Mating Fever(50)

As if I’d run into a stone wall, I stopped in front of the large windows that faced the back of the house. An open yard of grass and wildflowers was in the foreground, thick trees, so tall as to block out the sky in the distance. And sitting in solitude on a lovely wooden bench was Megan. She was just sitting there, her face relaxed, an expression of complete serenity on her face. Her eyes were closed and her head tilted back so the sun fell upon her like a kiss from the gods themselves. Her dark hair was long and free down her back. She wasn’t wearing her usual Coalition uniform. I’d only seen her in the dark brown-and-black armor, her hair pulled back into a bun at the nape of her neck in a tight braid. Or naked. Gods, I’d seen her naked.

But this…she was a vision. She was dressed in civilian clothing, as I was. But she wore a traditional Atlan gown, the blue fabric clinging to every curve. She was healthy and whole, and happy. Home. Safe. With me. Yes, this was what I’d imagined.

I took a deep breath, then another. Settled myself, took in the vision before me. My cock hardened in welcoming heat as I stared, tracing every detail of the moment I knew would be burned into my mind forever, the moment before I took her.

Going out the door, I walked across the soft grass and realized why she hadn’t heard me call her name. Hidden at the edge of the tree line was a small stream, the water tumbling and falling over rocks. The sound of it mixed with the wind kept the world away. Including, it seemed, the heavy and urgent footsteps of a possessive mate.

“Megan,” I called.

Her head whipped around in my direction and her eyes opened. Surprise was replaced by…yes, gods, yes…joy. A smile spread across her beautiful face and her dark eyes came alive.

She stood and looked as if she might come toward me.

I held up my hand and said, “Stop. By the gods, don’t move.”

She froze.

“Give me a moment just to look at you. You are a vision, the perfect sight for a weary fighter.”

She rolled her eyes at me then.

“I am a weary fighter,” she said, her voice soft, yet filled with the snap of the arguing I used to find so damn aggravating. Now, it was perfect. I did not want a docile, simple-minded female. Who wanted simple when he could have fire?

“Weary, mate? Then I shall take you to bed and let you sleep.”

I would do no such thing, but I wanted to see what she’d say next. Bickering with her made my cock hard. No, doing anything with her made me ache for her.

“You can take me to bed, but I won’t let you sleep,” she countered.

“I didn’t realize you were the one to let me do anything. Who is the one in charge, mate?”

“I am.” She crossed her hands over her chest and I watched as the soft swells temptingly lifted over the low neckline.

“That’s right.” I walked to her then. Instead of stopping before her as it appeared she’d expected, I grabbed her and claimed her mouth. I needed to taste her, feel her hot and wild beneath my hands. She kissed me back, her body melting against mine in complete surrender.

But it wasn’t enough. I needed to be inside her, so I broke the kiss, leaned forward and tossed her over my shoulder.

“Nyko!” she cried, her hands pounding on my back. I barely felt it.

Turning, I returned to the house and a grinning Berina. “Where is our bed chamber?”

With a chuckle, Berina led me to the upper floor of the home, and pointed down the long hallway. “Last door on the right, Warlord.”

I walked directly to the bedroom, Berina’s happy laughter following us down the hall until I slammed the door behind me. I was hungry, but not for food.

I dropped Megan onto the large bed and watched as she bounced once and tried to come up onto her knees, but the long hem of her dress got in the way.

“Damn dress,” she grumbled.

“No, mate. You are perfect.”

My words made her still, look up at me.

“The dress. Where did you get it?”

I doubted it was just lying around at the Intelligence Core command base.

“Doctor Moor arranged for it to be here when I arrived.” She looked down at herself, pulled at the soft, gauzy material. The pale blue color made her dark skin almost glow. “I thought…”

I cocked my head. She seemed unsure of herself. Vulnerable.

“What?” I asked, intentionally speaking in a low voice, almost a whisper. “You thought what?”

“I thought you’d like it if I were more….”

I stepped to the edge of the bed, lifted her so she stood before me. For once, she was a few inches taller. Her eyes widened in surprise, but she didn’t stop me when I worked the garment up and over her head, dropped it onto the floor.