Eve Langlais (17 page)

Suzie felt just as frantic. She reached up and twined her fingers in his hair, opening her mouth to let his tongue dart in. He licked her inner lip before dueling with her tongue, a wet, sensual dance that lit a fire in her tummy and turned her legs to mush.

Hunter’s arms wrapped even tighter around her. Good thing she had him to hold her up else she would have collapsed in a puddle at his feet. He walked over to the wall of the castle and leaned her against it. His hot mouth left her lips to trail scorching kisses down the side of her neck. Suzie arched, her body trembling with need. His hair felt so silky in her hands, and she pulled it, yanking his head back up so she could plunder his mouth, drink of his strength. A hardness pushed against her tummy, a throbbing heat, that said more than words how much he wanted her.

He slid down her body, his hot lips brushing her nipples through the fabric of the gown she wore.

She gasped when he opened his mouth wide and suckled one of her hard nubs through the thin material.

God, the melting heat. His mouth trailed lower, his warm breath making her shiver even through the gown. He nestled his face against the apex of her thighs, causing her to get even wetter. Her arousal, stronger than anything she’d ever felt or imagined possible, made her wild. She wanted to feel him inside of her. Claiming her. Marking her as his.

She felt his hand tugging up the skirt of the gown, the cool evening air making her thighs shiver. His hand slid up her leg, his callused palm scraping lightly against her softer skin. Rough, yet gentle, fingers rubbed against her kitty, tangling in her curls. Damn! She’d never had a chance to shave.

And that one thought woke her up.
What the hell am I doing?
They were standing out in the open where anyone could come across them. Her daughter was in bed waiting for her below, and her son, her poor son, was in the hands of a madman. Suzie pushed at Hunter. He leaned back, his eyes glittering up at her.

“I can’t,” she almost sobbed. “I—”

Instantly, his arms came around her, and he hugged her tight. “Shh. It’s okay. I’m sorry. I forgot myself. I seem to lack all control when you’re around me.”

He lacks control? Um hello, who started it?

“I’m sorry,” Suzie whispered. “I just can’t. Not without knowing if Jared is safe. It wouldn’t be right.”

“No, I’m the one who’s sorry. You’ve had a traumatic day and deserve better than being mauled against a stone wall. It won’t happen again.”

What?
“No, I want this to happen again. It’s just, I feel guilty about doing this while Jared is missing.

Maybe once this is all over.” She looked up at him hopefully.
Please let there be another time
, she thought.

64

He smiled at her, a sweet, warm, dare she say, loving smile. “I would be delighted to take this up where we left off when Jared is safe. More than delighted,” he said with a soft kiss on her lips. “Now, time for bed. I need to get up early, and you need your sleep.”

Holding her hand, he led her back to her room, and with a sweet kiss that left her trembling, he bid her good night. Suzie ignored the smirk on the guard’s face, and with a last smile for Hunter, who watched, she went inside the bedroom.

She could hear Jessica’s even breathing in the dark, thankfully asleep. Suzie stripped off the gown she’d put on earlier, leaving on only the thin chemise, and crawled under the covers.

God, she trembled inside with fear for Jared, but she knew Hunter was right about one thing.

Damian wanted his son. Jared—his pride and joy. And after trying for so long to create him, would he honestly hurt him?
No
, she had to admit. Even when he’d kidnapped him, he’d never actually physically hurt Jared, even though Jared had tried to hurt him.

But he would hurt Hunter, and that scared her. He could die, and it would be her fault. Would he still be going after the Dragon if it weren’t for him getting to know her and the kids? Probably, he seemed to just be that type of guy. What if in saving Jared, he died? Died without her ever having known his body fully. His touch. Possibly even his love.

Did she love him? Maybe. She thought she’d loved Damian once upon a time, although years of retrospect had made her realize that what she’d thought was love had, in fact, been infatuation.
Am I
infatuated with Hunter
? She lusted after his body, true, but she also enjoyed being with him. Talking to him. Seeing him with her children.

But even if she did maybe love him, did he love her back? And considering the different worlds they came from, could he be content with plain old Suzie. Stretch marked, magicless, slightly chubby Suzie.

How could he be?

Suzie felt an urge to find him and ask him what he saw in her. But how would she find him? This place defined the word huge.

She could ask the guard, who’d probably just smirk again and think her a slut looking to get laid.

Maybe she could pretend she had an urgent question that only Hunter could answer.

No, he needed his sleep. He’d said he’d be leaving at the crack of dawn to save her son. How dare she think of disturbing his rest to try and make herself feel better?
What a mess!

Suzie just couldn’t sleep. She tossed and turned in the bed beside Jessica. Her mind whirled and twirled in circles.

Unable to take the cloying darkness of the room, she got up and stumbled to the curtains. She needed some air. The gloom in the room hung heavily, though, and stumbling around, she hit something hard.

“Ow!” she yelped, hopping on one foot. Crap, hopefully she hadn’t woken Jessica up. Suzie rubbed her bruised shin when she suddenly realized she could see a bit. She turned.

Hunter stood framed in the doorway, the dim light from the hall lighting the gloom in the room.

“Are you okay?” he whispered.

“Yeah, I couldn’t sleep and whacked myself getting up.”

Hunter tilted his head and indicated she follow him out to the hall. Suzie, with a quick look at the bed where Jessica still slept, followed.

Once in the hall, Hunter closed the door and turned to her.

“What are you doing here?” Suzie asked, noticing the guard had left his post in the chair.

“I sent Kyle to bed. I preferred to watch over you and Jessica myself.”

“But you have to get up early.”

“And? I wanted to make sure you were safe. My sister will arrive in the morning to take over bodyguard duty while I’m gone. Till then, the only person I trust you and Jessica with is me.”

Suzie felt her heart melt.

65

“Why couldn’t you sleep?” he asked softly, his blue eyes gazing down at her with tenderness.

Now facing him, Suzie felt her resolve from earlier vanish, and she looked at her bare feet, realizing suddenly that they were alone and her only attire was a thin linen chemise.

His big arms wrapped around her, and she looked up just as his mouth descended. Instant, molten heat, spread through her body. She opened her mouth, inviting his tongue in. They kissed. They bit and sucked. His large hands roamed up and down her back, pressing her against him.

Suzie panted, breathless with need. When he cupped her buttocks in his hands and lifted her to press the juncture of her thighs against his hardness, she moaned against his mouth. With her back against the wall, he ground his body against hers. And Suzie pushed right back. Too many layers separated them.

Suddenly, it seemed urgent that she feel his skin, taste him. She slid her hands under his shirt, spreading her hands flat on his smooth, hot flesh. He groaned against her lips, then suddenly, pulled his mouth away and pushed Suzie behind him. She staggered and grabbed his body to steady herself.
What the hell?

“What do you want?” Hunter growled. Oh crap, someone had caught them.

“Your mother sent me to relieve you. She wishes to speak with you before your departure.”

Hunter growled. Suzie just wanted to die. Oh God, to think a few minutes more and they might have been caught doing the naughty in the hall like a pair of randy teenagers.

“Give me a second with the lady.”

Hunter pulled Suzie around from behind him and swept her up into his arms. Suzie got a peek of the new guard’s broad back before Hunter carried her back into her room. He tucked her into the bed beside Jessica.

Suzie looked up at him, her body still aching.

Hunter gave her a wry smile. “I guess I have one more reason now to find Jared and come back quickly. Take care of Jessica while I’m gone. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

With a hard kiss that left her lips tingling, he left, and Suzie huddled down in the bed frustrated, but happy. He’d find Jared and bring him back. And when he did, she’d reward him. Or should she say, reward herself.

66

“Your timing leaves much to be desired, Mother,” said a disgruntled Hunter, walking into his mother’s sitting room.

“I know, dear,” Beverly said, smiling serenely.

“You mean you did that on purpose?” Hunter barked, frustration making him short tempered.

“Well really, Hunter. She is, after all, a guest under my roof, and you weren’t exactly being discreet.

Just be glad it wasn’t your father who caught you.”

His father. Hunter grimaced. Father would have torn a strip off his hide had he seen him with Suzie.

He’d have to take better care next time.
And yes, there will definitely be a next time.

“Did you really want something, or was this just a ploy to get me away from Suzie? You know, I expected the commander to have a problem with my interest in her, but I have to say, I never expected that from you.”

“Oh your father has a problem with everyone, dear. As for me, it depends on your intentions. Suzie is not some light skirt that you can play with, then discard. She’s been hurt, bad. Not to mention the fact she has children.”

“You think I don’t know that!” What, like he hadn’t noticed the twins? And he’d never hurt Suzie.

Just the thought of someone hurting her made him want to hit something.

“Do you?” His mother got up from her seat and came to stand by him, one delicate hand on his arm. “What are your intentions, Hunter? Because I can’t just stand by and watch you crush that poor girl’s heart.”

Hunter growled and shook off his mother’s hand.

“Do you love her?” his mother persisted.

“I don’t know. I do know I can’t stop thinking about her. I know I want to kill the bastard who did this to her and the kids. I know I’ll kill anybody who hurts her.”
Or touches her
, he thought.

“So, you love her?”

“Is it love?” he asked, turning anguished, questioning eyes at his mother. “What if I’m not capable of love? I mean, look at the commander. What if I turn out like him?”

“Your father has reasons for being the way he is. And I know you might think he doesn’t care for you, but he does, deeply. He just doesn’t know how to show it. He wasn’t raised that way.”

“So what makes you think I’ll be any different?”
After all, I am my father’s son, his good little soldier.

“You already are. Can you see your father agonizing about something like this out loud? I’ve seen the way you look at her, Hunter. I’ve seen the way you are with that little girl. She adores you and you adore her right back. How could you think that would change? Did it ever occur to you that, if you did commit, that if you lost this fear, you could be not only a great husband, but also a fantastic father? You seem to forget, I had a part in raising you, too. Or are you saying I had no influence in how you turned out?”

Oops. His mother looked hurt. And she did have a point. Just because his father was a cold man who showed no affection, didn’t mean Hunter would end up the same way. He loved spending time with Suzie’s kids. Loved the smile that lit up Jessica’s face every time she saw him. Could see himself teaching Jared all the things a man needs to teach a boy—like writing his name in snow when he peed, learning how to fight. Did he truly think he’d end up like his father?

“I hate it when you’re right,” Hunter grumbled.

“Of course you do, dear,” said his mother placatingly. “Your father does too.”

“I guess I do love her. How would you feel about me marrying a mundane?”

“Oh please, she’s not mundane. She’s a woman with great inner strength who has managed to survive on her own with two small children. I think she’d make you a marvelous wife.”

67

“What about the commander, though?” Stupid question. He already knew the commander’s answer-No!

“Your father has nothing to do with this. If you love her, then that’s all that matters. He’ll either come around or I’ll make him see reason,” Beverly said fiercely.

Hunter laughed. “Mother, you always know what to say.”

“Now, enough of that. You’re ready for your trip?”

“Yes, my stuff is packed and sitting in the front hall. As soon as the wizard shows up, I’ll leave.

When’s dear old sis due to arrive?” It would be nice to see his tougher than nails sister. It had been quite some time since they’d last seen each other.

“She’ll be arriving with the wizard, actually. We were lucky, we caught her between assignments.

And don’t worry I’ll make sure she behaves with Suzie.”

“She’d better!” Hunter growled. He loved his sister dearly, but headstrong didn’t even come close to describing her. An opinionated hunter like himself, she had little time for girly pursuits and had a bawdy sense of humor. The higher powers only knew what she’d think of babysitting Suzie and Jessica. He only hoped any stories she told wouldn’t be too embarrassing. She especially loved to tell the one about when she’d scared him when he was about eight by dressing up like a ghoul and coming into his room in the middle of the night.
He’d screamed like a girl
, she’d cackle to anyone who’d listen. In his defense, she’d looked pretty damn realistic.

“Be careful, dear,” said his mother, wrapping her arms around him, and Hunter hugged her small form back.

“Careful! Ha. He’ll probably scream like a girl when he finds the Dragon,” came the mocking voice of his sister behind him.