“Hey,” she murmured.
“Hey yourself.”
She put her hand down to push herself into a sitting position. He clasped her shoulder and helped her up.
“You doing okay?” he asked.
She rubbed her hands over her arms and expelled a shaky breath. “Yeah, I’m good.”
He touched her cheek, outlined her lips with his fingers. Her eyes simmered liquid gold as she nuzzled her face into his palm.
“I’m starving,” he said. “Come keep me company while I whip up something to eat?”
She smiled and nodded.
“You want something?” he asked as he helped her to her feet.
“If you’re offering to cook.” She grinned. “I snacked on some of the stuff in your fridge, but I’m a disaster in the kitchen. Opening a can is about the extent of my culinary expertise.”
She glanced down at her bare legs then back up at Duncan. “I don’t have anything to wear. Your shirt was all I could find. I hope you don’t mind me borrowing it.”
He reached out to finger the lapel and ran the tip inside over the strip of flesh bared by the V. “That shirt never looked that good on me.”
She smiled again and started for the kitchen.
“I should have thought about getting you some clothes,” he said as he followed behind her. “Everything will be closed now, but I can go out tomorrow morning first thing and pick you up a few things.”
She gingerly perched atop one of the barstools, her bare legs dangling down. “That’s sweet of you. I’d appreciate it.” She cocked her head to the side and studied him. “You look tired. Long day?”
Warm pleasure surged through his veins at her concern. He set a skillet on the counter top and reached over to touch her hand.
“We found a dead lion.”
Sorrow filled her eyes and then she looked down. He raised his hand to her cheek.
“I’m sorry.”
She looked back at him, her eyes shining with a sheen of tears. “He was taken from the same game preserve that I was. He was a beautiful animal.”
“Aliyah, I’ll find the people who did this to you, to the other animals. I promise. They won’t hurt you again.”
She nodded, sadness still etched into her features. He pulled away and began preparations for a quick dinner.
A few minutes later, he dished up omelets for both of them. She dug in with enthusiasm and sighed in pleasure as she put a bite into her mouth.
“Real food. I’m in heaven.”
He looked up from his own plate. “Yeah, I guess you haven’t exactly had decent food lately.” Then he remembered his own offering of the raw steak and grimaced.
She ate quickly and with great enjoyment. When she pushed back her plate with a yawn, he felt the prickle of fatigue skate up his neck as well.
“We should probably get to bed,” he said as he picked up their plates and headed for the sink. “I’ll, uhm, take the couch.” He didn’t want to assume anything even though they’d had sex the night before. Maybe she already regretted it.
He turned around to see her staring intently at him, those golden eyes glowing in the light.
“I don’t want to sleep alone,” she said softly.
His chest tightened. He didn’t want to sleep on the couch. He’d much prefer having her in his arms again.
She walked forward, stopping mere inches in front of him. Their bodies were so close they were nearly touching. Her warmth reached out, curling around him, soft and feminine like her.
She put her hand on his chest and gazed up at him, her eyes beseeching.
“What are you asking?” he said hoarsely.
“For you to hold me. And maybe…”
“Maybe what?”
He cupped his hand over hers, sliding his fingers over her wrist and to her fingertips.
“And maybe you could touch me,” she whispered.
“Do you know what you’re asking?”
She touched his cheek. “I know what I’m asking for, Duncan. The question is, can you give it to me?”
CHAPTER 9
Duncan stood in the doorway of his bedroom, arm resting against the frame. Aliyah was lying on the bed. Naked. The flannel shirt she’d worn a few minutes ago was carelessly strewn on the floor.
She stretched on her side and stared up at him, eyes glowing, a golden, iridescent glitter. There was clear invitation in her gaze, and he quickly unbuttoned his shirt then peeled his pants off. As the material gathered around his ankles, he hastily kicked off his boots then stepped out of the jeans.
He moved forward, drawn to the enticing figure she posed. As he put a knee on the bed and crawled forward, she rose up on her elbow. Her long hair fell forward, sliding over her shoulder.
She wasn’t shy at all. He liked that about her. She reached out and cupped his erection, boldly stroking over the length, up and then down again, her fingers curling around his sac.
He loved the way he filled her tiny hand, how she could barely get her fingers wrapped around the thick base of his dick. Each caress sent a sharp bolt of pleasure ricocheting up his spine.
Finally he pried her hand away and pulled it high over her head. He moved over her body, straddling her waist. Arousal flared deep in her eyes at his dominant position. Muscles he didn’t even know he had tightened and spasmed as he stared down at her submissive pose.
Hell, he didn’t even know he possessed caveman tendencies, but damn if she didn’t bring them screaming to the surface. He wanted her. Wanted to own her, possess her. Brand her until there was no question that she belonged to him.
Something dark and primitive flared to life within him. Edgy need crawled over his skin, burning and restless.
He glanced down, just behind where he straddled her body, checking her wound. Though better than the previous day, he knew he still had to take care with her.
A growl erupted from his throat as the uncivilized part of him demanded he just take her. Ride her hard. Then he remembered the night before. Taking her from behind alleviated the need to spread her so wide, to put more pressure on the wound by pushing her legs up and apart.
He made a grab for the condoms still sitting on the nightstand then rolled off her. Then he flipped her over on her stomach. He circled her small waist with his hands and pulled her down until her pelvis cupped the edge of the bed and her feet dangled just inches from the floor.
The tempting swell of her ass beckoned him. Sweat broke out on his forehead as he tried to control his raging need.
He feathered his fingertips down her spine, touching, lightly stroking. She shivered and moaned, and he felt the prickle of little chill bumps break out over her skin.
Her hands splayed out over the sheets on either side of her head. Her fingers curled, gripping the material so tightly her knuckles turned white.
A smile curving his lips, he lowered his head to run his tongue from the small of her back up her spine. When he reached the base of her neck, he stopped and nibbled at the soft skin, making the baby soft hairs at her nape stand on end.
A light groan filtered through the room, and he honestly couldn’t tell if it was her or him. Light and teasing, he ran his mouth over the contours of her neck, down the slight curve to her shoulder. Then he sank his teeth into the column, and she went rigid beneath him.
Her frantic movements stirred the primitive male lurking just under the surface. He let out a snarl and pinned her body against the mattress, holding her still as he continued his sensual exploration of her body.
His chest pressed into her back, and he gripped her wrists with his hands, holding them tightly against the bed.
His cock lay in the seam of her ass, and he rubbed up and down, reaching down into the wetness of her pussy. Her scent floated up, curling through his nostrils until they flared and his breaths came harder.