Chosen by Nina Croft

it go, Tallon. This time is for you.”
    “No,” he said. “This time is for us.”
    He moved in her, slowly at first, reveling in the exquisite drag of her muscles against him. Then, when he could restrain himself no longer, he thrust harder, faster, and she reached up to meet each stroke, wrapping her slender legs around his waist. He wanted her pleasure, and he angled his body so each thrust pushed against that sensitive point between her thighs.
    She writhed against him, her movements frantic, and he increased his speed until he was slamming into her, each lunge taking them nearer and nearer. He gritted his teeth, his whole body straining for release, until at last, she spasmed around him, and a moment later, he exploded. The sensation went on forever, raging through his body like fire until he collapsed, drained, to lie against her listening to the rapid thud of his heart.
    Sometime later, Shayla stirred against him. “I can’t breathe, Tallon.”
    He put his hands beneath her bottom and rolled until he lay on his back with her sprawled on top of him, and his cock still firmly wedged between her thighs.
    “Better?” he asked.
    She nodded, wriggling against him. Her thighs settled on either side of his lean hips, he pulled her snug against him, and his cock stirred to life. She rose up on her elbows then wriggled again.
    “You’re a fast learner,” she murmured gazing into his eyes, “but there’s still a lot more to be taught.” And she slowly started to move on him.
     
    ***
     
    “We have to go.”
    Shayla lay sprawled across his body, boneless and sated. At his words, she shoved her nose further into the gap between his arm and his chest, breathing in the warm masculine scent. She didn’t want to move. She wanted to stay here forever, wrapped in his strong arms, and forget everything. But she knew it wasn’t possible. After a few minutes, she breathed in one last deep breath and raised her head.
    She put her palms flat on his chest and pushed herself up so she could peer down into his face. His expression appeared softer than she had ever seen it, the harsh lines smoothed. His purple eyes appeared almost black and held a warmth she had never seen before. She leaned down and kissed the corner of his mouth.
    “I know,” she said. “I just don’t want to.”
    “Neither do I, but we can’t stay here forever. They’ll come looking soon.”
    She frowned. She’d been trying to ignore the sense of unease that gnawed away in the back of her mind. Now she could no longer ignore it. “You know, I’ve a bad feeling about this. I know they don’t trust me entirely, so why did they let me come to you? Why aren’t they watching me? I don’t understand why they’ve left us alone.”
    “Maybe we’ve got it wrong. Maybe they would be willing to talk.”
    She shook her head. “They hate you too much.”
    “With good reason.”
    Rage flashed through her, sparking her temper. “It’s not a good reason. It makes them as bad as The Order.” The anger drained out of her, and she sighed. “How can things ever change if no one is willing to see past what you are, to who you are?”
    “You see me. That’s enough.”
    Warmth washed through her at his words. “I hope so.”
    Scrambling to her feet, she searched for her clothes, found them scattered on the floor. Tallon’s eyes feasted on her as she dressed, and she paused and flicked a glance down his body. He was growing aroused again, hardening.
    She took a step towards him, and he shook his head.
    “Don’t come near me, or we might never get out of here,” he muttered.
    “Sorry.” She wasn’t sorry though, and a little burst of satisfaction hit her at the knowledge that he still wanted her.
    Sitting up, he ran a hand through his hair. He was chanting low, under his breath, and she frowned. “What are you doing?”
    He glanced at her. “The mantra.”
    “The mantra?”
    “The Order teaches it to control our sexual urges.”
    “Does it