Ruthless Game (GhostWalkers #9)(55)
Author: Christine Feehan

She knew nothing of life outside the military compound where she’d been raised, and she’d never known love. She was afraid to recognize it in Kane’s eyes, but it was hard to miss the emotion when he touched her so tenderly. It was difficult to miss it in the way he looked at her. And it was impossible to miss the fact that there was more than lust in the way he made love to her. This moment had been all hers.

Tears burned behind her eyes. She’d sworn she would always tell him the truth, let him see how she felt about him, no matter the cost to her pride, but her emotions were so strong, so overwhelming that she closed her eyes, unwilling to strip herself naked. She was already so vulnerable to him.

He held her as the ripples continued through her body, asking nothing for himself, even though she could feel the need raging through his body. His erection was thick and hard and pulsing against her thigh. He made no move to sate himself, and she knew he wouldn’t. He would put her first. Always put her first. She might not know about relationships, but she was coming to know the man she’d chosen to be the father of her child. He was more than the integrity she’d first seen. More even than the honor. He was a man among men. The man who, for her, stood head and shoulders above the rest. She was fast coming to worship him.

Kane looked down at her averted face and saw a tear trembling on her long lashes. His heart skidded in his chest. Had he hurt her even without penetration? Leaning on his elbows he framed her face, holding her still. “What is it, sweetheart? Tell me.”

Her eyes opened, and everything in him stilled. There was so much emotion staring back at him. “Make love to me, Kane,” Rose whispered, her slender arms creeping around his neck, holding him to her. “Please, I need you to make love to me.”

“I just did,” he said, trying not to growl with his body hard as a rock and his head pounding with thunder.

“Didn’t you hear me?” That soft little whisper stole his heart for all time. She buried her face in his neck, her mouth finding that sensitive spot at the junction of shoulder and neck. “You know what I want. You inside of me.”

“Not until we talk to Eric.”

“I said I was fine.” Her lips slid like silk against his skin, an enticement, a miracle.

Kane shivered. “I know, sweetheart, but I never want to take a chance on hurting you. Not ever again. When we make love, I don’t mind hot and sweaty, or rough or gentle, but I mind hurting you. Loving you is all about making you feel nothing but pleasure. I can’t get the damn prison out of my head.”

Her teeth nipped him and sent his temperature soaring. His entire body shuddered. He bunched all the black silk in his hand and tugged at her hair. “You’re killing me, honey.”

“Then make love to me properly.”

“You’re going to give me hell until you get your way, aren’t you?”

She lifted her head and looked into his eyes. She made no effort to hide the dark, passionate hunger in her eyes. “Yes.”

He laughed softly, happier than he’d ever been. “You like your way, don’t you?”

“Yes.”

He pulled her head back farther and took possession of that soft, intriguing mouth. That mouth that could be sassy and sexy and so damn tempting that all his good intentions were in danger of going by the wayside.

“When it comes to your health, I’m absolutely unbending.”

“Really?” Her laughter was muffled against his mouth. Her hand slid down his chest. When it hit his stomach, every muscle bunched and tightened. “I think it’s only fair to allow me the chance to change your mind.”

“Don’t you dare.” He caught her lower lip between his teeth and tugged gently in warning. “You’re going to get yourself in trouble.”

Had he ever played with a woman before? Had fun even with his body screaming at him? It was a new experience. He’d never had a lazy morning in bed with a woman. Come to think about it, he’d never had a morning with a woman in bed. He didn’t do that kind of thing. He didn’t pretend love. He hadn’t known what loving a woman was until he’d seen Rose day after day.

He held her close to him, savoring the feeling of being part of her. “The first time I ever saw you, Rose, you were standing in the exercise yard laughing. I couldn’t believe the sound, so happy and carefree when, by that time, I’d already figured out that all of you were virtual prisoners. I turned around and felt like someone punched me in the gut hard. A full body blow, you know, rocking me.”

She rubbed his taut abdomen, her fingers lingering on his skin. The lightest of touches, but still, after their intimate contact, her touch shook him—or maybe it always would.

“The sun poured down on your hair and turned it this amazing color of blue black that I’d never seen before, and the shine to it was incredible. Then you sprinted, Rose, flowing across the yard, running up the side of a wall, doing a somersault in the air and landing, almost all in one motion. You walked back to the group of women laughing again, as if you’d enjoyed the flight. And when you walked, hell, woman, it was a f**king sin the way you moved—like the sexiest dancer alive. I forgot all about that high fence and what it meant. You were sunshine.”

How could he explain to her how he felt? He was a soldier, a man dedicated to his unit, to his duty. He was good at what he did. He liked the rush he got in dangerous situations and the satisfaction of a mission completed. He’d never considered that there was another side to him, a man starving, out in the cold and rain. He hadn’t even known that about himself until that moment. She seemed to live in every moment, worshipping the sun, turning her face up to the rain, even opening her mouth to catch the droplets. That had been the sexiest thing in the world to him. He had been obsessed with watching her, taking every opportunity to guard that side of the compound so he could see her.

He had known it was a dangerous game he was playing with himself. The likelihood of meeting her had been small, but he’d developed a need to see her every day, even if from a distance. He thought he’d hidden his growing need very well, but obviously Whitney had known. Rose had once asked Kane what his weakness was, and he’d replied honestly that it was her, Rose. Whitney had known all along.

Kane rolled over and linked his hands behind his head. Rose did the same. They lay staring at their toes. Her foot was nearly half the size of his, and he rubbed his along hers, wiggling his toes. She laughed, and he closed his eyes briefly, savoring the sound. He threaded his fingers with hers and brought her hand to his mouth to nibble some more on her.