Zahrah sighed and licked the tattoo before sliding her tongue to his spine. Declan growled. Taken in by his reaction, she wrapped her arms around him to show him the golden packet. She’d been brave enough to ask Ronin for it. He’d smirked at her, dug through his wallet and handed it over. Ronin hadn’t questioned or made her feel wrong for what she had been thinking.
Declan turned in her arms and smiled. “Where did you get this?”
“Your brother.”
“You asked Ronin for a condom?”
She blushed and put some space in between them. “Desperate times and all.”
“Desperate times? Zahrah we don’t have to…”
“Yes, we do. Because I wanted…” The truth was, Zahrah wanted to be clear to confirm to herself she wanted this. When he touched her, she couldn’t think. She knew deep down she wanted the man to be her official first to be Declan. Any other man and she would freak out, turn into a whimpering pathetic shadow of herself.
With the decision made, she lifted her chin. “I’m ready, Declan.”
He chewed on his bottom lip but didn’t move from where he was standing. Instead, he folded his arms behind his back and watched her with an expression that heated her soul. Zahrah placed the condom on the chest against the wall and began undoing the folds of her hijab. She pulled the pins out and set them beside the condom then lifted the scarf from her head. When she released her hair to flow over her shoulders, she met Declan’s eyes.
Neither of them spoke as she undid her blouse and let it puddle to the floor. Next to follow were her pants and soon she stood in front of him in nothing but her bra and panties. He made no move to come to her. She wasn’t sure what to think and to stop her mind from coming up with every doomsday scenario, Zahrah picked up the condom and went to him.
He traced up her arm with a fingertip, their eyes locked and the air around them non-existent. She moaned and closed her eyes while lifting her lips.
Declan kissed her, softly at first, as if he was testing the waters. Zahrah whimpered with fire tracing her spine. He always awakened dangerous things inside her. This time, she embraced them, she pressed her breasts into Declan’s chest and nipped at his bottom lip.
He deepened the kiss, plunging his tongue into her mouth and growling.
Declan touched her then, dragging his arms around her and dropping his palms on her ass. He tapped each cheek gently, cupped and massaged then before caressing up to the middle of her back. Zahrah pulled her mouth away from him to gasp when his fingers tangled in her hair and drew her head backward. With her neck exposed, she waited.
His mouth found her throat, sucking, licking, nipping and her knees finally gave out. Declan picked her up and set her on the bed but didn’t leave her. He climbed over her, his large body pressing her into the bed as he bowed his head to her neck again.
“With you.” She sighed. “I’m not scared. Declan…”
“If you want to stop.”
“I won’t.”
He nipped at her then took the sting away with swirls of his tongue.
She never dreamed it could be like this. All he did was touch her and she was already losing her mind. His mouth traced parts of her body she’d never shown another man. He kissed the swells of her breasts even as her bra loosened and was gone followed by her panties. Cyclops leaned back and stared down at her. His eyes traced her body, from her lips down to her breasts.
Zahrah resisted the urge to cover herself. Instead, she closed her eyes.
“When I look at you like this.” Declan dragged his palm down her chest and pinched one nipple then the other.
“Oh!” She gasped and looked up at him.
“You’re so sexy.” Declan’s voice cracked.
Zahrah did look away then.
“Look at me.”
Slowly, she turned her head until she met his gaze.
“You are sexy, Zahrah. Every part of your body excites me.” He dragged a calloused finger across her lips. “Are you ready?”
“Yes.”
Declan kissed her quickly then nibbled down her body. Each bit of flesh his lips fell on left her trembling and burning at the same time. Her body moved in ways she never thought possible—arching up to his mouth, swaying under his fingertips and melting for him. But Declan didn’t stop. He continued, making a trial of fire down her frame and her heart fluttered faster and faster. When he was between her legs, Zahrah covered her face, unsure if that was done.
“Declan, I don’t think…”
“I don’t want you to think.” He kissed at the soft insides of her thighs.
“But…”
Declan silenced her by kissing where, not even Gulzar, had kissed her. He spread her open with his fingers and drew lazy circle around the jewel he found hidden between the moist folds between her legs. She held her breath, trying to stem the waves rolling through her. He sucked on her and a mewl escaped her lips.
“Declan—you can’t…oh…”
She bucked under his mouth trying to catch her breath. Declan merely held used a large hand to hold her to the bed and continued feasting on her. He licked, sucked, used his teeth to nip at the lips.
It was wonderful being savoured, being eaten and enjoyed like tasting from a sun-ripened mango. No matter how hard she tried controlling the rise that threatened to break her world apart in the most beautiful ways. For a while, she had it in control.
Then he plunged his tongue into her…
She gripped the back of his head, holding his face in place as her hips writhed upward to take his tongue as deeply as she could. The lights went off behind her eyelids and she couldn’t stop the cry of sheer joy building inside her from exploding out her soul.
He released her, but only to lick her as if trying to sooth her. Zahrah flopped to the bed but he wasn’t through with her. From somewhere in her daze the crinkle of plastic caught her attention but didn’t registered until he spread her legs and positioned himself at her entrance.
He was naked—completely naked and he was glorious!
“Last chance, Kitten.” His voice strained with control. “All you have to do is say the word and we stop right here.”
Zahrah lifted her hips to get the head of his cock just inside her throbbing folds. Declan moaned and sank into her after their eyes met. Zahrah held her breath, waiting.
“There won’t be any pain.” Declan leaned forward to kiss her forehead. “I promise.”
She wrapped her arms around his body. Every inch to slide into her filled her close to bursting. Her eyes burned with happy tears and she pressed her forehead to his shoulder. Once he was completely in, Zahrah dug her nails into his back and writhed her hips upward, showing him what she wanted.
Declan gave it to her—slow and steady at first. His body moved on top of hers as though it was meant to be there. She looked up at him, mesmerized by the way every muscle in his frame moved to drive her crazy. She touched him, caressed up his arms, across his pecs then down over his abs. Each time she grazed his flesh with her nails, he growled for her and his hips quickened.
Every fear she’d ever felt about being with him was gone. Even when he pulled from her and turned her to face away from him, Zahrah merely pressed her breasts to the pillows to give him better access to her body. He gripped her hips and drove into her.
“Declan!”
“I’m here, Kitten.” He growled. “You know what I want.”
But she couldn’t think. Her toes curled in on themselves and when she tried muting her sounds, Declan gripped her hair and pulled her head up.
“I need to hear it.” He warned.
She trembled and climaxed again. “Oh…crap!”
Zahrah was floating. In that moment with Declan she was Icarus, flying entirely too close to the sun. Still, she didn’t care. She gave in to Declan and allowed him to take her in every way he wished. She sunk her teeth into his neck when another orgasm slammed through her. Declan wrapped his arms around her, rolled them over and forced her o
n top of him. When she looked down at him, he smiled and reached up to pinch both her nipples.
She lost count of how many times her body gave out for him, but just when she thought Declan Stone couldn’t get any sexier, he arched his body under her palms, closed his eyes and roared his release like a beast. He stiffened under her and for a moment it was as if he wasn’t breathing. Then he trembled for her, vulnerable and beautiful. She caressed his chest, dragging her nails over his nipples before leaning in to kiss him deeply.
He grunted, held her to his body and took her mouth like he had her body. Zahrah couldn’t understand what was happening, nor did she question it.
Together, they remained silent, tangled in each other’s arms. Her heart hadn’t slowed yet and Zahrah didn’t think it ever would. There was so many emotions going through her all she could do was burst into tears.
“Baby?” Declan pushed up to his elbow. “Did I hurt you? Are you in pain?”
“No.” She pressed her cheek to his chest over his heart. “You were perfect. I have so many things going through me right now. I don’t know how to handle them all, so I cry. I’m sorry.”
“Tell me how to fix this.”
“Just hold me?” Zahrah asked. “I know crying after sex can’t be sexy, but I’m very happy.”
“Please tell me you have no regrets.”
“Regrets? Declan the things you did to my body—I never thought it could be this good in a man’s bed. All I’ve known has been pain and fear. I enjoyed your body…”
“Good.” He kissed her head. “But you are a screamer.”
“Has any other woman able to remain quiet in your arms, Declan?”
He smirked. “Yes.”
“She was an idiot and wasn’t the right one for you anyway.” Zahrah pouted.
Declan laughed and kissed her neck. “You’re so bad for my ego.”
“I’m being honest. I’m going to be sore for a little bit but, I don’t regret giving myself to you.”
“Come—let me run you a bath. It will help with the soreness.”
“What are you going to do in the mean-time?” Zahrah asked.
“Mission prep.” He kissed her nose. “Put your hijab on and I’ll handle the bath. I’m sorry we don’t have any gel to put in the water but, it will still be helpful.”
She nodded. “I hope we can get out of here soon. I’m running out of stuff.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll try my best to get us out of here soon.” He pushed her hair back from her forehead and looked into her eyes. “Kitten, if you were feeling anything negative from what we’ve done, you would tell me, right?”
She gave him a bright smile. “Sure would. Like I said, a little soar but I’ll be okay. As a matter of fact, we have to do that again.”
After a final kiss, Declan climbed out of the bed and grabbed his clothes. “As you wish, Kitten.”
Zahrah purred at him.
Chapter 18
Thunder vanished close to when they were supposed to roll out and returned with a large bag. They went through it, a tinge of excitement in the air. But he hadn’t brought back presents or trinkets or even frankincense and myrrh. Instead, Declan brought a Kevlar vest over to Zahrah, hopped onto the counter and drew her between his legs.
He said nothing as he strapped her into it. Once he was satisfied, he kissed her head and hopped down and went back over to where Ronin and Thunder were busy doing the same—pulling the straps tightly around their bodies and tapping them in place. Once the vests were on, the weapons came out. Declan checked her gun. He reminded her how to load it, remove the safety and how to fire it.
When he was finished, Zahrah kissed him a couple of times. It made no sense to pretend around Ronin and Thunder. Things could go wrong on this run and she didn’t want Declan to go into this mission thinking she wasn’t okay. She needed him to come back—to come back to her. She blushed and shoved the gun into the holster around her hips.
“Okay,” Declan said.
The others turned and paid attention.
“Remember, we’re basically going into this blind.” Declan frowned. “Watch your six. I need you all to come home—got it?”
Zahrah knew he meant all of them, but he was staring at her. To ease his mind at least a little, she smiled and nodded.
While the others left the space, Declan kissed her again. This time, he didn’t pull away as quickly as she thought he would. She melted into his chest, but this was different. It was as though he was saying goodbye. She kissed his nose, his cheeks then his lips then preceded him out the door.
They split up for the ride over to the drop off point. Zahrah rode with Declan and Zero. Ronin and Thunder headed out together. The nerves got the better of her as she sat silently beside Declan. Her chest hurt for her heart was beating so fast. She held her breath from time to time and exhaled out her mouth. Declan reached over and took her hand. He brought it over to his muscular thigh but didn’t let it go.
It was a simple thing, but it soothed her heart.
“Okay, guys.” Thunder’s voice came over the earpieces. “Look alive.”
Declan kissed the back of her hand. “I know you can never be ready for something like this,” he said, and turned off the ignition. They were plunged into darkness. “But are you ready?”
For a silent moment, Zahrah said nothing but eventually leaned in for another kiss—a meaningful one then climbed from the front of the SUV. Declan hurried around the vehicle. Zero was their get-away driver so he remained in the front seat of our vehicle.
“Be careful.” Zero told them. “Any sign of trouble and I’m coming.”
“Perfect.” Declan told him.
They took off across a vast open piece of land with Ronin in tow. Thunder was their eyes, the sniper lying in wait just in case anything went wrong.
He ran off in a different direction and Zahrah watched as he climbed a wall like he was meant to do it with his rifle in its bag on his back.
“Kitten, focus.” Declan warned her.
“Sorry.”
They arrived at a small building with the windows boarded up but across the way was a larger structure. There were two windows facing toward them on the first floor. Both were blacked out, but the window on the second floor had light shining through. Zahrah figured if there was anyone there, they would be on that level.
Ronin took off to one side of the building while Declan and I headed to the other. We entered the space through different doors, guns out, walking carefully. The space was just as Declan said. Ronin took one side, Declan took the other and I brought up the rear, keeping my eyes back to keep anyone from sneaking up on us.
The tip of a gun was the first around the corner. Declan caught it, pushed it away from him and sank a fist into the man’s neck. There was a crack and the unlucky bastard gasped then hit the floor. Declan dragged the body into a near by room, pushed him into a closet like space and locked it.
Zahrah didn’t have to guess—their closet guy was dead. A man’s neck wasn’t supposed to make the sound it had.
She swallowed the lump in her throat, and they continued on their way, taking down guards as they went. By the time they made it up to the only locked door on the floor, both her and Declan had taken down seven guards.
By then, Ronin found us. He was out of breath with a cut above his right eye. There was no time to ask about it. Declan was busy picking the lock and Ronin fell into watching our backs Declan entered the room frontward, gun panning the space. Zahrah and Ronin entered backward, ensuring they weren’t being followed or weren’t in danger. Ronin closed the door and they all faced around. It was then they realized why the room was kept locked. Sitting in a chair, in the middle of the room was a man, hunched over and restrained to his chair.
Zahrah looked around then took off across the room.
“I’ll keep an eye out,” Ronin said.
Zahrah wasn’t paying attention. She fell to her knees and tapped his cheeks. “Farhad?” She called. “Fa
rhad? Open your eyes!”
He groaned.
“Farhad, it’s me! It’s Zahrah.”
“Zahrah?” His voice was weak. “You aren’t supposed to—to—be here. Not—safe.”
“Yes I am.” She bit into her bottom lip to keep from crying. “And I know it’s not safe. How am I supposed to stay away when you go out and get yourself kidnapped?”
Declan went down behind Farhad to cut him loose. “Can you walk?” Declan asked.
“I can—try.” Farhad replied.
“Good.” Declan put the blade away, wrapped one of Farhad’s arm around his shoulder and pushed.
Farhad grunted.
“You guys may want to get out of there.” Thunder’s voice was crisp. “We have company. I can slow them down but–you get the idea.”
“Roger,” Declan said. “We’re moving. Farhad, I’m going to need you to help me out here.”
Zahrah walked ahead of them, her gun out. They found Ronin and together they all headed for the stairs. Before they managed to get down, an engine filled the air.
“I’ve managed to get some of them, but you guys need to brace yourselves for incoming!” Thunder said.
He was barely finished speaking when armed men burst through the door. Ronin’s gun echoed in the space. Declan grabbed Zahrah and pulled her behind a column. He rested Farhad on her and pulled his guns. She watched as he raised up like a movie star, protecting his brother for Ronin to get shelter. Wanting to help, Zahrah peeked out the other side to find a man with a gun. She didn’t want to kill anyone, but she would be damned if she allowed him to hurt any of her guys. She felt across the floor until her hand touched a rock or a piece of brick.
Zahrah didn’t think twice. She picked it up and whacked the man in the back of the head as hard as she could. He slumped to his knees then fell face first into the dust. She drew her body back behind the pillar and looked over to Ronin and Declan.
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