Part 9 (1/2)

Jolts of pure excitement shot down her spine, electrifying her senses and dragging a moan from the back of her throat. He cupped her breast, rolled her nipple, his tongue moving in her mouth. He tasted of honey and cinnamon, pa.s.sion and tenderness. Her head spun. He enveloped her senses so completely, she could only think of him, of their need for each other and the pa.s.sion in his kiss.

His fingers glided along her side, tickling her ribs. He caught her gasp and giggle in his open mouth. Caressing his way from her waist to her inner thigh, he avoided the heart of her desire. Teasing her legs, her hips, her knees, he touched her everywhere but where she wanted his touch most.

Restless and wanton, she canted her hips, parting her thighs in silent invitation. Ryder pushed her legs up and back, his gaze boring into hers. ”Hold your legs open for me.”

Sheri grabbed the backs of her knees and maintained the brazen position. His gaze never left hers as he pushed two fingers into her aching core. She moaned. Her inner muscles rippled, welcoming the penetration.

His gaze narrowed and his lips parted. She could just imagine how she felt. Hot, wet, so ready to be filled by his thick length. He pulled his fingers nearly out and captured one of her nipples between his teeth. She gasped as the unexpected nip triggered pulsations in her c.l.i.t.

She needed his touch there on the swollen nub hidden in her folds. ”Please,” she whispered as he moved his mouth to her other breast.

”Please what?” He suckled firmly as he waited for her answer. Her nipples tingled, her core throbbed, and her skin burned.

”Let me come.”

”I'm not stopping you.” He licked her, flicking his tongue against her hardened crest as his fingers slid in and out in slow, shallow strokes. She needed fast and hard. He gave her soft and slow. Closing her eyes she concentrated on the tension coiling inside of her. Could she will herself to o.r.g.a.s.m? G.o.d, he made her ache.

His soft hair brushed against her inner thigh, and she opened her eyes. She watched his golden head descend between her widespread legs. Antic.i.p.ation built to a fever pitch as she waited for the first stroke of his tongue. Using only his mouth, he parted her folds with his tongue and circled her c.l.i.t. Yes! He moved his fingers faster, deeper, circling her over and over again.

Blissful sensations detonated inside of her, cascading along her nerve endings. She arched, her body, clutching his fingers rhythmically. A soft, contented sigh escaped between her parted lips.

He stayed with her, licking, stroking until the last wave of pleasure faded. Licking her essence from his lips, he grinned like a contented cat. ”Are you ready for fast and hard? My greedy body wants you badly.”

She glanced down at his ma.s.sive erection and returned his smile. ”I can see that.”

”Do you want to go upstairs, or can I ravish you right here?”

”If you're going to ravish me, it shouldn't really be my choice.”

He chuckled and cleared her desk with one powerful sweep of his arm. ”Good point.”

Only her computer remained on the far corner of the desk. Thank G.o.d his arm wasn't longer or she would -- He pulled her up out of the chair and bent her over the desk. Her b.r.e.a.s.t.s pressed against the smooth wood. She gasped. ”That's cold.”

”Well, this is hot.” He eased his hand between her thighs, sliding his middle finger between her pa.s.sion-slick folds.

She relaxed her legs, making room for his stroking fingers, but he was beyond foreplay. He positioned his shaft, then moved his hands to her hips. His first deep thrust drove her forward, raising her feet nearly off the floor. He groaned. She cried out, surprised by the pressure and fullness. Her core stretched tight around him, caressing him with its pulsing rhythm.

He gave her a moment to adjust before he moved in earnest. Hard, deep, he thrust to the hilt into her welcoming heat. She clutched the desk as he pounded into her, his hands firmly holding her hips. Overwhelmed, consumed -- ravished, she surrendered completely to pa.s.sion's demand.

In a frantic flurry of motion, he pulled out and turned her over, lifting her legs to his shoulders and driving back in with hardly a pause. Sheri stared into his eyes as he moved hard and deep within her body. Intense with myriad emotions, his gaze devoured her as surely as his body filled her, completed her.

Tenderness swelled, augmenting the carnal pleasure. This was deeper than desire, richer than pa.s.sion. She had no idea how it had happened, but this was love.

He gritted his teeth and tossed his head. She lifted her hips and took him deep. Pleasure detonated in her body and radiated through his. They clung to each other, shaking with the force of their simultaneous release.

Chapter Nine.

The following morning, Sheri sat at the kitchen table with Ryder, enjoying a quick cup of coffee before heading off to work. Waking up in his arms had almost convinced her to call in sick again, but with Meagan's recent crisis, the Bentel-2 project was behind schedule and over budget. Everyone was encouraged by their progress, but still, Sheri couldn't play hooky indefinitely.

”I'll request a.s.signments that correspond with your work schedule as often as I can.”

She nodded and set her coffee cup down. ”What did you do while I slept?”

”Last night I just held you, but I'm sure there will be times when I'll have to work.”

”Do you need Morpheus's permission to move your headquarters here?”

He offered an elaborate shrug. ”This has never been an issue before. No other Dream Warrior has had this option.”

A burst of golden light and sizzling sparks erupted within the kitchen. Sheri covered her face with her forearms. Ryder rounded the table and stood in front of her.

”Your Majesty,” he said. ”What brings you here?”

Sheri peeked around him at the woman now standing in the middle of her kitchen. Regal, haughty, her cold dark eyes took in the scene surrounding her. Her gown was fine white linen, banded about with golden braid. Piled atop her head, her glossy brown hair had been arranged in an artless fall of curls.

”Morpheus offered to explain, but I wanted to speak with you myself.”

Ryder had called her ”Your Majesty.” Was this Hera, queen of the G.o.ds?

”I'm honored.”

”Oh, drop the humility, Ryder. We both know you despise me. As many times as Zeus has strayed, you would think I'd be used to it. I won't apologize for what I did to you. It's far too late for that.”

”Then why have you come?”

Sheri moved to stand beside him, feeling foolish peeking out from behind his back.

”To counteract the s.e.xual compulsion, you opened a portion of your being not often accessible to me. I knew you would need the mortal's help to vanquish the succubus, so I established a telepathic link, rather like the collar that connected you and Chaos. She can accompany you into the Dream Realm, and you are now able to materialize when you are with her.”

”I've figured out this much already.”

”Don't be curt with me, boy, or I'll sever the link right now.”

”I apologize.” He sounded almost contrite.

”It's obvious you've developed feelings for each other, so I'm willing to allow the link to stay.”