Lethal Game (GhostWalkers 16)

He held on grimly, forcing himself to look at his woman. To see her face, feel how close she was. She made little noises, a kind of soft moan that added to the need building so high in him. Everything about Amaryllis was perfection to him. Just looking at her, the way she threw her head back with abandon, the way she gave herself to him, total surrender, the way she moved her body over his, as if she could never get enough of his cock, and the expression of bliss on her face, all heightened his pleasure.

“You there, baby? You need to get there.”

“I’m there.” She panted the words, her breath as ragged as his.

He took her over the edge, took them both tumbling off into space somewhere, while the fire consumed them and the stars surrounded them. Her body gripped his so tightly, he thought he’d have the imprint of her sheath on his shaft, but it felt like nothing he’d ever experienced before. Pure fire enclosing him in a world of sensation. Searing him, branding him. Velvet stroked him. Silk gripped him. Her music surrounded him.

He held her to him, trying desperately to find air. Emotion overwhelmed him, rising out of nowhere, shocking him. He tightened his hold on her, locking her close, forcing her face against his chest so she couldn’t look up at him. He knew his vulnerability to her was naked on his face. There was no way around it, not right then.

Amaryllis didn’t fight him. She snuggled closer to him, her arms just as tight around him. She seemed to almost know before he did what he needed. Sometimes he was aware of the press of her lips against his skin. Other times it was the fan of her lashes against him, but she didn’t lose patience, and just let him come down from the rush at his own pace.

When he could finally pull his thoughts together, he loosened his arms and reluctantly allowed her to slide off him. He found it amazing to be so connected to another human being, not just their bodies, sharing the same skin, but their minds and even hearts. He’d shied away from that thought from the beginning, but he had to face it. He was already all in. Completely.

Malichai searched his mind while she headed for the bathroom. She had alleviated that nagging fear—that she wouldn’t want him now that he wasn’t a hundred percent with a battle possibly looming. Why was his gut still churning and his radar going off so persistently? Something was wrong and it wasn’t going away because his woman had just given him the best sex he’d ever had.

Amaryllis returned, dressed in capri yoga pants and a short tank top that hugged her breasts and left her midriff bare. When she moved, he could see the alluring underside of her breasts peeking out. He liked the sight of her. She looked around for somewhere to put her clothes and her gaze fell on his face. Instantly, she froze, her entire attention on him.

“What is it, Malichai? I thought we took care of your worries.”

“I thought so too. My gut still says something is very, very wrong.”

“I’ll go check out the kitchen.” She glanced at her watch. “It won’t take any time to walk through the halls just to make certain everything is all right.”

Malichai stiffened. “I’m not lying here in bed while you put yourself in danger. We don’t even know how bad the leg is this time.”

“I know how bad. I did my best, but those fractures in the bone are persistent. They keep returning. I don’t know if they were already coming back before Mills kicked you, or if that brought them out again. The reason doesn’t matter right this moment, it only matters that they’re there. Rubin worked on you for hours. I did as well. Nothing can mess that up. He told you to rest the leg, Malichai, and you have to do what he says.”

Rubin had avoided his eyes when he’d given him instructions on resting. “I’m not moving around, Amaryllis. Just lying right here.” His voice held reluctance. He realized his entire body did. Something was wrong and he’d been looking outside himself for an external reason. Now, he realized, his radar was going off, warning him that the problem was with him. With his leg. His physical makeup.

“Malichai?” She put her clothes on top of his dresser. “What is it?”

She was growing very adept at reading him. He wasn’t certain that was a good thing. He shoved both hands through his hair and looked at her. She was beautiful, ready for bed, ready to snuggle next to him. He wanted that closeness with her more than anything—other than losing his leg.

“I’m going to call Rubin in right now to examine my leg with you, but as much as I love that top, he doesn’t get to see you looking like that. Only me. And I’m going to tell you up front that he’s a good-looking man and if you look like you’re going to trade up, I’m killing him.”