Page 15 of In a Dangerous Orbit
“This ismyhouse?—”
He stood, towering over her, his eyes glittering. “Iwillkeep you safe, Relda. One, because it’s my job, and two—” he caught a strand of her hair, rubbing it between his callused fingers “—because I don’t want to see you hurt.” His knuckles brushed her bruised cheek like the kiss of butterfly wings. “I already hate seeing this. I won’t let those assholes add any more.”
Damn him. Damn him for being a good, noble man.
And cracking the stone shell around her heart.
Relda tried to shore up her defenses, but she worried it was already too late.
Hunt paced Relda’s apartment,checking the windows, monitoring the street for anything out of the ordinary.
With the help of some deputies, they’d moved the girls off to the lake house—all of them protesting vigorously. They were all very protective of Relda. He could see why. She loved them, even if she wouldn’t admit it, or let them get too close to her. She cared for them, had saved them, and given them all a better life.
He stopped at a window, glancing down to the empty street below. No shadows were stirring. Everyone was in bed.
“You think they’ll come tonight?”
He glanced over his shoulder. Relda had changed out of the skimpy, sexy robe, thank the Gods. If he’d had to watch it sliding off her shoulder much longer, he would have just dragged her to the floor and been on her like a rutting beast.
Even now, his cock was hard, pressing against his trousers. She’d changed into tight, black pants and a loose, white shirt, but it hadn’t helped dampen his desire much. “Yeah. I think they will.”
She nodded, her fingers clenched around the delicate chain on her necklace. She moved up beside him, and he smelled her. Smoke and spice temptation.
“You can see Souk’s trojan moon tonight.” She pointed at the bright spot, smaller than the main moon but larger than a star. “Khan.”
“Home to the Phoenix brothers.”
“The wild treasure hunters.”
“As long as they stick to the law on Souk, they aren’t my problem.”
“I’ve seen them in the market a few times. Handsome devils, all three of them.”
The appreciation in her voice made Hunt scowl at the moon above.
“I met two of their wives today. My impression of the Phoenixes is that they jump into adventure and maybe skirt thelaw when it suits them, but they don’t blatantly disregard it. They live life to the fullest.”
Hunt glanced sideways at her. “Do you live life to the fullest?”
“I told you, my life is exactly how I want it to be.”
“Right. People held at a polite distance. Lovers who are visitors to Souk and only share your bed once.”
She went rigid, her voice taking on a dangerous edge. “Excuse me?”
“I told you, I checked you out.”
“And my love life was included in that, was it?” Her voice made it clear she’d like to flay him alive.
“You don’t let anyone get close to you.” He leaned down until their noses brushed. “But you’d like me close, wouldn’t you?”
She hissed out a breath. “Arrogant, insufferable?—”
He kept talking. “You find some attractive visitor, use those flirting skills I see you flex every day, seduce him, give a pleasant evening of tempting delicacies and silk sheets. Skin sliding against skin, gentle sighs and moans. Everything is under your control, exactly as you want it, followed by a slow, easy orgasm for you both.”
Her mouth tightened but she stayed silent.
Hunt stepped closer, and she took a step backward. He kept moving, backing her up against the wall. “That’s not how it should be, Relda. It should be hard, a little rough, hot and sweaty. It should be desire taking over, stripping away the control.” He leaned down until his lips brushed the side of her neck, right below her ear. “I’d touch you all over, until you were sobbing for my cock. I’d lick you between your legs, lap up your sweet honey until you came on my tongue. Then I’d slide my throbbing cock inside you and take you hard, my fingers digging into your hips. It’d be skin slapping against skin, and your screams of pleasure filling the room, Relda, until we both exploded.”
