Page 45 of Combust
Because he is the one, her bear spoke up, its tone insistent.
Cade’s thick black brows shot up. He looked pleased at her revelation.
“Mine, too,” he confessed. “It’s kicking up a fuss like a restless mule in a tin barn.”
Uh-oh. Should I risk it?Ifbothof their bears were acting up, there might be trouble.She crossed her arms over her breasts, her knuckles brushing the hard bump of the birth control implant set under the skin of her upper arm.
“But I won’t let my bear seal a mating bond tonight. My solemn word on it,” he said. “Even if it kills me, Maggie.”
“Same here,” she said.
“Deal.” He extended his hand.
She took it, thinking they were going to shake. Instead, he pulled her into his arms, then picked her up and threw her over his shoulder in a fireman’s hold.
She shrieked in surprise, then giggled and enjoyed the view of his bare ass as he carried her over to his living room sofa and plunked her down.
Maggie had barely enough time to notice that Cade kept his cabin very neat before he bent, put his large, scarred hands on her knees, and opened her legs.
“What are you—” she began as he dropped to his knees before her and knelt between her thighs.
“You are so fucking beautiful,” he said, leaning over her. “I want to taste every part of you, Maggie. I want to hear those cute little noises you make while I’m windin’ you up. And I want to hear you scream my name when you come for me.”
“You’re beautiful, too,” she told him with complete sincerity. “Every inch of you.”
His eyes widened at that.
She added breathlessly, “And I like your plan. Hope you’re not all hat and no cattle, though.”
He leaned in closer with a predatory expression. His breath was hot against her breasts. “Why, Miz Swanson, are you callin’ me a liar?”
“I’m just saying a little proof—oh!” He dipped his head and licked the lip of her breast, then nipped it.
“Now, that’s more like it,” he added with wicked satisfaction, and stretched up to take her earlobe between his teeth. “Now, let me hear you, darlin’. I need to know that I’m doin’ right by you.”
She forgot what she was going to say. In fact, she stopped being able to speak coherently at all as Cade set to work with his talented mouth and even more talented fingers.
She did, however, do plenty of moaning, which seemed to please him.
He wasn’t gentle. But Maggie didn’t want gentle right now. She craved his strength, his desire, and his hunger for her. Every rough caress generated a burst of intense sensation that shot straight to the pit of her belly. His touch, his scent, and his unwavering focus on her all made her core pulse and ache with need as he moved down the length of her body, nipping, kissing, stroking.
Her bear reveled in the fact that he was marking her as he went along.
Maggie, writhing beneath his hands and mouth, sank her fingers deep into his curly black hair as he paused to dip a leisurely tongue into her belly button before scraping his teeth over her hip. She clutched at his head, silently begging him to move lower and satisfy the wild, throbbing heat between her spread thighs.
He chuckled against her skin. The vibrations and gentle scrape of his beard sent pleasant shivers racing up and down her spine.
Then he raised his face and looked at her. “You gonna scream my name when I make you come, Maggie?”
“M-maybe,” she panted, writhing against his hold on her hips. Her legs squeezed his flanks with frantic need.
He laughed again. “Well, now, that sounds like you’re still thinkin’ I’m all broth and no beans.”
A giggle bubbled up through the dense haze of desire fogging her head and tormenting her body.
Then his hands returned to her knees, spreading her wide. He stared down at her, and licked his lips.
“Cade…please!”
