'My nipples are hard just thinking about our kiss. There's an ache between my legs, and I
He sucked in a breath, and for a moment he stopped fighting and turned his back on the fog, leveling her with a hot gaze that traveled the length of her body, lingering on her breasts, on the juncture between her thighs.
He took a step toward her, then stopped himself. 'No. No.' With a growl, he spun back to the battling vampire and demon, tendrils of their darkness wrapping around him. He swung out his arms and slammed his fist into the demon's face.
The creature flew at him, tossing him backward, chomping for his throat. Jewel gasped and almost fell to her knees. Thankfully the vampire launched himself into the demon, rolling him away from Gray. Saving Gray's life.
'Soldier,' she called desperately. 'I command you to kiss me.'
Former military, the urge to follow a commanding officer's commands was ingrained. Her tone gave him pause, and he shook his head, as if trying to clear his thoughts, to focus. He stood. The fight continued around him.
'Everything feels surreal.' He massaged his temples. 'Illogical and out of sync.' 'I can make it better. You just have to trust me.'
He grimaced and grabbed his side, hunching over, suddenly gasping for air. 'It's almost like... I'm viewing a Dali painting where the world... of reality melts and turns inward on itself. What's real? What isn't?'
'I'm real. Touch me and see.'
'I want to, God, I want to, but I can't,' he said raggedly. 'I can't. Must... stop them. I'm an OBI employee and I will... fight to protect you.'
She curbed the urge to drop to her knees and cry. His protective instincts were buried so deep, she might never breach them. And he would die. Desperation clamped sharp claws around her, cutting deep. Her eyes narrowed. He could resist her promise of a kiss, but could he resist a naked female form?
She quickly untied her robe at her shoulders. The material fell to her waist, revealing her breasts, her beaded nipples, and the flat plane of her stomach.
Gray's eyes widened. 'You're flashing me. You're seriously flashing me.' 'Touch me.'
'No, I'm an OBI employee and I will fight to protect you. I'm an OBI employee and I will—stare at the most beautiful pair of breasts I've ever seen.' He shook his head, but his gaze remained locked on her.
'I'm an OBI—your breasts will fit perfectly in my hands.' Her skin warmed. 'Why don't you make certain?'
He slowly closed the distance separating them, limping the entire way but never stopping. When he was in front of her, his arms reaching out to caress her breasts, Jewel shivered with anticipation. She wanted so badly to accept his touch, but she couldn't. Not yet. And so, she did something she never thought she'd do. She hooked her leg around Gray's knee and shoved him, hard. Weakened already, he fell, his expression shocked as he landed. He winced, staying on the ground, trying to catch his breath.
With Gray out of the way, she closed her eyes and raised her hands, willing the creatures to slow. Battle sounds receded, the air around her thickened and ceased all movement until there was only utter stillness.
Her eyelids fluttered open, an astonishing scene greeting her. The demon and vampire continued to war with each other, yes, but they moved in slow motion, their every action sluggish. A drop of black blood trickled from the demon and splashed onto the floor. She saw every inch of movement.
'Now, Gray,' she shouted. 'Kill them now.' She was afraid to move her arms and help him up, afraid the creatures would leap back into lightning speed.
Gray rose determinedly, albeit shakily, to his feet. He rubbed a hand over his eyes in an attempt to clear his vision before he hobbled to the creatures. Then, with a deft, ingrained ability, he attacked. The creatures hissed and bit at him, even drawing more blood, but he fought, snapping both their necks and dropping their bodies.
He stood there, sucking in breath, his wounds open and bleeding.
Wave after wave of relief and joy swept through her. 'You did it,' she said, awed, her hands dropping to her sides.
'No,
Her lips lifted in a grin, and a sudden flash of desire filled his eyes—eyes that were staring at her chest Her own desire sparked to life—it had never really died—and she gasped, realizing her breasts were still on display.
'If I'm remembering correctly,' he continued, stronger by the second, 'you promised me a kiss before dropping me on my ass.'
She ached erotically at the thought of his lips on hers. Of his hands moving over her. Perhaps rolling her nipples between his fingers. 'You're not too weak?'
'For a kiss? Never.' He stalked three slow steps toward her. 'Are you too weak?' 'Of course not.'
He chuckled at her affront. His skin color was growing rosier, more bronzed. 'You once said humans demand proof in everything. Well, you were right. Prove it. Prove you're strong enough to handle me.'
She gulped, not knowing where to begin. By touching him? Tasting him? Perhaps both? Her words might have been bold today, but she'd never been with a man before. Her fingers itched to move all over him. Her mouth watered, yearning to lick every inch of him.
'Are you going to kiss me or not?'
'I don't know where to begin,' she admitted.
His liquid silver eyes radiated the very hunger that rocked her. His head lowered. 'We'll start here,' he said, tracing his fingertips over the seam of her lips, 'and work our way down.' Two of his fingers circled her nipples, making them harden all the more.
Her lips parted on a gasp of sheer pleasure.
And then he was there, his arms locked around her waist, his lips meshing into hers. Because her mouth was open, he easily swept his tongue inside. He tasted of heat and man and the flavor intoxicated her.
She liquefied against him, his shirt deliciously abrading her chest, his touch fueling her dreams. Forging her fantasies.
'Kiss me back,' he muttered.
'I don't know how. Exactly.' She whispered the confession, unable to look at him. She'd seen kisses, but never experienced one herself.
He pulled slightly away, tilted her chin up, and stared into her eyes. Possessiveness radiated from him. 'Just move your tongue against mine. Suck on it. Lick it.'
Erotic shivers danced through her. The image his words elicited was heady, enthralling. Moistening her lips, she dropped her gaze to his mouth. 'I'm ready.'
'You sure?' He uttered a strained chuckle before softly brushing a kiss against the tip of her nose, her chin, the edge of her mouth. Each touch scorched her, weaving a seductive web in her mind.
'Let me have your tongue again,' she said, desperate. Achy. Needy. 'I want to suck it, just like you said.'
'God, I like an eager student.' He complied and once more his tongue swept into her mouth.
She moaned at the first touch. His erection rubbed between her legs, thick and hard. She wanted him; she'd always wanted him. He'd become an obsession over the years and now his very closeness wrapped her in a cloak of sensuality.
As their tongues danced and sparred, she arched against him. He kissed her as if he was completely absorbed in her, as if nothing else mattered but holding her and giving her pleasure. His hands found her breasts and kneaded them. Pure heat lanced to her deepest core. Her blood electrified. How she longed to shout her love for him, but too easily did she recall his reaction when surface women had done that. He hadn't been able to get away fast enough.
'See. They do fill my hands.'
'Take off your clothes,' she whispered. 'I want to feel your skin against mine.'
This time,
His thoughts filled her mind.
