“It doesn’t matter, Jerred,” she said. “I’ve made my choice and there’s no going back. Do you think there’s any chance that we’ll get out of this alive?”
“No,” he said softly. “I don’t think we’ll get out of this alive.”
She sat back, forgetting the cuffs. “I guess I expected you to at least try lying about our chances,” she said after a moment. “You aren’t very encouraging.”
“Would you rather that I lie to you?” he asked, fighting back a laugh. “I really wish you hadn’t come here. I don’t want you dead, Giselle.”
She started to work on the cuffs again, managing after a few tries to free his legs. She crawled up to his head and attacked his hands.
“I don’t want me dead, either,” she said. “But I think it’s too late for that.”
She looked into his face and smiled at him. He only shook his head sadly at her.
“I only have one thing left to trade, Giselle,” he said softly. “That’s information. If I give him what he wants, he might let you go.”
She didn’t reply, focusing instead on the cuffs. He took in a breath to speak again, and she shook her head every so slightly.
He looked confused.
“What—?” he started to ask, but she cut him off, kissing him deeply.
Every time they’d kissed before, he had taken the lead. Not this time. She kissed him hard, like she really meant it. Like she’d wanted to for a long time, she realized. She could feel that attraction leap between them, but she tried to hold her libido in check. This wasn’t the time for sex—she needed to think. There had to be some way to get through this and get them out. She wasn’t ready to give up yet, and she wouldn’t let Jerred sacrifice himself for her.
Either both of them got out together, or they wouldn’t get out at all. There was nothing in the middle she’d accept. She pulled away from his mouth slowly, and he shifted awkwardly. He seemed dazed, and then he pulled himself together and flexed his arms, still cuffed above his head.
“I’d really like it if you’d finish the job,” he said softly. She shot a look down his body to his erect member.
“Which job?” she asked archly. “I can see a couple of things that need attention.”
He laughed at the joke, although the noise sounded a bit strained.
“As much as I’d like you to take care of other things, I think my hands need to come first,” he said. “I wish this wasn’t true, but I’m glad to see you, Giselle. Even if you are an idiot for coming to me.”
“What a touching sentiment,” she replied dryly, turning her attention to the cuffs once more. “You’ll turn my head with talk like that.”
He laughed and she joined him, feeling some of the tension ease. Things weren’t looking good, it was true, but she was still glad to be with him.
Now she just had to figure out how they were going to escape.
Chapter Ten
Josiah sat on his bed, watching Giselle and Jerred on a large vid screen on his wall. He could see how much Jerred cared for her easily enough. Now if he could just tell for sure how she felt about Jerred.
There was a tenderness in the way she worked to free him. And the kiss…well, that had been spectacular. Either the woman cared or she was an amazing actress.
The woman sucking his c**k make a mewling noise, and he run his fingers through her hair absently as she moved over him. Karia was stunning, of course. All his women were. But even as she worked her mouth around him, he couldn’t help but feel a bit of boredom.
How long had it been since he’d kissed anyone with the fervency he’d seen between Giselle and Jerred?
He couldn’t remember.
Karia took his soft caress as encouragement, and he let himself fall back among his pillows to enjoy. Her mouth worked up and down him steadily, each stroke sending streaks of sensation through his body. He managed to watch Giselle and Jerred through slitted eyes, although he no longer paid close attention to them. They whispered together, nuzzling like puppies. His guards were monitoring them, of course, and he’d be able to hear the playback later if they said anything of interest. Still, he liked to watch their faces.
Maybe he was crazy, but he really did think the woman cared for Jerred.
He realized with a start that he was more than a bit jealous of his old friend. The thought disgusted him.
With a snort, he waved the vid off and turned his attention to Karia. Her long, curly black hair spilled over his stomach in a way that couldn’t help but arouse him. He shifted his hips beneath her, and she wrapped her arms around his waist. He could feel his body pulling together, energy building at his center.
His response was purely physical, his body reacting to hers the way men had responded to women since time began. Her mouth was hot and moist around him, sucking him deep within, and then pulling slowly back until he felt like screaming.
He didn’t want to come in her mouth tonight, though. He wanted her beneath him—he wanted this time to be mutual. The thought startled him. He had been with Karia many times, and her mouth was definitely her best feature.
Still… if she came too, he had a feeling it would be a bit more like what Jerred and Giselle seemed to share. What would it be like to have sex with a woman who really cared? Karia didn’t care—he knew that. But she was very good at pretending.
He reaching down and pulled her up his body. She came hungrily, her eyes large and brown and smoky.
He pulled her across his chest, kissing her deeply and running his hands down the smooth length of her back. She wiggled against him, all but purring in his arms, and thoughts of Jerred and Giselle faded.
He gripped her round, firm ass in his hands, pulling her close, and then slowly rolled her over on to her back. She seemed a bit startled but more than willing to go along with him. He kissed her again, this time rubbing the spot between her legs with his thigh. He could feel moisture there; her response wasn’t feigned. He started kissing down her chin, and then followed the long, smooth line of her neck. She twisted against him appreciatively, her fingers curling into his shoulders.
He reached her chest, nuzzling the hollows between her soft, rounded br**sts. Her ni**les were hard, and he reached over to nuzzle them with his lips and tongue.
She growled.
He moved lower now, kissing his way across her stomach, dipping his tongue into her navel. She shuddered beneath him, and her nails dug into his shoulders sharply. The slight pain shot through him, and for the first time he felt a shock of real interest in her.