Vivian Arend - High Passion

“You’re killing me.” Alisha whimpered, squeezing her ass muscles. Trying to find a way to take control, but there was none. He had it all.

“Ready?” he whispered.

She didn’t get time to respond before he slipped inside. Thrust all the way to the root, his cock so hard and heavy she cried out. The angle was incredible, the tilt increasing as he pushed her legs over her head and rocked his hips forward making that happy spot inside fire up again.

When he let her legs free she kept them balanced skyward. He grasped her hips, dragging her higher, holding her in place as he pounded into her. Heavy thrusts, demanding. Each one a possession, and oh so good. Another climax raced over her, and she called his name as the room went blurry.

Devon shouted, rocking in shorter and tighter strokes. Furious speed, heavy pressure exploding as Alisha’s climax carried on, dragged out through the aftershocks as Devon came. His body over hers, chest pressed to the back of her thighs.

When he rolled off he was still panting. He caught her into his lap and jerked the bra from her wrists, sinking them into another kiss as they gasped for air. Striving to recover, but needing the intimacy of the contact.

Her body hummed with satisfaction and she laid her head on his chest, fingers stroking him softly as the fire bathed them in rosy light.

Satisfaction on so many levels.

“We’re doing more training on the winch,” Anders announced. He pointed at Erin. “She got a new toy, which means we all have to get in the swing of things.”

Anders grinned harder as Devon groaned with the rest of them at the bad pun.

Nearly a week had passed since Alisha had basically moved in with him, and so far, things seemed to have settled into some positive patterns. Vincent hadn’t shown up in person, and other than one or two politely worded e-mails that were threatening only if you put them into context, he hadn’t interfered.

Alisha was slowly relaxing. They’d done a rescue. When they weren’t recovering from work, the two of them were busy with wild sex. It wasn’t a bad situation.

Marcus leaned on the side table as he went over the order of training for the day. “And when you’re not in the chopper with Erin and Anders, you’ll be on the tower with Becki. She’s agreed to work you over today so I can stay with Erin while she tries her new wings.”

Beside Devon, Alisha had curled her legs under her as she perched on one of the tall stools by the small kitchen counter. She gave her coffee another stir before leaving the spoon and turning with a happy sigh to face the room. “It’s like early Christmas around here with all the new gadgets. Can I try some of the new gear today?”

Marcus nodded. “Sure, just let Lana know what you’re using so we double-check all the gear gets a once-over before we need it in the field. I know a few of you are heading away for Thanksgiving events tomorrow—we’ll do a full run-through on new equipment next week once you’re all back.”

Tripp stepped past Alisha and stole her personalized cup right out of her fingers before she could take a sip, ignoring her complaints as he stepped out of reach and took a long appreciative swallow of the dark liquid. “Hey, how come you get to use the new gear even though you didn’t show up to help unpack?”

His accusing tease took in Devon as well, but Marcus was the one who laughed.

“You didn’t have to show up, you know. Lana was willing to do the work without you. She put in extra hours the last couple of days to get the gear unloaded.”

Behind the desk Lana turned from the filing cabinet to preen. Her ass-kissing had become obvious the last week, maybe because Devon was more conscious of it after having Tripp point it out. All her attention now seemed directed at Marcus. Maybe Lana had given up on the sly approach, but whatever her plans, it seemed Marcus hadn’t noticed.

Only the glance Becki gave the woman proved that Lana’s ploys were known to at least one of the couple. Devon ignored the urge to comment. There were times that keeping his mouth shut would be just as effective, especially if Becki knew what was going on. He didn’t envy the hurt that Lana would have coming her way if she crossed a line in Becki’s opinion.

Becki was more than able to defend her own.

They split into two groups, and Devon was surprised when Lana joined them, climbing gear in hand.

Xavier glanced at Devon behind the woman’s back but hid his displeasure when he spoke. “You doing wall work today?”

Her grin was huge. “Marcus said I should, because then you’ll have two pairs climbing at once.”

“And I agreed. It’s a good idea to mix it up.” Becki stepped into the conversation. “Having consistent partners for climbing is positive for some reasons, but it can make you sloppy. It’s good to have to concentrate and stay aware instead of falling back on familiarity.”

Devon stepped into his harness. It made sense. Still, for some reason the idea of Lana belaying Alisha filled him with dread. He flashed a smile and decided to face Alisha’s potential wrath later. Making sure he was the one stuck with Lana was his first priority. “Well then, can I offer you a lift?”

Lana blinked. “You want to belay me?”

“Love to.” He stepped in closer and checked her harnesses, careful to keep his touch professional, but chatting on the flirty side to ensure she didn’t get any ideas about suggesting to switch partners.

Alisha returned from the storage area with new body harnesses in hand. She eyed Lana and him, one brow sneaking upward. She didn’t say anything, though, just turned to Xavier and flashed him a big smile. “So, big guy, you want to play with me today?”

“I thought you’d never ask.” He took one of the harnesses. “This is different.”

“More loops around the back. It’s rated for higher weights. Thought it might be good for winter work when we’ve got sleds to deal with.” She laid the harness on the ground and began a systematic check through all the webbing. Xavier squatted beside her and did the same for the one she’d brought for him.

The exercise was going well, he supposed, as he and Lana followed Becki’s directions and worked the side of the tall tower outside HQ. There were stairs on the interior he’d run a million times during training, but here and now it was the climbing holds on the exterior they focused on.

Around the opposite side of the Lifeline yard, Erin was working her new helicopter, turning it and hovering, moving into position and waiting while Anders lowered Tripp over targets. The sound of the props was constant in Devon’s ears even though they were far enough around the corner to be out of sight most of the time.

He concentrated on the wall. On Lana. On following directions instead of staring at Alisha as she and Xavier laughed and worked the kinks out of the new gear.

Lana climbed well for the most part, but she seemed to have the same trouble as him, her gaze drifting to Alisha and Xavier far more often than it should. When her feet hit the ground after one climb, Devon waved a hand in front of her face. “Hey, they aren’t the ones on the end of your rope.”

She blinked and turned to smile at him, all contrite. “I’m sorry. I’m just . . . curious about the new gear.”

“Stay on task.”

She nodded and focused a bit better for a few minutes before the side-eyed looks started again. Lana was halfway up a climb when Becki stopped beside Devon. “How’re her skills, in your opinion?” she asked quietly.

Devon was honest. “I want Alisha on the end of my line when we’re out in the real world.”

Becki nodded before glancing up. “Lana. You’re following a nice straight path, but you’re using too much arms. Major muscles, remember? You’d blow up too fast on an extended climb at this rate.”

“Okay. I’ll remember,” Lana sang back sweetly, and Devon wanted to gag.

Becki was better than him and kept a straight face. She waited until Lana faced the wall again, then patted him on the back and spoke softly. “Trust me, I want Alisha belaying you.”

She stepped away to work with Alisha and Xavier as Devon hid his grin.

Lana had just landed on the ground when the unusual silence in the air caught his attention. A moment later the speaker on Becki’s hip buzzed with Marcus’s signal. “Sorry to interrupt, but can I steal someone from you?”

Becki frowned even as she signaled for Devon to unclip. “I can give you Devon, but what’s up?”

“Tripp’s not feeling a hundred percent. I’m sending him home, but Erin and Anders need more practice. That requires a body.”

That was where the silence came from—the chopper was grounded. Devon dropped the rope and followed orders, waving at Alisha and Xavier as he jogged toward the main building.

Tripp passed him outside HQ doors en route to a taxi waiting in the yard. “You going to live?” Devon asked.

His teammate’s face was white and he swallowed rapidly. “Stomach flu or something. Hit hard.”

“Damn.” Devon checked the chopper waiting for him. “Do you want me to drive your truck home later?”

Tripp nodded and passed over the keys. “I’d appreciate it. I’m too dizzy to drive—but some of that might be Erin’s fault. She’s got a lot of pendulum happening in the new bird. I think I set a new record for spins per minute.”

Devon laughed as he escorted Tripp to the taxi. “Thanks for the warning. Don’t go getting Jonah sick.”

Tripp made a face. “He probably gave it to me—there’s always one bug or another going around the school.”

Devon’s walkie-talkie squawked. “Anytime, Mr. Leblanc,” Marcus drawled.

“Just tucking Tripp into bed, sir. I’m on my way.” He broke into a jog and headed around the field. He hoped his stomach was ready for whatever twisted routine Erin was about to put him through at the end of the rope.

* * *

Alisha sent the e-mail message from Vincent to archives. It was another of the not-creepy-enough-to-be-useful and yet not-ordinary-enough-to-avoid-being-creeped-out variety, and she sighed.

Devon paused at a set of lights. “You’re wearing that face again.”

Alisha took a deep breath and looked him in the eye. “I have a face?”

“A Vincent-the-Vamp-is-annoying-me face. What’d he do now, order your bridal gown?”

The light changed and Devon was forced to turn his attention to the road, giving her a chance to consider for a moment. “The last time I showed you one of Vincent’s messages, you taught me new swear words.”

“I’ve matured since then,” Devon quipped. He laid a hand on her thigh and squeezed lightly. “Let me help if you need it, okay?”

Alisha knew that. Needed that. “He pointed out that if I book my flights home now, we’d have time to attend the governor-general’s Christmas ball. He has two tickets and really should RSVP soon.” She didn’t mention that a link to the gown he’d picked out for her was included in the e-mail.

The warmth of his palm on her thigh was reassuring and more as he slipped his hand slightly higher. “You are not required to do what he wants.”

“Nope. You’re right.” She stared out the window at the houses passing them. “And not to change the subject, but this is where your parents live?”

Devon smirked, both hands back on the wheel. “Welcome to the family homestead.”

Sheesh. She caught herself before she pressed her nose to the window to rubberneck at the acreages going past. She hadn’t realized until that moment that there were details missing from what she knew about him as well.

“Devon, hit me for being an idiot, but—ow.” Alisha rubbed her arm where he’d bumped her with the back of his wrist. “I didn’t mean it literally, you jerk.”

“Hey, a lady asks me to spank her, I oblige.” He pulled to a stop at a massive gated entrance, lowering his window to enter the access code.

Alisha was embarrassed now at the visions she’d had about him fighting to find food during school. The starving student and the humble-living search-and-rescue worker were miles away from the enormous home with multiple outbuildings they were approaching down the long driveway. “You forgot to tell me your parents were, what? Cattle barons?”

Devon made a rude noise. “Please. You’re not going to give me shit for not talking about my background, are you? Miss Sphinx?”

“Fine, I deserved that.” She gave in and gawked out the window. “You have horses. Devon, oh my God, you have a whole herd of them in your yard.”