Predatory Game

CHAPTER 20

“Jess, you’re back.” Ken Norton glanced at his watch. “Four in the morning and you’re getting married tomorrow. You cut it close, bro.” He was crouched low on top of the boulder guarding the entrance to the Norton land.

Jess and Saber were temporarily staying in a cabin the Norton twins had up in the mountains of Montana.

Jess paused on his way in through the twisting trail. The night was moonless and the clouds obscured most of the stars-just the way they liked it. “I didn’t have a lot of choice. The meeting with Rear Admiral Henderson and General Rainer went as well as I could expect, I guess, but neither of them were very happy that we’d been investigating them.”

Ken shrugged, cradling his rifle in his arms, his eyes making a sweep of the tree line below. “I doubt if you or Ryland offered much in the way of an apology.”

“Hell no. We gave them our findings and a copy of the tape. The original is here and we’re keeping it that way.”

“You’ll be happy to know the escrow went through. You officially own eighty-six acres up here. Ryland and Lily are purchasing land as well. In fact they’re buying up everything they can in the hopes that more of the GhostWalkers will settle here later. I’ve been messing around a little with ideas for buildings we can more easily defend.” Ken shrugged his shoulders. “Was hoping you’d take a look later.”

Jess nodded. “Definitely. I want to start building as soon as we can. Patsy is willing to build her home near mine so I’ll know she’s safe as well. That means we’ve got to put up two homes next spring.”

“I’m glad she finally agreed to come. She and Saber still talking about owning another radio station?” Ken’s inquiry sounded mild enough.

Jess’s smile was faint. He knew exactly what Ken was thinking. “Don’t go worrying. If it comes to that, we’ll do it up here. I know it would be a nightmare to protect them in town.”

“Where do we stand with it all?”

“About the same. The espionage ring is still in place, and unfortunately several army personnel are involved along with a major player in the White House, which pretty much means we’re fucked. Violet is on the loose with her own personal agenda and Whitney is busy manipulating everyone.”

Ken grinned at him. “Yeah, well, we like life interesting.”

“I’ve got to get back and catch a little sleep before the big event.” Jess tried to sound casual when he was anything but. He couldn’t wait to see Saber-to hold her in his arms.

Ken snorted. “She’s a little pissed at you, my friend. Don’t expect a warm reception when you crawl into her bed to-er-sleep.”

Jess smirked at him and walked up the path toward the cabin, waving at one of the guards crouched high in the cliffs overlooking the property. He had spotted several of the GhostWalkers patrolling and knew they had arrived for the wedding. His wedding. He grinned like an idiot, just thinking about it.

He’d been gone seven days while he was meeting with the admiral to give him the findings of the investigation. But now he was home and determined to see Saber.

He had hated leaving her behind, and she’d been less than happy about it, but he felt she was safer under the protection of the GhostWalker team.

He slipped through the open window and just stood there a moment, drinking in the sight of her. She was so beautiful she made his heart ache. Stripping quickly, Jess climbed into bed, pulling her feminine form into his arms.

She cuddled into him, curled like a little kitten, as his larger body wrapped around hers protectively. Her blue-black curls felt like silk against his face and her soft skin invited his touch. He inhaled her, pulling her scent deep into his lungs. His body was already hungry, his mouth craving the taste of her.

He stretched, moving his legs, reveling in the miracle of being able to do so, then leaned into her and kissed the nape of her neck, his hands sliding up her rib cage to cup her breasts. He was a big man and she seemed so fragile, yet he knew there was power in her-steel in her. She would stand beside him no matter what happened.

It was a luxury to be able to touch her, to wake up to her soft curvy body. His. He smiled again and pushed the sheet from her, sliding his body over and down hers.

“What are you doing here?” Saber didn’t open her eyes.

Her drowsy voice was mesmerizing, sliding through his system like a drug. “Go back to sleep. I want to indulge myself a little bit.”

“You left me and I’m mad at you, so go away.”

He slid his hands over her soft skin from her breasts to her belly. She didn’t open her eyes but she frowned at him.

“You don’t deserve me. Go. Away.”

“It’s our wedding day.”

“It was. I was abandoned. Left behind. Deserted. I’m dreaming of retaliation right now and you’re disturbing me.”

He brushed the tip of her breast with his lips, feather light. “What kind of retaliation?” He felt her stomach muscles bunch in answer.

“I’m finding one of the very hot Special Forces marines to take your place. He will adore me and never leave me.”

“He will get his throat slit and you will be punished severely. Go back to sleep and dream about a proper retaliation such as killing me or something. That’s much more appropriate. And no jarhead could ever take the place of a SEAL, baby.” He bent to bite gently, his tongue bathing away the small sting.

“Ow!” She pushed at his head. “Go away.”

His mouth closed over her breast, suckling strongly, tongue dancing over her nipple, flicking and teasing until she was arching into him and the hands that had been pushing him away were pulling him closer.

“Fine,” she muttered. “I guess I’ll keep you.”

He laughed and kissed his way down her belly, caressing her thighs and pushing them apart. He lay over her, his hands on her abdomen, his arms locking her hips in place while he bent to taste her. Beneath him, she jumped, her hips jerking, but he held her still and took several long, satisfying licks. The honeyed taste of her was sexy as hell, and he decided waking up should be all about indulgence. He could have his way every morning and be a happy man all day.

“You’re so beautiful.”

Her body was flushed, her thighs tight. Muscles bunched in her stomach and dew glistened on the tiny corkscrew curls guarding the treasure he was after. He held her open to him, and bent his head and drank, tongue stabbing deep, circling her clit and drawing out nectar.

Her body thrashed, but he held her firmly, giving her a small smack on her bottom. The little flair of heat sent more honey his way. He lapped it up in appreciation. “Stay still. This is my time, you can do whatever you want later-after all, I have to show you navy men are up to the task.”

Saber moaned, clutching at the pillow to keep from lifting off the bed. His tongue was like fire, stroking little flames around her clit. He suckled, the sound sexy, sinfully wicked. A sob of pleasure escaped and she clawed the sheets, trying to stay still for him. His eyes went hot and dark with lust as he felt the first tremors in her body.

“Oh, yeah, baby, come apart for me.” His finger swept over her slick heat, pushing deep, and she felt the rush of an orgasm overtaking her. Instantly he bent his head again and used his sinful mouth to increase the strength of the quakes, his tongue probing deep, until she went wild, thrashing under him and crying out his name.

Jess grinned as he pulled back. She was so beautiful with her eyes nearly opaque and the signs of his mouth all over her. He kissed her thighs and laced her fingers between his own, stretching her arms over her head and pinning her hands to the mattress as he bent forward to find her mouth with his. He could kiss her forever. He planned on kissing her forever.

He took his time kissing her over and over, deepening each until he could feel the same urgency in her as he felt. He shifted, sliding from the mattress, wanting to be on his feet, dragging her body to the edge of his bed.

“What are you doing?”

“Anything.” He lifted her hips and bent to drink again. She cried out brokenly, her breath coming in ragged gasps. “Everything.” He licked another offering of warm honey and then straightened over her. “Open your mouth.”

He looked huge standing over her like some avenging god, but she couldn’t resist the driving hunger in him. She wanted to taste him, wanted to see how far she could drive him before he lost control.

“This is supposed to happen after the wedding,” she pointed out as he pushed his hips closer, nudging her lips with the broad flared head of his heavy erection.

“You’re my wife,” he said. “In every sense of the word, you’re my wife.”

She let him wait a heartbeat before she licked the small pearly drop from the head. His hips jerked and he caught her hair in his hands like reins. She laughed as he pushed into her mouth eagerly. The sound traveled up his shaft like a vibration and she felt him shudder, saw him throw back his head and close his eyes.

She took him deep, her tongue teasing along the underside of the broad head, finding the most sensitive spot, while her hand circled the base, fingers caressing. She loved him with her mouth, suckling hard and flattening her tongue only to shift back to a slower pace. She matched her rhythm with his, the heartbeat, the quickening breath so she could follow more easily what pleased him best. Everything seemed to please him. His hips began an urgent thrusting, and she felt him thicken more, harden into silken steel.

It was Jess who pulled away, his breath coming in harsh gasps. “Not so fast, woman of mine. You’re going to kill me.”

“You deserve to be killed for leaving me.”

He caught her easily and flipped her over onto her stomach, yanking her back so that her hips hung over the bed. One arm banded around her waist while his other hand immediately went between her legs, finding the moisture that told him she was more than ready for him. He pushed his finger into her and her muscles clamped down greedily.

“You’re so damned hot, Saber.” He pressed one hand to the nape of her neck, holding her against the bed while he continued to probe with his other hand, plunging his fingers deep and then withdrawing until she was moaning and pushing back against his hand.

Jess immediately removed the temptation of his fingers and replaced it with his heavy erection. She tried to lunge back, to impale herself on him, but he made her wait, holding her helpless while he pushed inside of that fiery, tight channel, inch by slow inch. She was almost too tight, her silken sheath gripping him until he wanted to roar with pleasure. He withdrew and entered again with that same excruciatingly slow push, absorbing the way her body tightened around his, clamping down with heat and fire, living silk moving and contracting around him.

Her breath exploded in a little sob and she tried again to push back harder, to force the pace she wanted. His fingers tightened on the nape of her neck. “Not yet, baby, take it slow and easy.”

He didn’t want slow and easy any more than she did, but he wanted her desperate for him. He wanted her to crave him the same way he did her, to feel that hunger clawing and ripping at her until she would do anything to have him give her release. He rubbed the soft, firm skin of her buttocks, massaging as he slowly withdrew and then watching as he disappeared into that secret feminine channel.

When she thrashed again, he plunged hard and fast. She sobbed, her muscles clenching around his, her hips rocking as he drove in harder, holding her pinned to the bed, driving so deep her bottom nestled against his stomach. His cock throbbed almost painfully, swelling more, stretching her feminine sheath.

Saber couldn’t move, couldn’t do anything at all but lay there facedown, keening, as he pistoned harder and harder into her. The hot friction sent sensations rocketing to every part of her body until it seemed that every part of her ached for release. It was all the more erotic hanging over the bed, unable to move while he took his pleasure and gave it back tenfold. Each hard thrust of his cock sliding through her velvet folds felt like flames dragging over her.

He began to pump hard and fast so that she couldn’t possibly control the pleasure bursting through her body, the tightening of every muscle, the building and building until the mind-numbing explosion sent quakes and shudders through her body. Her muscles convulsed around the heavy shaft, squeezing harshly, until, with a hoarse cry, he climaxed with her.

Jess lay over the top of her, his breath coming in gasps, his heart pounding. He slipped his hands beneath her body and cupped her breasts, kissing the nape of her neck while they lay locked together. He could feel her body rippling around his cock and he responded with small jerks of gratified bliss. She’d drained him, left him sated and happy, but somewhere deep inside, that dark craving was already beginning all over again, his mind alive with his fantasies and all the things he could do to pleasure her.

“I love you, baby.” He stood with reluctance, not wanting to separate them, but knowing he was heavy. He let his cock slide from the heat of her body.

“You’re going to be in such trouble when Patsy finds out you’re here,” Saber whispered, turning to him, circling his neck with her slender arms.

“Yeah well, I’d brave just about anything to be with you.” He lifted her, kissing her, wanting her to feel how she shook him up inside. “Are you good with this? With living here? With being a part of all this?”

“And if I wasn’t?”

“You’re my world, Saber. If you aren’t happy, then I’m not happy.” He kissed her again and set her on the bed, coming down to her, his smile cocky. “Then I keep working at convincing you until you know this is where you belong.”

Jess bent his head to nuzzle her belly. Someday his child would grow there. Their child. He would carve out a life for them any way he could, and God help anyone who tried to take it away, because he wouldn’t have mercy if they came at his family again.

“I know where I belong,” she said, her fingers twisting in his hair. “I know exactly where I belong.”

Jess Calhoun was her man, her other half, and wherever he was, that was her home. Whoever he was with, that was her family. And if anyone tried to take it all away from her-well, there was a whole side of her that she was suppressing, but it was there, waiting and ready to protect her own.

Saber Wynter, soon to be Saber Calhoun, had finally stopped running-both from Whitney and from herself. At long last she knew who she was and where she belonged. She’d made a home for herself here, a life, with Jesse. So, maybe it wasn’t the normal life she’d always dreamed of-and maybe it never would be.

But then again, who needed normal?

This was so much better.