Page 52 of Red Zone Awakened

He mastered her mouth, making her body melt with each languorous touch.His breath feathered over her lips, his tongue teasing at the seam of her mouth, asking for entry.And she gave it willingly, gasping as their breaths mingled.

There were words in his kiss.Words of caring and of tenderness.Words he breathed into her with every seductive touch until they filled every part of her, winding around her heart, threading through her soul.As the agony eased within her, the ache and horror of her loss poured down her cheeks in tears of relief.It was the reprieve she’d asked for.A moment out of time.

As his tongue and lips seduced her, Mace brushed those tears away with his thumbs.Gently.Oh, so gently.Taking care of her with his actions.With his touch.Far too soon, he slowed their kiss until they stood facing each other.

With raw emotion in his eyes, he cupped her face.“If I could take it all away and make it easier for you, I would.”

“You can.”Keiko dropped the towel to the floor.“I need you to take it all away.”

* * *

Mace was about to make another monumentally stupid decision.He knew it.But how could he say no to her when she stood naked in front of him, vulnerable and asking him to give her what she needed?

His sister would tell him it was his dick thinking.Mace wasn’t so sure.Seeing Keiko hurting caused a need inside of him that was visceral.Hehadto take the pain away.It was as if he’d been born to do that for her.

“You’re sure?”he asked.“You’re emotional, and this isn’t rational.”

“I’m sure.”This time, she didn’t climb all over him; she waited for him to make up his mind.

But he was already there.Clasping her , he covered her mouth with his and plundered.Now that he was committed, there was no holding back.Not with this woman.She made it impossible to slow down.When he touched her, all he felt was a desperate need for more.

Keiko’s fingernails bit into his arms as she clung to him while hungrily kissing him back.It was a duel for dominance that had them spiraling down into a place where only sensation lived.

With a growl against her lips, Mace wrapped his arms around her and lifted her.She was so slight in his hold.Soft and curved.Delicate.Yet she kissed with a ferocity that told him she was strong.And for a second, he felt like prey.Then her legs curled around his waist, and he honestly didn’t care.In this battle, they both won.

His huge, meaty hands gripped the soft curves of her behind, holding her tight against him as their tongues danced.Fingers threaded through his hair, nails scraping against his scalp, making him moan into her mouth.She grasped handfuls of hair and tugged his head back.

“What?”he growled as he stared into the black swirling depths of her gaze.

“Get naked.”

“I will.Have some patience.”

She tugged his hair again.“Now.”

It was the command of royalty, meant to be instantly obeyed.

Uh, hell no.

Mace spun them, strode the short distance to the bed, and pressed her onto it.Her hands were still tight in his hair, her legs clamped around him.Keiko was determined that things go her way.Not this time.He’d sat back in the cab and let her climb all over him.This time, he was in charge.

He reached up and uncurled her fingers from his hair before stretching her arms above her head, easily clasping both her wrists in one of his hands.There was no doubt Keiko was smarter than him.But he was stronger.

“Unhook your legs,” he ordered as he took in her kiss-swollen lips.

“Are you going to strip?”

“Not yet.”

Her legs tightened around him.

Mace needed a new tactic.“Princess, I can’t strip if you hold me so tight.”

“But you will, right?You promise?I want to see you naked.”

His heart melted a little.“I promise.”

She released her legs, and quick as a flash, Mace flipped her onto her stomach.He needed her limp with desire, which meant he needed her to stop touching him for a while.