The Man Within

by Lora Leigh

  uldn’t help it. When his tongue stroked over the small wound, and then his mouth closed over it, suckling the flesh softly, tenderly, her womb spasmed. Her pussy throbbed, pulsed, sending her into a near-orgasmic delight as she felt his teeth scratch along the surface of the mark he had made.

  Her hands clenched at his forearm as it stretched across her chest, his hand holding her other shoulder, keeping her still as he tortured her, tormented her.

  “Please.” She knew he couldn’t hear her, and she didn’t have the breath to scream as pleasure seared her body, washing from the point where his mouth held her captive to her tight, sensitive nipples, down to her throbbing clit and soaked cunt. It was destroying her.

  He lifted his mouth slowly as he eased back into his seat. But there was no relief for Roni. She gritted her teeth, cursing him, cursing herself, and vowing to die in agony before she begged him to take her, begged him to ease the need that seemed to only grow rather than lessen with the distance he had taken.

  This wasn’t good. Not good at all.

  Chapter Six

  Life couldn’t be much sweeter as far as Taber was concerned. The ride from the hills of Eastern Kentucky back to the mansion in Virginia was made quickly, efficiently, in the powerful little ‘copter the military had graciously granted them. A few perks came from outraging society against a government whose leaders had been up to their ears in the corrupt little experiments that had created them.

  His body was humming with desire, perfectly attuned to the arousal climbing in Roni’s. He could smell her heat and it was about to drive him insane. His cock ached like a raw wound, pulsing and throbbing beneath the restriction of his jeans.

  He watched the terrain outside the helicopter’s windows, tracking each landmark, counting the minutes until he could get her to a bed, spread her thighs and surge into the heated depths of her wet little cunt.

  He had waited fifteen months. Fifteen long, miserable months. A black aching void had taken root inside his soul during that time. There had been a desire, torturous and unending, for one woman and one woman alone. He had been unable to touch another, unable to tolerate the scent of any other female’s lust when Roni’s remained so deeply a part of him.

  It was one of the reasons he had never understood why she had left the short, curt note on his desk so long ago. No other woman had affected him as she did. And he had known for a fact that she had wanted him as well. So why had she pulled back? He still had the note. He still felt the fury and clenching betrayal those words had brought him.

  He had denied himself for nearly all these months where Roni was concerned. Fought his desire and his hunger because he hadn’t wanted to subject her to who and what he was against her wishes. He knew at the time that her decision had been the best one. He didn’t blame her, had no desire to make her pay for the hell his body had put him through. But he would be damned if he would let her go now.

  His kiss was insurance that Roni would never walk away from him in the same manner ever again. The hormone released into her body would prepare her and heighten her arousal to a point that she would be unable to deny his touch. She would be lucky if she could even walk when he finished slaking his hunger for her. He had a lot of time to make up for.

  “We’re heading in,” Cabal yelled back to him as the mansion came in to sight.

  It was three stories of gracious, stately elegance. Balconies wrapped around each story, tall pillars rising up to support them and lending the white monstrosity an air of genteel comfort. The centuries-old plantation house had been kept in excellent condition. Previous owners had done all they could to keep the historical air of the house intact, while inside, renovations had assured the owners’ every comfort.

  His arm tightened around Roni’s back as he felt her stiffen. The dark scent of fear mixed with her earthy, sweet desire. But rather than easing her need, the fear seemed to only intensify the addicting smell. The adrenaline racing through her body carried the hormone that much faster through her system.

  The helicopter landed with smooth efficiency, settling onto the landing pad and slowly powering down as Taber unclipped his and Roni’s safety belts. He glanced into her eyes, his body tightening as he saw the dilation of her pupils, the flush on her cheeks. Her blue eyes glittered with hunger. Her body trembled from it.

  “What did you do to me, Taber?” Her voice was husky, confused, as Tanner and Cabal exited the helicopter.

  “Come on, we’ll get up to the house and I’ll explain everything.” He jumped from the helicopter before reaching in, his hands gripping her waist as he helped her from her seat.

  She gasped as he drew her against his chest before allowing her feet to settle to the ground. The sensual drag of her body against his had him growling with arousal. Thank God they didn’t have much farther to go.

  Taber gripped her hand and pulled her to the Jeep Tanner had running at the side of the landing pad. Her fingers trembled beneath his, but not more than her body. He could feel the fine shudders that worked through her as he helped her into the Jeep, glimpsed the desperate edge of control in her gaze.

  His kiss had done exactly as Callan had outlined to all of them months before. The sexual hormone contained in the glands of his tongue had almost immediately swept through her system as he kissed her.

  Her level of heat had risen, the need for his touch, his taste, sweeping over her. But it was no greater than his need for her.

  He had been helpless this time; caught in the grip of a hunger he could not contain and had no desire to hide. The animal within had been denied once before. It wouldn’t be again.

  “The house we now live in once belonged to the Genetics Council,” he told her, fighting for calm as Tanner raced along the paved road that led to the mansion. “It’s now our home base. We’re safe here, protected by the sheer numbers of our kind, which grow daily. You’ll be safe here as well, Roni.”

  “Will I?” Her tone assured him that she wasn’t so certain. Too bad. He wasn’t about to let her go.

  She held herself as far from him as he would allow, which wasn’t much. She was heated and warm, her scent sweet and potent. He had been separated from her for too long, fighting to be noble, to protect her from the truth and the price of being in his arms.

  Taber held back a wince as she shot him a hateful look. Evidently, most of the confusion caused by the events of the day was wearing off. She was getting mad. He ignored the fierce surge of excitement that rocked through his veins at the thought. Her eyes were glittering with fury and lust. The scent of her was hot and wild, making his chest ache with the need to roar in triumph.

  “I would have been safe where I was,” she snapped, “if it hadn’t been for you.” Her voice was thick with the emotions, the sensations, washing through her body. She was fighting it, unaware that in doing so, she would only make the symptoms worse. Taber suppressed his smile. Her fury would only cause her blood to beat faster, the hormone to surge through her body, to build and grow in its extremity.

  “It takes two, Roni,” he told her darkly as the Jeep shuddered to a stop at the front entrance.

  Large oaks, ages old, towered above the circular driveway, growing so close to the house that they had once considered cutting several of them down. But the majesty and grace of the hardwoods had been impossible to deny. They had been there for far too long, had protected the home for too many years, to destroy.

  As he helped her from the Jeep the large, double front doors opened as Callan and Merinus stepped out onto the cemented landing. The other man’s gaze was hard, fierce, as he inhaled slowly, making Taber more than aware that any Breed who came near would know Roni’s state of arousal.

  Taber led her up the wide, circular steps to meet the couple, feeling the shudders that swept over her body. She was tense, holding herself rigidly erect as they approached Callan and Merinus.

  He met Callan’s gaze, seeing the worry in the depths of his leader’s amber eyes.

  “Roni, it’s g
ood to see you again,” Callan said gently as they reached the other couple. He didn’t touch her, didn’t offer to shake her hand, as Roni stood stiffly before him. “Allow me to introduce my wife, Merinus. Merinus, Roni Andrews was a good friend to us all during our time in Sandy Hook.”

  “Hello, Roni.” Merinus’ smile was gentle as her gaze flickered between them. “I’m sorry we had to meet under such circumstances.”

  “It’s nice to meet you.” Roni’s voice was soft, husky with tension as she smoothed her hands over her arms. “I’m sorry, too…”

  “Please, don’t be.” Merinus shook her head, a small smile tilting her lips. “These men tend to shake up a woman’s life more than should be allowable. But in the end…” She glanced at her husband’s faux-mocking expression. “They can be worth it.”

  “I think I’ll wait to comment on that one.” Roni breathed in harshly. “If you don’t mind.” Merinus’ concerned gaze was filled with knowledge as she glanced at Taber. She, more than anyone else, was well aware of the need pulsing through Roni and the stress she was under.

  “I understand completely, Roni. If you need anything, be sure to let any of us know. We want you to feel at home here.”

  Roni nodded, murmuring her thanks, but Taber could see the fine film of sweat on her brow, the flush in her cheeks.

  “Please, come in. Taber can show you up to your room and you can rest before dinner. We can talk later.” Merinus frowned at Taber, a dark, disapproving look that he met head on.

  They entered the marbled foyer as Taber gripped Roni’s upper arm and led her to the wide, circular staircase at the right of the large entrance. His suite of rooms was on the second floor, but all that concerned him was getting Roni to the large, well-built bed that occupied them. There he would do more than mark her. There he would claim all that had been his, all she had sought to deny them both over the last lonely, hunger-filled months. There she would pay.

  Chapter Seven

  What was wrong with her? Roni felt feverish, uncertain, almost dazed with the sexual needs that threatened to bring her to her knees with their intensity. As Taber led her up the stairs she fought the nearly debilitating weakness that made her grateful for the steadying hand that gripped her arm. His body was large, so hard and warm beside her that she could feel the heat radiating from him.

  His hand steadied her, but all she could think of was having it run over her body, stroking her, soothing the fires burning in the very depths of her womb. She had never been so crazed with arousal. No, this wasn’t arousal. It went even beyond lust. It was a compulsion, a hunger that tore through her, making its demands nearly irresistible.

  “What did you do to me?” She tried to jerk away from him, to get away from the insidious pleasure that heated her body at his touch, but he wasn’t letting go of her. “This isn’t funny anymore, Taber. I’m sick of the silent, he-man treatment.”

  They entered a large sitting room. A cherry desk, complete with computer, printer and fax, were at one end of the room. He drew her past a relaxed sitting area with an entertainment complex that would have impressed her if she had time to care about anything other than the fire raging in her pussy.

  He led her through another opened door, into the bedroom. The room was dimly lit, with dark, cherry furniture and thick curtains shading it from the lowering sun, giving it an intimate, sexy feeling.

  At the far end of the room was a large sleigh bed, the mattress and box springs so thick she would have to jump onto it to sit on it. A dark burgundy comforter was turned back, thick pillows plumped and placed against the headboard.

  She shivered as she imagined herself on it with Taber, his body covering hers, his hands stroking her.

  She bit her lip, fighting the whimper that threatened to escape her throat.

  “Answer me, damn you.” Roni turned on him angrily as he moved away from her, closing the door behind them.

  She stared into his eyes…those deep, brilliant eyes. A predator’s eyes. She could see the evidence of his unique DNA now. In the high cheekbones, the narrowed gaze.

  “You’re coming into heat,” he answered her, his fingers going to the buttons of his white shirt as she watched him loosen it slowly.

  Her knees weakened as each fastening came loose, exposing more of his tanned, sleek skin. She shook her head, wanting to close her eyes, to escape the power he suddenly held over her. She wanted his shirt off. She wanted to run her fingers over the bulging muscles of his body, feel his hard heat, touch him, taste him as she had dreamed of months before.

  Then his words hit her. Coming into heat. She felt her heart begin to race in fear. She blinked over at him. Each breath shuddering through her chest felt labored, painful.

  “What do you mean?” She swallowed tightly, fighting her shock.

  Taber shrugged the shirt from his shoulders, the hard, well-defined muscles of his chest and arms flexing with power and strength.

  “Exactly what I said.” His voice was hard, but his gaze had hot, liquid lust glittering in the jade depths.

  “You’re in heat, Roni. Your body’s preparing itself, assuring that neither of us can refuse what nature demands.”

  He dropped the shirt carelessly to his feet as he moved to the padded chest. His eyes never left her; they raked over her, darkening, heating, as he watched her breasts heave with her fight for oxygen.

  God, she wanted to taste him. His stomach was flat, hard, the well-developed abs flexing as he removed his boots.

  “How?” She couldn’t make sense of anything except the hunger flaying her body. “It’s never been like this. Even after you bit me. Why now?”

  He came to his feet, towering over her, walking to her slowly, his gaze never leaving hers.

  “I hadn’t kissed you, Roni,” he said softly, as he came within touching distance.

  The scent of his body infused her senses. It was male, hot and dark, captivating, as she trembled before him.

  “What…” She shook her head, fighting the compulsion to touch him, to taste him. “What did the kiss have to do with anything? Dammit, Taber.” Her fists clenched as she forced herself to back away from him, to fight the driving hunger thundering through her body.

  “The kiss allowed a special hormone to release from my body to yours.” He followed her, stalking her as she continued to retreat. “A hormone that is only present when I touch my mate. When I touch you. It allowed me to mark you, physical proof to any other that you belong to me. But it wasn’t enough to heighten your senses or your arousal to this state. Only my kiss can do that, Roni. My kiss marked you in a way nature will not let you deny.”

  His voice was rough, deep, almost rumbling as Roni backed into the wall, staring back at him in horror, in fury.

  “My God. You knew.” She almost winced at the grating sound of her voice. She sounded as shocked, as frightened, as she knew she was. “When you kissed me, you knew you would do this to me. You knew what would happen.”

  His hands slapped the wall beside her, his expression turning savage, almost feral, as he bared his teeth in a warning growl. She flinched, her eyes widening, her pussy clenching at the sound.

  “You will not deny me this time, Roni.” His voice rumbled with power, with determination. “This time, you will not escape me.”

  She would have fought him, she assured herself. She would have moved from him, would have shoved his balls to his throat with her knee if he hadn’t swooped in, his tongue piercing her mouth as his lips covered hers. The moment he did, every cell in her body sang out in relief, and the fury coursing through her whipped into lightning-hot desire.

  Sweet, dark honey filled her senses once again. She whimpered beneath the onslaught, her hands rising to grip his waist, her nails biting into his flesh as the feel of his skin seemed to sink into her cells. She moaned, her tongue tangling with his as an inner voice screamed out in warning. Danger. Temptation.

  Run!

  He didn’t touch her other than with his lips, with his to
ngue, and they were voracious in their demand.

  His strong teeth nipped at the curves. His tongue soothed the slight sting then thrust back demandingly until she closed her lips on it, desperate to hold it still as she fought to make sense of his taste, his power over her.

  He growled. A feline rumble of hunger as she tightened on his tongue, drawing on it, moaning at the faint taste of honey, suddenly needing more. His hands gripped her head as his lips slanted over hers, driving her insane with the hot, sensual provocation of the ever deepening caress.

  Second by second she could feel her body burning brighter, hotter. Her breasts ached, the nipples hard little points begging for his attention as his chest settled closer.

  “God, you taste good.” His roughened voice caused her to shiver with pleasure as he pulled back, staring down at her, his eyes narrowed, intense. “I wonder how much better the rest of you tastes.” His knee slid between her legs, pressing against the sensitive mound between her thighs.

  “Don’t do this to me, Taber,” she whispered desperately, her hands tightening on his waist as she shuddered with an exquisite pain that rode much too close to heated pleasure.

  His hard thigh rocked against her cunt and she wondered desperately if he could feel the moisture seeping from her body. She wanted to tear herself away from him; she wanted to jerk him closer. The conflicting needs warred within her, fighting an insane battle for supremacy.

  “Do what? Make you mine?” he growled. “It’s already been done, Roni. I can’t take that back. And I sure as hell won’t regret it.”

  His lips moved to her ear, his tongue swirling around it sensually as she fought for breath.

  “I can’t do this,” she cried out, yet her body writhed against his, needing to touch him, to feel the heat and hardness he offered her.

  Her head fell back against the wall as his lips trailed down her neck. His fingers pulled at the buttons of her blouse, releasing the torn fabric as the air around them heated with blistering need.

  “Shush, baby,” Taber whispered as his lips stroked over her collarbone. “It’s going to be okay. I promise.”

  He pushed her shirt over her shoulders, smoothing it down her arms as he lifted first one of her hands from his waist, then the other to allow the material to fall to the floor. It was the most sensual sensation she had known in her life, his hands, calloused and warm, sliding over her flesh, removing the cloth between his touch and her skin.

  “How pretty,” he whispered as his gaze centered on her breasts. “So full and swollen. I can’t wait to take one of those hard little nipples in my mouth, Roni.” She whimpered at his words, standing before him, her breasts straining against her lacy bra. His head raised, his eyes going over the full curves that rose and fell so swiftly. She wanted to close her eyes to escape the intensity of the feelings bombarding her. At the same time, she wanted to be certain she didn’t miss a second of either seeing or feeling the power behind his sudden hunger for her.

  “I’m scared.” Roni shuddered harshly, fighting the overpowering lust with every beat of her heart. It wasn’t natural, this need. She had always wanted him, always dreamed of his kiss and his touch, but not like this. Not this drugged, overriding demand she couldn’t control. “Taber. Make it stop. Make it stop now, dammit.”

  Her pussy clenched with such resounding demand that it took her breath. She gasped, almost crying out as his lips stroked over the smooth flesh rising from the cup of her bra.

  “It will ease soon, Roni,” he promised her, his voice so rough, so harsh, it caused her to shiver in pleasure as his fingers released the front clasp of her bra. “Just as soon as I get you in that bed and slide between those pretty thighs, it will be all better.”

  Chapter Eight

  Roni blinked in shock as Taber’s words whispered around her. It will all be better? As soon as he does what?

  She pushed at his shoulders, ignoring the cramps in her womb, the moisture sliding from her tormented pussy.

  “I don’t think so.” She shuddered with need. “Taber, wait. We have to talk about this.” Oh, this wasn’t good at all. Her body was overruling her mind and she couldn’t seem to rein it in long enough to get a grip on the situation.

  His tongue was running over the tops of her breasts. Sweet lord, it wasn’t smooth and soft like any normal person’s would be. It was slightly rough, hot, rasping deliciously against her skin. What would it feel like on her nipples?

  “You taste so good, Roni.” His shoulders tightened as he dipped his head further, following the inside curve of her breast, tracing the border of lace that still covered the swollen mound. “So hot and sweet.” His hands moved from the wall, stroking down her back until they clasped her hips, rocking her against the hard thigh insinuated between hers.

  “Taber.” She had to make him stop. Didn’t she?

  She pushed against his shoulders again, her head falling back against the wall as she fought the weakening lust surging through her blood.

  “Roni, I don’t know if I can stop,” he whispered as his lips nudged under the lacy bra, coming dangerously close to the hard peak of her breast.

  She could feel his breath on the tormented tip, every cell tightening in exquisite longing as his teeth then tugged at the material, drawing it away from the swollen curve.

  “Taber. I can’t… Oh God!” She arched in his arms as his tongue swiped across the hard bud of her nipple. Electricity shot from the little nub straight to her womb, taking her breath as it spasmed in pleasure. Okay, so she wasn’t going to be able to say no, evidently, she thought distantly. It didn’t mean she had to let him live after he was done, though.

  His mouth covered her nipple, suckling at her desperately, his cheeks flexing, his tongue rasping as she began to writhe on his hard thigh. The pressure against her clit was destructive, drowning her in pleasure, in desperation.

  She was only dimly aware of his hands loosening her jeans, then sliding beneath the material until he could cup the smooth globes of her ass. His hands covered the naked skin, flexing, gripping and parting her rounded cheeks as he moved her against him.

  “I can’t wait for the bed,” he growled against her breast as his thigh moved back from the tormented mound between her thighs. “Now. Like this, Roni.”

  He shoved her pants down with one hand, the other loosening his jeans, freeing the thick length of his cock from confinement. He didn’t take time to help her kick free of her shoes. He gave her no time to deny him. Before she could voice her shock he pushed her to her knees, following her down as he came behind her.

  “Taber.” Shocked, nearly paralyzed by the needs clawing through her system she could only whimper his name as he pressed her forward.

  He held her still, her shoulders to the floor, her hips raised, opening her for him, giving him access. He didn’t wait to claim what he believed was his. Roni barely had time to draw in a breath before she felt the thickness of his erection pressing against her cunt, sliding against the small slit until he found the opening to her vagina. He held her hips, he whispered her name, and then thrust forcibly inside her untried pussy.

  Roni screamed out at the pleasure/pain of his hard thrust as he buried in her to the hilt. Taber cursed, almost brokenly, but he didn’t stop. She writhed beneath him, terrified now by the fierce contractions of her womb, the force of his thrusts, the spiraling sensations colliding inside her.

  She could feel his cock stretching her, the muscles of her cunt both protesting and welcoming the thick intruder, clamping on it as the sounds of moist suckling flesh filled her head. She was too wet, too aroused. Her juices coated her thighs, her pussy. The sharp bite of pain should have drawn her back from her arousal, should have had her crying out in protest, but it only blended with the pleasure.

  Her world centered only on the deep, heavy thrusts of Taber’s cock inside her gripping cunt. The agonizing pleasure seared through her body, electrifying nerve endings, taking her breath as the sensations piled, one atop the other, dr
owning her in their force.

  The feel of Taber, one hand pressing at her shoulder blades, holding her still, the other gripping her hip as he thrust hard and deep inside her sensitive cunt, was nearly too much to bear. She couldn’t