Determined to spend some time alone with the feisty human he wants as his mate, Salvo Xett invites Natalie Marino to Ghost City. He’s afraid she will find the abject poverty shocking after the relative luxury of the other villages, but he must know her reaction before he claims her. Ghost City is his home. His mate must be able to see beyond the scorched ruins to the forgotten people desperately needing their help.
No sooner do Salvo and Natalie arrive in Ghost City than they are asked to rescue a kidnapped child. Their investigation takes them on an inadvertent tour through the seediest parts of town. Natalie is horrified yet filled with compassion and determination. Her intense attraction to Salvo might have brought her to Ghost City, but a burning need to help the “urbanites” convinces her to stay. Pleased by her reaction to the conflict, Salvo is even more convinced that he has found his soulmate and will stop at nothing to claim her as his own.
Copyright © 2020 Cyndi Friberg
His stubborn hesitation confused her. He seemed surprised that she wanted him, which didn’t make sense. He was amazing, brilliant, innovative, compassionate and incredibly powerful. He had every quality she’d hoped for in a mate and more. “This is exactly what I want, Salvo,” she stressed. “Do you have doubts?”
“Not about you,” he insisted. “I just…” His words became a frustrated sigh as he stared past her for a moment. Then he framed her face with his hands and pressed his mouth over hers.
She tensed, wanting to understand what was bothering him. But his lips caressed hers, his warm breath gently teasing, and she decided the conversation could wait.
Instinctively closing her eyes, she expected him to deepen the kiss, to stake his claim. She should have known better. The tip of his tongue teased her lips, caressing without venturing inside. He was cruel like that, making her wait until her entire body ached before he gave her what she desperately needed.
His mouth moved over hers, lips sliding, teeth gently nibbling. She moaned, half-frustration, half-pleasure. His tongue finally parted her lips. She encouraged him with a swirling caress and he pushed even deeper. Gradually his taste spread through her mouth fueling the fire his scent had ignited. She clutched his shoulders and rocked her hips, unable to hide how badly she wanted him.
“We should move to the bedroom,” he whispered against her lips, but went right on kissing her.
She opened for the bold thrust of his tongue, responding just as aggressively. His hands ran up and down her back, drifting lower until he squeezed her butt. Emboldened by his obvious need, she pulled up his tunic so she could stroke his bare chest. He tore the garment off over his head, their lips parting for a millisecond.
“Gods woman.” He cupped her breast through her blouse and looked into her eyes. “If we don’t stop, our first joining is going to be right here on this sofa.”
“I don’t care.”