Free Destiny Divided by Leia Shaw Page B

with a long “e” at the beginning so it started out like “eerie.” But James put the emphasis on the end syllable, “yon”, and began it with “air”. It sounded regal and unique instead of just plain weird.
    He stroked her hair . “You are not alone anymore.”
    She almost believed him.
    “It means bright,” he told her. “Eirian.”
    She lifted her head and looked him in the eye. Though her vision was misty, not a tear fell. “James,” she pleaded. “Make me forget.”
    He stared down at her for a few moments and she thought he might refuse.
    Her cheeks heated and she tried to pull away. What was she thinking? Before she could get far, he grabbed her hair in his fist.
    She gasped, but he didn’t give her time to protest. He yanked her head back and teased her mouth with his.
    With an arm around her waist , he pulled her to stand. As they kissed and nipped at each other’s lips, he unbuttoned her jeans and she fumbled with his belt.
    He maneuvered her toward the couch. When she slid her hands under his shirt, he grabbed them. The firmness of his hands around her wrists, his easy control of her body…she melted. Arousal cranked up a notch. Her clit throbbed and she squeezed her thighs together to ease it. It wasn’t enough. She needed his hand down there – his mouth.
    “Let me touch you, ” she rasped.
    He pushed her down onto the couch and stood over her. “Not until I have a taste.”
    She didn’t think she could get any wetter. Screw foreplay. She wanted cock. Now. Reaching up, she tried to finish undoing his pants but he gripped her wrists again.
    With a sly smile he said, “ Stubborn girl. I said not yet.”
    He lowered he r onto the couch then brushed his hand up her thigh and inward until he pressed against her clit. The seam of her jeans rubbed against it and she gasped and arched off the couch.
    In a wild frenzy, he lifted the hem of her shirt with his teeth. Those same teeth nipped sharply at the cleavage spilling over her bra. She moaned and writhed beneath him, rubbing her aching clit against his knee.
    It’d been too long, she thought as she bucked against him in desperation. He sat back on his knees and tugged her pants down over her hips. She wiggled to help him.
    He froze. “Up,” he said, patting her hip. “Get up. Maddox is here.”
    “Shit.” She yanked up her jeans and straightened out her shirt.
    James did the same.
    She ran her fingers through her damp hair then stopped when James chuckled. “What?”
    “It’s not your hair you need to worry about.” His gaze dropped to her mouth.
    Her lips were sore, which meant they were probably red and swollen.
    “Sorry. I didn’t have time to shave last night.” He drew a finger along her bottom lip then followed the line with his tongue.
    “James…”
    He stepped back, holding her chi n between two fingers. “I like you like this. Flush and freshly kissed. Quiet because you don’t want to admit you liked it.”
    She pulled away and opened her mouth, a witty retort on the tip of her tongue, but the slam of a car door cut her off.
    “We’ll fin ish this later,” he told her.
    She shook her head. “No, James. This was a mistake.”
    “I said later.”
    The doorknob wiggled. “This was noth –”
    “Hush.” He accentuated the command with a firm slap on her ass.
    She gasped. The kitchen door opened and Maddox walked in. Sage gave James a look that promised retribution for his bold reprimand. His answering grin chaffed at her nerves.
    “Hey,” Maddox said with a smile. Thankfully he seemed oblivious to the subtle exchange. He held up two bags of fast food.
    Sage’s stomach growled as the kitchen filled with the s mell of Chinese food.
    “Sesame chicken or bee f and broccoli?” he asked her.
    “Chicken.”
    Maddox handed her one of the bags.
    “Thanks.” She looked at James, w ho stood empty-handed. “Wanna share? I can’t eat the whole thing.”
    “No, I'm late.” He grabbed his keys from the counter.
    She