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I didn't believe him. "So you're saying it's only when I'm sick or injured that you can rifle through my thoughts?"
He hesitated. "Yes."
"Liar. When else?"
He looked away. "In times of passion. If I chose to, I could enter then."
Anger curled through me. "And have you?"
"No."
I only had his word on that, and right now, I wasn't up to trusting his word. "Well, thanks for pulling me out of that mess of memories, but if you ever pry into my mind without invitation again, I'll - " I stopped. What could I threaten a vampire with? Especially one as old as Quinn apparently was?
"Fine." His voice was flat. Cold. "Next time, I'll let you find your own way out."
"Good."
Silence fell between us. A silence that was tense and unbreathable. But I wasn't entirely unhappy about it, because it gave me an excuse to ignore my hormones, and keep him at arm's length that much longer.
Still, I stared up at the cloud-filled night sky, and hoped like hell my brother hurried back. Naturally, he didn't, and the silence itched at my skin until I felt ready to scream in frustration.
When he finally did get back, he hooked his arm through mine and began guiding me away from the building. "Let's get going. You look beat."
"That's because I am." I yawned hugely, then added, "How are we getting to this place?"
"There's a helicopter waiting. It'll take us to the Directorate's jet, which is being prepped as we speak."
"Good. I need sleep."
"You can once we reach the plane."
Which I most certainly did. And when we reached the hotel, I slept some more. Only I didn't just sleep, I dreamed. And while this dream was new, it was similar to many I'd had since Quinn had walked away from me in Talon's lair.
Well, I think they were just dreams, though they felt pretty damn real.
I was in a shower. Water sprayed against my skin, the needle-sharp jets soothing and yet exhilarating. Or was it the warmth of another body so close, the scent of sandal-wood and man, that had my pulse racing?
Hands touched me, turned me, then lips came down on mine, lips that were warm and familiar and oh so wonderful. We kissed, long and hard, as the water drummed our skins, skimming our bodies, tickling and teasing.
Then he turned me, so that my back was against the hard heat of his body, his erection nudging my butt as he reached for the soap and began washing my breasts and belly. The scent of lavender touched the air, filling every breath, and it seemed so real, as real as the hands that were washing me so lovingly.
And oh, it felt good.
But being caught between the heat of his body, the drum of the water, and the caress of his hands was nothing short of tortuous, and I was pretty much steaming in an instant.
When I could stand it no more, I grabbed the soap from him and turned around. His beautiful body gleamed like sculptured pale-gold marble in the half-light of the bathroom, the water reverently caressing every muscle, every curve. I followed the water's lead, soaping every marvelous inch, until he was quivering as badly as I.
He took the soap and put it back in the holder, then twined his hands in mine, raising them above my head as he pressed me back against the wet, cool tiles. The heat of him flowed around me, through me, burning my skin and contrasting sharply with the coolness seeping from the tiles.
His gaze met mine, the obsidian depths gleaming with lust and determination. "You are mine, Riley," he said softly, as he nudged my legs wider with one knee. "And I have every intention of loving you so completely - in every single way possible - that you will have no desire to turn to anyone else but me."
"That won't ever happen."
But it came out little more than a pant of air as he slid into me, filling me, liquefying me. His thick groan of pleasure was a sound I echoed. Then he began to move, and there was nothing gentle about it. His body and movements were urgent, fierce, and so very wonderful. The rich ache grew, becoming a kaleidoscope of sensations that washed through every corner of my mind. Then the shuddering took hold and I gasped, grabbing his shoulders, clambering up his body to wrap my lees around his waist and push him deeper still. Pleasure exploded between us and my orgasm ripped through my body, shuddered through my soul.
I woke, still shaking in the aftermath of that orgasm, Quinn's name dying on my lips.
For several seconds I simply lay there, staring almost blindly up at the ceiling.
