Page 54 of Stand Fast

Jaliya sucked in a shuddering breath and fought to stop the burn of tears, pulling his scent into her nose. Sweat and soap and…Zaid. She’d remember his scent for the rest of her life.

Need sparked low in her gut. There was no stopping it, and this time, she didn’t feel like fighting it.

She’d been angry at first when he’d followed her here and barged in. Now she was glad. She needed a distraction from the turmoil inside her, and he was certainly…a huge distraction.

It was more than that though, even if she wanted to convince herself otherwise. She’d never wanted anyone the way she wanted him, and the attraction was growing stronger no matter how much she tried to convince herself to squelch it.

They had such a short amount of time left together—he could be sent elsewhere at a moment’s notice. And every time he and his teammates went outside the wire, there was a chance that they wouldn’t come back at all.

Jaliya shuddered and pulled in another deep breath, savoring the feel of him. She was tired of fighting the pull between them. Sick to death of repressing her needs and desires because of a deep-seated sense of guilt and some stupid vow she’d made to herself years ago to stay celibate until she at least got engaged.

The only man she wanted was right here in front of her, and she was done pretending she could live without satisfying the raging need he ignited in her blood.

Gathering her courage, she eased her grip on his shirt, flattening her hands against his broad back, and raised her head to look into his face. His gold-flecked eyes searched hers, one hand smoothing gently over her hair. The concern and tenderness on his face undid her.

Pushing up on tiptoe, she angled her head and fused her mouth to his.

Zaid made a low, hungry sound in the back of his throat and fisted his hand in her hair, forcing her head back more as he took over. Desire exploded, blasting throughout her body in a dizzying wave.

All that mattered was this. Them. Finally being able to give reign to the hunger she’d been suppressing, finally getting to taste and touch the man she’d been fantasizing about for so many weeks.

They were plastered together from chest to groin, but it wasn’t good enough. She gripped the sides of his head in her hands and pushed her tongue against his, conveying her urgency and desperation without a single word. He didn’t pull back or ask questions, just grabbed her by the hips and hoisted her off her feet.

Jaliya moaned at the show of raw male strength and wound her legs around his waist, stopping the kiss and releasing his head only long enough to peel her shirt over her head and fling it behind her. Then she sought his sexy mouth once more, vaguely aware that he was moving them backward.

With one hand holding the back of her head he bent forward, lowering her onto the hard cot she’d been sleeping on the past few nights. She kept hold of his shoulders and tugged him down on top of her. Zaid groaned deep in his chest as he stretched out on top of her, his tongue sliding against hers.

Her breath caught and sensation zinged through her when his weight lowered onto her, pressing her down against the blankets. The pressure of his erection between her open thighs made her shudder, the acute ache sharpening. Then he nipped at her bottom lip and kissed a path over her jaw to the side of her neck.

“Sweetheart, are you sure?” he murmured.

She loved that he’d asked. “Yes.” She needed him. Didn’t want him to stop, no matter what she’d said before.

Jaliya tipped her head back to give him more room, gasping at the wet stroke of his tongue and the scrape of his scruff against her sensitive skin. By the time he reached the base of her throat her breasts felt swollen, her nipples tight and aching.

Dragging his tongue across the upper swell of her right breast, he shifted to his knees to straddle her and reached beneath her to undo her bra. She shrugged out of it and tossed it aside, a thrill rushing through her when he paused to stare at her naked breasts.

His eyes darkened and his jaw grew taut. Those big strong hands slid up to cup the tender flesh, his thumbs sweeping gently over the rigid peaks. A moan slipped out of her as pleasure shot through her. She arched her back, silently asking for more, and she bit her lip as he lowered his dark head.

The moment his lips closed around her nipple she grabbed hold of his head and bit back a whimper. His hot, wet tongue circled it, soothing and tantalizing as he sucked. She locked her legs around his and lifted her hips, desperate for more pressure between her legs.

But Zaid apparently wasn’t in the mood to be rushed. His hands held her in place as he sucked and stroked and teased her nipple, then switched to the other.

“Zaid,” she panted, wanting so much more and impatient to get it.

He made a low sound and continued to torment her, ignoring her restless movements. Finally, when she couldn’t stand the burn a moment longer, he sat up and reached for the top of her pants.

She helped him, undoing the button and yanking down the zipper while he unlaced her boots and tugged them off. Shoving her pants down her legs, she kicked them off, leaving her in just her panties. Before he could touch her she reached for the hem of his T-shirt, needing to be skin on skin with him.

He reached one hand between his shoulder blades and peeled it over his head and she stopped, spellbound by the ridges and hollows of muscle beneath the dusting of black hair and smooth, bronze skin. Setting her hands on the curves of his pecs, she explored him, drinking him in, reveling in the sheer masculine strength of his body.

“God, when you look at me like that…” He trailed off and grasped her hands in his. Jaliya looked up at him, her heart tripping when she saw the naked longing on his face.

Without a word she curled a hand around his nape and brought his mouth to hers. Zaid gobbled her up in a greedy, savage kiss that thrilled her to her toes.

She was so wet, on fire for him, and the ache between her legs was driving her insane. Her fingers tangled in the waistband of his pants but he drew them away and pushed her flat on the cot as he came down on one elbow beside her.

His hand drifted up her bare calf to her inner thigh, his light touch sending shivers through her. He angled his head to watch and inched the pads of his fingers over the smooth skin of her thigh, stopping at the edge of her panties.

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