Before the night was over, he was going to have her.
Without missing a beat, Ava’s gaze was drawn again and again to the heavily muscled stranger who stood at the foot of the stage. His face was cast in shadows, making it difficult to discern what he looked like. One thing was for sure, he was as tall as a mountain. While everybody else remained seated at their table, he chose to stand. Nobody dared to make him sit down.
69
Beverly Havlir
A frisson of awareness slithered down her spine. She could feel the heat of his eyes as she undulated around the platform. The detachment she normally felt at performing her sexy belly dance was nowhere to be found tonight. Her skin tingled with tight, prickling, hot and achy sensations.
The temperature rose several degrees. Beads of sweat formed on her forehead, despite the cool air that blasted from the cooling system. The rest of the room faded from her consciousness. The world narrowed to just the two of them. Every sway of her hips, every sexy swish was for him alone. Her dance became one of invitation. She didn’t know what was happening—she only felt it with her quickened breathing. All she knew with any certainty was that she was performing for him alone. She drifted to where he stood right at the edge of the stage, pulled by an irresistible force. Her gaze locked with his. Her nipples tingled, turning into stiff buds that pushed against the translucent material of her costume. Desire was a tight fist that knotted in her stomach, sudden and breathtaking.
I want you.
She read it in his dark eyes with startling clarity. Intense awareness snaked through her system, little fingers of heat drummed insistently on every inch of her flesh. Her dancing had taken on a sexual tempo. The heat in her eyes, though directed at him alone, was there for all to see. Her skin was hot, sensitized to the slightest breeze. Her blood pulsed in time with the heavy drums. The unmistakable proof of her arousal pooled damply between the folds of her pussy. May the Gods have mercy on her, she wanted him, too.
Tristan looked at her flushed cheeks and flared nostrils. His sensors picked up her arousal. Possessiveness swelled in him, the abruptness of the feeling taking him by surprise. The thick, coursing desire that rushed through his veins demanded fulfillment. She belonged to him.
Tension mounted in the room. All eyes were focused on her, mesmerized at the sexy dance she was performing. Tristan resented having to share her with the rapt audience. This show was for him alone. She’s mine.
His eyes caressed her silken body. The loose trousers hung low on her hips, giving him tantalizing glimpses of her soft skin. His fists clenched at her sexy gyrations. She turned in a circle and slowly withdrew a veil draped across her chest and threw it to him. He stretched an arm out and easily caught it, sniffing it much like a lover would. Murmurs of envy rose among the other men, some clamoring loudly for another veil. The thick sexual arousal that gripped the two of them communicated itself to the other patrons present, hiking their temperatures as well.
By the Gods of Karn’al, Tristan, Jed muttered in the com-link, unable to hide the large, telltale bulge in his pants. You’re generating enough heat to light up the whole resort. Logan swallowed visibly. He was not unaffected himself. Tris—
I want her.
70
Tristan’s Woman
Logan laid a calming hand on Tristan’s arm. Be careful you don’t attract the wrong kind of attention.
Tristan cast a restless glance around the dim lounge. Every male within thirty feet was affected by the unmistakable invitation to sex she was offering with every wiggle of her hips, every bounce of her breasts. His highly sensitive sense of smell picked up the sweet scent of her arousal. Those tight nipples pushed insistently against the transparent fabric of her top, making his hands itch to palm them. All because of me. All for me. Another stronger feeling of possessiveness rose to his throat, making it more urgent that he let everybody know she was his. His cock, thick and insistent, demanded to be appeased. Soon…
Ava shivered at the intense fire that lit the eyes of the mysterious stranger, gasping at the electric touch of his gaze. She didn’t know who he was and didn’t care. The air became oppressive. She began to pant. Needles of desire raced up her skin. She felt feverish, hot and achy. She was filled with the overwhelming urge to take her clothes off and offer him her body and soul.
His dark eyes smoldered with an answering desire.
It was a sensual shock to her system. Her pussy creamed, spreading outward to dampen her labia and her upper thighs at an alarming rate. Her eyes widened at the tight, prickling fluttering that started deep within her. By the Gods. She was going to come by the power of his gaze alone.
The tingling in her belly gained in strength, gathering momentum. Her movements slowed, her slightest movement sending waves of pleasure skittering through her susceptible pussy. Her clit throbbed. A moan worked its way past her throat as she came.
The music rose to a resounding crescendo, the heavy beat of the drum pulsing in time with the huge orgasm that slammed into her. Her lips fell open at the shock of ecstasy that swelled inside her. Her skin was slick with perspiration, her heart beat a rapid tattoo in her chest. All her motion stopped, halted by the tide of sharp sensations that pulsed inside her. Panting, trapped in his gaze, her body trembled from the force of her pleasure. Oh God, oh God…
Like a rag doll, she slid to the floor. She was so weakened with pleasure that she couldn’t move. Thunderous applause roared in the lounge, accompanied by catcalls and whistles. With great effort, she raised her face to look at him. He stood no more than a few feet from her. He watched her with a knowing smile, as if he knew exactly what she was feeling. It was one of those smug male smiles that said he knew he’d brought her pleasure and would do so again. Her spine stiffened at his arrogance. The brazen possessiveness evident in his eyes chased away the lingering pleasure that thrummed through her veins. Cursing her weak knees, she pulled herself up on unsteady legs. Just before she made it behind the curtains, she saw a familiar, 71
Beverly Havlir
burly man standing guard in the corner, his arms crossed, his eyes gleaming with speculation. Ava turned and ran.
Gold. Her eyes were the deep, shimmering gold of precious metal. Tristan made an effort to control the heart thudding in his chest. He had felt every single glorious sensation that tore through her, shared every bit of pleasure with her. He felt drained and energized at the same time.
He rubbed the silky material of the veil between his fingers. Her scent rose off the delicate silk, light and subtle, teasing his senses. He voiced the question plaguing his mind. “Who is she?”
Ampara hesitated. “I’m afraid she’s not available for one-on-one entertainment. She’s a performer, that’s all.”
“Tell me her name.” The command in his voice was unmistakable.
“Her name is Ava,” was Ampara’s hesitant reply.
“Ava,” Tristan repeated under his breath.
“There are any number of women ready to cater to your every desire,” Ampara offered. “Would you like to see them? You can have your pick of one, two, even three women.”
It was like Ampara hadn’t even spoken. He wasn’t interested in any other but Ava. The lights dimmed until there was near total darkness in the lounge. The audience began to leave, still exclaiming over the sensuous performance. Many vowed to return the next day to see her again. As Tristan listened, his jaw tightened with displeasure. If he had his way, she’d be performing that dance for him alone. “I want to meet her.”
Ampara shook her head firmly. “I’m afraid that’s not possible. Ava is not a pleasure worker. She’s a performer.” She smiled and softened her tone. “However, Pleasure Palace offers a wide array of choices for the discerning client. Please follow me.” She strode toward the opposite hallway.
Tristan turned to Jed. With a big grin, Jed sidled up to him and drawled over the com-link, Way ahead of you, Captain. I got a tracker on her. Tristan nodded, throwing Jed a quick grin of appreciat
ion. Quick thinking, Jed. He took the tracking module the younger man handed to him.
It’s a small payback for all the times you saved my ass, Jed stated in a teasing voice. Logan clapped the younger man on the back before he turned to Tristan. Go. Jed and I will reconnoiter, see if we come up with something. We’ll continually run a scan for Karn’alian and Pagan life force.
The mission— Tristan began.
Go, Tris, Logan insisted. Jed and I will do the legwork. Time enough for our mission tomorrow. He grinned. It’s about time you had some pussy. 72
Tristan’s Woman
It was true. He hadn’t had a woman in a while. And this one aroused him with stunning swiftness. He couldn’t wait to find her.
Jed and I will keep our hostess busy while you slip away, Logan reassured him, pulling Jed out into the hallway.
In the darkness of the lounge, it was easy for Tristan to sink deep in a secluded corner and check the coordinates on the tracker. The little, green blinking light was his target. She was swiftly moving north. Tristan vaulted onto the stage and through the curtain. He spied an exit door. Looking behind him to make sure he wasn’t followed, he eased out of the door into the inky blackness of the night and tracked her steadily through the dense forest. A different kind of urgency gripped him. He couldn’t wait to see her again. This time, she wouldn’t be the only one coming. 73
Beverly Havlir
Chapter Two
Ava fled into the darkness, her veils trailing on the soft, damp soil. Her feet flew over the ground, taking her deeper into the woods. She didn’t need any kind of light to illuminate her path. She knew the way like the back of her hand. She needed to get home right away. Only in her quarters did she feel completely safe. What had happened back there? She didn’t know and couldn’t explain. All she could remember for certain was the intensity with which she was drawn to the mysterious stranger, an irresistible kind of magnetism. Who was he? He didn’t look like any visitor she’d ever seen before. The cloak he wore couldn’t quite hide the sheer strength of his heavily muscled body. She shivered, though the night’s temperature was warm. The lust that glowed in his eyes had been there for all to see. He wanted her. She felt it deep inside her pussy where moisture still lingered. The possession in his eyes was unyielding. He meant to have her. So she did the only thing that she could do. She fled to the safety of her secluded cottage.
The automatic doors swished open with silent swiftness. She ran in and leaned against the wall, her heartbeat thundering in her ears. Only when the doors closed did she let out a sigh of relief. She sagged to the floor, putting her head between her knees, pulling in deep, measured breaths to calm the heart that was currently trying to jump out of her chest. There would be hell to pay if it were to reach Malek’s ears that she had practically consorted with a client while performing. The burly snitch of a guard he assigned to watch over her nightly performances had been standing behind the stage curtain tonight, quietly observing, intimidating as always. She was expressly forbidden to have any contact, even minimal, with resort clientele. The punishment would be swift and harsh.
“Why did you run?”
With a shriek, she jumped up and found him standing right inside the door. Her eyes grew as round as saucers. He was even more imposing up close. Beneath his cloak, his trousers molded the thick muscles of his thighs and the light, almost translucent shirt clung to his chest. Her gaze slid up to his face. His dark, obsidian eyes were intimidating under the slash of his eyebrows. His nose was slightly crooked in the middle. His lips were firm, his jaw square. There was nothing soft about him. He looked dangerous, completely menacing. “H-how did you get in here?”
He shrugged, his sharp gaze raking over her in a way that was becoming familiar to her. It was a look of ownership, a stamp of possession. “It was easy enough.”
Her spine stiffened, though she took one step back for good measure. “You have to get out of here,” she hissed in a furious whisper. Her eyes darted to the walls with 74
Tristan’s Woman
something akin to panic. She just knew that bastard Malek had installed closed circuit monitors in her quarters to watch her every move.
He followed her gaze. With a frown, he glanced at the walls. He held up a finger to silence her for a moment. Then he grinned. “Jamming signal initiated.”
She frowned in confusion. “Jamming signal?” Then she shook her head. “No, no. That won’t work. You have to get out of here.”
He took one step toward her. “Whoever they are, they won’t know I’m here,” he stated with supreme confidence. “There’s no need to be afraid.”
Ava backed away, glancing with frustration as the distance between her and the door grew farther. “I don’t know what you think you’re doing. But if you think you can barge in here to—to—”
His eyebrow rose mockingly. “To what? To make you come again like you did back there?”
She flushed. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she denied tightly. “You shouldn’t have followed me. I want you to get out of here.”
His eyes gleamed with heat. “Did you think after that cock-teasing performance you gave me that I wouldn’t come after you?”
Her chin came up, fighting the lure of his deep voice. “I didn’t perform just for you. I danced for everybody out there.”
“Liar,” he accused softly. “You danced just for me. Every move you made was designed to arouse me. Every sexy sway of your hips orchestrated to inflame me. It worked.”
She shook her head in denial. “You’re delusional.”
“I assure you, I’m not.” A half-grin played around his lips. “Do you need me to remind you of what I’m talking about?”
She warded him off with a hand. “Stay right there. I don’t even know who you are.”
“I’m the man who’s going to fuck you tonight,” he declared with supreme confidence. His gaze ran over her barely clothed form once more. Ava almost melted from the heat of his gaze. She resisted the urge to bring her hands up to cover herself. She lifted her chin, the defiant gesture totally at odds with the tight peaks of her nipples pushing against her thin costume top. “You’re so sure of that, are you?”
“As sure as the wetness that’s spreading through your pussy right this moment,” he returned with silken softness.
Her cheeks burned. Damn him. How the hell did he know that? Clenching her fists, she faced him with false bravado. “If you think I’m going to let you touch me, you’re mistaken. One call and security will be swarming here in seconds.”
He gave her a feral grin. “First, you have to actually reach the button. And I have no intention of letting you do that.” He advanced toward her. Eyes widening, Ava took a 75
Beverly Havlir
step back, then another when he didn’t stop. “Let’s see how you feel in a few minutes, after I’ve gotten you in bed.”
With a gasp of fear, Ava whirled around and ran to the safety of her bedroom. She’d taken no more than a couple of steps when his arms locked around her waist like steel bands and actually lifted her off the floor. She struggled without success, trying to pry his arms off her middle. Her blows didn’t even faze him as he continued on into her bedroom. The breath rushed from her lungs as he dropped her on the bed. She scrambled to her knees and tried to glare at him. She swallowed as, with a flick of his wrist, the cloak fell to his feet. He slowly, deliberately, began to unbutton his shirt. “You don’t know what you’re doing,” she managed to say huskily. “You can’t be found in here.”
He grinned. “So I can stay if they don’t find out?” He didn’t stop until all the buttons were undone. “By the way, who are they? What are you so afraid of?” he added casually.
The sight of the taut muscles of his bare chest momentarily robbed her of thought. She blinked, trying ineffectively to clear her thoughts. “You don’t understand,” she breathed after a moment. “There will be repercussions if I’m discovered entertaining you.”
His
eyes narrowed. “Do you entertain all the time?”
“Of course not,” she blurted out indignantly before she realized what she was saying. His pleased smile had her gritting her teeth. “Not that it’s any of your business. Will you stop that?” she snapped when his fingers went to the button of his trousers. He didn’t even pause in what he was doing. He undid the button of his fly and lowered the zipper, as casual as you please, as if he did this all the time. She could only gape at him when he pushed the trousers down his hips and stepped out of them. He stood in front of her fully naked and fully aroused. The words she was about to say stuck in her throat. He was, quite simply, magnificent.
His shaft rose from a base of dark curls up to his navel. His cock was as thick as her wrist, capped with a broad, mushroom-shaped head. The sight was mesmerizing. The skin looked silky-soft in contrast to the steel-hard muscle it covered. He took his cock in his fisted hand. There were tiny lines of strain around his lips.
“Take your clothes off.”
Ava gulped. “You…you…” She took a deep breath. “You have to leave,” she finished huskily.
“I’m giving you five seconds to undress,” he warned. “After that, I take it off.”
She tore her gaze away from the stiff flesh that jutted proudly at her, silently tempting her to touch, to taste. “Listen, I don’t know what happened back there. But we can’t do this. I’m asking you to leave.”
His eyes flashed. “Negative. I’m not leaving.” He put a knee on the bed. Startled, Ava scrambled to the opposite side. Her gaze darted from him to the door, judging the 76
Tristan’s Woman
Pleasure Planet Page 10
