Part 25 (1/2)

He grinned. ”I can live with that.”

Before she could say another word, Rafe kissed her. As his tongue slid between her lips, Nikki dug her nails into his back and scalp to bring him closer. She needed to remind him of what would be waiting for him when he came back. Because, d.a.m.n it, Rafe was going to come back and be her mate. She refused to accept any alternative.

Chapter Twenty-Two.

Nikki loved him.

As Rafe kissed her and claimed her with his tongue, he couldn't get her words out of his head: I love you, Rafe Hartley.

He'd answered with something more romantic than he'd intended, but he'd finally gotten through Nikki's barriers. h.e.l.l, the realization that he loved the woman in his arms had come on rather suddenly.

But it was the truth. The dragonwoman had wormed her way into his heart in a very short time. Not only that, she brought out the best in him. Nikki made him a better man. He couldn't imagine life without her smile, her teasing, or even her frown.

Kissing her wasn't nearly enough, but since they were in the middle of a group of cottages, he broke the kiss. Nikki's flas.h.i.+ng pupils told him her dragon was a part of their moment. And he didn't mind at all. ”We have fifty minutes. I want to be inside you and hear that you love me again. Are you well enough?”

She frowned, and he wanted to kiss between her brows. ”Stop worrying about me. You're wasting time.”

He grinned. ”Then I'm going to accept that as permission to do this.”

Swooping behind her knees, he lifted Nikki against his chest and ran. Rather than complain, she nibbled his neck and licked the sting with her tongue. Her breath was hot against his skin as she said, ”I can't wait to see you try this in about eight and a half months time when I'm in labor, and you're too impatient to wait for Dr. Sid to come.”

He didn't miss the importance of Nikki joking about the baby and their future. Tightening his grip, he answered, ”Don't worry, I'll have a wheelbarrow parked just outside the door. That way I won't break my back.”

”Rafe Daniel Hartley, I'm seriously reconsidering getting naked with you.”

Chuckling, he kissed her cheek. ”Hartley babies are big babies. I was just under ten pounds myself. We can blame the weight on my genes. Fair?”

She snorted. ”How about we blame all the inconveniences on your Hartley genes. If you try to make up for the inconveniences, then that's closer to fair.”

”I thought you didn't want any special treatment during your pregnancy? I'm just trying to please my lady.”

Nikki shook her head. ”Charm is definitely not one of your strengths.”

Their cottage came into view and Rafe picked up his pace, careful to keep Nikki as steady as possible. ”I prefer to settle things physically. I look forward to sparring again.”

”I'm only two weeks pregnant. I can spar for the next few months without a problem.”

”Right, then that's the first thing we'll do after I get back from London.”

”Wow, I didn't think that'd be the first thing.”

His voice was husky as he answered, ”The sparring will warm you up. I have many, many things I plan to do to you after London. In fact, I think we should take three days off just to have enough time.”

”As much as I'd like to coc.o.o.n myself with you for three days, away from the world, what about the army? They might kick you out if you don't show progress on the Bourne case.”

Not wanting to spend his precious time with Nikki on uncertainties, he merely answered, ”Everything will work out eventually.”

Nikki opened her mouth to reply, but he reached their cottage door. Setting her down, he opened it and tugged her inside. Closing the door, he pinned Nikki against it. Taking her hands, he moved them to above her head. ”We can talk more later.” He kissed her gently. ”I want to spend the next forty-two minutes showing you just how much I love you with actions.” He leaned against Nikki's body and rubbed his hard c.o.c.k against her stomach. ”Because I love you, Nikola Gray, and I want to erase any doubts you might have before I leave.”

She tilted her head up. ”Then get to it, already.”

With a smile, he pressed his lips against hers. Taking her bottom lip with his teeth, he worried the soft flesh before focusing on the top one. Each moan sent a rush through his body and made his c.o.c.k even harder.

But he wanted to feel her skin. Stepping back, he tugged off his s.h.i.+rt and ordered, ”Get undressed.” Nikki raised an eyebrow. And he added, ”Please.”

As she stepped out of her shoes and pulled down her leggings, she smiled. ”That wasn't so hard, was it?”

Rafe took off his boots and socks. ”Lord it over me now, because once you're naked, you're the one who's going to be saying please.”

Amus.e.m.e.nt mixed with heat danced in her eyes. ”You talk the talk, but let's see if you can walk the walk.”

Rafe shucked his cargo pants and moved closer to Nikki. He helped pull the tunic over her head before kissing her neck. ”First, we need you naked.”

Standing up straight, Rafe traced a finger down Nikki's chest until he came to the thin material of her bra. He traced around her hard nipple but was careful never to touch it. After a few more seconds, Nikki's breathing hitched. He met her gaze. ”Is there something you want to say?”

He moved his finger a fraction closer to her taut peak but then retreated. Nikki bit her lip and shook her head. ”Of course not.”

The corner of his mouth ticked up. ”Then I'm just going to have to work harder at breaking through your stubbornness.” He removed his touch. ”Turn around.”

Throwing him a curious look, she complied. Rafe gently gathered her long, dark hair and swept it over her shoulder to expose the scar on her back, the one that was a result of her wing injury. Leaning down, he gently kissed it. ”Proof of your bravery.”

Flicking open the clasp of her bra at the back, he ran his hand down her spine until he reached the waistband of her panties. Slowly sliding a hand inside, he grabbed one of her a.r.s.e cheeks and squeezed the firm muscle. ”Proof of your strength.”

She looked over her shoulder. ”Stop being silly.”

Rubbing her a.r.s.e in slow circles, he murmured, ”Do you want me to stop?”

Lightly pinching her, she drew in a breath. ”No.”

”Good.”

Sliding the thin material down her legs, he rubbed his whiskered cheek against her thigh. He'd never get enough of the soft skin or feminine scent that was uniquely Nikki.

With the panties gone, Rafe ran his hands up the outside of Nikki's thighs, her waist, and her ribcage. Even though her bra was now tossed to the side, he didn't touch her b.r.e.a.s.t.s. Instead, he pulled her against him and placed his hands possessively over her abdomen. ”Another proof of your bravery and strength.”

She looked over her shoulder. ”What the b.l.o.o.d.y h.e.l.l are you talking about?”

”You overcame your fears and doubts to give me a priceless gift. One that I'll spend the rest of my life trying to repay.” He gently kissed her lips. ”A family.”

Nikki's voice cracked as she murmured, ”Rafe.”

”I love you, Nikki. Now, let me show you.”

Turning in his arms, she looped her hands behind his neck. ”And what did you have in mind?”

”So much for an 'I love you, too, Rafe,'” he growled out in a higher-pitched voice.