Touch of Temptation

by Rhyannon Byrd

  “I love you,” she giggled, placing a playful kiss to his nose. “And I’ll keep on loving you forever,” she added, trailing her lips down the side of his throat.

  Thinking of a conversation he’d had with Aiden back in December, when they’d been trying to get Olivia and Jamie to England, he said, “You know what you are? You’re my miracle, Chloe.”

  She laid her cheek against the pillow and locked her bright gaze with his. “What do you mean?”

  Trailing his fingers down the sensual curve of her spine, he said, “For so long, I’ve been jealous of what my friends have found, certain I could never find anything like that for myself. That I wasn’t worthy of it. And then you became a part of my life, and I swear it’s even more amazing than I’d thought it could be.” He shook his head a little, his face hot with color, his voice dropping as he said, “So I guess…I guess I must have done something right, after all. Because there’s no way in hell a woman like you would ever end up with a loser. When you look at me, Chloe, I feel proud. For the first time in my life, I feel proud of the man I’ve become.”

  “You should feel proud, Kell. What you did for me, it was amazing. But I can’t believe I almost lost you,” she whispered, sifting her fingers through his hair.

  “All I can say is thank God for that antidote.”

  “Will they be able to use it on Juliana’s brother?”

  He shook his head. “I’m afraid not. The two strains are completely different. But when we left, Juliana was trying to convince Gabby to help her make one that might work on Micah.”

  “I still can’t believe you were willing to die for me,” she told him, her eyes darkening with emotion. The possessive look on her beautiful face made him even harder, his cock practically bursting the confines of his jeans.

  “I’m willing to do anything for you.” Thick, husky words that held more than a little of the wolf in them, and she shivered in reaction.

  “Then take me to the nearest shower and get in there with me,” she said with a warm smile, reaching for the buttons on the front of his shirt. “Because what I want is your bite.”

  Heat rose beneath his skin, what little blood had been left in his brain quickly heading south. “Are you sure?” he demanded in a gritty voice, barely able to get the words past the knot of lust in his throat.

  “Oh, I’m sure,” she whispered, lifting her smoldering gaze to his. “I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life.”

  THEY DIDN’T TALK as he carried her into the bathroom, his breath coming as fast and as jagged as hers. He left her propped against the wall in his private bathroom as he reached into the shower and set the water on full heat, then turned back and stripped off the T-shirt she’d been wearing and his clothes. With a wicked smile, he carried her into the water with him, holding her tight as the jets pulsed down on them, the spray feeling wonderful on her aching muscles, while the air filled with warm, sensual steam. Though Chloe could sense how close he was to losing control, he took his time soaping her body, delighting over her in a way that made her heart pound. She no longer felt self-conscious about her figure, the heat in his eyes burning her insecurities to ash.

  She knew she wasn’t the most beautiful woman in the world, but in Kellan’s eyes, she was…and that was all that mattered.

  “What do you want, Kell? What will make you happy? After everything you’ve been through, you deserve that.”

  The corner of his mouth twitched, his deep voice thick with hunger as he said, “I want so much with you, Chloe. I want to build a life with you. Sit around and watch football. Play cheesy board games. Go on picnics. Cook breakfast.” With a mischievous grin, he waggled his brows, saying, “Get you on some sunny Caribbean beach for our honeymoon in nothing but a string bikini.”

  “A bikini?” she groaned. “Can I at least stop by Cara’s on the way and get a bigger set of boobs first?”

  “Absolutely not,” he argued, sliding his soapy hands possessively over her chest. “No way in hell are you messing with these beauties. They are world-class perfection, and they’re mine.”

  “Jeez, you must love me,” she drawled, snuffling a soft burst of laughter. “I thought guys always went for the hefty tatas.”

  “I couldn’t care less about other tatas,” he rumbled, her toes curling as he stroked his thumbs over her sensitive nipples. “I only care about these.”

  “Like I said, it must be love.”

  He gave her a quick, devastating kiss, then drew back, the look in his eyes making her melt. “You know what I want? I want to enjoy you, Chloe. Everything about you, for the rest of my life. Learn all the miracles that make you who you are. Be your best friend, your lover, your everything. I’ll worship you, protect you and love you till the day I die. And then I’ll defy whatever higher powers are out there to try and keep me away from you, because I won’t even let death come between us.”

  “Wow,” she whispered, completely dazzled.

  “And you’re going to marry me.”

  Her eyes went wide. “I am?”

  “Oh, yeah,” he breathed out, wrapping one arm around her waist and pulling her so close she had to tilt her head back to see his face. His eyes burned, glowing with a primal, possessive fire as he stroked a hand down the side of her throat and over her shoulder. “We’ll get married as soon as possible, but first I want to mark you as mine. Bind you to me in a way that can never be undone.”

  She licked her lips. “I want that, too, Kell.”

  His voice dropped to a deep, husky rasp. “And there’s something else I want,” he told her, and she smiled, knowing from the breathtaking look in his eyes that it was going to be good. “I want to come inside you when I make my bite. You okay with that?”

  Chloe’s heart beat so hard, she was surprised it stayed inside her chest, excitement and happiness churning together into a strange, exhilarating rush that seared her veins, and she clung to his arms for support, her head spinning. “I’m more than okay with it. But…I could get pregnant. You know I’m not on the Pill.”

  He kissed the water droplets from her cheek, and with a tremor of emotion in his dark words, he said, “I know, honey. We could make a baby. Right here. Right now.”

  “And you wouldn’t mind?” she whispered, her pulse roaring in her ears like a heavy rain.

  He drew back his head just far enough that he could stare into her eyes, his hands stroking over her bottom. “To be honest, I can’t think of anything more incredible than creating a family with you. I never would have thought that I could be so lucky, but I’m done fighting fate, Chloe. From now on, I’m going to enjoy what it gives me.”

  “No more guilt?” she asked, looping her arms around his powerful neck, her nipples pressed against the heavy muscles of his chest.

  His eyes tightened a little, but then he shook his head as he said, “I’ll always feel bad about the way I lived before you. But what’s important is the man I’ve become. Because of you. With you by my side, I can hold my head high for the rest of my life.”

  “I love you,” she told him, pressing a tender kiss to his mouth…his chin…the masculine edge of his jaw. “I love you so much.”

  “I love you more,” he groaned, lifting her off the floor as he pinned her against the wall of the shower. Chloe eagerly wrapped her legs around his waist, and he took her mouth with a raw, demanding kiss as he pushed deep inside the tight, cushiony depths of her body. She came instantly, the dark, devastating pleasure tearing through her with stunning force, and he swallowed the sound of her screams before ripping his mouth from hers.

  “You feel so fucking good,” he growled, shunting deeper, until it felt like he was sinking into the hot glow of bliss burning inside her. She’d never seen him look so feral in his human form as he did in that moment, with his fangs dropping beneath his upper lip, his glowing eyes heavy-lidded with lust as he cut a hungry look toward the side of her throat. The primal Merrick inside her rose up, purring with anticipation as Chloe tilted her head t
o the side, offering him what he wanted. He made a thick animal kind of sound in the back of his throat, before nuzzling his face against the curve of her shoulder. She felt him draw in a slow, shuddering breath, his tongue flicking against her skin, and then he sank his fangs deep, burying them into her sensitive flesh and making the primal bite.

  Chloe had expected pain, and it was there. But there was so much pleasure that the sharp burn didn’t matter, and she screamed again as she arched against him, telling him how much she loved him and needed him and wanted him. He shook with a violent tremor, his claws digging into the warm tiles, shattering them, and then he was coming inside her with so much force, she could feel the explosive burst of heat deep inside her. Kellan growled against her throat, then pulled his fangs free, his hips shoving against her with deep, hammering thrusts as his head fell back, a guttural roar of satisfaction tearing from his chest, and they lost themselves in that thundering, pleasure-drenched storm, battered by the blistering waves of sensation, holding on to one another as tightly as they could.

  When they were finally able to move again, Kellan dried her off with a soft towel and they collapsed into bed together—the distant, sultry sound of Aiden playing blues on his piano drifting through the halls of the house. In a deep, dark rasp, Kellan told her how mouthwatering she’d tasted…how much he’d loved sinking his fangs into her…coming deep inside her, and what began as a long, lazy kiss turned into fire and passion. Needing everything he could give her, Chloe sank her fangs into his strong throat, feeding from his vein as he sent her into another long, scalding orgasm that left her melting in a warm, soothing darkness. Minutes later, when she’d finally come back to this world, she found herself lying in his arms, her face close to his as they shared a pillow, the backs of his fingers rubbing possessive circles into her stomach, as if there was already life growing inside her.

  In a voice that was husky from her passionate cries, she said, “I still can’t believe that I’m here with you, and that we made it through, Kell. If it weren’t for the horror of what happened, losing one of your friends, everything would be…perfect.”

  “I’ll make things perfect for you, Chloe. I promise.”

  “I don’t need perfection. All I need is you. Because I can’t be whole without you,” she told him, reaching out and tucking a damp, auburn strand of hair behind his ear. When she caught his bemused expression, she asked, “What is it?”

  “I was just thinking that I set out to rescue you, but you’re the one who’s rescued me. I thought I needed to go to the Wasteland to make a difference. To change the way my family and friends saw me. But really, what I needed was you.”

  “Kellan,” she whispered.

  “Yeah.”

  “In case you hadn’t noticed, you’ve got me.”

  With a deliciously deep, husky rumble of happiness, he pulled her tighter against him, touching his mouth to the warm pulse of the bite mark he’d left at her throat, his lips tender and soft against her skin. “And I’ll be keeping you, my beautiful little witch. Forever.”

  With a smile of pure, incandescent joy, Chloe wrapped her arms around him, holding him to her…determined to never let him go. “Lycan, I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

  GLOSSARY OF TERMS

  for the Primal Instinct Series

  The Ancient Clans: Nonhuman races whose existence has been kept secret from the majority of humans for thousands of years, their abilities differing as widely as their physiology. Some only partially alter when in their primal forms, like the Merrick. Others fully transform, able to take the shape of an animal, similar to those who compose the Watchmen.

  These are but a few of the various ancient clans that remain in existence today:

  The Merrick: One of the most powerful of the ancient clans, the Merrick were forced to mate with humans after years of war against the Casus had decimated their numbers. Their bloodlines eventually became dormant, dwelling within their human descendants, until the return of the Casus and the time of their awakening. In order to feed the primal parts of their nature, the newly awakened Merrick must consume blood whilst having sex. Characteristics: When in Merrick form, the males have fangs, talons, flattened noses and massive, heavily muscled physiques. The females have fangs and talons.

  The Awakenings: Each time a Casus shade returns to this world, it causes the primal blood within one of the Merrick descendants to rise within them, or awaken, so that they might battle against their ancient enemy.

  The Buchanans: One of the strongest Merrick bloodlines, the Buchanans were not only the first of the Merrick to awaken, but they also each possess an unusual power or “gift.” Ian has a strange sense of premonition that comes to him in dreams, Saige can “hear” things from physical objects when she touches them and Riley’s telekinetic powers enable him to control physical objects with his mind.

  The Casus: Meaning violent death, the Casus are an immortal race of preternatural monsters who were imprisoned by the Merrick and the Consortium over a thousand years ago for their mindless killing sprees. Recently, however, they have begun escaping from their holding ground, returning to this world and taking over the bodies of “human hosts” who have dormant Casus blood running through their veins. The escaped Casus now prey upon the newly awakened Merrick, feeding on their flesh for power, as well as revenge. Characteristics: When in Casus form, they have muzzled faces, wolf-shaped heads, leathery gray skin, ridged backs and long, curved claws. The males have ice-blue eyes, while the females have eyes that are pale green.

  Meridian: The metaphysical holding ground where the Casus were imprisoned for their crimes against the other clans…as well as humanity. Although it was created by the original Consortium, no one knows how to find it until a journal is discovered that claims the Dark Markers are not only the keys that will open the gate to Meridian, but that they will also form a map that leads to the prison’s hidden location.

  Shades: Because of their immortality, the Casus can’t die in Meridian. They have simply wasted away to “shades” of the powerful creatures they once were, which is why they’re forced to take human hosts when they return to this world.

  The Deschanel: Also known as vampires, the Deschanel are one of the most powerful of the ancient clans, rivaling the strength of the Merrick and the shape-shifters. Although duality is a common feature among many of the clans, the trait is especially strong within the Deschanel, whose very natures are a dichotomy of opposites—of both darkness and light—which makes them complex friends…and dangerous enemies. Characteristics: Pale, pure gray eyes that glow after they’ve taken a blood feeding. Despite their power and strength, they move with a smooth, effortless grace that is uncommon among human males of their size. They also have incredibly long life-spans, until such time as they finally take a mate.

  The Burning: The body of an unmated Deschanel male runs cold until he finds his mate. The phenomenon is referred to as being “in heat” or “burning,” since his body begins warming from the moment he finds her.

  The Förmyndares: As the Protectors of the Deschanel, it is the duty of these warriors to destroy any threats to the vampire clans.

  Nesting Grounds: Ancient, sprawling castlelike communities where Deschanel family units, or nests, live for security, which are protected by powerful magic that keeps them hidden from the outside world. The grounds are located throughout Scandinavia and other parts of Europe.

  The Witches: Although there are many witch clans still in existence, their powers vary greatly from one clan to another.

  The Boudreaux: A carefree clan of witches whose specialty is beauty spells.

  The Mallory: A powerful clan of witches whose diverse powers were bound by a curse. Because of the centuries-old curse, they now magnify the emotions of those in their presence to extreme levels.

  The Reavess: A clan of witches who can communicate mentally with those in their families. They access their considerable power through the use of spells, and will bond their true loves to them t
hrough sex. They are also able to assume the traits possessed by their mates during “joining.”

  The Saville: A snobbish clan of witches who have little power.

  The Regan: An aggressive clan responsible for hunting several rival clans to near extinction. Characteristics: long noses, pointed ears and deeply cleft chins.

  The Kenly: A mountain-dwelling clan nearly hunted to extinction by the Regan. Characteristics: short statures and large, doelike eyes.

  The Feardacha: One of several ancient clans that reside in Ireland. They are extremely superstitious, believing that the dead should never go unchecked. As a precaution, they tattoo pagan symbols on their hands and arms, believing the symbols will draw to them any evil souls that manage to escape from hell, so that they might kill them once again. Characteristics: tattoos, mocha-colored skin and pale green eyes.

  The Vassayre: One of the more reclusive clans, they seldom come out of the underground caves where they dwell. Characteristics: dark markings around their sunken eyes.

  The Deuchar: One of the most violent of the ancient clans, they are the mortal enemy of the Shaevan.

  The Shaevan: One of several ancient clans that reside in France.

  The Shape-shifters: A richly diverse, powerful collection of clans whose members can take either the complete or partial shape of a beast.

  The Prime Predators: Consisting of the most dangerous, predatory animal species, they are the most aggressive breeds of shape-shifters, well-known for their legendary sex drives and their unquestionable devotion to their mates. In order to claim a mate, a Prime must bite the one who holds their heart, marking them with their fangs while taking their blood into their bodies. They are also known for their incomparable skill as warriors and their strong healing abilities. Examples: the tigers, jaguars and lycanthropes.