Chapter Five
Desire pulsed through Selea with a ferocity she’d never experienced. Oh, how she wanted this man. He was hot and sexy. And somehow, all the other issues that opposed what she’d been taught to believe were exactly what ignited a passion deep inside her.
The way he stared at her, the blatant desire swirling in his eyes sent hot chills dancing over her skin. She tightened her grip on the pulsegun and forced herself to focus. But, frick, it wasn’t easy.
A lascivious smile curved his mouth. “You want me to strip?”
She brandished the gun. “Do it.” Before I lose my nerve.
Reaching behind his head, he grabbed the neck of his shirt, tugged it over his head, and dropped it to the floor. Rippled abs, a muscular chest, and sculpted biceps drew her gaze. Selea stifled a gasp. Gods.
Moving his hands to his waist, he loosened his belt and unsnapped his pants, the fabric clinging to his hips. All she had to do was reach out and nudge them a bit and they would slip down his legs. He met her gaze, his fierce expression broadcasting his hunger for her. Without hesitation, he strode toward her, stopping inches from the end of the pistol.
“Your turn.”
She gritted her teeth, knowing she’d allowed him to get too close. He could wrench the weapon from her hand if he wanted.
“Maybe I don’t want a turn.”
“You want me.”
She frowned. “No, I don’t.”
“Yes, you do.” He reached out and skimmed his fingers down her arm, the sensation causing her breath to hitch. “I want you.”
She gazed up into his gray eyes, her resolve wavering. What was she doing? “You’re a criminal.”
“Depends on your definition of criminal.” He tilted his head. “I prefer to think of myself as a protector of the Vitrion people.”
“A protector?”
He trailed his fingers to her wrists and drew circles on the backs of her hands, but he made no move to disarm her. “I exposed dangerous people intent on harming our world.”
“You broke the law.”
He leaned forward, pressing his bare chest against the pulsegun’s barrel. “Then shoot me now because if you don’t, I’m going to strip you naked and make love to you.”
Oh frick, the way he looked at her. She stood, enthralled, a sexy heat swirling low in her body. When he slid his hands to hers and eased the pistol from her grasp, she knew she was lost. Drek, he’s disarmed me, and I didn’t even fire a shot.
Without shifting his gaze from hers, he set the weapon on the bedside table. Reaching for the hem of her shirt, he pulled it up and over her head and dropped it to the floor. He dragged his hands down her sides to her waist, his palms hot against her skin. He’s doing this. I’m letting him—
A flick of his thumb and he unsnapped her pants. She gulped and bit her lip.
“That kiss,” he murmured and stepped closer. Slipping his hands beneath the loosened waistband, he curved his fingers over her hips and around to the small of her back. Delving lower, he cupped her bottom, his fingertips digging into her flesh. He pulled her tight against his pelvis, his desire for her apparent. “You’ve captured me, Selea.”
Oh gods. How many nights had she dreamed of a moment like this, of him embracing her, kissing her, of their bodies twined together while they stroked and loved one another? How many mornings had she risen, her body aching with need, the remnants of their moans of pleasure still echoing in her ears?
And now, here he was.
Reenacting her fantasies, she skimmed her palms over his chest and noticed the sharp tempo of his heartbeat at her touch. Rhykar stared down at her, his heated gaze filled with hunger. Not an image in her mind, but the physical man she’d dreamed of at last holding her in his arms.
Unable to resist him any longer, she dug her hands into his hair and slammed her mouth to his. The need to taste him drove her mad, and he met her with the same frenzy. Parting her lips, she drank in the fervor of his kiss, savored the passion that she remembered too well. His tongue caressed hers, leading her in an erotic dance that brought a moan welling from deep inside her.
Rhykar urged her around and lowered her to the bed, all the while devouring her lips with a passion so fierce, it left her dizzy with desire. He rose up, his steel gray eyes now molten platinum. Easing from the mattress, he tugged her boots free and peeled her pants off. Cool air washed over her hot skin, and she shivered beneath his greedy gaze.
Kicking off his shoes, he yanked the rest of his clothes from his body and stood before her, bold in his nakedness. Grabbing a condom from his pants pocket, he ripped the package open and sheathed himself.
Selea’s breath stuttered at the sight of him, the hard planes that begged to be touched, kissed, licked. Her body pulsed with need, and a delicious heat danced along her nerves, coiling at her core.
“You want me.”
She nodded. Oh, yes!
“No.” He flexed his hands as though fighting not to touch her. “Tell me.”
She swallowed, having never voiced her most secret desires. Sex had always been a mutual understanding, a means to relieve stress. Until now. From the first moment she’d met Rhykar, he’d captivated her thoughts. He was gorgeous, smart, and intense. With him, coming together would be so much more.
“Tell me.” His whispered words were half demand, half prayer.
“I…want you.”
His brow furrowed.
Confusion rippled through her mind. Hadn’t she given him what he wanted? She held her arms out to him, and he moved next to her on the bed. Leaning down, he brushed his lips over hers and skated his fingertips along her collarbone.
“One night, Selea.” He kissed her again, and slid his hand lower, releasing the clasp on the front of her bra. “You and me. Together.”
He cupped her breast, the warmth of his palm tightening the coil of need in her body. When he brushed his thumb over her nipple, she groaned. Dipping his head, he laved the sensitive tip while he slipped his hand over to tease the other.
“One night.” She closed her eyes and arched against his mouth. “Together.”
His ardent attentions sent ribbons of desire flaring along her limbs. With her body singing beneath his touch, she drove her fingers into his glorious silky mane, digging her nails into his scalp to hold him in place a moment longer.
His hand left her breast, trailing over her stomach and lower. Snagging the edge of her panties, he tugged them down her legs, and she wriggled out of them. Urging her thighs apart, he stroked her heat with slow, intimate caresses. One after another. He teased her, compelled her. Ignited a spark in the depths of her core.
She spiraled higher. The coil inside her tightened.
“Rhykar,” she panted.
He lifted his head and looked down at her, base lust pervading his features. Sliding his finger inside her, he deepened his wonderful torture. She bit her lip to stifle a whimper. It seemed at any moment she might explode in ecstasy. How could he know her body so well when this was the first time he’d touched her?
Losing herself in his eyes, she followed his lead, let him carry her further and further. She rode a wave of pleasure, reaching for the crest.
“Tell me.” His voice sounded rough and edged with the same desperation that coursed in her veins.
“I want you.” Gods, couldn’t he tell? She was quivering beneath him, her body begging for a release only he could give. Shifting her legs farther apart, she dared to speak the truth of her heart. “I…I need you.”
He moved between her thighs and eased his weight onto her. Tangling his hand in her hair, he kissed her and came up breathless. “I need you, too.”
Possession ruled his gaze, and lifting his hips, he plunged inside her in one smooth motion, filling her completely. Selea clung to him, reveling in how perfectly he fit her. But the sensation drove deeper than physical contact, piercing the barriers she’d set in place to protect herself from allowing another person to hurt her.
Yet, here he was, Rhykar Evierse. The man she’d hunted for years. The man who’d frustrated and enthralled her. The man who instinctively understood how to create a longing in her body. At last!
He moved against her, setting up a sumptuous rhythm that left her gasping. Burying his face against her neck, he nipped the tender skin along her throat.
“Oh,” she whimpered. She grasped his shoulders, his muscles flexing beneath her hands.
He increased his pace, each thrust deeper than the last. Rising onto his elbows, he stared down at her. “Show me how much you need me.”
The coil inside her at last sprang free. She clutched him, her nails dragging across his back. Sparks danced behind her eyes as her release surged through her, wave after thrilling wave. Above her, Rhykar’s movements became jerky. His body tensed, his biceps bulging, and the cords on his neck stood out. He drove deep, a ferocious expression on his face.
“Selea!”
He jolted against her, a bone-deep shiver reverberating his body. When he stilled, he gazed down at her, satisfaction with a hint of surprise in his eyes. Had he felt the connection between them, too?
He rolled to the side, and gathered her against him. She enjoyed the weight and warmth across her side, his hard body snuggled close behind her. And, her heart whispered, something more, something that transcended their joining and delved to the depths of her soul. Something that would last forever, and started here in this hotel room at this very moment with their coming together. The realization washed over Selea while she lay in his arms, satisfied, happy.
Terrified.
On the floor, she spotted her discarded engetic bonds. Near them lay her clothes. Her gaze moved to her pistol on the table. He’d disarmed her in every respect.
Rhykar moved to nuzzle her hair. “You’re amazing.”
She frowned, guilt swirling over her heart. How amazing would she be when she shoved him into a cell with a bunch of dangerous criminals?
“I know I said one night.” He brushed a lock of hair behind her ear. “But if I know you, you’re already strategizing how to get those bonds on me.”
She tensed. Drek! Had their encounter somehow given him mind-reading abilities?
“It’s all right.” He skimmed his palm down her arm. “No running this time. There’s nowhere for me to go. I would ask, however, for more time with you before you revert to bounty hunter.”
She closed her eyes, her mind screaming, Trap! “Sure.”
He sighed, pulled her closer, and draped his leg over her thigh. Easing forward, he kissed her cheek. “I’ll never forget this.”
“Me, either,” she whispered. Oh, how she wanted to stay in his arms forever, but past experience warned he was only vying for time to escape. It’s how he operates. I’ve been on the receiving end more than once. So why does it hurt so much?
“You need to know, I won’t lie to you.” He kissed her again. “You’re far too important to me, and you’re too smart. Whatever this is between us has been coming for a long time. For me, since the first time I saw you.”
She swallowed. Her heart yearned to believe while her mind scrambled to rebuild the barricade he’d broken through. I never should have met him.
“So, I would think my past actions would prove that despite whatever DNA evidence Vast Innovations claims to have found on the body, it wasn’t left there by me. I never killed anyone.” He laced his fingers through hers, the act so commonplace yet tender and intimate. “But there are things you haven’t discovered yet.”
“Rhykar, I—”
“Shh. Listen.” He tugged her hand up and kissed her palm, warmth rippling outward from where his lips touched her skin. “I found communications between a VI scientist and top executive confirming a new drug that would control the population.”
She squeezed her eyes closed, forced herself to set aside the emotions clashing inside her, and focus on his words. “Between Kalo Dorvis and Mertan Graiton?”
“Yes.” He released her hand to trail his fingers along her arm. “I hadn’t made it public yet because I hadn’t learned their method of dissemination. But I think I must have been getting close. Otherwise, we wouldn’t be here right now.”
“How did Graiton plan to control the population?”
He shook his head and kissed her shoulder. “Not sure. But he wants more than VI. He wants to rule our world.”
Selea rolled toward him, meeting his gaze. “You know that sounds insane. Paranoid.”
He tilted his head. “Normally, I would agree. But it was very clear in the message I read.”
“And you have this message?” She raised an eyebrow. “Can I read it?”
He frowned. “Unfortunately, no.”
She snorted and turned away from him. “Of course not.” Another tactic to gain her trust and evade capture.
“I had it on my pad, but the moment I copied it, a virus tore through my system. Must have dug frickin’ deep, too, because I had everything shielded and the thing still reported back.” He angled her back toward him, his gaze imploring. “Next thing I know, I have a hundred hunters on my ass.”
She pushed from his embrace and left the bed. “Still sounds crazy.”
“He’s insane.” Rhykar sat up. “A megalomaniac.”
Whirling around, she pointed a finger at him. “How dare you talk about Mertan Graiton that way. He’s brilliant. Single-handedly transformed our world. Saved us from the Great Plague.”
“And now he wants to transform our world again.” He narrowed his eyes. “I’ve been after him for years. I uncovered the communication once before. I can find it again.”
She snatched her clothes from the floor and pulled them on. “I think you’ve been after him for too long. Finally slipped up. Went too far.”
Hurt flashed through his eyes, and then his expression hardened. “Take me to my ship, and I’ll let his virus burn the systems so you can read the message between Dorvis and Graiton.”
The light snick of the door mechanism unlocking brought her twisting around.
“Selea.” Gelloh stood in the room, a nasty weapon in his meaty hand.
She dove for her pulsegun, but the lamp on the table next to it exploded. She veered away from the flying debris.
“Hiya, luvie.” He chuckled. “Seems I dropped ya snogging some pretty boy.”
“Gelloh,” she snarled. She eyed her gun, well within arm’s length.
Rhykar tensed, preparing to lunge.
Gelloh swung the pistol toward him. “Rhykar Evierse. Jus’ stay there, boy-o.” He tilted his head toward Selea. “Never pegged ya for handin’ yore snatch to a murderer.” He grinned and licked his cracked lips. “I don’ mind seconds.”
Rhykar growled, and Gelloh kicked the engetic bonds toward her.
“Bind ‘em, luvie.”
She snatched the bonds from the floor and crossed to Rhykar. Taking his hand, she stared into his eyes, willing him to hear her thoughts. I need you. She aligned the device between his wrist and the bedpost, but instead of setting the bond herself, she angled his hand beneath her palm where Gelloh couldn’t see and pressed his thumb against the genetic encoder. The electric bands snicked into place.
Rhykar jerked against the bond and glared at the beady-eyed hustler. A vicious grin curved his mouth. “There’s nowhere you can hide.”
Gelloh laughed. “Prolly not. But you got other problems. Like da hunters up yore ass, an’ me here, wit’ yore chowda-twa.” Grabbing Selea’s hand, he yanked her against him and licked the side of her face, his fat tongue slimy against her skin, his fetid breath making her gag. “Yeh, we gonna play.”
“Let her go,” Rhykar growled.
“Aw, jes shut da frick up.” Gelloh pulled the trigger.
Whump.
Rhykar slammed against the headboard and slumped to the bed. Selea screamed, but Gelloh smashed his chunky hand over her mouth, stifling her. She clawed at his grip, and he tightened his hold.
“Either ya come wit’ me, luvie, or da hunters b’hind me won’t find nuthin’ but a splat o’ blood.”
She stared at the man whose arms had held her. For a moment, she’d been happy. Now, Rhykar lay crumpled on the mattress, a crimson streak trickling from his nose. Fear whispered that the man she’d fallen in love with might already be dead.
Jerking free, she rounded on Gelloh. “Fine. Lead the frickin’ way.”