Crave (Talon Security #1)(26)

It had been a while since he’d had a bad one. I wondered if our conversation earlier had something to do with the reemergence.

He was writhing on the bed, his back bowed as he let out another hoarse shout.

“Sid,” I called softly. I never dared to touch him when he was like this. “Sid,” I tried again, louder this time.

He sat up with a start, looking around the dark room in confusion.

“It’s okay, you’re okay,” I murmured quietly.

He hung his head in dismay. “Shit.” His chest was shiny with sweat as he fought to catch his breath.

I reached over to grasp his forearm, needing to touch him. It killed me to see him like this.

We sat in silence for several minutes as he collected himself. “Sorry,” he muttered finally, raking a hand through his hair.

In the years we’d been friends, I’d comforted him through several of his nightmares but I’d always kept my distance. Now, it dawned on me I could finally comfort him the way I’d yearned to all those times before. I scooted closer, pulling him into my arms. He was so much bigger than me, but I still managed to get my arms around his shoulders, his head pressed to my chest. His arms went around my waist and together we just breathed.

In a move that took me by surprise, he rolled me on top of him so I was straddling him. I pressed my hands against his chest, looking down at the raw hunger in his gaze and feeling my belly clench in response. One hand pulled me toward his mouth while the other went to the globes of my ass, squeezing firmly. I let out a low moan as his mouth conquered mine.

He flipped us over, his massive body hovering above mine. His large hands explored the terrain of my body, stroking and teasing until I was a ball of need. “You have the most gorgeous body,” he rumbled. “Spread your legs.”

His deep-throated order sent a thrill through me. I obeyed, letting out a moan as he turned his exploration southward.

“I have to watch you come again. I need to,” he groaned, stroking my heated flesh as I clung to his shoulders for dear life. “I haven’t been able to think straight since the last time I had you in my arms and on my tongue.”

I moaned as my knees began to quiver. He was about to get his wish, in record time.

His mouth skimmed my lips before biting my neck gently. I tossed my head back, more turned on than I’d ever been in my life. When he took my nipple in his mouth, I let out a sound foreign to my own ears as I fell over the edge.

He pressed his face into my neck, pulling me close. I clung to him, feeling exposed and yet safe.

“Christ, you’re so gorgeous, Sam,” he breathed reverently.

“I want you,” I whispered in his ear, feeling him shudder in response.

He pulled back to look me in the eye. “You need to be sure. Because, Sam, I just know… once I have you, I’m never giving you up.”

I pulled him closer, looking him straight in the eye, knowing he wouldn’t accept anything less. “I’m sure. Now, please tell me you don’t have to leave the room to get a condom.” I tried to smile, though I knew he detected the concern in my voice.

“Even if I had to leave the fucking country for one I’d still come back to you,” he assured me gruffly. “Luckily, I have one in my wallet.”

He reached down to grab it from his discarded jeans, and then sheathed himself in one smooth motion.

He slid between my legs, holding himself at the precipice as he stared down at me with sheer hunger lighting his gorgeous eyes.

If I ever had doubts that he wanted me, they were eradicated in that moment, replaced with lust that rose up to meet his. “Take me.”

In one smooth thrust, he claimed me. We both groaned in unison as he pulled back, then slid home again. “Goddamn, never felt anything like you. Never felt like this.” He groaned as his intensity picked up.

I clung to his back, knowing my nails scored his skin as noises escaped my throat I barely recognized as my own. His mouth claimed mine before moving lower, his whiskers raking my neck. He bit lightly as I moaned in response, wrapping my legs tightly around his hips, driving him deeper.

When the wave crested inside of me, it was slow and smooth before it built into a chaotic crash so intense I cried out, tears in my eyes.

His own groan soon followed, muffled as his lips pressed into my neck. “Fuck.” He collapsed carefully on top of me.

I held him there with my arms and legs wrapped around him, never wanting to let him go.

I had a huge grin plastered to my face when he pulled back to look at me. His eyes warmed. “What?”

“Just happy.” I shrugged. There was really no other way to say it. Not that I could articulate, anyway.