Page 26 of Going Rogue
“It’s poor form to gloat.” The twitch of her lips ruined the superior look she shot at him. Any second, the laugh he saw in her eyes would bubble out.
With a smirk, he tossed back, “You’re welcome.”
She tried to hide the giggle with a fake cough, but it didn’t work. The battle was lost. Mirth shook her frame, and he had to smile at the happiness bursting out of her despite the nerves he’d sensed in her earlier. Finally, she’d relaxed.
The lamplight reflected in her eyes as he watched her, casting them with a golden glow. They were warm enough he wanted tosink into them. The thought caused a flutter in his chest. A new and strange sensation, as if seeing her like this, made his heart desperate to give itself to her.
She’s not ready.
He scraped a hand over the spot near his sternum, rustling the material of his shirt and pushing the feeling away. There would be time to tell her how he felt—later. Right now, it would only scare her away.
When she had her laughter under control, she said, “I guess you’re pretty good at that, big guy.”
“You guess?” He clapped a hand to his chest in mock alarm as if she’d wounded him. “Apparently, I need to prove myself to you.” He rolled so he hovered over her, a forearm braced on either side of her head.
As he grinned down at her, she nibbled her lip, and the nerves returned to her expression. Bending, Crane gently kissed her sore and told her, “We can stop here, Rogue. Whatever you want.” He’d go as slow as she needed.
But she gave her head a slight shake. “No. I want this.”
He read the truth in the plea swimming in her eyes and nodded. “Then let me love you.”
The words were a slip of the tongue, but she wouldn’t know how deeply he meant them. Tucking the overwhelming tide of emotions away, he placed his lips on hers in a kiss that started tender but heated much too quickly.
She triggered something in him—some primal instinct. Wild and savage, he strained against the desperate need to claim her and make her his.
Mine. Only mine.
His head screamed at him to slow down as they rolled across the bed, his hands determined to possess and take. Though the air in the tent remained a pleasant temperature, they created enough heat together to have sweat slickening their bodies. It made his clothing adhere like a second skin, but he didn’t notice. His vision narrowed to Rogue’s face, dewed with moisture as pleasure raced over her features while his hands and mouth worshiped her breasts.
She arched against him, and he releasedher. Her breaths came in ragged puffs as she tugged at his shirt, her hands traveling over him on their quest to test and discover. Reaching between his shoulder blades, he grasped the material and pulled it over his head. When he tossed it away, Rogue turned them so that she straddled him, her busy hands racing over his skin.
“How do you look like this?” she murmured before bending and tracing his abs with her tongue. Barbs of pleasure made his muscles contract and his cock twitch in excitement. She clearly noticed because the smile she aimed at him spoke of pure feminine satisfaction. As if testing him, she gave his pectoral muscles the same attention.
With a groan, he pulled her head to his and captured her greedy mouth. If she kept teasing him like that, he’d lose the grip he had on his control. After waiting years to have her, he didn’t want to rush things. She was giving him a gift, and he wanted to treasure it no matter what his body demanded.
But when he trailed a finger up her thighto her center, he found her wet and ready. A hum of pleasure rumbled through his chest before he broke their kiss. He wanted to see her face as he slid his finger into her heat.
She shivered when he entered her, but desire sparked in her eyes. They were as deep as a cup of black coffee and just as potent. His forehead reached for hers. “You’re so tight.”
Fresh sweat broke out on his face. She was so fucking tight. Too tight. He knew he’d hurt her and wanted to make sure he made the rest of it as good for her as he possibly could.
They might be hiding from reality, but he wanted to give her this fantasy. The militants—what would happen if they were found—even the Bedouins faded away until only Rogue existed. She could be queen of this desert and he a loyal soldier who’d gladly give his life for hers but who’d even more gladly share it with her.
Wiggling against his hand, she moaned, so he added a second finger, stretching her. Her head fell back on a gasp. “Crane!”
When he used his thumb on her sensitivebud while he stroked her inner walls with his fingers, her hands slapped his chest, her gaze searing him with wonder and hunger so sharp it proved all he could do not to answer it with his own.
But he’d give her this first.
She whimpered, and he spurred her on, gripping her hip with his free hand and urging her to move. “Use my hand, baby. Make it feel good.”
He reared up, catching one of her dark pink nipples in his mouth. She bucked against him but gripped his shoulders as she rocked into his palm. The noises she made, the little gasps and whimpers as she searched for the perfect spot, drove him mad with lust. He bit harder than he should’ve, then gently laved the bite with his tongue.
“Oh, God.”
He stroked her faster.
“Crane. I’m going to—”
