One Breath

by Cheyenne McCray

  She fought the door. Struggled with it. Mentally screamed at it.

  But the storm in her mind began to die until even the rushing in her ears faded away.

  Sydney didn’t want to open her eyes. When she finally did, it was just as she’d expected—the door was still closed. A deeper indentation was at the center of the door, but everything else about it was the same.

  She turned and faced Conlan, to see him studying her. She tapped the toe of her right shoe against the concrete floor. Despite his normally easygoing nature, this was where he was likely to curse and yell at her for getting them into this mess.

  “I’m sorry.” She ran her hand through her hair. “What are we going to do? We’ve got to get out of here. We’ve got to get to the eye.”

  He looked at his boots, then back up at her. “For now, we have done what we can. We will try again after we both have rested.”

  With an intense look on his face that Sydney had never seen on him before, he approached, reached for her, and captured her by her shoulders. She caught her breath in surprise and took a step back.

  Conlan took a step with her, still gripping her shoulders. She went completely still. He began to knead the knots in her neck and shoulders where they were not covered by her body armor. His touch was magic, and the tension in her body was slipping away. Instantly, she wanted to melt against him. All her aches and pains seemed to vanish.

  While he continued to massage her arms, shoulders, and neck, he gave her his sexy playboy smile. It was the kind of smile that sent a thrill straight to her belly. Swift and sudden desire swept through her.

  Uh, Sydney? Remember your rule on no Casanova types?

  “What do we do now?” she whispered as she looked up at him, banishing the thought almost immediately.

  His gaze settled on her lips. “For the time being, we may as well find a distraction.”

  She swallowed, hard. “How about some more chocolate?”

  In his rich Irish brogue, he murmured, “I can think of something much better than chocolate.”

  4

  Sydney blinked, unable to compute what he’d just said and what she thought he meant.

  Conlan moved closer, the heat of him warming her even though the only place he touched her was her shoulders.

  She opened her mouth, but nothing came out. She closed it, then tried again, but couldn’t say a word.

  Conlan’s eyes turned a dark green. He slowly slid both of his palms from her shoulders, up her neck, and into her honeyed hair. He brought a lock of her hair to his nose, and his chest rose as he inhaled.

  “Raspberries,” he murmured. “You always smell of raspberries on a summer day.”

  Sydney’s belly flipped at his words. He released her hair, and she shivered as his look became more intense and definitely filled with desire.

  He lowered his head, bringing his mouth close to hers. Sydney swallowed. What was she doing?

  Heck, who cares?

  She was trapped with a gorgeous man and she didn’t know if she’d ever escape.

  So, why not?

  What was that again about not doing casual relationships, Sydney Aline?

  Screw that.

  Heart racing, she brought her hands up to his chest, feeling the steel of his muscles beneath her palms. He moved a fraction closer, bringing their bodies flush. He pressed against her belly, sending new heat to the juncture of her thighs.

  Conlan’s scent washed over her, filling her senses. She caught the hint of a forest breeze and sun-warmed skin.

  He massaged her scalp as he kept his lips so close to hers it was driving her crazy. She clutched his leather tunic in her fists and shivered.

  Another smile tipped the corners of his mouth. “Your eyes, I have seen nothing like them. Like lavender blooms beneath a moonlit sky.”

  Whoa. Sydney swallowed. Does this guy know how to seduce or what?

  He slipped her glasses off and set them on a nearby shelf. “Why do you hide your eyes behind pieces of sandglass and metal?”

  His lips came closer to hers again as she murmured, “I need them to see far away, and I can’t wear contacts.”

  “You are beautiful with them. You are beautiful without,” he said.

  God, he’s good.

  When his lips finally met hers, she sighed and closed her eyes. He barely brushed his mouth over hers, but it was enough to send tingles throughout her body. He pressed a little harder, drew back and moved his lips to hers again.

  A soft moan rose up within her, and he caught her lower lip between his teeth. She gripped his tunic tighter and responded to his kiss. She darted out her tongue, tasting his lips and then inside his mouth. A hint of chocolate and a masculine flavor that she found even better than chocolate.

  Conlan cupped her head and brought her tighter to him, his kiss becoming more urgent. A low groan rumbled in his chest, and Sydney’s body flamed—she was on fire.

  Another moan started to rise from her throat, but he stole it from her as he kissed her. She melted against him, feeling his muscular body against her softer one.

  He slipped his fingers from her hair, slowly moving his palms from her shoulders, over her breasts, and to her waist. Even though she wore body armor, she could swear she felt the heat of his touch against her skin.

  When he reached her hips, he cupped her ass and ground his hard ridge against her belly.

  Sydney gasped and opened her eyes as he raised his head. “I want you, sweet little witch.”

  What was a girl to say to that when she was locked away, possibly trapped forever?

  Trapped with a man who was making her head spin with desire.

  He gripped her tight as he moved her so that her back was up against a wall. Sydney wrapped her arms around his neck and moved her lips along the late-afternoon stubble on his cheek.

  “I don’t know about this, Conlan.” She flicked her tongue out, tasting the salty flavor of his skin. “We’ve only known each other for a few days.”

  He drew away, a look of genuine surprise on his features. “Why would that matter?”

  She cocked an eyebrow. “In Otherworld it doesn’t?”

  He shrugged. “Of course not.”

  “Far be it for me to challenge you on that one.” Sydney smiled as she moved in closer and nuzzled his neck.

  She drank in his male scent and it filled her like the warmth on a sunlit day. He smelled good enough to eat. Good enough that she nipped at the spot between his neck and shoulder, and he gave a deep groan.

  Conlan tugged her T-shirt out of her jeans and pulled it over her head. He immediately unfastened her body armor and threw it aside.

  When she was bare of everything but her bra, he moved his callused palms up the flat plane of her belly. She shivered as he neared her breasts. He paused, his thumbs just below her bra, his big hands gripping her sides.

  He took her mouth again. This time his kiss was rough as his palms found her breasts. He kneaded them while he stole her breath away with his kiss.

  When he pinched her sensitive nipples through her bra, she sagged against him. He pulled at the material of her bra and raised his head when it wouldn’t give.

  With one finger, he traced the satin of her bra. “Remove it.” His voice was husky, his gaze never leaving her breasts. “Please.”

  Sydney’s hands shook as she released her hold on his neck. She pushed against him so that she could reach behind herself and unclasp the bra. Her hands shook so much it took her a couple of tries before she finally got it right.

  He sucked in his breath as she let the straps of the bra slide down her arms. She allowed it to fall to the floor.

  Conlan looked enraptured as he stared at her chest. He trailed one of his fingers up the swell of her breast. “I have wanted you from the time I first saw you.”

  Sydney caught her breath as he traced his finger around her nipple. It tightened even more. “You’re just saying that because you want to get into my pants.”

  And
he was doing a good job of coming very close to doing exactly that.

  He raised his head and his mesmerizing eyes studied hers. “I speak only the truth.” He pinched her nipple and brushed his lips over hers. “I knew it would be but a matter of time.”

  No time like the present.

  Sydney gave a soft moan as he brought his other hand up so that he was pinching both her nipples.

  “You’re a little presumptuous,” she said just before she groaned again.

  His lips brushed hers again and he murmured, “I think not.”

  Sydney thought about pushing him away, but that thought didn’t last long. He dipped his head and circled her nipple with his warm tongue, and this time she whimpered.

  She shivered as his hair trailed over her skin while he began sucking her nipple.

  “You taste so sweet,” he murmured as he moved his mouth to her other nipple.

  She sagged and braced her hands on his shoulders, lost in the sensations. As he sucked her nipples, he hooked his fingers in the waistband of her jeans and tugged.

  He made a frustrated sound. “How do you remove these?”

  Sydney would have smiled if she wasn’t experiencing the hottest foreplay of her life. She couldn’t even talk.

  First, she kicked off her jogging shoes and vaguely heard something crash when the second one went flying. Then she brought her hands from his shoulders, unfastened the button on her jeans, and unzipped them.

  “That is better.” He pulled her panties and her jeans to her feet. She stepped out of them, and he pushed them aside. He peeled off each of her socks, then rose up to face her.

  Sydney trembled as she stood completely naked before this gorgeous D’Danann warrior.

  “A goddess.” Starting with her face, his gaze slowly traveled down her body. “I have known many goddesses in my lifetime, and none have been as lovely as you.”

  As he said the last words, his gaze met hers and warmth flushed through her. Such sincerity was in his eyes mixed with heat and passion.

  He brought her close and held her naked body against him at the same time he took her mouth in a rough kiss.

  Sydney’s senses went wild. As he kissed her, his leather tunic abraded her nipples, and his weapons belt scraped her waist while he pressed against her belly.

  Oh, how she wanted to see what he looked like without his clothes. He sure looked good in them.

  Before she had a chance to help him undress, he knelt on the floor and grasped her hips. Her stomach pitched and her body trembled as he brought his face lower.

  She heard his deep inhale. He swiped his tongue on the lips of her sex, teasing her. She shuddered with desire and wanted to feel his touch on her. He licked her flesh again.

  “Now, Conlan.” She didn’t know whether she sounded like she was commanding him or begging him. But she really didn’t care. She couldn’t wait any longer.

  A soft laugh rose from him and he buried his mouth against her.

  Sydney gave a shout of pleasure as he licked her with quick, short swipes of his tongue. He moved his attention to her center, and she gave another cry.

  She slipped her fingers into his hair to keep her balance and to keep from falling, because her legs didn’t want to hold her up. Her entire body tensed as she came closer to climax, and her legs wobbled some more.

  A spinning sensation started in her head, like the world was tilting. She grew dizzy with the power of the orgasm rushing toward her.

  Conlan licked harder and growled against her.

  It was as if everything exploded around them. An honest-to-goddess bunch of fireworks soared through her mind. A cry tore from Sydney that was somewhere between a shout and a sob. Tears filled her eyes from the power of her climax.

  Her body shook and bucked, and he drew out her orgasm by continuing to lick and suck her. This time it was a sob when she said, “Conlan, stop.” He licked her a few more times, causing her to cry out and her hips to jerk against his face.

  When he finally let up, he rose, and she collapsed against him, pressing her cheek to his chest and wrapping her arms around his neck. Her breathing was hard, but her mind finally stopped spinning and the contractions in her core began to subside.

  “I don’t know what to say but wow,” she murmured against his chest.

  “And that means?” His chest rumbled as he spoke.

  She sighed. “It means that orgasm was out of this world. Unbelievable. Incredible. All of the above.”

  Conlan chuckled and nuzzled the top of her head.

  Sydney drew away enough to tilt her chin and look up at him. She couldn’t think of anything else to say as she saw more desire than ever in his eyes.

  He brought his mouth hard to hers. Her kiss was just as demanding as his. What would it feel like to have him deep inside her? She felt the hardness and length of him against her belly and she knew he would fill her.

  At this point she could care less about this being a one-night stand. All that mattered was the moment. Dear goddess, how she’d wanted him from the first time she’d met him.

  Sydney drew back and watched the rise and fall of his chest, the flex of his muscles, and the intensity of his gaze that told her he was doing all he could to restrain himself. She reached for him and he groaned when she cupped him through his pants.

  Conlan had felt this way with none of the many women he had bedded over the centuries of his life.

  What was this witch doing to him? Since the moment he had met Sydney, she had made him want her with such intensity it nearly made him shout to the gods.

  Lust. That was all it could be. He simply desired her. Perhaps more than the many women he had taken, but the feeling she stirred within him was simply lust nonetheless.

  He had never been one to be tied to any woman. He enjoyed all women far too much.

  She knelt and brought her hands to the ties of his leather breeches. He sucked in his breath as she released him. She made a low purring sound and he couldn’t hold back his loud groan of pleasure as she licked the length of him in slow, deliberate swipes. He fisted his hands in her silky hair and pumped his hips against her face.

  When his gaze met her lavender eyes and he watched her flick her tongue along his length, even more desire spiked through him.

  Sydney gave him a wicked smile. When she slid her lips over his length, it nearly drove him to his knees. He clenched her hair tighter in his hands and pumped his hips as she took him as deep as she could. He was too big for her to take too much of him, but, gods, did it feel incredible.

  He ground his teeth as he felt the oncoming storm of his climax. She matched him by increasing her speed as he moved his hips a little faster.

  “I am close to coming,” he said in a low rumble.

  Her beautiful eyes gazed up at him as she continued to take him. He watched himself move in and out through her soft lips.

  The storm of his climax hit hard enough that he couldn’t hold back a shout. It felt like the room was tilting, and he could barely retain his footing. Sydney continued to suck him, extending the sensations of his climax.

  Just as he was about to withdraw from her mouth, he heard the sound of the door’s bar scraping.

  The door swung open.

  5

  She was going to die from embarrassment.

  Heat flooded Sydney’s entire body as her friends rushed into the room—to see her naked, on her knees, going down on Conlan.

  He slipped himself from between her lips and stepped in front of her, hiding her with his big body. Sydney rushed to get to her feet and pressed herself to his back. She felt him adjust himself, and assumed he was lacing up his leather pants.

  “Uh...” Mackenzie was the first to have some kind of semi-verbal reaction.

  Sydney kept her face and body against Conlan’s back and gripped his leather tunic in her fists as more waves of heat burned through her.

  “Sorry,” Silver said. “We’ll give you both time to—to—well, whatever you need time
to do.”

  Hawk chuckled, and Silver hissed, “Shut up!” before Sydney heard the heavy pantry door shut.

  Sydney’s grip on the back of Conlan’s tunic failed when he turned around to face her. She pressed her cheek against his chest. “I’m so mortified. I’ll never be able to face them.”

  Conlan hooked his finger beneath her chin and forced her to tilt her head up and look into his eyes. “You have nothing to be embarrassed about. Do you think they have not done the same?”

  She bit her lower lip before saying, “Yeah, but not in front of an audience.”

  He gave her a gentle smile and released her chin. “Dress and we will leave this place.”

  Sydney glanced at the door, then back to him. “I don’t know if I want to.”

  Conlan kissed her forehead. “We will finish our business later, my sweet witch.”

  “Maybe.” Sydney pushed away from him and reached for her underwear. “I can’t even believe we did this when we barely know each other.”

  He stopped her from stepping into her panties by catching one of her breasts in his palm and circling her nipple with his thumb. “We know each other well enough now.”

  A groan rose up within Sydney. It felt so good when he touched her. So good she could almost forget she had to face her friends.

  But not quite.

  Sydney took a deep breath, pushed his hand away, and pulled on her panties. She dragged out getting dressed as long as she could, putting off the moment when she would have to walk out of the pantry.

  Conlan folded his arms across his chest and watched her. Not the slightest bit of embarrassment showed on his strong features. No, he looked gentle and concerned. Not his usual teasing look.

  Sydney almost sighed. This was a man she could fall for—hard.

  She put on her bra, slipped into her body armor, and pulled on the rest of her clothing.

  When she couldn’t put it off any longer, Sydney slid on her glasses, took a deep breath, and let it out slowly as she walked toward the pantry door. “Okay. I can do this.”

  Conlan caught her arm before she could push the partially opened door. He brought her to him and took her mouth in a fierce but sweet kiss.