Ahead of him, she slipped and scrambled to her feet, her arms flailing. Tree limbs fell down and she ducked to avoid them.
Enough. The storm had turned dangerous, and it was time to catch her. So he turned to the north and backtracked along the trail, ready for the moment when she barreled into his arms.
She bounced back, her eyes wide, her cheeks flushed.
He bent his head, absolute on his task this time. “Why did you drug me yet again?”
She gulped in air, her pale hand wiping rain from her face. “I don’t need help with the bank robberies.”
“Try again.” He crossed his arms, raising his voice above the storm.
She settled her stance. The wind whipped around, shoving her hair, no match for the wildness in her eyes. “No.”
He wanted that wildness, needed it set free and alive around him. Nothing in him, not one inch, wanted to tame that. He just wanted to ride it, be a part of it. “Why?” he asked.
Drops of rain danced on her full eyelashes. “I don’t like you.”
He grinned. Wild as hell and a shitty liar. “Aye, you do. Tell me the truth, Felicity.”
Her slight turn of foot gave away her intention, so when she turned to run, he smoothly stepped in front of her. She smacked into him again, and this time, he didn’t let her go.
Grabbing her biceps, he lifted her a foot off the ground and set her against a massive pine tree. The brand on his hand pulsed in angry pain. His brother had mated his cop out in the forest by the cabin, and Daire kept in mind the warning. He wouldn’t mate Felicity by accident, and he’d have to be careful. But the woman had pushed him enough.
He planted his mouth over hers and swept his tongue inside, taking what he wanted. Sensations bombarded him, stronger than before. Hunger. Need. Craving. Possessiveness. Protectiveness. He consumed her, feasting at her mouth like a starving man.
She returned the kiss, nipping and licking, her tongue playing with his.
The flavor of wine and woman exploded on his taste buds and rocketed through his body. He shoved his groin between her legs, rubbing against her. She gasped and reached down to unzip his jeans, sliding her hand inside.
Her smooth skin almost sent him over the edge. He groaned into her mouth. She stroked him and he growled, reaching down to shove her pants to the ground. When freed, she immediately clasped his shoulders and wrapped her legs around his waist.
He kicked out of his jeans, needing more than anything else in the world to be inside her. He grabbed her nape and her butt, plunging inside her with one ferocious thrust. She arched against him, a hoarse cry of need echoing from her throat. Her nails bit into his skin, and the sharp pain almost snapped his control. He was right where he wanted to be in the world, and suddenly, the fog cleared from his brain. This woman was meant to be his, and it was time she leveled with him.
Drawing on control he hadn’t thought he’d have, he held her tight and stopped moving. “Now you talk, Felicity.”
Chapter 16
Felicity blinked, her body gyrating with a hunger so great it hurt. The tree bracketed her back, surrounding her with the scent of pine. Rain dripped down around them, plopping on the wet earth. “What?” she breathed, trying to get Daire to move inside her again.
He leaned down, and his breath heated her face. “Now you tell me why you drugged me yet again. What are you afraid of?”
She shook her head, spraying water. “I’m not afraid. I just don’t want you in the way.” Even as she said the words, she could hear the hollowness in them. “Trust me, Daire. You want to be out of what’s going to happen.” She had to protect him, somehow. “I’m sorry.”
He slid out and shoved back in, sending spirals of sparks through her sex. “You’re all logic and wild passion, baby. So the smart thing, the logical thing, would be for you to accept help and allies robbing those banks.” Two more hard thrusts.