Page 43 of Synnr's Ride

"How was I supposed to react? You're Apsyn! You were a spy. Not to mention we were in the middle of Kark's bar and apparently you'd just been caught in his office. I'm not good at this. I'm not good at hiding my emotions."

"I'm not hiding anything." Anger surged through her. She pulled her wings in before she did something foolish, like shoot her spark to make a point.

Jori stepped in close, and if she wanted to back away, she'd need to knock over a chair to do it. "All you do is hide."

How could he think that? She'd been more open with him than she'd been with anyone in years. If there was anyone on this entire moon who knew the real Hanna Karsyn, it was Jori.

He wanted real? Hanna would give him real.

She surged up and captured his lips with her own.

The kiss exploded between them, even stronger than the flare of their Match, or maybe stronger because of it. Heat flooded through Hanna, desperation and need all coiled around the core of her, aching and desperate for more.

Jori's skin was hot under her fingers, and she didn't let herself care about his bruises.

He was getting the real thing from her tonight. No holding back.

Jori hitched her up until she was on the table, the distant noise of the med kit clattering to the floor easy to ignore.

Nothing existed right now but Jori and the intensity of the kiss. It was hypnotic, and the utter surety that she was alive roared through every part of her.

His lips were everywhere, exploring her neck and jaw, while his hands held her waist tightly. The raw thing between them was bigger than desire. His kiss was a claim to the part of her that she kept hidden.

She'd started this, but Jori seized control like it was his to take. And Hanna surrendered it gladly, moaning at the feel of his lips against her skin.

He teased her collarbone, partially obstructed by her shirt, and Hanna wished the thing would burn away to cinders so Jori could take his fill.

Then the beast bit her shirt, getting his sharp canine into the fabric and weakening it until he could tear it in half with his bare hands.

Barbarian.

Hanna loved it.

She was bare to him under the shirt and Jori cupped one of her breasts, thumbing her nipple until she squirmed against him, the bud tightening to a hard point that had her begging for more.

And that more was his sinful mouth. Hanna gasped something out, but if it counted as a word, she couldn't be sure.

Her pants were too tight, the material rough against her sensitive skin. She wanted out of it, wanted to be naked and under Jori while he used his tongue to show her exactly how he felt.

They didn't need words. Not when they had action.

Not when they hadthis.

While Jori worshipped her breasts with his tongue, his fingers tortured her midsection, sliding against skin she'd never before considered delicate and making her gasp at the vulnerability he brought out in her.

She spread her legs wider, begging for more contact, but he kept his attention firmly above her waist, the monster.

She dug her fingers into his sweat dampened hair and could feel his lips curve into a smile around her nipple. But even holding onto him, there was no illusion of control. Jori was setting this pace, and it was Hanna's job to endure it.

She'd gladly endure it every day for the rest of her life.

He pulled away for just a second, long enough to cup her chin and then capture her lips again. Hanna wrapped a leg around his waist and tugged him closer. She could feel the hard length of his cock through his thick pants and wanted more, wanted him naked and pressing into her.

But that would mean breaking the kiss, and she reveled too much in it to let go. Not now. Not when she needed more of him.

He kissed with the skill of a professional, but this time there was an openness to it that Hanna was desperate to keep. She hadn't realized he'd been holding back before, but now all the brakes were off and they were riding wild into something new and dangerous.

Something intoxicating.

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