Her lips parted, hungry need in her eyes.
“Where do you want me to touch you?” he asked.
“I—”
“No.” He pressed a finger to her mouth, shaped her lips. “Show me.”
She was frozen for a second, then her gaze roamed his face. Her hand moved, sliding down her body. Over the silky fabric of her dress.
He growled and his cock pulsed.
She grabbed handfuls of the skirt of her dress, bunched it up, baring more thigh.
Cren. He felt wild. A male predator sensing a female.
Finley’s hand slid between her legs. She made a husky sound.
“There?” he asked.
“Yes. I feel empty, hot. Sabin—”
He moved his hand to join hers.
He found matching lace panties. “These are in the way.”
“I can—”
With one hand, he gripped the lace and yanked it off. They tore easily.
“Oh.” She jerked.
Then he twined his fingers with hers, and together they stroked the sleek, soft folds between her legs. She moaned, and he bit back a curse.
So soft and wet. The scent of her arousal was driving him wild.
She writhed. He explored her, stroked. He slid her finger and his inside her tight warmth.
“Sabin. Please.”
He bit back a growl. He lifted his hand and licked, the taste of her exploding in his mouth. More. He needed more.
He pushed her hand away, feeling like a wild beast. He shoved her legs wider apart.
Then his mouth was on her.
Finley’s cry pierced the night. He licked, sucked, and lapped at her. Her legs locked around his head. The feel, the scent, the warmth of her swamped his senses.
“Oh, God, yes. Sabin, please.”
He found the small nub with his tongue and she went wild. He sucked and she broke apart. Her body shook and she cried out his name.
Sabin had never felt need like this. He wanted her so badly his hands were shaking. His senses were spinning out of control.
She fell back on the blanket, panting. Her gaze locked on his face. “Sabin?”
His body shook as he fought for control. Fought not to pin her down and take everything he wanted.
“Sabin.” Her hand cupped his cheek.
“Don’t touch me. My control…isn’t good right now.”
She sat up and cupped his other cheek. “It’s not supposed to be. Together, like this, I don’t want your control.”
“I don’t want to hurt you. I don’t want…to lose myself.”
“You won’t.” Her voice was firm, certain. “I trust you, Sabin. You’re one of the steadiest, strongest people I’ve ever met.” Her lips touched his.
The kiss was slow, deep. The desire twisted hard inside him, but it was tempered by his need to pleasure her, to keep her safe.
He pressed his face to her neck, heard the fast beat of her heart and his own. “Finley—”
Then his communicator chimed.
Sabin cursed the interruption. He didn’t want to let her go, didn’t want to lose this moment. He took a second to touch her face, and flipped her dress down. He yanked out the communicator and Kaira’s face filled the screen. She looked grim.
“Sabin, perimeter sensors in the north went off. The drones spotted something, but it’s blending into the shadows. It doesn’t look native, but it’s hard to tell.”
For a second, Sabin fought to think through his desire.
“I’m on my way.” He ended the call and pulled Finley up.
“I need to—”
“Go. I know. Go.”
He cupped her face. “We have unfinished business.”
She smiled. “I’m feeling great.”
“And I’m hungry for more.” He kissed her. “Now, get inside. I want you safe.”
Chapter Ten
The rugged vehicle bumped along the rough track.
The darkness was thick, and even with his helian-enhanced vision, it was hard to see much. The lights of the vehicle speared ahead, highlighting the rocky ground.
“We’re getting close.” Kaira was in the driver’s seat, driving expertly, her hands clamped on the wheel. Two of the security team sat in the back, one manning the large gun mounted on the back of the vehicle. “Turning headlights off.”
They plunged into utter darkness. Kaira pulled on night vision goggles, and Sabin did the same.
“Anything?” Finley’s voice came from his communicator.
He glanced at the screen. She looked worried. There was no sign of the sweet passion she’d showed him on the rooftop.
“Not yet,” he replied.
The vehicle was electric and made no sound, other than the crunch of the tires on rock. Finally, Kaira pulled them to a stop.
“We’ll go in on foot from here.” She touched her ear. “Pascal, anything on the drone feed?”
“Nothing, Commander.”
“I need to turn the communicator off now,” Sabin told Finley. “I’ll leave audio on.”
Finley nodded. “Be careful.”
Sabin climbed out of the vehicle and formed a blaster with his helian. He followed Kaira and her security officer, Roberts. The final man, Blackwell, stayed back with the vehicle.
They were alert to any sounds or signs of movement.
“I’m detecting several tiny life signs,” Sabin said.
“A lot of the native wildlife is nocturnal. Sensors have been going off a lot in this area.”
They kept moving.
Suddenly, something dropped out of the sky.
Sabin tensed.
“Watch out,” Kaira bit out.
A small animal fell and hit the dirt. It lay there, unmoving.
Kaira crouched and flashed a small light. It was a bird. Sabin saw white feathers and a splash of bright yellow.
“Native bird. Cockatoo. It’s dead.” With the tip of her gloved finger, she tipped the bird over, then sucked in a sharp breath.
Its eyes were hollowed out, and thick, sticky mucus covered its face. It oozed from the dead bird’s mouth.
Roberts made a gagging sound.
“Something’s definitely wrong with it.” Kaira stood. “Kantos?”
“Maybe,” Sabin replied.
With an unhappy look, Kaira jerked her head and they kept moving.
Soon, she glanced at the rugged watch on her wrist and then stopped. “We’re at the location.”
The three of them fanned out. There was no movement. Sabin didn’t detect anything.
He turned in a slow circle, and then felt a faint ping on his senses. His helian flared.
“East,” he murmured. “I’m detecting a larger lifesign.”
“Form up,” Kaira murmured.
The three of them moved together, staying close. Sabin heard a skitter of rocks and shadows moved.
They all whipped their weapons up.
“I can’t see a thing.” Kaira crept forward. “You?”
“No.”
There was a burst of movement in the shadows.
“Left!” Sabin yelled.
Something large darted away.
Cren. Was it an assassin? He couldn’t tell.
He leaped over the rocks and skirted a tree. Kaira’s officer tripped and cursed.
Sabin slowed to a walk. There was no movement, but something was watching them. He felt it.