Desire Untamed (Feral Warriors #1)(20)

Lyon lifted his hand from her breast and stepped back as if he needed to regroup, giving her air to breathe even as the oil's scent slid through her in a wash of erotic warmth.

"Pink understands," Lyon assured her. "She's used to reactions such as yours." He made a circular movement with his finger. "Turn around."

"Where now?"

"Your spine. The source of your strength."

Kara caught her breath. "My spine is covered."

"Leave it that way for the moment."

She turned, and he settled his thumb gently against the base of her skull and started a slow, downward motion between her shoulder blades as far as the top of the towel, then back up again. Twice. Three times.

"Drop the towel, Kara." His voice sounded strangled. "Hold perfectly still. And ask questions."

She heard him kneel behind her. The thought of baring her naked rear to him turned her breathing shallow and erratic, and sent a rush of liquid heat to moisten her thighs. Mortifying her.

"Lyon…"

"Quickly, Kara. I don't know how much more of this I can take."

With a scrunch of her face, she pulled the towel away and held it in front of her, clutching it tight to her br**sts.

She felt his thumb between her shoulder blades as it began a slow decent down the curve of her back. An involuntary shiver had her arching her back, sending her bare rear brushing against his arm. With a jerk, she straightened, even as she felt that thumb slide lower. And lower, to the very base of her spine where it nestled between her nether cheeks.

The groan that escaped her throat was half embarrassment that she was letting this virtual stranger touch her like this, and half pure erotic feeling.

"Questions, Kara." Lyon's voice was husky with raw desire. At least she wasn't the only one affected.

"You're kidding." All she could do was feel his thumb rubbing, dipping into that crevice, wishing it would go lower. Down, around. Inside.

"Kara."

"Right. What were we talking about?"

"Pink. Shape-shifters."

Her breath came in fast, shallow pulls as if she'd been running up the stairs. Her thoughts whirled with carnal images of where she longed to feel his fingers next. But he wanted questions. About shape-shifters.

She struggled to reconnect her brain. "How… you said… you hunt Daemons in your animal form. Don't people notice lions and cougars and tigers roaming the D.G. suburbs at night?"

With a mixture of relief and hot regret, she felt his thumb lift from her spine. She tensed, waiting for the next place, hoping….

She felt his thumb at the back of one knee and let out a sigh of disappointment.

"We have… talents." His warm breath wafted over her lower back. "What you would call magic. When I hunt in my animal, I can alter my size and shape to fit the landscape,".

"What do you mean?"

He gave a snort that was half amusement. "I prowl D.C. as a tomcat."

"You're kidding."

His hand shifted to the back of her other knee. "It took me years to perfect the ability, but it works. Some of the others do the same. Wulfe can't change his form, so he stays out of the city to hunt."

He released her knees and rose. "Put the towel around you again." His words were sharp, almost harsh, but she knew he was struggling as much as she was. She had no illusions that she was pretty enough to drive a man mad with lust when she was clothed. But a man with his hands on any naked woman was going to want her. That was just the way men were. And this one, shape-shifter or not, was all male.

Lyon strode to the window and stood there staring out, every line of his gorgeous body as taut as a cat ready to spring.

Kara wrapped the towel tight around her as she had before. "What's next?"

Lyon didn't turn around. "The palms of your hands. The soles of your feet. And… are you covered?"

"Yes."

He turned and met her gaze. Even across the room she could see the need in the harsh lines of his face. She wanted him. Never had she felt such desire for a man. His touch aroused her more than she'd ever thought possible and his tongue….

Just the thought of his tongue sent a flurry of small spasms rippling through her womb.

Lyon started toward her, moving with a sleek grace that almost made it seem possible he could become the great cat in truth. The raw desire that filled his amber eyes made her breath catch and sent heat flushing her body.

She was trembling, she realized, as he closed the distance between them. She wanted him. How could she take any more of this? How could he?

To her surprise, he didn't stop in front of her as she'd expected, but fully closed the distance between them. Her heart leaped, her senses spinning as he pulled her against him, dug his hands into her hair, and claimed her mouth.

The moment his lips touched hers, desire exploded, sending her world tilting on its axis. She grabbed him to steady herself, holding on to him as he held her, as his mouth claimed hers in a kiss that was as intense and barely controlled as the passion that flared between them. His mouth opened over hers, his tongue swept inside, strong and fierce, as if laying claim. She welcomed him, sliding her tongue against his, the gloriously masculine taste of him transporting her out of herself and into a lush, erotic jungle. Lyon groaned and pulled her tighter against him, tilting his head as if he sought to climb inside her, his desperation sending her into a tailspin of lust.