Marie Harte - Below the Surface

“Tessa, yes.” He lifted her skirt and surged inside her in one swift thrust.

She bit her lip and pressed backward, unconsciously offering resistance, increasing the force of his thrusts as he pounded into her.

There was no finesse here, no soft words or studied caresses, but raw, hard need. His shaft slid in and out, riding her hard and deep as he grasped her hips and drove repeatedly, reaching one hand around to toy with her clit.

His breathing increased along with hers, her orgasm approaching swiftly, catching her breath between one heartbeat and the next.

She contracted around him, felt him pulse and stiffen. “Tessa,” he whispered harshly and convulsed, his shudders increasing. He gripped her hips tightly as he pumped until dry. Once finished, he eased his hold on her and began stroking her sensitive stomach, making her want him again when she shouldn’t possibly.

Bent over in front of him, still joined in an erotic bond, she felt both submissive and incredibly powerful. “Well, that was one I haven’t tried before,” she said huskily, her body pleasantly sore from his hard use. She wiped a lock of hair from her eyes and tried to glance over her shoulder at him, but he forced her to remain in place, his mental will keeping her unmoving. The helplessness of her position only increased her arousal.

“You’ll try it again with me,” Marcus rasped and flexed inside her. He pumped his hips and to her amazement he began to harden. “Only with me,” he added possessively, stirring her desire.

Large hands cupped her silk-covered breasts, and his palms teased her nipples to stand through both her bra and blouse. It wasn’t enough. She wanted his hands on her naked flesh, and before long she had her wish.

Marcus couldn’t believe how primitive he felt, taking Tessa from behind as he fondled her. He felt dominant, like a territorial male staking a claim, warning Jonas and every other man away from his affai .

He scowled and increased his thrusts, wanting to punish Tessa as much as he wanted to cherish her. His possessive thoughts were out of his control, and determined to push Tessa beyond her limits, he rode her without mercy, pulling her close to orgasm time and time again, but leaving her at the brink without going over.

He took her with his body, with his mind, and with his spirit that had joined with her regardless of his desire not to take an affai .

“Please, Marcus,” she gasped as he changed the friction of his cock, his sack grazing her hard nub. Ah, but her clit was deliciously ripe.

“Who do you belong to, Tessa?” he asked and deliberately stroked her clit while he pinched one taut nipple. With his mind he increased the pressure between her thighs, making her arch, needing more.

“You, Marcus,” she groaned and bounced as he rammed her particularly hard. With a mental pull, she urged him to give her more.

His lusty water siphon could take as much as he could give, and the knowledge made him ache to send them both to climax.

“Tell me you want me,” he rasped.

“I do.”

“Tell me you need this.” He thrust harder, pinching her nipples and stimulating her sex to a tight, pink blossom.

“Please.”

“Tell me,” he growled, his cock unbearably hard, his balls aching with the need to release.

“Marcus, I need you. Your affai needs you,” she keened as he pushed her over the edge.

Her contractions stimulated his orgasm, leaving him stronger for having connected with her and weaker as his seed shot into her moist womb, the pleasure making him almost lightheaded.

Once their passion ebbed, he slowly withdrew and mentally righted their clothing.

“Not bad after ignoring me for two days,” Tessa said on a breath, her hair a mass of red waves cascading down her back as she turned to face him. “What the hell is going on with you?”

He eyed her warily. The hazy afterglow of bliss combined with anger made Tessa completely irresistible. Her bright eyes were direct, and her mouth curled into a snarl that made him want to kiss the mad out of her. She was a warrior he had every intention of claiming, provided he kept her alive long enough to keep her.

He’d replayed ‘Sin Garu’s visit in his mind a hundred times, and he could come to no other conclusion but that the sorcerer wanted Tessa, badly. Oh, he wanted Marcus dead, no doubt. But desire had been there in the evil sorcerer’s murky blue gaze, a disturbing hunger Marcus had no intention of feeding.

Tessa’s lips pursed, accentuating their ripe fullness as she awaited his reply. He sighed heavily, conceding how difficult the past few days had been without her.

“I missed you,” he said gruffly, not surprised when she put her hands on her hips and stared, her eyes narrowed and bright. Obviously the woman wanted blood— his .

He ran a frustrated hand through his hair. Damn it. He didn’t want her to see how vulnerable she made him. His life had always been in danger, since the minute he was born. But Tessa had grown up in this world, without the threat of wraiths and dark magic, without the threat of treason and Djinn interference.

“Look, I’ve been busy the past few days.”

“Oh?” Her brow cocked high, dangerously high.

“Between the new accounts and watching for danger, I’m tired when I get home.”

“Bullshit. You’re running scared.”

He froze and returned her inspection with a frosty one of his own. “I wasn’t aware you had a degree in clinical psychology.”

“See? You only act all high and mighty when something bothers you. Face it, Marcus, I know you well enough to know something’s not right.” Her voice softened. “Why won’t you tell me what’s wrong?”

The urge to confess his worries was surprisingly strong, but he shrugged it away. Bad enough he knew the many problems he faced as a would-be king. His future bride didn’t need to know about his multitude of imperfections.

“I’m focused on keeping you safe, Tessa,” he said calmly, trying to convince her to leave it alone. “I can still see the wraiths attacking us in my office every time I close the door. I don’t need distractions, not when your safety’s on the line.”

She frowned. “No more than yours is. ‘Sin Garu seemed more thrilled at the idea of destroying you than bothering with me.”

“But taking you would destroy me,” he admitted on a harsh breath.

Her eyes warmed and she visibly relaxed, her smile wide and welcoming. Shit . Now he’d have a hell of a time keeping her away from him until the Djinn threat was exposed.

“Marcus, that was a wonderful thing to say.” She laughed. “Too bad you looked like you ate a lemon while saying it.”

His lips quirked. “Look, Tessa—”

She held up a hand. “No, no, before you go pissing me off again by saying something insulting, let me have this moment.”

He rolled his eyes but couldn’t help being amused by her theatrics. “Are you finished working yet?”

“Until my eight o’clock meeting tomorrow.” She groaned and arched her back, subtly reminding Marcus of how perfectly round her breasts were. Seeing his gaze she huffed. “Don’t think that hot, sweaty sex we shared is going to distract me, Marcus Storm.” She gathered her coat and purse and unlocked the door. “We have plenty of time to talk on the way home.”

With a silent groan, he followed her out of the office and closed the door behind them. He stiffened when he saw Jonas Chase across the room watching them with a strange look. A wave of danger settled over the space, and Marcus hastily drew a telepathic shield around his affai , leaving himself open to draw out his opponent.

“What—” Tessa began before following his gaze to her boss. “Not Jonas.”