Free Chosen Prey by Cheyenne McCray Page B

was melting. Her breathing came hard and fast as she collapsed against the seat. The gun dug into her lower back.
    Mark and Adam drove their van out of the lot, then her gaze landed on the couple exiting the station wagon. The man and woman gave her and Dare curious looks. Lyra glanced away.
    Dare slid into the driver's seat of the SUV. His grim expression and the fire in his eyes told her he was pissed. Beyond pissed.
    Damn . She'd been so sure she could take care of herself, and here she was, relying on this stranger again.
    He didn't start the vehicle. Instead he gave her a long, hard look. His eyes darkened and his lips tightened into a thin line.
    Before she knew what was happening, Dare grabbed her by cupping the back of her head and pulled her roughly to him. The console pressed against her belly.
    Lyra gasped as he smashed his lips against hers and gave her a hard, fierce kiss. His tongue plunged into her mouth and he kissed her like he was conquering her, then owned her. She pressed her palms against his chest and tried to push away, but he clenched his hand in her hair and drew her tightly to him. She gripped his T-shirt in her fists.
    And then she began to give in. And to give back as good as he was giving.
    She was drowning.
    He smelled so good. Tasted so good. Of battle, fire, and passion.
    Slowly the kiss became less angry and more sensuous. Lyra's breasts ached and her nipples hardened. When Dare reached into her T-shirt and pulled out one sock and then the other, she shivered at the contact of his hand against her flesh. After he tossed aside the second sock, he slipped his hand into her bra and rubbed one of her nipples with his thumb.
    Lyra moaned against his mouth. Her head was practically spinning as she moved her hands from his chest, up his neck, and into his hair that was damp with sweat. Her sex throbbed like mad, and electric sensations zinged through her belly.
    He moved his hand and thumbed her other nipple and she thought she'd lose it. The tingling between her thighs increased so much she felt like she'd explode. She'd given herself orgasms before, using her fingers, but she knew it would be so much better—out of this world—to experience a climax with Dare.
    Suddenly he jerked away from the kiss and she wanted to draw him back to her. His eyes still had an angry spark to them, but it only made her want him more.
    "Don't ever leave like that again," he growled. "You need protection, and I'm damn well going to be the one to give it to you."
    "If you kiss me like this every time I take off," she said, trying to catch her breath, "I might just do it again. And again."
    His features relaxed and he eased his hold on her hair while slipping his other out from her tank top. He cupped her face in both hands and gave her a soft kiss that sent more electric thrills to her belly. She'd never wanted someone so badly as she wanted Dare at that moment.
    The mere thought shocked her to her core.
    She'd never wanted any man until him. She'd never trusted a man enough to let him get close to her. Trusting a man enough to have sex with him—never.

    The wild sensations coursing through her body right now were telling her differently.
    She let her hands slide down from his hair to his chest, and his skin burned her fingers through the T-shirt. She snatched them away and clasped both of her hands in her lap. The look he gave her told her he more than wanted her, too.
    He glanced from her long enough to dig the keys out of his pocket, jam them into the ignition, and start the SUV. He gave her a long look that caused butterflies to zip through her belly before he turned his attention to driving out of the parking lot and into traffic.
    "They're likely to look for a vehicle like this one at all the hotels," he said. She thought his voice shook a little, and his knuckles were white as he clenched the steering wheel. She was surprised at the pleasure she felt when she realized it was because he wanted her.
    "We'll