Total pages in book: 137
Estimated words: 132491 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 662(@200wpm)___ 530(@250wpm)___ 442(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 132491 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 662(@200wpm)___ 530(@250wpm)___ 442(@300wpm)
He stalks toward me, getting so close I can feel the heat of his body towering over me. “I was puking my guts out and looking everywhere for you, and you’re flippant about it?”
My pulse pounds; not because I fear him, but because I want him. Aromium is clouding my judgment and emotions.
“You won’t listen to me about the aromium.” I hate the way my voice catches. “You don’t trust me to search without you overseeing me.”
He shakes his head, a storm raging in his eyes. “I trust you with my life. I just want to protect you.”
“I want to protect you, too. But you won’t let me.”
He shakes his head and looks away. “I don’t deserve your protection.”
I close my eyes and take a few deep breaths. “I can’t do this right now. Not with the aromium on. Unless you want to risk vines cutting off circulation from your dick until it falls off.”
“I’d prefer to keep my dick attached.”
“Then let’s go.”
“Next time you’re too pissed to come home, can you at least send someone with a message?”
“I didn’t do it on purpose. I fell asleep in the chair by Olin’s bed.”
The muscle in his jaw tics with annoyance. “Oh, I know. Took me more than an hour to find you there.”
“What’s with the tone?”
“Who is this guy to you?”
I roll my eyes, my jaw dropping. “Are you serious? He’s my friend. He saved my life.”
“Can you blame me for asking?”
“Yes. I can and I do. If you haven’t noticed, I sleep in your bed every night. When you’re not being an obstinate dickhead ... I like you.”
He narrows his eyes. “It’s a little deeper for me than that, and I don’t share.”
I’m horrified by the way my nipples harden, a tingling sensation farther down signaling I’m wet over not just his feelings for me, but also his possessiveness. I’ve never been one of those women.
“He’s just a friend. You know how I feel about you. Do you honestly think I could have you and then want anyone else?”
He looks away. “I knew you were mad at me, and I ... wasn’t feeling very reasonable.”
We start walking, side by side. The jungle air is already thick with humidity, the caws and calls of the animals a familiar backdrop that no longer scares me like it did when I first got here.
“I’m staying out until the flowers are found,” he says. “So I don’t get sick from turning the aromium off every day.”
I let that sink in for a few seconds. “I’ll stay out with you. But what if yours bonds and it won’t go off?”
He shrugs. “Then I have to hope McClain can make a stabilizer.”
“Marcus.” I put a hand on his arm and he stops, tension tightening his expression.
I pull my hand away. “It’s likely we’ll never find this flower.”
“I know. But I’ll regret it if I don’t give this everything I’ve got.”
Unease churns in my gut. He takes my hand and leads me to a rock formation that’s about ten feet tall. There’s a space just large enough for us to both stand in, and he backs me into it, cupping my face in his hands. His shoulders shudder and his hands shake, his gaze so dark and hungry it takes my breath away.
“I don’t know if touching you will help or hurt, but I’m dying here.”
He lowers his mouth to mine, the warmth of his mouth making me forget the sharp rocks poking against my back. I moan and wrap my arms around him, my worry disappearing as he kisses me harder.
I press my hands against his back, urging him closer. He nibbles my lower lip and I bite the tip of his tongue. We’re groping at each other’s clothes now, the aromium in my veins surging with something that feels ... right, somehow.
“I need you,” I say, whimpering as he cups my ass and lifts me, allowing him to reach my neck with his lips.
His stubble brushes over the sensitive skin on my collarbone as he kisses my neck. I breathe in his leather-and-saltwater smell, desperate for more of him.
His hand goes to his waistband, where he fumbles with his button and zipper, pulling down his pants. He deftly handles mine next, and then his hands are on my bare ass. He lowers me onto his erection, both of us groaning with pleasure as he sinks into me.
“Fuck.” The warmth of his breath sends a shiver over my skin. “I can’t breathe without you.”
My cry is strangled, because I know we have to be quiet. He’s so deep inside me, his hands digging into my skin and my nails sinking into his back.
“Yes,” I whisper in his ear. “Don’t stop. I need you so much, Marcus.”
My words spur him to move faster, the pain of his punishing thrusts sending me spiraling so high I quickly combust, tears leaking from the corners of my eyes as my orgasm blasts through my body like a bomb detonating. For a few seconds, I’m broken into a million pieces of floating bliss, and when they knit back together, I’m a more complete version of myself.