Toxic Game (GhostWalkers #15) - Christine Feehan Page 0,39

heated fast. He nearly crushed her, pulling her into his arms, locking her there while he fed on her mouth. While he poured everything he was feeling but couldn’t say into her. His body recognized her. Knew her. Needed her. Every cell. He’d never been so acutely focused on another human being.

Heat coursed like molten lava through his veins, spreading through his body, moving straight to his groin until he was full and aching, pressed tightly against her. She knew, but it didn’t stop her from responding, kissing him back, giving him everything. In that moment, he felt like he belonged. He had a home. A woman. He had it all. Right there in the middle of a forest, with a virus eating his insides, he had it all.

Draden lifted his head just inches from her tempting mouth. “Did you practice kissing? Because I think that’s your greatest weapon.”

“If I said yes, you’d start wondering who I practiced with since we despised Whitney’s supersoldiers.” There was mischief in her eyes and teasing in her tone.

He laughed. He stood outside a hut where madmen had brought a virus that potentially could wipe out mankind, that virus eating away at him, but he was laughing. Because of her. Shylah Cosmos. She was so damned beautiful, inside and out, that he was shocked she would even look at him.

“That was totally unfair. Now, just because you said that, I’m going to have this image in my head and I’ll not be able to get it out.” He ran his thumb over her lips, listening to his heart pounding in his ears. Roaring really. For her.

“I can’t help it if you took that all wrong and now you’re perving on the idea of women practicing—with each other.” Her eyes were wickedly laughing at him. She leaned into him, her tongue sliding over the seam of his lips. “Let’s get this done. I’m wiped out and need sleep, and you’re pretty exhausted as well.”

He kissed her again. Instantly he was swept up in her fire. Flames licked at his body and electricity sparked and crackled in his bloodstream. Little whips of lightning struck his cock over and over as he indulged himself with that heated taste he was already so addicted to. He wasn’t as careful this time, taking it up a notch, needing that burn to consume him. He wanted the fire. The flames. That lightning striking him, sending his body into a frenzy for her.

He was more alive in that moment than he had ever been. He devoured her, getting a little high off the taste of her. The owner of the nursery had shown him that peonies could be candied, and that sweet taste would linger in his mouth after he consumed the exotic garnishes in numbers. He felt that way now, kissing her, tasting candied peonies and knowing they were all for him.

He pressed his forehead against hers, drawing in air, looking down at her flushed face and the sweep of her long lashes. “I’m not certain you’re entirely sane for making the decision to risk your life like you did, but thank you. In the short time I’ve known you, you’ve given me the best experiences I’ve ever had.”

He would never have admitted such a thing if he hadn’t known they were dying. She deserved to know she made his life so much better. That she was special. Exceptional. “You look like an innocent angel, Shylah, but you kiss like fucking sin.”

Her eyes danced at him, lighting her face. Her skin was pale and creamy, her freckles a dust of gold. That fist inside him closed tightly around his heart and squeezed hard. She got to him every time.

“You ready for this?”

She nodded. “If we can raise your unit, do you think I could speak with Bellisia and Zara? Tell them good-bye.”

It was the first time her voice broke, and that got to him. He swept his arm around her shoulders and brought her in close to him. “Sure, but I’m going to ask them about this habit the three of you developed, practicing your skills on one another.”

Color swept up her face, but she laughed, just like he hoped. “I didn’t say that, and don’t you dare say something like that on an open channel.”

He laughed. “I like that you think I would. It might keep you in line. You’re always tempting me when I have work to do.”

He got exactly what he’d hoped for. Shylah laughed and smacked