Elemental Claim

EXCERPT (Please review after reading so I know if book 2 is worth writing :P And thanks for taking the time to read my story!)

She was clearly aware that she becoming hysterical, but her thoughts were a jumbled mess and she couldn’t tell up from down anymore. He had stopped her last night before they went any further, but why else would he want her? He barely knew her and though she didn’t really know him either, his looks were an obvious reason for anyone to want to jump into a bed with him. She on the other hand was no beauty. So he had to have known about this and tried to manipulate her into having sex with him.

Except, that didn’t feel right, but nothing felt right anymore. There weren’t any other explanations. He didn’t even like her!

“Did you you know last night or not!?” she screeched, her rage easily concealing the burning agony inside her. She had thought...for the shortest of times last night and again this morning...she had thought there was more than just physical attraction between them. But clearly there wasn’t even any physical attraction on his end.

Rogan stilled at her accusation. After everything he had done to try to ease her into this? To not just protect her for the mission, but so she wouldn’t have to have new nightmares on top of the old? This was how she thought of him? A cold, calculating bastard that would seduce her just so he could make her do anything he wanted.

“Is tha’ wha’ ye think?” he growled as he struggled not to fight fire with fire.

“Yes! You clearly only want me around just to get to Liz.” She began ticking fingers off with each explanation as she paced like a caged dragon itching for a fly. “Your mission is so important and you’re always about the fucking mission. You have a girlfriend, but who cares about that when so many lives are at stake. Bet she’s real lucky to have you. So no, you obviously don’t have any standards and you clearly don’t give a damn about me!”

The fire in his eyes turned predatory and Emma’s raging bravado took a quick double-step back.  She swallowed hard before straightening her spine with renewed fervor even as he stalked closer. She was not going to let him walk all over her anymore. She was done with being weak and pathetic and if she had the powers everyone thought she did, then she was going to make him beg for her forgiveness.

"No’ a single damn, do I?"

Alarm bells sounded shrill in Emma's head at the deep, seductive tone of his voice.  Her mouth ran dry, her hands started to shake, and that new courage she had gained rapidly began to disappear in light of his relentless approach. His hard eyes never left hers and by the time he stopped a mere inch away from her, she could barely breathe.

"Not a fucking one," she somehow found the courage to exhale.

But as his nostrils flared to breathe her in, she knew she had made a terrible mistake. His eyes dropped to her mouth and then to the rapid pulse at her neck.  She swallowed nervously as she felt his gaze sear straight into her, her skin erupting in a fire everywhere he looked. She fought the urge to back down even as the top of her breasts ignited, but when his eyes came back to lock on hers she realized she had made yet another terrible mistake.

"R-Rogan?"

A wicked grin turned up a corner of his mouth as he reached a hand out to cup her cheek.  Her eyes fluttered close as he stroked a rough thumb over her lips, even as her mind screamed at her to stop this.

"Aye, Emma.  I'm jus’ showing ye how much I don' give a damn."

And then his lips took the place of his intoxicating thumb, efficiently frying every thought process Emma's brain tried to compute.

…

"Nay," he breathed as his chest rose and fell in a runner's rhythm, "no’ a damn care in the world."