Embraced By Darkness (Riley Jenson Guardian 5)

I closed my eyes, took a breath. Found courage where none existed. "Give me a week. I need to concentrate on this case first, then I'll give you an answer."

Okay, so it wasn't a whole lot of courage I found. And while it wasn't the answer he wanted, it wasn't a denial, either. A week gave me time to think. Time to panic.

Time to find said courage and commit.

"It had better be the right answer."

I turned onto my side, then leaned forward and kissed him. It was a sweet kiss, a gentle kiss. A kiss that hinted at possibilities. "I think it could be."

"Good," His hand slipped down my back to my rump, his touch sending little flash fires of desire skittering across my flesh. "Now, what do you think we should do to seal this deal?"

I shrugged lightly, a smile teasing my lips. "Break open the champagne?"

"We'll save that for when you finally say you'll go solo with me next week."

"Ah. Well, what about a good quality wine?"

"I'm not into wine right now."

"Then what are you into?"

"You," he said, then claimed my lips again, his kiss a demanding thing, and so damn hot it had me melting.

After a while, his lips moved on, kissing my lobes, my neck, my shoulder, until finally, torturously, his tongue teased first one nipple, then the other, making them ache with a fierceness I'd never thought possible. I closed my eyes and arched my back a little, enjoying the pleasurable sensations pulsing through me. When he sucked one throbbing nub into his mouth, I groaned in sheer delight.

Then his tongue moved on, trailing liquid heat down my stomach as he tasted and teased. Anticipation sung through every fiber, so that when his tongue finally flicked over my clit, it almost undid me. And still he licked, tasted, and tantalized, until my whole body throbbed to the tune of that gentle yet insistent caress, and the tide of enjoyment threatened to overload my senses.

"Oh God, stop. Stop" I murmured. "I can't... it's too soon."

I wanted to taste him, caresses him, build him to fever pitch, until sweat beaded his skin and his body ached with the need for completion. As mine did.

But he didn't hear me, didn't care. Just kept on tasting me with his tongue, flicking and delving and caressing, until the sensations overloaded my senses, and my body bucked in delight. My fists clenched, grabbing the sheet as I shuddered and drowned in a myriad of delicious sensations.

The trembling had barely eased with his lips caught mine again. He tasted of lust. Of love. Of me, and while I just wanted to keep on kissing him, I also wanted - needed - a whole lot more.

So I wrapped my legs around his body, and let him slide deep inside. Slowly, gently, he began to rock. The feel of him, so hard and hot, penetrated every fiber and enveloped me in a heat that was basic and yet so very powerful. Gradually, his thrusts became more urgent, the need more intense. Jolts of pleasure ran across my senses, building to a second crescendo.

"I'm going to make you howl, Riley," he whispered against my lips. "I'm going to make you mine, in every way possible."

His powerful body stroked fast and deep, and yet it was his words that drove me insane with desire. I writhed against him, matching his rhythm, matching his urgency. Lust and sweat and desire built and built, the aroma so sweet and thick on the air that every intake of breath only inflamed already raging need.

"Oh God..." The rest of the words did become a howl of utter pleasure as my body bucked wildly against his. He came with me, his roar echoing across the silence, his body slamming into mine so hard the whole bed shook. In the midst of all that pleasure, his lips caught mine, kissing me hard as our orgasms ebbed and sanity returned.

I opened my eyes, stared into the green of his. Saw my future there, if only I was brave enough to take the chance.

He rolled onto his side, then gathered me in his arms. "Make me a promise," he said softly.

"What?" I said, sounding more reluctant than was probably wise.

"No sex outside what you have to do for work. Just you and me, for the next week until you give me the answer."

"Okay." I didn't even have to think about that one, which I guess was surprising given my reluctance to fully commit to the man.

Though I guess I was only agreeing to something I'd harassed Rhoan into in his relationship with Liander.

"Thank you," he said, and continued to hold me while he fell asleep.

Me, I didn't sleep, no matter how much I needed to. My mind was too busy mulling over promises, possibilities, and the right thing to do.