Free Tall, Dark & Apocalyptic by Sam Cheever Page B

geography of his pecs. Her lower body tightened as she slipped her hand downward, skimming it over the taut lines of his belly and committing to memory the hard ridges of muscle there.
    A narrow band of skin showed beneath the ruched up shirt, the heavy fabric having been dislodged when she moved him. The dusky, exposed skin showed a sexy belly button and the clit-tingling vision of a dark line of curls disappearing into his pants.
    Placing her hand reverently over that delicious dip in his hard belly, Yeira closed her eyes. Soft black hair grazed her skin and she bit her lip as the edge of her hand nudged his leather waistband. She fought the urge to dip deeper.
    A hard grip suddenly encircled her wrist and her eyes flew open on a gasp.
    “It’s rude to feel a man up when he’s indisposed, woman.”
    Despite her embarrassment, Yeira grinned. “It’s not very manly to faint, Hunter.”
    His wide mouth compressed with irritation. “You’re welcome.”
    Her grin slipped. “I could have gotten away on my own.”
    But his heated blue gaze had found the bleeding cut on her throat and he growled softly as he yanked her closer. “Then you might have done it before they nearly cut your head off.”
    His heat and scent swept over her. Too late, Yeira realized the hunter had regained some of his vigor, along with his body heat. Yanking her arm, she tried ineffectually to escape his gentle but firm grip. “He hardly decapitated me.”
    One wide, lightly-calloused finger slid over the cut, carefully judging its seriousness. “He?” The hunter frowned but she simply shook her head, refusing to clarify. He returned his attention to her throat, his thumb skimming the area with warmth.
    She barely repressed a delighted shiver.
    The hunter’s frown deepened. “I was almost too late.”
    Feeling overwhelmed by his nearness, Yeira tried again to get free. “Let go of me, Kord. I’m grateful for your help, but that doesn’t give you the right to manhandle me.”
    Even to her ears the accusation seemed rude, ungrateful. But the hunter didn’t seem to mind.
    Sliding to focus on her lips, his gaze gained heat. “Then I claim the right for myself, Yeira. Because I’m damn tired of waiting to taste your lips and feel you writhing beneath me.”
    She gave an alarmed little chirp as the hunter yanked her wrist again and she fell forward, draped over his hard, hot body. But before she could scald him with her rejection his lips had claimed hers. And she was oh so lost in the magic of his kiss.
     
     

CHAPTER NINE
     
    Big mistake. Huge mistake. Pleasure, hot and imperative, slammed through Audie, thickening his cock the second his lips touched hers. He dragged her closer as his lips opened and his tongue slipped through to taste her delightful essence.
    She was warm and soft and deliciously alive beneath his touch. Her breasts were enticing mounds against his chest, the firmness of her nipples a clear sign that she didn’t exactly hate what they were doing.
    She moaned softly and Audie experienced a jolt of real fear as his body tightened in immediate response. She was perfect in his arms, like an extension of his own body, and the thought was terrifying. He’d tried to ignore the craving that had burned in his gut for months. With harsh words and a cold demeanor, he’d tried to keep her at arm’s length.
    But none of that meant anything. Because he was dangerously close to realizing that he couldn’t ignore the feelings she engendered in him. Nothing he’d tried could blind him to the burning desire her closeness caused.
    The thought of her being in danger had nearly undone him. The sight of her bleeding wound made him want to kill and maim.
    Audie hadn’t been sure if Yeira returned his feelings. But in that moment, as her lips moved urgently beneath his, he knew. And the knowing was like a knife in his gut.
    He could no longer tell himself he was pursuing a useless hope. He knew by her reaction to his kiss that if he