Scorcher Read online

  “I see my mother guessed that you were the one for me.”

  “I thought as much when I scented you on the pillows.” She leaned up to rest her head in the crook of his neck and nuzzled at his pulse point gently. “And in the closet and in the sheets. Oh, definitely the sheets.” His hands closed tightly on her waist and knees, crushing her to him as she scented him.

  “You are killing me.”

  “Naw, just a little light torture.” She was stifling a laugh as she bared her teeth to gnaw at his neck and shrieked as he launched her onto the bed without ceremony. She bounced lightly and froze as he leapt onto the bed and caged her with his limbs.

  “You always need to make sure that your torture victim is confined, Sarah. Have I taught you nothing?”

  His lips nipped lightly at hers. His fingers wove with hers and held her to the bed as he moved down across her body, worshipping each area in turn. The wrapped silk of her gown kept her skin from feeling his heat completely and she twisted against him.

  “I want to feel you against me. We are both overdressed.” She smiled as Athon pulled back and gave her a long look, his burning red eyes trying to see all of her at once. “Okay, it was a wonderful idea, but Ona got me into this thing and I don’t know how to get out.” She flapped her sleeves as he released her.

  Without a word, he flipped her to her belly and, with two sharp tugs, the silk that confined her slithered away. The baby protested the pressure and she raised her torso up on her arms. The remains of her gown fell away.

  He turned her onto her back and she returned the smile that he was giving her. Finally, they were both naked and she groaned in relief as he moved to cover her. She wanted, needed him to touch her. It had been far too long. The feel of his skin touching hers was driving her out of her mind. “I want you inside me.”

  “You are not ready.”

  “I don’t care.” She grabbed his horns and pulled his head down to hers. The kiss that she laid on him was as hot as she was, her tongue parting his lips and slipping past the fangs that had marked her to duel with his own.

  The blunt head of his cock moved between her parted thighs to press against her, weeping with its own lubrication. The first thrust and retreat parted her and the second let him make his way within her with a slow and deliberate shift of his hips.

  Oh. That was what she wanted and she told him so with the tilt of her hips and the wrapping of her thighs around his to hold him inside her. It had been uncomfortable at first, but her body had started to prepare for him the instant he came through the door with Miya.

  “When are you going to let me move, Sarah?” He broke their kiss and looked down on her with a smile that made her laugh.

  “When I am sure that you aren’t going anywhere. So just let me enjoy the moment for a few more seconds.” Tears came to her eyes. “I didn’t think I would see you again.”

  Athon’s tears joined hers. “And I thought you just wanted me because I was the only option you had. I am very glad I was wrong.” Slowly, he began to move inside her, his belly pressing against the baby that they had made by this exact method.

  They rocked together for what seemed like hours until Sarah’s body reached release with a wave of tremors and a heaving sigh. She shivered and twitched as Athon rapidly reached his own orgasm, each stroke of his engorged cock sending pulses of sensation through her over-stimulated body.

  After his own quaking ceased, he moved to one side and curled her against him. “I missed you. Your temper, your tongue and your urge to put me in my place.”

  “And I missed you, Athon. Your patience, your gentleness and your fantastic abs.” She chuckled as his expression went from tender to exasperated.

  “Your abs are more than enough for us both. When will the baby arrive? I want to make sure that we are ready for it.” His hand moved down to stroke her and he smiled as the babe reacted to his touch.

  “We have a few months before it makes its arrival. In the meantime, I have a question to ask you.”

  “Please. What ever you want to know, ask.”

  She couldn’t keep her smirk to herself. “If, after the baby arrives, I took on a few assignments, how would you feel about that?”

  “Fine, as long as I came with you to keep your security up to par.”

  “I am talking plague worlds here, Athon. That is where I work. I burn the dead. You would be at risk just being on the planet.”

  “Wherever you go, I will come with you. We will just have to make sure that the airlocks are extra safe. Plus, I want our little one here to have brothers and sisters so I understand that you need to feel useful, but you will be my wife and my life first and foremost.”

  She gave him a long and serious look. Scorching was her job, but since the new life had started to writhe around inside her, she had been overwhelmed with the idea of being a mom. Sarah knew that she would want to return to work, but life with this man at her side would keep her secure and on an even keel.

  Across space, races, and more trials than she had imagined, she had found a family. Her beaming grin was the answer that Athon was looking for. Details would follow later. She was sure that they would butt heads now and then, but as long as their bodies followed, she would deal with it as it came.

  For now, she was in love. In bed with the man she loved and their baby was kicking up a storm between them. Her smile turned a little sinister as she flamed on a hand and held it in front of his face. “Now, as for this habit you have of bringing women home to meet your mother…”

  Author’s Note

  For those of you who are new to the Champions universe, Dhemons and their mating habits can be researched in Deal with a Dhemon. Nyal mating habits can be found in Burning Ceres (a novel of the Terran Times), and Azon can be found in my first sci-fi novella, Arena Station.

  I hope you enjoyed Scorcher, and tune in for the next Terran Times Novella, Minder. Coming to Extasy books in Summer 2009.

  About the Author

  Viola Grace was born in Manitoba, Canada where she still resides today. She really likes it there.

  She has no pets and can barely keep sea monkeys alive for a reasonable amount of time. Her line of day job tends to be analytical which leaves her mind hopping to weave stories. No co-worker is safe from her character analysis.

  In keeping with busy hands are happy hands, her hobbies have included cross-stitch, needlepoint, quilting, costuming, cake decorating, baking, cooking, metal work, beading, sculpting, painting, doll making, henna tattoos, chain mail, and a few others that have been forgotten. It is quite often that these hobbies make their way into her tales.

  Viola’s fetishes include boots and corsetry, and her greatest weakness is her uncontrollable blush.

  Her writing actively pursues the Happily Ever After that so rarely occurs in nature. It is an admirable thing and something that we should all strive for. To find one that we truly like, as well as love.

  Viola can be reached at this email:

  [email protected]

  Viola’s website is located at:

  http://www.violagrace.com