by Aliyah Burke
Damn it. His cock was painfully hard and he’d lost the conversation. “Can this wait until Taylor is here? I think she should hear it as well.”
Lian narrowed his gaze slightly. “Why is that?”
“This has as much to do with her as it does any of us. Why would I want to keep her in the dark on it?”
“You care greatly for this woman.”
Staring at the man who’d taken him in and given him a home, he shrugged. “I respect her and what she’s gone through. She’s smart and determined. Good traits. She is one of the strongest people I’ve met. Having gone from a pampered life to running for her life and making it. Through it all, she keeps her sense of humour.”
The three of them stared at him, waiting for him to admit it. He knew that. They knew he knew that.
“Yes,” he conceded. “I care for her.” He didn’t want to give them everything they wanted.
Billy grinned. “Glad to hear it. I think this woman is going to give you a run for your money, bro.”
“Why?”
“She’s not going to buy into your little adventurous travel dude attitude you like to have. No more picking up and running off to the slopes or beach now.”
He snorted and rolled his eyes. Cale was the youngest of the male Chosen and they loved to pick on him. He didn’t want to admit that Billy was right and he would have to curb that behaviour. Unless he could convince her to go with him.
No, it wouldn’t do to have her in trouble. And if she went out with that pendant on, it would act like a homing beacon to the other side. There would not only be demons and the like, but also members of The New Order hunting them down.
And he was not going to put her in harm’s way. Rocking back in his chair, he glared at Billy. “Plenty to do here.”
“I’m sure. But you have to leave the bedroom at some point.”
He flipped Billy off and turned his back on him. It did him good to see a slight grin playing on Tiarnán’s lips. Even Lian had a smile, but Cale could detect the sadness in his.
“Back to business,” Tiarnán said, picking up a remote and turning on the screen along the back wall.
* * * *
Sore and tired, Cale made his way up to his room. Normally he could hold his own, but today had been all about getting his ass kicked. Tiarnán hadn’t had any sympathy for him either. In fact, if anything, he’d seemed to push him harder.
After training, they’d gone to see the new weapons that had been made, and Cale had to admit, he’d liked that part. He’d picked out a few he would try next time. He fought another yawn and rubbed his eyes.
A shower. That will help.
Pushing open the door, he stripped as he walked across the room, making a beeline to the shower. He didn’t linger too long—the water didn’t revive him as he’d hoped it would. After he’d finished, he stepped from the walk-in and wrapped a towel around his waist once he’d used it to blot the majority of water from his skin.
He yawned again and walked back out to the bedroom where he paused. Taylor lay on the bed, sound asleep.
How’d she get into my room?
It took him a few moments for the reality of what faced him to sink in. She wasn’t in his room, he was in hers. He took in the pale green covers and realised he’d come straight here following training.
Glancing down, he blinked a couple of times at the pastel pink towel that hung low on his hips. Not really my colour. He flicked his gaze between himself and where she lay curled up on her left side, facing away from the door. It was as if she’d fallen asleep in the act of crawling into bed, too tired to even pull the comforter and sheet over her.
The sun, which streamed in through the window, glinted off her hair and skin. Her hands rested beneath her chin as she slept. Cale took another glance around the room then approached the bed. He slipped in behind her and covered them with the blankets.
Moving slowly, he spooned her, one arm draped around her midsection. She never stirred and he couldn’t sense any difference in her breathing that would indicate she’d woken but was trying to pretend otherwise. Her soft hair brushed the underside of his chin and he took a deep breath, inhaling the gentle scent that wafted from her. Then he closed his eyes.
Someone was in bed with her. Taylor alternated between panic and more panic. Mostly because for some reason, the person with her brought her a sense of calm and comfort. Along with arousal.
Cale.
After she’d calmed herself down a bit and thought about it, she realised who it was. What is he doing in my bed? Perhaps we were expected to share a room and bed. That hadn’t been cleared with her, but then, hey, not much of this most recent stuff had. Her belly, tight with nerves, kept encouraging her to bolt and go somewhere else. Anywhere. Get away from him. Keep a distance, for he could only hurt her. A sentiment her brain agreed completely with.
Her heart was another story entirely. She closed her eyes, blocking out the view out the window. Am I seriously thinking there is, or could be, something with me and this man? I can’t be that foolish.
Apparently she was, for her heart wanted to trust and believe in him. He’d kept her safe, saved her, and right this very moment was holding her as if she were precious to him. At least that was what she felt with his arms around her, as they were currently.
It’s official. I can’t trust myself. It’s merely me being grateful for him helping me. I don’t know him enough to have any kind of feelings for him.
Someone knocked on the door and she wanted to hide under the bed. Oh, my God. What are they going to think if they find him here in bed with me?
The knock came again. She didn’t move. Perhaps they would just go away. Did her luck hold out like that? Of course not. Cale stirred and climbed from bed, mattress dipping as he left. Everything in her wanted to turn and watch him walk to the door, but she remained facing the window.
“Yeah?” His voice was deep and sleep-roughened.
The nerves in her belly were of a different kind now. Taylor tightened her legs and did her best to ignore the longing moving through her. She couldn’t act like a slut. There was too much at stake.
“Oh,” a woman said. “I didn’t mean to…interrupt. I came to see if Taylor would like to go shopping for some clothing. I know she didn’t have time to get a lot of her things.”
More like no time to get any of my things. Not that I had much, but still.
“I’m sure she’d like that. I’ll send her down to meet you.”
“Great. Good to see you back, Cale.”
His response was muffled before the click of the door reached her. He made no sound as he moved across the carpet, but she couldn’t miss the man who stood before her wearing nothing more than a pink towel. She’d been staring out from beneath lowered lids and it took everything inside her not to allow her eyes to fly open.
He had no right to look that good in pink. Seriously. The six pack was more like an eight and she couldn’t spy an ounce of fat on him. Her mouth dried as she took in the view best she could without giving away that she was awake.
“How long are you going to pretend you don’t see me standing here in this pink towel?”
“As long as it takes for you to move.”
“So you are awake?”
Why did it sound like he was enjoying this?
Maybe I should be asking myself why it is I want to unwrap the towel and see what lies beneath. Like that would be a good thing to do. Nope, she had no intention of doing that.
“Of course I am,” she snapped. “Someone was knocking at the door.”
He tugged on the blanket and she jerked her gaze up to his face, determined not to focus on anything else with wide-open eyes. But, Lord, that temptation was there to leisurely drag her gaze up and see it so much clearer.
“Why are you in my room?” she asked when their eyes met.
“I was tired and wanted to see you.”
She shook her head. “That doesn’t make any sense. If you were tired, y
ou wouldn’t be seeing me because you’d be sleeping. Try again.”
Her breathing hitched when his towel shifted down, showing off more of that tanned skin. Christ, what did he do? Sunbathe in the nude? Shouldn’t his skin be a bit paler down there?
“All right, I just came here after training. Took my shower and came out here to find you lying there asleep. I joined you.”
More slippage and she wanted to shift against the sheet, but she held herself still. If he wasn’t going to bring attention to it, she wasn’t going to say a thing. Because you want to see what he looks like. How long his cock is and how thick.
Damn her subconscious.
Struggling to keep her focus on the question she had, she licked her lips. “So we’re not sharing a room?” Did I sound disappointed by that?
“Do you want to?”
Oh, he just had way too much sexual appeal for her. She was out of her league. Swallowing back the yes that dangled on the tip of her tongue, she shook her head. “No thanks. I just wasn’t sure if we were because you brought me here. And there’s all that prophecy stuff. I’m sure we could get a cot or something, if we were.”
His laughter had the towel almost falling off. She was torn between telling him to fix it and giving it the final little jolt needed for it to settle on the floor.
I am not a slave to my desires, I can ignore this. Yeah right. She’d never wanted anyone more. Her body ached with the need for his touch and ignoring that wasn’t easy in the least.
“Babe, if we’re sharing a room, we’re sharing a bed.” He stepped closer until his legs touched the mattress’ edge. “I’d not be on a cot while you lay in a bed feet away from me.”
“I would take the cot.”
“No. You wouldn’t. We’d be together. Naked. Limbs entwined.” The mattress dipped as he placed his right knee on it. “My tongue exploring every inch of your soft skin.”
She whimpered in the back of her throat. From the flare of heat in his gaze, he’d heard her. He put one hand by her shoulder and leaned close.
“My cock, thrusting into your wet pussy. Over and over until our cries blend as one. I want to feel you come around me. I want your nails digging into my back as I fuck you. I want to lay there while you ride me.”
He straddled her as she lay on her back, his dark hair falling around them. Her entire body trembled at the picture he painted. She wanted that, too. Now. Biting the inside of her lower lip, she fought the urge to buck her hips up into him. She heard the whisper of the towel sliding free and she knew he was buck naked.
“I thought I was supposed to go shopping.” When did my voice get so breathless?
He bent his arms and brought himself closer to her face. Turning his head at the last moment, he placed light, teasing kisses all over her cheeks and neck. Nose as well, he just avoided her lips.
Her body was strung tight and craved release. Soon. Before she burst into flames.
“Touch me, Taylor.”
Those three words flowed on a thread of begging and command. She couldn’t hold out any longer. Biting her lower lip, she lifted her hands and placed them flat upon his bare chest which was close to hers. His skin was warm and she shivered at the pulses that travelled through her at the contact.
“Yes,” he groaned, lowering his hips.
His thick cock rested against her core and she shifted as she tried to widen her legs. Desperate to have him closer still to be able to wrap her limbs around him. He readjusted and she hooked her ankles about him. A faint humming grew in her ears, but she didn’t care. Nothing was going to stop her now. She wanted him. He wanted her. If there were going to be regrets, they would happen later.
“Much later,” she muttered.
“Much later what?”
She shook her head, not wanting to address her thoughts. “Kiss me.”
“Thought you’d never ask.”
And he did. Lord, did he. His tongue thrust hungrily through her mouth as he rocked his shaft against the seam of her pants.
In between kisses that curled her toes and damn near delivered her to orgasm, he stripped her of all clothing. In the back of her mind, she longed to explore him but right now, it was about taking the edge off her need. His need. Their need.
He made love to her breasts. The tips beaded tight and with every rasp of his tongue, nip or suck on them she squirmed beneath him. She undulated, trying to get his length where she craved it most. Inside her.
“Tell me,” he murmured against her breast before he grazed the sensitive point with his teeth.
“You…in…me…”
“Tell me to fuck you, Taylor. Tell me the words I want to hear and I’ll do it.”
She tried to argue with him, but her body rebelled against her. It wanted what he had for her. Digging her nails into his shoulders, she leant forward and nipped at his pectoral.
“Fuck me, Cale. Fuck me.”
The rumble came from deep within his chest. She felt as much as heard it as the sound rolled through her. In one swift stroke, he sank fully inside her. She gasped at the feeling and shook from the orgasm that blindsided her. He didn’t give her a chance to get used to him, he just began to move.
“So fucking tight,” he uttered in her ear.
Cale pounded his cock into her over and over again as she rose and fell in time with his strokes. Legs high about his waist, she purred in pleasure when he rolled his hips and slammed in again, repeatedly.
She closed her eyes and hung on for the ride. It was rough. It was incredible. It was just what she needed. This wasn’t about words of love or tenderness. This was intense and fierce.
Another orgasm overtook her and she cried out. He pulled back, slipped his hands to her waist and lifted her. Nose to nose again, he began all over and she trembled, her body not used to this type of passion. The all-consuming kind, and it had consumed her—totally.
She burrowed her face into the side of his neck and rocked with him as he changed speed and slowed. He felt so good inside her and amazing around her. She didn’t want to leave. Their sweat and the scent of sex filled the air.
“Come for me again,” he demanded in her ear.
“Can’t,” she whimpered, body trembling with exhaustion.
“Yes. Once more.”
He took them off the bed and carried her to the shower, remaining deep inside her, each step impaling her farther on him. Soon they stood in the shower, warm water cascading around them and the tiles against her back.
Cale positioned them so the streaming water hit her belly. She watched him. His eyes burned possessively and she liked how it made her feel. Wanted. Desired. His.
“Once more, Taylor.”
Her hands were on his forearms and he continued to stroke endlessly inside her. She’d lost count of how many times she’d come on his cock, but she didn’t think there was anything left in her.
His hands moved over her body and, combined with the water, they brought her back to a hypersensitive state. He held her gaze as he moved one hand to her pussy and exposed her clit to the water. She gasped and tightened her grip on his waist with her legs.
“Cale!”
He readjusted her a bit more so the stream was directly on her. His thrusts grew more demanding and she closed her eyes again as the orgasm he’d demanded from her rushed over her. Back arching, legs gripping, internal muscles tightening around him…she screamed as she came. His roar joined her cry as his release pulsed up into her, filling her. If this was how she was to die, sign her up—she was on board.
Chapter Six
Cale leaned against the pillar and watched Taylor interact with some of the children who’d been brought here. Even now, from this distance, all he could think about was the feel of her tight pussy around his cock. He wanted her again. And again.
He’d not seen her for a few hours after she left his arms. Dracen had taken her shopping and they’d come back in time for dinner. Now she was spending time with the children.
Movement at
his elbow had him spying Dracen stopping beside him. He might be taller than she was, but she was like a mother to him. Mother and sister.
“Thanks for taking her shopping.”
“I had some other things to pick up in town. Besides, I think it did her some good. Hard for anyone to be stripped of everything you know.”
He thought about that damn purple bag she’d always had with her. They’d not even been able to bring that. “It’s been a rough few days for her.”
“I’d say not only her.”
“I don’t have a choice—I’m one of the Guardians.”
“Still doesn’t mean it can’t be rough for you.”
He put his gaze back on Taylor. She wore jeans and a long sleeved shirt as they played ball outside in the cool evening. “Where are Roz and Aminta? Aren’t they coming back soon?”
“Doesn’t look like it. From what it sounds like, they have found their artefacts as well.”
“So that’s three of us. Or have you sensed yours?”
“Nope, nothing here. Tiarnán hasn’t either. Not sure about Billy.”
He could hear the frustration in her tone. “Do we know any more of what’s supposed to happen?”
“No. Lian is being more tight-lipped than usual and he’s not even giving riddles. It’s odd, I don’t know what to make of it.”
“All we can do is be alert. And kick ass when the time comes.”
Dracen rubbed her upper arms. “Yeah, something like that.”
No disguising her disbelief and worry. He wrapped an arm around her waist and brushed his lips along her temple. “Lian’s trained us well, Dracen.”
“I know. I’m just not sure. I mean, if all of us sense the artefacts at the same time, how can we be there for one another?”
“We can go to them if they need us.” It disturbed him how nervous this was making her—Dracen rarely got flustered. “Taylor is here and safe. The others will be fine as well.”
Taylor began heading their way. Dracen pasted a smile on her face and nodded. “You’re right.” She had composed herself by the time Taylor joined them. “You work well with children, Taylor. And it’s obvious they enjoy you.”
