He released her mouth so she could breathe and peppered hard kisses across her jaw and down her throat, tilting her down between his knees and toward the thick rug. She arched against him, the decadence of the position thrilling.
With the grace of any panther, while holding her aloft, he dropped to his knees and stretched them both out. The second his groin settled against hers, they both groaned.
He ripped her shirt over her head in one smooth motion, and then his mouth found her breasts. Nipping and suckling, licking and kissing, he hummed enjoyment as he made her writhe with need. Electricity charged from her nipples to her clit, whipping up a maelstrom of hunger she never could’ve imagined. “So much,” she gasped.
“Just wait.” Without missing a beat, he shoved off her yoga pants. Then, levering himself up on one elbow, he held his hand, palm down, over her breasts. Fire crackled.
She jumped.
He chuckled, the sound dark and aroused. “Don’t move.”
She sucked in air, her eyes widening.
Fire cascaded across his palm, dancing and threatening, primal in its beauty. He waited a beat, then another one, and finally lowered his hand.
The heat caressed across her, biting softly. The air whooshed out of her lungs, and she laughed.
He smiled. “You like fire.”
She loved fire. At the thought, she sobered.
“Nope. Stay with me.” He rolled off her, throwing his jeans aside with the movement, and then sat with his back to the couch. Grabbing her, he pulled her toward him.
Big. Huge. Way big. She couldn’t look away from his fully erect penis. “Um—”
Both of his hands at her hips lifted her, and her knees dropped to the sides of his thighs. “Take your time,” he ordered, sounding like he’d swallowed gravel. Sweat dotted his upper lip, and the muscles in his arms flexed as if he held himself back.
She pressed her hands against his rippling abdominal muscles and slowly lowered herself down. Several times she had to stop and breathe out, relax her body, in order to take all of him. Finally, her rear rested against his thighs. He filled her, and mini-explosions rocked rhythmically through her sex. “You’re big,” she said, and sighed.
He laughed and smoothed hair away from her face. “I like the sweet, honest side of you, Felicity.”
She tried not to wince. In less than an hour, he wasn’t going to like her at all.
His lips firmed. “Whatever you’re planning, don’t do it.”
It was too late. She caressed down his abs to his thighs and then tilted her butt and lifted up.
His sharp intake of breath spurred her on. So she did it again. Tension crackled around them. Every time she moved, he scraped against nerves inside her, sparking shards of raw pleasure to her clit. Although she wanted to go fast, wanted to reach that climax, torturing him held its own appeal. Having command over such a powerful being, such a deadly one, was better than any aphrodisiac.
Just how crazy could she drive him? It was their last time together, that was for sure. She cupped his hard jaw, enjoying the faint scratch of whiskers against her skin. His eyes glowed a fathomless green in the firelight, which slid over the hard planes of his face. With his black hair and full lips, there was no question as to his Irish heritage. So handsome. He kept her gaze, emotion bright in his, a warning glint not far off. “Felicity,” he said, rolling the sound of her name with his brogue.
A small voice in the back of her head told her to tell him how much the last few nights had meant to her. How much he already meant to her, and thank him for what he’d done. He’d reminded her of who she could be. But first, she had a job to do. So she kept silent and tried to memorize his face.
He was visibly struggling to control himself, and power flushed through her. She wiggled her butt and clenched her internal muscles.
Strong hands clamped on her hips. He lifted her and set her back down, starting a wild rhythm that ricocheted pleasure so far inside her, the sensation had to spiral out. She cried out, holding his arms, trusting him to get her there.
He stopped, fully embedded in her, his cock pulsing in time with her ragged breaths. She tried to move, gasping when he held her firm. “What?” she panted.
“Stay still.” One hand kept her in place while the other lifted, green sparks careening between his fingers.
She sucked in a breath. “Daire—”
He reached down and ran his palm and the fire over her nipples.
The sharp bite overloaded her senses. So damn good. Beyond good. Her internal muscles quivered. “Oh.”
“My name fits me,” he said, pinching a nipple.
She glanced down, her mind blank, her body clamoring. Fire crackled between his fingers, licking her flesh. So much power. “Name?”
“Daire,” he whispered, his hand caressing down her abdomen.
“No.” Her gaze flew up to his. “I, ah.” The look on his face, she’d never forget. Male. Intent. Possessive.
The fire crackled, and she jumped.
He chuckled, low and male. “I wouldna’ move, were I you.”
She stopped breathing, her body clamoring. The flame torched over her stomach, and she tried to back away, but he held her fast. His heated fingers separated her labia.
Her eyes widened, and she met his gaze, almost straining toward the flame.
Fire flicked her clit.
She exploded, throwing back her head, hissing his name. He shoved up inside her, moving her, pounding so hard she could do nothing but hold on and feel. The orgasm, if that’s what it was, consumed her, burning through her, taking every ounce of energy she possessed. The waves crashed endlessly, prolonged by the heat and his furious thrusting.
Finally, her body went lax, and she sighed in relief.
He manacled one of her shoulders, one of her hips, and held her in place for one final thrust. His body, all sleek power, shuddered as he came.
When he released her, she fell against him, kissing his salty jugular. He dropped his head to the vulnerable area where her neck met her shoulder and planted one soft kiss.
She sighed, her attention caught by the clock ticking on the mantel. “Oh God.” Her head lifted. “Daire, I—”
The door blew open and glass shattered. Flash grenades popped all around them. Men in black filled the room.
Daire jumped up, shoving her behind him onto the sofa. He grunted as five tranquilizer darts were instantly shot into his chest. His hand shook as he reached back for her.
She scrambled away and yanked on the yoga clothes, stumbling a little from the grenades. Even though she’d known they were coming, she hadn’t had a chance to fully duck her head first.
He growled and reached for her, and two soldiers immediately turned and fired shots into his neck. He dropped back onto the couch, fury glinting in his eyes.
Oh man, this was so bad. Sure, she’d made certain the tranq was temporary and wouldn’t harm him in any way. Her hands trembled when she reached him. “I’m so sorry. I’m so, so sorry, Daire.”
Rage, the real kind, contorted his face right before he passed out. She grabbed an afghan off the end of the sofa and tossed it over him. There was going to be hell to pay. She just knew it.
Chapter 12
Daire rolled over and hit the floor with a hard clunk. Sparks lit across his rug. Smoke filled the penthouse and his phone buzzed from the table. An alarm should’ve gone out immediately upon breach, but Adam and Simone were out to dinner and Kellach was in Ireland.
Backup would take precious minutes.
He sucked in air, focusing on the tranq in his blood. ’Twas the same as the drug Felicity had first used to incapacitate him.