The muscles in her arms and legs were cramping from sitting in the unfamiliar position for so long and from how tightly she was clinging to him. But underneath the discomfort, unbelievable as it was, she was still horny as hell.
With her legs splayed wide over Marko, her sex was pressed firmly against his broad back. Every rolling motion he made as he ran stimulated her clit. Her nipples rubbed against his muscular back through her shirt and the tight nubs ached for more. She wanted to feel his hands on her body, the light warmth of his breath on her skin before his mouth caressed her.
And she was out of her ever-loving mind. They were running for their lives from demons and she wanted sex. It was nothing more than adrenaline coupled with the human need to feel alive. That was it. It had nothing to do with how she felt about Marko. She ignored the taunting little voice in the back of her head that was calling her a liar.
And really, if there was a possibility she might die in the next twelve or so hours—and she truly believed that was a distinct possibility—she needed to get the most out of them.
No, she had to stop thinking about sex and start worrying about survival. A vicious cramp caught her unawares and she gasped. She grabbed her thigh and felt herself sliding off Marko’s back.
She yelped and grabbed at his fur. He halted immediately and went down on his stomach. She fell, but not far. Thankfully the ground was mossy and covered in dead pine needles and not rocky. She gave an oof sound as the air was knocked out of her lungs. Holding her spasming thigh, she rolled from side to side in acute pain.
Marko was immediately by her side, a man once again. He quickly grabbed the sword that was lying dangerously beside her and made it disappear. She was grateful she hadn’t cut herself on the damn thing when she’d fallen.
He eased the strap of her tote bag over her head and set the satchel aside. “Let me.” He shoved her hands aside and began to rub his broad fingers up and down her leg, digging them into the muscle. As he worked, concern was written all over his face.
Tears formed in her eyes but she willed them back, breathing through the pain as she waited for the muscle ache to ease. Eventually, the cramp subsided and the discomfort slowly went from mind numbing to manageable.
Marko’s touch changed, going from clinical to sexual in a heartbeat. The heat from his palms sank into her thigh as he slid his hands up and down, moving closer to her core with each stroke.
She blinked and her breath hitched in her throat. The way he looked at her made her want to draw him down on top of her and let him sink into her body. There was such need, such heat radiating from him. And loneliness. That was an emotion she understood all too well. As much as she wanted to deny it, would deny it if asked, she’d been lonely all her life.
“Marko?”
He leaned down, buried his face in the curve of her neck and inhaled, as if her scent was more vital to him than fresh air. She loved the way his long hair stroked over the curve of her jaw. “We have to keep going. It’s too dangerous to stop here.”
She nodded. She knew he was right. “The demons should have been able to keep up, shouldn’t they?” That had really been bothering her.
“Yes.” He raised his head and smoothed his thumb over the line of her jaw.
“Then why aren’t we under attack?” She was suddenly very aware of the silence surrounding them. It was eerie, as though all the animals of the forest were holding their breath, hiding, waiting.
“I don’t know.” He crouched beside her and peered all around. “All I know is there isn’t anyone on our trail any longer.”
He held out his hand as he stood. She took it and he easily tugged her to her feet. Her thigh gave a twinge and she took a few tentative steps, only limping slightly. It felt much better. “Is he toying with us?”
“Probably.” Marko wasn’t sugarcoating the situation or withholding the truth. She appreciated that.
“Well, that sucks.” Kellsie hated the idea of being a pawn in someone else’s game. But that’s exactly what she was.
“Whatever his purpose, we can’t change it. He could find us at any moment. All we can do is find the best defensive position.” Marko peered up over the trees to the mountains beyond. The tattoo on his back seemed to move as his muscles rippled and shifted beneath his bare skin.
Kellsie shivered. The tattoo was an exact replica of Marko as a bear. She had to touch it, to see if it were as alive as it appeared. Walking over to him, she placed her hand on the bear’s head. Marko stilled at her touch. She pulled her hand away, letting it hover over his skin. Had she offended him by touching the tattoo? Broken some taboo?
When he didn’t move, she tentatively stroked one finger down the bear’s neck. Marko groaned and tilted his head to one side as though it was his neck she was stroking. Fascinating.
She dragged her fingers over the side of the tattoo and over the bear’s right front leg. Marko’s right arm twitched, the muscles flexing. Wow. This was too cool.
Her hand shifted lower on the bear and Marko spun around and captured her hand in his. “Enough.” His chest was heaving in and out, his mouth set in a thin line, his eyes blazing. But it was the bulge pressing against the front of his pants that really captured her attention.
“Why? If we’re going to die we might as well have some fun first.” She’d given the matter quite a bit of thought while they were running for their lives. It wasn’t likely Hades would let them escape. For whatever reason, he was toying with them. The respite wasn’t likely to last.
Marko shook his head. “Not here. And I’m not going to let you die.” He grabbed her hand and tugged her behind him.
“My bag.” She yanked her hand out of his and hurried back to her tote bag. She pulled the strap over her head and settled the bag into place. No way was she leaving her netbook and cellphone behind. They could get lucky and she might get some phone reception at some point.
Taking his hand once again, she followed him farther into the darkening forest. She glanced up at the sky. The early morning sunshine had disappeared, covered in cloud. She shivered slightly, wishing she still had her jacket. But it was on the ground back at the movie set, covered in demon’s blood, and that was something she doubted even the best drycleaner could get out.
Her stomach growled and she dug into her bag and pulled out two energy bars. They were slightly squashed but edible.
The last thing she’d eaten was an apple yesterday evening and she was starving. “Want one?” She offered Marko one of the bars.
He shook his head. “You eat them both. I can survive without food.”
“But you can be killed, right?”
He nodded. “If I am beheaded or if my heart is torn out I will die. But hunger will not hurt me.”
She wasn’t sure if he was telling her the truth or not. She thought about it and decided he probably was. After all, the guy was immortal. But she was all too human and granola had never tasted so good. She devoured the first bar, inhaling it in under a minute. She made the second one last a little longer, taking her time and chewing it slowly. When it was gone, she folded the wrapper and tucked it back into her bag.
Neither of them spoke as they continued their upward climb. Kellsie knew he hoped to find a cave for them to hole up in. She was afraid it wouldn’t matter how high they climbed or how deep the cave was. Hades would find them as soon as he was ready.
Hades clicked his fingers and the mirror went dark.
“Should we go and get them?” Mordecai asked. He’d seen the way Marko looked at the woman. He’d also noticed the way she watched him in return. There was such trust there, even hope. Mordecai couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt anything resembling hope.