VISIONS OF HEAT

She knew what he wanted—the thick length of him was furious with blood. It was her own hunger that surprised. But not enough to stop her. Unconsciously moving closer, she left one hand on his ribs while the other slid down to skim lightly along his erection.

He sucked in a sharp breath, his body thrumming with tension. Captivated, she repeated the movement.

“Don’t. Tease.”

She barely heard him through the blood fury of pure sensation as she traced the proud evidence of his maleness one more time. His body bucked. And she curled her exploring fingers to hold him.





CHAPTER 15





Faith found herself unable to close her fingers completely around him. How could anything so thick fit in her body? And why was she consumed with the curiosity to find out?

He hadn’t said a word since that last barked command, his entire body supple stone that beat for her alone. In her hand he was almost unbearably silky, the skin covering his hardness delicate, surprising her. She hadn’t thought her jaguar would be delicate anywhere. That was the last coherent thought she had.

She ran her closed fist up and down his engorged length, indulging the animal inside her, the primal being that knew only hunger, need, and sex. Her breasts hurt so badly that she ached to rip off her clothing and rub herself against his chest, but that would mean releasing him and she didn’t want to. All she wanted was to squeeze and stroke over and over. And over again.

“Stop, Faith.”

She shook off the unwelcome interruption and thought of the million other things she wanted to do to him. First, she’d place her mouth over the dark gold of his chest and taste the sweat and heat so temptingly close. Maybe she’d even take off her own clothes as a prelude to pasting her body flush against his.

“Baby, stop.” A hand knotted in her hair.

She tried to pull away, but he was too strong. Then another big male hand covered the fingers she had around his erection and attempted to ease her off. She reacted by digging the nails of her free hand into his chest while squeezing his erection harder.

His snarl raised every hair on her body. She expected him to bite her. That was fine with her. What she didn’t expect was for him to tighten the hand he’d placed over hers, pressing until she thought he’d cause her to hurt him.

“No!” She let go.

He stepped out of reach with jaguar speed, so quick that she had to grab the post to keep herself upright. Her head swam. She found her free hand reaching out for him. “Vaughn.” It was nearly a sob. “Please.”

“Shh.” He was behind her before she even saw him move. “Let me ease you down.”

“Down?” Need crawled over her skin, pushed at the walls of her mind. But when she would’ve turned, he used his hands to hold her in place. Struggling with the frenzied rage of a wild thing, she twisted and kicked, her mind having no memory of its offensive capabilities. Right then, she was a wholly physical creature and in that arena, he was far too strong.

“No! No!” Turbulent clouds of anger gathered over the lightning.

Vaughn continued to hold Faith in place with his grip on her upper arms, while ensuring that no other part of his body touched hers. “Put up your walls, baby.” The jaguar fought his choice, but a promise was a promise.

“No!”

The word was so violently obstinate, he knew that whatever was driving her wasn’t quite sane. “See the forest in front of you?”

A sullen silence. Then, “Yes.”

“There are others there who might see us.”

“Others?”

“Yes. Do you want others to see me?” He spoke to a part of her she didn’t know existed when it was that very part that was exacerbating her hunger.

The answer came without pause. “No.”

“Then put up your shields.” If she’d been fully aware, she might’ve challenged him that they could just as easily step inside the cabin. But of course, she wasn’t anywhere close to being aware.

Her body shuddered, but she stopped arguing. It took a long time for her to say, “You should stop touching me now. And please put on some clothes.”

He didn’t push her this time, did exactly as she’d asked. It half killed him to walk away from the promise of what might’ve been.





It appeared as if the sensual overload had short-circuited some of the other lines of conditioning. An hour after skating on the thin edge of madness, Faith sat on the swing finishing a cup of coffee, Vaughn a larger-than-life presence against the railing across from her. Yet her mind was on someone else.

“My sister’s name was Marine.” It was a deliberate step into trust. “She was only twenty-two years old, but already integral to the PsyClan’s business unit.”

Vaughn didn’t say a word. Maybe he knew she simply needed his presence, needed to know he’d be there to catch her if she fell. After all he, too, had lost a sister.