Page 63 of From the Darkness

He nodded against the top of her head.

“Do you know who disabled my car?”

“Graves. I saw him.”

“Why didn’t you stop him?”

“I don’t want him to know what I can do.”

The conversation was going in circles as it had so often with Troy. By this time, she’d learned that if he didn’t want to deal with a subject, they weren’t going to get anywhere with it. She sighed. “Are you going to show me where to find the strongbox.”

“Later.”

There was a decisiveness in the way he said it, a strength she’d only sensed at their earlier encounters.

Bending, he captured her mouth with his in a kiss that tasted of urgency and raw male power—power that swept her along in its sensual spell.

She had come here on urgent business—his business. She had been angry with him for leaving the bed last night before she had gotten what she wanted. Yet now that she was in his arms, once again he worked his sexual magic on her.

In the back of her mind, she sensed that the sensual assault was deliberate, that he wasn’t going to give her time to think. Not now.

She had vowed not to fall under his spell again. But apparently his special powers extended into the erotic realm. Because she couldn’t even remember why she had come here—except to find him. All she wanted at this moment was the rich familiar taste of him, the thrilling feel of his hands on her body.

When he lifted his head, they were both breathing in hard, uneven gasps.

“Last time . . . ,” she managed. “Last time I wanted more from you.”

“And I couldn’t give it to you. Not then.”

A deep, overwhelming disappointment seized her. But in the next moment, he soothed it away.

“This time will be different.”

“Why?”

“Because when you give to me, you give me your power.”

She didn’t exactly understand what he meant. But she wanted to believe that he trusted her in a way he hadn’t trusted her before.

When he took her hand and led her into the bedroom, she went willingly. Moonlight streamed through the window, giving her enough light to see him. Maybe because she was still a little afraid that he’d disappear into thin air, she grasped the front of his shirt and began opening buttons, then slipped her hand inside, flattening her palm against his warm flesh.

She loved the hard muscles she felt. Loved the springy hair under her touch. Loved the way he sucked in his breath when her fingers stroked over his nipples.

Quickly she unbuttoned the shirt the rest of the way, then pushed it off his shoulders and onto the floor. When she reached for the hem of her own knit top, he stopped her hand.

“Let me,” he growled, his voice rough as he dragged the garment over her head. Working quickly and efficiently, he got rid of her bra in almost the same motion.

She felt exposed and vulnerable, standing there naked to the waist. She watched his hands move in slow motion as he reached toward her breasts—then forgot everything else as his palms cupped her.

“You are so beautiful. So feminine,” he murmured as he touched and stroked her, his fingers cresting over her nipples, wringing a cry of pleasure from her.

Then he folded his arms around her back, bringing her against him—not tightly, just so that he could sway her in his embrace, stroking her breasts against the hair of his chest. It was exquisite. Arousing. So good that she found she could hardly stand.

He steadied her with one hand as the other removed her pants and panties.

She wanted him naked, too. She had never seen him naked, she realized. Always before he had kept his body hidden from her. So, she reached out and unhooked the snap at the top of his jeans—then held her breath as she waited for him to object. Instead, he bent to find her mouth with his. And while he kissed her, she lowered his zipper. Reaching inside, she pressed her palm against his erection, gratified by his swift, indrawn breath. Quickly, then, she got rid of his jeans and briefs—then stepped back to look at him.

He was magnificent. Fully aroused and very male. But he cut short her visual tour as he folded her back into his arms, sighing deeply as the naked length of her body settled against his.

---