She’d gambled with her career and now it was time to pay the price. It wouldn’t be hard to find employment elsewhere as long as the NSO didn’t file kidnapping charges. Any backwater hospital would be eager to hire her. The computer screen she’d left on drew her attention as she sank into the desk chair. The search results were displayed as she pondered her options.
An image of Obsidian distracted her when she closed her eyes. No regret surfaced over taking him from Homeland. It had saved his life. He was recovering quickly physically. She could attest to his strength.
Her hand lowered to her hip where a slight bruise had formed. It had resulted when he’d hooked her around the waist before tossing her on the bed. There was no pain but she was more than aware of it. She wished her emotions could heal as quickly as the contusion would. In a matter of days the physical mark would disappear but she had a feeling the memory of him would stay with her for the rest of her life.
Go!
She relived the memory of him pointing to the door, demanding she leave his room. It was for the best. Part of her knew that but another part refused to accept it.
He needs me. No. He just wants to use me. It’s all about sex. Damn.
She blinked back tears.
“Stupid,” she whispered aloud.
I should know better than to get personally involved with a patient and I had to go and fall for him.
He was damaged in so many ways yet it just made her want to be with him more.
The doorbell pulled her from her tortured moral debate. She tried to calm her racing heart, afraid that Justice North had sent someone to return her to Security. They’d had to spend money and resources to send the task team after her. She hoped they would just escort her off NSO property. The other option would mean her job search had been wasted.
Dread froze her by the door, her hand on the doorknob but not turning it. The concept of going to prison scared the shit out of her. She wasn’t tough and had never been in a fistfight in her life. Her parents had sheltered her from other kids by homeschooling her and later she’d gone directly to med school where violence wasn’t exactly commonplace among the students. Prisoners were going to eat her alive and she’d be lucky to survive a week unless her medical degree offered her some kind of special privileges. She could hope they needed her to work in the prison hospital as free labor to keep her out of general population.
The doorbell buzzed again and she straightened her shoulders. She’d face the consequences of her actions with her chin held high. Her head lifted as she twisted the doorknob to jerk it wide open.
Obsidian stared down at her. His hair was a tangled mess flowing over his bare chest but she barely noticed, too surprised at finding him on her doorstep.
“I want to come inside.” He took a step closer and completely blocked the opening. “Move back.”
She stumbled a little as she did what he demanded. He entered her house and shoved the door closed firmly behind him. His gaze left her to travel slowly around the living room.
“How did you get out of Medical? Do they know where you are? You could have been hurt or gotten lost.”
Dark eyes fixed on her. “Be silent. I came to talk and you will listen.”
Her lips sealed as she stared wide-eyed at him, flabbergasted.
He blew out a deep breath and straightened his shoulders. She wondered why he hadn’t put on a shirt. She glanced down to find he also hadn’t donned shoes. Grass stains were on his knees as if he’d been sliding in it.
“Alli?”
She focused on his face and gasped. He looked to be in pain with his eyes wide and his lips pursed out. He blinked rapidly and she grabbed at him, sure he was about to pass out. Her hands flattened on his chest and pushed him against the door behind him, knowing full well that she wasn’t strong enough to catch him if he pitched forward. She could only hope to pin him upright until he regained his equilibrium. His head hit the wood hard enough to make her wince at the noise.
“Why are you attacking?” He looked surprised. “Are you still that angry with me?”
“Where does it hurt? Are you dizzy? Lightheaded?”
“You didn’t push me that hard.”
“You looked sick.”
A soft snarl passed his parted lips. “I was attempting a puppy look.”
“A what?” She was puzzled as she stopped pressing her hands so tightly against him to keep him against the door.
“I walked here from Medical to say I’m sorry.”
“For what? Scaring me? I thought you were going to faint just now. Are you sure you’re all right?” She eased back, glancing down at his knees. “Did you fall? Strike your head somehow? Your knees look banged up.” Her gaze held his, trying to see his pupils.
“I jumped off the building from the roof. I didn’t land as smoothly as I intended but I’m in no pain.”
She was horrified at of his words. “You what? Why would you do that?” She clutched his arm. “Come here.” She pulled, urging him to her couch.
He didn’t limp as he took hesitant steps forward and she pushed a little, urging him to sit. His big body dwarfed her cream-colored couch—a vast contrast between his masculinity and the feminine décor. Alli slid to her knees in front of him and reached for the ankles of his pants, shoving them upward.
“What are you doing?”
She glanced up when the material bunched over bulky calves. He was too muscular to work the legs high enough to see his knees. “Stand up.” She scooted back a little to give him room and sat on her legs. “Drop your pants.”
His dark eyes narrowed but he rose to his feet, gripped the waist of the sweatpants and shoved them down. His long hair draped around her when he bent enough to drop them to his ankles, momentarily blinding her while she twisted and blew some of it from her face.
He straightened, pulling the curtain of silky strands away. She turned, immediately zoning in on his knees. Both were a little red but she didn’t spot any swelling or abrasions. It seemed his sweats had gotten the worst of the impact. She looked up. Obsidian was naked and very aroused.
The guy has big balls, all right
, she noted.
Big everything.
She swallowed hard and cleared her throat. “You can sit back down.”
He collapsed on the cushions, still aroused and in clear view since now his lap was directly in front of her.
“Um, you can pull your pants up.” She tried to back away but was emotionally off balance enough for it to mess with her movements. She just slid to the side until she had to brace a hand to keep from falling over.
“Why?”
He blinked at her, totally unconcerned with his naked state. Her glance diverted back to his dick, which was jutting upward. He leaned forward a bit until the crown of his cock pressed against his abs.
Look away
, she ordered, but her gaze refused to obey. She stared at his lap.
“Alli?”
That drew her attention up to his face. “It’s not proper to sit naked on someone’s couch.”
“I don’t care about that.” He reached out and his fingertips brushed her cheek in a caress. “I do not want to mount you to replace 46.”
“You jumped off a building to tell me that?”
“Yes. You accused me of it and it’s not true. I know she is dead and you are nothing similar to her. I see you.”
Her heartstrings tugged. He could have been hurt, had gone to a lot of trouble to clear up their misunderstanding. She wanted to believe him but he had to be pretty confused. Grief could be an unpredictable factor on mental stability.
“I need to call Security and tell them where you are. They’ll be worried sick when they realize you’re missing. How did you get past the guard to reach the elevator or the stairs without being seen?” Another horrible concept struck. “You didn’t fight with Jericho or his replacement, did you?” She inspected his rugged face for signs of injury but didn’t find any.
She struggled to her knees, fully planning on rising to walk to the phone to make the call. She didn’t make it. Obsidian grabbed her around her waist and hauled her onto his lap. His cock became trapped between his stomach and her hip where she landed sideways across the top of his thighs.
“No. You aren’t in danger from me.” He growled the words, angry.
Her hands flattened on his bare chest. “I know. They’ll freak out and start a search. They’ll think something bad happened to you.”
“I’m not ready to return.” He shifted his legs to get more comfortable, easily readjusting them both as if she didn’t weigh anything. “I am here to talk to you. I’m not going back until you understand that 46 has nothing to do with why I’m attracted to you.”
“I get that now.” At least she hoped he meant it and wasn’t fooling himself.
“Good.” He turned his head, peering around the room. “Where do you sleep?”
She jerked her head in the direction of the hallway. “It’s a two-bedroom house. Do you want a tour later? You probably haven’t seen a house before, huh?”
He let go of her waist with one hand and hooked it behind her knees. It stunned her a bit when he just stood, holding her in his arms. He kicked at the sweats to free them from around his ankles before he stalked toward the bedrooms.
“What are you doing?” Alli clutched at his shoulders for something to cling to.
He paused to stare at her. “I’m going to mount you.”
Chapter Thirteen
Obsidian ignored the way Alli sucked in air sharply. Her home was much larger than his room at Medical. A lot of furniture filled the space, things that were odd but not unattractive. Lights led him to a room with a small bed and a desk. He twisted his body to fit both of them through the door as he pulled her tighter against him.
“Next one,” she whispered. “This is the one I use for my office.” One hand released his shoulder to point down the hallway.
He studied her eyes and didn’t see anger or fear there while he swung around, in search of where she slept. His nostrils flared but her scent lingered everywhere and he was unable to use his sense of smell to track it down. The second room was much larger with a bigger bed. It looked more appealing than the one he had been assigned.
The doorway was a tight squeeze with her cradled in his arms but he managed to get them both through it, scraping his back against the wall instead of hers. Pink fabric covered the mattress and she had at least eight pillows piled near the top of it. He resisted the urge to toss her there since he wasn’t sure if it was soft enough to cushion her fall.
He sat down with her on his lap and the mattress sank under him a lot. He growled, glaring at it. “Something is wrong with your bedding.”
“You don’t like the color?”
“It gives too much under my weight. Have I broken it?”
She smiled at him and he liked how it softened her features. “It’s designed that way. There are thick, soft pads under you.”
“You like sinking into your bed?”
His expression must have appeared humorous since she laughed. His dick hardened more at the sweet sound. All he wanted to do was tear off her clothes, order her to get on her hands and knees and fuck her from behind. Moon’s warnings kept him from doing it. He needed to take things slower and tamp down some of his passion. He bit back a growl of desire. The feel of her hands gently kneading his shoulder muscles had his lips sealing tightly together to hide his fangs.
He didn’t want any other male near Alli. Her touch was soft, vastly different than what he was accustomed to. The thought of her so close to another male wasn’t pleasant. He’d fight them if any tried to lure her away from him.
“Just don’t be surprised if a team from Security enters my house.” She grew solemn. “Don’t fight them. They are concerned for your safety.” She muttered under her breath, “Or they’ll think I kidnapped you again.” She beamed a smile at him. “Although it would be harder to do now that you’re awake.” She glanced down between them.
He could actually feel her heated stare on his dick. It throbbed a little knowing she was looking at it. He watched her face to gauge her reaction but she didn’t seem irritated that he obviously wanted to mount her. He remembered they were talking and spoke.
“They believed I was feral.”
“You aren’t. They’ll still be worried when they realize you’re gone. I should call them, Obsidian.”
He liked her jumping to his defense. “Moon is outside,” he admitted. “He brought me to you.”
“Oh.” She was surprised when she met his gaze. “That changes things. You got permission to visit me.”
He decided to not mention that they hadn’t told anyone where they were going. Alli was on his lap, he was naked, and he wanted her. He focused on her mouth.
“Show me this kiss.”
Alli’s tongue darted out to wet her lips and he bit back another growl. It was difficult to give her patience when he just wanted her bent over in front of him. Just the thought of gripping her hips to hold her in place and entering her made him ache. She’d be wet and tight. Hot.
Mine!
“Okay,” she whispered, turning a little more to face him as her hands transferred from his shoulders to cup his face.
He enjoyed the feel of her touching him so intimately. 46 had never been one to caress him. The only face touching she’d done was when she was angry. A slap or punch hadn’t been pleasant. His mate had been pretty vicious when her rage stirred.
“What do I do?” He refused to admit to feeling nervous but eager at the same time.
“Kiss me back. Explore. You’ll get the hang of it.”
His eyebrows rose but then Alli closed her eyes and leaned heavily against him. Her lips were incredibly soft as they brushed over his. She had closed her eyes so he did the same. It intensified the feeling when she tilted her head slightly to seal their mouths together. Her tongue slid along the seam and he opened up to her, remembering the last time she’d initiated contact that way.
She tasted of chocolate, something he’d grown to love since he’d been introduced to it. Her tongue slid over his and caused his dick to harden more. He wanted to toss her on the bed, flip her over, and yank her ass into the air just to be inside her welcoming body but kissing was important to her. He began to see the draw as he licked her back, his excitement growing when he mimicked what he’d like to do to her by delving deeper to take what she offered.
His hands tore at her shirt. Material ripped but Alli didn’t pull away. He just wanted to feel her skin, all of it, every inch. He hated anything that barred him access to any part of her body. A snarl tore from him, muffled between their mouths, when one of his palms cupped her breast. It was soft and pliable, the nipple instantly pebbling when his fingertips brushed it.
Arms slid around his head and Alli wiggled on his lap. She broke the kiss he was enjoying. He was afraid she’d tell him to stop but instead of just getting off his lap, she lifted up and turned to plant her knees on each side of his hips when she straddled his lap. Her hands cupped his cheeks and she kissed him again. He didn’t need instructions anymore. He dominated her with his tongue, enjoying the taste of her and the way their panted breaths mingled.
Obsidian needed her. He released her breast to grip her waist. The thin pants she wore gave easily when he dug his fingertips under the band of them and pulled. Material tore to reveal skin. Alli stopped kissing him back and gasped but he didn’t stop. He couldn’t. He ripped the things more, shredding them enough to reach between her thighs.
She was as wet and welcoming as he imagined she’d be when his fingers traced the line of her sex. With her legs spread wide apart he had no difficulty sliding one finger inside the tight confines of her pussy. She threw her head back, breaking the connection of their mouths.
He saw the line of her neck exposed. Instinct and need struck him hard. His mouth homed in on the area just under her ear. She couldn’t see his fangs but she’d already felt them while they’d been kissing. It hadn’t frightened her and he hoped feeling them when he bit her lightly wouldn’t have an adverse effect.
Alli clawed at his back with her fingernails but it felt good. She didn’t draw blood or snarl in warning that she wanted him to stop. Her legs tensed and she moved her hips, grinding against his hand. The movement rubbed his dick against their bellies—his firm, hers soft and supple. His control threatened to snap.
The finger inside her drove in deeper to verify she was ready to take him. He withdrew it enough to coat the exterior of her opening before he pulled away completely from touching her with his hand and mouth. Alli groaned in protest as her head lowered until sexy eyes fixed on him.
“Don’t stop.”
Nothing could stop him now. She was his for the taking. He grabbed her hips, unable to even get out words. He was feeling too basic and raw with need. He just acted, his instincts overtaking all else. He lifted her and forced her hold on him to break when he spun her around. She didn’t weigh enough to make him strain. She landed on her stomach when he tossed her next to him on the bed. He slid to the floor, grabbed her and dragged her waist to the edge of the bed. One knee shoved between hers, parted them, and he looked down to grip his shaft.
Slow
, he snarled at himself silently. It took every ounce of discipline when he lined up their bodies to fit instead of just driving his hips against her ass and make her take every inch of his dick. He wanted to be buried deep inside her.
She braced her hands on the bed, tossed her hair out of the way, and peered at him over her shoulder. He didn’t see fear. Confusion maybe, but she didn’t demand he release her.
He nudged the crown of his cock against her and closed his eyes when he met a little resistance. He lowered his hips a little and pushed again, his hand adjusting the angle just a tiny bit. She took him, accepted him, but it was a tight fit. He wanted to throw back his head and howl. She was so hot, so wet, and it felt so good. Nothing he’d ever experienced could compare to Alli.
A soft moan came from her and urged him to go deeper. It was killing him to resist pounding against her fast and furiously, the way he wanted. His eyes opened and he stared at the curve of her ass. It was perfect. He pinned her to the bed where he had her bent and rocked back and forth, giving her more of himself with each thrust.
She clawed at the pink bedding. She wasn’t on her hands and knees but he feared her arms would collapse when his passion grew out of control if he allowed her to brace on her own. It was just a matter of time before he lost it. Each drive of his cock into her shot raw ecstasy through his system, each near withdrawal the only break in the building release he knew would lock him inside her while his seed marked her with his spent passion.
Her vaginal muscles tightened, clenching as her broken moans grew in volume. Alli was wetter, hotter, and he lost his mind a second before his balls tightened to warn him he couldn’t hold out anymore. He threw back his head, clutched her hips and rode through pleasure so intense it threatened to make him roar out his satisfaction.
His cock swelled, jets of his cum shooting so hard it nearly hurt and he shivered as he slowed his movements, locking inside her until he feared he’d hurt his Alli. Her pussy squeezed him so tightly he collapsed over her, curling against her back, feeling as if he had once been solitary but now they were two bodies merged as one.
Awareness returned when his mind began to clear of the fervor-induced haze of sharing sex with Alli. His weight pinned her small body against the bed as both of them breathed harshly. He released her hips to lift up. She panted, said something he didn’t understand, and it alarmed him. Had he crushed her?
Her head turned and blue eyes held his. He knew in that moment that he’d left her behind. Her gaze was too sharp, frustration clear as she bit her lower lip. Anger gripped him—at himself. He reacted by backing up a few inches, careful to pull her with him so their hips remained pressed together. He knew better than to attempt to separate their bodies while he recovered.
One hand slid between the mattress edge to wiggle between it and her belly. His fingers located her clit, found it slick with her desire. He watched her eyes as he rubbed, saw her pupils dilate when he found the right spot, and homed in on it with a little pressure to ride it with his fingertip.
Her pussy squeezed him even tighter and he clenched his teeth to trap the groan inside his throat. He’d take the sweet torture of being oversensitive to make sure she was taken care of.
Alli had been so close to coming. The feel of Obsidian pinning her, his thick shaft slamming in and out of her, felt incredible. He didn’t just move his hips back and forth but spread his knees to brace against the carpet, switching the angles with every thrust. He found the right spot that made her moan louder and hit it over and over.
She’d fisted the bedding, just needing something to cling to since she couldn’t reach him. Her knees didn’t touch the floor. Her pants were torn open down the center back seam, allowing him access to her pussy, but they were still on. She lifted her feet, hooking them over his calves. She’d wished she were totally naked.
He’d torn open her shirt but the remnants of it twisted on her arms where the material had slipped. It didn’t matter as her climax had built, on the verge of coming so hard she wouldn’t be surprised if she saw stars.
The sounds Obsidian made had turned her on more. He’d growled and snarled, his hands nearly bruising on her hips when he’d gripped her to keep her in place. Her eyes had widened when his cock suddenly felt bigger, stretching her more, and then he’d slowed his hips in sharp, jerky thrusts as she felt him coming.
Bursts of hot semen had flooded deep inside her as he’d slowed to a stop. His considerable weight settled over her, his chest against her back, his heavy breathing tickling her ear.
She wanted to scream in disappointment, so close to her own finish line, but now it was over. Long seconds passed while he shivered on top of her, softly groaned her name and nuzzled the side of her head with his jaw.
He’d lifted and she could breathe easier, but at the same time she missed the way he’d been so close to her. She’d turned her head turned to see his face, at least wanting the satisfaction of watching one of them get off.
His dark-brown eyes had appeared black, his eyelids half closed, while he watched her. He panted, features flushed from passion, and his fangs were showing. Something instantly changed though. His mouth had pressed closed in a firm line of displeasure. She wondered why.
He had dragged her a few inches more over the edge of the bed, one hand slid in front of her, and his fingers stroked her clit.
She gasped then moaned at the instant sensation of how good it felt. Obsidian turned his hand just enough to use one finger and quickly rubbed the bundle of nerves with enough force to drive her wild.