I didn’t say I couldn’t survive without you. I only said I wouldn’t enjoy it as much.
Kristor was smiling when he closed his eyes, going deeper into Labrinon and only letting the sensations go through him. He felt the dips and the rises as Labrinon flew over the land. Then he slept as Labrinon traveled across the night, hunting, watching.
It was early morning when Kristor awakened, sensing he was back where he started. The change began: Wings became arms, the beak his nose, talons were now feet.
“It’s cold,” he mumbled. The sun was just rising above the horizon.
Next time, shift inside the warmth of a dwelling. Then I will return there. I thought you would want to be close to your conveyance, although it’s a poor substitute for flying.
“It’s better than running.” He quickly dressed, then started the cycle. He liked this form of transportation. He had already input the information into his database. It would be good to recreate it on New Symtaria.
As long as you don’t substitute it for me.
“Never.” The cycle roared out onto the road.
Did you watch her during the night? Kristor asked.
She met with other women, then retired early. There was a light from her home so she is awake. Do you go to her?
Yes. Kristor felt a strong need to see her again. It was as though he had no choice. And when he pulled into her driveway, he felt a sense that this was where he was supposed to be. But then, he already knew Rianna was his lifemate. He only had to convince her of that fact, and she could be very stubborn.
Ria walked to the living room when she heard the roar of a motorcycle, but she already knew who would be in her driveway. Her heart fluttered wildly inside her chest, and her palms were damp with perspiration.
She opened the door and stared. My God, he was beautiful. If a man could actually be called beautiful. Sexy, oh, yes, he was that. Broad shoulders, slim hips, muscled thighs. The description she’d given Heath that morning she’d seen Kristor naked in the woods had been accurate. Kristor was definitely tall, dark, and handsome—and then some.
He still wore the same clothes he’d worn yesterday: T-shirt and swim trunks, sandals on his feet. Where had he been?
He placed his helmet on the seat, then looked up as she opened the front door. She stared at him through the dark screen. Their gazes met, held, then he smiled.
Her stomach did flip-flops. “I have orange juice.”
“I need to shower.” His gaze traveled over her. “Shower with me. Then we’ll have orange juice.” He strode up the steps, then opened her screen door, and took her into his arms. His mouth closed over hers. Then he was picking her up. She gasped, holding on tight as he carried her toward the bathroom.
She didn’t protest. The thought never even crossed her mind. No, all that she thought about was the way it felt to be held in his arms, to have his mouth on hers, to feel his touch bringing her body to life.
He flung open the shower curtain and set her on her feet before reaching for the faucets. While the water warmed, he tugged at the belt on her robe. It came loose, and she shrugged out of it. She was just as eager as Kristor, and wondered if they’d even make it inside the shower.
He removed his shirt as she pulled her gown over her head. His movements stopped as he stared at her nakedness. No man had ever looked at her with so much hunger, so much need. Her body burned in response.
Without taking the time to remove his trunks, he grabbed her to him, fastening his mouth on her breast, sucking the nipple inside, rolling it around on his tongue.
She gasped, then cried out as she flung her head back.
He shoved her things off the counter and into the sink. There were small crashes when her makeup fell to the floor. She didn’t care.
Kristor picked her up and set her on the counter, pushing her legs apart, and only then did he step back to remove the rest of his clothes.
Ria wanted to bring her legs together, hide what his eyes feasted on. But maybe she was an exhibitionist at heart, because she forced her legs to stay open. She had a feast of her own as she looked at him, now naked.
“I’ve never wanted a woman like I want you,” he said.
“Nor I a man like I want you.”
He scraped his fingers through the tight curls nestled between her legs, then slipped a finger inside her heat. She gasped, arching her back, wanting more.
“Do I please you?”
She bit her bottom lip. “Yes.”
“You’re wet with passion.”
“Then mate with me.”
He growled, brought her hips to the edge, then entered her. He arched his back, filling her, grasping her hips, then brought her up so that he held her in place. She wrapped her legs around his waist. He sank deeper, staying in that one spot.
She closed her eyes, and clenched her inner muscles. “I love the way it feels when you’re inside me.”
“Look at me,” he spoke softly. “I want to see when you come.”
Fire blazed through her. She opened her eyes when he began to thrust inside her.
In and out.
Deeper, harder.
He groaned. “Ah, by the gods, this is what I’ve needed all my life, but hadn’t known.” He stared into her eyes. “You are what I’ve needed.”
Ria didn’t have time to think about his words as the heat built inside her. She could feel the blood pounding through her veins.
He set her on the counter again. She leaned back on her hands. He held her in place with one hand, and massaged her breast with the other.
“Now, now,” she cried, barely able to keep her eyes open as he’d wanted.
Then her world exploded around her as spasms ripped through her. It was so damned good. Each time with him it was better than the last. She clenched her inner muscles, wanting to feel every inch of him as he continued to stroke her.
Kristor threw his head back and yelled a warrior’s cry, holding her tight as he came. She watched his face and saw the effect their lovemaking had on him. Excitement surged through her to know that she had given someone so much pleasure.
Their raspy breathing filled the room. Then she began to laugh. He looked at her, and joined in.
“Good morning,” she said.
He grinned, then eased from her body and adjusted the water in the shower. She looked around at her makeup that littered the floor and sink. It was so worth the mess.
He suddenly groaned and went to the floor. It became harder to see as the thick fog filled the room. So much for showering after making love. When the fog cleared, the hawk stared back at her. For some strange reason that made her a little uncomfortable. She grabbed a towel and wrapped it around her as she slipped off the counter.
This was so not cool.
When she opened the bathroom door, the hawk hopped out. She shut the door and dropped the towel. She could still feel Kristor’s warmth. For a moment, she closed her eyes and held it close. God, he made her feel so alive.
She stepped into the shower. The water was just right. It could’ve been a lot more fun with the two of them.
As soon as she’d showered and dressed, Ria headed for the kitchen. The bird was nowhere around, but she was learning to leave her bedroom window open. The hawk had probably left that way.
She started the coffee and had finished her first cup when she heard a rattle in the bathroom, then the shower running. For a moment, she visualized the water cascading over Kristor’s naked body.
The water stopped. She got up and poured a tall glass of orange juice, and herself another cup of coffee. He was dressed in jeans and a gray T-shirt when he joined her. No shoes. There was something a little rumpled about him. The look was sexy as hell.