Page 50 of The Dire Legacy

“There’s no way I’m letting you go. But, you know that means I have to…” I don’t want to spell it out. It’s taking all of my restraint to not show her.

Her full pink lips part as her hooded eyes look up. Reaching her delicate thumb up, she slowly traces my ear sending a jolting current of need into my crotch. “Michael, I’d rather die in your arms than ever go back.”

That’s the bucket of cold water I wasn’t expecting. Angie’s tortured face resurfaces.

This time it’s fleeting and fades away when Hope presses her lips to mine.

Fire runs through my veins as her arms curve around my neck and her fingers weave into my hair. Her soft mouth nibbles timidly, tickling my whiskers with her movements.

A groan erupts from my chest when she shifts to straddle me.

She sharply inhales when I push my tongue between her inviting lips.

I don’t want to repeat past mistakes, so I pull back, resting my forehead against hers. Our heart beats are thunder in my ears, my panting draws her scent of arousal to me like a heady perfume.

When her stomach growls it’s as if a lion is erupting from her belly.

The pink blush that tinges her cheeks beckons me to kiss them.

“I’m sorry. Limbs take up so much energy.” She slumps against me, but her nails run through my short beard leaving lightning trails along my jaw.

My aching cock will have to suffer just a little longer. “Let me take you back to the house.”

It’s only when I move my leg does the lance of pain remind me, I don’t heal as quickly as she does.

“My poor Old Yeller, I did that to you.” Her petulant bottom lip sticks out in a pout.

I don’t pass up the opportunity this time, but take it between my teeth and taste it as I’ve been craving for days. She gives to my exploration, dancing her tongue with mine in a sultry tango.

When she gifts me another moan, a surge runs through me like I have the strength to run twenty miles. Sprinting on shattered legs would be such a small price to have her making that luscious sound as my reward.

To feel her skin, the velvety stroke of her fingers, the sweet succulence of her kiss and to have her begging me for more?

My life is complete in this moment.

Her stomach sends another growl through the air between us. It rocks her back, a pale look on her face.

“In a few hours, I can carry you. It looked like you had food in your bag, will that be enough?” I can just reach the straps from where I had tossed it.

Rifling through it, all I can find is a couple more MREs and some ancient jerky that was stockpiled at the house. “Here. This might help.” The little vacuum bag opens with a hiss when I pull out a piece of dried meat. Without water, the freeze dried stuff will be hard to eat.

“Mikey, I want you to bring out your inner puppy and bite me.” A playful smile trembles over her lips.

My brows tighten on my forehead. “That can wait until I have you tied down in our bed.” That image demands attention, I’ve seen her naked enough to have a very vivid idea of how intoxicating that will be.

Damn, my nuts hurt.

“No. Bite me and you’ll heal faster.” She tilts her head, exposing her smooth throat.

I’m barely managing to wrap myself with the idea that I can touch her. There’s an anvil of doubt weighing on my shoulders as I watch her rapid pulse.

Conflict rages in me. The animalistic urge to mark her skin, claim her to the world as mine is at war with how far can I go without losing her. “Hope, I—”

Her finger rests on my protest, silencing the words before they escape. That same delectable digit traces her own lips before it disappears between them.

She gives me a brief wink before she winces. Too fast to see, her hands fly around my neck and she pushes her hungry lips against mine.

When I open to her onslaught, her tongue forces its way past my sharp canines with an unexpected cargo. The metallic taste of blood floods my senses.

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