His body jerked. “Madeline.”
She made a humming sound, drawing him deeper into her mouth. So good. The musky taste of him, the thick vein running up his cock, the groan that tore from his throat.
His hand tangled in her hair, and he pulled her mouth off him. “I need to be gentle with you, but I’m not feeling gentle right now.”
“I’m fine.” She rubbed against him. “I need this, too.”
“You died.” His voice vibrated with violent emotion. “You stopped breathing. Your heart stopped beating.”
Something inside her softened. He was in pain, and she wanted to soothe that. “Lore—”
“I’ll never forget that.” His voice was raw, his big body trembling.
She leaned down, peppering kisses across his stomach, feeling the muscles tighten under her lips. She stroked his thick cock. “I’m alive. I’ll prove it to you.”
She pushed him onto his back, climbing up to straddle his lean hips. She lifted her hips, desire setting her on fire, and moved herself until she was right where she wanted to be.
Looking down, she stared into his shifting gray eyes. His hands clamped on her hips.
Madeline sank down slowly, lodging him inside her. A cry tore from her throat, and mingled with his deep groan.
“So drakking beautiful.” His hands slid up, cupping her breasts. “Fuck me, Madeline. Ride me while I touch you.”
She moaned, lifting herself up, then driving her hips back down. She moved around, changing angles to see what felt best for both of them. As she leaned forward, the pressure on her clit was perfect, and she sank her teeth into her bottom lip.
“That’s it, dushla. Ride me hard.” His big hands clamped on her ass, fingers digging into her buttocks, as he helped to work her up and down on his cock. “Come for me, Madeline.”
Silver-gray eyes were hot on hers. Her orgasm gave her no warning, slamming into her and stealing her breath. Her back bowed, her cry silent.
Beneath her, Lore thrust his hips up, bucking into her as deep as he could. He growled her name as he shuddered with his own release.
She collapsed on him, her breathing ragged, and she held on tight. He was a fire hotter than anything she’d touched before, and she was very worried that she was freefalling into love with this overprotective alien gladiator.
And love was a risk Madeline wasn’t sure she was brave enough to take.
Chapter Fourteen
Madeline had been to many meetings in her life, but never a war meeting.
All the gladiators of the House of Galen stood in the living quarters, ready and armed.
Galen pressed his hands against the table. “I got word from Zhim.”
The imperator’s tone made Madeline stiffen. “What’s wrong?”
“The fight with the dag’tar is scheduled for tomorrow,” Galen said. “The Srinar are stealthily selling tickets.” Galen’s gaze glittered. “We’re out of time. We have to get them out tonight.”
“The other houses?” Raiden asked.
Galen’s jaw tightened. “Still deliberating. We go without them.”
This was it. Tonight, they were freeing Blaine and the women.
Madeline looked at Lore, standing so straight and tall beside her. Her heart clenched. He hadn’t argued about her coming this time. He was so handsome, and he was hers.
He’d forged a life for himself from the ashes of his past. He’d lost everything—his family, his way of life, his sister—but here, inside the walls of the arena, he’d made a new life for himself.
He hadn’t wallowed in his misery, or cursed the things he couldn’t change. At the same time, he’d also honored the memory of his lost sister.
Madeline knew it was time she did the same. The thought of her Jack still filled her with pain, and she knew it probably always would. Still, even if she did commit to making a life for herself here on Carthago, the mother in her would never give up hope of hearing her son’s voice again. One day, somehow.
“Okay, time to move out,” Galen said.
The gladiators were tense but focused, as they moved as a group toward the sewer entrance. Night had fallen over the city, and the busy streets gave way to the quieter, darker ones.
This time, she was prepared for the stench of the tanneries and the sewer. When they reached the sewer lake, Madeline’s steps slowed.
She wasn’t going to lie to herself and pretend that she wasn’t afraid. If there’d been one mutated monster in the water, she was sure there were more. She rubbed her belly, touching wounds that were long healed.
Fingers gripped her shoulder and squeezed. She shot Lore a shaky smile. He read her so easily.
She entangled her fingers with his and, together, they moved across the walkway. There were no signs of movement in the water.