Free Guarding Mari by Ella Grey

is it me inside of you making you say that?”
    She wrapped her legs around his waist. “Heart and soul. I never told you, and if something goes wrong, I don’t want there to be any doubt about how I feel about you.”
    Her words struck him like a physical blow. A part of her still thought he wouldn’t be able to save her. Nothing on this earth would stop him from keeping her safe, even if he died. He worked himself inside of her, not thinking about the next day or the day after that. Her body responded to his every touch, every thrust. Wetness encased him, hot and absolute in her desire for him. Pressure coiled at the base of his spine, his balls hard and desperate for a release on their own.
    “Come for me sweetheart; come for me one more time.”
    “I can’t.” Sweat beaded and trickled down between the curves of her breasts.
    A truer challenge had never been uttered. “There’s no such word.”
    “I’ll...get...a dictionary.”
    Even now, when she reached for an orgasm she wasn’t sure she could reach, she sassed him? Oh Goddess, he loved this woman. He reached between their bodies and slowly worked in and out of her. With his thumb and forefinger, he captured and teased the cluster of nerves between her legs. If he hadn’t been holding on and weighed a hundred pounds more than her, she would have thrown him off. It was like riding a bucking bronco as the orgasm she claimed she wouldn’t have torn through her. She clung onto him, nails biting into his shoulders. The sharp pain tipped him over. He roared with the strength of it exploding inside of her.
    Reluctantly, he pulled out of her, collapsing next to her, catching his breath.
    “Wow, if that’s you tired as hell, you might actually kill me when you’re at full strength,” she said lightly.
    “You can take it.” He laughed when Mari punched his shoulder. “Let’s get some sleep. We’ve got a long day ahead of us tomorrow.” He curled up against her.
     
     
    The light coming through the window woke her. It didn’t take her long to notice her mate wasn’t in bed with her again. She rested her hand on his side, cold. Did he ever sleep? He might have done it to protect her but he wouldn’t be much use if he slipped up due to lack of sleep. Mari rolled onto her side and rested her head on the cold pillow.
    Today, she would be the bait. The thought didn’t make her happy even if she knew that it was the only plan they had. The quickest way to get Ryback’s attention, to make him think he had a chance. What were the chances he’d actually make a mistake? He’d been planning this for a while, probably since the night he attacked her. What made him wait so long to finish the job?
    Ryback wanted them isolated. Too far away from anyone who could help them. It wasn’t a good plan. Actually it was pretty damn stupid, since Daniel used to hunt rogues. She rolled onto her back. Noises—the clatter of dishes—came from the kitchen, and she found it oddly comforting. Her mouth watered as the smell of bacon reached her nose and her stomach grumbled. It felt like home, even if they were in the middle of nowhere being stalked by a crazy serial killer.
    The door to the bedroom swung open and Daniel walked in. She smiled as the aroma of coffee announced his arrival. She sat up and held the bed sheet to her chest, “Morning.”
    “Morning, did you get a good night’s sleep?” The way he smiled at her drew one out in response. That morning he wore another pair of jeans; these were zipped up but not buttoned. The T-shirt he wore highlighted broad shoulders and lean forearms. It looked like he’d run his fingers through his blond hair a few times. A few stray strands brushed his forehead. The sight of him, barefoot and delivering breakfast, couldn’t have gotten any more perfect.
    “There’s something to be said about sleeping in the arms of a sexy man,” she teased as he handed her the tray with the coffee and sandwich on it.
    “I wouldn’t