Dance on the Wilde Side: Cannon Pack, Book 2 Page 8

  He laughed and bent to place his forehead against hers. The gentle, loving gesture nearly brought her to tears.

  “Woman, ya gotta give me a little time.”

  “Will ten minutes be enough?”

  They shared a laugh until he took her face in his palms and stared into her eyes. Mirth twitched the sides of his mouth. “You got it.”

  “Yeah, right. Who are you? Superman?”

  “In my own way.” He wiggled his eyebrows at her. “Without the cape, of course.”

  Chuckling at his joke, she skimmed her fingers down the curve of his ass, running over the smooth skin. What the hell? Her heart gained speed with what she knew couldn’t be true, yet she explored farther, searching for his injury. What happened to his wound? The area where his rough wound should be was gone, replaced by smooth skin.

  How the hell…?

  Chapter Four

  “What happened to your wound?”

  Devlin ran his hand along her jawline then licked around the rim of her ear. “Wound?” He sniffed, enjoying the intriguing scent of her skin mixed with their bodily fluids. Not to mention the soft sleekness of her toned body. She was now his even though he hadn’t marked her yet.

  She pushed him away, positioning him so she could see his back. “Your gunshot wound. It feels different.”

  He looked at where she pointed. It took a moment before he realized what she wanted. He bowed his head, letting his wet hair fall, hiding his face. How would he explain this to her? Was now the time to tell her everything? Or should he wait and tell her about his kind, his pack, their destiny later, after they’d had more time together?

  She ran her hands over his ass again, making his dick twitch in response. But another session of lovemaking would have to wait. Lovemaking. A satisfied, happy glow flowed over him. As a healthy strong male, he’d had lots of sex in his lifetime, but he’d never thought of any of those encounters as making love.

  “Your wound looks like it’s healed. How can that be?” She stared at him and he tried to reply, but couldn’t think of the right words to say.

  When he didn’t answer her, she pushed open the door. He clutched her arm, but she jerked it out of his grasp, hurriedly stepping out of the shower to grab the towel.

  “Tala, wait a sec.” Devlin flipped off the spray and followed Tala, but she’d already exited the bathroom. Without bothering to get another towel, he rushed after her.

  He found her in the living room, towel wrapped around her, pacing back and forth in front of the balcony doors. She muttered a few choice words at him and slapped at his hands when he reached for her.

  “This doesn’t make sense. How could you heal so quickly?” She paused a moment, looking to him for an answer. “Well?”

  Was she simply thrown by what she’d seen? Or pissed off? He studied her, trying to decide but ended up distracted by the flare of her nostrils and the heat coloring her face. He fought back the urge to throw her on the sofa and take her again. It was a good thing the woman he loved looked sexy as hell when she was angry because she’d probably get angry at him a lot in the future. “If you’ll settle down, I’ll try to explain.”

  Instead, she resumed her trek back and forth across the floor. “Explain how? What I saw can’t be. What can you possibly tell me? That you’re some kind of engineered human with fantastic healing powers? This isn’t some sci-fi movie. This is reality and everything has a logical answer.” She stopped and glared at him. “Explain how your wound healed so fast.”

  “I can’t.” What could he tell her? To her, his existence was more on the lines of the sci-fi movie she’d mentioned. He raised his eyebrows, opening his eyes wide in a beats-the-hell-outta-me expression.

  “What do you mean, you can’t? You just said you could.”

  True, he had. But when it came down to it, was he ready? Was she? He couldn’t risk losing her. “Maybe the wound wasn’t so bad to begin with. Maybe you’re a really good vet, er, nurse. I don’t know.” The air conditioner blew cold air on his wet body, making him shiver. He hated lying to her but what else could he do?

  She considered his explanations but her frown deepened. At last, she shook her head, dismissing his lame reasons, and he got ready for another barrage of questions. Yet none came.

  “You’re a really weird man.” She narrowed her eyes at him and he squirmed.

  Still, what could he say? “If you say so.”

  She gawked at him, thrown by his lighthearted answer, and laughed.

  God, how he loved the sound of her laughter. Who knew laughter could sound so erotic? Goose bumps of desire popped out along his arms.

  “Well, gee. As long as you agree with me.” She tossed him another exasperated expression. “You better go get dressed. At least then you won’t be a naked weird man.”

  Flashing a mischievous grin, he inwardly sighed a breath of relief, saluted her and marched toward the hallway. Yet before he left the room, he turned back to look at her and caught her peering at his behind. “Hey, Tala. I may be weird, but you like what you see, right?”

  When she laughed harder this time, he bent over, shot her the moon and wiggled his butt at her. A pillow hit him square in the rear as he dashed from the room.

  ƒ

  Devlin punched a button on his phone to end his call. “Sorry for the interruption. Just needed to check in with my right-hand man. He’s handling business while we, uh, get more acquainted.” He stepped into place next to her, cutting the length of his stride to keep pace with her shorter one.

  “If you need to work—” She didn’t want him to leave, but she understood the demands of business.

  “Nope, it’s fine. Conrad can handle things.” He snapped the phone closed. “See? Phone’s off so we won’t be interrupted again.” He shoved it into his pocket and looked around. “Nice place. For a zoo.”

  Tala searched his face for the sneer she’d heard in his voice. When she couldn’t find any, she gave him the benefit of the doubt. “Yes, it is. I’m proud of our natural habitats for the animals. And, of course, our education department is topnotch.” Maybe she shouldn’t brag, but she wanted him know how much she loved her work and her accomplishments.

  Why she cared about his approval, she didn’t know. But she did. She still wondered about his wound, but there was just something about the guy that called to her, kept her wanting to find out more. And she’d been more than a little excited when he’d asked her to show him the zoo. Besides, she hadn’t anything better to do on her day off.

  Yeah, right. That’s the reason you’re playing tour guide with a man you just met. A man you just had sex with. Super-duper sex, that is.

  He pointed at one of her promotional photographs hanging on a wall. “And you’re the poster child for the zoo and its good deeds?”

  “You know I do some promotional spots for the zoo. Nothing big. Just local stuff.”

  The crease of his forehead left her wondering if he did approve. The thought of his possible disapproval tightened her neck muscles.

  “One thing about the picture, Tala.”

  “What’s that?” She planted her feet apart, ready to defend her work.

  “The photograph doesn’t do you justice.”

  His words flowed over her, easing her suspicion, while giving her a major case of get-him-in-bed-right-now-itis. “Thanks.”

  She tilted her head, trying to discern Devlin’s expression as he scanned the area around him. Yet she couldn’t tell anything. His features remained unmoving, fixed in an emotionless, noncommittal mask.

  “Okay. We’ve seen the giraffes, the predators and the felines. Which, judging by your reaction, I gather you don’t like cats.”

  “You got that right.”

  She waited for more of an explanation, but kept on when she didn’t get one. He was definitely more of a dog person. “Okay, then. Let’s go see the arctic wolves.”

  She’d gone a yard or so ahead of him before she realized he hadn’t followed her. “What is it, De
vlin?” A strange expression flickered across his face, making her wish she could read his mind. But the look was soon gone and the unreadable mask fell back into place.

  “Nothing. Let’s go.”

  Tala sighed, leading him down the path that led to the wolf exhibit. A wintry wilderness spanned out before them and she couldn’t help but take pride in the layout. “See? I realize it’s not as good as the real thing, but we’ve tried to create as close a natural environment for our wolves as possible.” She pointed at her favorite animal. “See the big male sitting on top of the outcrop? That’s Shahkan. Isn’t he gorgeous?”

  The pristine white of the male’s fur struck a brilliant contrast to the dark gray of the rock. Lifting his head, Shahkan sniffed the air, acknowledging their presence. His cold eyes noted Tala’s existence, flicking over her in one quick moment to settle on Devlin, where his gaze stayed glued for several minutes.

  Devlin’s grunt brought her attention back to him. The disgust on his face was unmistakable. He loathed what he saw.

  “What’s the matter? Don’t you like wolves, either?”

  His answer came on the heels of a snarl. “Of course I do. But after seeing this, I’m wondering if you do.”

  “What’re you talking about? I adore wolves. Can’t you see how much I care by the home we’ve made for them?” The vexation rising up in her had her almost spitting saliva with her words. How dare he question my love of wolves. Of any animals. Including dumb human animals like him.

  He remained stoic, arms folded, repugnance oozing from every pore. “If you loved them, you’d set them free.”

  Tala choked, stunned by his answer. “They’re here to help their species survive. They’re here to help educate humans about them. They’re here because I do care.”

  “If you say so.”

  For one brief moment, she thought about taking a swing at him. Damn it all to hell and back, how she’d love to wipe that sneer off his face. But she was smart enough to know her punch wouldn’t faze him, much less change his opinion. Instead, she returned his glare with all the intensity she could muster. “Yeah. I do say so. I’m the expert here, remember?”

  His dark eyes locked onto her and she froze. Something about the gleam in his eyes challenged her assertion, almost as though he considered himself the expert and not her. The idea, of course, was ridiculous, but she couldn’t shake it. Could he know more than she thought? “Devlin, you’ve never said. What do you do for a living?”

  The corners of his lips tipped upward, recognizing her probe. “I have various financial interests dealing with imports and exports.”

  “Anything to do with animals?”

  “In my business dealings? Not the way you mean.” He squinted at her and smiled a big toothy grin. “But I’ve known some wolves in my time.”

  “Really? Of the four-legged or two-legged variety?”

  His throaty laugh rang out and a few of the wolves moved together to stare at him. “Both.”

  She searched his face and saw the humor there. “Is that what you are, Devlin?”

  This time he faced her, confronting her. “I’m both.” Now what did that mean? Spinning on his heel, he strode away from her before she could respond to his strange answer.

  “Wait a sec.” She sprinted after him, catching him by the arm to twirl him around. “How can you be both?”

  “Remind me to show you sometime.”

  They paused, glaring at each other. His features closed up, drawing inward, letting his eyes do all the talking, all the arguing. She hardened her own face and stance, ready to stand her ground. Ready for anything he could throw at her.

  Making something that sounded like a low growl, he grabbed her and crushed his lips to hers.

  She’d been ready for anything except that.

  His taste, already so familiar yet still so different, took over her mouth and she welcomed the invasion. She opened her mouth wider, wanting more of him, and he complied. He thrust his tongue inside, wrestling with hers. First sucking on her tongue, he then whipped his around and around hers.

  Almost as quickly as he’d kissed her, he took his mouth from hers. A breeze floated over her lips, chilling the heat from them. But he didn’t leave her for long.

  Leaning in, he nibbled at the curve of her trembling mouth, tickling her with his tongue. Where he’d been hard before, he was now soft. Where he’d taken before, now he asked. She whimpered, answering him, needing him to give more. He pulled her bottom lip with his teeth and touched the aching skin with his tongue.

  And again his mouth crushed to hers.

  This time, she felt an urgency equaling her own. His tongue forced its way through her lips, into her mouth, running over the soft curve of her cheek. Amazingly, his kiss deepened, growing more insistent with each touch of his tongue.

  If he hadn’t lifted her off her feet, his kiss would have.

  Let him take me into the woods surrounding the path. Hell, just let him take me.

  As though reading her mind again, he carried her off the path, still kissing her. Branches brushed against her arms, scratching her, but she didn’t care. She gasped, keeping her eyes closed, and clung to him.

  Adding small teasing bites to the assault on her lips, he lowered her to her feet in the small bare space among a cluster of dense bushes. She panted, trying to catch her breath, loving the lust coursing through her. Keeping his hand on her lower back, he popped the button on her jeans and tugged the zipper down, letting them fall to her ankles.

  She found his zipper, but he snatched her hand away.

  “No. Just enjoy.”

  She couldn’t nod, couldn’t speak. And lost her breath when he sank to his knees in front of her.

  Keeping her eyes closed, she gripped his shoulders and held on. Please, oh, please. No other words would form. She could no longer think beyond that simple plea.

  His warm breath through her thin panties startled her and she giggled. His heat continued to flow over her, tingling the hair under the material. Please, oh, please. Echoing the refrain again, she waited, stilling her body, readying for what she knew was coming. And again he surprised her.

  Instead of kissing her on her other lips, he placed one finger of each hand along the top of her panties and skimmed them outward from her belly. She groaned, wanting him to rush, but unable to say anything to urge him on. Instead, she pushed her hips forward, egging him to quit tempting her and lick her.

  He chuckled and kept running his fingers along the rim.

  After an agonizing wait, his fingers finally met in the middle again—right over her mound.

  She moaned again and opened her eyes. Amber eyes twinkled up at her above a grin so mischievous she had to laugh. He grinned wider and lifted one eyebrow.

  “Spread your legs.”

  She licked her lips in the same instant he licked his and felt the wetness gush between her legs. She spread her legs, ready to submit to his wishes and her desire.

  Long teeth—the better to eat you with, my dear—flashed before gripping the delicate panties and ripping them off. She inhaled and, for the first time, wondered if anyone could hear them. Yet even if someone could, she wouldn’t stop him.

  He lifted his gaze to her, her panties in his mouth, and flung them away.

  He’s such an animal. An excitement hotter than she’d ever known swirled in her stomach.

  He rubbed his thumbs against her clit and the burning she’d first felt was nothing to the flame scorching through her pussy and into her abdomen. She squirmed, but he stayed with her, never letting the toe-curling pleasure end. The soft breeze wafting around them met the hot wetness dampening her inner thighs and she shivered. Continuing to rotate his thumbs over her clit, he slid his tongue into the crease between her leg and mound.

  She mewed, knowing he was teasing her and loving every second of it. Again, she silently begged. But for what? To continue the delightful torture? Or to end the teasing and bring her to the final major climax? If he’d aske
d her to choose, she couldn’t have done it. She dug her fingernails into his shoulders, determined to take everything he gave.

  His kisses included nibbling now, splitting her attention between what his mouth did and what his thumbs did. Suddenly, he wrapped one hand around her leg and thrust two fingers into her pussy, keeping his thumb on her aching nub. And still the kisses continued.

  She tracked her fingers through the hair at the nape of his neck and let her head fall back. Moaning, she forgot everything except the kisses, his fingers plunging in and out of her wet-slickened channel, and his thumb making hard circles over her clit. Climax after climax vibrated from her center.

  Had anyone ever finger-fucked her like this? If someone had, she couldn’t remember it. And she would have remembered.

  His tongue slid over to join his thumb and she looked down between her tits to watch him eat her. His eyes were open, staring up at her as he swiped his tongue over his thumb, over her hot bud. With a grin, he used his teeth to tug on the skin around her clit. A whirlwind of lust raked into her and she cried out, clamping a hand over her mouth to muffle the sound.

  “Tell me you like it, Tala.” His warm breath tickled the damp area.

  “Oh, hell.”

  “Tell me. Say the words.”

  “I can’t.”

  He paused, only for a second, before resuming the finger-fuck.

  She gazed down at him and smiled. “I can’t. I don’t just like it. I frickin’ love it.”

  “Then you’re going to go ape-shit for this.” His chuckle was short, followed by the press of his mouth on her clit.

  She stared at him, wanting to see everything thing he did to her, wanting to see him as she came.