Page 44 of Anna's Bounty
It looks more like a studio apartment than a hotel room. The décor, in tones of cream and coffee with burgundy accents, makes it feel homey.
Straight across the room is a picture window with a spectacular view of the neighboring brick building. Under the window is a table topped with a burgundy cloth and service for two. The kitchenette takes up the right side of the room. To my left is the bed—just one, so I guess we’re sharing—piled with pillows and a plush duvet done in chocolate and ivory. Beside the bed is a door that leads to the bathroom.
While I stand gawking, Rovos secures the door lock and brushes past me. He sets his duffel on the bed and crosses the room to the window, where he touches something on the wall beside it. The light filtering through the glass slightly dims.
“What did you do?” I ask.
“I just changed the setting. Now no one can see inside.”
Ah, one-way glass. Nice. That explains the lack of curtains.
After shrugging out of the Blato, I lay it across the end of the bed next to Rovos’ duffel. While Rovos rummages through the kitchenette, I snoop around the room, peeking inside doors and closets. The bathroom is nearly identical to the one on theShade.
I’m looking out the window at the street below when somethingpings.When I glance over my shoulder, Rovos is taking a dish out of the Replicator. The most delicious smell envelops the room, and my stomach lets out a loud growl when he brings the steaming bowl to the table.
“Come eat, Annah,” he says before returning to make more food.
Breathing the savory scent deep into my lungs, I settle into the chair and grin when I see it’s the same dish Rovos made me my first day on his ship. A moment later he seats himself across from me with a bowl of his own and sets a plate of thecruxxrolls between us. With no Replicator on the shuttle, our rations were sparse. Thanks to Rovos’ stop at the trading post, at least we didn’t have to survive the trip on nutrient bars.
I reach across the table for one of the rolls at the same time Rovos does. Our hands clash, fingers tangling around the soft bun. I try to pull back, but his fingers tighten around mine. When I look up, I’m caught in his luminous gaze. An apology dies on my lips when his thumb sweeps over the back of my hand, and a shiver runs up my arm and down my spine.
With his other hand, he picks up a roll and holds it up to my lips. Without taking my eyes from him, I open. When I bite into the soft bread he offers, we both moan. Me, from the buttery flavor and spicy meat, and him from watching me.
Taking the roll from him, I offer it to his lips. He opens his mouth and takes the rest of the roll in a single bite. Closing his lips around my fingers, his warm tongue laps at me before nipping with his teeth when I slide my fingers from his mouth.
When he smiles at me, I’m lost.
He breaks the spell when his eyes drop back to the table. Until he lifts a bite of noodles coated in the savory broth to my lips. I open my mouth, and when the food hits my tongue, my lips slide closed.
“Mmmmm.”
My eyes snap open at the sound of utensils clattering to the table. His hand moves from my lips to cup the back of my neck, and he pulls me across the table. Plates and bowls tumble to the floor, but I have no time to worry about the mess. I expect to feel his lips on mine. Instead, his tongue slides against the corner of my mouth to collect a drop of the broth.
“Mmmmm,” he rumbles, and then his lips are on mine.
18
Anna
The dishes and food forgotten, Rovos pulls me the rest of the way across the table so I’m straddling his lap. Without breaking his kiss, I slide my hands up his broad chest to circle his neck, letting my fingers stroke the short bristly hairs at the back of his head.
His erection is a steel bar pressing against the junction of my legs. When I roll my hips over it, Rovos groans into my mouth. Oh god, I can feel every ridge of him as I rock my melting core against his length. He palms the back of my head, letting his fingers slide through the silky strands of my hair. His other arm bands around my hip, pressing me against him, while coercing my lips to open further, sending shocks of delicious pleasure straight to my core.
My fingers curl into the back of his neck where my nails bite into his flesh, leaving little half-moon indentions in his skin. I rock against him again, and his name leaves my lips as a breathy sigh when he hits against my clitjust right.
Rovos’ hand tightens in my hair, and he pulls my head back, forcing me to look up at him. His full lips part, showing me a hint of fang as his slitted pupils expand to eat up most of his golden iris. A growl rumbles up from deep within him, and I moan when he drops his mouth to my exposed throat. Alternating soft kisses with sharp nips, he makes his way down the sensitive column before running his tongue back up. My eyes shutter closed as shivers run down my spine and my pussy pulses with its own heartbeat.
“Annah,” Rovos breathes. His lips nibble at the sensitive spot behind my ear, making me wriggle in his lap, which pulls another groan from him. “Gods, woman, you make me burn.”
I whimper as he trails kisses back along my throat before stopping just over my pulse. My head lulls to the side, and I groan at the sharp sting of his teeth as they graze the sensitive spot, followed by soothing strokes from his tongue.
“Please,” I breathe. Asking.Begging.Needing more.
He drags his soft nose across my jaw before leaning back. Cradling my face in his hands, he stares into my eyes, and I’m captivated by the swirling gold and green of his.
“I’ve never wanted anyone like I want you,” he tells me, sweeping his thumb across my cheek. “I’ve neverneededanyone. But, Annah, I need you. Right now, I need you like I need air.”
I want to tell him I need him too, but the words catch in my throat.
