Captured & Seduced Page 9

  “Are we going out in teams again?” Jannike asked.

  Ry scented the air for danger. “Not if you don’t think it’s necessary. We’ll cover more ground if we go out singly.”

  Jannike shrugged. “Apart from the hell-horses, we didn’t see any predators.”

  “I don’t know.” Kaya surveyed a bite on her arm with a rueful grin. “Some of bugs are big enough to qualify as predators.”

  Mogens looked up to scan the clouds. “Good tidings in the cloud cover. I will go on my own. Give me a chance to stock my medicine bag. I saw familiar plants yesterday. Maybe I’ll run across some ghosts to guide me to the correct path.”

  Ry shrugged. As long as he didn’t start seeing Mogens’ specters, he was happy. “We’ll meet up back here before nightfall. Camryn, you’re with me.” He refused to let her out of sight. He caught the flattening of her luscious mouth and the militant glint in her brown eyes. Too bad. He didn’t intend to suffer alone.

  After collecting supplies and water, they left the tender. Camryn walked in the lead, the sheen of perspiration glistening on her skin. His gaze drifted across her shoulders, over the pack she carried on her back to linger on her ass. Curved yet toned, it swayed in an enticing manner. A branch slashed across his face, springing back after Camryn passed. Ry bit back a curse and tried to pay attention to the vegetation. It wasn’t easy. The more he sated himself in her body, the more he lusted after her. A disease. It had to be because no other explanation made a scrap of sense.

  The bush became denser, and Camryn struggled to forge a path through the mass of undergrowth.

  Ry placed a hand on her shoulder, touching her to soothe his raging hunger. “Let me take the lead.” He should have done that anyway. No telling what danger lurked in this unexplored land. He’d let his hormones rule him, wanting to watch his woman. Predictably, his cock reared at the thought of taking her. For fleeting secs, a vision of shrugging off their packs and stripping down taunted him. He took half a step closer before common sense hit. They needed to capture a hell-horse. He needed to best his brother. Concentrate.

  With a soft curse, Ry clasped Camryn’s shoulders and shifted her out of his way to take the lead. He set a ferocious pace, pulling out a sharp knife to hack the undergrowth.

  The incline gradually increased. His lungs burned and his acute hearing caught Camryn’s accelerated breathing and creative thoughts.

  If he tries to drive his purple rocket into my parking space again, I’ll whack his bag of tricks with river rocks. That will put his kitty out of action. See if he wants to fukk me then.

  Ry winced, wanting to protest the threats against his manhood—even though he wasn’t sure he understood the Earth terms—but didn’t want to halt her fascinating commentary.

  The tree canopy gave way to huge patches of blue sky and the leaf litter underfoot changed to rough rock. Ry halted without warning, and Camryn crashed into his back.

  “Easy.” He grasped her hips and tugged her against his side. “Look.”

  They stood on the lip of a canyon, a blind canyon as far as he could discern.

  “Hell-horses,” Camryn whispered. “A herd. There’s plenty of water and they’re eating those small trees.”

  Ry scanned the ungainly black creatures. “We need to find the entrance to the canyon.”

  “A box canyon would work instead of a set of yards. Better since there’s feed and water here.” Excitement shaded her voice, knocking aside his concerns about her being right for the job. He couldn’t afford to let his emotions color the situation. This was a prime opportunity to clear his name, and his feelings for Camryn mustn’t interfere.

  “Let’s go.” Ry didn’t wait for her assent but started to pick his way down the hill.

  Camryn fumed while she followed the infuriating man. She tried to pay attention to their surroundings, the bright flitting butterflies and contrasting dull-colored birds. Most of the ones they’d seen today ran along the ground rather than taking to the sky. Although their surroundings were beautiful, her gaze kept returning to the alien. She kept remembering his urgent touch on her bare breasts, the stroke of his fingers between her legs. Camryn shivered at the memory and was immediately angry at the reaction.

  It was good sex. It meant nothing.

  Nothing.

  But it sullied Gabriel’s memory. Each time she had sex with Ry, it became harder to call Gabriel’s image to mind, to pretend she made love to her husband.

  A sense of helplessness filled her. Her sister-in-law was right. She lacked control. She craved alcohol like most women longed for chocolate. But even worse, since they were in the middle of nowhere without a drop of alcohol in sight, she’d set her sights on Ry instead.

  She’d become a sex addict.

  With an unhappy grunt, she stomped after Ry. She tore her eyes off his tight, muscular butt and focused on her surroundings. One step at a time.

  It took most of the morning to make their way down the side of the hill because of the treacherous footing. Ry had to help her down the steep slopes, his hands lingering for longer than she liked. Even though she hated herself for it, she’d started to long for more mini-cliffs, more hands-on attention. Sick. Damn, she’d lost her mind.

  They came to another part where they needed to navigate a short cliff face because there was no alternative detour.

  “I’ll go first,” Ry said.

  “I’m not helpless.”

  “You’re a valuable part of our team. We can’t afford for you to suffer an injury.”

  His reasonable tone fueled irritation. “That wouldn’t do at all.”

  “Stop trying to pick a fight with me.”

  Camryn backed over the cliff and chose a foothold. She scrambled down the cliff face, anger helping her to shove aside thoughts of danger. Luckily she had a good head for heights and her natural balance helped. She reached the bottom before Ry and glared up at him.

  “I can do it by myself. You don’t need to touch me all the time.”

  “Do you think I like this? I need to keep a clear head, and all I can think of is fukking you.”

  “It’s not my fault.”

  “No?” He’d prowled closer, forcing her to back up until the cliff at her spine prevented her retreat. Ry kept coming. When they were almost touching, he halted and shrugged off his backpack. It hit the ground beside them with a dull thunk. Camryn’s heart jumped into a speedy beat. Her tongue snaked out to moisten her dry lips.

  “You can run,” he whispered, his breath warm against her neck. “But you can’t hide from whatever this is between us. My dick is so desperate for you it’s like walking with a dagger between my legs. It’s getting worse. You have to touch me or I’m going to go mad.” He ripped his damp shirt over his head and tossed it aside.

  Camryn’s gaze roved over his muscular shoulders, over the swirling tattoos that covered his pectoral muscles and stomach. A gasp emerged when she noticed his erection. He hadn’t lied about his readiness.

  “Of course I didn’t lie,” he snapped.

  She swallowed, her body reacting with speed. Between her legs moistened with a surge of juices and her breasts prickled against her bra. He was doing it again. Reading her mind. She had to practice building walls in her mind as Mogens had taught her.

  Ry’s mouth slammed down on hers, taking her lips in a rough kiss. Her heart pounded in an erratic manner as his spicy flavor exploded across her taste buds. Wild musk with a trace of aniseed. Addictive. Camryn softened, melting against him, dragging his musky scent deep into her lungs.

  Oh boy. She couldn’t fight it. She wanted him inside her now. Right now.

  “Yes.” Ry lifted his head, his eyes a fiery green glow and full of desire. He yanked her tunic, tugging it from her trousers. With urgent hands, he pulled them down and pushed his knee between her legs, forcing her to widen her stance. With one finger he parted her moist folds.

  Her chin lowered to her chest, and she sighed, the ripple of pleasure from his touch remo
ving the last vestiges of protest. Ry was right. She wanted him as badly as he craved her.

  Ry continued to stroke her clitoris, teasing her needy flesh until pleasure swirled just out of reach. He dragged his trews down and his cock sprang free. Fully extended, the flared head appeared swollen while his sac had drawn tight. She reached out, wanting to stroke the velvet length of him, but he batted her hand away.

  “Don’t touch.” His mouth pulled to a tight line. “I’ll explode.” He grasped her hips and lifted her effortlessly, piercing her body with his cock, slowly pushing inside. Buried to the hilt, he paused, his eyes screwed shut.

  He looked savage, yet despite his scary visage, he’d never hurt her. She sensed this at gut level. She stared down at where they were joined and gripped his shoulders, savoring the stretch and the pulse of his cock against her snug walls. Her gaze rose to study his features. His chest rose with a deep breath and his eyes opened without warning to stare straight into hers.

  “Kiss my neck,” he ordered. “Bite me.” He released one hip to touch the spot where her fingers curled around his shoulders.

  “Yes.” Her heart beat faster at his husky order, desire rippling through her core. The weird thing was she wanted to bite him, craved the savage act. Her gaze went to his chest, and she licked her lips. She bent her head to brush a kiss across his neck and nibbled lightly.

  Ry growled and started to thrust. Each powerful plunge shoved her against the rough rock at her back, but all she felt was Ry pounding into her pussy. The wet sound of bodies slapping together filled the air, the scent of raw sex and green herbs filling every breath. Camryn licked across his neck and he groaned, his cock seeming to enlarge until she felt fuller than before. He rocked his pelvis forward, gliding in deep.

  “Bite me,” he snapped.

  Camryn obeyed, sinking her teeth into the fleshy part where shoulder met neck. Fire and chills warred within her body, every nerve ending blazing with pleasure and sensitivity. But it wasn’t enough. She hovered on the cusp of orgasm, the sensation verging on painful. Ry kept pounding into her, ratcheting up the heat and pressure rampaging through her body. A sob escaped.

  Then he lowered his head and kissed a moist path over her shoulder. The closer he came to the area where he’d bitten her, the more painful her impending orgasm became. He let her feel his teeth, grazing over her flesh. A violent tremble racked her.

  “Harder,” she said on a long drawn-out groan. God, she couldn’t believe the desperate plea in her voice. “Bite down. Please.”

  Ry hesitated an instant before he bit down. The pain passed in a flash, replaced by pleasure so powerful she didn’t think she could bear the intensity. Ry withdrew and pounded back into her pussy. If anything the pleasure increased, pushing her over into climax, sensation pulsing in giant, breath-stealing waves. She gasped, weak and pliant in his arms, still shuddering in post-orgasmic pleasure.

  “Camryn.” Ry thrust into her again and pushed her head into the crook of his neck. She licked across the base of his neck and he shuddered, his groan of appreciation making her repeat the move, this time with her teeth. She nipped the skin and he plunged into her with deep, frantic thrusts. He licked her neck, the warm, wet suction driving her higher. The flash of climax seared her again, and she convulsed around his cock, gripping it tightly, gasping for breath.

  Incredible. Intense. Unbelievable.

  The coppery tang of his blood filled her mouth. It should have repulsed her but didn’t. Instead, she held tight while Ry spilled his seed and drifted down through aftershocks to satisfaction.

  Ry inhaled deep before lifting her off his cock and letting her slide down his body. “Hell,” he said with a rueful laugh. The humor dissipated when he studied her neck. “Are you okay? Did I hurt you?” He ran his fingers across the bite on her neck.

  Camryn gasped and tried to jerk away, but he held her fast.

  “God, it’s bleeding. Let me.” He dipped his head and licked the puncture wounds.

  The lap of his tongue sent a spasm through her, the brush of his fingers bringing goose bumps. Camryn battled the need to rub against him like a cat in heat. She wanted the sleek thrust of his tongue in her mouth. Her vagina fluttered and he lifted his head, his eyes a deep, mossy green when he stared at her.

  “I want to fukk you again,” he murmured, his voice husky and seductive.

  “Get out of my head,” she protested, but her disapproval came out low and breathy and held not a whit of authority. She tried to build a wall in her mind—one brick at a time—like Mogens had described. The first three rows of bricks were perfect then they crumbled without warning.

  Their gazes clashed and while she watched, a slow Cheshire cat smile bloomed across his features. “You like me there,” he whispered. “As much as you like me thrusting into your hot little cunt.”

  Unable to meet his gaze for a second longer, Camryn curled into his embrace. She didn’t understand, not any of it, and she hated the out-of-control sensations she experienced when they were together.

  It wasn’t right.

  It felt like betrayal yet she couldn’t stop herself.

  “If you think I like this any more than you do, then you’re wrong,” he gritted out, pulling away from her to glare. He hauled up his trews.

  When they no longer touched, she was assailed by a sense of loss. She avoided looking at him and, after righting her clothing, stared at the ground, forcing her mind to concentrate on thoughts of the hell-horses and their training. “We should go.”

  Ry snorted. “You’re right of course. Whatever this is between us can’t get in the way of winning the race.”

  “There’s nothing between us. Once the race ends I’m going home.”

  Ry picked up his pack. “Also correct.”

  In terse silence, they made their way down the steep incline, and after searching, they found the narrow entrance to the canyon.

  “Why don’t we block the entrance now?” Camryn wanted to capture the horse and start training. Leaving this strange planet and returning home couldn’t happen soon enough. Ry’s face had started to replace Gabriel’s. She had to concentrate to recall her husband’s scent. She needed to depart before Ry stole all her memories.

  * * * * *

  Darkness had already fallen by the time Camryn and Ry walked into camp.

  “Captain, we were starting to worry.” Mogens eyes narrowed. His swift change of color spoke of his true feelings. “Are you hungry?”

  Ry could tell Mogens would have plenty to say once he managed to get Ry alone. The seer took too much upon himself. “The terrain was difficult today.” He jerked his head in Camryn’s direction where she slumped, exhausted, on a nearby rock. “We found a blind canyon containing a large herd of hell-horses and spent a couple of hours blocking the entrance so they can’t get out. I don’t think they even knew we were there. Anyone else have any luck?”

  “I saw herds in the distance but they sensed my presence,” Jannike said. “They ran off.”

  Mogens shook his head. “No sightings, although I restocked my herbal supplies.”

  “No surprises here in camp, Captain,” Yep said. “The tender is fully functional again, although we’ll need to do further repairs once we return to the Indy.”

  Nanu rubbed his face, the smear of grease on his cheek creeping closer to his ear each time he repeated the move. “It’s not perfect but it’ll do.”

  “Kaya, how did you get on?” Ry asked.

  “I saw a few hell-horses in the distance. You know how we haven’t seen any large animal life apart from the horses? Yeah, well, I saw this giant bird that stood taller than me. Nearly crapped myself.”

  Jannike chuckled. “Have you got a secret stash of ouzotine?”

  “I haven’t been drinking,” Kaya protested, her chin jutting out in combative mode. “I saw a giant bird.”

  Ry believed her. Kaya wasn’t one to make up stories. “Where did you see it?”

  “In a lightly forested area, nea
r a big pond,” Kaya said. “I’m not making it up.”

  “We believe you,” Mogens said, ever the peacemaker.

  Jannike snorted and her lips quirked, however she refrained from further comment when Ry glared at her. The last thing he wanted was squabbling amongst his crew. They needed to pull together or they’d never have a chance of winning.

  “Tomorrow we’ll take the tender to the canyon and set up base there. I saw a couple of areas big enough for the tender to land.” Ry glanced at each of his crewmates for agreement but didn’t expect protests. They were all eager for the training to begin.

  Ry glanced at Camryn, his gut hollowing in apprehension. He didn’t want her facing the creatures. It was dangerous for a fragile Earthling with slow-healing powers. Forcing down his fear because he had no other option, he turned to Kaya. “Have the rest of you eaten?”

  “Yeah. I’ll grab pouches for you and Camryn.”

  “I’m not hungry,” Camryn said. “I intend to wash and sleep. And I should study the Dowry Derby rule book again so I know it inside out.”

  “Child, you must eat,” Mogens said. “You must keep up your strength.”

  In the flickering light of the fire, Ry saw the seeds of protest forming. “I don’t need to do anything apart from training the horse,” she snapped. “I’m going to wash.” She turned her back on them and stalked toward the river.

  Ry growled, low and grouchy, and his crew watched him warily. “Pouches?”

  Kaya handed him two. Ry prowled into the tender. He grabbed a flask out of his personal gear and stalked back outside. “We leave at daybreak tomorrow. The sooner we capture a hell-horse, the better I’ll feel.”

  “Aye, Captain,” Yep said. “We noticed a few tenders flying over today. I don’t think we were spotted because of our camouflage.”

  A thought occurred to Ry. “Any of you see hunting parties on foot?”

  “No,” Jannike said. The others shook their heads.