Free In Love and War by Tara Mills Page A

calmer, solid claim. He had a right to be here, to possess her, because she’d granted it. Ariela wanted to feel Dylan’s hard body against hers, but she realized he wasn’t a guy to take without invitation. Even now, if she changed her mind and asked him to stop, he’d do it, no matter how difficult it was to pull back. Confidence in that made her want him even more. This would be an utter surrender, an open agreement with an occupying force.
    She fumbled with the buttons on his shirt while he held himself over her, working her top up with one hand.
    He looked down, grinning at her impatience. “Just clarifying something here. You’re not interested in me?”
    “ How many times do I have to tell you? At this time, you’re on my banned substances list.” Ariela swept his shirt apart and ran her hands over his chest, squeezing his yummy pecs.
    Dylan backed off to give her room. “I think you need to sit up.”
    Ariela pulled her top over her head and tossed it to the floor while he unbuttoned his cuffs and slipped out of his shirt, dropping it aside. Finally, both of them bare d above the waist they took a minute to truly appreciate what they saw. Ariela broke the spell first by reaching for him. Dylan rode her body down to the cushions.
    “ I don’t want to crush you.” He shifted onto his side and pulled Ariela in, kissing her while his fingers followed the outer curve of her breast. The kiss deepened as his hand closed around it and Ariela felt herself slipping into an exquisite stupor, her brain function receding even more with every gentle squeeze, every stroke of his tongue along hers.
    Then reality intruded.
    Ariela covered the hand massaging her breast and stopped him, breaking the kiss at the same time. “This is probably the last chance to ask this before we completely lose our heads, so I have to mention it.” Dylan eased back and looked at her. “Are you safe?” she asked.
    “Safe?”
    “As in free of infections, STDs ...you know.”
    “Definitely. I’ve been very careful. Clean bill of health. How about you?”
    She combed the hair back at his temples and smiled. “No worries. I have written proof, if you ’re interested.”
    Dylan rolled forward and kissed her. “I don’t think that’ll be necessary.” He nuzzled between Ariela’s breasts then shifted to suck a nipple to a hard point. She groaned with disappointment when he stopped.
    “Birth control?” he asked.
    “I’m on the pill.”
    He sighed with relief, no doubt glad he didn’t have to go foraging for a condom. “Where do you want to go, Ariela?” He swirled his tongue lazily around her areola, watching her suggestively as he did it. Those eyes owned her, no question.
    Ariela hesitated. “You’ve been more places than I have. How about you suggest something, be my tour guide?”
    Dylan’s grin was as slow as the Cheshire cat’s. “I think I know a few destinations guaranteed to put a smile on your face.” He pressed his pelvis against her and the solid, unmistakable promise of what she felt sent a jolt of lust screaming right through her.
    “Take me,” Ariela whispered.
    Dylan drew her down to the floor, and together they removed her slacks. With her stretched out naked before him, all Dylan could do was kneel in gratitude and gaze at her for a moment. Then he reached out, his hands floating lightly above her, following her contours like a delicate whisper. Ariela broke out in goose bumps, her skin instantly chilled. He smiled when her nipples puckered tight, drawing her areolas into the action. Bending down, he took them into his warm mouth, one at a time.
    She shivered. “I’m cold.”
    “I think I can help.”
    Dylan moved between her legs and kissed and stroked down her torso, across her stomach, before finally bringing his kisses where she needed him, wanted him most. Her knees fell open like butterfly wings on either side of him, and he slid an arm under her hips and dipped his head, tasting her with a