Wired For Love

by Michelle Howard

  Even from herself.

  When he returned down stairs, Narelle sat stiffly shooting glares in his direction. Holding back a chuckle, Hunter bit his inner cheek. She might have thought she looked tough, but the dark glower on her face only served to show how attractive she was with a pout.

  Bogan turned to watch Hunter approach and he signaled the war mongrel to stay with a hand gesture. Instantly, the animal dropped down beside Narelle’s feet, the tip of his nose planted on the toes of her boots.

  Narelle slid from the sofa to the floor to sit beside Bogan. “Don’t turn him on me again.”

  Hunter accepted her grumble, but didn’t respond. He’d do whatever necessary to keep Narelle safe. Taking the seat across from her and Bogan, Hunter stretched his legs out. “Tell me everything from the beginning. Start with the moment you left here.”

  Silky red hair slipped over her shoulder as she faced him. Wearing one of his long sleeve buttoned down white shirts since her synth suit was ruined, she appeared innocent and sweet. Hunter knew better. She had a sharp tongue and a sharper bite.

  Her green skin was a lighter tone than its usual deep emerald. She’d been shaken by the experience even if she pretended otherwise. Hunter clenched his fingers and had to remind himself she was alive and safe seated across from him. Mild bruises this time, but it could have been worst. So much worse.

  His gaze traveled over the short blunt horns at her temple. At least their rich black sheen hadn’t dimmed. Next time he had her under him, Hunter planned to test their sensitivity by licking them. The bruise under her eye brought back his own rage, but he quelled it under the need for more information. At least her lip looked better.

  And the scar. He loved that small ridge of flesh at the corner of her mouth.

  After a moment of staring at her, which he didn’t back down from she huffed. “Fine.”

  Hunter listened to every detail as Narelle spoke. His knee throbbed from the strain of earlier and he absently rubbed at the ache. His leg would never be the same again. Hunter accepted the reality like he accepted the ruined adjustments which enhanced the limb were beyond repair as well.

  Sometimes they worked, liked tonight when he’d needed the added speed. Sometimes they fizzled and nothing happened no matter how hard he pushed. He was lucky though. He was alive. Not many could say the same and none in his unit.

  Although he now had Lukain to consider and his admitted vendetta. Hunter shook away the turmoil of the past and gazed at a now silent Narelle as she knelt beside Bogan. Her hands rested on the war mongrel’s nape, fingers lightly scratching. It continued to amaze him how easy the animal accepted her.

  Bogan waffled and stretched flat out, legs sprawled as Narelle bent over him and shifted the scratching to a vigorous full body rub along his side.

  The deep belly groan from the animal had Hunter smiling. “He likes you.”

  Narelle’s head dipped, but she didn’t glance Hunter’s way. Still stewing. Another chuckle threatened.

  “I like him too.”

  Hunter sobered. When the time came to contact the government and return Bogan she would more than likely be enraged. Hunter sighed and straightened from his relaxed pose. He wasn’t looking forward to that moment.

  Narelle rose at the same time as he, but Hunter managed to speak first. “I have a friend who will help figure this out.”

  “And Bogan?” Her stubborn chin tipped up.

  “And Bogan,” Hunter agreed, closing the distance between them.

  “Well, that takes care of that. I can go now and leave you to it.”

  To her credit, Narelle didn’t flinch from his unrelenting stare. She remained in her spot until his chest bumped her front.

  ***

  He was close. Lips, breath. Things she shouldn’t find erotic, but the soft nature of the light brushes of contact were. Raised around rough men and then working with Bounty Hunters of similar background, Narelle considered herself strong and confident, but Hunter had a way about him. He made her knees weak and it had nothing to do with lingering pain from the attack.

  She pressed her hands up to his chest to create space between them. Solid heat emanated from beneath her palms and muscles contracted under the shirt he wore.

  “Stay, Narelle. Let me protect you until we can stop my old teammate.”

  If only she could. Staying meant fighting the temptation of being in his presence. It meant resisting the urge to lick the small scars marring his face. Scars which spoke of a battle well won. “I don’t want you hurt in place of me, Hunter.”

  Incredulity crossed his face. His gaze darkened, a frown twisting his lips as his hands gripped her hips and pulled her snug against him. “But it’s okay if someone with a grievance against me hurts you.”

  The low growl vibrating under her fingers warned Narelle to consider her answer carefully. “I just think it would be better if I left.”

  Hunter snorted. “You’ve been identified as a way to hurt me. A way to make me lose my mind if something were to happen. Trust me when I say Lukain will follow where you go in his attempts to strike at me. Give me the time I need to stop him before it gets too far.”

  Narelle’s mind stuck on the first statements. Knowing she meant that much to this sexy soldier was difficult to accept only there was no denying what he’d just acknowledged. She risked a glance at his ‘I don’t give a fuck face’ and her heart rate sped up.

  She hoped he didn’t see her ears heating and decided to tease. “You’re that confident in your skills?”

  Hunter’s lids lowered over his eyes, the look one of sensuous promise. He skimmed his lips over her cheek. Warm breath feathered her face. “Baby, I’m confident of my skills in everything.”

  And he should be. It didn’t take a genius to figure out what else he meant and Narelle now had firsthand experience with his boast. Their position allowed her to feel the hard bulge of his erection at her mid-section, but she decided to ignore the obvious. They’d have to face this...thing between them later.

  “Alright. I’ll stay til you find out what’s going on. That’s all, so don’t think this is permission to roll over me.”

  Chapter 10

  A tight grimace crossed Hunter’s face at her limitation. While relieved he’d gotten a small concession out of her, it still left him frustrated. He placed his forehead against hers and breathed out heavily. When he thought he had himself under control Hunter muttered, “You try my patience, woman.”

  He didn’t need to see her expression to know Narelle was grinning when she stroked her fingers through his hair and crooned, “Poor baby.”

  He growled for good measure and leaned back with a sigh. He stared into her gray eyes, longing to get lost in their depths and forget the previous hour.

  “There’s still the other matter to address and I’m going to pay you back. Tonight.” In case she misunderstood Hunter’s intent he added, “in my bed.”

  He scooped her up in his arms and hurried up his stairs to his bed. Narelle shivered and pursed her lips. “Maybe it won’t seem like such a deterrent if you make it as sexy as it sounds now.”

  Easing her to her feet beside his bed, Hunter lowered his head, mouth open over the column of her neck as his tongue teased. Her skin pebbled at the nip of teeth. Hunter did it again, the resulting moan causing his pants to tighten uncomfortably.

  Then his mouth was on hers. Gentle pressure, but insistent as he kissed her with pent up desire. The low rough groan flowed unbidden from his chest. Narelle leaned more of her weight into him and Hunter slid his arms about her hips, gliding up her back until one hand held her hair then grasped the vulnerable curve of her nape.

  Touching Narelle after waiting what seemed like forever was like being granted his every wish. She vocalized her pleasure and reciprocated with gliding hands gripping his ass and the lusty swivel of her hips against his own. Desire wrapped them both in a tangle of arousal demanding relief.

  She pulled her mouth from his, panting and eyes
glazed. “One night, Hunter. That’s all I agreed to.”

  “Then I’m doubly glad it’s still night,” he rasped and angled his head to nip the curving lobe of her ear.

  Her tremble pulled a similar reaction from Hunter. Between the crash of worry and fear from wondering if she was alright and his need to repeat their earlier explosive orgasms, Hunter wanted to shake too.

  “Details.” Her murmur wasn’t as steady or as firm as she probably wanted. Hunter grinned and licked the spot behind her ear he’d discovered before. Narelle moaned the second his tongue flicked her green flesh. “Hunter.”

  “Right here.” A rush of emotions threatened to choke him. He breathed in her warm scent, eyes closed and tightened his arms around her. She was safe. Lukain hadn’t managed to do serious harm. Reminding himself he was a highly-trained soldier, Hunter eased back and slid his hands up her forearms.

  “First, there’s something we need to cover. A few things I need to teach you.”

  The way she nibbled her lip in worry pleased him to no end.

  ***

  “Lesson one, Narelle.” Hunter turned Narelle around and pushed the center of her back. Only her hands hitting the mattress stopped her from a face plant.

  Before she could move, he leaned over her body, his heaving chest to her back. Breath stirred at Narelle’s left ear. “You don’t sneak from my bed.”

  Narelle pushed up in an attempt to dislodge his weight. It was a useless effort. Rock solid, Hunter had no intention of moving.

  Sharp teeth nipped her ear and a shudder rolled through her body. He followed it with a soft swipe of his tongue. Tiny kisses trailed along her sensitive nape. “This is where you say yes Hunter.”

  Narelle bit her tongue on the unexpected desire to repeat the phrase and snarled. “Not a problem since I don’t plan to be back in your bed.”

  He chuckled, the sound sending shivers down her back as he pumped his hips against her. His cock twitched against her ass as the white shirt rolled up. Panic arced and she struggled to scoot forward.

  Hunter clamped an arm about her waist. “Yet look where you are.”

  She glanced over her shoulder and grimaced in irritation. Wide shoulders took up space behind her, one arm bracketing her. She was essentially trapped. The bastard knew it too. She’d lose every time in a contest of strength between them.

  Catching her gaze, he licked his lips, but never turned away as he placed one hand over hers, entwining their fingers. The move also brought him in closer, placing them almost face to face.

  The hand at her waist slid around her front then glided down until it rested over her throbbing center. One blunt finger tapped between her folds and his shirt proved no barrier to the sensation. Narelle arched into the touch, wanting closer contact. Needing it.

  “Lesson two.” His tongue licked down the side of her neck, teeth grazing her collarbone. A suck, then nip. “Don’t run from me.”

  Narelle shook, caged in his hold, surrounded by Hunter.

  “Ever.” He ended the last with his teeth clamping down no longer gentle. Two fingers prodded back and forth as they speared her slick folds. His harsh rasp as she rocked into the touch blew over her wet skin.

  Narelle whimpered between her firmly pressed lips. Pain combined with pleasure to create a rush of ecstasy. Shooting flares exploded from her middle and the climax took her by surprise.

  Through it all, Hunter held Narelle, one arm secure about her waist while his fingers worked her, the other palm flat on the mattress, their joined hands supporting them.

  She gave him credit for waiting until the heat died to a simmer. He pulled away and will alone kept her up on all fours. The buzz of his zipper lowering caused her to tense. Before Narelle could catch her breath, the thick head of his cock nudged at her wet entrance.

  She braced, her head dropping to the bed as he tunneled in inch by inch until seated. Her core throbbed, inner muscles clenching and relaxing in reflex. Hunter groaned deep in his throat when their groins smashed tight.

  Expecting him to begin ramming into her, surprise flit across her mind when he didn’t move.

  He held completely still. Waited until the very last tremble of her prior orgasm stopped before moving. His hips pumped slow and steady. Not a drop of urgency in his movements. Narelle closed her eyes to the rumpled bed sheets, her senses narrowed to the thick cock plunging her depths.

  In and out the slick glide heated her tender loins. Her muscles twitched, flaring back to life and soon Narelle found herself rocking in sync with his motions. Slow in. Easy out. Back and forth until broken cries joined the grunts from behind her.

  The gradual build to another climax was unexpected. Skin heated and body quivering, Narelle kept pace with Hunter. He leaned over and chuckled in her ear. “I think I’ve found a way to actually silence you.”

  If he wanted a reaction, she wouldn’t give him one. Narelle wanted to hiss though. The idea of bucking him off was a pleasing image. Except what he was doing felt too good. This time when air whistled through her teeth it wasn’t in annoyance. Hunter groaned, his hips slamming faster against hers as he shifted the tempo.

  Slow and mellow gave way to the sharp bite of pleasure. They both shouted at the same time, release pulling them together into the whirlwind vortex.

  Quiet replaced the sounds of their mutual satisfaction then a low whine. Hunter jerked causing Narelle to twist about as well. Bogan stood next to the bed, his brown gaze watching them both.

  “Gott, biet riel. Bewachen.”

  Bogan trotted over to the corner of the room and settled with a deep groan. Curious Narelle asked, “What did you tell him?”

  Hunter settled behind her, yanking her body in close to his. “I said to bite if you stepped one foot out of this bed again tonight.”

  Narelle stared at Bogan and the intelligence reflected in the brown orbs. His ears perked up and she contemplated if Hunter told the truth. The low snicker behind her earned him an elbow to the mid-section. She didn’t find Hunter funny at all.

  Chapter 11

  Three days later found Hunter’s eyes narrowed on Narelle as she descended from his upstairs apartment. He stared, knowing she’d have to glimpse in his direction eventually.

  And she did.

  All he got for his intent focus was a half-smirk tossed his way. The smirk drew attention to the tiny scar on her lip twisting it upward and adding an enticing curve to the corner of her mouth. His blood raced straight down, thickening his cock to the point of pain. Predictably.

  Not betraying his arousal, Hunter returned her smirk with a clenched grin full of teeth. She jerked her gaze away, chin lifting higher. He laughed outright, drawing stares.

  He liked her sass. He liked her determination. Fuck, he might like those things only slightly less than he liked the body she taunted him with by prancing around his place at night in his shirt which she’d never given back even after he’d escorted her to the rent by the night place to gather her belongings.

  The place was a real dump which was saying something for this area. Rental slogs didn’t have the best of reputations to begin with, but this one rated pretty low even to Hunter. Doors with no locks swayed on hinges and the cracked panes of many windows offered an unobstructed view of the occupants. The low hum of the energy panels powering the units barely drowned out the sounds of sex coming from some.

  A hand full of fake mercs hung around the outside of each unit in an attempt by the owners to create a false sense of security.

  If he’d known she stayed at such a dangerous locale every time she crossed this way he might not have been so calm and worry for her safety would have brought them together sooner.

  Together being relative. Aside from the stalemate they’d reached pertaining to the desire Narelle pretended didn’t exist, there was still the issue of his old teammate. So far there’d been no further sightings from Lukain. Hunter’s informants couldn’t discover if he’d left yet or was still on the satellite station. There was n
o record of him leaving. Then again there was no record of him arriving either.

  It was only a matter of time before Narelle decided there was no longer a threat. As soon as she deemed it safe enough she’d be gone. It was proving more difficult to convince her to stay until he ascertained the risk. Any attempts at intimacy or sex were firmly rebuffed. Only the potential danger with his old teammate kept him from pushing too hard for fear she’d storm off and straight into Lukain’s path.

  Part of her resistance to give in to their physical draw stemmed from rumors about his past exploits. It was to be expected. Hunter didn’t lie or pretend his history with females didn’t used to be shallow and more often than not short lived. What he felt for Narelle was different. He had no inkling why. Only that she’d caught his eye the first time their paths crossed and he’d been hooked ever since.

  Sure it was sexual in the beginning. He’d wanted her due to the undeniable physical attraction between them. Then gradually he’d become obsessed. Having her once had done nothing to ease the ache. If anything their one night solidified his desire to keep her in his life.

  Of course, if Hunter came out and announced his desire to pursue something permanent with her, she’d flee faster than one of his customers trying to skip out on paying. He’d never met a more cagey woman about being pinned down

  As if she could hear his thoughts, Narelle purposely avoided coming close to the counter where he worked, strolling around the crowded tables making her way to the well-lit area and the small space some customers used as the dance floor at The Zone. Avid gazes turned in her direction.

  Male gazes.

  As usual, heavy pounding beats blasted from the micro speakers above. Narelle put one hand beneath the fall of red hair shoving it back from her face as her curvy hips began to sway from side to side. Hunter fisted the wet rag in his hand. It was an erotic sight and he wasn’t immune. Since the night of the attack, she slept in his bed while he tossed on the sofa much to his frustration.