the surface of the low table in front of his couch. His dark eyes narrowed at her. “You can stare at it forever, and the ruby isn’t going to appear for you to take.”
She took a step toward him. “I wasn’t—”
His broad shoulders jerked in a shrug and he strode past her toward the doors that led out on the balcony. It was difficult to imagine that only the night before he’d pleasured her so thoroughly on that balcony. “I’m going for a flight. Stay out of trouble.”
Her hand lifted in supplication. “But—”
She didn’t get to finish as he flung open the door and shifted to bird form. The hawk screeched, a deep beat of dark red-brown wings allowing him to hover in the breeze for a long moment. The creamy feathers on his chest flashed in the sunlight as he tilted his body into the wind and was gone. Irritation and sympathy warred for dominance within her. Obstinate male. Poor, lost man.
She watched him through the floor-to-ceiling windows until he was no more than a speck on the horizon and even her cat eyes couldn’t make out his shape. He loved this view, he’d said. Loved the city, the skyline, the lake, the lights at night. Her gaze swept the room once more, and an idea formed—one that was guaranteed to ruffle the hawk’s feathers.
Maybe it was time someone ruffled them.
A wicked grin formed on her lips as she got to work, pushing, nudging, and scooting the furnishings and rugs until the room no longer faced the reminder of his long-dead past, but the living, changing, vibrant city he loved so much. She was panting with exertion when she was done, sweat sheening her skin. She wiped her brow with her forearm as she surveyed her work.
Oh, yes. He was going to be more than a little annoyed. She didn’t bother to hold back a chuckle, the lynx inside her purring at the challenge.
The more rational human woman argued that she should have left well enough alone, that she should put everything back before Hunter returned. It was stupid. She shouldn’t get involved. She shouldn’t even care enough to want to get involved. This was a disaster waiting to happen. What could she hope to gain from doing this? Nothing. It wasn’t as if she wanted a future with Hunter. He was everything she despised in a man. Rich, powerful, controlling. He wouldn’t survive a day in her world, and she had no interest in his. Kicking him into a better headspace wasn’t going to save her from his disgust, his hatred, when she stole something precious from him. She wasn’t going to get more creds for trying to help him, and he wasn’t going to thank her for her efforts.
Cursing herself for the moron she knew she was, she didn’t move the furniture back. Instead, she stripped out of her clothes, lay on her side on the table, and propped her chin in her palm to wait for Hunter to come home. Dusk fell, the lights of the city flickering to life as the sun faded behind the horizon. A few overhead lights turned on automatically, but she left the flat dim otherwise.
The barest flutter of movement and a large shadow detaching itself from the dark told her he’d returned. His scent reached her nose the moment he opened the outer door. Lust hit her with the masculine smell of him, the sight of his large, naked form. Her sex dampened, some muscles tightening, others loosening as her body prepared itself for sex…and the coming confrontation.
She didn’t have to wait long for the second one.
He blinked, his gaze taking in her and the rest of the room. “What did you do?”
A sound between a chuckle and a purr escaped her as she moved her shoulder in a nonchalant shrug. “I rearranged the furniture.”
“I can see that.” He folded his arms and frowned. “Put it back where it belongs.”
She grinned and twisted into a stretch, noting the way his gaze locked on her nude body as she moved. It made her heart speed, made heat wind through her. Her hand cupped her hip, slid down and inward until her fingers brushed through her damp curls. “Why does it belong there? You like the view of the city better anyway.”
“Because that’s where it’s supposed to go.” His tone was distracted, his arms relaxing at his sides as he swayed toward her.
“Everything in its place.” And then she dipped her fingers between her thighs. Her muscles jerked at the delicious contact, and she caught her lower lip between her teeth.
“Yes, damn it,” he groaned, and she wasn’t certain if he was talking about the furniture or encouraging her to continue touching herself.
“I know of one very good place for you right now, Hunter.” She rolled to her back, letting her legs fall open so he could see all of her. Her sex would be gleaming with juices, and she parted her lips with her fingers, slipping her finger into her slick channel.
He shuddered when she said his name, his gaze following every movement of her hand as she toyed with herself.
Arching herself in offering, she added a second finger to the one fucking her pussy. “Come enjoy the view with me.”
“Delilah,” his voice held a low warning she ignored.
“I promise you’ll love it. Give it a try, Hunter.” She watched his pupils expand until only the thinnest rim of brown remained. The scent of his excitement was the most intoxicating aphrodisiac she’d ever encountered. A ragged moan tore free as she panted for breath. “I’m so hot for you, Hunter. So wet and ready.”
“Deus save me.” He reached her in three strides, scooped her off the table, and sat in the middle of the couch. His hands jerked her thighs apart, positioning her so she straddled his lap, but they both faced the view of the city. The heavy muscles of his chest burned into her back, and she arched as he surged inside her with one hard push.
Deus, he was big, but she was so wet, it didn’t matter. He slid deep with each plunging stroke, stretching her wide. She loved it, loved the feel of him, the scent of him mingling with her and sex. The sheer carnality of it made her even wetter.
Leaning forward, she braced her hands on his knees, shoving her ass back until her skin slapped against the hard muscles of his abdomen. He groaned, his fingers biting into her hips as he urged her on. “Delilah.”
She flicked a glance over her shoulder, noting the dark flush of lust that ran under his tanned skin. “Isn’t this the best view ever, Hunter? I love it.”
A laugh tangled with a ragged groan. “You’re evil, kitten. A menace.”
“I’ve heard that before.” She tossed a grin at him, rotating her hips to torment him.
His palm smacked against her ass, and she squealed and laughed. Her back arched reflexively, pressing her backside into his hand. He swatted the other cheek. The sting added another layer of sensation to the ecstasy skimming through her already. She flexed her pussy around his cock, increasing both their pleasure. He groaned each time he thrust into her, and she could feel the moisture between her legs rolling down the insides of her thighs. Her heart slammed in her chest and her lungs burned as she struggled to pull in enough oxygen. She needed to come so badly, every sense she had focused on the central point that joined their body. The pressure within her built until she had to clench her teeth.
He jerked her back against his chest, one hand fondling her nipple while the other flicked over her clit until her sex clenched tight and the tension within her snapped. She moaned and shattered in his arms, her body shaking as she came. Pleasure so hot it burned exploded inside her, and her orgasm went
