She needed space and he would give it to her no matter how hard it was. His effort to keep her at arms’ length had made it two days. He didn’t think Ravyn would last much longer than he had. And at least with her method, they would continue talking, something he’d missed desperately. Damon wondered if Ravyn realized the more they spoke, the closer they’d become. The physical attraction between them was stronger than anything he’d felt before. That was difficult enough to combat. Attraction and affection would be a nearly irresistible combination.
If he could manage any kind of control, they wouldn’t become lovers until they were on Earth, but it was a forgone conclusion where they were headed. For now though, he needed to find that control fast. He wouldn’t jeopardize Ravyn by being so tied in knots he couldn’t see danger coming up on them. He refused to watch another person’s blood run from their body because he’d failed.
“Ravyn,” he said, interrupting her story, “it’s getting late. We both need some sleep.” He saw trepidation pass through her eyes and knew then she continued to have nightmares.
“Sure, you’re right,” she said.
If he hadn’t seen the flash of alarm, he would have bought her calm tone. It bothered him that he couldn’t fix this for her, couldn’t stop her terror. The only possible solution he had involved torture. For him. He made the choice without thinking twice. Damon settled himself on his side and patted the ground beside him. “Come here, sweet pea.”
He could read the internal debate on her face. He didn’t say another word or make another movement. It was up to her.
After a long minute, she complied.
The feel of her body lying next to his drove him to the edge, but he hung on. He ignored that they both were mostly undressed, that he could feel the softness of her bare legs against his. He was as stiff as lamordite crystals, but slowly, gradually, she relaxed against him, even resting her head on his shoulder. Wrapping his arms around her, Damon murmured, “I’m here. Nothing is going to hurt you.”
The soft whisper of her breath against his chest had his heart twisting. And when he knew she slept, he felt as satisfied as if he had won the Third Oceanic War single-handedly.
Damon hoped their sleeping arrangement kept her demons at bay. As agonizing as it was to have Ravyn in his arms without going any further, it was the sweetest torment he’d ever known.
*** *** ***
Hmm.
Ravyn stretched, pressing herself languorously into the warmth beside her. She snuggled closer, her fingers kneading hard muscle through soft cotton. Her left leg rested over a set of masculine hips. An intriguing bulge pressed into her thigh and she rubbed against it.
“Hmm.” Her voice purred from her chest. Contentment curled her lips into a sleepy smile. Two nights sleeping within Damon’s protective embrace, two mornings waking up in his arms and it felt like it had always been this way.
Her hand stroked and circled, easing lower with each motion. Through her fingertips she felt a rumble and her smile deepened. He liked this too. Her hand encountered the waistband of his pants. For a while, she satisfied herself by exploring the ridges of his stomach. Then she slid her hand back up, tracing the muscles in his chest. Feeling Damon react to her touch increased her enjoyment.
“Ravyn, open your eyes.”
Drowsily, she complied. His molten gaze captured hers. Satisfied with his response, she pressed her lips to his chin.
“Hell,” he muttered, his voice as rough as ground glass.
He shifted until she was on her back, his body poised beside her. She read the intent in his eyes and Ravyn parted her lips, ready for his kiss. She thought she knew what to expect, but Damon surprised her. Instead of taking, he teased.
He nibbled at her mouth, first nipping her upper lip, then sucking the lower one. She gasped at the sensation. Damon broke the kiss and his hands framed her face, his callused fingers caressing her jaw, her cheeks. And all the while, their eyes were open, gazes locked. It was the most intimate thing Ravyn had ever experienced. It went far beyond a physical connection and became a mating of souls. Lost in a world of gentle arousal, she knew no fear of this bond.
He came back for a second, leisurely kiss before he teased his way to her ear. Damon’s tongue traced the shell, then his teeth nipped at the lobe. Ravyn moaned softly as he soothed the sting. Before she quite realized it, his lips were at the pulse point in her throat. She turned her head to give him better access and her eyes drifted shut. Finally, unable to stand it a second longer, she guided his mouth back to hers. Ravyn ran her hands through his hair, trailed her nails softly across his nape.
With a rumble of approval, Damon lifted his mouth from hers. “Look at me,” he ordered.
Ravyn obeyed and gasped at the intensity she saw on his face. She couldn’t look away from his eyes, caught by the heat she saw there, captivated by the tight leash he had on his desire. He smiled down at her, one big hand cupping the back of her head, angling her for another kiss. Impatiently, she waited for him to take their kiss further. He didn’t. And when she tried, he eased back just far enough to foil her attempts.
“More, Damon,” she demanded, frustrated by his restraint.
He deepened the kiss, but continued his leisurely pace. She shuddered as his tongue stroked the roof of her mouth. Soon, though, this lazy exploration had her wanting even more. She didn’t get it. He began easing away, retreating, and Ravyn growled in objection. She tried to pull him back to her, but didn’t have the strength. Her pleas for him not to stop fell on deaf ears. Finally, his forehead resting against hers, Damon rubbed her ear lobe between his thumb and forefinger.
“Good morning, sweet pea,” he said, his voice husky.
“You’re a tease, Captain.”
He grinned at her and pushed away. “We need to get moving,” he said, leaving her on the ground.
Ravyn sighed and sat up. This pretty much shot her friendship scheme out of the water, but she felt relief, not disappointment. Still, the fact he’d kept his control, while having her begging, cried out for retribution. With a contemplative smile, Ravyn climbed to her feet.
She was going to enjoy getting even.
*** *** ***
Damon rubbed his fingers over his eyelids, trying to wake himself up. Two nights with Ravyn pressed against him had taken its toll. It was worth it, though, and not because she tended to drape herself all over him while she slept. And not because of the kiss they’d shared this morning.
He knew she hadn’t had a nightmare since he’d invited her to sleep next to him. His hands reached for his canteen as his gaze sought her out. Ravyn sat atop a flat boulder, munching on a piece of fruit. She looked much more alert and rested. Yeah, it was worth it, he thought, sipping the tepid water. And he’d gone with less sleep than this.
They should get going. He’d been feeling vaguely uneasy since morning and he knew better than to discount his sixth sense. It had always been eerily accurate. Still, the feeling wasn’t strong enough to concern him, not yet and there hadn’t been any sign of pursuit in the last two days. Five more minutes, he decided, then they were out of here.
Recapping the canteen, he joined her on the rock. She gave him a friendly smile, but it was more than that. It held an intimacy, a welcome that warmed him. No one, Damon realized, had ever smiled at him in quite that way.
“You know,” Ravyn said, “you never talk about yourself.”
“Who can get a word in,” he said deadpan.
He watched her roll her eyes and grinned.
“Just what I need, another comedian. I can tell already you and Alex will be great friends.”
The knowledge that she thought about him meeting her family had his heart skittering. He took a deep breath to settle his pulse rate. Don’t read too much into that, he warned himself.
“No,” Ravyn said when he opened his mouth, “don’t say another word. You’ll just get yourself in trouble.”
“You do seem to have more to say than the average person,” Damon offered diplomatically.
She shifted slightly so she was turned toward him. “Didn’t I tell you not to say anything?”
Since she didn’t sound angry, he decided not to worry about it. “Every word you’ve uttered has been fascinating,” he said, tongue firmly in cheek.
Ravyn gave his shoulder a companionable shove and laughed. “You know what? I like you, Damon Brody,” she said, still smiling, “but that doesn’t get you off the hook. Start talking.” She circled her hand in a “let’s go” motion.
Damon rolled his shoulders to ease the tension that had developed there. He could see Ravyn sitting expectantly, but he let the silence drag on. It wasn’t that he was opposed to talking, he just preferred not to talk about himself.
Her huff of exasperation sounded loud in the silence of the clearing. “You Spec Ops types are all alike,” she muttered. “It’s like pulling teeth to get any personal information.”
He opened his mouth to ask how many Spec Ops “types” she knew, but before he could say anything, Ravyn continued.
“Why don’t I ask you questions and you answer? Does that work for you? Keep in mind, I’m nothing if not tenacious.”
“So I’m learning,” he said softly. “Go ahead, ask.”
“Where’s home? ”
“I’m stationed in California.”
She heaved a sigh big enough to draw his attention to her breasts. Damon knew that wasn’t her intention, but enjoyed the view for a moment before looking back up. Her expression screamed,
why me?
“What?” he grumbled.
“I didn’t ask where you were stationed, I asked where your home was.”
“My home is wherever I’m stationed,” he said reasonably.
“Okay, let’s try this another way. Where did you grow up?” she asked with forced calm.
“All over.” Damon hid a smile. He didn’t realize how much fun it could be to rile Ravyn up this way. He reconsidered that idea when she dug her nails into his thigh. “Ouch.” He pried her fingers off his leg. To be safe, he kept hold of her.
“Oh,” she asked innocently, “did that hurt?”
“Not at all. I’ve always walked with a limp.”
“I’ll kiss it and make it better if you tell me what I want to know.” Her smile appeared feline.
He realized she’d heard him gulp when her grin widened and smug satisfaction filled her eyes. “Be careful what you promise, sweet pea. What would you do if I took you up on that?”
“Why, Damon,” she purred, her eyelids lowering half way, “I’ve always been a woman of my word.”
Where had this side of her come from? Stunned, he loosened his grip and she slipped her hand free. Wary, he braced himself for her next move. He didn’t have long to wait Her fingers found the place she’d gouged. Expecting more pain, he froze when she made gentle circles around the injured area. A groan escaped before he could swallow it, but his lapse brought a reward. Ravyn began to run her fingers slowly up the inseam of his pants.
Damon could feel the blood rushing from his brain. He propped himself up on his elbows, eyes drifting shut, and moved his legs farther apart. Just when she seemed to make a little forward progress, her fingers would slide back down, before easing upward again. Anticipation zinged through his blood. He had reasons for not wanting to make love yet, but he was damned if he could remember what they were anymore. Finally, her touch was almost where he needed it, where he wanted it.
And then she teased her way back down.
“No,” he protested, his eyes popping open. “Touch me.”
“Damon,” she said. She was short of breath and it got him hotter to know touching him aroused her. “Remember this morning when I asked you for more? ”
“Yeah?”
“Payback’s a bitch.”
*** *** ***
It seemed childish now, her need to even the score. For a minute this afternoon, she had feared Damon would strangle her and she wouldn’t have blamed him. She hadn’t meant things to get so out of hand. She’d only wanted to tease him a little. It seemed her brain had left her body the instant she’d felt the hard muscles in his thigh. She’d loved touching him. He’d been silent since, probably thinking up ways to kill her in her sleep. Ravyn’s lips quirked at the absurdity. Damon would never hurt her. Torture her, maybe. A girl could only hope.
Ravyn knew she owed him an apology. After a moment’s consideration, she picked up her pace so she walked beside him. Damon glanced over at her, eyebrows raised.
“I’m sorry,” she said, “about earlier.”
“You mean you weren’t out for revenge? I know better.”
Ravyn smiled up at him. She couldn’t help it. “Well, yeah, I was. I just didn’t intend for things to go as far as they did. And I sure didn’t want you mad at me.”
“I’m not mad at you,” he told her.
“You’re not even looking at me.”
He stopped then and met her eyes. “I’m not mad at you,” he repeated. “Frustrated, yes, but I’m mad at myself.”
“Why?” Ravyn didn’t doubt him, but the fault was hers.
He let out a long breath and his gaze scrutinized the area before he looked at her again. Something about him seemed more alert, more tense than usual. “I want you, Ravyn,” he said.
Her body heated at the intensity of his gaze. With just a few words, he had every cell in her body ready, willing and able.
“I’m always thinking about you,” he continued, “when I should be concentrating on keeping you safe. I’ve been able to put aside the deaths of six friends, but I can’t keep the door shut on my desire for you. I’m not used to this kind of weakness. I’ve always been able to compartmentalize before.”
Ravyn glanced down at her boots, the toes just inches from his. She tried to come up with something to say, but couldn’t. As she watched, his boots moved closer and she felt his hands on her arms. Surprised, she looked back up at him.
“I have very little control with you,” he confessed, reluctance in his voice. His hands caressed her shoulders.
“That scares you,” she managed to choke out.
A humorless smile chased across his face. “Yes, it does. How am I supposed to protect you when half the time my attention is on what we could be doing together? I’m scared my distraction is going to get us killed. And it’s getting worse, not better.”