Page 131 of Hunters and Prey

If I’m good? God, help me.

She forced another smile. “That would be great.”

Connor’s eyes narrowed. “Something’s holding you back. What is it?”

She looked up at the ceiling, forcing Asher’s name from her mind. She didn’t want Connor going after him.

“Mother would never let me go.”

His grin faded a little. “I don’t think you understand, Cailyn. What your mother wants is no longer a concern.”

Cailyn focused on keeping her mind free of any thoughts of escape or retaliation lest he read her thoughts. Doing so was one of the hardest things she’d ever done. Such concentration took discipline that she’d never had to master.

He grinned. “Why are you trying to keep me out, Cailyn? Don’t you know I can read you like a book? But still, something is missing.”

Her cheeks reddened. He knew exactly what she was doing.

“What are you hiding?”

Chewing her lip, she shook her head, her brows furrowed.

Connor smoothed the back of her hands with his thumbs and nodded. “It’s fine, Cailyn. Relax.”

Unsure of what to do, she remained silent, captivated by his eyes as they searched hers.

When he let her hands go, he surprised her by cupping her face in his hands and stroking her cheek.

“Tell me why I my heart seems to stop whenever you’re around.”

Cailyn’s brows un-furrowed. For a moment, she let her guard down. For some reason, his words struck her deep in her soul.

When he leaned in to kiss her, she didn’t tense or move away. Her body wouldn’t let her. It wanted his kiss.

She closed her eyes and submitted to the taste of his mouth as he explored hers. A gasp escaped her lips as he lifted her from the floor and set her on his lap. Still, she kept her eyes closed as his mouth left hers and kissed her neck.

The crackling of the fire and the heat it emitted warmed her as he pulled her kimono open. She bit her bottom lip and tossed her head back as his mouth traveled down to her cleavage exposed by her bra. With expert handling, he unhooked her bra and pulled it over her head.

Exposed, Cailyn finally opened her eyes. Heat rose from her legs to her core and looking into Connor’s eyes left her desperate for action. For more.

Why did his hands have to be so soft, warm, and strong? He ran his hands up from her waist to her back with tenderness.

“Dear God,” he said as he eyed her breasts. “You are truly a vision.”

Her cheeks reddened as he covered one of her nipples with his thumb and stroked it until pert and erect. She inhaled, afraid to go further, but desperate for release.

Asher. His face flooded her mind, sending her blood cold.

“I can’t,” Cailyn blurted and put a hand between her and Connor, pressing him back and she stood.

She gathered her bra and kimono. Flustered, she looked down at him, hoping her sudden action didn’t anger him.

Connor’s face was unreadable.

That frightened her.

“I’m sorry,” she stuttered. “I’m going back to bed.”

Before he could reply, she hurried away. First, she rushed. Her walk turned into a run for her room, as she imagined that he was chased her.

She didn’t even look back until she was in her room and had the door shut.

Shaking, Cailyn stood at the door. She listened for any noises outside the door in the hallway. She covered her mouth with both hands when she heard footsteps stop just outside.

Stepping backward, she didn’t stop until her legs touched the edge of her new bed. She sat down with nowhere else to go.

“Go away,” she whispered, knowing he couldn’t hear her.

Cailyn covered her heart and tried to calm herself. Her pulse was too fast. Her breaths were quickened as well.

She couldn’t live like this.

---