Territory (24 page)

Fifteen minutes later, Kya emerged from the bathroom, her hair still dripping and hugging a beige towel tightly wrapped to her slight frame. She was refreshed and terrified.

That was way too close. I’ve got to be more careful.

Stepping into the kitchen, she noticed that the entire cabin was dark, the only light coming from the glow of the fire crackling in the hearth.

“Briggs?”

No response. Barefoot and naked under the towel, she tiptoed across the linoleum kitchen floor hoping to sneak up to the room to dress in fresh clothes before Briggs caught sight of her. Too late.

From out of nowhere, Briggs caught her around the waist and hauled her struggling frame hard into his.

“Briggs! I need to get dressed.”

He didn’t say anything, just turned her to swing her legs up into his arms as he carried her to a blanket he had laid in front of the fire.

Kya spied the blanket and struggled to free herself from his arms, but as she struggled, the only thing she achieved was to hike the towel up until she was struggling to keep her most intimate areas covered.

Briggs wore only his jeans that were unbuttoned and riding low on his lean hips. Kya’s heart raced as her gaze slid up the smooth muscular wall of his chest in appreciation, stopping on the pulse that was beating furiously in the hollow of his throat.

“We shouldn’t…” She couldn’t remember what she’d been about to say, losing her focus with the thought of putting her lips on the pulse at his throat. The idea sent a flash of desire through her and as she moistened with need, Briggs inhaled deeply, stiffening at the sweet scent of her pheromones.

At the blanket, Briggs dropped to his knees with Kya and she tried to sound casual as one hand clamped tightly at the top of the towel that was having difficulty covering her breasts, while the other hand fought to yank the towel lower in an effort to hide her satiny thighs.

“I really should get some clothes on.” Kya licked her lips and tucked her legs under her getting ready to try and get to her feet. She looked up at Briggs hoping to implore him to be rational, but once her face was upturned, his mouth descended on hers, not kissing but taking her still wet bottom lip between his teeth to gently suck the moisture that glistened there.

Releasing her lip, his searing mouth found hers and Kya moaned at the sweet taste of him. Briggs pulled her closer, using one powerful hand clamped at her lower back to keep her crushed to him. Her heart thundered in her chest as she fought to stay in control.

Keeping one hand holding the towel knotted over her breasts, the other slid up the smooth wall of his chest and hooked behind his neck.

Briggs leaned her back and covered her body with his own.

Kya’s kiss was as eager as his and she gasped against his lips when she felt one strong hand slide beneath the fold of her towel and smooth up her rib cage to the swell of her breast. His other hand shoved the towel open further and slide down, dipping into her wet desire and stroking until Kya almost couldn’t breathe.

“I mean am I free of your influence?” Kya added hurriedly. “You said if we both wanted something, you could influence my decision.”

Briggs took a long deep breath without taking his eyes from hers and ground out, “If I were influencing you, I’d already be inside of you.”

That thought erupted another swell of desire, leaving Kya’s heart thundering in her chest.

Briggs’ shoulders relaxed just slightly and he continued in a whisper, “It’s your choice Kya. It’ll
always
be your choice.”

He was offering himself to her and reason be damned, she couldn’t...wouldn’t turn him down. She wreathed her hands behind his neck, pulling his head closer, but before she could taste his lips Briggs pulled back, grabbing her hand roughly.

“You’re sure? You have to be positive that this is what you want. You won’t get another chance to change your mind.”

Kya squeezed his hand and smiled up at him demurely. “I’m sure.”

The simple reply was all he needed. His mouth descended on hers as his hands tore away the flimsy towel that separated their bodies. Kya melted into his kiss and after several pleasurable moments, he’d somehow dispatched himself of his jeans and boxers and their warm bodies intertwined.

Kya felt him growl deep in his chest as he slid a hand up the satiny length of her thigh, over a rounded hip, skimming across her rib cage to caress her full breast. Kya gasped and arched against him her head dizzy with giddy anticipation. Briggs used his knee to part her legs, resting his weight in the cradle of her hips.

“Briggs.” She whispered his name, and felt his body convulse with a shudder.

With urgency, Briggs sat up, grabbing her hips tightly in both hands. “Look at me,” he commanded.

Kya’s gaze drifted up to his and she bit her bottom lip. Feeling vulnerable splayed out naked before him, with her legs eagerly straddling his hips; Kya swallowed her pride and let her legs fall wider open in invitation.

“Mine.” He declared as he plunged fully into her, piercing her with his manhood.

Kya gasped and arched at the size of him, her nails digging half crescents into his thighs. Briggs pulled back and thrust into her again, repeating the movement until their bodies settled into a steady rhythm. He leaned over her, taking the peak of one rosy nipple into his mouth and suckling until Kya moaned her approval. She clutched and writhed with wanton abandon, wanting and needing him deeper inside of her.

Briggs’ thrusts began to quicken and Kya called out in pleasure, urging Briggs to work faster…harder. His hands hungrily explored every inch of her body. His eyes devoured her and his lips and tongue suckled and licked until she could no longer wait for him. Stars exploded behind her eyes and her body trembled when she felt his release shoot deep inside of her, his head thrown back and a deep growl escaping him.

Exhausted, Briggs bent and gently kissed her lips before pulling from her and rolling to lie at her side. Kya shoved her tousled hair from her face and turned her head to stare at him, her finger running the length of his jaw.

Briggs clamped her small hand in his possessively before he brought her palm to his wet lips then pulled her body up onto his. Kya lay with her cheek resting on his chest, her long dark hair cascading across his broad shoulder. She listened to his heart decelerate, the steady rhythm lulling her to sleep naked in his arms.

Somewhere in the night, he’d wakened her and reclaimed her over and over. The lovemaking so exquisite she wasn’t sure if it had actually happened or if it were all merely a wonderful dream.

Chapter
30

Kya woke to bright sunlight streaming in through the tall windows. She turned silently to Briggs and was surprised to find him leaning on his elbow staring down at her.

Briggs sat up tucking a finger under her chin and pulling her face back towards his before placing a kiss on her lips. “Because you’re more beautiful than watching the sunrise.”

Unsure of where it came from, Kya accepted the steaming cup of coffee Briggs offered her, the brew already perfectly mixed with cream and sugar.

Kya sat up, clutching the blanket that covered them to her naked torso. “Mmm,” she moaned, “Thank you.” She sipped carefully at the hot liquid uneasily, a little unsure as to the protocol after a night of lovemaking.

Briggs stood and strode from the room. His lean muscular frame, clad in only boxers, had her heart skipping a beat. She watched in appreciation as he disappeared into the bathroom and returned a few moments later to reclaim his spot on the floor next to Kya. He took the mug from her hands, downed the rest of its contents before smiling down at her. “You ready?”

Kya’s eyes saucered, “For what?” Her face stung with embarrassment as she realized he was referencing the exchange of power, not another sexual interlude.

“We’ll have enough time for the fun stuff soon enough.” Briggs smiled at her knowingly, “But you need to be fully healed, and the sooner the better.” Briggs pushed Kya back gently until she was flat on the floor, then followed suit lying so close their arms were touching.

She’d hoped that after the night they’d shared that he’d finally express his love or at least his hope of their finding love together. Instead, he offered explanations for actions that he clearly felt obligated to perform.

Slowly, at first, she felt warmth vibrating in the pit of her belly. The warmth grew brighter and stronger then flashed through her limbs. It felt like she plunged into a hot bath. Then Briggs’ scent hit her. It wasn’t coming from him lying so close beside her, it was coming from within her. The warmth in her belly flared, stinging the bands that circled her forearm. The flare of heat lasted only a few seconds then quickly began to subside.

Once the vibration and heat left her body, she let her head loll to one side and she stared at Briggs who appeared to be sleeping. Silently she watched the rise and fall of his chest and a smile cracked her lips when his eyes fluttered open. He didn’t move, just lay staring up at the ceiling.

Kya on the other hand felt as if she’d just woken from a four-day sleep followed by five cups of coffee. She was more than refreshed, she was energized. She felt powerful, strong.

Sitting up, she noticed that the incessant nagging of her gunshot wound was gone. She lifted her shirt and her eyes snapped to Briggs.

“My scars. They’re gone!”

Kya pushed up her sleeves and noted that the familial tattoo was still emblazoned on her arm before she bent and rolled up her pant legs to inspect the rest of her body. “All of them! Every single scar is gone!”

Kya jumped up from the floor and stood staring at her bare midriff in amazement. She bit her lip and smiled down at Briggs in appreciation. “Thank you.”

Completely sapped of energy, as he had informed her he would be, Briggs continued to lay motionless on the floor. If it weren’t for the slow but steady rise and fall of his chest and the occasional blink of his eyes, Kya might have thought he were dead. The thought, brief as it was, saddened and terrified her.

“Is there anything I can do? Anything I can get you?”

Briggs didn’t speak or move.

Anxious now, Kya dropped to her knees at his side and peered into his face looking for any indication of discomfort. “Are you okay?”

Kya sighed in relief, “Okay, one blink means yes. Uhh…” Kya rolled her eyes heavenward thinking of a question to which he’d have to respond negatively. “Do you want liver and onions for dinner?”

Kya kept her hand on his cheek as she slowly took in a shaky breath. “I’ve never seen you so vulnerable before it’s terrifying and beautiful all at the same time.”

Briggs eyes slowly opened and he eyed Kya intently.

He knows what’s coming.

Kya steadied her breathing. “Briggs, I just want to say that last night meant more to me than you’ll ever know.” Kya’s tongue darted out and licked her parched lips. “But I can’t stay here. I can’t force you to be something you’re not, and I can’t force you into something you don’t want. As much as I want to keep you, it would be selfish of me because I know it’s not what you want.”

While his expression didn’t change, Kya saw a warning flash in the depth of his eyes.

“I’m not blaming this all on just you. I’ve been a prisoner for so long that I don’t remember how to live on my own, and I suppose I need to get out there and try.

I think I attached myself to you because you and your family were the first people, aside from Josephine, that were ever actually nice to me without wanting something in return. But that’s no excuse for me to force myself on your family or you. You’ve told me time and time again that you don’t want a mate. Yet here we are, mated.”