Loving the Wild Card (Kingdom Book 5)

The branch she landed on was sturdy and she slowly exhaled; only to be pulled close to a hard wall of muscle that flexed and rippled against her. Managing to hold in her gasp of awareness, Lux bit down on her lower lip.

Still stunned, she wondered how he’d managed to move so quickly as to reverse their positions. She was worried, and not about the men who followed them. Maybe standing on his head hadn’t been such a good idea. It had been rude and unnecessary, but in the heat of the moment, good manners hadn’t been the forerunner in her thoughts. Plus, it really felt good at the time.

Pulled so closely against him, her body once again began to betray her. He felt so good. Missing his touch for too many years, Lux closed her eyes and subconsciously gave herself over to nothing but sensation as she rubbed her body against his.

The tropical night air weighed down on her even as a waft of ocean breeze found its way through the trees. The costume she still wore was so scant it felt as though the only barrier between them was the T-shirt and shorts he wore.

He felt wonderful. Joshua Kingdom had always been her only fantasy. In the past, he’d been completely hers and she’d let him go. There wasn’t a night during their separation that he hadn’t been her last thought when sleep finally claimed her. When her eyes opened to greet the dawn of a new day, his image was the remnant of her dreams. He was a part of her and Lux knew that he always would be, and finally he was here.

Needing to feel the touch of his lips against hers, Lux brushed her hands up his arms in a seamless sweep. Relearning his every contour, her fingers moved on until they brushed against the column of his neck. Pressed flush against him, she became aware of the escalation of his heart beat. Cupping her backside, he lifted her onto tip-toes, so the hard ridge of his arousal was between her legs. Then he remained motionless.

Silence was their reality. Touch, feel, and remembrance were their here and now. Once experienced, Joshua Kingdom refused to be forgotten. He belonged to her, she just didn’t know how to claim him. She loved everything about being in his arms. If their physical fit had been enough, she wouldn’t have endured seven years of separation from him.

Lux knew she had to feel his lips against hers. Gripping the back of his head she pulled him towards her. They came together as though an electric current passed through their bodies. Lux gasped and Josh swallowed the sound, pulling it deep within him.

Their first intimate touch after so long refused to be denied. Their mouths vied for supremacy; they devoured each other, their tongues in constant motion to feel, to touch, to recapture the magic they made together.

Lux knew they had to stop. Wresting her lips away, she was glad when he allowed it. Refusing to look at him and eager to put some distance between them, she forgot where she was. Catching him unawares, she pulled sharply against him and took her first step into a twenty-foot drop.

Terror gripped her. Before she could emit a sound, a band of steel seized her up stretched wrist. Balanced on his toes, one hand pressed against the branch, Josh held onto her dangling body; his expression one of sheer determination. With a show of strength, Josh pulled her towards him. With each upward advance, her shoulder screamed with the agony of supporting her full weight.

She could hear them, the sounds of their pursuers as they searched for them in the darkness. The sound distracted her and her head snapped in their direction. They were close, too close. Returning her attention upwards, she again looked at Josh, his grimace of resolve catching her attention. Still on his toes, for the first time Lux noticed he was also extending his other hand towards her.

When she’d lost her footing, her body had become rigid in preparation for its impact with the ground. Now that she gave him her full attention, she understood what he needed her to do.

With a nod, Lux relaxed her body. She then allowed him to begin his swing. Her body moved back and forth even as her shoulder cried out for relief. The pain was almost unbearable, but she refused to make a sound.

Once her swing gained enough momentum, Lux extended her free arm, but their fingers only brushed against each other’s and slipped away. She didn’t mean to panic, but the men were almost directly below them. Desperation clutched at her and she reached upward yet again. This time when they touched, Josh gripped her hand and held on.

If she hadn’t been so terrified, she would have reveled in the sheer strength of him. The muscles in his arms and legs bulged as he slowly rose to his feet. In a swift move, Josh transferred her arms over his shoulders and held her close. As Lux clutched his big body, she could feel that he trembled just as much as she did.

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