Free Rystani Warrior 04 - The Quest by Susan Kearney Page A

been more thrilled that he’d taken the initiative. There was something exciting about a man who knew what he wanted and wasn’t afraid to pursue it that got her blood pumping and her pulse racing.
    And the Rystani did have a great chest. With his broad shoulders and powerful arms, he really possessed an incredible physique. She knew Rystani men were all built like warriors—but Kirek was the only Rystani she’d seen up close. As a woman who appreciated well-made engineering and masculine lines, she couldn’t help but savor the contours of his hard muscles beneath her palms. At her touch, he dropped his psi shield, and she could feel the thump of his heart and the heat that radiated from him, upping her own temperature.
    If the simple act of touching his chest was causing her mouth to go dry and her pulse to jump into hyperdrive, she figured a kiss would shoot her straight out of the dust nebula. His hands closed about her waist, holding her gently, and she half expected him to lift her to him, but he didn’t. Tilting back her head, she caught his eye, and at the sparks in his, her breath caught. They’d gone from zero to light speed in less than seconds, and her thoughts swirled.
    He’d been hinting that he wanted her almost from the moment they’d met.
    She’d taken his hint and raised the stakes. Would he fold, call, or raise?
    Locking his blue gaze on hers, he lowered his head until his lips stopped an inch from hers. Then he waited … waited for her to close the remaining distance.
    Oh, yeah. He was tempting, seducing. Not taking her for granted.
    Perfect.
    She’d wanted to know if kissing him was as good as talking to him, as good as looking at him. Past experience told her his kiss might be nothing but a pair of deuces. But at the first touch of his lips, she knew he wasn’t bluffing.
    His kiss was exactly what she liked.
    Not too soft. Not too hard. He applied the right amount of pressure to take charge, yet gave her wiggle room. She used it to wrap her arms around his neck and part her lips. While her fingers explored his thick neck and silky hair, she ached to press her breasts against his heat and fire more of her senses, but his hands held her in place, allowing no more than their lips to touch.
    She inhaled, and he smelled like fresh-mowed grass after a spring rain. He tasted like ginger—not too tart, not too sweet, but with enough bite to make her want … more.
    Again she attempted to lean into him. But he didn’t budge, holding her still. Right where he wanted her.
    His clever mouth kept her too busy to focus on the distance between their bodies. The man knew how to kiss. He knew how to take control. His lips commanded and then demanded more. She willingly gave, and her lips swelled under his attention. Her lungs strained for air, and she had no idea when she’d closed her eyes, allowing her to focus on the scalding rush of heat that boiled through her veins and elicited a whimper.
    If Kirek’s kiss had been a tide, he would have rushed in and swept her away. If his kiss had been a drink, it would have been the rarest champagne, bubbly and effervescent and lingering. If his kiss had been a fire, it would have been smoke and flames that sparked and flared into an inferno that burned away to leave white hot embers.
    And if they’d been playing poker, he’d just won the entire pot.
    Stunned by her reaction, shocked by the pleasure he gave, she had no idea how much time had passed. She only knew that the connection between them ran like molten lava, burning hot, dangerously thrilling, totally awesome.
    Explosive.
    She had no doubts that together they would ignite. Yet despite the rushing in her ears, despite the hammering of her heart, she knew that while lust would be enough for her, it wouldn’t be enough for him. A man like Kirek wouldn’t settle for less than long-term potential.
    She spoke bluntly. “I’m not looking for more than a fling.”
    “I am.”
    His words reminded her that