Her pulse pounded as he cupped her breast and squeezed before catching the nipple again between his fingertips and rolling it.
“Is this what you want, Elora? My hands on you? My lips?” His teeth scraped the tender flesh of her neck. “To experience desire?”
She should say no. As much as she wanted each of those things, she wanted it to mean something, and as long as Mason had no soul, it wouldn’t. But arousal danced a frantic path through her, and she couldn’t form the denial because deep within her she knew this was what she wanted.
His tongue trailed along the edge of her ear, and she shivered. Her hips pressed back, searching for something she couldn’t name.
“Say it,” he demanded. “Say you want this.”
Her lips parted, but no words passed them. Only a soft sigh escaped her as his fingers released her nipple and traced a swirling path down her quivering stomach before pausing just above the junction of her thighs.
“Say it.”
Her hand found his and gripped it tightly. There’d be no going back. No more living in her memories of a Mason long gone. If she accepted what he offered, she was accepting that she’d love him even if he were never that man again.
“Yes. Yes, I want this.”
He turned her on her back and leaned over her, his shaggy brown hair falling around his face. She wove her fingers through the thick, silky strands and pulled him to her. He crushed his lips to hers.
Without breaking the kiss, he pulled the blanket from between them and lowered the cups of her bra to bare her breasts. The scattering of hair on his chest rasped along her erect nipples. She shifted her upper body, wanting the sensation to continue.
His lips left hers and skimmed down her neck until they found her breast. His tongue swirled around first one nipple then the other before he sucked one into his mouth.
“Mason,” she whimpered at the warm, moist feeling. Her fingers dug into his hair, holding him to her. His teeth gently scraped her tight nub then he suckled again, pulling back until it popped free. He turned his attention to the other nipple, suckling until her toes curled. She felt his hands moving between them, and when his hips moved away and then back again, she realized he removed his boxer briefs.
He rolled onto his back, taking her with him and her legs straddled his. Startled at the new position, she placed her hands on the mattress on either side of his head and rose. The movement pressed her sex to the hard ridge of his. With only the thin material of her panties separating them, she could feel the heat of his body sliding along her opening, and she gasped at the sudden intimacy.
“Fuck, that feels good.” He gripped her hips and set her to rocking on him. “I can feel how fucking hot your pussy is. Are you wet, baby?”
Elora ducked her head, embarrassed that he could tell so much about her body and its reaction to him, but he refused to let her hide. His hands moved up her rib cage, briefly cupping her breasts, and then tipping her chin up until she looked at him.
“Feel how hard my cock is.” His hips thrust up, grinding his penis against her pussy. “That’s what you do to me. There’s nothing to be ashamed of. This is natural. And I have no intention of letting you hide any part of you.”
Any hesitations she had vanished at the thought of him seeing and touching her. Elora gave a long moan and threw back her head, giving herself over to him.
10
The sight of Elora arching her back, her breasts thrust out, nipples pouting for him to taste them again was too much for Mason to resist. He sat up, forcing her to sit back on him. The hot press of her pussy on his cock had him groaning. He caught her mouth with his, thrusting his tongue inside and entwining with hers.
Keeping their mouths locked together, he twisted until she was on her back again. He settled between her legs, rubbing his cock against the damp material of her panties. Shifting to the side, he slipped a hand between them and under the band of her panties. His fingers brushed the soft hair hidden beneath, gently tugging a tuft before dipping further.
Her clit was stiff, and her entire body jerked when he pressed his finger firmly against the delicate flesh and moved in a circular motion.
He pulled back to watch her reaction as he alternated between the swirling and flicking her clit. Her eyes widened and her mouth gaped with a silent cry. Her shoulders tensed, lifting up from the mattress as her body strained toward a release she’d never experienced.
“Not yet, baby,” Mason said, removing his finger. “I want the first time you cum to be with me inside you. I want to feel you squeezing every last drop from me.”
He found her entrance wet with desire and easily slid a finger in. He pulled out and inserted two fingers, testing the snugness of her passage.
“Your pussy’s so tight. It’s gonna feel so good when I’m fucking you.” His fingers delved deeper, then pulled back and thrust back in.
“Mason ...”
“Is that what you want, baby? You want me to fuck you?”
Her hips bucked as she gave a low moan.
“Say it, Elora. Say you want me to fuck you.”
“Mason ... please,” she panted.
He tore his hand away from her, and she cried out at the abruptness. He lifted up onto his knees and gazed down at her. Her bra was still caught under her breast, pushing them up in an offering, and in the darkness, he could make out the deep pink tips of her nipples.
Her hands swept across his chest, curling into his chest hair. Taking one of her hands, he guided it to his throbbing cock. She rubbed her hand over him, her inexperience evident in her tentative touch.
“I don’t know how to ...” She withdrew her hand.
“Just touch me.” He showed her how to wrap her hand around him and stroke him, then let her go so she could experiment. She started with a slow and light stroke, gradually increasing the firmness of her grip as she listened to his heavy breathing.
“Enough,” he said and pushed her hand away.
“But—"
“I want to be inside you when we cum.”
He pulled the delicate fabric of her panties down her thighs, and when they reached the point where he knelt, he lifted her legs up in front of him and slipped them completely off. With that last barrier between them removed, he grasped her hips and tugged her toward him.
He guided his dick to her entrance and slowly pushed in. She was tighter than he’d anticipated, and she instinctively drew away. He pressed his thumb to her clit, working it in small circles until her pelvis was rocking in time, working her along his shaft, sending him deeper with each movement.
Fully seated inside her, he leaned over her, resting his elbows beside her head, and gripped the sides of her face, tipping it back so he could kiss her. He began thrusting, mimicking the movements of his cock with his tongue.
Tension tightened his body, and he drove faster, feeling his release curling through him. Their groins slammed together, and the fierce grip of her pussy pulled him in.
Elora tore her mouth from him, and the heavy sounds of their breathing filled the tent. Her neck arched and he let his teeth find that sensitive spot where her neck met her shoulder, latching on with a gentle bite.
“Oh, God ...” Her ancient prayer echoed around them trembling with excitement and confusion. “I don’t know ... I can’t ...”
His tongue laved at the pink bite mark he left in his wake. “Let go, baby.”
“I can’t,” she cried out.
He moved his hands under her back, forcing her pelvis to angle down. The position let the hard flesh of his cock slide along her clit with every surge he made. He felt her orgasm come over her. Her entire body stiffened, and her pussy quivered around him, frantically grasping his flesh. He pounded into her once, twice, then a final time as he hunched forward, holding her tightly against him. He pumped his hips as his seed shot from him.
He shook with the strength of his release, and as the pleasure faded, he collapsed over her before pulling out and rolling to his side. She
made a sound of shocked protest, but he disregarded it. That he could see her clearly in the light meant the sun was up, and they’d lost valuable time.
“We need to get moving,” he said as he sat up and reached for his clothing.
He found her panties lying on top of his jeans and tossed them to her. He wiggled into his briefs and jeans, no easy feat in the cramped space. Leaving the fastenings undone, he pulled on his socks then his boots. Half dressed he unzipped the flap and stepped out into the cold.
“Damn, it’s cold.” He stretched his arms above his head, letting the frigid air invigorate him. It wasn’t as late as he’d thought, but they couldn’t afford to waste any more time. Reaching back inside, he snagged his shirt and tugged it on before going back in for his parka.
He rummaged around the foot of the tent, then remembered using it as a pillow. When he glanced at the other end, he noticed Elora sitting there, clutching the blanket to her chest.
“What are you doing?” he asked. “Get dressed. We need to go.”
She just stared at him with her big green eyes, and he tried to read her expression. Her disappointment was obvious, and he realized she’d expected more from him afterward. Even Luce had made it clear that he needed to spend at least a few minutes holding her before he took off.
“Shit. I’m sorry.” He injected his words with what sounded like regret.
“Get out.”
“I’m an unfeeling ass—"
“Get the hell out of here.” Anger sharpened her words. It was going to take more than an apology to fix what he’d done, but at least she wasn’t crying.
Heeding her order, he snatched up his parka and left her alone. Behind him, the zipper closed him out.
Across their makeshift campground, the dogs whined, and he placed a pot of snow on the fire. Once it melted, he poured the water into one of the two bowls they had and carried it over to the dogs. When that was gone, he repeated the process, making sure each of the mutts had their fill.
He’d expected Elora to be out by then but the flap was still down, and he hadn’t heard any sound of her moving around. While he waited for her to come out, he heated up another pot of snow. Once it began boiling, he poured in a package of oats, stirring the mixture as it thickened.
Mason ate a portion of the oatmeal and left the rest for Elora, then set about hitching up the team. The dogs were even less cooperative than they’d been the day before, solidifying his decision to get rid of them as soon as possible. Tied up to the sled, they danced around anxiously as he debated what to do about Elora.
It was closing in on ten and Stebbins was at least an hour away. He started toward the tent, stopping when the flap opened, and Elora crawled out. She stood and brushed off the snow that had attached itself to her skirt.
His mouth opened to say something, but she held up a hand, cutting him off.
“I really don’t want you to say anything. Let’s just get moving.” She pulled a long slender tube from within her parka and attached it to the side of the tent. With the press of a button, the tube sucked the tent and inflatable mattress in, condensing them into the container. When their shelter was contained, she placed the tube back inside her parka.
She picked up the bowl and ate the food he’d left for her, then used a rag and snow to wipe the dish clean. Her movements were jerky, anger radiating from her. They got on the sled, and she held herself as far from him as possible. He was tempted to close that distance, mainly because he wanted to feel her ass rubbing against him, but he had the good sense to know that when a woman was pissed, the last thing she wanted was a man getting up in her space.
The ride to Stebbins was silent and stressful. Mason struggled to control the team, and the dogs seemed to realize it. With each passing minute, they fought harder against his lead. Eventually, the village came into view. He rolled his shoulders and craned his head to one side then the other, the satisfying crack that came with it revealing how tense he’d grown.
Ironshore was a small village, but it was a full-fledged town compared to Stebbins. Part of that was due to the positioning of the Tank Force. With the Dealer taking up residence in Ironshore, the Station House in Stebbins had closed. Only a couple guards remained.
Mason guided the team up to the front of the lone store on Main Street. He set the break and stepped onto the muddy roadway. The building was run down, most likely an original structure from before the divide.
“Wait here,” he told Elora.
“You don’t get to order me around.”
“Fine then. I’ll stay here to make sure no one makes off with our shit while you talk to Jasper about selling the team.” He leaned against the lamp post that stood a few feet away.
“Who’s Jasper?”
“An old friend of the Dealer’s and our best shot at getting rid of these mutts.”
She pressed her lips together so tightly they turned white before eventually inclining her head. “All right. You go, and I’ll stay.”
He was actually surprised she hadn’t called his bluff. There was no Jasper, and chances were, she’d get the same info he was going to from whoever owned the store, but he was so sick of those damn dogs that he wasn’t above lying or letting her stand in the cold to get away from them. It hadn’t helped to know that Elora was pissed off. An angry woman wasn’t one he wanted to be stuck with for any length of time. But he didn’t know how to fix the mess with her. Even if he did know, he wasn’t certain he could.
Shaking his head, he walked into the store, setting off the bell that hung above the door. No one appeared at the counter, so he wandered down the center row. The bare shelves didn’t do much to raise his expectations.
A curtain hung from the ceiling separating the store from the owner’s personal quarters.
“Hello?” Mason called out.
A weather-beaten old man poked his head out. “Whadya want?”
“Looking to do some trading.”
The man nodded, sending his wild white hair fluttering around him. He came out into the store and moved past Mason to the front counter. Once he was behind the counter, he slapped his hands on the table.
“You Gregory Hunt’s boy, ain’t ya?”
“Yeah.” Mason held out his hand. “Mason.”
“Matt Begay.”
“You were Tank force.” Though Begay was a common enough name in that area of the Sector, Mason recognized the man’s name.
“Sure was. Spent forty years in the force. Ten as Dealer. Yer dad was one of the best men to serve under me.”
“I grew up on stories of you and the battle at Norton Sound,” Mason said, ignoring the comment about the Dealer.
“Nice ta know I inspired the next generation of guards.”
Mason nodded silently. No point in telling the old man that joining the guard hadn’t been his dream.
“So, whatcha got, and whatcha want?” Matt asked.
“I’m looking to trade a dog team and sled for a snowmobile or even a car.”
“Don’t get much call for either here. You taking a trip?”
Mason hesitated, unsure how he should respond. “Going through the interior.”
“Huh,” Matt’s head reared back in surprise. “Jeter down the road’s got a junk yard with a few machines. That’d be about yer only shot.”
“Thanks,” Mason said. “I’ll head over there once I’m done here.”
He went back down the main aisle and grabbed a few more supplies. Not much of a selection, but something was better than nothing.
The door behind him jingled, and he turned to see Elora walking through the entrance.
“Shit,” he muttered and stomped over to her, stepping between her and Matt. The last thing he needed was a former Dealer to start suspecting this was anything other than a trade run. “I told you to stay with the dogs.”
“Yeah, so it wouldn’t be stolen. Well, the place is dead. I haven’t seen a single person. The dogs will be fine.” She gazed past him at Matt. “Is that Jaspe
r?”
“Who?”
“Your father’s friend.”
“Oh, no. Jasper’s gone, but Matt had the info we needed. Go back out. I’ve gotta pay for this stuff.”
“You have money?”
He didn’t blame her for being doubtful. Money was rare up in these parts.
“Yes, I have money. My pay goes direct to the Capitol bank. Now go.”
“Can I—"
He grabbed her arm when she started to push past him. He glared into her startled eyes. “Wait outside.”
“O-okay.”
He waited until she’d left and through the window saw that she’d rejoined the dog team before taking his cart up to the counter.
“Girl looks a bit small for a guard,” Matt noted as he tallied up the items.
“She’s not Tank.”
Mason pulled out his stash of cash from his back pocket. It would leave him with almost nothing left on hand, but he couldn’t afford to leave a money trail for the Dealer to follow. He wasn’t covering his tracks as well as he’d like, but no sense in making it easy.
“Thanks for the help.” He gave what appeared to be a friendly smile as he gathered his purchases.
Outside, Elora placed her hands on her hips and tapped her toes. Or, at least, he guessed she did since the thick coat made it impossible to see the flare of her hips.
“I don’t appreciate you ordering me around,” she snapped.
“Sorry,” he said, careful to add a hint of contrition to his voice. “Matt’s a retired Dealer. He was already asking questions before he saw you, but he got real suspicious when he saw you. We need to move fast.”
“You think he’ll contact your father?” Her face paled.
“I know he will.” He urged her onto the sled and got on behind her. A half mile down the road he spotted Jeter’s place. It consisted of a sloping cabin and a large warehouse. As they pulled up to the building, he said, “Follow my lead. We need to do this quick.”
She nodded and walked with him to the open door of the warehouse. Just inside the door to the right behind a shoulder-high fence were a couple dozen dog houses and two old dogs. To the left was a mechanic shop. The rest of the space was filled with old cars, some dating back to the first Regent.
Winter Souls: an Adult Paranormal Witch Romance: Sector 10 (The Othala Witch Collection) Page 10
