Page 324 of Hunters and Prey

Chapter 13

Roman

Skye Palace

Planet Anarr

The Hai System

Laying Chiara on her bed, Roman took a moment to just admire her. Her dark hair was long and beautiful – such a contrast to those amber-red eyes that pierced him to his soul. Roman couldn’t believe she wanted him.

He couldn’t believe she was willing to accept the bond.

Something had told him after the meeting with the council that sacrificing his life here on Anarr might be the only way to have Chiara as a mate. It had occurred to Roman when he saw his brother.

Kaiden hadn’t asked for permission to leave with Adelina – he had simply handed everything over to Roman and then he’d left. Kaiden had called her his queen even before they’d consummated the bond and Roman hadn’t understood then…

But he did now.

The bond was a tiny thread between them without the consummation, but Roman still felt like he would lay down and die for Chiara if that’s what he needed to do to keep her safe. He would do any manner of things for her – he couldn’t deny anything she asked of him.

“You’re exquisite,” he told her. “Your body as well.”

She blushed slightly and watched him gently pull off her boots. “You’re not as vile as I’d thought you’d be.”

Roman couldn’t help but grin. “And you’re not as mean as I thought you’d be.”

Chiara laughed at that and sat up to unclasp his shirt. “I am a bit mean – or so I’ve heard.”

“Brutally honest seems a bit more endearing,” Roman murmured, grabbing her wrists. “Let me.”

Her eyes widened and Roman took his time peeling the shirt from his body. Then he stepped out of his boots and reached for his pants. The look on her face was almost comical.

“You’re not going to let me do it?” she asked.

“Not a chance.” Roman left his pants unclasped but didn’t remove them yet. He enjoyed the way her eyes looked down in anticipation far too much not to tease her. “Like what you see?” he asked, climbing up on the bed beside her.

Chiara arched her neck so he could kiss the hollow of her throat. “I enjoyed it very much this morning.”

Roman’s fingers barely managed to find the clasp for her shirt at the reminder. “Yes, you did you little minx,” he said, pulling her shirt apart. He kissed up her throat and then back down, taking his time to inhale that delicious scent of hers.

The sight of her bare skin underneath made his mouth water. Roman ran his finger under the bottom seam of her breast band and looked up at her to gauge how she was handling things.

She cleared her throat as his finger brushed the underside of her breast. “I couldn’t help myself.”

He pulled off her top and kissed one shoulder then the other before reaching around to undo the clasp on the breast band. It fell away with a simple flick of his fingers to reveal the most lusciously large breasts he’d ever laid eyes on.

“Well,” he told her, leaning down to lick one taut nipple. “I’m your mate. I suppose I’ll have to allow it.” Then he licked her other nipple.

Chiara’s gasp was music to his ears. Her hand held the back of his neck and pushed him back down when he tried to look up at her.

He was more than happy to oblige. Roman sucked one nipple into his mouth and caressed her other breast with his hand, spreading his wings so they covered the both of them like a blanket. Chiara moaned and reached up to trail her hand over the ridge of the wing closest to her.

It was such a gentle touch it made Roman’s back arch at the sensation. Her hands were so soft and careful it tingled and the feeling shot straight to his dick. He thrust into the bed with a groan, fisting one hand in the sheets to keep from taking things too quickly.

After all, he’d promised her all afternoon.

Her eyes widened at his reaction and she did it again. “Does that feel good?” she asked.