Page 36 of Stealing Mercury
He pulled her into his arms, and she let him. “I hated letting you go with the whip-master and his bully. Hated watching you walk away to face them alone.”
“You probably thought I was such a fool to believe I could handle them.” She’d held her own in some of the most dangerous ports in the sector, but she’d badly misjudged her ability to manage Drake and Resler.
He cupped his hands around her jaw and urged her to meet his gaze. “I thought you were brave. You have the courage of a Dog.”
His head dipped as if to press his warm lips against hers. Anticipation trembled through her. She hadn’t been aware of wanting him to kiss her, but in that moment, she couldn’t think of anything she wanted more. He stopped a centimeter from touching her, keeping the small space between them, but breathing softly against her lips. Her need to have her lips on his, to stroke her tongue along his, swelled and became urgent.
His lips brushed hers as he spoke. “I thought you a worthy mate.”
Samantha blinked, the word jolting her. “A mate?”
He stiffened and released her. “You don’t want a Dog.”
Samantha reached for him. “I didn’t say that.” Hurt etched severe lines in his face as she rushed to explain. “It’s just that you’re practically a stranger.”
She struggled to explain the panic that had hit her at hearing the word—mate. “I know how seriously you take your bond with your mates. I’ve seen how Carn is tortured by it. I was surprised to hear you use that word.”
The pain on his face was clear in the fading light. “I want you.”
Her heart melted, twisted with yearning, and thudded with a rote fear of reaching for what she wanted. “There’s a difference between wanting someone and wanting to make a commitment to someone. You barely know me.”
He stroked fingers across her cheek. “I’ve wanted you from the moment I scented you. My people value every moment of life. When you face death daily, you learn not to waste time.”
He seemed so serious and sad. It tightened the need gripping her heart. “My people believe in building a relationship first.”
“No,” he said, shaking his head. “Human women often came to the arena kennels to be pleasured. They were from your world, but they didn’t want to know us first.”
Samantha cringed. “That’s awful. Er, I mean...” She didn’t want to insult him.
“You’re right, it was awful. They kept us chained because they feared us, but they wanted to take their pleasure. When I was young, they would touch my body until my flesh was so hungry for release, I couldn’t resist. As I grew in strength and wisdom, I learned to control my needs until they could no longer use my body against me.”
Samantha wrapped her hand around his and pressed it against her lips. “I’m so sorry for the way they treated you.”
“It doesn’t matter now.”
“Of course it does.” She kissed his knuckles, then twined her fingers with his. “But I can’t change what happened to you. All I can do now is treat you with the respect you deserve.”
“Pushing away what we both want isn’t respect,courra. It’s my choice to pleasure you and we aren’t strangers. I know you, Sam.”
“No. No, you don’t. You don’t even know my name. No one who knows me calls me Sam. Someone I was going to—”
“Allow to pleasure you?”
“Yes,” she agreed. “That person would know that and much more.”
He released her hands and traced his fingertips up her arms. He lingered over the slight variations as his fingers found each of the smoother bands of golden skin. “I know you, Samantha Devlin.”
She clutched at his ribs. “How?”
He smiled down at her. “Your friend introduced you to the whip-master the first time I saw you.”
“And you remembered?”
He nodded, then leaned down to nuzzle her jaw.
She strained on tiptoes, chasing the delicious sensation.
He spoke softly, his lips against her neck. “I’ve listened to you speak for many days. I’ve slept with your scent filling the air. I’ve dreamed of your smile. Tell me what name to call you and then I will be free to pleasure you with my hands, my lips, my body.”
