SACRED TALISMAN

Terryn could only stare at the man who held her captive with nothing more than his eyes. Sure she was wedged between his arms, her hands palming his broad chest, but it was his gaze that held her spellbound. Heat blazed from his pale eyes, turning the blue a deep shade of red. She blinked, a tendril of fear coiling in her stomach, but the crimson glow vanished. Her heart fluttered, making the world dip and sway. He looked more dangerous than the man crumpled on the pavement, but in a different way. His eyes spoke of heat and desire, of sexual promise and dark secrets. They burned like a man on the verge of discovering his greatest destiny, yet there was a sadness in them that tore at her heart.

He released a long, slow breath though his chest barely moved as the soft swirl of air danced along her neck, sending a shiver of anticipation down her spine. She fought the desire to feel his muscles contracting beneath her fingers, using the last of her strength to keep her hands still. The man lowered his face to hers, brushing his lips along the curve of her neck until his words feathered across her ear.

“Tell me your name.”

His voice was dark, like a thick fog curling across the land, slowly cloaking the landscape. Another shiver shimmied along her skin, beading it beneath her clothes. She tilted her head, unconsciously exposing her neck to him and jumped at the raw, beast-like growl that rumbled through his chest and into her hands. She drew back, pressing her head against the hard brick.

“Terryn.” It was all she could say before the soft press of his lips against her skin robbed the rest of her breath. It wasn’t quite a kiss, more like a gentle taste of her flesh, as if he wanted to categorise her very scent. He drew a deep breath, moaning at whatever aroma filled his head. She tried to move, but he inched closer, keeping her trapped between him and the wall.

“A very unusual name,” he rasped, easing more of his body against her. The hard length of his cock pressed into her hip, and she contained all but a small whimper building in her chest. She’d never reacted this way to a man before and wasn’t quite prepared for the sudden onslaught of emotion. The man smiled against her skin. She felt every movement as his lips kicked up at the sides. While she couldn’t see it, she knew it was more of a sexual promise than a grin.

“And you are?” she managed to rasp, wishing the scenery would stop spinning long enough for her to catch her breath.

“My name is Rafael, but I prefer Rafe.”

The deep timbre of his voice seeped into her, warming a hidden pool of moisture she didn’t know existed. She’d only had one lover in her twenty-five years, and he’d been more of a desperation fuck than a boyfriend. But Rafe evoked sensations bordering on orgasmic with nothing more than the sultry echo of his words. She met his gaze as he eased away, instantly missing his heat. He stared at his hand as he reached up and caressed the smooth pendant around her neck again.

“How long have you had this?”

She shrugged, bothered by the pesky details. She wanted him back against her, his body surrounding her as he sheathed himself inside her wet heat. Rafe chuckled as if he could hear her thoughts, brushing a single finger along her collarbone as he held the pendant in his hand.

“I—I don’t know. Like I said. It’s a family heirloom. It belonged to my grandmother.”

“And many of her grandmothers before her,” he added, releasing the necklace, allowing his finger to linger against her chest. “Your skin is so smooth, so soft.” He closed his eyes, inhaling deeply. “And your scent…it’s enough to drive a man insane with hunger.” He opened his eyes and grinned at her. “Though I’m hardly a man.”

Terryn furrowed her brow at the odd statement. Though there was something different about him, a strange hollowness she couldn’t quite place, he was definitely all man. Judging from the size of his masculinity, she’d be hard pressed to fit him inside her. She started to speak when he silenced her with a cool finger across her lips.

“There is much we need to discuss,” he began, backing away and claiming her hand in his. “But it’s not safe to talk out here.” He looked around as if he could see evil lurking in the shadows. “Come with me. We need to find a place more…private.”

Rafe took a large step back, tugging her hand. Her body rejoiced at the thought of getting private with him, but her senses seemed to slam back into place once his body left hers. She pulled against his hold, freeing her arm. His eyes narrowed, but he remained still.

“Look, buddy. I appreciate your help, but I’m not the kind of girl who jumps into bed with every guy who throws a few punches and oozes charm. While I find the idea of sleeping with you intriguing, I—”

Her last word was still formed on her tongue when his body crushed her into the wall. God, he’d moved so damn fast she hadn’t even seen him take the few steps separating them. His hands wrapped around her wrists, pinning them beside her hips as his lips brushed hers.

“Do you think this is about sex?” he rasped, liquefying the arousal just staring to cool. “Hell, if I only wanted to fuck you I’d have your legs wrapped around my back and my cock speared inside your hot little pussy already.” He rubbed the head of his erection across her hip, coaxing a husky moan from her lips. “There’s far more at stake here than your pleasure.” His voice softened for a moment and his hands seemed to cup more than clench. “But mark my words, my sweet. Before this night is through, you’ll be so full of me you’ll taste my release in your throat when I pump my seed inside you.”

Terryn could only blink as he stepped back, grabbed her hand and led her up the alley, the dark promise of his words still echoing through the rain.