Christine Feehan - Predatory Game

Color swept along her high cheekbones. “You’re moving just fine. Now get up.”

“Actually, I can’t.” His arms tightened possessively, his mouth tasting the scented skin at the hollow of her throat.

His tongue felt like a velvet rasp, moving over her pulse, leaving tiny darts of fire racing over her skin. Her body, of its own volition, melted into his, turning boneless and pliant, catching fire from his, even when her brain screamed at her to not react.

“You betrayed me.” The accusation came out desperate because she felt desperate. Jess Calhoun was her enemy because he was the only one who could stop her from leaving.

“Saber, you’ve been just as well trained as I have. And I know Whitney well enough to know he taught you all about security clearances and need-to-know. You’re black ops, covert, and you absolutely know what that means. I work for the government. When it comes to national security, there’s no backup in me. I’m sorry if it feels like betrayal to you, but I can’t compromise my country because I’m in love with you.”

She struggled again. “If you don’t let go of me, you’re going to end up hurt.”

“You want me to let you go, Saber? If you really think I betrayed you, if you really think I’m no better than Whitney, then do it-kill me now.”

She held her body stiff, her expression closed to him, but he refused to look away from her. He gave her a little shake. “Do it. I know you can. You hear my heartbeat.” He dragged her palm over his chest and held it there. “Either way, you’re ripping out my heart, so do it right.”

“Stop it. You know I can’t.” Tears shimmered in her eyes. “I know you aren’t like Whitney. Don’t push so hard.”

“You’re afraid, Saber. You’re fighting me-us-because you’re afraid to be crushed, to give yourself to me when I might betray you. Really betray you. You’re afraid to give me your heart because you’re afraid I could hurt you worse than anyone ever has. Why would you think that, Saber?” He held her face so that she was forced to look at him when she wanted to turn away from the truth. “I’ll tell you why. It’s because you love me. You love me so much it scares you. And you know how I know that? Because I love you, just as much. All of you, every part of you, from that poor little child who was forced to kill, to the beautiful, courageous woman who’s trying so hard never to kill again. I love you, Saber. I love you. And, if you leave me, you might as well kill me before you go, because I will be dead without you anyway.”

“Stop, Jesse. Stop. You have to stop.”

“You can run for the rest of your life, but for what? What kind of life will you have? Alone? Without me? On the run? Stay with me, Saber. I can’t promise he won’t come after you, but I can promise you that you won’t have to fight him alone when he does.”

She’d been alone for so long until Jess. Then she’d made a home. A life. She had a best friend who made her laugh. Who could talk intelligently on most any subject. She had a man who made her feel beautiful even when she wasn’t. And sexy. She’d never felt that way in her life until he’d opened the door to her and she’d seen the slow burn start in his eyes.

How could she ever bear giving him up and going back to living in the shadows? Pretending? His mouth was warm against her neck. His lips felt soft and firm. She wanted this, the hard strength of his arms, the exciting demands of his male body, the pure velvet magic of his seeking mouth. His lips burned a trail of fire from her throat to the side of her trembling mouth. There was no thought of resistance-how could there be?

Saber found herself smoothing her sensitized fingers over the definition of his muscles, feeding her fire, his fire. She was melting, boneless, fierce excitement and moist heat.

Jess shifted his weight, rolled her beneath him, his mouth fastened hungrily to hers, urgently feeding on her sweetness. His hand spanned her throat, feeling for her telltale pulse, the satin heat of her skin. His fingers splayed out, tracing her collarbone, fingertips caressing the soft swell of her breasts. Jess’s mouth was merciless, demanding her shyly ardent response.

He slid his hand up the line of her hip, her narrow rib cage, pushing the thin material of her shirt up out of the way as he did so. His palm found her small, nipped waist, rested there possessively, slid around to her back, wanting to explore every inch of her flawless skin. The tips of his fingers touched a rigid raised circle and then found a second one.

Saber stiffened instantly, tore her mouth from his, hands pushing hard against the heavy muscles of his shoulders. His black gaze was riveted to her transparent face, picking up the jumble of confused emotions. A hint of desperation, fear, even revulsion. The smoldering, sultry desire was fading from her haunted eyes, but her lips retained the brand of his mouth.

Jess brought up his arms, locking her to him. “Stop struggling, Saber,” he ordered gruffly.

“Let me go. I can’t do this. I really can’t. I’m sorry, I thought I could, but…”

Saber flung herself sideways the instant she felt Jess loosen his hold. She had known he would, he was always so conscious of his strength, careful never to actually hurt her. Jess swore as she tumbled from his arms to the mat, as she scrambled to put a safe distance between them. He caught her ankle, brought her up short.

“Jesse. Let go. I have to get out of here.” She sat up, panting for breath, her face white, desperate, the plea in her voice close to terror.

Jesse’s heart turned over, every nerve in his body responding to her desperation, but he knew his hold on her was as fragile or as strong as the fingers circling her ankle.

“Settle down, baby,” he said softly, gently. “Just sit there, Saber, because I’m not letting you go. Not now, not ever. We belong and you know we do.”

“Do you really think this is going to end happily like some fairy tale?” She dashed tears from her face. “I’ve never even read a fairy tale, Jesse. Back when I first met you and you mentioned them to me while you were teasing me, I lied and said I had my favorites, but I never in my life have read one.”

“Well, I believe in fairy-tale endings,” he told her. “My parents have been together for years and they’re still very much in love. I want a family, Saber-with you.”

Her face paled visibly. “Don’t say that.”

“Don’t say what? That I love you? That I want you for my wife and the mother of my children? That I think it’s possible for us to have a life together? I have a friend who is married to a GhostWalker. She was raised in an asylum. She starts fires accidentally when the energy builds around her. She didn’t think she could have a life either, and believe me, Whitney was after her. She made it out. She can’t be around too many people, but she and her husband, Nico, have a wonderful home and a good life. We can too, if we want it bad enough. I want it bad enough. You just have to want it too.”

Her eyes clung to his, so blue they were nearly purple, tears increasing the effect. A man could drown in her eyes. Slowly, inch by inch, Jess eased himself into a sitting position. She looked so shocked he wanted to take her into his arms, but he hadn’t won-not yet. His hold on her ankle tightened fractionally. “Come here and show me what’s on your back that sent you into such a panic.”

Saber’s eyes widened, startled. She shook her head.

She slid away from him across the mat as he tugged on her leg. Saber lost her balance and sprawled forward, facedown right at his side. He threw his weight over her, pinning her beneath him.

Jess shoved the material of her blouse up ruthlessly, exposing her slender back. Everything in him froze, stopped, his heart, his lungs, his blood, even his brain. Then white hot anger shot into him, consumed him, ate him up. Even seeing the photographs couldn’t have prepared him for the sight of her scarred back.