Authors: Aliyah Burke
Blood rushed to his cock, and his tiger
roared in possessiveness. Dane couldn’t produce any moisture in his
throat and had to swallow a few times before he could formulate a
word.
“
Aida,” he rumbled
dangerously, the beast within perilously close to the
surface.
“
I’ll take that as a no,”
she said on a sigh.
Dane stared at her. Her
frustration such it was palpable. He ran a hand along his straining
erection and swore.
Damn it,
Aida.
“
Stop cursing at me, Dane.
I’m just trying to help you.”
He sliced his gaze over to her. She
continued to watch the road. Dane frowned. All his guards were up
and in place. How was it possible for her to hear him? He could see
the same thin path lingering below the mating bond that felt like
the warmth Aida gave him, but without having marked her, it just
didn’t make sense. He hadn’t put it there. Could it be possible she
opened a link between them? They weren’t mated so there was no
fully initiated mating bond there…was there? Could it look like it
wasn’t joined between them and truly be completed?
Aida, look at me if you can hear me.
She turned her head and glared at him. “This
giving me orders thing in my head, sooo not gonna fly,
tiger-mine.”
He couldn’t understand how it was working.
And yet, his lips curved up at the nickname. “You heard me?”
“
Heard you tell me to look
at you if I heard you.”
Dane ran a hand over his mouth, a smile on
half of his lips. This could prove to be most delightful. And yet,
he still wondered how this was working out this way. With a mind of
its own, his hand reached across to settle upon her upper thigh.
Blood pumped to his cock when he saw her teeth capture her lower
lip along with her sharp inhalation.
Do you know how I long to taste you on my
tongue again, Aida? To have the unique and addictive flavor of your
essence coating my tongue.
Her entire body shivered. But she never
looked at him, nor did she move his hand from her leg. Dane watched
her form deliberately, wanting her to know just how deep his desire
for her went.
Why are you tormenting
yourself? You know you can’t have her without risking her future.
Unless,
the darkness tempted,
you give yourself to us. Then enjoy her for as
long as you like.
An ugly rumble of anger began to grow in his
chest, and he closed his eyes, trying to shut out the demonic lure
of the voices which belonged to the darkness.
Stop growling, Dane. I can’t stop the dogs
when you’re scaring me.
He jerked open his eyes and found her
staring at him with uncertainty in her gaze. Aida still reached out
to touch the hand resting on her thigh and intertwined their
fingers. Dane looked at the beautiful picture their combined skin
tones created. And just like that, the voices faded into
nothingness. Although he could no longer feel the mental link
between them, he located it, hiding where it had been since his
first noticing of it. Aida squeezed his hand then released him. He
didn’t want to let go, but when she began to downshift, he settled
for just touching her leg.
“
That, over there, is
where you need to go.” She rolled to a stop and killed the
engine.
Dane looked up, almost
amazed to see the mountains so close. He’d thought they were
farther away.
Okay, so I’d
hoped
they were.
He climbed out slowly, scanning his destination
as his body went into hunting mode. Scratch that. He was damn near
in full enforcer mode. And the beast within him right there, ready
to join in.
Turning his head, he saw Aida in the back,
digging into the container she’d asked him to put in the back.
Leaning over the rail, he saw a small pack beside her. She handed
it to him.
“
It’s not much but it
should help.” Aida sighed and closed the lid before looking at him
again. “You should be there well into the foothills by dark.” A sad
smile filled her dark face. “Take care of yourself, Dane Sidorov.”
His body throbbed with want when she pressed a hand against his
cheek. “I hope doing this brings you the closure you
need.”
Dane captured her wrist when she went to
pull back. He caressed her palm with his lips. Her skin tasted as
good as she smelled, and he knew it was forever imprinted on his
soul. He stared into her eyes and saw the sheen of unshed tears in
her beautiful eyes.
“
Aida,” he whispered
against her palm.
“
You should get
going.”
I never knew parting could
hurt this much.
Dane had no desire to
leave her. Ever. “Thank you, Aida. For
everything
.”
“
Goodbye,
Dane.”
He tried to read her
thoughts but found an impermeable wall.
This bears much more thought as well.
Nipping the incredibly soft skin on her palm, he grinned
wickedly at her. “Have we already forgotten what I said about
goodbye?”
She pushed against his mouth lightly. “Don’t
bite me.”
“
Trust me, Aida,
you’ll
know
when
I bite you.”
Her pupils dilated, and her nose flared. She
leaned closer, removed her hand from his mouth, and put them nose
to nose. “Promises, promises,” she murmured. Her lips touched his
lightly. The innocence of the kiss amazed him. “Bye, Dane.”
Her hand skimmed along his cheek before she
moved back. Dane watched her stand and whistle for her dogs. He
never moved from where he rested against the side of the truck, not
even when the dogs jumped in the back and she in the front. Kamau
ran and lay down on a blanket but Ruger stood before Dane. Those
dark eyes held his before the canine walked away.
Pushing back from the side, Dane walked to
the driver’s door and leaned in. Two fingers turned her face to
his. Then he kissed her. Covering her mouth, Dane ran his tongue
along the seam of her butter-soft lips before entering the warmth.
He ate her whimper and delved in, stroking along her tongue before
reaching for all he could. His cock hardened painfully, pressing
against the material of his briefs.
Clenching his other hand in a fist, Dane
slowly ended the kiss. The air permeated with the heady scent of
her arousal, and he snarled low with the raw need for this woman
that flooded him. Her eyes were smoky with desire.
“
Keep yourself safe, Aida
Roberts. We have unfinished business, you and I.”
She blinked once, slowly, and licked her
lips. “That goes double for you, tiger-mine. You know where to find
me. My house is always open for you. You’ll always have a bed.”
He kissed her again, fast
and hard. “I’ll remember that,
solnyshko
moyo
.”
Dane shouldered the bag and stepped back.
She started her truck, and he touched two fingers to his head in
salute even as he winked. Aida blushed and waved before driving
away. Dane watched until her vehicle became a small speck in the
distance. Closing his eyes, he inhaled and held onto the scent
which was pure Aida. He could feel the tiger struggling for
supremacy within him. Tamping it down, Dane turned and headed into
the foothills of the Roggeveld Mountains.
He moved until near dark.
Sitting on a downed tree, Dane opened the bag and pulled out some
food. There was a small envelope tucked on the side and he withdrew
it.
Dane
was
scrawled across the front in flowing script. Untucking the flap, he
slid out a leather cord with a pendant on it; silver and formed in
the shape of a teardrop. Inlaid in the charm, flowing with the
curve of the amulet, were three different colored stones. A
reddish-pink on one side, violet-pink in the middle, and a
pinkish-red on the other side all separated by the lines of silver
which also edged it.
He recognized it. Aida had been wearing it
around her neck since the day he met her. The metal warmed in his
palm. A small slip of paper resided in the envelope, and so he
removed it as well.
Dane,
Just a little something from me to you.
I hope you like it. It’s always made me feel
safe and loved.
I hope it helps you in your quest to find
peace.
~Aida
Dane immediately fastened the cord around
his neck. He breathed deeply once the pendant settled against the
hollow of his throat. A faint smile curled up his lips when he
closed his eyes that night. He felt her with him even if she wasn’t
physically there.
* * * *
Aida drove until her eyes screamed for a
break. She parked on the road and, with a glance at the sky,
quickly rigged her tarps. The heavy rains came a few minutes after
she finished eating. The strong winds ripped along the waterproof
material.
“
Hope Dane is okay and
dry.”
Double-checking the straps to ensure nothing
would fly away, Aida stretched out, her dogs curled up on either
side of her. They fell asleep to the heavy rain pounding around
them, safe and dry in the makeshift tent. The rains had stopped
come morning, and the rivers were swollen and faster. She headed
out as soon as she could. Aida stopped a few times but kept in
touch with Kgosi. That night, she had her evening meal with
him.
“
Where’s your friend?”
Kgosi asked over dinner.
“
Following the guy we were
after.” She ate a bite and chewed slowly.
“
You didn’t stay with
him?”
“
I was merely the vessel
to get him closer. Besides, Kees needs my help, so I have to get
home.”
“
Why haven’t you
married?”
“
Kgosi, please. I’m going
to have to go through this with my mom when she comes. Can
we
not
discuss
the fact I am continually getting older and have no kids nor
prospects for them?”
He grinned wickedly. “I’d be happy to
provide half the genetic makeup.”
She snorted. “Wow. Now
that…
that
was
romantic. What woman doesn’t want to hear a man offer up to provide
half the genetic makeup.” Aida rolled her eyes and shook her head.
In the dark recess of her mind lingered a man she wouldn’t mind for
the job. Dane Sidorov.
Crying off, Aida went to claim some
much-needed rest. With a groan, she slid beneath the blankets of
the comfortable bed and drifted off to sleep.
* * * *
“
Aida.” Her name flowed
from his lips to her ear. The tone pure panty-soaking
seduction.
She kept her eyes squeezed shut. The heat
from his physique curled around like tendrils from behind, and she
shook. Aida’s breath hitched while she waited for the exotic
pleasure of his touch.
“
You are mine, Aida,” he
murmured in her ear.
Callused hands cupped her bare shoulders and
slid down her arms and back up again. A gesture which created waves
of desire deep within her. She could feel his hard naked hard body
against hers. Light touches from his lips trailed along the
sensitive skin of her neck, and her knees grew weak. Her pussy
creamed, and her breasts were heavy with need. Even the light
breeze garnered a reaction from her when it flowed over her
hypersensitive skin.
He turned her in his arms and kissed along
her collarbone. Then down. She whimpered, eyes rolling in the back
of her head. Down her sternum over each pebbled nipple and toward
her belly button, his tantalizing touch continued. Aida’s breath
hitched when she felt his warm breath skim along the juncture of
her thighs. She gripped his hair with her hands and bit her lower
lip.
“
Mine,” he rumbled gruffly
against her pussy.
He ran his tongue up between the lips. Aida
screamed when he sucked her clit into his mouth. She squeezed her
eyes tightly and dropped her head back as he brought her swiftly to
an explosive orgasm. Her lover kissed his way back up, and Aida
could feel the large head of his cock teasing her slit.
“
Please,” she whispered,
shifting her hips to try and bring him where she needed him, wanted
him, craved him. Deep inside her pussy.
He nipped her neck and placed her hand on
his thick shaft. “Aida,” he murmured in a tone which triggered
another flood of wetness to her core.
“
Please,” she begged, her
fingers stroking him. He felt so good in her hand. Hard and warm.
Steel and silk. Iron and velvet.
He lifted her and brought her down slowly on
his cock. She panted as the large head pushed in between the
lips.
“
More,” she mewled,
craving the feel of him completely inside her.
“
I need one thing first.”
Another few inches in then he withdrew.
Synapses firing out of control, Aida tried
to pull him completely in. But he, being so much stronger, held
fast. “Yes. Anything. Just stop teasing me.”
He grabbed her hair and held her head still.
Burning her with the primal intensity of his gaze. In a dark
sensual timbre, he demanded, “Say my name!”
“
Dane!” Aida gasped,
bolting up in bed, her body slick with sweat and extremely
aroused.
The empty darkness mocked
her. She shifted; the cotton of her sheets inflamed her even more.
Swallowing hard, Aida got up and walked to the kitchen for a glass
of water.
Not that it will ease the heat
or longing within me.
And she should know.
She’d been home for a week, and each night her dream turned into
extreme sexual play between her and Dane Sidorov. And each time,
she woke, empty, horny, and alone.