Hunted

Chapter 13

Moira awoke in the plane to the sound of typing. Bubbling energy popped through her veins. She’d taken a lot of power from Gena. Her mate sat across the aisle, pounding his laptop. He sprawled in the seat, and his long fingers were surprisingly agile on the keyboard. Concentrating, he alternated between scowling and nodding. One thing about Conn, he didn’t hide his emotions. Part arrogance, part confidence, she got the feeling he disliked wasting time ... and hiding out wasted time.

She cleared her throat. “Did you tell the king about tonight?”

“Yes.” Conn didn’t look her way, reading his screen and frowning.

She could’ve asked him to keep her secret, and for a moment had even considered making the request. But she refused to use him, asking him to be someone he was not. His allegiance to the Realm made him who he was. She understood.

Her mind came fully awake. She sat up in the chair. “Wait. We needed to wait for the shipment.”

“Daire showed up right after you passed out. Late to the party, as usual.”

Confusion swirled around Moira’s head. “He planned to take Gena into custody?” Someone needed to question the witch.

“Yes.”

Relief had her relaxing back into the seat. Daire would get to the truth. “Any news?”

“Yeah. He said the ship didn’t come in. So far Gena has not regained consciousness.”

“Bollocks.” Where the hell was the shipment? “I’m surprised Daire let you take me.”

“So am I.”

Okay. That couldn’t be good. What was the Coven Nine up to?

Conn kept his gaze on the screen. “So. You fight with plasma balls, take another witch’s power, and turn organs to mush.” The typing continued as he talked. “Can you turn the organs of nonhumans liquid?”

She rubbed her nose. What should she say? “Not yet. I mean, the power grows through the ages. But humans are easy.” Maybe she shouldn’t let him know his spleen was safe. Oh well, too late. “The enforcers protect the council and are the Nine’s front line, as you know—and taking power is the main way we do that.” They also helped train the Nine’s soldiers for battle, but that was mostly a side job. “We’re sent out when someone is abusing quantum physics ... abusing magic. We, ah, make them stop.”

He lifted an eyebrow, leaning forward to peer at his screen. “What other ways do people abuse magic?” Low, a barely perceptible threat hung in his words.

Her body tensed, reacting immediately. “When the humans learned how to split an atom, they created atomic energy ... a big bomb. Imagine someone screwing with subatomic particles.”

“I understand the possibilities but didn’t think anyone was stupid enough to try. Or rather, I thought your soldiers had a better grasp on your citizens.” Conn sucked in air. “Jesus. They might blow up the entire planet.”

“The entire galaxy, more likely.” Sometimes morons didn’t think before messing around with forces they should avoid. “We also step in when someone is trying to manipulate other beings for profit or gain.”

“I see.” He closed the laptop, swiveling his chair to face her.

Her thoughts scrambled like a satellite signal gone wrong.

A dark shirt spread across his powerful chest, which tapered to a narrow waist and worn jeans. An inferno swept inside her veins. She traced every contour of his hard face with an attention born of need. His gaze darkened, and he waited her out, letting her drink her fill, not moving.

Awareness filtered through the haze in her head. Patience stood as yet another of his weapons. He held so much control over himself, as well as anything in his way.

As if he’d made the challenge out loud, the need to take him rushed through her. She wanted to be the one woman in the universe who could make him lose that control. The burning fire in her veins from the fight earlier propelled her into action.

With the inherent instinct of a predator, she moved gracefully, dropping to her knees between his legs.

His sharp intake of breath made her bite back a smile. Sage and man filled her nostrils. Slowly, showing him true control, she reached for his belt. Defined abdomen muscles clenched against her knuckles. The buckle released easily, the belt catching on each loop as she drew the leather loose.

He swallowed. Loudly.

Nimble fingers had his jeans unsnapped as she sprang him free. Large, throbbing, and so ready for her. A murmur of appreciation wandered up her throat. How kind of him to go commando. She leaned forward, swiping her tongue across the tip of his cock. Salt and male exploded on her taste buds.

Erotic pain danced along her scalp as his hands dug into her hair. “Moira.” Part groan, part plea, he tried to tug her head back.

“No.” She shook her head. “I need this, Conn.”

With a start, she realized the truth. Many powers fought for dominance inside her. Oh, she’d win. Her natural power would assimilate the other. But for now ... she needed a release. More than that, she needed Conn. The marking on her hip bone flickered alive, sending tendrils of demand to her clit.

With a groan, he loosened his hold, throwing back his head to smack the seat. Both hands still cupped her scalp, keeping her in place. “Take what you need.”

She hummed in appreciation against him, power filling her when he stiffened with a ground-out groan. Books didn’t do this justice. Scooting forward, she took more of him in her mouth ... not even a third of him, yet he breathed heavily, his body tightening.

Conn bit his lip until blood welled in his mouth. Inexperience and determination made for a lethal combination. . . she was going to kill him. His mate’s soft licks and adventurous nibbles had his heart thumping so hard he figured a rib or two might break. Not that he gave a flying shit. She could shatter every bone in his body so long as she didn’t stop.

The musky scent of her arousal mixed with lilacs and filled his senses. The animal inside him lunged to life, demanding he take her.

Her mouth enclosed his tip and he surged up, choking her. “Sorry.” Releasing her hair, he grabbed the armrests, digging in his nails. If the woman wanted to explore, he wouldn’t stop her. The wet heat of her mouth remained around him, her jaw relaxing.

She swallowed.

His cock hardened more than he’d thought possible. A roaring filled his ears, his nails rent the leather, and his shoulders shook with the fight to retain control. “Moira, sweetheart. Stop.” He didn’t mean it. God, he didn’t mean it.

She chuckled around him.

That was it.

His control ruptured.

He charged her, knocking her back on her butt. Both hands dug into her jeans, half lifting her and tearing down the sides. The sound spurred him on. Her delicate panties ripped in two.

Flipping her around, he covered her, reaching for her heat. Wet. She was ready. She gave a low laugh, part temptation, part challenge. He gripped her hips and plunged inside her so hard she shot forward, catching herself with her forearms on the rough carpet.

“Conn,” she gasped.

He stilled. His balls vibrated with the need to take her. Harder. More.

What the hell was he doing? “Moira.” Lush hips filled his palms. His hands shook. “I’m ...” Stop. He needed to stop. The beast inside him bellowed in protest.

She shoved back against him, her buttocks flush to his groin, her thick heat surrounding him. “Don’t stop. Please, don’t stop.”

At her husky plea, the beast won.

The spongy material of her shirt shredded in his hands. Her skin nearly glowed white in the muted light. Bare, fragile, and so damn soft. He caressed down both sides of her spine, pulsing inside her. She gripped him like a vise, quivering around him. Perfect. She was so fucking perfect his chest hurt.

He slid out and then back in. Blood filled his ears, lilacs filled his life. His body started to thrust, no longer remotely attached to his brain. Neurons fired uselessly. Wrapped around him, Moira was the only thing in existence. With a growl, he shoved her shoulder down, pushing her face against her forearms.

He wanted her open ... vulnerable ... helpless.

The whimper she sobbed sounded like need and demand.

He gave in to the demand, pounding into her. Sensations bombarded him, some hers, some his ... some beyond them both. His fangs dropped low. Sparks lit down his back to twirl at the base of his spine. Close. He was so close.

Reaching around her, he found her swollen clit. She levered up, her head thrown back, her spine arching, meeting him thrust for thrust.

He tangled his hand in her hair. Pushed her back down. His way—this time, his way. A tightened grip quelled her protest, his palm extending across her scalp to hold her in place. Tight thighs quivered against his as his stance widened, spreading her legs farther. Open. Completely at his mercy.

His other hand clutched her hip, yanking her back to meet every thrust. Her buttocks shook with the force of his momentum, even as she tried to keep up. His tongue swelled with the need for her blood. “Mine.” Promise or vow ... it came from his soul.

She stiffened. Then, with a sigh, her shoulders and thighs relaxed.

Submission. He’d never sought it, he’d never wanted it. Until now.

As his powerful mate submitted of her own free will, she pierced his heart in two, sealing their fate. As if they’d ever had a choice.

The creature inside him, the one he often fought, took over. He plunged harder, deeper, beyond the physical. She trembled under him. With a pinch to her clit, she broke. A scream of release filled the airplane, her heat squeezing his cock so hard his vision went black.

Waves rippled around him.

Pleasure cascaded from her.

A growl ripped from his soul.

He angled deeper, covering her. Quick as a flash, his fangs pierced her neck. She orgasmed again. Honey and energy flowed into his mouth. His back heated, a hot poker of lust stabbed a centimeter behind his balls. Holding on to everything that mattered in life, he shot forward, keeping her captive. With a roar from the animal within, he came.