Desire Untamed (Feral Warriors #1)(34)

Lyon sprang, tackling her to the ground in a tumbling roll, even as he locked her within the protective cage of his arms.

Mine, his beast roared as he claimed her mouth, his senses exploding. Her hair sprang free in a tumbled array as she struggled beneath him. Just as quickly, she began to kiss him back as she seemed to recognize who held her. Desperate fingers dug into his hair, her body straining against his as she met his passion with a fierceness that rivaled his own.

His beast gentled, his kiss turning hot and needy, recognizing the creature beneath him as his mate, not prey.

Her scent sank into his pores, the feel of her soft body beneath his, rocking with need sent him spinning out of control.

His tongue swept inside her mouth, drinking her sweetness, stroking her teeth, her tongue, the insides of her cheeks. He had to taste her everywhere. He was insane with wanting her.

Her pulse pounded, and his mouth followed the sound, raining kisses along her jaw until he found the pulse and licked the throbbing spot beneath her ear until she cried with pleasure, her hips rocking hard against him, her fingers digging desperately into his hair, making him growl with feral satisfaction.

Passion swirled around them like a sharp, wild mist, clouding his mind to all thoughts but one. Mine. He had to have her. Lost to the passion, to the demands of his beast, Lyon filled his hand with Kara's soft breast, kneading the perfect mound, then pinched the hard tip through her sweater and bra, making her moan with pleasure and arch into his touch.

It wasn't enough. He yanked up her sweater and pulled the sweet fleshy mound from the casing of the bra and took it into his mouth, pulling and suckling the silken skin, twirling his tongue around her taut nipple, over and over until she was crying out from her release.

While his mouth worshipped her breast, his hand found her hip, stroking her with ferocious need, his fingers digging into her soft bu**ocks. Her moan inflamed his need, hot flames devoured his patience. Now. He had to be inside her, now.

It was the sound of the. zipper that startled the beast long enough for the man to regain control.

Lyon came back to himself in a rush of self-loathing.

With Herculean effort, he flung himself off Kara, away from the raw, brutal temptation of her. Lying on his back, his gaze to the tree canopy above, he struggled to regain his breath and his balance. The beast might be under control, but the beast was only half the problem. The man wanted her every bit as much.

To his surprise, Kara adjusted her clothes, then followed him, scooting against his side and laying her head on his shoulder. He fought an inner war, knowing he should push her away, yet he was desperate to pull her on top of him where he could thrust his tongue back in her mouth and press her hard against his thick arousal. Her emotion washed over him, her own desire crushed beneath the sheer weight of misery. And he could do neither.

Instead, he lifted his hand to her hair and stroked, recognizing her desperate need for comfort. "I'm sorry, little one. You ran and the animal within me rose to the chase. I lost control."

She only shuddered and pressed herself closer to his side.

"I would never hurt you," he murmured, painfully aware of the tangled emotions of the woman beside him.

"I know. I'm not afraid of you."

"Why did you run? Is it still the nightmares?"

"They're more than nightmares, Lyon. It's the house. Something in the house."

"There's nothing there that can hurt you, Kara. You just need to get used to it, and you'll be fine."

He'd meant the words to calm her, but he could feel her flare of temper and watched as she pushed herself up on her elbow to look down at him. Her lips were swollen from his rough kisses, leaves tangled in her hair, and he thought she'd never looked more beautiful. The shudder of longing that went through him was almost more than he could contain, followed quickly on its heels by one of harsh self-recrimination. How could he keep Vhyper away from her when he had no control over himself?

Goddess, but he wanted her.

"I don't want to get used to it. I hate it here. Hate it." She pushed away from him and stood up.

He rose to his feet and turned to look elsewhere, anywhere but at the woman who called to his basest instincts. Out of the corner of his eye, he watched her finger-comb her hair, dislodging the leaves clinging to the silken strands.

She met his gaze, her eyes desolate. "There's something wrong, Lyon. When I'm in that house, I'm constantly afraid, and I don't know why."

"But not out here. Not as bad."

"No."

"Maybe it's gone," he said hopefully.

Her lips made a rueful twist. "And what if it's not?" He felt her emotions burst with panic. "I don't want to go back there."

She worried him.

"Kara…" He took her arm, and she tried to jerk away from his grip.

"No. I'm not going back." She struggled against his hold, her emotions spiking with desperation. "I'm not going back."

His patience snapped, and he grabbed her roughly by the shoulders. "We must have an ascended Radiant, Kara, and we won't get another until you die. You cannot escape your fate."

"And what is my fate? Something in that house wants to hurt me. I can feel it."

"Kara." He sighed, releasing her. "Nothing's going to hurt you. There's nothing wrong that won't be fixed by your Ascension."