She blinked in the darkness. Her back was cozy warm, but her front was chilly. She realized Zayn was curled around her, one palm pressed possessively to her lower belly. His fingers lay just above the juncture of her thighs. She remembered their fiery, intense loving and shivered.
They’d collapsed on their pile of discarded clothes, exhausted from the adventures of the day and their own very private adventure. He’d been stroking her as they fell asleep. Which hadn’t made it easy for either of them to sleep.
But they had. And now the deepest part of night had fallen, and the desert air was damned cold.
“Okay?” He moved behind her, pressing a kiss to her shoulder.
“Cold.”
He moved and stood, and before she could speak, he scooped her into his arms.
Ria slipped her arms around his neck. No assassin or modern woman would ever admit it, but she really liked the way he carried her. So strong and self-assured.
When he stepped into the water and it lapped at her bottom, she squeaked.
He strode in waist deep, then sank into the warmth. The water wasn’t hot, but it was warmer than the outside air.
“How’s that?” he asked.
“Better.” She shifted, wrapping her legs around his waist and letting go of her arms. She drifted on her back, the warm water lapping at her skin. She watched him, watching her.
His gaze was like hot coals as it skated over her breasts. Their peaks bobbed above the water and hardened to points from the cold air and the way he looked at her. She definitely wasn’t feeling cold anymore.
“You are so damned delectable.” His fingers dug into her hips. He unhooked her legs but held her thighs in a tight grip as he floated her out on the water.
He shoved her legs apart, and she felt her stomach tighten. He looked wild, intent on devouring.
Leaning forward, he lowered his head and pressed a kiss to her belly.Oh, God.She let her head fall back in the water, her hair drifting out around her. His tongue dipped into her navel, lapping at the water pooled there. Then his mouth traveled down her body, his teeth scraping over her hipbone.
He pressed a hot kiss to her mound, right between her thighs but a whisper away from where she really wanted it.
“Do you remove your hair to drive men crazy?”
She shook her head, the water rippling. She licked her lips. “My race doesn’t have hair there.”
With a groan, he lowered his mouth again, shoving her thighs farther apart. This time there was no gentle exploration. His hot, hard mouth was a shock to her system. He sucked on her clit, then lapped at her with his tongue.
Ria’s hands flailed in the water. The sensations rocking through her were stronger than anything she’d experiencedbefore. When had she ever trusted a man enough to give up her control and just enjoy the pleasure? When had she ever just let herself go?
She stared blindly above. The stars in the sky became a blur, like she was traveling at interstellar speed, hurtling higher and higher.
Then there was no room for thoughts, only space for all the raging emotions inside her to coalesce before they exploded. She cried out, a strangled sound.
Zayn grabbed her, yanking her body into his. He thrust inside her and she felt her body grip him, her spasms milking him. He hammered into her in a frenzy.
“Can’t. Get. Enough. Of. You.” His words came through gritted teeth. Another thrust and his body juddered. He buried his face in her hair, and they both hurtled over the dark edge of pleasure together.
Ria didn’t know how much time had passed before she could think again. They were both tangled together, floating in the water, her head resting on his strong shoulder. “We’re lucky we didn’t drown.”
“Would have been worth it.”
His deep voice rumbled through her and she smiled. It’d be nice if they could just stay here, the two of them. No Guild, no ghosts, no dangerous missions. She pressed a kiss to his skin. “Maybe we could find a little mountain cabin and live here on Diablo.”
He chuckled. “You want to turn permanent cowgirl?”
No. She wanted to have this man by her side, in her bed, in her life. She forced herself to laugh. “Of course not. We have a Guild to outsmart, and then the galaxy is my oyster.”
He didn’t say anything, but one of his hands clenched in her hair. “After that, you can do whatever you want.” A beat of silence. “We both need some sleep, and a fire will help keep uswarm. Oh, and I did bring a lizard home for dinner. Might have to be a midnight snack.”
