Slater's
faintly amused gaze lifted from the computer. "These are my quarters.
I'll come and go as I please. And...since you've brought up the
subject of undress, I've been doing a little re-thinking. I figure
as long as you and I will be sharing this cabin, what the hell,
I might as well take you up on your offer."
"What
offer might that be?" she asked warily.
Slater
came around from behind the desk, slowly unbuttoning his shirt.
"Come now, Legs, surely you haven't forgotten."
Kira
took a step backward. "You mean the bargain that I talked to Frank
about?"
He
shook his head slowly. "I mean the sweet little offer you made
right over there on my bunk."
"But,
I never--"
"Now
that I've had time to think it over, I have to admit it does have
certain advantages."
"Zeke,
I didn't..." Her voice trailed off as he advanced upon her, tugging
his open shirt from his pants. Kira retreated, one step at a time
until the backs of her legs came up against something hard. "You're
not serious," she whispered, just as she tumbled into the seat
behind her.
Leaning
forward he clamped his hands over the tops of hers, pinning them
to the arms of the chair. "I'm very serious." His shirt hung wide,
exposing an impressively defined torso with sleek muscles that
angled into the waistband of his pants. "You knew all along I
was trying to reach Renn, and yet you said nothing. Why?"
"Zeke,
I--"
"Who's
tailing us?"
"I
already told you, I don't know!"
He
leaned forward, crowding her space. "I'm trying very hard to remain
a gentleman here, Kira," he said, almost too quietly.
"Let
go of me!" Despite his injury, Zeke's grip was like iron. He was
completely and implacably determined.
"What's
it going to be, Legs?"
Up
went her chin. "What do you want me to do? Lie?"
He
smiled. The air thickened. Zeke's hooded eyes swept over her,
lingering on her mouth, and then, her breasts. When his gaze returned
to her face, Kira knew exactly what he was thinking. Her insides
coiled. Nervously she moistened her lips, his avid gaze following
every movement. "I'm not afraid of you," she whispered lamely,
all too aware of his size, his heat, his scent....his nearness.
"Yes
you are." His tone was gentle and seductive and somewhat amused
as he leaned forward, his head slowly descending.
"Slater,
I am warning--"
He
touched her mouth gently with his own. "Still time to change your
mind," he whispered against her lips.
"Don't!
I already said--"
This
time his mouth claimed hers in a searing kiss that turned Kira's
bones to liquid. She moaned, but he only deepened the kiss, angling
his head for better purchase. Her heart slammed into her ribs,
sending a coiled jolt straight to her belly.
The
tip of his tongue slid along the crease of her lips, seeking entrance.
"Open for me, baby. I gotta taste you."
With
another moan she turned her head away. Zeke growled in response
and gently nipped her earlobe, running his tongue around the outer
shell of her ear before returning to her mouth.
"Zeke,
please--" No sooner had her lips parted than he plunged in, sending
his tongue deeply and sensuously inside. The warm glide of his
tongue against hers made her gasp, sending another surge of wild
sensation southward. Withdrawing slowly, he thrust inside again...and
again.
Dazed,
pliant and utterly bemused, it was then Kira numbly realized that
at some point he had drawn her up into his arms.
War
had definitely been waged and underestimating him was a grave
error. This assault was more effective than any other means of
bending her to his will.
His
hands slipped to the small of her back as he pulled her tighter
into the cradle of his hips. Trembling, Kira stifled a moan at
the undeniable imprint of his male body upon her belly. "Zeke..."
she implored.
At
last he succumbed, his lowered head nestled in the hollow of her
shoulder, his mouth pressed to her throat. "You want me to stop?"
came his deep, gentle voice.