The Protectors Series Bundle (A superhero romance anthology) (12 page)

He grinned. “Only on a very good day.”

“Be serious, Seth.” She pulled her hand from his. “Until we know how I affect you, it’s better we keep some distance.”

“You were planning on leaving me behind, weren’t you? Back at the hotel? But something changed your mind.”

Her face flushed and she couldn’t meet his gaze. “Yes.”

Seth closed his eyes and breathed slowly. “Don’t you have to give me some instructions on my powers or something? I think I know you a little by now. You wouldn’t leave me before I could defend myself.” He kissed her neck.

Cassie sagged, deflated. He had a point. He needed to learn how to use his powers or he could get hurt.
And
he was an excellent kisser.
Excuses, Excuses
. “Uhm, Seth? While sleeping with you again would curl my toes, it might make you spontaneously combust or something. You slept with me once, next thing you know you’re blind. You want to risk something like that being permanent?” One of them had to use a rational brain.

Seth’s normally warm brown eyes narrowed as he cradled her face in his hands. “Well, funny you should mention the side effects. Because when I’m near you and we’re touching, I start to get these little glimpses.”

She grasped his forearm, tugging his hand from her face. She couldn’t think straight when he touched her. “What kind of glimpses? Is your vision graying when you get them? Like last time?”

“I think I have to test the theory more to be sure.”

The heat at her core radiated outward. Just the thought of him touching her and her body trembled. “Seth, we—” She scented his arousal—woodsy rain. The muscles in his forearm tensed then relaxed. The steady thump-thump of his heart ticked up in tempo as his nostrils flared and he deeply inhaled.

When he brought his lips to hers, he had to angle his head for their lips to meet, but when they did, he wasn’t gentle. Their melding bodies went from inferno to sun flares in seconds.

In one quick move, Seth scooped her up by her ass and wrapped her legs around his waist. He continued a steady onslaught of drugging kisses, and all she could do was hold on as desire overruled her rational side.

A clatter sounded behind her before she found her back flush against the wall. One of his hands stole up her soft cotton T-shirt to caress her breast while the other gripped her ass and helped anchor her around him.

His thumb drove her mad with his lazy strokes, teasing the top edge of the bra. The low moans deep in his throat told her how much he wanted her. But was his need a byproduct of the transition? The weaker part of her brain asked if it mattered.

He tore his lips from hers, placing kisses along her jaw, never pausing the hand at her breast. His impatience won out and he yanked the flimsy fabric aside to gain better access to her
nipple
. He traced slow circles around
the tip
with his thumb and she gasped. Seth chuckled, and then lightly tugged on the turgid peak.

Cassie called his name as she shifted to align better against his straining cock. She just needed was him in the right spot and she could—

“Are you in a hurry, Cassie?” He nipped her ear. “Or do you want me to take my time?” His tongue laved the tiny injury and the slick heat of her core dampened her panties. He rocked his hips against her, a small taste of her impending ecstasy ripped through her thighs. “
It’s up to you,
”
he murmured

She couldn’t concentrate enough to form words. All she could do was try and drag him closer to her.

“You didn’t answer my question. How do you want me?” To emphasize his point, he nipped at her neck.

She took two attempts to form the word. “Fast.”

Seth’s hands flew to the button of her jeans and yanked them down. He ripped at the button and zipper of his pants and shoved them to his knees.
Cupping
her ass
,
he
settled her back against the wall.

From a distance, a mewling filled the air as Seth’s deft fingers stroked her tender flesh. Her pussy clenched at the emptiness, begging for him to fill her. He moistened his cock with juices from her weeping center and returned his attention to her lips. His tongue dove in with wild abandon. But he didn’t enter her. Instead, he stroked her slippery flesh with the tip of himself, teasing her.

She bucked against him and pulled her lips from his. “I thought you promised me fast.”

He nipped at her pouting lips, working his rigid length back and forth against her slick lips. “I promised you fast. But I also want to drive you crazy.”

Cassie whimpered. “I’m already crazy. Please, Seth. Now.”

The head of his cock settled at her opening and she wanted to weep in relief.  But her anticipation was short lived as he proceeded with a slow and controlled entry.  She tried to thrust to urge him on, but his grip on her hips held her still.

“I don’t want to hurt you.”

She took his cue and nipped his ear. His curse was terse and guttural.

“Please, Hurry.”

He shook violently when she clenched her walls against the smooth tip of him. With a muttered, “Fuck,” he drove into her. Both his hands gripped her hips to the point of pleasure-plain when he retreated so just his cock-head nudged her velvet opening, then surged back in.

With every stroke of him, she cried out. His mouth didn’t ease up on hers. When he finally pulled back, she opened her eyes and could read everything about him. His need, his desire, and more. She saw through his eyes the first time they met. The way he felt about her when they finished the firefight in the woods. She’d amazed him.

He showed every feeling with each driving, piercing stroke.

“Seth,” she breathed as she held on to him, fisting her hands into his hair.

His strong hands held her in place as he filled her. With every surge forward, he rubbed against her clit and tingles shot from the base of her spine to her toes. His hands gripped her flesh. His fingers soothed and urged her to go faster. “Cassie, I need to feel you coming around me. Show me how much you like this. How much you need me.”

She was so close she could taste it. But their angle was different than in the hotel room. She needed more. “Seth, I—I don’t know what I need.”

Instantly, he slowed his pace and met her eyes. He shifted positions again, tilting her hips forward. His right hand caressed her ass as he held her. “I can help. Just let me know when something feels good. He withdrew. She moaned. When he surged forward again, her breath caught.

But when his fingers grazed the cleft of her buttocks she started to tremble. A wicked glint flashed in his eyes and he repeated the movement as he pumped into her again.  The only way Cassie knew to answer him was to crush her lips to his.

As he kissed her, his fingers stole down the cleft of her ass, past the tense pucker to where their bodies met. He stroked the sensitive patch of skin and wet his fingers with her juices.
When h
e traced
a path back to the tight pucker,
Cassie stilled.

In a slow measured movement, he circled the opening with his moist fingertips. Her breath hitched. He performed the motion again and she whimpered.  He started working in rhythm with his thrusts and her orgasm began building again. More than a fleeting distant sensation. Now as a tangible concrete mantle she hurtled toward. One gentle finger probed her ass and her head flew back as the blunt digit pushed beyond the resistance.

In time with his finger, he worked his cock in and out of her.
Then he
added another finger. The tight pressure completely filled her. With another curse, he picked up the pace, demanding she follow him. She had no choice. With or without him, her path led to ecstasy.

Seth shifted his other hand so both hands rested her rear entrance, opening her, teasing her nerve endings. Cassie’s orgasm slammed into her with such force, her vision grayed. The walls of her pussy milked Seth, pulsating around him, refusing to let go.

With another groan, Seth followed her jump into oblivion—his body trembled with each pump of his seed inside of her.

He still didn’t release her lips as he stumbled back from the wall to the bed. Seth collapsed on top of her with their bodies still joined.

Lisa barged into the guest bedroom like Satan himself was on her heels. “Move your asses. You got to go.”

Cassie sprang from the desk in the corner, pointing her gun at Lisa, safety off. Somewhere in the middle of the night she needed to breathe and shoved Seth’s hulking body off of her. But missing his warmth, she donned her long sleeved T-shirt and perched by the window, trying to work up the nerve to leave him. She never found it. So, she made use of the time and tried to get a peek at the flash drive Annabel had given her. No luck, though. The damn thing was encrypted.

She darted a glance at Seth, face down on the bed, naked as when she pushed him aside. He was dead to the world. He really needed to work on his reflexes.

She lowered the gun and returned her gaze to Lisa’s strained expression. “What’s happened?”

Lisa helped toss their things into Cassie’s lone bag, along with some medical supplies. “Nosy neighbor who listens to police scanners came over this morning, asking about your car in the back driveway. There’s an APB out for your make and model.” She paused, her eyes grave. “Cassie, that friend you mentioned, Annabel. She’s on the news.”

Cassie stilled.

“They found her in her house. Apparent suicide. I have to admit, even with your levitation trick, your story was a little hard to believe until that news story. You guys have got to move.”

“Shit.” Wheeling, she tossed
the clothes Lisa had bought
at him and she yelled. “Seth, Trackers are coming.”

That did it. He lurched up out of bed
, bleary eyed but alert.
. “I didn’t get any flashes.”

“We can worry about that later. Right now we have to go.” 

“According to the police, little Miss Wonder Woman here has been kidnapped and you're wanted as a person of interest.” Lisa grabbed a few Clorox sheets and helped Cassie wipe down surfaces in the room.

“Bullshit.” Seth’s voice was low and angry as he glanced at Cassie. “How far’s Peter going to go?”

Despair licked at Cassie’s sanity. “You should stay here with Dr. Trenery. I can turn myself in.”

His eyes narrowed. “Don’t be stupid. I wasn’t turned into Professor X just to have you go back to h—” He glared at her. “You’re
trying
to
ditch me
.” It was a statement, not a question.

She held up a hand. They didn’t have time to argue. She would sort out his hurt feelings later. “You and Lisa need to go somewhere safe. Get far away from here. Even better, neutralize Peter’s plan. Go to the police. Lisa can act as your alibi. They’ll clear you of any involvement and you never have to be part of this craziness again.”

“Have you forgotten I look like I belong in the NBA? I am part of this. Besides, you need me. You’re not going to find the others by yourself.”

She considered the flash drive Annabel had given her. She didn’t want to admit he had a point. “Seth, it’s safer if you’re away from me.”

He glowered. “For you or me?” He set his jaw, and even though she barely knew him, she recognized the stubborn glint in his eyes. “I’m a grown-ass man and I’m making my own decision. You turn me into a superhero, I get a say in the fighting of evil assholes.”

Cassie sighed.  “Fine. Lisa, get your things, you have to come with us.”

The doctor halted her frantic movements. “What the hell do you mean?”

Cassie couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “We can’t leave you alone. It’s not safe here.”

“Cassie’s right, Lisa. Those guys coming, they won’t show you any mercy. They’d kill you just for seeing us. Never mind what they’ll do when they find out you helped us.”

“They might find out you’ve been here, but if Cassie mind pushes me, they don’t have to know I was complicit. I can’t just leave. I have patients who need me.” She turned her attention to Cassie. “How does your mind pushing work?”

Cassie blinked. She couldn’t put this woman in harm’s way. “It doesn’t matter if you don’t remember. They won’t care. Your choices are come with us, or you and Seth go somewhere safe and I’ll run on my own.” Guilt wrapped around her like a wet suit. How many more people would she put in danger?

Lisa rolled her eyes and turned her attention to Seth. “Look, take her to the cabin. It’s in Matt’s mother’s name. No one will look for you there. And if you can get your girlfriend to cooperate, I won’t remember I sent you there.
  When things die down, call me and I’ll meet you there.
”

Seth’s brows furrowed as he darted looks between Lisa and Cassie, but Cassie wasn’t ready to give up. Patients or not, the doctor had no chance if she stayed behind.

“I’ve only been to the cabin once. You’ll have to give us directions in the car. Cassie’s right. Get your stuff. You can’t stay here.”

The brunette put her hand on Seth’s arm met his eyes. “Your attempts to protect me won’t make up for Matt’s death. Seth, I don’t blame you. You should stop punishing yourself. Matt would have gone into that village with or without you. He made his choice then. I’m making mine now.”