Desire Untamed (Feral Warriors #1)(46)

Kara's gaze flew to his, and she gasped. "What's happening?"

Lyon grinned. "You did it."

Chills tingled along his skin as he watched the glow spread up her neck and illuminate her face in a beautiful wash of light and color.

Her jaw dropped: "I'm glowing."

"You're radiant," he murmured. Beautiful. The sight of her like this, the fire beneath her skin, the amazement sparkling in her eyes, was the most incredible he'd ever seen.

"Can I move? Will I lose it?"

"You can move. You won't lose it until you let it go."

With an uncertain half smile, she rose to her feet, her gaze on her hands. Slowly, she lifted her hands up to the sky, watching them. Laughter bubbled out of her throat, and she turned, her eyes glowing as she met his gaze.

"It feels… amazing. Powerful." She twirled around, her head tilted to the cloudy sky, and laughed. "I feel like I could fly. Like I could lift this rock with you on it and carry you both to the moon."

Her. joy and awe of her power made something warm and painful move in his chest. She was so alive, so achingly lovely. More than anything in the world, he wanted to grab her up and twirl her around. Without even realizing he'd done so, he'd risen to his feet, but he forced himself to stay where he was.

Kara stopped spinning, her face truly aglow. "Is this why I'm called the Radiant? Because I can light up like a campfire?"

Her description, her sheer delight, pulled a chuckle from him. A surprising burst of happiness. "Yes."

As he watched, she twirled again, spinning, coming to a halt directly in front of him. Eyes gleaming as brightly as her skin, she started to reach for him, then snatched her hand back.

"Can I hurt you?"

He smiled at her, totally under her spell. "No."

As soon as the word was out, the moment that single soft finger traced the line of his cheekbone, he recognized his mistake. Her power leaped at him, tumbling him into a sea of erotic fire.

"Does it hurt?" she asked.

Had he groaned? "No." It didn't hurt. Not precisely.

She lifted her other hand and traced his opposite cheek, but her gaze fell to his mouth. His body tightened down low.

"What are you doing?" His voice sounded strangled to his own ears.

Her sweet mouth lifted into a small, womanly smile. "Reveling in my power."

"By touching me?" ….

Her blue eyes lifted to caress him. "Do you feel anything when I touch you?"

"Always." He had to clench his hands at his sides to keep from reaching for her, to keep from cupping her slender waist and sliding his hands up over her rib cage, over her br**sts.

"What does it feel like?" Her palms pressed flat against his cheeks as her gaze dropped again to his mouth. He saw the intent in her eyes plain as day and knew he had to stop her. But, heaven help him, he wanted to kiss her. He was dying to kiss her.

She tried to lower his head, but he shook her off, lifting his chin.

"No, Kara." He knew he should push her away, but he didn't have the strength.

"What does it feel like?" she persisted. "Do you feel the buzz of power like I do?"

"Yes." The word came out choked, as one glowing thumb slid against his lower lip. He was frozen in a battle between his beast and his honor, one trying to break free to claim her, the other fighting to push her away. Neither won, and he stood immobile, letting her touch him even as he managed… barely… to keep from touching her.

Until she slid her thumb into his mouth. His beast leaped free of his restraint. He felt his fingers and mouth ache in warning. For one terrible moment, Lyon thought he was going feral.

His control was too thin. Kara was playing with fire in two ways, one of which could get her killed if he lost control as completely as his men had.

He grabbed her wrists, yanking her arms over her head and turned her, pushing her face first against the rock wall and pressing himself tight against her, pinning her.

"Don't move."

"What are you doing?" Her pulse raced beneath his hands, her breathing fast and labored.

"Don't move."

Instinctively he'd known he couldn't push her away or try to escape her himself. His beast would have fought to reach her. Now he had her. He had her. His body pressed against her. But with her back to him, he couldn't kiss her. And clothed he couldn't take her. Not unless he lost all control and ripped her clothes from her.

Pressing against her like this eased his inner torment, his beast's desperate need to touch her, to feel her against him, her hair brushing his cheek, her soft bu**ocks nestling the part of his anatomy that craved the feel of her most.

He pulled the air into his lungs, breathing the scent of her with each hard breath, drowning in the feel of her even as he struggled for control.

Little by little, his beast calmed until he was certain he was in control again. He released Kara's wrists, pushed away from her, and stepped back before she tempted him again.

She turned toward him slowly, warily, her radiance fading and disappearing as he watched.

"What happened, Lyon?"

He couldn't tell her how her beauty had nearly driven him to the point where he could have harmed her, without wanting her all over again.

"Nothing."