Moonlit Rescue (4 page)

“I found it.” She pointed to herself. “I did.”

“And you won’t be a casualty because of it.” He pushed her hand down. “Are you so afraid of losing that you’ll lose yourself? I had to take you like I did. Would you have believed me if I came to you one day and politely told you your life was in jeopardy?”

“I won’t disappear like I never existed. I can’t.” Her lower lip quivered.

“You can. You have no family, no friends.” He had done months of research before acting and even if she cried, he needed to make her understand and push her to see what he offered. “You don’t even enjoy your work.”

She tensed and pulled back, lifting her chin. “That’s not true. I love geology.” Her voice was full of conviction, trying to sell them both.

“What did you really want to do?”

She paused. “I wanted to discover something.” Her gaze landed across the room, but she wasn’t here. She was somewhere else, a remote location, a mountaintop, a hidden underground world. “I thought I had when I found the element.”

“Kira.” He wanted to hold her close, but resisted, he needed her to give him more.

“I had friends and family,” she told him. Or was she trying to convince herself?

“Family dies unexpectedly sometimes. Friends betray you. People take credit for your work and get the promotions you deserve.” He watched a lone tear betray her like the people in her life had.

She nodded and reached up to wipe her face, but he was faster and caught her tear with his fingertip.

“Everyone disappoints eventually.” She let the words out and then pressed her lips together, the color blending into her pale skin.

“Maybe you can trust someone who will never hurt you and always be there for you.” He would be that person. “You can work at something you love.”

She slowly reached out, her hand nearly connecting to his face before she stopped herself.

He caught her hand, not willing to let the opportunity of her first real touch pass him by.

“What?” She tried to pull away.

He finished her action for her by placing her hand on his face.

“Oh.” Her eyes widened.

He reciprocated, pressing his palm to her cheek. A small growl escaped his throat when an unexpected coil of arousal wrapped itself around his body. He needed to keep himself in check.

They assessed each other and he inched his face toward her, wondering how close he could get to her before she retreated.

“Vale?”

Her breath danced across his lips. “Yes, Kira?”

“I’m sorry about what I did yesterday when we were this close.” She didn’t move away.

Her words only served to tighten the coil in his stomach. She was the woman he had wanted all these months. “Maybe we should try again.”

Her cheeks flushed the most delightful shade of red.

When she didn’t protest, he gave her a light kiss, brushing his lips against hers, loving how her mouth yielded to his and how her breath caught.

He pulled back, licking his lips to savor again her sweet, feminine taste that left him craving more. He needed to stop or he would have to have her. At last he understood why kissing was so important to his human side.

It took a moment for her to open her eyes. She touched her mouth.

“You are too beautiful and too tiny for your own good.” He ran his thumb along her jaw line and smiled.

“I won’t do what you’re asking me to do.” She leaned into his touch.

“The only thing that matters is that you’re safe.” Humans hated such talk. They needed to feel constantly in control rather than acting on instinct. “All I’m asking is for you to believe what I say and know I will never hurt you. Can you do that for me?”

She answered by not saying a word.

“Good, then we will eat.” He pulled the covers down and got out of bed. She would need to make the next move.

“Vale,”—she reached up, but stopped herself—”I can’t.”

“Maybe I won’t disappoint you.” He offered her his hand.

She stared at his hand, her mind clearly weighing her choices. “Everyone disappoints.” At last she gave in and took his hand, but she still shook her head.

If he wanted her, he had to earn her trust and he could never disappoint her.

****

The blaze in the flagstone fireplace gave off a sweet, smoky aroma and crackled a soothing sound, mesmerizing Kira while she waited for Vale to return with food. The stone and log cabin was the perfect hideaway, a place to escape and dream.

Vale made her swear not to leave. Her mind and her instinct were at war. She had an overwhelming need to be with the silver man who swore he’d saved her. But something had to be wrong with her if she was willing to sit waiting for her captor to return without trying to get away. Both trapped and protected, she was stuck in a strange limbo.

She should have never let him kiss her. Her insides fluttered at the sheer thought of his lips on hers. Yet, she wanted him to kiss her. She
needed
him to kiss her.

Her feelings for him must revolve around him rescuing her. If she got involved and followed her heart, it would only end with her in pieces. If he simply wanted her discovery, at least she would have known her role. However, if he wanted her, as he claimed he did, she didn’t know where she fit, or if she could. No one who seemed to want her ever stayed.

The unexpected slam of a door caused her heart to lurch and her body turned rigid. One of those wolves was breaking in to take her. “Help!”

“Kira!” Vale charged through the house.

No monster. No wolf. Instead, her tall, silver man dashed toward her. She covered her eyes when he swept her up into his arms.

“What’s the matter?” He moved her hand away from her face.

“I heard a noise.” Her gut reaction told her how deep her fear went, but what bothered her was how naturally she called for him. She couldn’t rely on him, couldn’t care. The moment she gave in he would leave, but so far he’d done everything he promised. “It doesn’t matter.”

“It was me.” He kept her in his arms and sat down right on the rug. “I wouldn’t step two inches away from you if I thought anything could happen. No one will find us here.”

“How do you know?” Somehow she had to take control over her own safety, but she gave in and put her head down on his chest, his heartbeat a metronome metering her back to calm.

“This place belonged to my mother.”

His flat tone caused an overwhelming sense of loss to course through her. “Did she live here all the time?”

“My father saved her from a rival pack. He built her this secret cabin because, as leader, he couldn’t have a human for a mate.” His whole body tensed.

She turned up to him. “What happened to them?”

“My father was killed in a battle, and my mother died shortly after.” He averted his eyes.

For the first time, he needed her, and she took his hand. “How did your mother die?” She didn’t want to ask, but needed to know.

“She went searching for me, left the cabin and they got her.” His answer was too fast, his voice too distant.

“Vale.” At least now she understood his quest to save her, and she squeezed his hand.

His shoulders slumped as if they wanted to cave in on themselves, and he ran his finger along the rug, shaking his head.

Her heart ached for him and for her, and it was the unwelcome sick sensation in her chest that caused her mind to fight back. “That doesn’t mean that will happen to me. It wouldn’t happen to me.”

“That is something we will never find out. You will be safe and you will remain with me.” He tightened his hold.

“Why me?” She couldn’t grasp how he could want her after only watching her. “Why? You don’t even know me.”

He continued to shake his head.

“Tell me, Vale. Why me?”

“I was given the task of finding out what you knew, and bringing you to my half brother.”

She nodded. This much she knew.

“You never smiled. Never.” He inhaled. “Rather than trying to figure out how far you got in your research, I found myself wondering why you were always so serious.”

She stayed silent, needing to hear the rest.

“Then one night at your office, you worked late and no one else was there. You took the sample out of the locked container on your desk, slipped it into your purse and smiled.” He laughed.

“They were going to take it from me.” She remembered that night, the sinking feeling in her stomach, that no matter what, she couldn’t let her treasure go. It had to be hers.

“I know.” He turned toward her, but didn’t look her in the eye. “That night I saw what a fighter you were and that night I also saw your joy. Your smile was a rare gift and I wanted to be the recipient.”

Her heart swelled. He noticed her smile? Most people smiled without even thinking about it, but hers were unusual enough for him to notice. She held her breath.

“I feel it. You belong with me.” There was no doubt in his voice. His gaze locked with hers.

She belonged somewhere. Was he right? Today, when he left the cabin, she could have easily fled, but she stayed. Like it or not, for the last two days she had a place, she belonged somewhere, with someone—with Vale. His words were welcome, his actions genuine, and pure reaction caused her to press her lips to his.

“This time you want me.” He bent her back, opening his mouth and searching out her tongue with his own.

Yes, she did. She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer. For once it felt wonderful to let go without a care for the consequences.

Vale’s kisses were passionate, mixed with something purely primal. He encompassed her in strength and his savory taste only served to satisfy her while making her crave more. She wasn’t quite sure how long they explored one another’s bodies. He was hard and powerful, yet his skin soft and his caresses gentle.

She let him take over completely. Maybe she wanted him to make good on his promise to take care of her and sweep her away. For once, allowing herself to live the fairytale, and let her heart be her guide.

His lips made their way down her neck, savoring her. She held her breath when his hand roamed to the side of her breast. He broke their kiss to assess her clothing, snarling at her light cotton dress before removing it in one smooth motion.

He slowly swept his fingertips across her bare chest. His light touch caused her nipples to react to the long sought after attention. Her body heated, stoked into desire by him. It would be easy to become lost. “Vale?”

Without answering, he laid her down on the carpet and dipped his head down. His tongue flicked her breasts, taunting and teasing in the perfect way.

“Oh.” Her questions and concerns faded as arousal took over. His every movement felt designed to make her want more.

“Soon I won’t be able to stop.” He found her mouth once more.

Any thoughts of stopping melted away, she needed the escape. “Don’t stop.”

“I’ve wanted you a long time.” He wasted no time in ridding himself of his clothing.

Her breath hitched at the sight of her silver savior. Every inch of him was masculine, massive and magnificent.

With sparkling yellow eyes, he looked down at her. “Beautiful.”

She felt beautiful beneath Vale. She reached up to bring him down to her right as he grabbed her hips and tried to turn her over.

“Vale.” Her mind wasn’t working, but she needed to remember she was with a man who was part animal. She positioned herself beneath him. “Like this.”

“You want me like a real man.” He kissed her, moving her legs apart.

“Yes.” She held onto his shoulders, bracing herself for him to plunge into her.

Instead, he slowly slid into her, giving her body plenty of time to adjust to his. No pain from his size, but rather the satisfaction of truly being filled.

He waited, his hips grinding in a small circle against her, kissing her and running his hands down her legs.

Her body flooded, giving him permission to continue, but he only rubbed against her until she was ready to burst. “Now, Vale.”

At last, he complied, treating her to a series of smooth and deliberate thrusts, creating a landslide of sensations designed to bring her maximum pleasure.

He sped up. She raised her knee, taking him even deeper. All that mattered was their bodies, moving both in unison and in opposition, but acting together to bring them closer to falling off that wonderful edge.

“Vale!” She neared her end. It was so close. Right there. She had to have it.

He let out a long, low growl, which reverberated deep inside her. As if responding to some unspoken command, her body obeyed and shattered around him, drowning her senses in bliss as he roared his own release.

With Vale still inside her, she held onto him. She never gave herself away easily, and she closed her eyes as he brushed his lips down her neck. She belonged somewhere. The empty void she carried with her filled as if both her instinct and her body were telling her this was right.

Still out of breath, he moved to one side and took her into his arms. “Amazing.”

“Vale.” Speechless, she turned and faced him. The firelight illuminated his skin, and she searched his eyes, questioning everything.

“You’re thinking.” He moved her hair off her forehead.