Man Hunt Page 2

  She should be tying the man up, hoisting him to his feet, but that was a vague thought in the back of her mind as she gave in to the glorious sensations washing through her.

  Putting fear and anger aside, she sighed as an urgent heat rose up into her womb at his warm breath so close... She was here for a reason, the man creature was a danger, but as she absentmindedly noted that her power lasers had fallen to the ground next to her, Leah couldn’t stop herself from reaching around him and feeling the rough skin of his muscled back.

  *

  Ayden lifted his gaze as an expression of surprise, and then ecstasy, washed over the woman’s face. A face framed by silky brown hair so beautiful it was a shame to turn away, but more riches waited under that skirt. It had taken him a moment to get his bearings after she had landed. But once he’d caught his breath, he smiled. He discovered, to his delight, that Azarian women had no need for underwear.

  *

  Leah groaned as he brought a hand up to knead one of her breasts. She balanced herself on her feet on either side of him and began to rock forward and backward with his motions, groans of bliss testament to her pleasure.

  Before long, she began to shudder. First, small waves of delight rolled through her, and then they began to join together to form one enormous wave that overwhelmed her as an animal yell emanated from deep inside. She arched her back and collapsed forward on top of him.

  Leah lay over the man’s face, her head on the ground, trying to regain her strength and senses. The emotional buildup of the past few days, coupled with the adrenaline of the fight with the bird, and finally this … incredible sensation left her spent. As she tried to gather her thoughts, the man spoke.

  “My name is Ayden.”

  “Oh.” She lifted her head.

  “Feels good, huh?” He smiled.

  Leah sat up straight, eyeing him cautiously. “Different to what I am used to.”

  Ayden looked at her, a curious expression crossing his face as if he wondered exactly what she was used to.

  “Is that some kind of secret weapon?” she asked.

  Ayden laughed then, a low, warm laugh that threatened to cloud her head all over again.

  “I never thought of it like that. Only the beginning of my arsenal, I guess. If you want to climb off my face, I will happily show you the rest.”

  At that, Leah scrambled to her feet, standing over him. She drew the knife from her sandal, leaned down, and held it close to his beating heart while she reached for one of her lasers.

  “I’d like to take you up on that offer,” Leah answered in all sincerity, her body already warming to the thought. “Really, I would … but I have a job to do. Get up!”

  *

  Ayden wanted to obey, but he took a moment to enjoy the view of her standing above him, framed by her smooth, rounded thighs. He opened his mouth to tell her to sit down again but looking down the barrel of a laser quickly changed his viewpoint.

  “I said get up.” To Ayden’s disappointment, Leah stepped to the side. Ayden stood, hands held high.

  “Is this my thanks for saving your life and sending you to paradise all at the same time?”

  “Arrogance is not tolerated in our society. I need you to turn around,” she said.

  “At your service, ma’am.”

  Ayden turned as Leah reached for the vines of a nearby sucker plant known for its solid grip.

  “Give me your arm,” she ordered, reaching for it.

  He stretched out his arm but quickly grabbed her wrist and neatly lifted her over his shoulder, landing her flat on her back on the ground. He bound her wrists in front of her with the strong tendrils of the sucker plant, and then he planted a firm kiss on her sumptuously curved lips. Lastly, he placed her knife, handle first, between her teeth.

  He almost felt sorry for her, seeing the look of surprise that crossed her face, followed quickly by anger—an expression that looked very much like sulking. He wanted to take her with him then, to make her his own, but that wouldn’t be the right way. She had to come to him because she wanted to, to be with him because it felt good, to stay with him because she loved him. Ayden would just have to be patient.

  “Catch me if you can,” he said, a twinkle in his eye as he strode into the dense forest.

  *

  Leah watched him go, her lips gently parted, feeling as though they needed something more. Then she shook her head and tried to put the madness aside. She spat the knife onto her chest.

  “I will, you know,” she shouted into the distance, and then she lifted up her arms and began to slowly saw through the thick vines.

  By the time she freed herself, Leah was fuming. The suns had gone down and night had arrived, thick and furious. She was running out of time to catch the man, and she could not, would not, let herself and her family down. Besides, the man had issued her a challenge, one she intended to meet head on.

  Leah sat up that night, thinking and preparing. She had a rule in life never to make the same mistake twice. However, before morning came, something felt wrong. Since she had begun this task, she had been acutely aware of the man … Ayden. She could smell him, feel his presence, practically taste him, and she knew he was always nearby. Her body was in a heightened state, poised toward him. Knowing he was there was reassuring, strangely comforting, and meant she would earn her bounty soon enough.

  But now she could feel nothing. His presence was gone. Had the man actually been foolish enough to try to travel through the Azarian forest at night? If a balutan lizard hadn’t gotten him, he was probably at the mercy of a tocian bear. Or this whole thing could be a trap. She reshuffled that thought as she realized Ayden could easily have killed her after binding her hands, never mind that he had saved her from the firebird.

  It was then she began to worry. Worried? About the man? I must be going crazy. No, my only worry is making sure I get him back to the High Court in decent condition so I can collect my bounty.

  Leah moved carefully through the dark brush, her every sense on full alert. She listened for a bear or other wild creature but heard nothing. She lifted her head and sniffed … no scents of fear or danger in the air, no smells of anything other than wet moss and heavy trees. As light began to shine down from the sky, she looked around, trying to find some tracks, and at last saw evidence of Ayden’s footprints on the damp ground.

  She followed the prints as best she could, and when she saw broken tree branches and smelled a hint of blood on an ossodan brush thorn, she realized something had been chasing him. When she saw a tuft of purple fur caught on one of the thorns, her worst fears came to life. Nobody escaped an Azarian blade lion. They were as ferocious as they were beautiful with teeth and claws to match.

  It was when she saw the dead body of the lion that Leah garnered new respect for Ayden. As she reveled in the feel of its silken fur, she moved around to lift its tufted tail. She had never seen one this close up before. But it was only moments later that she stepped backward and lost her footing, falling into what felt like an endless tunnel of nothingness. At last she came to a stop, landing with a thump in Ayden’s arms.

  “We have got to stop meeting like this.” He grinned as he placed her gently down. Leah immediately went on the defensive and reached for her weapons.

  “Those aren’t going to do you much good. I reckon we’re all each other has to try and get out of this sticky situation.”

  Leah looked around. They were in a cave, deep underground. She realized she had fallen through a fissure in the surface caused by an ancient earthquake. It explained why she couldn’t sense him. He was too deep down even for her sharp senses. Leah opened her wings, but the cave walls were not wide enough for her to spread them for flight.

  “I don’t think we are going anywhere in a hurry, and it will be cold down here before nightfall comes,” Leah said matter-of-factly as she put away her weapons.

  She was trying to think practically but being this close to Ayden seem
ed to muddle her thoughts. All she wanted to do was stay hidden away from the world and explore the rest of what made him a man.

  *

  Ayden was having similar thoughts. He could almost feel those toned hips wrapping themselves around him, the weight of her ripe breasts filling his hands, that gorgeous stomach rubbing against him as he pushed deep inside her. He wanted her so badly it didn’t matter to him that they were surrounded by impenetrable rock with no clear way of escape. His thoughts were interrupted by her gentle voice, threatening to send him over the edge.

  “You’re hurt,” she said leaning forward, one wing unfolding slightly, her forehead crinkling with concern.

  Ayden had to clear his throat, which was dry with lust, before he could talk.

  “Just a scratch or two. One of the hazards of competing with a purple lion. You have some pretty cool creatures on this planet.” He grinned.

  “Let me see,” said Leah, taking his arm. He had four deep scratches. They were bleeding profusely.

  She plucked one of her long golden feathers with a small “ouch” and placed it on the wound. It soothed instantly, but Leah did not let go, even when Ayden rested his other hand on hers.

  “It is quite something to kill a blade lion,” she murmured, her voice husky and low.

  “I had to give you a fair chance to catch me,” said Ayden, massaging her fingers, heat seeming to dance between his arm and hers. Then, Leah spoke so softly he had to lean in closer to hear her. “I think I’m beginning to understand.”

  “Understand what?” he asked.

  “Why they say your kind … you are dangerous. It is not about weapons or anger. It’s this … this feeling.”

  “Uh huh.” He could feel her hot breath on his face, and it took all his self-control not to kiss those sultry lips.

  “This feeling that has gripped my body, that wants to take hold of my mind.”

  “Then let it,” he murmured.

  She stared into his eyes and seemed to come to a decision. “You are right. I need to think straight, and the only way to do that is to deal with the problem, to get it out of my system.”

  “You mean me.” He winked.

  “Yes,” she said. She pointed to his loincloth, not a hint of amusement in her startling green eyes. “I want you to show me how that works.”

  A wide smile curled up Ayden’s cheeks.

  Chapter 3

  Leah took his smile as permission to go ahead. She stretched her arms downward, but he stopped her.

  “Uh-uh, we don’t start there. I believe you have a name?”

  “Leah,” she whispered.

  He took both her hands and placed them on his shoulders.

  “Well, Leah, I’ve been waiting some time to become acquainted.”

  Leah ran her hands over the rippled muscles of his chest.

  “You feel so different. The bodies I know are all softness.” She lifted one hand and stroked his stubbled face. “You are so rough. So good.”

  Ayden ran his fingers through her silken auburn hair then let his thumb fall to her lips. She sucked it in, causing goose bumps to rise up on his body. As she slipped her hands over his stomach and reached beneath the loincloth, the effect on him was immediate. Leah jumped back as the hard flesh pressed against her stomach.

  “It doesn’t bite,” he said with a laugh in his voice.

  Leah reacted instinctively to his warmth. She moved back into his arms and they shared a kiss that had his tongue thrusting into her mouth, exploring every sweet, soft crevice. She responded eagerly with a persistent kiss that searched the delicious wetness of his mouth. He moved his hand lower, then lay her down on the sandy bottom of the cave.

  Ayden pushed a finger deep inside her. She was more than ready. He maintained a rhythmic circular pressure on her sweet spot.

  Leah rolled him over, sitting on his thighs, and drew her hands to the knot around his waist. She undid the loincloth to reveal his rock hard manhood, pulling back a moment to take it in with her gaze now that she could see it up close.

  “It’s big.” She put her hand around the thick shaft, tentatively at first and then with more purpose as his eyes became hooded. She moved her hand up and down, slowly at first, then taking on a regular movement that brought an expression of agonizing pleasure to his rugged face.

  “Feel good?” she asked, her confidence growing.

  “So good,” Ayden said, his eyes closing a moment.

  “What else do you do with it?” asked Leah.

  “Something that would have every woman on this planet baying for our blood,” he said between hot breaths.

  She stopped then, her expression warming as she met his gaze. They were chest to chest.

  “I need to put it inside you. It’s been a long journey to find you. Too long.” He groaned.

  Leah put her arms around him, instinctively rolling back onto the ground, and spread her legs, guiding him in herself. The feel of it pushing her lips apart and moving into the warm space between them was exhilarating, his hardness contrasting with her soft walls.

  “You feel so tight. So good. Can you take more?”

  Leah nodded and Ayden pushed deeper into her as she pulled him to her. He drew out and thrust in again, this time more firmly. Leah gasped.

  “You okay?” was all he managed to get out in a raspy tone.

  She shifted, adjusting to the new sensation. The moment’s pain soon dissolved into pleasure. “It feels right. I want to feel more.”

  “That’s all I need to know.” He thrust in again, deeper this time, and Leah began to move her body in time with his. As he kissed her neck, she raised her hips up and down, faster and faster until she began to shudder. He was trembling too, and she no longer knew whose body she was feeling as ecstasy threatened to overcome her.

  Leah quivered with small explosions as she felt him strain against her. Before long, her body succumbed to the waves of pleasure, rewarding her with mind-blowing bliss that had her yelling out in delight. At last, he gave in to his own release, exploding inside her, leaving her spent.

  They lay together, Leah’s mind slowly beginning to clear, but she had no regrets. She was grateful she had let go of logic for that short time. This wasn’t right. The elders would forbid it. But as he hugged her closer, she had a feeling of pure warmth and safety, something she had never experienced before and knew she was unlikely to again.

  Leah pulled away and stroked his cheek that glistened with the sweat generated by the heat of their lovemaking. Then she reached her arms around him, clinging with all her might.

  “This is meant to be,” Ayden murmured.

  They fell asleep entwined in one another’s arms and when Leah finally woke a few hours later, she was cold. She shook Ayden awake. He reached for her.

  “Want to see what else it can do?”

  Tempted as she was, Leah could not give in to indulgence again and needed to do the work she came for. She understood now how the man’s body worked and thought she had some idea of what made his mind tick. It was time to focus and get on with the job.

  “We need to make a fire.”

  “Exactly what I had in mind.”

  “I am serious, night is coming. We will freeze down here if we do not start thinking straight.”

  Ayden shivered as she moved away from him. He stood up, still naked.

  “Put your clothing back on,” she said, holding out the flimsy piece of material that formed the only barrier between the body she could no longer trust and pure abandon.

  *

  Ayden reluctantly did up the loincloth. He took in his surroundings with practiced eyes then walked over to a small indentation in the cave wall and pulled out some dried moss.

  “This will do,” he said as he opened up his backpack and removed a flamelighter, coaxing a small fire to life. He blew gently on the flame, acutely aware of Leah watching him. Soon a blazing fire brightened the cave.

  “Y
ou came prepared,” Leah noted.

  More than you’ll know. “I always plan for any eventuality when I visit a new planet,” was all he said. He pulled a piece of raw meat and some berries, still hanging on the branch, from his backpack.

  “Fresh Azarian blade lion with a side of berries?”

  Leah laughed out loud.

  “What?” asked Ayden, skewering the meat with some sticks, pushing a few berries on, and balancing it over the fire.

  “Those are Tousa berries. We use them to make us feel sexier. Maybe it is not a good idea to eat them now.”

  Ayden looked her up and down. A couple of berries couldn’t make him feel more attracted to or aroused by this woman than he already was. “I’ll take my chances.”

  Leah smiled. The meat was beginning to brown. “It smells delicious.” She was quiet then. Ayden closed his eyes, enjoying this moment of peace, this comfortable time together with no one but themselves to answer to. It wouldn’t last.

  “Ayden?”

  He opened his eyes, taking in the radiant silhouette she formed in front of the fire, the edges of her wings sparkling in the light, her breasts gently rounded, her expression softer now that she was not on her guard.

  Do you journey much?” she asked.

  “I have been the past few years, but I think my travelling days are coming to an end.”

  She popped a berry into her mouth, the juice dripping down her cheek. “Oh?”

  “Let’s say I may have found what I’ve been looking for.”

  *

  As they ate the succulent meal, Leah couldn’t help marveling at the strange creation that sat before her. The man was beautiful. He was kind. He was strong and he was clever. Plus, he could cook. She wondered what all the fuss was about.