Shadow Game (GhostWalkers) Read online

  His finger stroked into her damp heat and she nearly rose off the mattress. “You’re torturing me,” she said, but she couldn’t stop herself from pushing against his hand, desperately seeking relief.

  Ryland encouraged her to thrust against his hand as he slowly pushed his finger into her tight channel. She was hot and slick but far too tight to take his thick arousal. It was obvious she hadn’t been with anyone else and the idea that he was her only, that he would be the one teaching her was even more exciting. Lily was passionate, abandoned, willing to do what came naturally to her.

  “I’m going to stretch you a little more, honey; just relax for me. You trust me, don’t you, Lily?” He withdrew one finger, slowly inserting two, watching her expression closely for signs of discomfort as he pushed deeper into her body.

  The sensation was so pleasurable it was alarming. Lily fought for breath, fought for control where there was none. She never wanted Ryland to stop. He thrust deeper, the friction electric, shocking in its intensity. He was doing things deep inside her, stroking and teasing and making her crazy so she couldn’t lie still. Her hips surged against his hands wantonly.

  “This shouldn’t hurt, Lily, I’ll make it good for you,” he whispered, pushing her thighs apart, settling his weight there. “Look at us, honey. We belong together.” Ryland took his erection in his hand, pressed the engorged head to her moist entrance.

  He was far thicker than she had anticipated and he stretched her body, slowly, pushing his way through her hot folds, forcing her tight muscles to allow him entrance. She cried out as he went deeper, stopped at the thin, almost nonexistent barrier, then deeper still in a harder thrust, filling her to such a fullness she burned and throbbed and unexpectedly plummeted over the edge.

  Neither expected the reaction, the waves of enchantment rippling through her, spreading like a tidal wave. Her body gripped and suckled at his, so tightly he was gritting his teeth, the pleasure so intense it bordered on pain. Her orgasm bathed him in hot heat, so that he slipped in another couple of inches.

  Lily looked up at his face and his male beauty took her breath away. She wanted everything with him, too. She trusted him inexplicably. And she wanted every moment with him. “I want to be your every erotic fantasy.” The words came out of nowhere. Said into the night. “Teach me how to please you, Ryland.”

  The honesty in her voice shook him, ripped his heart right out of his body. He withdrew, pushed deep again slowly, feeling his way, wanting it right. Wanting it perfect for her. His hands tightened on her hips as he began a slow, steady rhythm. He urged her body to move with his. “Everything, honey. We’ll have it all. I want to know your body better than you know it. I want every square inch of you to belong to me.”

  He caught her hips in his hands, holding her firmly, tilting her body while he went deeper still, wanting her to take all of him. Lily gasped as the heat engulfed her, as he filled her completely. Ryland began to move again, long slow thrusts, deep and perfect.

  She cried out again, low, in her throat, as he changed speed, driving harder, faster. “We’re just getting started, Lily,” he promised. “This is just to take the edge off.” He let himself go, his hips surging deep into her tight channel over and over, taking them higher than he ever thought possible. His head roared and his body clenched and burned, but he didn’t want the ecstasy to ever end.

  When his orgasm came, it was explosive, ripping through his body with gut-wrenching force, shaking him, nearly taking off the top of his head. Her body was so responsive to his, following his every lead, he had never experienced anything remotely like it. He was staggered by the intensity of pleasure she had given him. And he had given back to her.

  Ryland collapsed beside her, holding her in his arms, his face buried against the softness of her breast, his body still deep in hers. He had known he wanted her, that it was for all time, but he hadn’t realized what was between them. A priceless gift, a treasure beyond his dreams. She was wrapped so tight inside of him, he knew it was more than his body and mind. More than his heart. She was entrenched in his soul.

  “I thought it was painful for women their first time,” she said. “I expected it to be so different. You having all the fun and me being disappointed.”

  “Did you?” He was smiling, joy spreading through him. That was the Lily he knew, analyzing her data. “I guess you were thinking about some other man making love to you.” Deliberately he drew her breast into the heat of his mouth, knowing each time he sucked strongly or lapped with his tongue, the shock waves rippled deep inside of her, doubling her enjoyment.

  Lily closed her eyes, pleasure washing through her. “Is it always like this? I read all those manuals but…” Her voice hitched as his tongue swirled.

  “Manuals?” Ryland lifted his head, grinning at her in the darkness. “That’s so you, Lily, reading a book to experience life. If you were wanting to know something why didn’t you just ask me?”

  Her fingers found the silk of his hair, tunneled, and held. “I might have been embarrassed. It isn’t easy to talk to someone of experience about intimate matters.”

  She was frowning, he knew that she was. Everything about her made him smile. Her tone was so scientific, yet he could feel her body trembling, the little aftershocks still rocking her. “We’ve always talked about everything, honey. I didn’t exactly make it a secret that I wanted you. You could have told me you were inexperienced. I might have toned down our very erotic dream.”

  “I liked your dreams. The visuals were astounding, much better than the lifeless manual. I wasn’t actually certain it was physically possible to do the things the books talked about.”

  He cleared his throat. “Where exactly did you get these books?”

  “Off the internet. They have very explicit information and people willing to answer all of your questions.”

  He groaned aloud. “I’ll bet they do. I think I’d like to see these books of yours. I was a little concerned you might tell me you were really watching Arly’s movies.”

  She laughed wickedly. “I’m not certain he has any movies but if he does, he’s probably putting some sort of security device on them to keep me away.”

  “You have a mean streak in you.” Ryland leaned down to nip at her enticing breast. “You smell so damned good, Lily.” His body was still locked with hers. He could feel every ripple in her muscles. He discovered just breathing on her taut nipples caused an answering contraction in her deepest core. She bathed him in liquid heat and sent pleasure coursing through his body. “I noticed that immediately, how wonderful you smelled.”

  She rubbed her face against his throat. “I love the way you feel.” And the way he cared about his men. And the way he loved his mother. And the way one unruly curl fell across his forehead no matter how he slicked it back. It was appalling how much she loved about him. She couldn’t help running her hands over his back to feel the defined muscles there. “I used to wonder about miracles.”

  “Miracles?” He echoed the word, shaken by the naked emotion in her voice. She turned him inside out with a tone.

  “Well, yeah. Miracles. What could be considered a true miracle, that sort of thing. It’s an interesting puzzle that so many people around the world have a form of worship and belief. But actually…” She trailed kisses along his throat, over his jaw to tease the corner of his mouth.

  Rather boldly for a woman of no experience, but his body reacted, growing hard when it should have been impossible. Ryland kissed her because he couldn’t stop himself from tasting her. From just fusing them together and wanting to remain that way, locked with her in a private world of heat and passion. His hands moved over her body, memorizing every line, every hollow. The texture of her skin. The way she reacted, her muscles contracting around him and her breath leaving her lungs in a rush of pleasure.

  She was his miracle. In the midst of a hell he had helped to create, he had found her. Lily’s lush body was paradise. Her smile, the sound of her voice. Even the way s
he moved and could look so haughty with her tempting mouth and cool blue eyes. He raised his head to look down at her.

  “Lily, from now on, if you have any questions on sex, ask me.” He caught her waist as he rolled onto his back, not wanting to break contact, wanting to stay buried in the tightness of her hot, slick body.

  Lily gasped as she found herself sitting up, astride him, his body deep within hers. Her hair fell in a tousled cloud around her, the silken strands teasing her sensitized skin. It was impossible to be embarrassed when he was obviously enjoying the sight and feel of her body. His hands came up to cup her generous breasts, his fingers stroking and caressing.

  Lily closed her eyes and gave herself up to the sheer pleasure of experimenting. She moved her hips, slid over his body, tightened her muscles. She felt him deep inside her, growing, thickening, responding to her movements. She began a slow ride, arching back to give him a good view of her breasts swaying in temptation. It was an amazing feeling to just indulge herself in every sensation. She moved slowly at first, judging his reaction, getting used to taking the lead. Then she became bolder, trailing her fingers along his muscles, swirling fingernails over his flat belly and teasing dark curls of hair. She experimented, tightening muscles as she rose up, as she slid along the length of him, moving faster and harder until she had to open her eyes and see the naked passion on his face.

  She loved his rough, weathered features. The dark shadow along his jaw. The brilliance of his silver eyes. He took her breath away and sent her body into meltdown. She reveled in his watching her, touching her. The way his gaze was so hot, so intense, electrified her, brought her body to a life of its own.

  Ryland couldn’t take his gaze off of her. Lily’s body was flushed with the fever of passion. Her breasts moved invitingly with every surge of her hips. She rode him hard, incredibly uninhibited, showing her enjoyment of his body with her every touch, every gesture. Her eyes clouded over, her breath hitching. A soft sound escaped her throat. At once he caught her hips in his hands, holding her while he took over the pace, surging into her, guiding her movements so her body fisted around his. Velvet soft, fiery hot, a liquid flame wrapped tightly around him.

  Lily threw her head back, cried out his name, a gasp of wonderment, of awe, while her body rippled with strength and life around his, driving him over the edge with her.

  “You’re unbelievable,” she whispered, bending to kiss him. The action tightened her muscles around him, mashed her soft breasts into his chest.

  Ryland was amazed at how masculine the simple action made him feel. And he was really amazed at how bereft he felt when she slid her body from his and lay beside him. He longed to stay deep inside of her, filling her, joined with her, sharing the same skin with her. “Oh, we’re just getting started, Lily. There are all kinds of ways to make love and to enjoy one another. I’ve got plans.”

  She looked at him suspiciously. “What kinds of plans?”

  He took her hand, brought it to his lips, and used his tongue to lap sensuously around her finger before drawing it into the moist beat of his mouth. Her eyes widened at the way her body reacted when he sucked on her finger, and used his tongue shamelessly in a simulated mating.

  Lily blushed a vivid scarlet, but her body burned hot and wild, a reckless promise of pleasure. “My brain already melted, Ryland, it’s too late.” Her voice was breathless with wanting whatever they could share together, but she was exhausted and she knew it.

  He found the down comforter on the floor where it had fallen and drew it up to cover them both before wrapping his arms firmly around her. “We have time, Lily, I’m not going anywhere. Go to sleep, honey, you need your rest.”

  ELEVEN

  LILY felt Ryland’s arms around her, his hands cupping her breasts possessively. Ryland was curved around her body, pressed tight against her, his body so hot there was no need of covers. “Go away.” Her voice groaned the order. “I can’t possibly move. Not ever again. Can someone die from making love too many times?”

  His teeth nibbled on the nape of her neck. “I don’t know, but I’m willing to try if you are.” It was sheer joy to wake up with Lily in his arms. “I want this for the rest of my life.” He’d had no intention of saying it out loud, but it slipped out anyway.

  Lily turned in his arms, her soft breasts brushing his body intimately. Her blue gaze drifted over his face until he felt her stirring inside his body, whisper soft, like butterfly wings. “I do too, Ryland, but I don’t honestly know whether or not what we feel is real or contrived by my father. Could he have done something to enhance what we feel? What if we find later he did?”

  “Do you think it’s possible?”

  She frowned in thought. “I honestly don’t know. I can’t imagine how, but we react so violently to one another. I can’t keep my hands off you. I really can’t. I’m not like that, Ryland. I know myself very well, and I just never thought about sex the way I do now.”

  “Suppose we find out he did, Lily?” His thumb strummed her nipple just so he could feel her shiver in reaction. He inhaled the fragrance of her hair. “What difference would it make? He may have found a way to manipulate sexual feelings, although I doubt it, but it would be impossible for him to force someone’s emotions. If I couldn’t have your body, Lily, I would still want you.”

  “Why? What do you think is so special about me that you would want to spend the rest of your life with me?” Her voice was very low.

  “Your courage, your loyalty,” he answered instantly. “You think I can’t see those things in you? I’m trained to read people. You defend your father even with all the things you’ve learned about him. I see the way you touch Jeff, a virtual stranger, yet with gentleness and caring. I see the love you have for your family. You’re so willing to help us when you didn’t have to open your home to us. Hell, Lily, you could have turned your back on us, you probably should have. You don’t think I can see you running yourself into the ground, so exhausted you want to crawl into a hole, but you keep going for others, to make it right for others. Who wouldn’t fall in love with a woman like that?”

  She shook her head. “I’m not like that. I’m just me, Ryland.”

  He kissed the frown on her mouth. “You’re exactly like that. Little things can come in time, but the important things I already know. You have a great sense of humor. And you can carry on an intelligent conversation.” He grinned at her. “I might not know what you’re saying part of the time, but it sounds good.”

  There was a silence while she studied his expression. How could she be uncertain of him? He’d taken his heart right out of his body and gift-wrapped it for her. His gut churned in an agony of sudden fear. “Would finding out your father did something to us make a difference to you, Lily? Is that what you’re trying to say to me?”

  “Did you really look at me last night, Ryland? It was dark in here. Did you really look at my body, because I’m not beautiful at all like you think I am.” Lily sat up, determination plain on her face. “There’s a lot of things wrong with me. Flaws. You must have noticed them.”

  Ryland sat up too, rubbing his mouth to hide amusement he couldn’t push away. Lily was a woman, all right. Last night she had come apart in his arms, unashamedly riding him, showing off her body, but now, in the light of day, she was resolutely going to tell him about her “flaws.” “Flaws, plural?” He rubbed his chin this time, still carefully covering his mouth. “You have more than one? I did notice your tendency to be a little haughty.”

  The full power of Lily’s blue eyes turned on him. Glaring. “I am never haughty.”

  “Sure you are. You have that princess-in-the-castle look you give the mere peasants when we get out of line,” he said cheerfully. “I noticed it, but it’s such a minor flaw I can live with it.”

  “My leg, you imbecile. I was talking about my leg.” She thrust it out for him to see. Scars marred her calf, which was sunken in and shiny where part of the muscle was obviously missing. “It’s ugly. And I lim
p when I’m tired. Well, I limp most of the time but I really limp when I’m tired.” She was watching his face closely for signs of repugnance.

  Ryland leaned closer to inspect her calf. He took her leg in both hands, ran his fingers in a long caress from ankle to thigh. She jerked, retreating, but he held her firmly, bending to kiss the worst of the scars. His tongue traced the strange pattern. “This is not a flaw, Lily. This is life. How the hell do you manage to get your skin so soft?”

  She tried glaring and even considered her so-called haughty look but a smile broke through all the same. His voice was sincere and his gaze rock steady. “I think you’re still thinking about sex, Ryland. We’re supposed to be talking seriously.” She was reluctant to pull her leg away from his caressing fingers. There was a soothing quality to his touch. He made her feel beautiful even when she knew she wasn’t.

  “And I’m not exactly a model. I’m fat in places and skinny in others.”

  His eyebrow shot up. “Fat?” His gaze was hot as it ran possessively over her body.

  Lily crossed her arms over her generous breasts. “You know very well my hips are enormous and so is my top. I look like I’m tipping over. And my legs are skinny so I look like a chicken.”

  “I see I’ll have to do an inspection,” he replied good-naturedly. “Here, let me take a look.”

  Lily slid away from him, dragging his shirt to her to cover her body. She gave him her coolest look, but her eyes were dancing. “You are impossible. I have to check on Jeff Hollister.”

  He grinned at her as she stood up, backing away from him. “I don’t know, honey. I like the way you look but I have a jealous streak. I don’t think my heart could take you walking around in front of my men covered only by my shirt.”

  She stuck her nose in the air. “I’m taking a shower and getting dressed first.” She tried to sound snippy, nearly ruined her perfect performance by laughing, but she managed to control herself.