard body, and scorching tongue.

She surrendered to his embrace, the animal inside him devouring her. She’d expected a gentle kiss, like Joe’s, but should have known better. Blade was nothing like Joe. He was all physical passion and wild sexuality. Hadn’t that first kiss in the cabin when she’d been half asleep proved it?

Freakin’ hell.

He slid his hands under her bottom then hauled her onto his lap. The space between them vanished. Senses in overdrive, Lily recognized she was a hot, wet, writhing mess. Any hotter and she’d spontaneously combust.

She’d wanted to forget this frightening place with its violent people and ever-increasing peril. Hoped for a soft, pleasant distraction in Blade’s arms. She’d expected he’d be a welcome diversion. But she hadn’t expected this. She was on fire, the heat he stoked inside her threatening to consume her.

He growled and crushed her against him. There was nowhere to go, not that she wanted to leave. She wanted to stay. Wanted this kiss. Wanted him.

Time distorted as she succumbed to her desires. Heart racing, she tangled her fingers in his hair, pulling him somehow even closer, as if trying to meld into one being.

Blade's kiss deepened, an intoxicating mix of urgency and yearning that threatened to overwhelm her completely. She was lost in the storm of him, a tempest of emotion and raw need she'd never experienced before.

It drove out the ugliness of the goat herder incident. Banished her fear of the men chasing them. Lily forgot when it was and where she was in favor of focusing on who she was with. She was done fighting her attraction to this man. He’d affected her from the day they’d met, and right now she wanted to embrace that.

If this experience had taught her anything, it was that life was too short to hold back. Anything could happen. They might not make it to the main road. They might die tonight crossing the river. There were a hundred ways her life could end in this country. She didn’t want to go with any regrets. And she’d regret not knowing how this would feel. She’d regret not knowing him.

Trembling, she clung to his thick, powerful shoulders. Thrilled as they rippled underneath her fingers as he moved. He hoisted her higher, and there was no denying how rigid he was beneath her. He wanted her too, as much as she wanted him. The realization spurred her on. She closed her eyes and gave in to the surge of emotions coursing through her.

It was too much, this blood-boiling chaos. Shaking, out of control, tears trailed down her cheeks, and a sob caught in her throat.

Blade stiffened and broke away, his eyes immediately filling with regret. “God, Lily. I’m sorry.”

“No.” She shook her head.

He shifted, putting some space between them. She slid off his lap, her lips still throbbing with the taste of him.

“Please, don’t apologize. It was just…” She couldn't find the words. Never in her life had she experienced that level of desire. Her heart raced, her skin tingled. Every atom in her body vibrated at a frequency she couldn’t control.

How could she tell him she wanted this. Wanted him.

It was all just so overwhelming.

He glanced away, his jaw clenched, wrestling with his own turmoil. “I didn’t mean to be so rough. I’d never intentionally scare you.” Guilt knotted his brow.

Lily reached out, her hand trembling as she touched his cheek, guiding his gaze back to hers. “You didn’t scare me. I was overwhelmed, but not by fear. By the intensity of... of everything. Of us.” She held his gaze, begging him to understand.

For a moment, they were suspended in time, the world around them receding into the background. The potential dangers of their situation, the risk of death that loomed like a specter over their every move, seemed momentarily insignificant against the raw honesty of their connection.

Blade's expression softened, the harsh lines of tension easing as understanding dawned. He reached for her, his movements hesitant.

She threw her arms around his neck and held him tight.

“Lily,” he murmured against her hair. He held her for a long moment before slowly releasing her. “I’m sorry, I?—”

She waited for him to say something, but no more words came. Pulling back, she saw the anguish in his expression. It was like a bucket of ice-cold water splashing her in the face.

There was no us. Not now, not ever.

Blade wouldn’t do that to Joe.

Her heart plunged down the hillside and smashed on the rocks below. “I know.”

CHAPTER 19

---