by Beck, Paloma
“I think I like you,” he said as he turned and moved to sit in the chair across from her.
“What a beautiful thing to say to the woman you’re trying to seduce.”
“Oh, but aren’t you mistaken? There is no seduction necessary. We are destined.”
“Are you calling me easy?” she blurted out without thinking. He was messing with her senses again.
Madden laughed loudly at that, a full belly laugh. His laugh echoed into every corner of the room. Layla liked how she could make him laugh. She actually thought she might like this man, too. Though he was no pushover—on the contrary, he seemed like an alpha hero she liked to write into her books—the challenge he presented her with would be quite frustrating, she was certain.
Once he stopped laughing and realized that she sat stoically waiting for his teasing to end, he said, “I truly do like you, Layla, smart mouth and all.”
She rolled her eyes but kept her smile. “I think I could try to like you,” she teased.
Madden smiled and nodded his head, taking a sip of his beer and watching Layla over the bottle. It seemed that he never really took his eyes off her and it was unnerving. She felt naked or at least like he was picturing her naked. Flushed with rosy cheeks, Layla couldn’t decide which was worse. She adjusted herself in her chair, uncomfortable with such intense attention.
“Are you picturing me naked?” she squealed, her voice sounding high even to her.
He raised his eyebrows, which made him look even sexier. “Why would you ask that?” He sounded so innocent; though his emotions were still new to Layla she could read Madden well enough to know innocence was not a word to describe this man.
“I feel different when you look at me.”
“Hmm. Different how?” He was stalling. She knew it. Why must he answer all her questions with questions? That had to stop.
“You answer me first.”
He considered her, licked his upper lip and answered, “seventy-seven.”
“What?”
“I’m answering your first question. I am seventy-seven years, but with the Valendite Breed, we mature to mating age after the first fifty years. So in your terms, I am still just twenty seven which makes me five years older than you.”
Layla heard him talking. She was listening to his answer but couldn’t figure out how they’d gotten back here. She wanted her other question answered and she could tell Madden was going to make her ask again.
“Do you want to know anything else? I believe you very much wanted to play the interrogation game with me.” His grin taunted her—he was playing—and she was willing to play along. Having six sisters had taught her the fine art of bantering.
“Not funny, Madden. You’re avoiding my question,” Layla gave him a pointed look. Any decent man would cower. Not Madden, though. He just continued to grin at her. “And I know you are aware of all my powers, so spill it. I want to know yours.”
“Not going to happen.”
Layla decided to change her tactics. Her hands went to the buttons on her shirt. “How about one button for one power?” she asked.
Madden’s eyebrows lifted. She got him. Yep, he was definitely interested in this game.
“You start,” he said. Layla popped one button. He could see the pulse point near her collarbone.
“I can block any witchy mindreading you try on me, or that anyone else tries, for that matter,” Madden admitted.
“Bummer. Ok, that’s one.” Layla popped another button. He could see the top swells of her breasts and swallowed. She was fairly certain he’d seen her Circle of Magdalena sign just above her right breast, the tiny symbol for lust. Every woman had a sign on her body to symbolize the soul sin she embodied.
He shook his head, clearing his thoughts before giving another answer, “I can use telekinesis. But not on people, just objects.”
“Cool. I’m impressed,” Layla taunted and continued, “That’s two.” She popped another button. The lace of her bra was showing now. She watched him lick his lips as she ran her fingers along the swell of her breast. His eyes were turning a deeper shade of green again.
“I’m strong. I’m durable. Please let’s stop this game. I know you’re ready for me. I can smell it.” Madden moved quickly so that he was kneeling in front of her chair, his gaze on her chest.
“Hmm…another of your powers…that pesky smelling thing,” Layla teased. Maybe later, she might tell him how much she loved that he could smell her.
“I have double jointed fingers,” he said placing his hand on her calf and slowly moving it up under her skirt. It felt good. Layla knew she couldn’t hold out much longer, but she wasn’t willing to give in so quickly. She popped her final button and shrugged out of the blouse to bare her chest, her laci demi-cup not more than an adornment. She heard Madden gasp. His eyes were blazing.
“One more,” she prompted, “about that seeing me naked thing?” Layla lifted his chin with a finger so he was looking into her eyes instead of at her breasts. She could feel Madden’s gaze like heat on her flesh. She loved it, but she’d never be able to stay in control if he kept doing it.
“Yes, I was visualizing, as you might say,” he looked almost guilty, “but it was entirely your fault. You looked delicious. It was simply unfair.”
“Did you just blame me for looking delicious?” Layla asked incredulously.
“Absolutely.” Madden’s hand was now sweeping against her lacy panties. Thank the Mother Goddess she wore matching underwear tonight.
“I was thinking the same thing about you,” Layla admitted. She licked her bottom lip and bit down on it, watching him. When she felt Madden’s finger reach under her panties, she jumped.
“It’s ok, Layla love. We will be perfect. Let me show you.” His mouth descended to her breasts as he kissed her ripe nipples through the lace. She ran her fingers through his soft, dark hair and let the feelings take her to another place.
With just one bite in the middle, he tore her bra so that it fell to either side. His stare heated her skin, his breath cooled it and then the feel of his lips on her nipples heated her all over again. Madden devoured her breasts, worshipped them. Never had Layla felt something so tantalizing. Madden’s mouth and tongue were warm, a striking difference against the cool touch of his lips. She arched into his mouth, greedy for more, and he laughed.
“You like it, love, just as I knew you would,” Madden’s voice was devastatingly deep and rough. He brushed his lips against hers, slowly at first but then deepening the kiss. Layla sighed and opened to him then felt his tongue swipe inside her mouth. She challenged him with her tongue, back and forth they played as she ran her fingers under his shirt. Oh, she loved this. He really was delicious.
Touching him, running her hands along his chest was like touching power itself. He was electric; the vibrations emanating from him flared Layla’s desire higher, brighter. Madden was huge, so tall and broad compared to her smaller frame, and his muscles bulged as his arms moved to stroke her. He was power. Together they were magic.
The heat inside her was growing more intense. She couldn’t still her hands and wanted to touch him everywhere. She pulled at the soft tresses that came down along his neck. She pulled at his shirt until it was over his head and out of her way and then ran her hands across the firm ridges of his chest around to his shoulders and his muscular back. Light sprinkles of hair tickled her fingers as they floated across his skin. Everywhere she touched was hard hunky male.
* * * *
Madden pulled away from her, just slightly, and she whimpered in protest. He chuckled and kissed her nose when he saw her wrinkle it. Struck by the flush of her cheeks, Madden noted the same flush running down her throat and to the very top of her breasts. As she took deep breaths to calm herself, he placed his forehead against hers. But Madden only paused for a moment because he had no intention of letting the emotions he was pulling from Layla subside. He would not let her gain the control she was wrestling for. A woman off-balance
was what he needed her to be.
As part of the Valendite Breed, Madden had been raised to know the prophecy, to appreciate the significance of finding your mate and claiming her. He planned to worship Layla until the day they died. The sharing of blood so sacred, nothing could tear them from one another. Not only would their blood bond them together but it would also sustain Madden and prolong Layla’s life so she lived as long as he did.
Madden moved his hands to frame her face and drew her head up to meet her eyes. He brushed a soft kiss against her full lips before speaking, his voice husky with desire. “Take your tongue, Layla love, and touch it to my sharpest teeth. The blood exchange will bind us and I can take you then. Ho bisogno di te. Please don’t make me wait.”
Madden’s words were barely finished when he took her mouth again. Gently his tongue drew hers out, slowing to let her catch up to his need. When he felt the puncture wounds and tasted the first drop of her blood, he moaned low inside himself. He felt Layla tense at first and then soften her body as it settled into his own. Her moans began to mirror his. He could feel her desire as if it was his own, and it multiplied the urge to claim her and demand she submit to him as his mate.
Madden held back with every piece of control he had been trained to possess. This moment required him to remain in control, to ease her in the mating. He felt her pull away. Her body shuttered and a small whimper bubbled up from her throat. He was suddenly struck by her vulnerability.
“What’s happened, Madden? Why do I feel this way?” His Layla was frightened and he wanted nothing more than to comfort her. Her feisty golden eyes now appeared panicked. Madden couldn’t bear it.
“Layla love, we’re bonded now. You will forever feel what I feel just as I will feel the emotions inside of you. It is a powerful thing for mates. It will make the next act we perform even richer than any romance book you’ve ever read.” He rose then from the floor between her legs and pulled her to him, carrying her out of the room.
“Which way to your bedroom, Layla?”
As she guided him, he took in the house she would soon leave. Eclectic was certainly the best description of the home with each room they passed differing greatly from the one before it. Layla’s head remained on his shoulder, and her eyes were half closed.
“I feel nearly weakened. I’m scared.”
“Everything is as it should be. Your energy will bounce right back once your body is replenished. For now, just let me take care of everything. Allow me to take care of you.”
Chapter Two
Layla directed Madden to her bedroom and willed the door open, if for no other reason than to show off her own powers a bit. Madden paused to take in the serene room. There was no clutter and no mess. With everything in its place, Layla’s room was just as its owner. He suspected much of this home drove her to madness with its clutter but this was obviously her sanctuary. He could feel the peacefulness himself the moment he entered the room.
Placing Layla on the middle of the bed, Madden leaned over her to remove the rest of her clothing. While simply willing it off would’ve been easier, he couldn’t fight the urge to place his hands on her body, to run the tips of his fingers along the curves that had been calling to him as he had given her time in the library to become ready.
She was magnificent and she was all his. She belonged to him. He thanked the Goddess he had been so fortunate to find her. Madden had enough of the one-night hook-ups he knew would go nowhere. Neither did he have time to travel around the world hoping to find his mate. Once his breed began moving their families all over the world, it wasn’t as easy to find your mate.
His parents had prepared Madden and his siblings for the real possibility of never mating while still encouraging them to commit themselves to the search for possible mates. For Madden to happen upon his mate in his own hometown was unheard of in this day. It was a sign that this mating, this claiming, was meant to be. He had someone precious in his arms and he had every intention of making certain she knew it.
Madden was abundantly aware of Layla’s virginity in this moment. Not only did she seem lacking in her understanding of Breed mating, she was unschooled in intimacy. He planned to fix that this very night. The scent of her virginity was intoxicating, like rich chocolate begging to be devoured.
Madden moved away to remove his own clothing, this time simply willing it from his body before laying down next to Layla. He turned her so they both lay on their sides facing one another. “You are the most beautiful gift. Ho un debole per te. I will always care for you.”
“Madden, I…” Layla was stopped from speaking another word by the touch of Madden’s lips pressing gently to her own. Madden indulged in her sweetness, licking along the seam of her lips until they invited him in again. His tongue swept along her teeth, gently persuading her to stroke her tongue to his own. The satisfaction he felt when her tongue moved to touch his created an even greater need in Madden. He was assured she wanted him as much as he craved her.
Madden allowed his hands to explore the curves of her body, slowly and gently running from her shoulder along her waist to the luscious curves of her ass. He rolled then, pulling her on top of him so that he could feel the full length of her small body against his much larger one. She was heat to his cool skin, a fire that burned him as he worked to keep himself in check but never had his control been so undermined. Her body called to him, and he fought a war against his desire to keep this first encounter slow. He intended to make her first time more than she may ever have imagined it could be. Easing her into his lifestyle was best. He understood this but in the moment, he wanted nothing more than to sink inside her heat.
Layla moaned as he continued exploring her body. Their mouths never separated, and no words were necessary as they shared emotions through their joined tongues. Madden could feel everything she felt, and when combined with his own desire, their joining—that bond all Valendite Breeds share with their mates—was the most powerful thing he had ever experienced.
Madden rolled them again to place himself above her; balancing on his elbows so his body wouldn’t crush her. He watched her golden eyes flutter open and look into his before a soft smile tilted the side of his mouth.
“I need to taste you, Layla. This time is for you.”
“Yes,” Layla’s voice was just a whisper of sound. He dipped his mouth to hers, kissing the corner of her lips.
“We will go slow and learn each other’s bodies.” Madden spoke as he moved his mouth along her cheek.”
“Yes, please,” Layla’s voice grew rough, her breathing more labored.
“I will give you everything I am and you will see just how perfect we will be,” Madden’s raspy voice was strained as he continued to hold himself back from the fast claiming he desired. That would come later, after she was more used to him as her lover. For now, he’d promised her he would go slow.
Madden lowered himself to her breasts, greedy for a taste of the sweet berries he had seen straining through her shirt from the moment he had entered her home. His tongue licked along the most perfectly pink nipples, swirling them, and then ever so gently, he nibbled them with his teeth. Layla pushed up against him seeking more of the sensation that shot through her. He obliged and gave her what she sought, sucking her nipples into his mouth and releasing them with a loud pop each time.
Madden traced the Magdalena Circle sign just above Layla’s right breast with his tongue. The sign showed Layla’s soul sin was lust, which meant until meeting him she’d not experienced such sexual desire. Layla must have known that he was her mate immediately by her desire at the bar when they first saw each other. Madden understood why she ran. Such intense feelings after so many years of life with no type of desire must’ve been frightening.
Madden continued to lick and suck at the spot that bore her sign as her moans grew louder. Clearly, this felt good to her. Perhaps the skin near her sign was sensitive. Madden grinned at the thought as he watched Layla whimper with desire and toss her head
back and forth against the pillow. Madden’s own desire grew with each sound from his mate. He grunted as he moved down the length of her body, licking from her breasts to her belly button where he swirled his tongue around until she called out his name, “Madden. Madden.” He loved his name on her lips as she looked so thoroughly flushed.
“What is it, Layla love?”
“I need more.” Layla spoke so quietly, so timidly, Madden knew she was uncertain. He couldn’t wait to be the man who brought out her confidence in bed, the one who taught her how to find satisfaction for all her sexual needs.
“Then I will give you more,” Madden moved further down to the tiny thatch of curls just above her core. He rubbed his nose into her curls and smelled the rich aroma of her desire. It was like chocolate and honey, tickling his nose and causing his hunger to multiply. He sat up on his knees and looked up her body before placing one hand on her belly and moving his other to stroke her curls, skimming the apex of her core as he readied her for him.
With one finger, he explored deeper, pressing along her wet folds. Layla shook beneath his hand but he kept her still. “No moving, love. Just enjoy.” Suddenly right where he wanted to be, Madden felt in no hurry. Time stood still as he prepared her for him. She grew wetter as her sweet moans grew louder and he knew he’d always remember this one moment when he claimed his mate.
“It is incredible. I can feel not only my own desire but yours as well,” Layla’s high-pitched voice fought for the breath to finish her words.
“Yes, my need and your need. They’re connected. It’s part of the claiming, Layla love.” If possible, Madden grew even harder as he let himself consider being bound to someone so seemingly perfect for eternity.
Madden smiled, allowing his need to wash through him so he could hold onto this moment. She was perfect for him. He sank one finger deep inside her channel and she pushed against his hand again. He palmed his own erection with a promise of more to come.