Chapter Thirteen
Dela
I couldn’t be sure this wasn’t happening in my head.
It was hotter than anything I’d ever experienced or thought was possible.
My body felt like it was on fire, the heat spreading from his lips as they locked against mine, pressing hard and firm, yet yielding just in time before he came back, unable to get enough.
You’re supposed to be making noise, getting those other people to help you.
Maybe I was, but with how he was kissing me, there was no hope in hell that my brain would do anything to stop it.
Fire pulsed through my veins, searing each nerve without pause.
The warmth turned to a dull ache as my clit throbbed with desire like waves of heat billowing off the concrete on a hot day.
I wrapped my hands around his neck without thought, pulling him in close and pressing my hardened nipples against his chest. The body contact pebbled my skin into thousands of tiny dots, along my neck, down my arms to the top of my cleavage, each one a tingling sensation that threatened to shut down my mind.
It wasn’t happening. It couldn’t. He didn’t have my permission, yet there he was, taking it from me.
Not only was I letting him, but I was arching up and into him, throwing myself at him in a desperate bid for more.
My lizard brain wanted it all. Right there, right then, on the cave floor.
I was in fucking heat, and if he put me on all fours, he could ride me ragged.
At least the others might hear it at that point, I told myself.
Any other thoughts disappeared as my mind shattered like a piece of glass thanks to the tips of his fingers pressing into the small of my back.
I gasped at his touch. It was just as hot as his lips.
He was so warm. I was burning inside and out, melting into a puddle of flesh and bone that was his to command.
He groaned as my hips made contact with his cock, pushing against it, feeling the hardness beneath his uniform, grinding against it as best I could. Apparently, this kiss was about more than just shutting me up.
Not that I should be surprised. I’d felt the scalding connection between us almost from the first time he’d stepped out of that car at my ex’s place. Despite all he did to try to stay aloof, superior in his “power,” he had barely taken his eyes off me.
Now he was kissing me, revealing some of his hand. I wasn’t sure what to do with it, but maybe once we parted for air—if we ever did—I would be able to find some sense of coherent thought.
Though I didn’t expect to find it quickly if the wetness soaking my panties was any indication.
He had somehow kidnapped me and turned me into his physical plaything, all without lifting a finger.
I could be making out with some supervillain for all I knew, and my body loved it.
In fact, it wanted more, moving of its own accord, pushing hard against his crotch.
I loved feeling his bulge through his pants. Knowing I caused it was a powerful and heady sensation. Of course, I was all but dripping by that point, so he was still in command. I was still his to do with as he wished, and I didn’t want it any other way.
“You seeing this?”
Ember pulled away from me sharply as the words echoed down the tunnel.
“Someone was here,” the same voice said. “And recently.”
“Shit,” Ember whispered.
“What is it? What did they find?” I looked fearfully up the tunnel, worried they might find us.
Apparently, being kissed by him had somehow made me think of him as the good guy once again.
“The ropes,” he said, his attitude changing. He even took a step away from me.
“Ropes?” I asked, able to take a breath.
Blessedly cool air rushed in to fill the vacuum of his presence, but I found I didn’t like it as much as I should have, despite the chill of sweat as my body temperature lowered. I would have preferred him by me still. I longed for his heat already.
And that wasn’t the only part of him I longed for, despite my best efforts to keep a level head. I was supposed to be looking out for myself.
I was failing at a whole lot of things lately.
“Yes. I left them at the mouth of the cave,” he growled. “Like an idiot. I was so focused on getting you to safety that I didn’t go back for them.”
“Why did you have ropes?” I asked.
“To keep you strapped to my back,” he said absently, reaching for my hand.
My body jolted when he found it, and I stumbled after him, still processing his answer as he led me deeper into the cave. Why would I have been strapped to his back?
“Come on,” he hissed. “We have to run.”
As we strode farther in, there was a shout behind us as our pursuers discovered the cave went far deeper than it appeared. The chase was on.
“Where are we going?” I asked, trying desperately to see as we left the last of the light behind. “I’m running blind here.”
In response, Ember swept me into his arms and ran on. I didn’t think anything of it for the first minute or two. Then I frowned, looking up at him, trying to ignore the press of his biceps as they curled around my back, holding me firm with little effort.
I resolutely did not consider the beating of his chest or the sweaty, salt-filled aroma of his sweat that tickled my nose, somehow attractive and not repulsive. His pheromones were nothing to sneeze at.
“How the fuck can you see?” I asked as we rounded another corner, turning abruptly in the dark.
“Long story. Now be quiet,” he hushed. “We have to lose them.”
“Are you not able to take them?” I asked.
His body stiffened at the question.
Shit. I’d offended him. I should have known someone so macho and muscular would take offense to something like that. He’d gotten all riled up when I’d accused him of being a coward, and now there I was, doing it again. Such a good job on my part.
“It’s not a matter of whether I could,” he growled hotly, clearly offended. “But that I don’t wish to harm my kin.”
“Your kin? Are these your brothers or something? Why the fuck is your family after you?”
“Not family,” he said, refusing to elaborate.
I opened my mouth to argue with him, but a sudden weightless sensation as he jumped stole my words.
We landed smoothly and continued, barely losing any speed.
I gaped in the darkness, stunned by the show of strength.
I was no tiny peach, and there he was, not just running with me without any signs of strain but also jumping around.
A chill ran down my spine as more questions came to me. My thoughts were panicked, confused. Just what did he leap over? What was down here? What was here?
I shook my head. I was an idiot. I knew nothing about where I was, how I’d gotten there, or who Ember was, yet I’d made out with him while two people searched for us. What the hell was wrong with me? Why was I acting like that?
His hot breath washed over my neck as he adjusted me in his arms, and I shuddered.
Damn. That was why. Anything he did was enough to overwhelm my common sense and make me think with my pussy instead of my brain.
I needed to fix that, and soon before I did something really bad.
Even if it would probably feel really good.
“Shit.”
A dagger slid into my belly at his curse. “What is it?”
“They’re catching up,” he growled, squeezing me tighter as he turned a sharp corner.
Up ahead, I could see some light. It was faint, but I could see, which meant some of that light was already filtering to us.
“What do we do?” I asked as we came into a large open cavern. The light was brighter, filtering down from tiny holes in the ceiling. It was enough that I could make out two tunnels beside the one we’d come from.
Ember came to a stop, setting me down at the center of the cavern.
“Take the one on the right,” he said after a moment, indicating the darker tunnel. “Keep going.”
“And then what? I don’t want to get stuck down here. What are you going to do?”
He turned to look down the tunnel. “I’m going to make sure absolutely no harm comes to you.”
“That’s flattering,” I said, appalled at his statement. “But what about harm to you? What if you can’t help me out of here. If I’m trapped down here, that’s the same as them getting me. I don’t know where I am or what to do. You can’t just leave me, damnit!”
“I have to,” he growled, squeezing my shoulder. “Go down the tunnel. I will come for you. I promise.”
I stared at him. He couldn’t expect me to actually go, could he?
“Go,” he growled in a tone he’d never used with me before.
My feet were moving before I realized he’d even spoken. What the fuck sort of power did that man hold over me, and when had I given it to him?
I looked over my shoulder to see him standing there, casually waiting, hands at his sides. Only the clenching of his fists betrayed his feelings.
“You had better win!” I hissed.
He turned to look at me.
“I will,” he promised, but I barely heard him.
I was too busy focusing on the fact his eyes were glowing.