Flares lit the sky above them, and then explosions sounded as the missiles blew apart, delivering their payload. “The fireworks,” she whispered, trying not to imagine how the governments had cleansed the Earth.
Moving slowly, Colm placed his arm around her back. Mary sat, stiff, unyielding, then leaned close to his side, accepting his comfort. Maybe his crime had been misinformation. Maybe he was a con man.
However, deep inside, she knew he’d spoken the truth.
“So, your father and brother?”
“Dead.”
“I’m sorry,” she whispered.
His chin scratched the top of her head as he folded her closer. “As awful as it is, I won’t let bitterness touch you,” he said, his voice filled with gravel. “My promise. What you have here, what you might share with me, is something . . . hopeful. I get that.”
She tilted back her head. “This isn’t an easy life, Colm. And for most of the time, we’ll be alone out here. I’d like for us to be friends.”
One corner of his mouth curled up, and his gaze narrowed. “Could that be friends who sleep together?”
Relieved he seemed ready to change the painful subject, she arched a brow. “Are you afraid of sleeping on that little cot?” she teased, surprised she still knew how to be seductive.
“Terrified.” A hand cupped the back of her head, and she relaxed, giving him the weight of it, surrendering as bright starbursts of light filled the sky beyond him and he kissed her.
They undressed in silence. Mary was glad he didn’t feel the need to talk. Her mouth was dry, her tongue thick. She thought she’d probably only manage a croak if she tried to enter into any bedroom conversation.
However, the moment he shoved down his trousers, her mouth moistened.
His cock sprang free, tilting toward the ceiling, and all she could think was how relieved she was that there was proof of that elusive spark she’d hoped for.
He climbed onto her larger bed and lay on his side, a curled hand supporting his head, and patted the mattress. A faint smile curved his lips as his gaze swept her trim body. She noted his pause when his gaze touched on her breasts, then again when it dipped to the apex of her thighs.
His cock jerked. His legs shifted, opening as he bent one to make room for his burgeoning erection and hardening balls.
Without hesitating, she lay down beside him, rolling to her side to face him.
He cupped her chin and rubbed his thumb across her bottom lip. “Are you sure you want to settle for friends?” he asked softly.
“I hope for more. I do. But for now . . .”
His thumb rasped her lips again. “Yes?”
She rubbed her cheek against his large palm. “For now, I’d settle for sex. Straight up, sweaty sex.”
His smile stretched. “Yes, ma’am.”
Their second kiss wasn’t the sweet, chaste thing they’d shared on the porch. The moment his lips touched hers, his hand smoothed down to cup her bottom and pull her closer. His cock dug into her bare belly, and her body reacted, her sex swelling, excitement seeping from inside her as her hips flexed to bring their bodies closer still.
His mouth pressed against hers. His tongue darted out to push against her closed lips until she opened, then swept inside to tangle with her own. She sighed into his mouth, and he rumbled back.
With a quick breathless movement, he rolled atop her body, nudging with his knees to open her. When the long, thick ridge glided against her folds, she bent her knees and cupped her hips, forming a cradle for him to rock against. Her arms encircled his strong back, and she sought handholds, squeezing his shoulders, running her fingers down the deep indentation of his spine, raking her nails across his buttocks to encourage him.
When he finally rose, braced on both arms, his mouth was tight, tilted on one corner. “I could slow down . . .”
“I want you inside me. Don’t make me wait.” She narrowed her eyes and touched the B-Mod chip, still around her neck – but raised her eyebrows to let him know she only teased.
The growl he gave made her giggle, but she forced her mouth into a frown until he shifted, raising his hips then dipping into her with the blunt round tip of his cock. She contracted, holding him there.
Her breaths deepened; endorphins released. Her lids drifted down as the pleasure prickled her skin and liquid flowed to ease his entry.
Colm dropped to his elbows. His body blanketed hers, warming her inside and out. His movements were small, subtle pulses, enough to keep them both excited, but not so much that they rocketed toward orgasm.
“You’re stronger than you look,” he murmured. His sleepy gaze said how much her sexy inner muscles pleased him.
She gave him another squeeze, and then undulated her hips. “I’m not delicate, if that’s what you’re afraid of.”
“Are you impatient?”
She shook her head, but then wrinkled her nose. “Getting there, I think.” And she was. Her nipples were tight, needy beads that couldn’t be satisfied with the gentle scruff of the curly hair on his chest.
“Colm, please,” she whispered.
“Please? You have only to command me.”
“Not here. Not now.” Her fingernails dug into his ass. “I need you to take me. Move now. Please, Colm.”
He lowered himself further, sliding his hands beneath her body to cup her ass, then began to drive deeper and deeper, sounds echoing against the hard concrete walls.
She moaned in his ear, then sucked the lobe between her lips and bit him. “More,” she whispered.
Colm withdrew abruptly, kneeling over her. Rough hands turned her over and pulled up her hips. She got her knees beneath her a moment before he set his thickness against her and plunged inside.
Mary howled. Not from pain, but from joy. Pushing up on her arms, she rocked backward to meet his thrusts, reveling in the sensations his motions produced. Fierce, hot friction burned inside her; her bottom warmed as his pelvis slammed against it. His fingers curved around the corners of her hips.
She exploded, emitting a wail as her orgasm cascaded over, quivering along her skin, rippling deep inside her channel.
His muffled shout followed, but he continued to rock against her. When he slowed, his body bent to blanket her back. His arms encircled her in a crushing hug.
She didn’t mind. Inside his strong embrace, she felt a sense of welcoming, of peace, of pleasure shared.
They fell to the bed, bodies still connected. With his arms around her, she snuggled her bottom into the cradle of his thighs and slept.
Rain pattered on the metal roof, a soothing sound that had Mary nestling deeper against Colm’s chest.
With a thigh trapped between his and an arm around his waist, it seemed she was every bit as content as he was.
For the first time since he’d awoken aboard his transport ship after the liquids had cleared from his lungs in the stasis cell, he didn’t awaken with his chest tight with sorrow. The woman nestled so closely against him was an innocent, as much a pawn in this grand scheme as he was. There was no war to fight.
No cause to herald.
All that was left was surrender.
As he lay there with his mistress wrapped around him, his body began to shake. Tears eased from his eyes and seeped into the pillow beneath his head. He closed his eyes and willed himself to lie still so as not to wake her.
“What’s wrong?”
He couldn’t answer for the lump lodged at the back of his throat.
Hands cupped his face. Thumbs swept away his tears. Then soft kisses peppered his cheeks, jaw, mouth. “Tell me.”
He opened his eyes to find her soft green gaze glittering with concern. “This will be our life.”