Two years of unimaginable abuse have left Chandar emotionally damaged. In a final act of treachery, her captor wiped her memory clean in an effort to conceal his evil. Now she’s free and working to rebuild her life, but what use is a harbinger who can no longer see the future?
Raylon, the rebellion’s fiercest warrior, has known nothing but hardship and pain. Rescuing Chandar awakened feelings he thought long dead within his soul, yet she sees him as her champion, a protector to drive back her fear. He, on the other hand, is tormented by inappropriate thoughts and desires that would horrify her. He has never wanted a female as much as he wants Chandar, but he knows it’s impossible. She’s much too fragile, too vulnerable, to see him as anything but her defender.
Copyright © 2016 Cyndi Friberg
“If you want to stay, I’ll go to my suite. It’s obvious you’re trying to avoid me.”
The hurt in her eyes made him feel like a heartless jerk. “I’m not trying to avoid you.” Yet that was exactly why he’d refused to stay.
“Really?” She walked toward him, hips gently rolling, gaze filled with challenge. “Doesn’t look that way to me.”
His wayward eyes dipped to the subtle jiggle of her breasts and lingered. She wasn’t even wearing a bra! The outfit begged for the kind of attention he was aching to give her. “That’s quite a dress.”
“Indigo let me borrow it.” She kept right on coming until she stood right in front of him. “Do you like it?”
“Why’d you wear it?” He dragged his gaze back to her face as he waited for her answer. Could she see the ridge in the front of his pants? Would she remember what it meant?
“I’m not a little girl, Raylon.”
“I can see that.”
“If last night made you uncomfortable, I’m sorry.”
Provoked beyond his good intentions, he scanned open his door and pulled her inside his suite. A second after the door slid closed behind them, he backed her into the nearest wall. “Make damn sure this is what you want. Once I touch you, I’m not sure I’ll be able to stop.”
Her confidence deflated as suddenly as it had appeared. She lowered her gaze and nervously licked her lips. “Am I the only one who wants this?”
Rather than reassure her with words, he took Garin’s advice and let go of all the reasons he’d used to keep from touching her. He was intense and demanding. If she wasn’t ready for that sort of lover, she wasn’t ready for him.
He leaned in, pressing his body against hers. His cock was so hard, she had to feel it against her belly. “Did you have lovers before?” What was wrong with him? Why even bring it up?
She nodded. “I know what I’m asking for.”
“No you don’t or you wouldn’t be here.” He curved his fingers around the back of her neck, his heart beating so fast his fingers tingled. Or maybe it was just touching her that electrified his skin. He bent his head and brushed his lips against her temple.
She sucked in a breath and slowly raised her hands to his chest. He feathered kisses along the side of her face until he reached the corner of her mouth. Despite the desire pounding through his body, he couldn’t frighten her, couldn’t unleash his demanding need and devour her.
He touched his lips to hers, the contact so light it could barely be termed a kiss. Her lips trembled then parted, sweetly surrendered, and his control snapped. He tilted his head and fit his mouth over hers, filling his lungs with her breath. Both his hands came up to frame her face and angle her head so their mouths perfectly aligned.
His tongue teased her lips, announcing his intention before he eased inside. He slid against her tongue, barely able to breathe as he waited for her to react. For an endless moment, she remained still, not resisting, yet unresponsive as well. Then her hands encircled his neck and she pressed her breasts to his chest as her tongue came to life. She echoed his caresses and curled around him in a sensual dance of lips and tongues.
Her taste filled his mouth, instantly imprinting on his brain. He took the kiss deeper, burying one hand in her hair as the other explored.