Marked

by Kit Rocha

  Noelle still held the shot glass in one hand, so she slammed it on the table upside down and laughed. "Do I do that every time?"

  "Do what?" Rachel asked innocently as she handed over another shot. "Vodka's up. Next is the tequila, so pace yourself."

  Sound advice, but Noelle downed the vodka and dropped the shot glass this time before she was whisked away by the revelers. Her skin tingled more this time around, and she was laughing by the time she reached the table again.

  The tequila made her cough, but she drank all of that, too, before spinning into the crowd with a triumphant noise that felt right. Ace grinned and claimed his kiss before passing her along. It took longer, the hugs lingering and the kisses coming in twos and threes.

  She was only halfway around the circle when the dizzy warmth crept from her stomach up into her chest, which was right about when the latest man relinquished her quickly.

  To Jasper.

  He looked down at her with a half-smile and rubbed her bare upper arms. "Sorry I'm late."

  The warmth of his hands shot straight to her core, though that could have been the tequila, too. Or the vodka. Maybe the whiskey, making its presence known with a slow burn that turned her smile wickedly bold. "You missed two kisses. I gave them to Ace instead."

  "Hell yeah, she did," Ace called from the opposite side of the circle. "You gonna come get them, brother?"

  "Wouldn't be the first time." Jasper tilted her head back with his fingers under her chin. "Three shots. Still steady on your feet?"

  "Steady enough," she lied, fidgeting under his unwavering gaze. He had a way of looking at her that made the rest of the room seem frozen, as if they couldn't possibly be interrupting anything because nothing important would dare happen while his attention was fixed on her.

  "Good." He released her, but not before brushing his lips over hers. "Congratulations, sweetheart."

  No, that warmth wasn't the liquor. It was all him, and it expanded to fill her as she leaned up to kiss him once more. "See you next time around," she whispered against his mouth, then laughed and spun into the arms of the grinning man next to him.

  She wasn't steady on her feet by the time she came back around to Ace. He whirled her like a dancer, and the room kept on moving, dipping dizzily to the side before righting itself. She stumbled back toward Rachel and crashed into Jasper.

  Again.

  Blinking, Noelle pulled back to peer up at him. "Did you come to get your kisses from Ace?"

  Jasper didn't answer. Instead, he picked up the next shot Rachel had poured and tipped it back. Then he slipped an arm around Noelle's waist, dragged her close, and bent his head to hers.

  Liquor spilled across her tongue. Not the whole shot, not even most of it, but enough to give her the taste of it. His lips crushed against hers, hot and a little rough, the sensation a thousand times more intense with the entire gang forming a cheering, catcalling wall around them. She couldn't forget that everyone was watching as he chased the booze with his tongue, and then she couldn't care because he knew how to kiss her knees weak.

  Lex's voice cut through the cheers, close and wry. "That's real subtle, Jas."

  Jas released Noelle, and she swung around to face Rachel. "That has to be cheating."

  "Not exactly," she hedged. "Technically, you don't have to finish every shot. Not by yourself, anyway."

  "Jasper just hung a big 'no trespassing' sign on you." Lex wound her arm around Noelle's shoulders. "Good thing I like to live dangerously."

  Jasper glared, and it was hotter than it should have been. His furrowed brow and his tight expression, all of him poised as if he'd snatch her out of Lex's grip at a moment's notice.

  Smiling slowly, Noelle leaned in to the other woman. "He didn't ask me if I wanted you to trespass."

  "Do you?" A whisper, and Lex's breath stirred the hair curling against the side of Noelle's neck.

  Noelle wasn't sure what made the decision for her. The vodka, maybe, or the tequila. Some bit of wildness buried deep inside her, only uncovered when liquor had burned everything else away.

  The way Jasper's gaze all but dared her to do it.

  She only had to turn her head a little bit, and then Lex's mouth was pressed against hers. Soft lips, more yielding than Jasper's, and gentler. It seemed that way, at least, in the moment where Noelle could only kiss the other woman awkwardly, terrified it might be a mistake after all.

  Lex licked her mouth and tilted her head to part Noelle's lips with her tongue. Still soft, but no less demanding than Jasper's kiss, especially when she eased Noelle down to sit on the edge of the table and inched a hand under her shirt to stroke her belly.

  Then Lex broke the kiss with a slow smile and reached for the next shot on the table. "Gin," she whispered huskily, pressing the glass into Jasper's hand.

  He growled. "You like to play with fire." But he drained the shot, jerked Noelle's head back by her hair, and fused his mouth to hers. Moaning, Noelle tangled her fingers in his shirt, clinging to him to try to keep her balance.

  Even that wasn't enough when Lex pressed parted lips to her throat, teeth closing lightly on her pulse as Jasper licked the taste of gin onto her tongue. This time, Noelle really had forgotten about everyone else until Ace shouted, "Fuck, Jasper, let her breathe!"

  But breathing was overrated, and doubly so when Jasper nudged Lex out of the way to lick Noelle's throat, soothing the ravaged skin. She grasped at his hair, tangling her fingers in the short strands as much as they'd allow as her heart beat its way toward her throat. "Aren't you supposed to let everyone else congratulate me after each shot?"

  "You eager to get up?" he asked, nudging Lex's hips harder into the open vee of Noelle's legs.

  "Not really," she managed in a shaky voice. It took another deep breath to strengthen her tone. "But I want to do it right. I want to belong."

  "That's a done deal, baby girl." Lex lifted Noelle's hand and nodded to the fresh ink encircling her wrist and forearm. "You belong. You always will."

  Read the rest of Noelle & Jasper's story in Beyond Shame.

  Want to be the first to find out when the next O'Kane story is available?

  Join the announcement list.

  About Kit Rocha

  Kit Rocha is actually two people--Bree & Donna, best friends who are living the dream. They get paid to work in their pajamas, talk on the phone, and write down all the stories they used to make up in their heads.

  The Beyond Series is their first adventure in dystopian erotic romance. They also write paranormal romance as Moira Rogers. You can learn more about their work at www.kitrocha.com & www.moirarogers.com.

  Jump To...

  Beyond Temptation

  Rocky Ride

  All That Remains

  Note from Vivian

  Wow.

  I get to write a Dear Reader letter? Okay, I confess. I'm a geek about these things. FIRST READER LETTER FTW!!!

  *does Snoopy dance*

  So, what can I tell you in this amazing first? Probably the most important thing is thanks. Thanks for picking up the anthology, and giving our stories a try. I know we're all so excited to share them with you.

  I'm also excited because MARKED is a shiny moment I never imagined when I started writing.

  My first book published, and my first publisher, were influenced a lot by Lauren Dane. I was totally captivated with hot, sexy heroes and strong, capable heroines like those that populate all of Lauren's stories. To be able to now call her friend as well as my inspiration thrills me. Her contribution to MARKED, All That Remains, is a red-hot trip into a fresh new world. Get ready to fall in love.

  Kit Rocha, in all her persons and personas, have/has been my friend since those first days of putting a story out into the world. We started with a love of sexy shifters and charts, (hmmm, charts!) The relationship has traveled many miles since as we've encouraged and cheered each other on to take the next step. Their Beyond series is the most recent, and fantastic part of their journey. Sector
Four and the world around Eden is populated with people who make me smile, and laugh, and feel. Noah and Emma will take you there, and you'll never want to leave. O'Kane for Life!!!

  And here's my contribution. Rocky Ride is the first in a new series, THOMPSON & SONS, taking a side road from a more familiar setting. If you've read my Six Pack Ranch books, you'll have already met some of the players, including the heroine, Anna Coleman--one of the few female cousins in the Coleman clan. But don't worry if you're new to the area--while Rocky Ride slips into the Six Pack timeline after Rocky Mountain Freedom, the series stand alone. The THOMPSON & SONS stories are sexy contemporaries in a small town setting. Instead of cowboys and ranchers, the Thompson family runs the local garage.

  Hmm, let's hear it for guys who are good with their hands...

  I hope you enjoy Mitch and Anna's story!

  Viv

  www.vivianarend.com

  Blurb

  He’s got a touch that’s hotter than hot

  It took a hell of a lot of fast-talking and more than a few speeding tickets before Mitch Thompson convinced Constable Anna Coleman to take him for a ride. Only now that she’s loosened off her stiff RCMP uniform, it’s not nearly enough. Their secret sexual escapades are mind-blowing, but Mitch wants more than her body—he wants her heart.

  Her world could go up in flames

  It’s a dangerous road to walk, and Anna doesn’t know how far she can safely tread. Bad boy Mitch may have lured her wild side out to play, but giving in to their increasingly passionate desires could endanger her very civilized career. Somewhere between yearning and obsession there has to be a balance point.

  Or they’re both going to get burned.

  Chapter One

  September, Rocky Mountain House

  Heat rolled along her spine, leaving a sticky residue behind like at the conclusion of a long shift on an endless summer day. Only it wasn't hard labour that had brought the undeniable flush to her skin. It wasn't the sweltering breeze blowing past, causing leaves on the nearby trees to tremble, or the scalding sun beating down on her dash.

  It was sex. Or more accurately, the anticipation of sex.

  A straight-up, body-pounding, muscle-clenching fuck about to be delivered with all too much finesse by her favourite speeder in the entire district.

  Right now she wasn't in the RCMP cruiser, and she certainly wasn't on any major highway in the Rocky Mountain House area. Anna Coleman sat in her personal vehicle at the side of a lonely country gravel road as anticipation rapidly rolled toward consummation.

  Thank God.

  Her side-view mirror gave her a flawless view of Mitch Thompson. He uncurled himself from his Harley, removed his helmet and left it behind on the handlebars. Her heart rate kicked up as he sauntered closer, dragging a hand through his dark hair before pulling off his sunglasses and hanging them from his front pocket. Black leathers gripped his thighs, sunlight flicking off the fabric as he strode forward. The tight black T-shirt only emphasized the width of his chest and biceps, the dark lines of his tattoos curling over his forearms to where they ended in ragged flames on his wrists and the back of his hands.

  Hmmm, his hands...

  His usual cocky grin was absent, instead his expression one of total dignity and control, one step away from a glare. From this distance, she couldn't see the golden specks in his dark brown eyes, but they were there, the knowledge of how they flashed brighter during moments of intense pleasure intimately embedded in her memory. His hair was too short to be more than rumpled from the time under his helmet, the dark brown strands matching the shadow of facial hair darkening his square jawline.

  Nice. Today Mitch was one hundred percent hoodlum playing one hundred percent dangerous authority, and the combination caused one hundred and ten wicked reactions. She squeezed her knees together, but the pressure did nothing to ease the localized ache between her thighs.

  He rapped his knuckles on her window.

  Anna moved slowly, as if she hadn't been panting for this moment. She rolled down her window but stared straight ahead, refusing to make eye contact.

  "I need to see some identification," he drawled.

  "What seems to be the problem?" she tossed back, one side of her mouth twitching upward briefly before she got her amusement under control.

  "You have no idea what you've done?" Mitch leaned in, elbows resting on the doorframe and inhaled deeply. "You got an explanation for the smell in here?"

  She jerked to face him. That question wasn't in their usual repartee. "Smell?"

  His panty-melting grin exploded. "Hmm. Like sweet, hungry pussy."

  Holy moly. Anna squirmed. "You're mistaken. I'm not transporting any animals."

  "Get out of the vehicle. Now." He jerked her door open.

  Anna was in no hurry. Drawing out the tease, taunting him for a moment or two could only heighten the experience for them both. Make what was sure to follow that much more explosive.

  Pleasure licked around her as she obediently stood beside her car, his gaze skimming over the curve of her breasts. Lower, over her hips, lingering on the length of legs left exposed by her short miniskirt. She'd strapped on high heels, not much more than bits of buttery soft leather wrapped around five-inch spikes, and he swore lightly at the sight of them, fiery red against the dull grey gravel.

  Screw it if the stilettos were impractical. This was her fantasy, and for the next half hour she'd damn well wear what she wanted.

  A growl escaped Mitch as she pushed him to the edge of control. He squatted, one finger tracing the line of leather around her ankle and up the back of her calf to tease the sensitive skin behind her knee. "You have a license for those weapons?"

  "Maybe. Maybe not."

  The passion in his eyes burned as he glanced upward. "Hands against the car."

  Anna glanced around cautiously as she twisted to obey. Double-checking there were no farmers using the remote shortcut to move bailers or haul hay from field to shed. Nothing to break the mood. No observers.

  Although in theory the idea of being watched wasn't unwelcome, getting caught playing kinky sex games in public with Mitch Thompson would not be a good thing.

  He stepped behind her, heat increasing as the space between them narrowed. He patted her down, efficiently, quickly, but even the brief contact was enough to drive a moan from her lips.

  "You like that, do you?" he growled. "Bet you're hiding things from me."

  "Maybe," she repeated, closing the distance to make contact between their hips. Her ass bumped his groin, and his hard-on digging into her butt just made things that much hotter. "You'd better check. Thoroughly."

  "Strip search." His hands slipped over her hips, one dropping to cup her sex, the other up past her breasts to rest lightly over her throat. His lips hovered only inches from her ear, close enough the scruff on his chin and cheeks scratched her skin. "You get me so damn hot I'm ready to rip your clothes off and fuck you right here," he confessed.

  Anna rubbed them together again, all too pleased at the tormented sound she dragged from him. "No need to rip anything," she panted.

  Mitch bunched her skirt under his fingers, cursing loudly as he met nothing but bare skin. Totally bare.

  "Sweet fuck, you shaved."

  "Waxed. Oh God, don't stop."

  He'd slipped his fingers over her pussy, delving between her labia to get his fingers wet before circling her clit. "Bare pussy. Wet bare pussy. Jesus fuck, woman. You think I can just stick my cock in you, and be done?"

  "Good by me," she insisted. No need to stop for condoms either--thank God for clean health records and efficient birth control. A gasp escaped as he pushed a finger deep inside. "Mitch, just do me already."

  He twirled her, his eyes blazing with lust as he pushed her shoulders against the car. "No."

  He took her lips before she could protest, kissing her like he did damn near everything. High speed, high intensity, igniting high-octane flames that lit her inside and out. His tongue lick
ed into her mouth, his fingers cleverly undoing the elastic that had held her hair in a neat ponytail. She wrapped her arms around his neck in the hopes of keeping him close. It was no use, though, as he pulled away far too soon and put his teeth to her neck, a hand slipping between them to resume tormenting her clit with a steady rhythm.

  "Don't taunt me," Anna begged. "I was ready for sex five minutes after you called me this morning."

  "Hmm. You've been hot and aching all day?"

  Another round of skillfully applied pressure slid over her clit, and her hips jerked involuntarily. "Aching so hard."

  "Did you play with yourself?" he asked, easing off slightly, his thumb pulsing in a faint unending beat. "Did you have to hide somewhere so you could slip your fingers into your panties? Did you think about me shoving my cock deep inside you again and again until you scream?"

  "Yes," she hissed.

  Mitch pulled back, and she whimpered in protest. She reached for him, but he shook his head, that evil grin back in place as he eased away far enough he could leer at her. "Show me," he demanded.

  There was no ignoring the command, and hell if she wanted to. At this point, if he wasn't going to deal with her...

  He dropped to his knees so as she slid her fingers down to touch herself, his head was only inches away. She stroked lightly to stop from bursting into flames in under three seconds.

  "Give me your hand," Mitch ordered.

  She held it out, and he caught her wrist, licking her fingers one at a time. The rough contrast of his tongue over the pads of her fingers teased her senses. He moved her hand, and she shook, leaning harder on the car to stop from melting to the ground as he used her own wet fingers to play with her clit. Slipping between her folds and stroking her to a feverish pitch.