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

Kirek was all about home and hearth and babies. Then she opened her eyes and looked at him … and swallowed back the tightness in her throat at his fierce hunger.
    Before, he’d been imposing, but now he dominated the space around him. With his passion firing on all cylinders, he had a reckless heat in his eyes, a swarthy swagger in the curl of his lips that reminded her of a man who could deliver more pleasure than she’d ever dreamed. From the cocky tilt of his hip to the flex of his powerful shoulders, he brimmed with a magnificent command of sexuality.
    His gaze flared with wild need. A muscle in his neck rippled. Yet he held perfectly still—all that power perfectly contained—just waiting for her to unleash.
    He would be delicious. She knew it. He knew it—she could tell by the utter confidence in his eyes.
    So it took every measure of her control not to forge ahead. After all, if they became lovers and it didn’t work out, they still had a mission to finish, and on a small ship, there was no room for a lovers’ quarrel. “We aren’t right for each other.”
    “If you say so.”
    “We shouldn’t … ”
    He grinned. “We won’t.” And then as if she’d said nothing at all, he kissed her forehead, her nose, and once again found her lips.
    She practically melted. Her bones seemed to go liquid. She had difficulty breathing, standing, reasoning.
    “I can’t think when you do that.”
    “Thinking isn’t required.”
    “But—” It took all her self-control to yank her lips away from him and what she craved. “I said no. ”
    “But you meant yes. ” He raised one hand and slowly traced a finger down her cheek, her jaw, her neck. She yearned for him to go lower, to explore her collarbone, her breasts, and the moisture between her thighs.
    She tried to put resentment and attitude into her tone. “Don’t tell me what I mean.”
    “Someone needs to.” Amusement lit his dark blue eyes. As if reading her body’s demands, his hands slid up from her waist to gently cup her breasts. “Are you denying that you like this?”
    He looked her straight in the eyes. His thumbs flicked over her nipples, his touch rough and perfect. Electric heat shocked her, and she moaned. She had the urge to bite him, claw him, throw herself at him, take him right there in the corridor up against the bulkhead.
    Her tone came out sassy and bold. “I don’t do relationships.”
    “Okay.”
    “You don’t want me.”
    He flicked her nipples again. “You’re exactly what I want. Look how well you fill my hands.”
    Ah, his hands felt like heaven. It had been much too long since anyone had made her feel so good. Kirek seemed to know what her body was craving. She craved him. His touch. His kisses. His flesh against hers.
    Yet, despite her hunger, despite how much she savored his skillful teasing, she resisted. “Are you sure you won’t want more than I can give?”
    He chuckled. “That’s not your concern. Rystani warriors take what we want.”
    Oh God. Moisture trickled between her thighs. She wanted him to take.
    And take.
    And take.
    Yet … that was lust talking. They’d still have to work together. She should keep the relationship simple and become true friends. “Just so you know I’m not cut out for long term—”
    “Long term didn’t work for you before because you chose the wrong men for the wrong reasons.”
    Damn him for turning her words against her, though his logic was faulty. It didn’t matter who the man was, she simply didn’t do long-term relationships. Period. She liked her freedom too much to compromise. She craved her independence as much as she craved air in her lungs.
    While he played with her breasts in the most delightful manner, she cocked her head and challenged him. “What makes you think I’m doing a better job of choosing this time?”
    She expected him to tell her that he was different. Special. But no … he shot her a wicked grin. “Because this time, you aren’t making the