Page 14 of Going Rogue (Tactical Operations & Protection (TOP))

His head screamed at him to slow down as they rolled across the bed, his hands determined to possess and take.

Though the air in the tent remained a pleasant temperature, they created enough heat together to have sweat slickening their bodies.

It made his clothing adhere like a second skin, but he didn’t notice.

His vision narrowed to Rogue’s face, dewed with moisture as pleasure raced over her features while his hands and mouth worshiped her breasts.

She arched against him, and he released her.

Her breaths came in ragged puffs as she tugged at his shirt, her hands traveling over him on their quest to test and discover.

Reaching between his shoulder blades, he grasped the material and pulled it over his head.

When he tossed it away, Rogue turned them so that she straddled him, her busy hands racing over his skin.

“How do you look like this?” she murmured before bending and tracing his abs with her tongue.

Barbs of pleasure made his muscles contract and his cock twitch in excitement.

She clearly noticed because the smile she aimed at him spoke of pure feminine satisfaction.

As if testing him, she gave his pectoral muscles the same attention.

With a groan, he pulled her head to his and captured her greedy mouth.

If she kept teasing him like that, he’d lose the grip he had on his control.

After waiting years to have her, he didn’t want to rush things.

She was giving him a gift, and he wanted to treasure it no matter what his body demanded.

But when he trailed a finger up her thigh to her center, he found her wet and ready. A hum of pleasure rumbled through his chest before he broke their kiss. He wanted to see her face as he slid his finger into her heat.

She shivered when he entered her, but desire sparked in her eyes. They were as deep as a cup of black coffee and just as potent. His forehead reached for hers. “You’re so tight.”

Fresh sweat broke out on his face. She was so fucking tight. Too tight. He knew he’d hurt her and wanted to make sure he made the rest of it as good for her as he possibly could.

They might be hiding from reality, but he wanted to give her this fantasy.

The militants—what would happen if they were found—even the Bedouins faded away until only Rogue existed.

She could be queen of this desert and he a loyal soldier who’d gladly give his life for hers but who’d even more gladly share it with her.

Wiggling against his hand, she moaned, so he added a second finger, stretching her. Her head fell back on a gasp. “Crane!”

When he used his thumb on her sensitive bud while he stroked her inner walls with his fingers, her hands slapped his chest, her gaze searing him with wonder and hunger so sharp it proved all he could do not to answer it with his own.

But he’d give her this first.

She whimpered, and he spurred her on, gripping her hip with his free hand and urging her to move. “Use my hand, baby. Make it feel good.”

He reared up, catching one of her dark pink nipples in his mouth.

She bucked against him but gripped his shoulders as she rocked into his palm.

The noises she made, the little gasps and whimpers as she searched for the perfect spot, drove him mad with lust. He bit harder than he should’ve, then gently laved the bite with his tongue.

“Oh, God.”

He stroked her faster.

“Crane. I’m going to—”

Her breath caught, and he knew she was at the crest.

“Crane!”

One of the tethers holding himself in check snapped, and he released her breast to demand, “Miles.” Dazed, she shook her head, but he gripped her chin and pulled those doe eyes to his. “Call me by my name.”

Her eyes widened before they closed with a cry of “Miles!” as she flew off the peak.

Hearing her use his given name shot fire through his veins straight to his groin. It was pleasure and pain. Though his body ached with the need to be inside her, he pulled her close. Her head fell to his shoulder, and he held her while she shuddered with the force of her orgasm.

When her breathing evened out, he tilted her head back, placing tender kisses on her face before finding those sweet, sweet lips with his own. Rogue tasted of forever, of promises whispered in the night, and truths spoken at the height of passion.

With a sigh, she molded herself to him in a surrender that was sexier than she knew. It might not be a confession of love, but she had feelings for him; he was positive.

Even if she wasn’t ready to admit it.

She leaned back, running a hand over the stubble on his chin. “You’re still wearing clothes.” Her laugh sounded surprised, but it quickly broke off with her biting her lip as she stared at the bulge in his lap. “I want to see you.”

Her hand cupped him through his pants, and he twitched in response. The grin she leveled at him looked deadly. Like she lapped everything up and stored it for later use. That analytical brain of hers memorizing, cataloging, and organizing.

When her fingers struggled with his tactical belt, he reached down and unsecured it.

He let her unbutton his pants, but as soon as her fingers dipped inside, grazing the hair on his pelvis, he hissed out a breath and stood.

The thought of her long, graceful fingers wrapped around his length threatened to snap his tenuous control.

If he didn’t want to hurt her, he had to keep the animal of his need on a leash.

Right now, it chomped at the bit.

She frowned up at him. “Did I do something you didn’t like?”

A rough laugh exploded from his lips. “No.” Crane scrubbed his hands down his face.

When he met her gaze and saw the nerves tightening her expression again, he cursed.

“Damn it, Rogue. I’m trying to—” He shook his head and met her eyes with the anguish he felt shining out of his.

“I’m so fucking hard for you. I don’t want to hurt you. ”

She walked to him. With a smile, which said she understood, she cupped his face. “Miles, I need you.”

Hearing her say his name, softened the sharp edges of his desire. They stopped jabbing at him, and he buried his nose in her hair. Breathing in the sweet vanilla of her scent, he thought it must come from whatever shampoo she used.

“You won’t hurt me,” she whispered into his shoulder.

Crane pulled back when he felt her hands at his waist. Nothing but calm radiated from her eyes as he let her finish undressing him. Achingly slow, she lowered his briefs and cargo pants. When they pooled at his ankles, he kicked off his boots and stepped out of the clothing.

Shifting away, he let her drink him in. But watching her watch him sent his pulse racing at Mach speed.

When she did more than look, her hands softly exploring, he bit back a groan.

Though his heart hammered his ribcage, he kept his hands locked into fists at his side, afraid of what he’d do if he touched her.

Then, her fingers changed from testing traces to a firm grasp. Her hand wrapped his length, and he clenched his eyes and jaw shut. It was torture. Exquisite torture. When her grip moved up and down in a teasing circle, squeezing him, his eyes flew open. “Stop.”

She jerked away at his demand, but he caught her, crushing his mouth to hers. The kiss had none of the gentleness he’d shown her thus far, only need. The harsh craving burned through him and branded itself on her lips.

I need to be inside her—now.

Unlocking his mouth from hers, Crane nudged her toward the bed. With a rasp, he said, “Lie down for me, baby.”

When she did as he asked, he took a deep breath, still trying to hold the leash on his desire.

Giving himself a minute, he stared down at her.

The soft glow from the lanterns graced her flushed skin, danced across the stiff peaks of her nipples, and bounced off the light blonde of her hair.

It almost looked like a halo surrounded her as she sprawled on the dark blankets.

Mine.

She was all his. The knowledge settled something in him, and he lowered to the bed, kissing his way up her thigh, her stomach, her breasts, until he covered her tempting body with his. Bracing an arm on either side of her head, he lined up at her entrance.

The nerves that had plagued her had gone. Brushing the strands of hair off her forehead, he stared down into her smiling face. “Kiss me. I stop thinking when you do.”

Needing the connection as much as she did, he met her request, melding their mouths together. Then, like ripping off a bandage, he drove into her, pushing past her body’s resistance as quickly as possible. She broke the kiss with a gasp of breath, and he stilled.

Waited.

With his heart in his throat.

She’d clenched her eyes tightly shut, and her breathing rushed past her lips in rapid puffs. “Rogue.” When she didn’t respond, he begged, “Look at me, Rogan.”

She’d tensed; her muscles gripped him so tightly it was almost agonizing, and he knew it only made the pain worse for her. “Relax, baby. Just breathe,” he soothed while his body trembled with restraint. A tear slipped out when she opened her eyes, and he kissed it away.

“I’m okay.” He heard no strain in her voice, only a hint of frustration. “I can do this.”

She lifted her hips to take him in deeper, and his eyes wanted to roll back in his head.

Fuck, she feels amazing. But he didn’t want to hurt her anymore.

Inspired, he rolled them until Rogue was on top. She made a noise in protest, but he held her up, grasping her hips as she kneeled over him. “You’re in charge, Rogue.”

While she stared down at him with her lips parted, he let her slide down his shaft. Cupping her cheek, he brushed his thumb across her injury, determined to cause her no more pain. He would let her set the pace and depth, so they only did what felt good for her.

With her palms pressed into his chest, she rocked up and down, back and forth, until she found what she liked. Watching her find her pleasure nearly sent him past the brink. His muscles quivered, but he held back, latching onto the ledge of his control with hands that shook.

Crane maintained his resolve to let her lead as long as he could, but when she quickened their pace to a frantic rhythm, which spoke of her release, the tether he’d had on his control finally snapped.

Like a rubberband recoiling, it vibrated through him, stinging him with desperate strikes.

Half wild, he sprang up and feasted on her breasts.

She moaned, and he grabbed her delectable ass, then gripped her hips and drove her in a frenzy.

She was so hot and wet and tight. A thread of sanity breached the haze of his arousal when he felt her shudder under his tongue as her release rippled through her.

With another pump of his hips, he chased her over the edge into oblivion .

Minutes ticked by in the silence of pleasurable stillness. Sweat slicked their bodies where their chests heaved and met with each breath.

Sated.

Exhausted.

Crane hugged her close and vowed never to let go.

I love you.

He wanted to give her the words, but for now, he would settle for showing her with his actions. Because Rogue was his. His everything, and he’d do whatever it took to get her home safe.