Great. Just great, she thought. She had managed to keep this mating heat stuff under control for two days, just to be blindsided by a bare chest and the scent of him.
"Are you just going to stand there?" She stalked over to the nightstand, flipping on the light to at least give herself the advantage of seeing him. Unlike most Breeds, her night vision wasn't exactly exceptional.
Maybe she should have left the lights off.
He shifted as he watched her, hard chest muscles rippling, his abs tightening as the unbuttoned band of his jeans drew her eyes.
"You're soaking wet with sweat," he observed. "Is lying in here working out like a demon better than being in my bed?"
"Yes!" No.
His expression turned chastising as he wagged his finger at her. "Little girls who lie get their butts spanked," he warned her.
That did not turn her on. It didn't.
She crossed her arms over her chest and glared back at him.
"I wouldn't try it if I were you," she grated out.
"What? Spanking you?" The crooked smile that tugged at his lips was one of pure lust.
"I promise, baby, you would enjoy it."
She was two seconds from a true growl. And she so hated playing into the stereotype of the Breed.
"Exactly what did you want?" she asked between gritted teeth.
"Exactly?" He arched a brow mockingly. "Are you sure you want me to answer that?" She glanced at the clock.
"It's half past midnight. Don't you have to work in the morning?"
"Don't you?" he replied, his voice silky dark, stroking over her senses with nearly the same effect of his calloused palms on her flesh.
As he stepped into the bedroom, the air around her pulsed with hunger. God, what was she going to do about him?
"Lance, please." She stepped back, staring at him desperately now. "Go to bed."
"Come with me, Harmony," he whispered, coming nearer, the dark teak of his flesh gleaming. "Let me hold you while you sleep again. I'll watch over you, baby." The temptation of it had a shiver racing over her skin. He had held her while she slept the other night. She had been unable to help it, couldn't hold back. She had meant only to doze, but before she could stop herself she had fallen into the abyss awaiting her. And she had done so dreamlessly.
She shook her head, feeling her hair brush over her shoulders, stroking skin already sensitive, reminding her of his touch.
He came nearer with each second, until he stood only inches from her, the heat of his body surrounding her. She hadn't even known she was chilled until his heat enfolded her.
"You're wet, baby," he whispered, his hand gripping her shirt and pulling it up. "Let me help you out there."
The shirt cleared her head as Harmony blinked up at him in confusion. How did he do this to her?
"Lance." Her hands pressed against his bare chest, then she groaned, realizing defeat was only seconds away as she felt her palms soaking up the heat from his body.
"Yeah, feel that," he crooned. "Let me warm you, baby." Harmony felt her lips part helplessly, her entire body tensing, preparing for the wild heat of his kiss. Instead, he merely caressed her lips with his mouth.
His hands slid over her waist, calloused palms stroking with fiery pleasure until they cupped the heaving mounds of her br**sts. His thumbs stroked her ni**les and she felt herself panting.
She was panting for his touch. Her hands gripped his wrists as she felt every nerve ending in her body throbbing, waiting.
She jerked as his thumb and forefinger applied erotic pressure to the hard tip of her nipple, sending a burning surge of pleasure to race through her stomach. Her breath caught at the sensation as her nails pressed into his wrist.
"We can't keep doing this." Her cry was weak, pleading. "Don't do this to me, Lance."
"Do what? Make you admit you need?" His lips moved over her jaw, leaving fire in their wake. "Make you feel what I feel, Harmony? I burn for you baby. Burn for me." Didn't he know that the flames ate her insides constantly, tearing at her will, her defenses?
"Just feel for me, Harmony," he crooned. "Just for a little while." When his lips returned to hers, they melted into her, kissing her with a longing and fervor she couldn't deny. Deep, sipping kisses that drugged her mind and sent her senses spinning.
"There, sweetheart." He was breathing hard, rough, as he pulled back, one hand sliding down her torso, over her stomach as she struggled to open her eyes.
A second later his palm slid between her thighs, pressing over the aching center of her body as she felt a dizzying sweep of pleasure tear through her.
She couldn't help clenching her thighs, holding his palm in place. It was cupped snugly over her pu**y, the heel of his palm pressing against her clit, grinding against it with devastating results.
Beneath her hands his flesh was heated, beneath her lips the strong column of his neck beckoned. His skin tasted of male arousal and heat, clinging to her tongue and mixing with the hormone spilling from the glands beneath. The intoxicating flavor had her reaching for more, her teeth raking over his skin as her senses came alive. Her defenses fell away, unable to bear the weight of their combined hunger. The battle to fight the hunger and need surging through her was one that couldn't be fought in his arms.
"There, baby," he whispered against her collarbone, his head lowering, heading unerringly to the stiff peaks of her ni**les as his palm inflamed her clit, pressing the soft cotton of her boxer-style panties against it. He ground his hand against her, tearing a harsh cry from her lips as brilliant flares of pleasure tore through her. She was lost in him. One touch and she was caving and didn't even care. The past, the present, the danger surrounding her—it all threatened to dissolve around her, and when it did, she knew she would be dead. She couldn't do this. She couldn't let her hunger destroy the only good thing she had ever found in her life.
Loving Lance was a weakness. A weakness that could get him killed.
"No." She tore away from him, not certain where she found the strength to do it. Stumbling against the bed, she reached down, jerked her shirt from the floor and held it against her br**sts as she fought to get away from him.
With the length of the room between them, she turned, staring at his back as he breathed heavily, his head lowered, his hands propped on his hips. He was fighting for control; she could see it in every muscle of his body.