TherianPrey (30 page)

“So, asswipe, convince me to keep you alive,” Ian said as
Quinn led her from the room.

At the bottom of the stairs she stopped and glanced over her
shoulder. “What will happen to him once Ian finishes toying with him?”

“That’s up to the Alpha Council.”

“But Gage isn’t Therian. Shouldn’t he be turned over to
human authorities?”

“As soon as he started screwing with our people, he became
part of our world.”

And Therian justice was swift and decisive. She shouldn’t
care what happened to him. If it weren’t for Gage, her life would have been
very different. But she couldn’t help feeling as if she’d betrayed a childhood
friend.

“Am I going to have to tie you to the bed before you rest?”
Quinn asked as they reached the tunnels.

She grinned and took his hand. “How about if you tie me to
the bed and I’ll rest after you’re finished with me?”

He stopped walking and looked into her eyes. “Does the idea
excite you?”

She shrugged and averted her gaze. “Domineering men always
pissed me off until I met you.”

With a little growl, his fingers tightened around hers and
he started walking again. The pace was noticeably faster as they resumed their
trek toward Erin’s house. Carissa fought back a smile, not wanting him to
realize how delightful she found his changeable moods or how easily she could
arouse him.

He kicked the door shut behind them and scooped her up in
his arms. “I keep waiting for this fire to burn itself out, but it just grows
hotter and hotter.”

“Do you want it to burn out?”

He lowered her to the bed and whipped off her shoes. His
haste thrilled her and her body echoed his enthusiasm. They’d already made love
twice today, why was the craving still so strong?

Standing long enough to tear his shirt off over his head and
struggle out of his jeans, he returned to the bed naked and ready to conquer.

She ran her gaze from his head to his toes, admiring his
sculpted body and all the leashed power awaiting her, but it was his eyes that
captivated her most, so dark and soulful. She raised her arms and he pulled her
shirt off, tossing it toward his. Her breasts swayed unhampered by a bra.

He noticed the lack of underwear and grinned. “Are you commando
all the way?”

Lying back as he unzipped her jeans, she soon revealed the
full scope of her naughtiness. “Unplanned trips make things complicated. I
didn’t see any boxers when you pulled off those jeans.”

He peeled her borrowed jeans down along her thighs then
tossed them off the bed. “I never wear underwear. When I’m alone, I seldom wear
clothes.”

“We’ll never get anything accomplished if you walk around
naked all the time.”

“Depends how you define accomplishments.” He bent to her
breast and drew her nipple deep into his mouth. The firm suction sent ribbons
of sensation curving through her torso and into her abdomen.

She pushed her fingers into his hair, sighing as the silky
strands caressed her fingers. She would never tire of his lips sliding over her
skin or the wet suction of his mouth. His entire body was hard against hers
except for those talented lips.

She closed her eyes and saw their link for the first time.
It arched between them, an iridescent band, shimmering and shifting as their
emotions changed.
Can you see it too? Has it always been so beautiful?

He lifted his head and smiled into her eyes. “When you’re
pissed off or afraid, it looks more like a storm cloud than a rainbow.”

“Have you always been able to see it?”

“At first it was hardly visible. Like one single strand of a
spider’s web.”

She hesitated, not sure how to ask the next question without
making it sound like an accusation.

He chuckled. “Just spit it out. I only bite when you want me
to.”

“You’ve referred to me as your mate.”

“So have you,” he reminded.

“I think the others expect you to claim me, but has it
happened yet?”

He threw back his head and laughed. “It couldn’t have been a
very strong bonding if you don’t remember it happening.”

“So much has happened and I wasn’t in control for most of
it.”

“When we bond, you will be aware of every kiss and caress.
When we’re ready for our souls to join, it will eclipse everything you’ve
experienced before.”

“How will we know when we’re ready?”

“I’m not going to rush you. You’ve been thrust into a world
you knew nothing about and you deserve plenty of time to adjust to the
changes.”

“That makes it sound like you’re waiting on me. Are you
ready now?”

He cupped her chin and brushed his lips over hers. “I know
the difference between love and lust. I can feel how vastly different this is
from anyone I’ve ever touched. I’m convinced you’re my mate, but I want you to
be sure.” She started to reply, but he placed his fingers against her lips.
“Wait until your life has settled into a routine and you have learned to
control your powers. If our feelings for each other haven’t changed, we’ll move
forward with a soul bonding.”

She knew he was right. It was the sensible choice, the
responsible choice. But her heart hungered for him, longed to feel their beings
entwined eternally.

He slipped his arm under her neck and covered her mouth with
his. As always, the kiss was slow and deep, exasperatingly patient. She tangled
her fingers in his hair and tried to take control. He chuckled against her
moist lips and moved over her, nudging her legs apart with his knees.

Devilment gleamed in his eyes as he drew her arms down and
slipped his arms under her bottom. His hands closed around her wrists and with
one firm tug he had her hands pressed against the small of her back and her ass
rested on his forearms.

“What are you doing?”

“Who needs rope when it’s more fun just to hold you in
whatever position I choose?” He angled her pelvis up and lowered his head
between her thighs.

She tugged against his hands just to see if he could hold
her. His fingers felt like steel bands, inflexible yet exerting only as much
pressure as necessary to restrain her. A thrill bore deeper into her soul as
her helplessness sank in. He was far stronger than she, able to do whatever he
wanted. And what he wanted was to make her drunk with pleasure.

His tongue teased her cleft, lightly stroking her folds
without touching her sensitive clit. She wiggled, trying to guide his tongue
where she wanted it, which only made him more determined to avoid the spot.

“Put your legs over my shoulders and I’ll give you what you
want.”

Beyond caring if she were bowing to his demands, she
instantly obeyed. His warm lips pressed against her sex and his tongue slowly
delved between her folds. She held perfectly still, waiting for the first
caress to send her senses soaring. He circled her slowly, drawing tension into
her pelvis as his tongue swirled round and round.

“Oh.” She gasped, arching into the tantalizing touch.
“Faster. Please.”

He ignored her, continuing the mesmerizing rhythm. Her belly
quivered and her core clenched as the coil drew tighter and tighter. She
trembled, hovering on the brink. Then he surrounded her clit with his lips and
sucked. The firm pull of his mouth drew the sensations to the point of contact
and when he let go, the pleasure burst and she came in shuddering spasms.

With her legs still draped over his shoulders he lifted her
and found her opening with his cock. Her wrists were still firmly contained
within his hands as he pushed into her trembling body. She opened for him,
surrounding him with heat and liquid welcome.

He wasn’t gentle and she savored every forceful stroke. This
was Quinn at his best, aggressively tender, ruthless in his pursuit of their
pleasure.

Just when she’d adjusted to the demanding position, he
released her hands and dragged his arms out from under her. She moved her arms
to a more comfortable position as her legs slid off his shoulders. He twined
his fingers through hers and pinned her hands to the bed on either side of her
head. Then he started moving again.

Her heart swelled with wonder. Even in the throes of passion
he worried about her comfort, tried to balance her willingness to please him
with her fragility.

In response to his selflessness, she arched into each stroke,
taking him deeper and increasing the impact as their bodies met. He moaned, and
joy rippled across their link, which was already seething with the intensity of
their combined passion.

She drew her legs up high against his sides as his tempo
sped. His gaze drilled into hers, hot and demanding just like his cock. “I love
you.” The words seemed ripped from his very soul and time itself seemed to
pause and listen for her reply.

“I love you too.”

He closed his eyes but relief and contentment surged into
her mind. How could he doubt her devotion? Couldn’t he feel her emotions as she
was feeling his?

She dragged her hands out from under his and took his face
between her hands. “Look at me.”

His eyes opened, but his hips kept up the steady slide
between her thighs.

“Say my name,” she demanded.

He smiled and whispered, “Carissa, my love. My life.”

“And who are you?”

His brows rose and his instantaneous insecurity vanished.
“Your lord and master?”

“In your dreams!”

His lips sealed over hers and words were forgotten as the
pleasure crested. He drove his entire length into her heat and they clung
together as they came. “So damn good,” he whispered against her damp lips.

She pushed him back and looked deeply into his eyes. “I love
you. I’m going to keep saying it until you believe me.”

He kissed her then said, “What if that takes the rest of our
lives?”

“Fine by me.”

They reluctantly separated and she settled against his side
as he sprawled on his back. His arm loosely circled her back and she rested her
head on his shoulder. Content and sleepy.

If only she knew where Ava was this moment would be perfect.

An image popped into her mind and she tensed.

“You okay?”

She squeezed his shoulder to let him know she was fine but
poured energy into the unexpected vision. The cozy living room was the same one
she’d seen when Ian had guided the vision, but Ava was no longer curled up on
the couch. When she’d tried to expand the scene before, she’d lost the image
completely. Still she had to try. Slowly, she pulled back and the vision responded.
She could see a narrow hall and a shadowed bedroom. And Ava sound asleep in the
bed.

Light from the hallway gleamed on the distinctive brass
headboard and the familiar landscape that hung above the bed. She knew this
bedroom, saw it every day in her store!

“Oh my God.” She released the vision and sat up, heart
thudding out her excitement. “I know where Ave is.”

“Just like that?” He sounded a bit doubtful, but he was
smiling.

“I was thinking how this moment would be perfect if only I
knew where Ava was and her image popped back into my mind.”

“But you could tell where she was this time?”

“Yes!” She grinned from ear to ear.

He laughed. “Well, where the hell is she?”

She bent her knee and turned to face him, so excited she
could barely speak. “I thought about our employees, but I’d forgotten about our
partners.”

“Okay, you lost me.”

“Our rental shop partners with the guys out at Pine Valley
Ranch. Like the brochure I gave you the first time we met. This is so obvious.
I can’t believe I didn’t think about it sooner. They have rental cabins. She’s
tucked away in one of them.”

“In a rental cabin at Pine Valley Ranch. Are you sure?”

She nodded. “Positive.”

He climbed out of bed and dug his phone out of the pocket of
his jeans. “I sent Kyle the location. He’ll probably have her here for
breakfast.”

Her heart gave another happy leap and her cheeks hurt from
her continual grin. “I hope so. I’ve been so worried about her and there is so
much I want to tell her!”

He laughed as he climbed back into bed. “You’re all wound up
again. Do we need to start all over?”

“You make that sound like a threat.” She snuggled back into
the warmth of his body and closed her eyes. “I love you,” she whispered.

He pinched her bottom as he replied, “I love you too.”

His scent surrounded her and her soul was at peace. Within
seconds she was sound asleep.

Also by
Cyndi Friberg

Rebel Angels
1: Born of the Shadows

Rebel Angels 2:
Echoes and Embers

Rebel
Angels 3: Splendor and Darkness

Tainted Hearts

Tears of the
Dragon

Print books by Cyndi Friberg

Born of the
Shadows

Tainted Hearts