Such a brat.Her teasing tone sets me on fire, and I increase my speed and pressure, until her jeans and mine are warm and wet.
Celine clutches my shoulders, her fingers spasming as she searches for something to anchor herself to. One hand ends up in my hair, and the tension on my scalp is indescribably good. My cock is painfully hard. I want more. I want everything. But I don’t want it while we’re racing sundown to find a gateway.
She moans the first half of my name, cutting herself off by biting her lip. I frown, a dark, possessive urge rolling through me. I’m making her feel good. She can’t forget it. Can’t hide it. Her pleasure is mine, and I want it all.
“Let me hear you, darling.”
“Make me,” she taunts.
I increase my pressure on the downstrokes until each of her breaths hitches and my forearms burn. Let them. I’m not going to stop until she comes on my thigh. Then, when I know she’s throbbing with an ache only I can ease, I’ll help her find the gateway.
She whimpers and cuts herself off again.
I growl. “There’s no one around. Are you scared to let go?”
Her eyes flash. “I’ve never been scared of you, Riven.”
I shudder.Why do I like that so much?My next stroke draws a fractured cry from her lips, and she squeezes my shoulders as her back arches. “Right there. Right fucking there. Don’t stop. Please.”
I’d rather die. Holding the same pace and pressure, I lock my eyes on her face.
When Celine comes, she melts completely. Her expression softens; she goes limp in my arms; and there’s nothing between us. I’m seeing a rare part of her. Too vulnerable to share,it’s intimate and erotic. I kiss her frantically, and when my own orgasm rolls over me, I can’t even be embarrassed by it.
I stroke her hips with my thumbs, my thoughts spinning faster than I can process.
My hands were on her. She was facing me. Celine knew exactly who was touching her, and she still came.
It’s the first time I’ve brought anyone pleasure in this form.
My heart skips a beat. I put her down and drop my hands from her waist. If I don’tlet her go now, I won’t have the strength.
“That was hot.” Celine grabs my shirt with both hands and pulls me down for a kiss. “You made me all messy.”I like that.
Whatever expression is on my face, she clocks it immediately, grinning as if she can see right through me. Maybe she can.I like that, too.
Celine tucks my fingers into her back pocket again and glances over her shoulder. “I like your hands on me.”
Then, as if she didn’t just turn me on all over again, she walks away.
I have to hunch to keep my hand from coming out of her pocket, but I’ll gladly do it, trailing along behind her like a puppy for as long as she’ll let me. I shake my head. I once pitied the others for their obsession with her and now look at me.
If someone tried to hurt her as I did, I would kill them and everyone they’d ever had a pleasant conversation with?—
A chill rolls down my spine.
We’re being watched.
The woods are too quiet, devoid of bird sounds or the rustling of small animals. I curse myself for my distraction. I don’t know how long this has been going on. I was too busy getting lost in an angel. And now I’ve put her at risk.
Casually, I move to Celine’s side and work more of my hand into her pocket before bending to kiss her cheek. She glances at me, and her eyes sharpen. Neither of us verbally acknowledge thethreat, but we’re in agreement: we need to understand the danger before we decide how to neutralize it.
Glancing at the coordinates on her phone, Celine deliberately veers west, heading in the opposite direction of where we need to go. It makes sense. If we’re being stalked by a supernatural, she doesn’t want to lead them to the gateway. If it’s someone S’lach sent, we can’t risk stumbling onto an open-door teeming with reinforcements. Whoever’s watching us might be alone, stationed by the gateway on the off-chance Celine showed up.
It doesn’t matter; whoever it is, they won’t touch her.
We walk in silence. Ten minutes. Thirty. The eyes remain on us, always out of sight. Are we being herded? Or are they waiting for the sun to set? We can’t keep this up forever. We’re losing too much time, and Celine’s frustration is building.
She tosses me a loaded look. I nod. Whatever she wants to do, I’ve got her back.
