Page 3 of Love the Way You Lion (Rise of the Resistance #3)

The Blade And The Artist Meet Again

TALIA

H e’s sitting in his chair drawing when I walk in.

Disappointingly enough, he’s wearing his ever-present track pants with an A-line tank, his hair streaming over his shoulders and down the back of the chair.

I was hoping for something a little less clothed, but I’ll take it.

He looks comfortable and since my hackles have been up all morning for no reason I can determine, he might calm me down while he’s riling me up.

“Evening, Blade.” His grin is easy-going, and I wonder at the personality differences in the clones. They are so biologically similar, yet so different individually, particularly Rafe. His eyes slide over me, taking in the outfit I picked out for him—tummy baring, but all leather and lace.

“Nice shirt, though it seems like you’re more covered than normal.” I give him a saucy grin, but I am curious.

His brow furrows. “The relatives popped by while I was here with my girl—your bird is out of town and she hasn’t heard about his harebrained idea to work for those loons—and I pulled it on.

She pulled on something, too. Now that I say it out loud, it is rather odd.

” He scratches his head and looks puzzled, sitting his work aside.

“Should I be getting something from that?”

“Clothes aren’t a big deal, not with family, but they came, and she pulled on pants—dumped me on the floor to do it, in fact—and I grabbed a shirt. I have no clue why.” Shaking his head, he holds his hand out and I walk forward, unsure what he’s trying to communicate with this story.

“I’d think she’s hiding any signs of pregnancy, but that wouldn’t explain your shirt grabbing. Plus, she’s told all of them by now, right?” This is NOT helping my hackles being raised and I yank Precious out of her sheath, flipping and spinning without thinking about it.

“Yeah. It was awful defensive, I guess. Something is up, but I don’t know what.”

“Not a clue.” I shrug, but it bothers me.

I wonder if Deli told Taurus the same thing.

We’re all on edge, waiting for something to happen because people are — if nothing else—predictable, and we know that the gnome and her entourage can’t be happy with Deli’s announcement.

That’s what we fear, even with no one knowing about me and Rafe.

He might not be sleeping with many people, but I bet a lot of them wish he were.

Smiling, he shrugs. “I’ll ponder on it when I’m not busy ogling the delicious-looking bird in front of me.”

Ah, there’s the flirting I’ve been waiting for.

I pretend not to notice. “What, this old thing I’m wearing? I’m not all that.” I wink, knowing I look good and his enjoyment only makes me feel better .

His look says he doesn’t believe me, but keep in mind, he looked an absolute picture of grace and muscle when I arrived.

He can’t always look that good, right? “You look hot and you know it, woman. However, since I’m more interested in getting my hands on you than debating, come over here and plant one on me. ”

I walk towards him, my hips swaying as I make sure that he gets glimpses of tanned skin here and there.

I kneel on the chair, straddling his lap, and wrap my arms around his neck.

“I thought the whole expediency thing went right out the window.” I drop my head and kiss him, surrounding myself with his scent with a sigh.

His growl echoes in my head as he kisses me back, his hands wandering over my bare skin.

Warm palms make my skin feel hot and I rock against him, smiling against his mouth as his hand fists in my hair.

I believe he likes my choice of seat. I’m not sure why I feel this hunger, this need, when he’s around, but I damn sure refuse to ignore it.

I lift my mouth from his and give him a stormy look, tugging his shirt off so I feel his skin against mine.

“Damn. Now we’re back to the want; that was fast.”

“Mmm hmm,” he replies, hands sliding to rest on my hip bones. “It’s damned intense. It’s especially intense when you wiggle like that.”

“Like this?” I grin and roll my hips.

“Exactly like that, in fact.”

“Do you think that’s the intensity—physicality? I’ve been trying to figure that out.” I nip his earlobe and murmur into it. “I want to figure out why I need you so much. It’s hot—blood and sex and lust and everything else. But I don’t know why it’s so intense.”

His eyes are golden when I pull back, and he tilts his head to allow me to nibble along the scars that are forming there. “Bloody hell, woman, now I know you’re trying to get me riled up. ”

My laugh is husky and I grind against him again, tossing my hair and arching into his hands. “I thought you weren’t great with the subtle.”

“I have my moments.” He pinches my rear, and I jump.

“Ow! That hurt!” I glare, looking put out.

“That was on purpose.” His hands roam over me and I watch his eyes follow them.

“Is there a problem, dear? You sound worked up.”

“That outfit’s hot, but a bit of a puzzler. Where’s the hidden spot, I wonder? I hate to ruin it with my usual rip and tear,” he murmurs.

I grin. “There’s the rub, I fear. You are a tummy man—so help me, I’ll slice something off if you laugh at me for this—and I wanted to wear something special. This is the only thing I have that shows off this much stomach, so I wore it. It’s not the easiest thing to maneuver.”

“It’s unbearably hot in here, pet. I adore the outfit, but it’s a little too much clothing for my liking. Care to fill me in?” His grin stretches from cheek to cheek, and I can’t help but wonder how many people have indulged him like this because he’s thrilled by just an ensemble.

I return his smile, arching my back and reaching behind my head with both hands.

Grasping the lycra at the nape of my neck, I stretch the fabric and pull it over my head, sliding my arms out of the thin straps.

As I discard it, the material gathers around my waist, leaving me exposed from the waist up. “Better?”

“Definitely. I thought you might have hidden a tricky clasp or something.” His hands wander over my body, fingertips brushing over a nipple as he lowers his lips to nip playfully at my shoulder. The sensation causes me to let out a low moan .

“No secrets here. Just a few bends and twists, and it’s off. Keep caressing me, baby. Don’t stop.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it, Blade.”

My arousal intensifies as I feel his growing hardness pressing against me through our remaining clothing. Desperate for more intimate contact, I reach down to free him from the confines of his pants.

As I wrap my fingers around his cock, he slips his hand between my legs and finds my wetness. His fingers delve into me as I stroke him in rhythm with our kisses and moans.

“I want to be skin on skin with you, Rafe. I need you inside me.”

“Sounds like a perfect plan to me.” His hand continues to explore my pussy, brushing my aching clit over and over.

“Rafe, yes... don’t stop,” I moan, my voice heavy with desire. My heart races as the fingers of his other hand trail along my bare skin.

“I won’t,” he growls, kissing me deeply as he pulls me even closer. Our bodies press tightly together, every inch of our skin connecting in the most intense way possible.

His touch ignites a fire within me that spreads through my core and outward, making every nerve ending tingle with anticipation. His every move is met with a gasp or a moan as we move together in perfect harmony.

As his dick drives into me faster and harder, his lips find my neck, suckling and nipping at my delicate skin. Our hunger fills the room like a living thing, consuming us both in its intensity.

I don’t know how much longer I can hold out.

Our climaxes approach, we are two souls united by desire and need.

The primal sounds that escape our lips as we surrender to each other get louder as the shivers tickle my skin.

Our kisses grow frenzied, each brush of his lips against mine leaving me yearning for more.

We’re two people dancing around an open flame, feeding off each other’s heat and desire until we can contain it no longer.

With a loud cry that reverberates off the walls, our bodies collide in a climax so powerful it damn near shakes the furniture.

Nothing exists in that moment but the fiery pull that drew us together repeatedly.

While we come down from our high, we lay panting and sweaty but completely satisfied—something I haven’t been in such a long time that I have no idea what to do about it.

I’m in such fucking trouble with this man.