Hour of the Lion

recent sex.

At a nearby table, the snooty-looking blonde who’d run her hand across Calum’s chest had two men next to her; one stroked her shoulder, the other kissed her fingers.

With an effort, Vic closed her mouth, tried to look blase, but Jesus fuck, was this some kind of orgy? Calum was into this? She hadn’t thought he’d be so… Dammit, she liked him. This is way confusing.

The redheaded guy from the parking lot smiled at Vic. “So miss…” He leaned in and ran his hand over her butt.

Not a chance. She slapped his arm away and gave him a look that should have fried him in his shoes.

He shrugged. “Oh, well. Come on, Duke, let’s find one that’s interested.”

They walked away, leaving her standing alone by the door. A second later, she realized that a lot of men were looking at her. Assessingly. Oh, fuck. Time to leave.

Too unnerved to take her eyes from the room, she groped behind her for the door handle. A big hand closed on her fingers.

“A little out of your element, Ms. Waverly?” Alec slid a hard arm around her waist.

“Yeah. Very.” Thank you, Jesus. “I was walking and got dragged in here by a couple of guys. What’s going on?” She tried an innocent look, but as Alec pulled her closer, she gave it up. God, he felt good. Watching all the sexual displays was like…contagious…and now she was horny as hell. When Alec ran his hand up and down her back, every nerve fired, and each stroke made her skin more sensitive.

Unable to resist, she turned into him. His other arm went around her, and he curled his fingers under her butt, squeezing and pulling her up against his thick cock, lifting her slightly so her pelvis slid down against the hardness.

“Alec.” Her voice came out husky.

His face was flushed, and his eyelids heavy. “You really, really shouldn’t be here,” he said and took her mouth as if he’d been doing it for years.

Everything inside her burst into flame as his tongue swept in, dueled with hers. He leaned in, pinning her against the wall. As his broad chest crushed her breasts, she gripped his shoulders, reveling in the rock-hard muscles under her fingers.

“To hell with common sense,” he muttered. He slung her over his shoulder like some demented cave man.

“What the fuck?” She thumped him with her fist.

He made a chortling sound. One big hand squeezed the back of her lower thigh to hold her in place. His other hand slid high between her legs. She could feel the heat of his fingers so close to her sex, igniting a burn. His finger stroked over the crotch of her jeans, and she wiggled uncontrollably. He laughed.

As he climbed the stairs, people brushed past them. She heard husky laughs. When a man ran his hand down her leg, she felt rumbles under her stomach as Alec growled like an animal.

An animal? She stiffened. Wait.

He walked down the hall into a small room, bent, and dropped her. She fell onto softness. Pushing up, she realized that silky green cushions covered the floor. A fireplace sent out heat and enough light to see Alec’s expression.

Alec looked down at Vicki as she pushed to a sitting position. He hesitated. Sex with a human. Sex with a human during a Gathering. This was a bad idea. It shouldn’t even be happening, dammit. Daonain weren’t attracted to humans.

But as his head explained everything to him quite clearly, the scent of her arousal wrapped around him, heating his blood, and urging him to possess her, take her. Now.

He’d already had two females, but it didn’t make any difference. Not with his Vixen sitting like a prize, right here in front of him. His cock hardened until it pulsed with every heartbeat. Logic lost out to the animal inside him.

He dropped to one knee to take her mouth again, and her soft, full lips opened for him, her tongue twining with his. He took her breath in, gave her his, then pulled back long enough to kiss down her neck to the curve of her shoulder. By Herne, the little sounds she gave, deep in her throat, were going to kill him. Wanting-needing- more, he undid the top buttons of her jacket.

Her hands closed on his arms as if she wasn’t sure whether to pull him closer or push him away. Holding her gaze with his, he unhurriedly opened her jacket far enough so his fingers could trace the edge of her bra through her shirt.

Her breath hissed in, her eyes going unfocused. Her scent intensified, fragrant, compelling. Overwhelming. Hell with it. After shoving to his feet, he ripped his shirt off. A hail of buttons thudded against the wall. She inhaled sharply, but her golden gaze never wavered from his body. He flung his shoes and pants to one side and knelt beside her on the cushions.

She willingly moved into his arms, all female and fragrant. Her long hair spilled over his skin in a silken kiss. Oh, yes.

“Alec,” she whispered, “this isn’t wise.”

“I know,” he murmured, burying his face in the crook of her neck where her scent was strong and wild. He bit the muscle there, lightly, laved it with his tongue, bit again. “But right now, this minute, you’re mine.”

Vic ran her hands over his bare chest, ruffling the crisp golden hair covering his hard pectorals. This was crazy, but oh, God, he felt so good.

“You’re overdressed, Vixen,” he whispered and flicked open the remaining buttons on her jacket. “Wouldn’t want you to overheat.” He slid her coat off and fondled her breasts through her T-shirt, teasing her hardening nipples with his fingertips. The stroke and squeeze of his big hand sent heat straight to her groin, and she couldn’t find a no in her when he pulled her shirt and bra off, then her shoes and jeans.

His eyebrows rose at the knife she wore strapped on one calf. Then, he efficiently stripped it off along with the rest of her clothes.

She was naked before she knew it. Giving a short laugh, she murmured, “I do love competent people.” But that made her think of other things. “I’m on birth control and tested recently. You?”

He frowned for a second as if not understanding, then shook his head. “No diseases.”

Feeling too exposed under his intent gaze, she pulled him down to cover her like a massive muscular quilt. He moved slightly, and his cock settled between her thighs, the head teasing her folds. Oh yes.

He nibbled on her lips and then took her mouth, his lips firm, his tongue wicked.

She kissed him back, threading her hands through his thick hair, holding his head while she sampled him. She traced a finger over the tiny ridged scar on his cheekbone before biting his jaw. His skin tasted of salt and man and a shiver ran up her spine.

He hummed when she kissed his corded neck. His back muscles tightened into granite when she licked the hollow above his collarbone. God, she wanted to just rub herself against him. Instead, she ran a hand down his flank and grasped his cock.

He slowly pulled away and sat back on his haunches.

Startled, she pushed up on one elbow. “What? You’re stopping?”

A dimple appeared with his slow smile. “My momma taught me to savor my desserts.” His eyes were like molten heat stroking across her body; his hands followed. His fingertips ran over her collarbone, her shoulder. He paused, and in the dim light, she saw his eyes narrow as he traced the shiny scars from Lachlan’s bite. His gaze on her body, he unerringly found each remnant of past battles: right bicep and forearm, knife scars; left thigh, shrapnel; left hip, bullet. How well did he see in the dark anyway? Her muscles tightened. Would he ask-?

“You’ve had a rough life, sweetheart,” he said before nuzzling each scar gently. She relaxed, worry replaced by something…softer, an unfamiliar feeling as tender as his lips.

Then, with a sinful smile, he started to explore anew. Her stomach muscles quivered at his light touch. He traced a line up between her breasts, circling each mound with teasing fingers…circling until her skin felt needy. Hungry. Her nipples bunched, aching for more. When his lips finally closed on one peak, electricity arced straight to