Page 68 of Knight’s Salvation

“Mia.” The single word came out rough, needy as hell. He struggled to draw breath. Was this truly happening? How could this amazing, beautiful female want him? He wrapped his fingers around the side of her throat, reassuring himself with the feel of her smooth, warm skin beneath his palm, the way her pulse fluttered madly, beating at the same rapid pace as his own. She was real all right, and right then she was his.

An almost violent tremor moved through his body. His need for the female standing in front of him was something he had never experienced in his entire life. No, he wasn’t a virgin, but in every way that counted this would be his first time. “It would be my honor, my privilege…” He shook his head, struggling to find the words. “Being with you, in that way, it’s more than I ever allowed myself to dream.”

He took her hand and led her from the room.

Zenon had pushed her away,avoided her, turned his back and walked the other way when he’d seen her in the halls, but he hadn’t hidden it. Even suffering her own pain, she hadn’t missed it in him, the way it flashed across those yellow eyes or twisted his beautiful face. Now she knew why. Her beautiful, strong male had suffered, was still suffering, and she wanted nothing more than to make it better for him. She just wished she knew how.

Zenon didn’t speak as he led her down the hall to his room, didn’t say a word as he swiped his key card and opened the door. The silence was heavy, filled with anticipation.

They walked in and he turned to her. “This is your last chance to turn around and walk away because I’ll never do it again. Do you understand? You’re mine, Mia. I don’t know what will happen after this, but know I’ll protect you with my life.” His chest rose and fell rapidly, his fists clenched and unclenched at his sides. “Do you understand?”

The decision wasn’t a hard one. She didn’t want to be anywhere else, not anymore. “Yes.”

He squeezed his eyes closed for several seconds and her chest tightened.

She cupped the brand on his cheek. “Kiss me.”

When his mouth came down on hers, she reveled in it, drank him in, and hung on for dear life. She’d missed this, missed him. If she was honest, she hadn’t been whole without him. He lifted her off the ground, wrapped her legs around his hips, and strode through the living room into the bedroom.

“I don’t think I can go slow,” he growled against her ear. “I’m sorry, but I need you too badly. Shit, I don’t want to fuck this up, Mia.”

“Zenon.” He wouldn’t meet her gaze. His admission embarrassed him. “It’s all right.” She slid her hands up to rest on his shoulders. “Look at me. Please don’t hide from me, not anymore, not now.”

His eyelids slid open, yellow eyes, clear, unique, and beautiful, and she shivered at the dark intensity staring back.

Wrapping her arms around his neck, she pulled him close so their lips were touching. “I want you. And I’ll take it any way you give it to me.” His big body shuddered then he strode to the bed and lay her on the mattress.

He stripped off his shirt, revealing the hard ridges and sinewy muscle under all that inked skin, toed off his boots, and removed his socks. His head dipped, his hair falling forward when he dropped his hands to the button of his jeans, popping it open.

Finally, he slid down the zipper and shoved them down.

Oh my God.

Zenon stood at the foot of the bed, naked and aroused, completely exposed—beautiful. She couldn’t take her eyes off him. She couldn’t speak, her synapses short-circuiting. There wasn’t an ounce of excess flesh on his body. He was a honed fighting machine. He moved toward her, coming around to the side of the bed. She was mesmerized by the way he moved, like a big cat about to pounce, the way the heavy slabs of muscle bunched and shifted under his skin.

“Stand up, Mia.”

She did as he said and got to her feet. Like this, they were almost the same height. He wrapped the fingers of one hand around the back of her head, thrusting his fingers into her hair, and took her mouth, kissing her deep and growling low. They broke the kiss briefly so he could lift her shirt over her head, followed by her bra. He tossed them aside and growled again right before he bent down and took an aching nipple between his lips and sucked. She clung to his shoulders while his hands moved down to work the front of her jeans, sliding them down her legs, taking her underwear with them. Then he stood back and took all of her in.

“Looking at you like that, shit, makes me forget I need to draw breath.” His big callused hands slid down her sides to rest on her hips. “Lie down.”

She lay back, and Zenon moved onto the mattress beside her.

“Open for me,” he rasped.

Her mouth went dry with need, liquid heat flooding her sex. She did as he asked, and Zenon moved up so he was kneeling between her thighs. His dark gaze traveled over her body and she felt it like a physical touch. Without warning, he slid two thick fingers down her cleft and pressed them inside her.

She gasped and arched into the touch, a moan escaping from between her lips. “Oh God.”

“You ready for me?”

She heard the desperate need in his voice.

His thumb moved over her clit with sure stokes and she squirmed, managing only to nod in reply. Zenon knew what she needed, how she like to be touched. He dominated her body like he always did, sending her need skyrocketing, and within minutes she was close.

Zenon removed his fingers, moved up, leaned in, and covered her body with his. Then his cock was prodding her entrance, sliding inside her, stretching her, filling her so thoroughly all she could focus on in that moment was where their bodies joined.

She gasped at the full sensation.