She swallowed and he leaned down to kiss her throat before releasing her hair so he could get to work on her clothing. First her shirt, he drew the purple long sleeve up over her, an act which left her wearing a periwinkle lace hued bra. The contrast with her smooth skin had his cock jumping in his jeans. Biting his lower lip, he dragged his gaze over her belly and down to the waistband of her gray cotton jersey pants.
One finger tucked beneath the waist and curled as he began to drag it down. Her breathing caught and he looked up at her, grateful her focus remained on him.
“Lift up,” he murmured.
She did and he continued their removal. Matching panties—boy shorts to be exact, lace boy shorts—came into view and his own breath hitched. She just didn’t have any idea what she did to him. Once the pants were free, he tossed them off in the similar direction he’d thrown her shirt. Wasn’t positive and he didn’t care.
Leaning forward, he pressed his lips to her belly. Her slight quivers, unmistakable and he grinned. He made short work of her socks and soon, aside from the matching bra and panties, she wore nothing.
“Beautiful,” he said, trailing his hands along her figure.
Backing away so he was at her feet, he lifted her right leg, trying his damndest to ignore how smooth her skin was in his palm, and kissed the top of her foot. Followed by the instep and then her ankle. Slowly, he made his way all the way up her leg with light feathery kisses. Once he reached the top of her thigh, he began again with her left foot.
He constantly checked to make sure she watched him, reminding her if she closed her eyes. Again, he paused at the top. This time, however, he went on to her stomach and kissed up to right beneath her bra. It didn’t take him long to flick it open. He loved front clasps. The lace parted, giving him complete access to her breasts, and he took advantage.
“Heath!” she cried as he sucked on nipple in his mouth, his teeth grazing along the pebbled tip.
He alternated between them. Kassia writhed beneath him, her fingers tugging on his hair, tightening with each passing second. Flitting his gaze to hers, he growled at the sight of her closed eyes.
“Watch me,” he commanded, releasing the tip in his mouth.
She struggled to do so but when she did, he smiled before taking her lips in a heady kiss. Lord, he loved the taste of her. Nothing would ever do to him what she did. He knew this and refused to let her go.
Her fingers worked on his pants, and he didn’t stop her. She unbuttoned his jeans and lowered the zipper. When her touch dipped into his boxers and around his cock, he moaned, hips flexing on their own accord, seeking more.
He needed it as well. The lace of her final article of clothing ripped with ease beneath his strength, and he fumbled in his wallet for a condom, which he donned swiftly. Gripping the base of his shaft, he pushed the broad head of his cock into her. She whimpered, and her eyes fluttered.
“Watch me, sweets.” Christ, he couldn’t even recognize his own voice.
Heath captured her hands in his, laced their fingers and stretched her arms above her head as he sank fully inside her molten heat. She captured her lower lip with her teeth and moaned as he began to move. The rest of the world fell away as he stroked deep within her. In and out. Not fast. Not slow. Just an easy rhythm designed to drive them both crazy. And he had no plans of stopping. Not anytime soon.
It was Christmas when he finally carried her back to the bed and indulged in her once more before they fell asleep.
Right before he fell asleep, he brushed his lips along her forehead and whispered, “I love you, Kassia Green. I love you.”
Christmas Day
“Merry Christmas, sweets,” a low tone whispered in her ear.
Kassia stirred and opened her eyes slowly. Heath stared down at her, head propped up on one hand. His gaze was warm and made her feel like the only woman in the world.
“Morning,” she responded. “Merry Christmas to you as well.”
She smiled at the memory of the last night. Even though he’d not spoken of emotions and feelings, she could feel the love he had for her. Or so she’d convinced herself. Experiencing his touches beneath the Christmas lights and flickering flames from the gas fire which surrounded the room in a gentle glow, she found herself growing even closer to him. She couldn’t shut him out and claim, just a thing. Heath wouldn’t let her, insisting on eye contact each time, the depths of emotion she felt in each caress, each stroke. The man was deeper beneath her skin than ever and to be honest, she wasn’t sure she wanted him anywhere but where he was at this very moment.
Then, she sobered as it dawned on her. She was leaving tomorrow. She didn’t want to fight with him anymore. He’d been cryptic in a sense at dinner, asking her the questions he had. Part of her wanted to invite him to her place for a few weeks. Extend the vacation, so to speak. She’d voiced her answer wrong when he asked what she’d consider her time with him, but he’d thrown her so much with his slumming comment, she couldn’t get her thoughts back together.
“What’s wrong?” he asked as his fingers trailed along the bridge of her nose.
“Nothing.” She stretched and smiled softly at his touch. “Ready for some breakfast? If you give me a few, I’ll whip something up for us.”
“It’s ready,” he said, leaning across her and grabbing a tray she hadn’t previously noticed.
She slid up to rest against the padded headboard and touched Heath’s face gently in thanks. He removed the cover exposing two eggs, toast, and a small bowl of fruit. On the side opposite the rolled up linen napkin sat a five-inch plum box wrapped by a silver bow.
“What’s that?” she questioned as she reached for it.
“Uh uh, sweets. Eat your breakfast first.”
Kassia felt like pouting. “What about you?” she asked as he fed her the first bite of eggs.
“I’m sharing with you.”
True to his word, he did eat part of her breakfast. Still, she tried to get him to allow her to have the box first, and he continued to say no. But it didn’t take long and the only remaining item was the box. Suddenly nervous, she reached for it and shook it lightly. No sound. So, she shook it again. And again.
“Are you going to shake the thing to death or open it?” He took it from her and held it out of her grasp.
Shooting him a mock glare, she stuck her tongue out at him. “Don’t rush me. It’s my present, and I reserve the right to open it at my own speed.”
His warm, husky chuckle rumbled in her ear and moved throughout her. Heath placed the box in her hands and removed the tray from the bed.
Kassia undid the bow and opened the box. A black velvet shelf sat about halfway down the inside and in the middle of that was a ring. A ring that took her breath away. An eighteen-karat white gold band flowed elegantly into a sleek channel setting on either side of a sparkling diamond.
“Heath?” she queried on a gasp. “This…this…this…”
“…is an engagement ring,” he murmured in her ear, his tone seductive and bone-melting.
“But…but…but…” Kassia was having a hard time with the simple act of breathing, much less making legible sentences.
“You’re stuttering, sweets. I know it’s sudden, but, Kassia, I can’t imagine not having you in my life. I don’t want to lose you after you leave here. There will be plenty of time to work out the specific details, just please accept the ring and tell me you’ll be my wife.”
Still in awe, Kassia didn’t respond. Instead, she picked up the object holding her attention. Rotating it in her hand, she stared at it, unbelieving, waiting for the dream to end.
“Kassia?”
“I didn’t get you anything,” she muttered, watching as his thick fingers plucked the ring from her hand only to begin to slide it on her finger. It shone against her dark skin. A loving feeling filled her as the cool metal heated against her skin.
Heath took a finger and turned her gaze from the ring to his face. She noticed the shine his eyes had and smiled.
&
nbsp; “Yes, you did, sweets. You’ve given me more than anything I could have ever hoped for. I’d forgotten what life was like until I woke up to your delightful scream. You are an amazing woman, Kassia, and I don’t want to live without you.”
“Yes, Heath.” She launched into his arms. “Yes, I’ll marry you.” As soon as the words were out of her mouth, she knew it was the right decision. The only decision.
“I love you, Kassia,” he said.
“And I you, Heath.” Who knew the best present she could ever have received would have been a man as a holiday surprise, and an unwrapped, naked one at that?
THE END
Keep reading for a sneak peek at Aliyah Burke’s novel,
His Purrfect Mate
Chapter One
Dane Sidorov sagged against the tree’s thick trunk. Blood poured from his arm, running to the frozen ground.
“Damn,” he muttered. “Much more of this and a wet-behind-the-ears kid will be able to track me.”
Reaching into the medpack he carried velcroed to his uniform, Dane grabbed some bandages and a suture kit. Gritting his teeth, he sewed up the wound, tied it off before biting through the string, and wrapping it with the gauze. Tugging down his shirt sleeve, he shoved his arm back into his white parka. Sure, he didn’t need to do it this way, but…well, it better...safer.
The bitter cold of the air told him he still lived, even if he didn’t really feel that way. His ears picked up on incoming choppers. Four of them. No doubt filled with men who’d kill him without hesitation. Dane didn’t fault them for that. It was their job.
Just like it’s mine to keep that very thing from happening.
“Crypt. Where are you?” The question rang in his ear.
Despite the pain in his arm, which actually was more of an annoyance than anything, he smiled at Demon’s voice. “Fell down a rabbit hole. Have to follow my nose.”
“Status?”
Glancing at his injured arm, Dane replied, “I’m good. Will meet at the rendezvous site.”
“See you there.”
Silence reigned, and he scanned the night sky again. Closer. They are much closer now. The choppers had grown louder. Skimming his tongue over his teeth, he began to run. Each step he took put more distance between him and the enemy. The urge to stay and finish what they’d started swamped him, and for a few seconds, he stopped and hesitated, staring back in the direction he’d come. Until duty overtook personal longings. With a sigh, Dane moved out. He progressed slower and more cautiously, closer to the extraction point. The hair on the back of his neck prickled with warning. He dropped to the ground, all senses straining to find the danger.
“Slim,” he said, getting in contact with the head of the unit.
“Go ahead, Crypt.”
“Something’s off.”
“Chopper’s here. We leave in two. Where are you?”
Dane shook his head. “It’s not right. Get out of there.” He slithered on his belly toward the helo holding his friends. His unit.
“They’re coming, Crypt. We have to get going. Get your ass here now! That’s an order.”
“Get out!” Dane lunged to his feet and began to run toward the helicopter, uncaring of the fact he totally exposed himself. “Get out of there!”
“We’re powering up. Either you’re here or we’re gonna have to meet you at the second rendezvous.”
The low whine of the chopper’s engine reached him. Dane pushed himself faster, calling on more speed. He burst from the tree line and headed for the bird. In the splinters of light he could make out the tense face of Doc.
Where’s Slim? He should be by the door. Dane couldn’t pick out his silhouette in the interior of the helo, and he could see pretty well. Two more steps were all he took before a fiery blast engulfed the helicopter, lifted him off his feet, and knocked him back into the trees. He hit hard, the sturdiness of the old tree not giving an inch to his body.
Fragments of the helicopter rushed by him, cutting through his parka and digging into his flesh. Dane didn’t have time to yell before darkness overtook him.
Voices reached him, stirring him further from the hold unconsciousness had upon him.
“I don’t know. He should be here. He was almost to the chopper when it blew. Hell, for all I know his body may have been incinerated as well.”
“Collect the rest of the wreckage.”
That voice rang familiar. Anger stirred and rose up within Dane. He could smell the gun oil and made out eleven separate heartbeats. Instinct took over, and Dane lay in wait, blending in with nature, his gaze fixed on one man of the group. A man he had trusted with his life. He snarled silently, his razor-sharp fangs thirsty for blood. The traitor’s blood.
“Wreckage is gathered, sir. No bodies. Only some blood and prints.”
“Prints?” the man asked. “Boot?”
“No sir. Animal. Tiger. And it looks like a big one.”
A loud roar pierced the frozen night. Eleven heartbeats sped up. The scent of their fear permeated the cold air. A smell which served to feed his desire to kill. Kill them all.
“I think the tiger wants us out of his area.”
“Can’t we shoot it? Always wanted to bag me a tiger.”
“No! They’re very protective of the few remaining. It’s probably tagged, and there would be a big investigation were it to be found dead or missing.”
“Damn. All that care of a dumb animal. And the people?”
“It was a Black Op. Never happened. Let’s go.”
As their chopper lifted off, another roar sliced the air. One of anger, hate, and the promise of retribution and revenge. Tawny-green-gold eyes followed the path the helicopter flew, and when it could no longer be seen, they closed, and the darkness came again.
Dane woke to pain. Intense, immense pain. On its heels, anger, rage, and betrayal followed.
Give in to the rage.
Shoving to his feet, Dane pushed at the darkness that never seemed far from consuming him—hungered to consume him—refusing to give in to its ever-close absorption of him. It took a moment, longer and longer each time his control was threatened, but he wrested it back under his restraint. Done, he took several deep breaths of the crisp Siberian air. Sinking against the trunk of the nearest tree, he fought back the waves of dizziness.
“It would be so easy to give in. Give in and heal myself.” Shaking his head, Dane swore, “I can do this.”
The lightheadedness passed, and he slipped back through the trees to the spot of the explosion. As he stood upon the charred ground, he felt the land screaming in pain, and Dane could feel the furls of anger beginning anew deep within. Clenching his fists, he stared up at the night sky.
“I will make them pay.”
Bile rushed up his throat. First, he needed to heal. And that needed to be done rather quickly. In this weakened state, the darkness would have an easier time of overtaking him. He needed to be sharp. Home.
“No! I can’t. I won’t.”
Risking his family was never going to happen. It was his job to ensure his siblings were safe. He was the oldest and would never willingly place them in danger. No matter how capable they were, and his siblings were very capable. And as perilous as he was at the moment, unsure if he could continue to keep this darkness at bay, he wouldn’t go home and risk his family and friends. Dane ignored his hurt, reinforced the barriers he’d erected to keep his pain just that—his—and vanished from sight as the heavily treed forest swallowed him up.
* * * * *
Four months later in a remote village in South Africa
I miss the cold.
Dane smiled at a young village boy who ran by him at the end of the path wearing nothing but a tattered pair of cut-off jeans. Tossing the chunk of wood onto the pile, Dane rolled his shoulders to ease the muscles.
“Hello, Mr. Dane.” A small hand waved in his direction.
Shoving his fingers through his shaggy hair, Dane waved back as he took in the large grin on
the boy’s face. “Afternoon, Tau. Where are you off to in such a rush?” He dug the axe into the stump before him and wiped the sweat off his brow.
“Aida comes.” The smile grew wider if that were even possible.
It was infectious, and Dane had one on his face as well. The children in the village could make him smile; otherwise, he wasn’t known to do so. He kept to himself for the most part, but the villagers had made him feel more than welcome. He spent his days doing repairs and helping around when and where he could.
Resting a hand on the smooth wooden handle, he asked, “And who is Aida?” He’d met most of the people in this and surrounding villages; Aida wasn’t a name he knew.
“Teacher’s friend. Come, Mr. Dane. Come!”
With an indulgent chuckle, he reached for his shirt and drew it on over his head. “Okay, Tau, I’m right behind you.”
As they moved toward the schoolhouse, which doubled as a gathering area, Dane noticed Tau’s extreme excitement, and yet, the lad tried to contain it. There were a lot of people converging on the school where it sat nestled under the canopy of some huge shade trees. The thick, leafy foliage helped keep the inside cool in the African heat. I bet the ones I don’t see are already inside.
Dane hung back as Tau bolted ahead, scampering up the two steps. Through the noise and gaiety, a new voice trickled to Dane’s ears. A woman’s laugh, low and rich, flowed over him. Thick warmed honey came to mind as he heard it. He swallowed hard while lust and possessiveness raced through him. It stunned him. This woman somehow had an effect on him, and he hadn’t even laid eyes on her. Not remotely close to what I was expecting.
The teacher strode by, a child hanging on each leg and one around his neck. “Hey, Dane,” he said.
“Christopher,” he replied with a nod. “Looks like you have an armful there.”
Sparkling blue eyes stared at him. “I wouldn’t have it any other way. Coming in?”
Dane watched the kids let go and bolt up to the interior of the building. “Who’s Aida?”
A Naughty Little Christmas (Cowboys, Cops, and Kilts: 8 Seasonally Seductive Romances from Bestselling Authors) Page 22
