Slow Burn

by Sascha Illyvich

“You must not be that bright.” He dipped his head down and flicked his tongue over a breast. He found the hem of her shirt and pulled it up, only to have it caught by his coat.

  “You’re going to make this difficult, aren’t you?”

  A wry smile crossed her lips and she blinked, fluttering her eyelashes. “You just said I wasn’t that bright. So I think I should.”

  Determined to strip her until all she wore was that playful grin, he slid away. “Fine. Two can play this game, Sonja.” Then he reached for her with one hand.

  She started to move.

  Capturing her wrist, he pulled her to him, brought his mouth down on hers, and wrapped his arms around her curvy frame. He swept his tongue around the inside of her mouth and she made a soft groan that hardened his cock even more than he thought humanly possible. She felt so good in his arms, so soft, supple.

  He slid his hand under her shirt, spread out his fingers, and felt the sizzle of erotic heat between them. Her flat stomach begged for love bites.

  They pulled apart and shifted, with her straddling his hips. The pain he’d bit back could go fuck itself as long as this woman was the one making him ache.

  Her body rocked against his, reinforcing their fit into each other.

  He thrust his tongue past her lips and into her mouth. She lifted her hands but he forced them back at her sides. Using the added strength of the puma, he shoved the coat off her shoulders and down so it bound her arms.

  Then he pulled back from the kiss and started licking down her jaw, over her neck until she mewled and balled her hands into frustrated fists. If he could drive her insane the way she had him, that’d help with whatever caused the tears earlier, and then they could talk.

  That’s the lie his rational mind tried to tell him. His body had other plans he intended on going with.

  “Perfect sound.” He continued to lick and kiss her neck, collarbone before nipping the top of a creamy breast.

  Throwing her head back with a shiver, she exposed her neck to him. She opened her mouth, formed a perfect O with her lips, and let out a small groan.

  She’d been in his mind. He felt it seconds ago, the little prying blip that alerted him to someone else rummaging around in his head. Too bad, she would only see his ravenous desire to fuck her silly.

  He pushed the coat further down her arms, exposing flesh and ridding her of one more protective layer against his sensual assault.

  When their mouths met again, her tongue slipped past his lips, stroking and suckling his.

  She slid her arms free of his coat and wrapped them around his neck, fisting his hair.

  With the coat finally pushed off her arms, he could now reach for the hem of her shirt. He tugged at it and broke from the kiss. “Do you want this, Sonja? I’ll stop.” He had to choke those words out. “If you want.”

  Glaring, she nipped his bottom lip. “Fuck me, Derrick.”

  Even a fool would understand the desperation on her face and be able to imagine the sultry way she spoke.

  Derrick lifted her shirt up and over her head, exposing her breasts to the air. No bra, and again he shivered with the thought of how goddamned sexy she was. “You’re so incredibly lovely.”

  “Taste me.”

  He pushed her back at arm’s length and stared, taking in the exquisite view of lush breasts with pink nipples that pointed at him, made his mouth water.

  She let out a heavy sigh. “Are you going to ogle my tits like one of my fans or are you going to play with me?”

  His lips curled up in a wicked smile. He loved her demanding, breathy voice. Before he could respond, she leaned forward, pinning him down on the bed. “You’re new to this. You’re wearing too many clothes.” She trapped his thighs with hers, giving him a squeeze that made his cock pulse.

  She rubbed her crotch over his and heat sent a crackle of power through the air.

  Derrick rolled her onto her back, enjoying the sight of her breasts bared for him, her red hair fanning out behind and beneath her. He used his preternatural speed to shift their positions again so she now sat up. Then he caught her breasts in his hands and gave them both a gentle squeeze while eliciting a moan from her. “I am so not new at this. I just like to take my time appreciating a beautiful creature.”

  Impatiently, she began fumbling with his shirt. “You can take this off.” She tugged at it. “Or I can yank it off and you’ll need a new shirt.”

  Before he could respond, she ripped the shirt off him, exposing him.

  She let out a low whistle of appreciation. “I guess we’re even now.”

  Derrick cocked his head. “Are you going to stare at me?” He chuckled. “Or are we going to fuck?”

  Her mouth curled up in a smile. She shoved against his chest, batted her eyelashes, and scooted her ass over his crotch. “We’re going to fuck. Now.”

  Derrick braced himself.

  Sonja slithered down his body, covering his chest with kisses and bites. He shivered against each one, especially when she took a nipple in her mouth and sucked.

  If she took his cock in her hot little mouth, he’d lose it instantly. No other woman had this finesse or wickedness in her sex, and Derrick wanted her to know it. He’d make damn sure she came and came hard.

  She bit down, applying gentle pressure and suckling, just like he’d do to her. He should have stopped her and tried to figure out what they were doing in a foreign bed and what their next move would be, but logic failed him.

  Her power probed his mind again. Ever so slightly, it broke his concentration just enough to reveal her presence.

  “You’re only allowed to use your body to do this, sweet Jesus!” Her teeth grazed against his now exposed hip.

  When did she slide his jeans down?

  Her tongue sliding along the cord of muscle stole any thought from him. She held his erection firmly with one hand while her other cupped his balls and tugged lightly.

  “How did you?”

  She arched a brow. “Witch, remember?” She bent forward and stroked his cock with her tongue while her breasts pressed against his thighs.

  His balls drew up against his body and her fingers continued rolling them around, tugging the sack. She drew a nail up the ridge of his balls, making him shudder.

  He looked down the length of his body, saw her ass up in the air while she bit and sucked at flesh, driving the heat level higher between them. This needs to stop, some part of him thought. They were…

  The warmth of her mouth sealed over him. She took most of his cock in, swirled her tongue around it like a candy cane, before sucking hard while drawing up the length of his shaft until she popped the head out.

  He hissed through clenched teeth and gripped the bed sheets tightly.

  Her mouth worked up and down the length of his shaft. Her tongue snaked around the thick head of his cock, making his breath race. His heart beat faster and faster in tune with her sucking. “If you don’t stop, I’m going to come.”

  She popped the head of his cock out of her mouth again and grinned. “That’s the point.”

  Not if he could help it. He wanted to be inside her heat when he had his release, and he wanted her to have hers first, while he still gripped something resembling sanity.

  The probe in his mind disappeared, leaving behind a lingering sensation she quickly erased with her wicked tongue.

  She lifted her head and let strands of hair fall on each side of her face, giving her the look of a witch bent on seduction. “You’re cute telling me no, babe. But…” She gave him one last lick. “I get off on power play, too.” She blinked and began crawling up his body. “I am dying for this. So…” Her breasts pillowed against his chest. Their eyes met, and she stared back just as fiercely as his beast. “Fuck me, cat.”

  He couldn’t ignore the demanding tone in her voice. Yet, it wasn’t magic, it was simply…her.

  Sultry, sensual, and slightly dominating.

  He caught her jeans, popped the button, and tugged the zipper down
to expose more of her heady, memorable scent, along with smooth, creamy flesh. Derrick inhaled, drawing that scent into his nose and mind forever. No relationships, he reminded himself, but he could have the memories of a happy time for now.

  She snickered until he yanked her jeans down.

  “These are coming off before I totally lose my grip on reality.” He needed to find himself lost in her, not in front of her.

  Before she responded, he gave her jeans and panties a hard yank. Then he spanked her now bare, beautiful ass.

  She hissed and bit him again.

  “You’re taunting a wild animal.” He growled, rolled them both over so that he lay on top now.

  Legs trapped by her clothes, she struggled against him, but the effort remained futile. “You’ve got me. Now what? Make me pay for taunting the mountain lion?”

  The puma inside growled at the defiance of his authority. Derrick found it exciting, attractive. “Yes, you’ll be punished for challenging the puma about to ride you. And for stealing his coat.”

  Eyes twinkling with mischief, amusement filled her voice. “It looks better on me.”

  He mentally added her playful nature to the list of things he loved about her, then bit her neck and earned another growl from her.

  She kicked out, squealed, and laughed. Her voice dipped another notch. “Take me. Make me yours.” She kicked out again, untangling her legs from the confines of her jeans.

  The words caught him by surprise, setting off warning bells in the back of his mind, but they did nothing to stop the ardent arousal that controlled him. She had no idea what she’d just asked of him. The binding between human and puma would ensure he’d be able to track her anywhere in the world and would make it easier for her to slip into his mind.

  Like she needed the help; he’d felt her probe twice already, and while the sensation would normally annoy him, her doing this comforted him, heightened their arousal. Almost as if they shared this moment on a much deeper level.

  Taking himself in hand, Derrick positioned himself just at the entrance of her heat. He planned to relish slaking his lust for her. Just the brush of his dick against her slick wetness threatened to consume him. Not that he cared. Burning up in her was about the best thing he could ever hope for, considering how beautiful she was and how empty his life had become.

  And how she’d seemingly captured a part of him he hadn’t acknowledged in years.

  “Come on.” She bucked her hips up, pushing him into her.

  Derrick couldn’t hold back any longer. With one measured thrust, he speared her deep, felt the fist of her pussy grip him. “Oh Goddess, Sonja! Just…fucking Goddess!”

  She squeezed him with satiny muscles, clenching him even tighter. “You just keep that thought in mind.”

  Nodding, Derrick drew back, panted to catch his breath. He met her gaze, saw the raw power in her eyes, the fact that they began rolling back in her head when he moved.

  He braced himself on his arms, wrapped himself around her, and pumped once.

  Twice.

  She gasped.

  Then he did it again, picking up a slow, steady rhythm until she began bucking back, forcing him to match her thrusts or lose the rhythm.

  Her nostrils flared, the musty scent of sex filled the air along with her earthen femininity. Something about her being a witch, being close to the moon, only heightened his enjoyment.

  Her muscles bunched beneath his when she bucked back. The sound of sweaty skin slapping against skin echoed loudly in the room while they moved with decadence.

  Each time he pulled back, her sheath gripped the head of his cock, making his heart beat double time against his chest.

  Sweat ran down his face, covered her skin in glistening beauty.

  But he could hold back no more.

  Lowering his mouth to hers, he kissed her, dragged his mouth across her sweat-soaked skin, and licked a salty trail down her neck.

  Sonja stiffened, gripped him even tighter, and screamed for him to continue fucking her.

  The ravenous sound of her yelling his name spurred him on, faster and harder, balls slapping against her ass, while he pumped and filled her.

  It hit. The first wave caused her body to tighten, shake beneath him.

  Derrick continued pumping, his hands gripping her ass and her shoulder, pulling her to him. Hips bucked, tilted, and took him in deeper while he drove into her and pulled her release from her. He staved off his own orgasm while she washed his cock with hers.

  Nails dug into his flesh, clawed at his back. A hand gripped his ass while she shook beneath him. “Goddess, Derrick!” Her breath came in rapid pants while her heart thundered against her chest so loud that Derrick could hear it.

  “Come in me,” she begged.

  The alluring, yet haunting sound of her scream tugging at his inner primal desires forced him over the edge and into the wind, setting him flying, falling. He kissed her, this time hard enough to bruise her lips while he was sure other parts of her would have the same love bites in a few hours. He drove into her in a staccato rhythm that made his gut tighten.

  Then she clamped her legs closer, tightening her grip on him even more, creating delicious friction that stopped while he jerked inside her, spilling his seed over and over until the convulsions in his cock and body settled and he caught his breath.

  She blinked, moved strands of hair stuck to the skin on his face to behind his ear, and smiled, that very satisfied smile only a well-fucked woman could wear before she closed her eyes.

  Derrick wrapped his arms around her and rolled them to their sides. Sonja’s body still enveloped his; her arms clutched his as though he were her strength. Her eyes closed and eyelashes fluttered against his cheek.

  In a few moments, she fell asleep. He didn’t blame her; her ordeal would exhaust anyone.

  The shift in energy had become noticeable, too. Derrick noted the absence of all things heavy, dark. While not quite airy, the best way he could describe the magic surrounding them was light. Well, lighter anyway. He still had his demons and he suspected she did, too.

  Probably the reason for the tears earlier. What had he seen again? Those weren’t his memories, they were hers. Her magic drove her to collect all that energy and take it in, but that also meant she took in all the pain and sorrow of those she healed in the process. She needed a filter; it seemed sex was a good one. He had to wonder if that worked for others or just with him. A small smile curled his lips at the thought that only he could provide solace from her ghosts. It quickly died when he realized it was unlikely, and he couldn’t fathom why.

  With a free hand, Derrick pulled the sheet over them and positioned them so they were both comfortable in bed. He fluffed her pillow and settled in with her clinging to him.

  Her brother had asked him to watch her and protect her, and he’d done just that. But the threat hadn’t been isolated yet. Those men they rescued her from were just pawns in a larger game.

  The deep connection they shared happened so quickly he wondered if her predicament caused it or if his feelings for her were genuine. He let out a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. His mind wouldn’t get the best of him yet. Not until he was away from her, would he give pause to think about everything that happened so fast.

  They’d have to talk. No doubt about it. Especially after he’d come inside her and forgotten about the words his father spoke to him.

  “You’ll get her knocked up the first time, son. Don’t you worry. We’ll have more pumas in the area.”

  Derrick groaned. He didn’t know how a human could have a child with a shifter. He hadn’t gotten close enough to anyone to ever find out because he’d always used protection.

  “Shit.” He sighed and tried to relax his body. Sonja would need him to be calm and tranquil by the time she woke up.

  And for no reason he could explain other than it was the right thing to do, he’d be calm and tranquil.

  The bond had been established.

&n
bsp; * * *

  “Wake up, love birds.”

  A low voice alerted Sonja, and her eyes opened. She lay with her body plastered to Derrick’s and with him still inside her. And still so very aroused. Glancing over his shoulder, she saw Max standing before them, dressed in black jeans, thigh-high Goth-style boots, and a black long-sleeved shirt. The thin goatee on his chin was properly trimmed. Green eyes narrowed.

  A sigh followed. “I knew you two were going to end up this way, but goddammit…”

  Derrick stirred. Realization that they weren’t alone must have hit because he pulled the covers over himself and Sonja’s chest before pulling out of her and turning to face Max. “Where are we?”

  “We’re in Miami.” Max smirked.

  “What the fuck are we doing in Miami?” Sonja stirred and looked around for her jeans. On the floor, along with her panties, shirt, and her new trench coat. “Great.” She muttered the last part beneath her breath.

  “I know it’s not optimal, but the thing is, you two made a big mistake. You…” Max pointed a lit cigar at Sonja. “Just had to kill off Russian Spetznaz operatives working for a bigger paying client, thus eliminating our only leads. He was paying them to kidnap you and start a war with America over the shifter thing.” Max pointed his cigar at Derrick.

  Like this was news before. Same shit, different toilet. “So? What does this have to do with me?”

  “Because…” Max took a puff off his cigar and blew a thick cloud of white smoke into the air. “They were hoping to enlist your services to conquer their enemies, i.e. the humans. If they couldn’t have you, they’d kill you and then start slaughtering humans. Also, I have the dossier on your latest job, Derrick.”

  He stiffened. “Fuck.” Derrick sat up and looked at Sonja, then at Max. “So what do we do?”

  Sonja moved and clutched the sheet tighter to her chest. “Wait, what latest job?”

  Derrick averted his gaze from hers just long enough to clue her in.

  She blinked. “Wait a moment. Miami, you guys on the other end of the negotiations. My brother…” She didn’t bother hiding the ire in her voice. “What are you guys?”

  “I’m sort of like the CIA for shifters. Derrick can tell you his deal later. But your brother was doing what he thought was necessary to handle things and keep you safe based on this.” Max pulled out a sheet of paper from the folder beside him and handed it to Sonja.