Entwined Realms Volume One(124)

The clench of his jaw and the heavy breathing told of bringing himself under control.

They studied each other for several moments. He would do this in the cage, this focused deconstruction, those few moments before the match started, and Nalah would swear that these were the moments he was most dangerous. The fights might be more spectacular, but this was where Esh figured out his enemy – how they were weak, how to strike, how to break.

Yes, anyone with sense would fear him most in these moments.

And never let it be said Nalah didn’t have sense.

When his body relaxed, that was when Nalah’s guard went up. “I’ll do it,” he said. “I’ll accept my leash and take you to the Tour.” And just as she was about to breathe out in relief, he added, “With conditions.”

Of course there were. “What conditions?”

Esh crossed his arms over his chest in a way that stretched his T-shirt over his chest, every muscle defined under the cotton, and her mouth watered a little. “The only reason a fighter would bring a woman was if she was his, so for the duration of the Tour, you’re mine.”

“What do you mean?”

“What I said.”

He was arrogance personified standing there, and damned if that wasn’t a good look on him, the bastard. “Pretend I’m stupid and spell it out.”

His eyes burned as they raked over her body, as strong as a physical caress, and the sensations that hadn’t dimmed since their kiss burned brighter. “No fucking,” he said. “I’m not going to fuck you until you beg me. Everything else, that’s allowed.”

“Everything else?” she asked in spite of a very dry mouth, needing and dreading clarity for that statement.

“My mouth on yours,” he started, and began to walk toward her, slow and steady, winding and hypnotizing like a snake before it strikes. “My palms trailing over your breasts. Teeth biting into your skin, marking you for everyone to see. My cock rubbing over your ass. Tongue on your clit, and my fingers deep inside you as you come all. Over. Me.”

He was in front of her now, their gazes locked, both breathing heavy. “That’s what you agree to give me if I do this. From now until you get your item, you stay by my side, and I have the freedom to claim you as mine.”





Chapter Five





‡


“You know who you called.”

Beeeep

“Warm and fuzzy as always.”

Throat clearing.

“I want to be clear, since you left so fast last night. While I get I have to pretend to be yours, what you said isn’t going to happen. Yeah, for realism some things…yeah. But ummm…not like you said. You and I aren’t there.”

Pause.

“Just want to be clear.”

Click.


He had to bring the motorcycle.

All sleek chrome and purring engine, and there Esh sat, the king of his world. His legs were splayed to keep the bike steady, the tight jeans a nice showcase for what lay underneath, highlighting both muscles and length. Over his T-shirt? A worn leather jacket that was near enough a second skin, buttery soft and inviting. The urge to stroke it – stroke him – was as sharp as ever.

“I don’t like motorcycles anymore. Death traps, you know.” Her resistance was token, but she couldn’t climb behind him without the attempt.

“Get on,” he replied. The problem was she’d never had any older women in her life to advise her as she was growing up. Older women would give out good advice, like never tell a man who wanted to get into your pants that motorcycles and black leather made your thighs tremble, and your biggest fantasy was sex on top of one.

After hearing things like that, men tended to use that sort of information against you.

She could do this. One leg over, scoot back as far as possible, hold onto Esh with only her hands. Simple.

Except the moment her butt hit the seat Esh reached behind him and curled his hands under her thighs, pulling her forward until she was flush against him, breasts and belly against his broad back, her thighs spread wide to cradle his hips.

The gasp couldn’t be stopped any more than breathing could be stopped, her arms reaching around him, and then the motor gunned. She held tight as the bike took off.

The wind made conversation impossible. In jagged bits her body began to relax, to settle into both Esh and the bike. The vibrations of the bike rumbled through her skin. Esh’s back protected her from the worst of the whipping wind, and she burrowed into him, pressing closer to move with the bike, relaxing into the turns and absorbing the bumps in the road.

The sun was warm as it beat down on them, a nice complement to the bite of the wind. There was nothing like the freedom of a bike, pushed close behind your man. He wasn’t her man, not anymore, but a moment, just a moment, she could disappear into memory and enjoy.