Averting her gaze, she swallowed the lump that had built up in her throat. “You told me we were finished.” She cursed the quiver in her voice. “When I saw you with her, I knew it was true.”
“It was never true. Never,” he insisted. “Still isn’t.”
His eyes locked on hers with such intensity it stole her breath. Her heartbeat faltered as she registered that familiar determination she used to love about him.
Still loved about him.
He pressed his mouth to hers, and she did nothing to dissuade him. His lips were soft and warm and molded to hers, just as she remembered. Her body responded, melting under the heat of his desire.
When he crushed her against his chest, she felt something like desperation roll off him. Tilting her head, she deepened the kiss. He took her cue, slipping his tongue past the border of her parted lips.
His taste flooded her and became a drug that fired in her veins, igniting her lust. A needy sound escaped her, and she began to meet him with every sweep of his tongue. Her arms latched around his neck as she pushed her body deeper into his.
Just like that, she was lost.
The kiss became demanding, as though both were starved for each other. He inched her backwards till he had her pressed against the wall, caged by his strong arms. The cold metal rivaled the burning heat that had come over her. She gave a soft moan. He responded with a rumbling, hungry groan. His calloused hand slipped to her backside, while the other gripped the small of her back.
Then his kiss turned sweet as his mouth glided over hers, lazily nipping at her bottom lip. Slowly, he moved to the soft curve of her jaw, stopping just below her ear.
“Forgive me,” he whispered. His breath caressed her skin.
Her mind cried to relent, but she held back. “You can’t just kiss me and expect to be forgiven.”
Against her neck, she felt his lips curve into a smile. “How about a thousand kisses?”
“Try a million.”
Hard yet tender, his fingers gripped her as though he would never let go. His mouth captured hers once more. She placed her palms over his broad shoulders, bringing them down his thick arms, reacquainting herself with each titillating muscle. His smooth skin felt blissful under her touch.
Suddenly, he pulled back. “I have something for you.”
She cocked her head. “What?” When he reached into his pocket, she rolled her eyes. “Don’t be cheeky.”
He laughed. “Where’s your mind at?”
Then he presented her with a rectangular box.
She raised a brow and took it, pulling off the lid. Inside, a thin silver chain with a heart-shaped pendant sparkled.
Anger flared.
She glared at him. “There are no gift shops on this spaceport. Who did you really buy this for?”
He took a step back, hurt. “I’ve had that since the day you left. I bought it for you after I left the club.
Before I knew you’d gone.”
Her mouth fell open to speak, but nothing came out.
“It was going to be a please-don’t-be-mad bribe. I was going to grovel on my knees, like this.” He dropped to the floor, his hands skating up her legs to rest on her thighs as he looked up at her with emotion-filled eyes. “And I was going to say, ‘I’m sorry I’m such an ass and if you don’t like the necklace, I’ll get you something else.’”
She felt her face freeze in shock. She glanced down at the box. The corners were old and worn. When she examined the pendant again, her memory stirred. A few days before her birthday, she had not-so-
subtly pointed it out to him.
Her throat suddenly tightened and her response came out breathy. “I would have said you are an ass, and I love the necklace, and if you ever touch another woman again I will shove it in a place that doctors will take hours to extract it from.”
He gave her a heart-stopping grin and stood to kiss her with renewed hunger. Her arms clasped around his neck and she hitched her legs around his waist. Taking her full weight, he carried her to the bed, following her down onto the mattress. He kissed her in quick succession, finding a new place each time: the corner of her mouth, her cheek, her neck, her shoulder, making his way to her cleavage.
The sensation made her squirm.
She pulled at his shirt. He sat up to shrug out of it, and then went for her dress. As he pushed the hem up her thighs, he made sure to trail his hands along her skin, making her shiver. He discarded the dress to the floor. His belt and pants soon followed.
He returned to the cradle of her thighs, and his delicious muscles covered her. He found her center and entered. They both let out a guttural sound. As he began to move, euphoria took her and ecstasy assailed her. She became intoxicated by pleasure. At first, she matched his speed with her hips, but soon his thrusts became frenzied, and she could only accept him and the bliss he offered.
Powerful jolts shot through her, and her orgasm burst out in the form of a primitive cry. He followed with a rough groan. Finally, he stilled. His weight came to rest on her while they both gathered their breaths. Her fingers trailed over his back.
Then his head snapped up. “I love you, Priya. I never want to lose you again. Marry me.”
She choked on a gasp and searched his expression. He looked sincere and anxious.
“It’s a little soon for proposals, isn’t it?”
“Not for me. I’ve spent far too long without you. I know I only have a tiny sliver of your heart back, but I am going to hold onto it with everything I have. You want a ring? I’ll get you a ring. More necklaces?
I’ll buy them all.” He paused. “Being without you was like being without my best friend. I don’t want to go back to that.”
Her vision blurred. Could this truly be happening? He’d made a mistake that day, a humongous mistake, but so had she. If she hadn’t acted so rashly and jumped the first flight out of there – or perhaps left him a note – she might have saved herself countless nights of misery.
“Would you really have come for me?” she found herself whispering.
“Without a second thought.” His voice held no hint of doubt. “I will never forgive myself for missing your little clue.”
She offered him a tentative smile, when what she really wanted to do was laugh till she cried.
Lifting her hand to the side of his face, she stroked her thumb over his cheek. “Ask me again when we’ve won Phase Nine.”
In the Interest of Security
Regan Black
Prologue
Chicago 2092, Office of National Health Chairman Dr Leo Kristoff
“Senator, I appreciate these new penalties for smugglers. We cannot allow this contraband to continue to flow unchecked.” Dr Kristoff took a long sip of his coffee while the senator rambled on through the speaker phone. “Yes, sir. It is most certainly a direct assault on the public and our core values as a society. Publishing the results of our latest studies, combined with these updated caffeine-awareness campaigns, should stem the tide of illegal trafficking among casual users.”
When the call ended, he waved Captain Derrick Simmons into his office, eager to get to more important matters. “Good morning. How’s your fiancée?”
Simmons gazed through the wide window that overlooked the lab, and smiled fondly at Lorine. “The hot chocolate was a great idea.”
“Of course, son. Little kindnesses impress women.” Kristoff checked his watch. He’d introduced the two of them, knowing Simmons was the ideal match for his niece. Their recent engagement meant he could move forward with the next stage of his plans. “You have the field report?”
“Sir.” Simmons came to attention. “The supplement is improving stamina and reflexes, as well as faster run times over increasing distances. Generally, the ‘juice’ is delivering everything you promised: a more obedient and lethal soldier. The Army is pleased.”