Isabeau sucked in her breath, her fingers fisting in the mat to hold on as the rough rasp of his jaw along her thighs sent a thousand flames burning over her. Her entire body quivered. Her breasts heaved and she couldn’t stop the helpless jerk of her hips. His hands tightened, just as she knew they would. He sent her one glittering look that meant hold still, and she tried to obey, tried to draw air into her lungs.
Need was a living, breathing thing, gripping her in its fiery thrall. He pinned her thighs and spread her legs farther so that her breath came in harsh gasps. She heard herself scream when he lowered his mouth and lapped at her, licking like a large cat with a bowl of warm cream. Fireworks exploded in her head as his tongue stabbed deep, plunging into her over and over again until she thought she might come apart in a million pieces. He took his time, savoring every drop, using his teeth and tongue to draw out more whimpers and soft pleading sobs, begging for release.
Then he was rising above her, gripping her ankles, yanking her legs over his shoulders, holding her open to him. He looked fierce, his erection thick and hard and long, pressing, burning, demanding at her entrance. She felt him there and held her breath. He plunged deep, driving through tight hot folds, and she screamed again, the friction sending fiery tongues of heat streaking through her body. She felt her muscles grip him like a vise, stretching for his invasion. Her body shuddered with pleasure as he buried himself completely and then withdrew to plunge again. His rhythm was fast and hard, almost brutal, driving her up fast so that her breath came in ragged gasps and her body rose helplessly to meet the driving needs of his. He arched over her, bracing himself with his arms, her legs forced back, giving him the ability to go deeper.
Pinned beneath him, with her body going up in flames, he kept up the powerful strokes, hammering home over and over, drawing her deeper and deeper into a vortex of fire. Her body felt as though it was melting around his, scorching hot, her orgasm just out of reach, but building, always building. She writhed under him, desperate for release.
He held her with his strength, his rhythm steady, fast and hard, driving so deep she was afraid he was piercing her cervix with every stroke. Every nerve ending on fire, she felt her muscles clamp down hard on him. She stiffened, but he just gripped her harder and plunged again, sending her body flying into a million fragments. A haze covered her eyes and she felt flames streak through her veins as an explosion tore through her body, ripped through her stomach and breasts and down her thighs, settling in her deepest core as she felt her muscles grip Conner’s. She felt his hot release spill deep inside her, triggering another wildfire rushing over and through her.
Conner’s breathing was rough as he collapsed over her, holding her to him. She could feel his heavy erection, so desperate, almost brutal, slowly ease while her body bathed his in their combined liquid heat. His hands framed her face and his tongue speared deep into her mouth. “I love you, Isabeau,” he whispered, looking down into her eyes. “When this is over, marry me and have my children.”
Her heart stuttered for a moment. She was in an awkward position with her legs up around her ears and his body buried deep, but his eyes gave no quarter. She had nowhere to hide. He wanted truth. She couldn’t find the breath to speak so she nodded. She felt the tension ease in him and he rolled off of her.
“I’m going to be really nice, honey. I’ll let you sleep for half an hour and then you’re going to be begging for mercy.” He crawled up beside her and collapsed again, flinging one arm possessively around her waist and closed his eyes.
AND he wasn’t lying.
ISABEAU spent the next four days with Conner as her ruthless taskmaster, a ruthless commander who demanded perfection of both Jeremiah and her. She had to shoot guns for hours, take them apart and put them back together as well as keep working on combat techniques. Jeremiah had it worse. He had to shift on the run, and the entire team was merciless with him. Fortunately, he was so proficient with a rifle, she could tell they were all impressed with him.
The next four nights were spent behind the waterfall, with Conner as her demanding lover, a man never quite sated and always pushing for more. There were times she wasn’t certain she would survive the intensity of their love-making, but she really didn’t care. All that mattered was the feel of his body inside hers and the love in his eyes when he claimed her.
11
“REMEMBER to stay close to Elijah no matter what happens.” Conner kept his hand on the car door, refusing to open it, although everyone was waiting. “Once we go in, don’t look at me. Anyone in there can be working for her. You have to put on the best acting job of your life. And Isabeau—” He caught her chin in his hand, his glittering eyes staring straight into hers. “So will I—I’ll be acting too.”
Isabeau swallowed hard and nodded. “I know, Conner. I can do this.”
“If you get into trouble, signal Rio or Elijah. They’ll get you out of it.”
“We’ve gone over this a hundred times.” Her mouth was dry and fear had gripped her in spite of all her good intentions. She wanted to cling to Conner, but instead forced a small smile. “I’m ready.”
“We’re going over it again, just to be sure. Jeremiah will be outside up high in the trees with a rifle. He can shoot the wings off a butterfly; he’ll protect you outside. If there’s a problem . . .”
“I take the barrette out of my hair.”
“That’s the signal to shoot. If you’re in trouble, use it.”
“Conner, I’m going to be fine.”
“She won’t come in until late. Don’t get antsy or alarmed. Her security detail will come in first and sweep the room, looking for people like us. You’re going to stand out, honey. You’re a female leopard and the two rogues are going to sense you’re close to the Han Vol Dan. That will agitate them, make them more aggressive. You cannot be alone with one of them. Do you understand?”
“You aren’t speaking a foreign language,” she hissed. He was making her more nervous. It wasn’t like every single man on the team hadn’t already pointed that out to her. Even Jeremiah.
His eyes narrowed. Burned. “What? If you aren’t going to take this threat seriously, Isabeau, you can damn well stay here. In the car.”
She threw her hands into the air. “Conner, you’re making me crazy. I’m scared enough. You don’t have to keep going over this. I know what we’re doing. I know what you have to do and I’m going to be all right with it. I’ll stay very close to Elijah, unless you’ve scared him into thinking you’re going to kill him if he looks at me wrong.”
She sounded so exasperated, Conner found some of the tension easing from his body. He sank his fingers into her silky hair. “I’m sorry, beloved, I want you safe. I can’t think about much else right now. Letting you go in there is unbelievably difficult.”
She framed his face with her hands. “Letting you go in there is worse for me. I’m not afraid of Imelda Cortez.”
“You should be.”
She gave him a slight smile. “I should have said my cat isn’t afraid. She’s so close, Conner, and I want her. I want to be able to use her strength to help you.”
“Just stay clear of the rogues. They won’t be able to resist trying to get you alone. Stay with . . .”
“Elijah. Yeah. I think we started this conversation here. Go inside. I’m going to be fine.” She leaned into him, kissing him, grateful for the tinted windows.