Page 37 of Stealing Mercury
She closed her eyes at the images his words conjured.
“Samantha is fine.” It slipped out before she could think it through. “But that doesn’t mean—”
“I scented your arousal at the camp, Samantha.” Her eyes popped open, appalled to see him looking confident and sure of her. “You’ll allow me to pleasure you.”
He lifted her off her feet, his big palm wrapping around her thigh and hitching it around his hip. The heat of his body pressed intimately against her chilled flesh, waking every nerve ending.
He pressed his lips to her forehead in a gesture both sweet and scorching. “I ache for you.” Lusty agony laced through the quietly spoken words.
She cursed low. “Damn it, I can’t think straight when you say things like that.”
A rough chuckle rumbled in his throat as he lifted her higher then licked a path down to her collarbone. “There’s no need to think right now, Samantha.”
He was seducing her. The man who’d known nothing but violence was seducing her and she had to acknowledge she wanted to give in, to be seduced. His hands skimmed her thighs on their way to her ass. He squeezed, urging her to wrap herself more tightly around him. His hands felt huge on her body as he held her close and headed toward the riverbank.
She stroked her palms over his shoulders and the bunching muscles of his arms as he carried her out of the water. The moment he stopped on the grassy bank, he leaned in to take her mouth. It wasn’t a light, easy, getting-to-know-you kiss. It was a kiss of pure possession. He licked her lips and pressed his tongue past them to stroke deep inside. She met the thrust of his tongue, needing everything he offered. He growled into her mouth and her stomach did a little flip in response.
Maybe he’d been right. Suddenly, thinking didn’t seem so important.
Her whole body arched into him as she kissed him back, tangling her tongue with his. Her pebbled nipples were crushed against his chest. The sensation sent a jolt of pleasure down through her belly.
She broke the kiss and buried her face against his neck, panting for breath. Her dampening center begged for more sensation. She fought and failed to control the instinct to rock her hips, seeking relief for her swollen, needy flesh. He widened his stance and adjusted her body so his cock pressed more squarely between her thighs. The firm press of him proved how quickly he’d overcome the effects of the cold river. With the thin cloth of her briefs the only barrier between them, he had no trouble working his hard length against her with maddening precision.
She moaned, helpless to the sensual hunger. No man had ever taken her over so completely. Made her so needy that the world faded away and she could believe that having her meant more to him than simple release. That he might want her—the mixed-blood girl from a refugee camp—enough to care as much about giving her pleasure.
His fingertips traced up her spine with gentle thoroughness, as if taking inventory of each delicate vertebra. Burrowing beneath her snug under-tank with his other hand, he found the hardened tip of her nipple. His fingers stroked and circled the nubbin, sending spirals of heat down to the soft flesh pressed against his hardness.
She rocked her hips again and he growled. Her stomach did another crazy flip as the growl softened to a rumble and he lifted his chin to give her better access to his throat. The sound vibrated against her lips where they pressed to the tight skin. A shiver raced through her. She opened her mouth and laved her tongue over the spot, then licked along the cord of muscle. She followed it down to the vee at the base of his throat and dipped her tongue into the hollow.
His hands were suddenly back on her ass, gripping, controlling, encouraging the slow dip and roll. She clung to his shoulders as his body moved against her, grinding his cock against her swollen flesh.
He dropped to his knees in the soft grass, his arms banded tightly around her, and stopped. Their chests heaved as they both panted for air. Her head came up and he met her gaze, his big thundercloud eyes shining with intensity, the lines of his face strained.
“You feel so good, Samantha. I need my cock inside you, now.”
There had been no question, but the alert, carefully leashed passion in his face spoke louder than his words. He wanted her, but he needed her permission. He would know how important it was for permission to come from her heart and her head. The body could be manipulated, fooled into unwanted pleasure, and he wouldn’t do to her what had been done to him.
She slipped her hands down the muscled planes of his chest and gave a gentle push. His arms loosened immediately, and she read anguish in his eyes until her hand continued down. Her fingers dipped briefly into his belly button, drawing a muffled groan as his abs jumped, before continuing on to wrap around his cock.
He moaned louder, thrusting into her grasp as she squeezed and stroked down and then up the long, broad length. His jaw tightened, the muscles in his neck straining in sharp relief, as if he thought she might be teasing him before turning him away.
“I want you too, Mercury.” She smiled, remembering his earlier words about how he’d dreamed of the simple gesture. “I want to feel you inside me.”
That was all the permission he needed. He tugged at her clothes, stroking her skin as he pushed and pulled. He turned her naked body away from him and positioned them with her back to his chest, his knees between hers as he sat back on his heels. She leaned back into him and wrapped her hands around his muscled thighs.
It was probably a mistake to have sex with him, but she couldn’t deny them both. She knew his life had been cruel, but she’d seen for herself that he could be gentle and protective.
His hands came around to lift her breasts. “You’re so beautiful,courra.” He rubbed his palms over her nipples, then lifted her breasts again.
As she tipped her head back with pleasure, she realized he was tall enough to have a clear view of her body over her shoulder. His chin pressed against her temple as one hand stroked down to play in the wet heat between her legs.
“Tell me again you need me inside your body.” His fingers stroked over her clit and pressed slow circles into the sensitized bundle of nerves.
She could barely breathe to get words out. “I need you. Please.”
His fingers circled faster, relentless.
The pleasure was too intense, and instinct had her bucking against him. She tried to close her legs against the unbearable pleasure, but his knees were between hers and his body moved with her as she writhed.
