Mercenaries (37 page)

A moment later they had themselves arranged—Rune on his back with Cassidy straddling his face while she slid his length into her mouth. The sensations he created with the first wickedly skillful stroke of his tongue sent jolts of feral pleasure up her spine.

She tried to distract herself with the hot, smooth length of his cock, swirling her tongue over the velvet head. He groaned against her sex. Purring, she started feeding his length into her mouth, intent on working him completely down her throat.

That should drive him nuts.

But Rune was every bit as skillful as she was, as he demonstrated with swirling tongue flicks that soon had her squirming. A strong finger found her sex, slid inside for a slow, deep thrust. Cassidy moaned. Let go long of his cock enough to pant.

A second finger joined the first. Pumped. “Like that?” he asked roguishly.

Eyes narrowing, she swooped her head down and engulfed him, feeding him completely down her throat. This time it was his turn to groan.

Then he slid a finger up her backside and chuckled at her gasp. Pumped his hand. She almost choked on his cock at the darkly carnal sensation.

Panting, she drew back and released him. Looking over her shoulder at his masculine grin, she gave him a mock glower. “Are you challenging me?”

The grin broadened. “Oh, definitely.”

She grinned back. “That's what I thought.”

Then they attacked each other. Lips and tongues and teeth, caressing, sucking, and biting. Hands cupping, fingers stroking. Soon every nerve in Cassidy's body was quivering in time with Rune's deep pants.

“God, Rune!” she gasped finally, so hot with need she felt maddened.

He growled.

The next thing she knew, he'd tumbled her onto her back. She spread her thighs wide as he pounced, bracing one hand beside her shoulder as he aimed his cock for her wet sex. His first stroke tore a groan from her lips. She wrapped her legs around his waist and rolled her hips up at him.

Rune bent his head to rake his teeth gently over her nipple. “Ohhh, yeah,” she purred, her eyes shuttering in bliss. She threaded her fingers into his short, dark hair and held him close as he licked and played, thrusting slowly, sweetly.

Finally he looked up at her, his eyes blazing. “You taste so good.” Driving in a deep, hard lunge that made her gasp, he groaned. “You
feel
so good.”

“Mmm. So do you.” She ground up at him, enjoying the way his cock shuttled in and out of her slick core, filling her so deeply, so completely. Clinging to his broad shoulders, she stared up into his face, watching pleasure close its grip on him, tighter and tighter with every sweet entry. A flush rose over the brutal cheekbones, and his lips parted.

But there was more than lust in his glittering gaze. Tenderness softened his hard features as he looked down at her. The love there was so pure, so intense, that it took her breath.

Until at last he threw back his head with a shout, driving all the way to the balls in her, grinding deliciously down on her clit. Her orgasm rose in a sudden hot wave and swept her away with a frenzied cry of completion.

Finally Rune collapsed over her, and Cassidy wrapped her trembling arms around his sweat-slicked shoulders. With a groan, he rolled over, tumbling her with him.

Panting, her senses still shimmering from the aftermath, she lay draped across his muscled torso, listening to him breathe. She felt sweetly dazzled, sated.

Long moments passed before she felt capable of speech or thought. Unfortunately, the first thought that occurred to her was a worry.

Stroking her fingertips through his dark chest hair, she said, “You've given up a lot for me. Your people, your home. I hope you won't regret it.”

His chuckle vibrated against her cheek. “Oh, believe me, love—I won't. Especially not if you keep rewarding me like this.”

She lifted her head and braced her chin on her fist. “That was not a reward fuck.”

“No?” His grin was white and roguish. “What would you do as a reward fuck?”

Cassidy sat up. “Be a good boy and find out.”

Rune snorted. “I'm not a boy of any kind.”

“
That's
the truth.” She sobered, frowning. “But seriously . . .”

“I don't think you have to worry about me regretting my choice, Cassidy. That party today . . .” He hesitated, his gaze going distant. “There was such warmth between your crewmates, a sense of camaraderie. It brought home to me how little of that I knew on the
Conquest
. We were too busy guarding our honor and our thoughts. Jockeying for advancement, fighting duels to prove our skill and worthiness. I could never drop my guard, not even with my Wing Brothers. Any sign of weakness would be instantly seized and turned against me.”

She frowned in sympathy. “Tough way to live.”

He stroked a hand through her long, tangled hair. “I think that's why I was so determined to capture you. I wanted someone in my life I could love without fear of being met with contempt.”

Cassidy smiled slightly. “Believe me, Rune—the last thing I feel for you is contempt.” She let the smile bloom into a grin as she sat up to straddle him, contemplating his stirring cock. “Now, lust, on the other hand . . .” She stared into his eyes. “Marry me.” The question was an impulse, but she meant every word.

Rune smiled, slow and breathtaking. “As I recall, I asked you first.”

Cassidy grinned, giddy. “Yes. Oh, yeah.”

Then she fell into his arms.