Annie Nicholas - Catch

He made an encouraging noise and lay down as I kissed along his neck toward his chest. The lean muscles of his abdomen and sides twitched under my hands as I caressed them and slid farther down.

Rubbing against my stomach, the bulge in his pants spoke of his body’s response. I unfastened the buttons on his black slacks and exposed his hard cock. His breaths got heavier as I drew closer to it, yet he remained still. My lover was usually a much more active participant. Demanding and aggressive, he normally would have taken charge by now.

I finally reached my destination and kissed along its length. Lifting his hips, he pushed his pants lower to give me better access. I gazed up his body to meet his heated stare before slipping him into my mouth. By leaning my head back a little, it gave him the view I knew he liked as I swallowed and sucked.

His hand reached out to my hair, but settled back onto the bed to grasp the sheets in a tight fist instead. I didn’t want him to be afraid to touch me. Would I ever startle or flinch again? Probably, nevertheless I needed to adapt or it would tear us apart.

Releasing his cock, I straddled him. “Give me your hands.”

Rurik eyed me warily for a moment, placing his hands in mine.

I placed one on my thigh and the other on my breast. With some coaxing, I got him to caress my skin.

Sure, strong passes of his hands over my back, my stomach, and down my legs made me crave his embrace. It soothed some of the raw ache buried inside. I’d felt lost and only realized it now. He offered me safety, even if he thought his protection poor.

The palms of his hands brushed over my nipples and they pebbled. I sucked in a breath as electric pleasure shot from his touch through my nerve endings. Golden light of bliss chased the dark shivers away. I needed to be . No thoughts and no worries to cloud my overwrought mind. Rurik could do this. He knew how to drown me in hedonistic desires.

Moist warmth of his mouth followed his hands as he sat and wrapped his arms around my body. Pulling me closer, he suckled with an uncharacteristic gentleness, lapping his tongue in a circle around the sensitive bud. The strength of his arms gave the sense of security I longed for and I melted into them.

“Rurik.” As the name left my lips, I sensed him tense just before he swung me down to the mattress and crawled on top.

The movements came too fast and too sudden. My limbs stiffened and I startled.

“Sorry.” He withdrew. Hurt and frustration marred his voice. I would not let Luckard ruin my love life. The injuries he inflicted should have been only skin-deep, except I could still feel the manacles around my wrists and the sense of vulnerability.

“Don’t.” I grabbed Rurik’s shoulders and tugged him back. “Help me get through this.” Desperation cried in my words. I cupped his face in my hands and gave him a tender kiss. “I want you.”

“I can’t stand the fear in your face.”

“Kiss me.” I ran my hands along his smooth back then wrapped my legs around his hips to pull him even closer.

“I’m going to kill him for you.” Then he covered his mouth over mine with a fiery hunger so I couldn’t respond.

Pressed into the mattress with his weight on me, a moment of panic began to rise again. I moaned and made myself hug him closer. My heart fluttered an erratic beat.

He wove his fingers in my curls as the kiss grew deeper and slower. Each stroke of his tongue soothed my anxiety like a balm.

I sighed and the knots in my neck relaxed. My heart still hammered, except with anticipation now.

With a shift of his knees, Rurik brought his cock to my entry and slid inside with a light thrust. This loving tempo excited me as much as his more aggressive practice.

Our gazes met as the kiss ended. I could have drowned in the depth of his stare.

“Rabbit.” That one word expressed all he felt. I belonged to him, just as much as he belonged to me. It was something we both wanted and needed when we’d met.

Lifting my hips, I encouraged every gentle plunge, allowing him deep inside. My breaths came faster as the ecstasy built in my core. “Yes. Oh, yes.” I tried to increase the rhythm, but he ignored my efforts.

He randomly placed small kisses over my face until he reached my right earlobe.

With the edges of his teeth he nibbled it.

That area contained a link to my g-spot, allowing a direct button to induce an organism. He’d been very pleased when he discovered it a few months ago.

Sometimes so was I.

As soon as he stimulated my weak spot, I’d gone from a frightened girl to a wanton woman in seconds. I bucked and grabbed and scratched while he slid in and out at a maddening slow pace.

His low, sexy chuckle sounded in my ear.

“Bastard.” I cried out and arched my back. “Yes.”

Hot, heavy breathing answered me. Rurik clasped my hair in his fists before he ground against me and shuddered.

After he’d caught his breath and rolled off, I crawled into the comfort of his arms.

He pulled me close. “Let’s not leave the bed tonight.”

The clack of the whip still echoed in my head as I sat bolt upright in bed. Sweat rolled off my skin and soaked the sheets. I blinked a few times and took in my surroundings.

Big wooden furniture, four-poster bed, the couch Tane had sat on. He’d been upset.

My shoulders unknotted; I was in his nest, safe, not with Luckard. With a deep, shuddering breath, I flopped back onto the pillows. Rurik lay next to me, oblivious. He couldn’t comfort me. Not that he wouldn’t want to but because the sun had risen. Even if the house burned like an inferno, he’d lay here and burn with it. So would all the vampires in this nest.

It was one of the reasons they needed us. Food, security, and I think some preferred our love. I rolled on my side and stared at Rurik’s profile.

Perfect nose and cheek structure, he could model for GQ or have any woman he wanted. He chose me. Penniless, no direction, mortal Connie.

I sighed. The nightmares would stalk me if I fell asleep again and I’d seen enough of Luckard for one lifetime. I jumped out of bed and hit the shower. Dried and dressed in a towel, I stood in the middle of the bedroom. What the hell was I going to wear? My tattered dress still lay on the bathroom floor covered in old blood.

Lifting Rurik’s pants off the ground, I glance his way. Not like he’d need them at the moment. I slipped them on and used a curtain tie as a makeshift belt then rolled the hem a few times. And rolled them again. Damn, moments like this made me realize how short I was. With a quiet growl, I snatched a shirt he borrowed from a guard off the coffee table and pulled it over my head. It came to my knees. Double damn .

Fresh air sounded like a great idea. Sunshine could chase away the willies my nightmare left behind except where did I find it? I stomped to the door and was thrilled when it opened. I half expected it to be locked.

By the doorframe I noticed an intercom. I stuck my head out the door and checked both ways. The place looked deserted. Should I buzz for help? I really didn’t feel like talking to anyone and they might deny me access outside. Screw it, I closed the door and took a right.

When I got to the next right, Gwen waited for me. She ran Tane’s security and helped rescue us from Luckard.

I stopped in my tracks.

Leaning her shoulder against the wall, she examined her fingernails. “Where are you going?”

“Outside.” I suddenly flashed back to my grandmother doing a similar thing when she’d caught me sneaking out one night. Gwen reduced me to feeling ten again.

“Anywhere particular?”

“No, I want some fresh air.”