“Sorry—that was stupid of me,” she said in a low voice. “Here I am acting like you really like me when we’ve only been pretending and practicing and—”
“I do like you, Talli,” Liosh said softly. He stroked her cheek gently with one finger, still looking into her eyes. “It’s probably too early to declare myself, but, well…from the moment I saw you, I wanted you for my own. I want you to know, though, that I’m willing to wait. And if you don’t feel the same way—”
“But I do feel the same way,” Melinda exclaimed. “I felt the same way about you right away—that you were the one for me. But…but I can’t, Liosh.”
“Can’t what?” he asked gently, still cupping her cheek.
“I can’t ever bond with you.” She shook her head, her eyes filling with tears.
“Why not?” Liosh was utterly confused now. She had admitted to feeling for him the same way he felt for her, so why was she saying they could never be bonded? “I don’t understand,” he said again.
But Melinda only shook her head.
“You should forget about me and try to like some other girl once this assignment is over for you,” she told him. “You don’t want me, Liosh. I…I’m broken. I’ll never be able to be with you the way you want me to.”
Then, before he could say anything else, she rushed into the bedroom and closed the door behind her.
Seventeen
The ride home was terse and silent. Jodi was still pissed off at the big Kindred. How dare he critique her relationship with James? How dare he say such awful things about her fiancé right to her face?
Don’t you mean, how dare he say such true things? a little voice whispered in her head. Vorn only talked about James not being responsive to your needs or sensitive to what you’ve been through lately. Admit it—he’s not wrong.
But Jodi wasn’t willing to admit that. She was too angry and not just at the way the big Kindred had talked to her. No, she was also pissed off that she was going to have to go home and spend another night with his warm, leather and smoke and spice scent tormenting her while she was completely unable to meet her needs.
What the hell am I supposed to do with myself? she wondered as the sleek Kindred shuttle-car cruised down Fletcher Avenue. How am I ever going to get to sleep tonight? I’m so horny I’m climbing the walls!
Yet she knew that she wouldn’t be able to do anything about it—anything to help herself. If James had come home for some “alone time” as she had requested, she might have been able to get off. But without any of her props to dress in or her toys to play with, the orgasm she needed was going to be out of reach.
Admit it, Jodi, that little voice whispered again. You use James as a prop too. You close your eyes when he’s inside you and pretend he’s someone else…someone bigger…someone who will make you mind…
Jodi was trying so hard to push that particular thought out of her mind that she nearly missed the fact that the shuttle-car had stopped. But after a moment her eyes registered that the scenery outside was now stationary instead of moving.
It was also extremely eye-catching.
Blinking in pink and red neon outside the window was a sign that said, “The Todd—Couples Superstore!” In smaller script below it read, “Proudly serving the Tampa Bay Area since 1969!”
“What the hell?” Jodi turned to glare at Vorn. “Why did you stop? What do you think you’re doing, bringing me here?”
“I think I’m trying to make peace,” Vorn said heavily.
“What? By bringing me to a porn shop?” Jodi demanded.
“Look…” He spread his big hands in a gesture of truce. “Let’s not beat around the tree—we both know what you need and we both know your fiancé isn’t here to give it to you.”
“What are you saying?” Jodi glared at him. “That you’re hoping this place will get me hot and bothered enough to ask you to give it to me?”
“No, Goddess-damnit!” Vorn growled. “I’m saying I broke your favorite toy—the one you need to get off, apparently. So we’re going to go in here and I’m going to buy you a new one so you can fucking get yourself off and both of us can get some rest tonight.” He stabbed a finger at her. “Because I damn well can’t take another night like last night. Your scent is every-fucking-where in that domicile and it’s driving me fucking crazy.”
Jodi opened her mouth, intending to tell him coldly to take her home and then take himself back up to the Mother Ship. She leaned forward…
And somehow found herself kissing him.
What the hell are you doing, Jodi? What’s wrong with you? Stop this—stop it right now! a little voice in her head was screaming, but somehow she couldn’t seem to stop—didn’t want to stop.
The big Kindred’s mouth tasted hot and spicy, like cinnamon candy that burned your tongue. And he was kissing her back, running those big, hard hands all over her body, cupping her breasts, twisting her nipples in a way that shot sparks of pleasure straight down to her pussy which was hopelessly, helplessly wet.
Jodi kissed him back, tugging at his thick black and gold hair, trying to get closer, wanting to press herself against him, to feel that big, hard body covering her own, holding her down, filling her up…
Then Vorn was pushing her away, panting harshly with the effort.
Jodi found she was panting herself. She looked down and saw that her blouse was half unbuttoned and her bra was clearly visible. Her hair had pulled loose from the neat bun she’d pinned it in to teach that day and a glance in the rearview mirror showed that her lipstick was smeared from the famished kiss they’d shared.
“We can’t,” Vorn said, his voice coming out in a low, hungry growl.
