“No, we were constantly traveling as the Lady oversaw all the creatures of the Earth. Why so many questions?”
“I was just curious.” He shifted position and she barely bit back a moan of pleasure as his cock rubbed against her.
“It’s not long until nightfall.” He stroked his fingers absently up and down her spine.
“Then we don’t have much time.” Determination filled her and she sat, her legs straddling his hips. Her jean-clad sex rode the hard column of his erection, making her groan. Even through his pants and her jeans, she could feel his heat. The cloak fell from her shoulders, pooling behind her.
Marko’s eyes glittered in the fading light that flickered in through the opening of the cave. She wished she could see all of him, every golden inch of his skin, the flex and play of his incredible muscles. But that wasn’t to be.
And right now, she’d take whatever she could get. She could certainly feel him beneath her hands, velvet over pure steel. The bands of muscles on his chest would put any bodybuilder to shame. Yet his muscles came from fighting, from wielding a sword. He was incredibly fast and agile, as well as strong. And for the moment, he was all hers.
“Kellsie.” Her name was a groan as she placed both hands on his chest and rocked her pelvis against him. “Are you sure?”
Was there any wonder she loved this man? And yes, she did love him. No use lying to herself any longer or denying the truth that was staring right back at her. Why else wouldn’t she have taken Hades’ offer and run? She’d only known Marko a matter of hours, but he mattered to her more than anyone ever had.
She wanted him to live more than she cared about her own life. That had to be love. There was no other explanation.
She was fully aware that Marko didn’t feel the same way about her. Oh, he cared. That much was obvious. But he was honor bound to protect her because she’d been the one to release him.
That thought depressed her a little, but she shoved the unwanted emotion aside. Time enough to deal with the fallout from this if they survived. She wasn’t stupid enough to believe an immortal warrior would settle down with her in Los Angeles. For one thing, what the heck would he even do? And secondly, he was a gorgeous immortal warrior who could have any woman he wanted. Why would he want to stay with a B-movie scream queen?
But he wanted her now and that was what mattered. For the first time in her life she understood that true love was unselfish and giving. She wanted to show him how much she cared and that she wasn’t expecting anything in return.
It was freeing in many ways. No games to play, not that she’d ever played those kinds of emotional games, but she knew many who had. No sitting by the phone wondering if he’d call. Once this day was over she’d probably never see him again, assuming they were both still among the living.
He had a mission and she had her life, such as it was.
And Marko was still waiting. His hands were wrapped around her waist, anchoring her to him. He was tense beneath her and she knew whatever she decided he would abide by it.
It was an easy choice.
Leaning down, she nuzzled and kissed the thick cords of his neck. “I’m sure.
His fingers flexed, tightening briefly. He swept one hand up her spine while the other one banded around her waist. With her top drying on a rock, she was wearing only her bra. His touch sent tingles racing throughout the rest of her body. Her breathing was getting shallow and she bit her lip to keep from moaning aloud.
God, all he had to do was touch her and she was ready for him. Her core was rhythmically clutching and she wished he was already buried inside her. Her panties were damp and her bra was nothing but a nuisance.
She raised her head slightly and Marko reared up, capturing her mouth with his. His lips claimed hers as his tongue swept inside, taking ownership. She gripped his head, tangling her fingers in his long hair to keep him there.
His tongue made leisurely forays over every inch of her mouth. He took his time exploring every crevice, every nook and cranny. He tasted wonderful. Like fresh river water and mint combined with hot male. Delicious.
Her stomach growled, reminding her just how hungry she was. She’d eaten two granola bars earlier, but that wasn’t nearly enough to sustain her. Marko had to be twice as famished.
She ignored the sound but Marko heard it and pulled back. She tried to follow him, not wanting the contact to end, but he held her slightly away from him. “You’re hungry.” He frowned and said the words almost accusingly.
She couldn’t help but laugh. “I’m hungry, but you’re more than enough to sate me.” The double entendre made his eyes widen, then narrow. His nostrils flared and his lips pressed together.
Feeling brazen, Kellsie licked her lips, noting how his eyes followed the movement of her tongue. “Let’s see, where shall I start?” Scooting down, she lowered her mouth to his chest and licked at his hot, salty skin.
He groaned and he cupped the back of her head with one large hand, holding her to him. She smiled, feeling her power as a woman. Using delicate licks of her tongue, she worked her way to one flat brown nipple and lapped at the tip.
A low growl filled the air around her. “Like that, do you?” Not that she had any doubts. Not with his erection pulsing heavily against her.
He tensed beneath her and she knew he was going to make his move. She sat back and shook her finger at him. “No, this is my turn. I want to touch you, to taste you. All over.”
Marko groaned. “You’re going to kill me.”
She took that as a yes and lowered her head again. “You’re tough,” she told him. “You can take it.”
Chapter Seventeen
Marko didn’t know whether to laugh or roar with frustration. He’d come awake with Kellsie draped over him, her hot mound pressed against his raging hard-on and her hands stroking his skin. Hades couldn’t have designed a better torture for him if he’d tried.
Yet this was a slice of heaven as well.
There was no denying he wanted her. It wasn’t safe to be indulging in sex right now, but if not now, then when? Time was running out. Marko had a gut feeling that soon after the sun went down everything would change.
For whatever reason, Hades was giving them this respite. The question was why?
Did he want them to build up false hope? Was he hoping to make them feel more desperate by waiting until the last moment?
With the dark lord it was anyone’s guess. Some people thought of him as violent and cruel, and while he might be ruthless, he wasn’t impulsive. He was cold and calculating, manipulative and sly. There was no mercy in him. Anything Hades did had a purpose, and it was always one that favored him.
Kellsie’s clever tongue circled one of his nipples and he completely lost his train of thought as lightning bolts of pleasure shot through him. He gripped her head, holding her close. He felt her lips curve into a smile before she closed her lips over the nub and sucked.
He groaned and tightened his fingers around her. He had to force himself to ease back. Had to remember that she was human and he could hurt her.
That was enough to dampen some of his ardor. The last thing he ever wanted to do was hurt Kellsie.
And maybe that was the god’s plan. Make him so enamored of Kellsie he’d do anything to protect her, even give up his life and his mission to the dark lord.
Marko tried to think, but that became impossible as Kellsie’s lips left his nipple and she started to graze down his torso. Her lips and mouth and tongue kissed and laved and nipped their way over his abs and down to his waist.
Not wanting to wait any longer, he willed his pants away.