Page 86 of Warrior's Captive
“You sure you want to start something, Viv?” he asked in his soft drawl.
“Mayleen will sleep for at least another hour.” She didn’t recognize the seductive croon of her own voice.
He blinked. “Ah . . .”
“Are youblushing?“
“I don’t blush, female.” He narrowed his eyes, an edge to the smile he now gave her.
She lowered her head, her lips hovering over his. Then she slipped off his lap and began to walk away, an extra sway to her hips when she glanced over her shoulder. “Well, I guess it’s been a long day for you. I’ll just—”
He was on her as she stepped into the hallway, arms swiping her feet off the floor again. Tai’ri pressed her back against the wall, her legs wrapping instinctively around his waist.
“It hasn’t been that long a day,” he said, heat in his eyes, a faint growl in his voice.
Slowly, carefully, his eyes never leaving hers, his hand slipped up her body, under the tank and palmed one of her breasts. Vivian inhaled sharply. He pushed aside the sleep bra she wore, the warmth of his bare hand on her skin. Her breasts tingled, the nipples sensitive and almost raw.
“I can’t decide if it makes me perverse, or simply hungry that every time I watch my daughter eat I’m jealous,” he said quietly.
Her muscles clenched. He gently massaged her breast and despite the light initial discomfort, fire sparked and her hips ground against him instinctively. Under her open legs his body was already hard, making clear his intentions for the night.
That was fine. Those were her intentions as well.
He took her lips, kissing her with a barely restrained savagery. Still holding back, not wanting to hurt her. She returned the kiss, fingers clenched in his hair. Well, she would just have to prove she wasn’t afraid of him, of their passion.
Tai’ri shifted suddenly, flipping her over so her back was pressed into the couch, his body braced over her. The strands of his hair tickled her face, his eyes glimmering as he stared down at her.
“You know I can’t hold back any longer,” he said, jaw tight.
She wrapped her legs around his waist. “Don’t.”
He hauled them up, Vivian in his arms, and strode out of the living area and down the hallway. Instead of their bedroom, he took them to Vivian’s old room. House would alert them when Mayleen woke, or if the baby was in any distress.
“I’ve been watching you train,” he said, then tossed her onto the bed. Not at all gentle.
Vivian stretched, arching her back. “Oh?”
He wrapped his fingers around her ankles and yanked. Hard. Vivian laughed as her hips all but dangled off the edge of the bed; he kept control of her body, though, slowly spreading her legs wide open.
“Youaregetting stronger. Faster. I’d wondered. But if the marks are feeding you my cellular memories, it makes sense.” A slow, wicked smile curved his lips. “Do you know what else many couples can feel once bonded?”
It was hard to breathe, even to think when he looked at her like she was a cream puff. “No, what?”
“They can feel each other. During sex. Imagine.”
She did. Oh, she did. “Well, we aren’t going to feel much of anything with our clothes on.”
He braced her feet on his shoulders, and she took a second to be glad she’d fixed up her toes yesterday. Hands sliding up her legs, his fingers curled around the stretchy band of her leggings and stiffened, as if he were fighting an impulse to rip them off her. Then, with exquisite gentleness, he began peeling the fabric from her body, tossing the clothing to the floor when he was done.
With her feet on either shoulder, her mound lay open to him, bare to gaze and touch. Slowly, as his fingertips grazed the insides of her thighs, his eyes roved over her naked flesh, the plump dusky lips covering her opening, the dark curls she’d neatly trimmed the same evening she’d worked on her toes.
“One last chance to change your mind,” he crooned. “I won’t stop tonight until you’re mine, but I’ll give you this one last chance to tell me no.”
30
“Takeyour chivalry and toss it out the door. I don’t want it. I want you.”
His eyes burned. “Bold. House, seal the bedroom door. Don’t open except at my command.”
