by Lisa Ladew
He sprinted ahead of her, his claws digging into the dusty road as he blocked her path. You’re not.
Gemma’s face turned furious.
Riot shifted, standing naked, and immediately recognized his mistake.
She raised her knife and attacked.
Fuck me, this again? Riot wasn’t sure what he’d done to deserve this level of fuckery in his life, but- oh hell, yes he was. Only this time you’ve got important things to lose. Like your dick. Riot’s eyes flashed to the sharp blade Gemma wielded.
She slammed into his naked body, all the strength in her tiny frame behind the thrust of her weapon, aimed for his stomach. Shit! Riot snagged Gemma’s wrist at the last second and pushed back on her arm, narrowly missing being gutted. All his focus was on her knife now. He ripped the weapon away, flinging it towards the wall of rock as Gemma rained scratches and punches down on him with her free hand.
Just like last time he took her knife, Gemma’s fury flared and she came at him like wildfire.
“Gemma, it’s me!” Riot grabbed both of her arms, pinned them to her sides just to keep those fingernails off him, and started pushing Gemma back up the hill. “It’s Riot.” But she didn’t respond, other than to keep fighting. Maybe I can strap her to my bike, get us the fuck out of here.
Riot realized with a sinking feeling in his gut how wrong he was. Gemma wasn’t going anywhere like this. You're going to have to do something, he told himself. Fight, fuck, or run, those were his choices. None of them seemed right. None of any of this seemed right.
Gemma shrieked and snapped her jaws at Riot, getting hold of his shoulder with her teeth and biting down so hard he yelped and turned, pressing her back hard against the rock wall. “I’m trying to help you.”
Gemma stopped struggling. Stopped biting at him. She softened in his grip. A low moan escaped her lips as she brushed them against Riot’s chest. She kissed him, one time, just over his right pec.
“So help me,” she purred at him.
Riot was hard instantly, his body responding to her words. She noticed and smiled in a way that made him snarl. Snarl again. And again.
If she had any idea what she was asking of him…
But he would help her. Of course he would.
Chapter 23 - Happy Kitties
Gemma knew what was happening to her this time, but she was just as powerless to stop it as she had been at her last Undoing. Moreso, maybe. The bloodlust that was surging through her body caused an ache even worse than the pain of getting her ass beat by her first vampire. Riot had her against a wall of rock, and his hands gripping her arms burned with an intensity she couldn't fight. And now that she'd gotten a look at that body, it was all she wanted.
And she wanted it all.
Riot wasn't moving, wasn't responding to her, except for that sexy snarl. He wasn’t aggressing but he wasn’t stopping her. She needed.
Gemma dropped to her knees between hard wall behind her and hard body in front of her, Riot’s grip on her arms keeping her steady. The tip of his beautiful cock was right in front of her and she devoured it, spread her lips as wide as they would go and sucked him deep into her mouth. Gemma tightened her lips around him as she pulled her head back, not releasing, subtly encouraging him to fuck her mouth. Please. It's all I want.
With a groan Riot obliged, one hand releasing her arm to sink into her curls as he surged forward, pressing deeper into her mouth. Gemma's free hand immediately landed on his ass, pressing, kneading the firm muscles as he backed off and surged again, his head slipping past her soft palate. “Fuck, Gemma. Take it.”
She pulled her other hand free and slapped it on his ass, too, wriggling to take him deeper. As deep as she could. Gemma reveled in the feel of him stretching her throat, then pulled back with a gasp.
Gemma glanced at Riot, saw him looking back, his jaw slack with passion. Then his sea-green eyes went deep as jade and he used his hand in her hair to pull Gemma upright, straight toward him.
She stumbled to her feet as Riot took her mouth, pressing her back against the sheer rock wall as his tongue went deep. Gemma was so overwhelmed she almost didn't notice his other hand grappling at her thighs, lifting one knee high and wrapping it around his lean hip and then disappearing to pull her panties aside, rub his fingertips against her supple flesh to test her readiness.
Her hands burrowed frantically between their bodies and she grabbed Riot’s thick shaft, pulling him closer to where she needed him so badly. Gemma felt the tip of him against her entrance and her hips bucked, taking him just an inch inside her. She heard Riot’s gasp mirror hers and their eyes flew to meet each other.
He held Gemma’s gaze as he worked his hips back and forth, just the tip of him inside her at first, but then more and more as the smooth glide of her slick channel welcomed him home. Gemma could feel it was important to him that they see each other, for it to be the two of them sharing this moment. Not just mindless bodies. No matter how the rush of sensation made her want to shut her eyes to contain it, or how scared she was that Riot would see everything she felt for him in her unguarded gaze, she would keep this connection. For him she would do it.
But all that energy had to come out somehow. Her back pressed against the wall for leverage, Gemma moved her hands to Riot’s shoulders, her fingernails digging ruthlessly into his skin. He hissed in a breath and dove for her mouth, kissing her with a passion and violence she’d never experienced before. Holy fuck, it’s so good.
She ripped her mouth away and looked in his eyes again, the connection so intoxicating she couldn’t deny her feelings. After all these years. Riot. Inside me. A deep, loud, churning moan burst from her throat. “God, Riot, don’t stop. So good.”
He didn’t stop. Kept working her with that slick hardness, every inch stroking deep and hitting, oh fuck, just the right spots. Her back was rubbed on rock and Gemma didn’t even care, she loved the sting. Inner muscles clenched and released around him, in her control one second and then suddenly on their own, a sweet, uncontrollable spasm starting deep inside her and blooming outward.
Gemma screamed. Riot slapped a hand over her mouth and for just a second she knew she was inviting trouble to find them, but she couldn’t stop. Riot was ravishing her, savaging her with his long, lean, hard body, and she was loving it. Her orgasm shimmered through every inch of nerve endings and back to where they joined.
One of his hands covered her mouth as the other gripped her thigh around his hip, and Riot used what leverage he had to slam harder inside her, taking everything Gemma wanted so badly to give him. And still he met her eyes. Sweat dripped down his forehead but he never stopped focusing on Gemma, giving as well as taking.
He groaned and Gemma felt him swell inside her. She gasped against his hand and one finger slipped so that she could suck it inside her mouth, tongue the calloused pad just like she had the head of his cock. Gemma’s eyes narrowed on Riot’s as she drew his finger deep.
He rewarded her with grinding teeth and hips, churning his body against hers and making her moan around his finger, lean her head back in ecstasy against the wall behind her. But his voice called her upright, to meet his eyes. Startling, deep green was the only thing she saw in the failing light as his groaning words reached her ears. “Do you want me to cum for you, Gemma?”
Tears blinded her eyes and her heart cried out as she nodded frantically and sucked his finger deeper into her mouth, wanting him to feel everything she did and more. Wanting to bring him the same pleasure he’d given her so generously.
Riot ripped his hand away from her mouth and hooked both arms under her legs, pulling Gemma’s back off of the rock behind her, taking all her weight. He stood tall and solid, jaw clenched hard as granite with his need, as he locked his hands behind Gemma’s back and slammed her body down on his. All Gemma could do was hold on.
He dove for her mouth again, sucking her tongue deep as an unholy groan rose up from his chest, so powerful Gemma could feel it reverberate through her whole bod
y. She felt the hot spasm of his release inside her and was instantly more deeply satisfied than she’d ever been in her life. Ever.
Soft kisses replaced driving passion as Riot’s breathing slowed and his grip gentled, though he still supported her entire body weight. Gemma felt delicate, precious, sheltered in his arms, in a way she never had before. Riot kissed the skin in front of Gemma’s ear and whispered hotly, “I never would’ve thought you’d be so fucking wicked.”
Gemma giggled. She never giggled. Fuck. She rested her head on Riot’s sweaty chest. “I knew you would be.” And I loved every damn minute of it.
His chest rumbled under her ear with quiet laughter. “Come on. We need to get out of here while we still can.” And somehow Gemma knew he wasn’t just worried about the threat of vampires.
Riot leaned Gemma back against the wall behind her as he released her legs and withdrew from her body, both of them moaning and gasping at the hot slide and cool air. Then he paused, took a moment to help her tattered skirt drop into place, and another as he pulled Gemma’s bodice this way and that, trying to get the ruined fabric to cover her breasts. She couldn’t help smiling at his pursed lips and the wrinkle in his forehead when he realized it was hopeless. Sweet man, trying to shield me.
Gemma put her hand over Riot’s. “It’s okay. I’ll be pressed up against you while we’re riding, anyway.”
His eyes brightened. “I have spare clothes in my saddlebags. Bet I’ve got a shirt you can borrow.”
Gemma felt a twinge of guilt as Riot grabbed her hand and started back up the hill towards his bike. If I’d let someone do the everweft spell on him, he wouldn’t be in this situation.
But then she caught a view of his naked legs flexing to gorgeous ass, made more gorgeous by moonlight shadows. Cat, was all she could think. Sexy, forest cat with big teeth and claws. Dangerous.
Gemma’s guilt fell away as she enjoyed the view.
Chapter 24 - Riot In The Sheets
They reached his bike - snagging Gemma’s knife and Riot’s boots along the way - and Riot reached into the saddlebags, pulling out a t-shirt he handed to Gemma and a pair of sweatpants for himself. It would do to get them home.
Riot knew there was still a chance of vampires, especially now that the sun was fully gone and the moon was rising. Also, he didn’t know if Gemma was going to need to Prowl again, but he bet she would, and soon. From what he’d experienced with the anonymous switch all those weeks ago, Riot suspected that tonight was going to be exhausting in the best way.
He’d given up questioning whether or not he should enjoy it. From the first touch of Gemma’s lips on his body, everything about the way they’d come together had been perfect. If there was even the slightest chance that this night was all they were ever going to have - and he knew beyond a shred of hope that the chances were far better than slight - then Riot was damn well going to suck out every ounce of pleasure that he could.
Gemma pulled the t-shirt over her ruined dress as Riot tucked her knife in a saddlebag and put on his sweatpants and boots, keeping a close eye on Gemma. Her green glow had settled after their encounter against the rocks, but now… Is it my eyes, or is she ramping up again? Riot looked to her hands, clasping at nothing, and was glad he’d put the knife where she couldn’t reach it while they were riding. A sense of urgency filled him nonetheless. No time for helmets, we need to get gone.
He held Gemma’s hand as he flung one leg over the bike, worried she might bolt. But she mounted the bike behind him and wrapped her arms tight around Riot’s naked torso, her voice sounding scared in his ear. “Hurry.”
Riot started the engine, felt the bike purring underneath him. Gemma’s body twisted against his back and he swore he heard her moan. Riot’s gut sank with apprehension. How far could Gemma make it?
He kicked off and started down the dirt road, the bike bouncing on ruts from old tire tracks and rainwater runoff. Riot opened the throttle as far as he dared, wanting to get them away from the temptation of the gold mine as quickly as he could. The sign for the turnoff slid by in the glow of his headlight and Riot breathed a small sigh of relief.
But they were still miles from pavement, back in the maze of service roads where nobody had any business being. Gemma’s hands splayed across his abs and she moaned behind him. “Riot.” Her voice was plaintive and small. Hot, nimble hands slid from his abs to the waistband of Riot’s sweatpants, scurrying under before he could stop her.
Not that he wanted to.
One small hand took hold of Riot's shaft and started tugging, stroking, squeezing him to almost painful hardness, while the other slipped to his balls and ran fingernails over the sensitive skin, tickling and teasing as Riot gritted his teeth. He looked side to side in the dark for a place to pull over, but there was none. The brush and trees reached all the way to the edges of the deserted red clay road.
Guess we’re stopping here, then. Riot came to a halt in the middle of the road but didn’t shut the bike down, just toed out the kickstand and twisted his body to grab Gemma from behind him. He kept one of her tan, slender legs close, sliding it around his waist as he lifted and twisted back to front, bringing her along to straddle him.
She didn’t hesitate, just pushed the waistband of his pants down as she lifted the hem of her skirt high, letting Riot’s hands guide their joining. Gemma moaned as she sank down on him, so slick and stretched from their earlier lovemaking there was no resistance at all, just that wonderful, snug warmth of being held as deep inside her as he could get.
Gemma linked her fingers behind Riot’s neck and worked her hips in a circle, grinding on his lap like it was her goddamn job. She lifted her legs and Riot felt her ankles cross behind his back, her thighs squeezing his middle as she slid her body against his and moaned.
Lost in the way she rode him, Riot pushed the t-shirt Gemma wore up to her throat and pulled the ripped fabric of her dress aside so he could suck a pert brown nipple into his mouth. Gemma bucked on his cock, one hand moving from his neck to the back of his head and holding him to her, stroking his close-cropped hair as she sighed out her pleasure. Riot felt her nipple pebble harder on his tongue and drew his mouth away, tilting Gemma's body to get to the other breast, only hazily aware of how she moaned with his rough handling.
Because suddenly Riot couldn’t get his breath back. She’d taken it, taken everything he had. And it didn’t matter that he’d given himself freely, offered his body for her safety and his own satisfaction. All he knew was that by making that call, he’d lost something he could never get back, and that Gemma wouldn’t want to keep.
But he wouldn’t name it. Wouldn’t even look at it. There would be time for that later, when Gemma was all Prowled out and didn’t need him anymore. When Riot was free to pick up the pieces she left behind and see if they amounted to anything.
With a gasp and a shaky moan, Gemma froze on top of him, her whole body trembling with a climax so strong he felt it milking him. Riot grabbed her hips and rocked them against his, plunging deep inside. His balls tightened and a tingle started in the base of his spine, quickly spreading through him as he came and came inside of Gemma’s tight body, still clenching in rhythm with her scattered breaths as they came back to earth.
Even before he’d released Gemma, Riot began to worry how he was going to get her home. Not only was it going to take forever, but what if she pulled her so-very-welcome motorcycle safety violations on the highway?
A familiar scent reached him, brought over on a breeze. Baby’s breath. Backup. He looked over Gemma’s shoulder, still rising and falling with her panting breaths, knowing exactly what he would see, what hadn’t been there a moment before. Right in front of the wheel of his bike, a big patch of baby’s breath. Riot grinned. Resperanza to the rescue.
He slipped out of Gemma and set their clothes to rights as much as possible, then pressed her body close again and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Hold on,” he whispered in Gemma’s ear, and moved his hands to the handleb
ars to steer as he knocked up the kickstand and walked the bike forward.
He’d just felt the change in the ground beneath the wheel, the soft squish of it leaving dirt road for plant matter, when he, Gemma, and his motorcycle were spun through something he couldn't explain. Less than a second later they landed outside Resperanza’s front door and Riot released the breath he’d been holding.
Gemma raised her eyes. “We’re home,” she squeaked. “How in the hell did that happen?”
Riot laughed at the dazed look on her face. “I found a hell of a shortcut. Resperanza says this is where we need to be right now.” He’d told Shiloh and Ryder about the shortcuts, too, finally, and they agreed: all signs pointed to Resperanza being the connection. And for once Riot was grateful for the attention, if it kept Gemma safe.
Tender feelings flooded Riot, feelings he couldn’t help but give in to. He kissed Gemma’s cheek. She smiled at him, a more intimate smile than what they’d just shared in her Prowl. It hurt him. He loved it.
He killed the engine and helped Gemma off the motorcycle, then set the kickstand, trusting Resperanza to handle it as well as she did everything else. Gemma shivered, only Riot’s t-shirt and her ruined dress between her and the nighttime air. Riot opened the front door and pulled Gemma inside.
Voices filtered down the hall from the living room. Riot wasn’t going that way. Whatever the Cause needed to know, it would wait. Now that Riot had embraced Gemma’s Prowl he wasn’t going to miss a damn second of it.
He tugged Gemma’s hand to the left, through the plant-filled atrium and up the stairs to her room. Then behind the screens, where he laid her down on the bed and made his favorite bootleg fantasy from that first night in the tree come true.
At the end he was holding Gemma close, both of them still trembling and panting, when she pulled back and grinned right in his face like a kid with a secret to share. “Did you know that the symbol on the wall in front of your parking spot is the same as the one in the Keeper’s Book for, like, all of shifter-kind?”
