“Of course not.”
His fingers lightly stroked over her hair. “Are you a virgin?”
She flinched. There was no way in hell she was going to share her one, awkward attempt at sex with a drunken sailor. “No, but—”
“Was he human?”
She glared as he absently tugged the band from her ponytail so his fingers could thread through her hair. “It doesn’t matter.”
“You’re right.” His gaze scorched over her small breasts barely concealed by her tiny top, before he bent forward and allowed his lips to skim over her brow. “Any male who has come before me will soon be forgotten.”
Her hands lifted, intending to push him away. Instead, they landed against the bare skin of his chest and promptly refused to obey the commands of her brain.
They didn’t want to push the sinfully delicious creature away. They wanted to mold the chiseled muscles that were covered by bronzed skin that felt like polished silk. To explore down the hard planes of his stomach and discover exactly what was hidden beneath those black boxers.
“Arrogant bastard,” she managed to breathe, her nails digging into his flesh as his lips nuzzled the tender skin of her temple.
“Arrogant, yes. A bastard, no,” he murmured, his voice distracted as he absorbed the golden sparks that danced along her skin. An Incubus feeding. The knowledge sent a shiver through her. Not with horror. But with a raw, earthy pleasure. “My parents were mated.”
Her mouth was so dry she could barely speak. “Master, this isn’t funny.”
His tongue traced a languid path over the shell of her ear. “I agree.”
“I can’t—”
“Why?” He nipped the lobe of her ear, his fingers tightening in her hair to tug back her head, leaving her throat exposed to his searching lips. “It’s a natural exchange between our species.”
It didn’t feel natural.
It felt extraordinary. A rare, wondrous rush of sensations that she wanted to close her eyes and simply savor.
But she wasn’t supposed to be melting into a puddle of goo beneath his expert touch, was she?
There was a reason…but what the hell was it?
“We don’t even like each other,” she at last managed to dredge out of the fog that clouded her mind.
“You don’t have to like me to feel pleasure in my arms,” he murmured, his lips closing over the pulse hammering at the base of her throat to give it a gentle suck.
Her back arched off the bed as a depraved need twisted her stomach and created a damp yearning between her legs. In the past few minutes the fading dusk had painted the room with vivid orange and violet shadows, increasing her odd sense of being whisked from the mundane world to a place of warm spices and golden magic.
“I—”
He released a low, sinful chuckle. “Hmm?”
Her hands slid to his shoulders, unwittingly squeezing the hard muscles. “This isn’t going to happen.”
His lips traveled downward, tracing the deep plunge of her neckline. “Did you swear fealty to my House?”
A sigh tangled in her throat. Lust continued to thunder through her, but it’d altered. Slowed and intensified until her blood barely trickled through her veins, like warm molasses.
She was melting from the inside out.
“Yes,” she managed to mumble.
“Did you agree to do whatever necessary to protect me and the interests of my family?” he pressed, his tongue tracing the curve of her upper breast.
Somewhere in her muddled brain she knew he was leading her into a trap. Unfortunately, she’d lost the ability to think clearly from the second she’d landed on the mattress.
Oh, and the ability to breathe.
And move…
“Yes, but—”
His head lowered another strategic inch, allowing his lips to brush the tip of her breast that was poking through the thin material of her shirt.
“This is your duty, Sloane.”
A groan was wrenched from her throat. Suddenly it made perfect sense.
This was her duty.
Oh. Her contract didn’t say “You must have sex with Tiege.” She would never have signed the stupid thing. But it was damned clear that she would do whatever necessary to protect and service the House of Furia.
And if she were being honest she would admit that if he’d been another Incubus she wouldn’t have hesitated to offer her energy. She might be a warrior, but she was a Nephilim. She understood that the exchange of sexual energy had nothing to do with human morals.
But he wasn’t just another Incubus. He was Tiege, Master of the House of Furia.
And the mere thought of having sex with him was…
Terrifying and glorious and so dangerously tempting that her instincts for self-preservation had kicked in and urged her to keep this male at a very respectable distance.
Now, she was being commanded to give him the power needed to perform the sacred ceremony. The perfect excuse to give herself permission to indulge in her deepest fantasies.
How the hell was she supposed to say no?
Truly the only sensible option was to accept that this was her duty.
Her hands traveled over his shoulders and up his neck to tangle in the silk of his dark hair.
Anticipation shimmered through her, completely drowning out the tiny voice in the back of her mind that whispered something about Hell and the pathways of good intentions…
CHAPTER THREE
Stripped of her coat and weapons, Sloane no longer looked like a lethal Blade.
Instead she looked indecently fragile as the fading dusk bathed her slender body in shades of soft violet and peach. A delicate creature that might disappear in a puff of smoke.
Tiege growled low in his throat, his hungry gaze sliding over her reclined body, lingering on the soft swell of her breasts that were visible beneath the muscle shirt. He’d always known she was tiny, but until this moment he’d never realized just how small she was. His gaze skimmed downward to the faded jeans that fit her with rapturous perfection. Absently, he reached to tug off her heavy boots, tossing them aside as his gaze lifted to study the pale face that was framed by the lush tumble of honey curls.
Her lips were parted in anticipation, and a golden, sexual heat was crawling over her skin, making his mouth water in anticipation of his feeding. But even in the growing shadows he couldn’t miss the hint of bewildered innocence darkening her hazel eyes.
With a muttered curse, Tiege shrugged off his boxers and joined Sloane on the bed. His need was becoming a near-painful ache.
Stroking his fingers over her cheek, he allowed the taste of honeysuckle to seep through his veins. At the same time, he used his magic to block out the sounds from the outer room.
Nothing was going to be allowed to disrupt this moment.
Not after he’d waited for what seemed to be an eternity to get this female in his arms.
“Are you ready?” he asked in a low voice.
Her lashes fluttered down, hiding her expressive eyes. “As you’ve pointed out, it doesn’t seem as if I have much of a choice.”
Tiege snapped his brows together. “You’re saying this is just duty?” he whispered, his fingers stroking down the length of her throat.
She shivered, a flush of arousal staining her cheeks. “I signed the contract. My job is to put the welfare of this House before my own wishes. If you need to feed then it’s my obligation to provide you sustenance.”
It was the precise argument he’d just given her. So why the hell did the sound of his words on her lush lips make him want to growl in frustration?
Because he didn’t like the thought that she was feeling compelled to give in to her desire, he abruptly realized. Grim duty wasn’t the same as active enjoyment.
He wanted her to accept the need that’d been smoldering between them for months.
Why it mattered was a question he had no intention of asking.
His fingers slipped beneath the narrow s
trap of her shirt, absorbing the sparks of energy that leaped from her satin skin.
“And that’s the only reason?” he prodded.
“What do you mean?”
His head lowered, his lips brushing over her forehead. “This heat,” he murmured. “The passion.” He kissed a restless path over her temple and down the curve of her cheek. “You feel it.”
Her breath released from her body in a shaken rush as he sucked the tender flesh at the base of her throat, marking her as if she were an adolescent human. At the same time he weaved a more potent warning to other males by lacing his scent deep into her skin.
Tiege sucked in a deep breath. Oh…hell. She smelled of soap and honeysuckle and sweet innocence.
An intoxicating combination.
“Of course I feel it,” she muttered, her hands lifting to grasp his shoulders. “You’re an Incubus. You could create lust in a rock.”
Annoyed by her refusal to admit the truth, he jerked up his head to glare down at her.
“It’s not just my magic,” he growled. “You’ve desired me since you arrived at my home.”
She made a sound of annoyance. “Master…”
“Tiege,” he sharply interrupted.
She blinked in confusion. “What?”
“You’ll call me Tiege, not Master,” he commanded, uncertain why he was determined to hear his name on her lips. “Say it.”
“Tiege.” Her eyes narrowed. “Satisfied?”
“Not even close.” With a groan he lowered his head to nip at the lush temptation of her lips. “Now admit the truth.”
“What truth?”
He nuzzled the corner of her lips. “That this is more than just duty.”
“What does it matter?” she stubbornly demanded, only to give a strangled gasp as his hands grasped the front of her shirt and casually ripped it in two. They both froze. Tiege in silent appreciation of her naked breasts tipped with berry-rose nipples. And Sloane in astonishment. “Tiege…what the hell?” she at last breathed.
His lips twisted into a fierce smile. Was she deliberately making herself a challenge? Did she know he would find it irresistible?
Or was she truly that innocent?
“You’re going to admit that you want me,” he warned, slowly lowering his head, holding her gaze as he licked one of the tightly furled nipples. “One way or another.”
“Shit.” Her nails dug into the bare skin of his chest, but not in protest. Tiege could feel the race of her heart and catch the scent of her arousal.
She might try to hide behind talk about contracts and obligations, but her body was already softening against him in silent need.
The flavor of her exploded on his tongue. Damn. She was as sweet as he’d anticipated.
He moaned deep in his throat.
Hell, he was on the point of explosion from the mere taste of her sweetness. “Honeysuckle.”
“Tiege…” Her words trailed away as he suckled her, her heady power surging through him.
Her hands lifted to tangle in his hair, her back arching in blatant invitation.
“Yes?” he prompted, kissing a path up her throat.
“I…” She shivered as he traced her lower lip with the tip of his tongue. “Crap. I don’t remember what I was going to say.”
He chuckled against her silken skin, his hand skimming down her flat stomach to unzip the jeans. Then, with an expertise that came from centuries of experience, he had the soft material pulled down the length of her legs and tossed aside.
“That’s okay,” he husked, his gaze locked on the tiny bit of lace that was all that covered her slender body. He grasped the tiny thong and gave it a sharp tug, ripping the delicate fabric to expose the tender feminine flesh beneath. His heart thundered. “I’d rather communicate without words.”
Dismissing the taunting voice in the back of his mind that warned he wasn’t nearly as in control of this encounter as he was pretending, Tiege claimed her mouth in a kiss that demanded utter surrender.
She abruptly stiffened, floundering beneath his raw hunger. No big surprise, he silently chastised himself. He’d already sensed her innocence.
She might not be a virgin, but he’d swear she knew nothing of pleasure.
With fierce concentration he gentled his touch, his hand brushing down her naked thigh while his mouth teased at her lips until they slowly parted. Murmuring soft encouragement, he dipped his tongue into the moist heat of her mouth.
She stiffened again and he swallowed a hiss of frustration. Dammit. Why was she fighting her own response?
Did she really intend to punish them both by denying the temptation of his touch?
Then, just when he was about to pull away, she gave a tiny sigh of pleasure and wrapped her arms around his neck.
Pure male satisfaction jolted through him at her unspoken capitulation.
I wasn’t deceiving myself. She wants me.
Continuing to caress the soft skin of her inner thigh, Tiege nipped at her full lower lip before trailing a path of kisses down her throat. Heat blazed between them, the carnal energy transforming into power as it sizzled through his body.
She was so fucking potent.
Like drinking the finest champagne after a lifetime of cheap booze.
Her fingers clutched at his hair, her body shuddering with an unspoken plea.
His cock twitched in anticipation. Hell and damnation. He was ready and willing to give her what she needed. But there was no way he was rushing through this.
He wanted to savor every touch. Every kiss. Every soft sigh.
This female might have chosen to become a Blade, but she was a natural concubine.
And for tonight she was his.
Skating his mouth downward, Tiege captured the tip of her hardened nipple between his teeth, relishing the sound of her soft pants that filled the air. Had he ever heard sweeter music?
“Master,” she rasped. “Tiege.”
“Shh,” he whispered, subtly feathering his fingers up her inner thigh, heading for his prize. “We can return to our battle later. For now, just enjoy.”
She shivered, her hands running an impatient path down his back.
“As long as you remember this is just…” Her breath caught as his finger dipped through the moist cleft between her legs. “Oh.”
He laughed softly, circling the hard tip of her nipple with his tongue.
“Your first lesson as a Thrall is to accept that your male always knows best.”
She muttered something beneath her breath about arrogant Incubi and the pleasure of chopping off his manly parts, but she didn’t try to suppress her cry of pleasure as his finger slid into the welcome heat of her body.
Tiege lifted his head to watch her pretty face flush with a sensual anticipation, lashes lowering and her lips parting as he stroked his finger in a slow, tantalizing tempo.
Had he ever seen anything more beautiful?
It didn’t matter that he’d enjoyed females trained to bring him maximum pleasure. Or that she had no knowledge of how to feed his hunger. In this moment, he was utterly and completely ensnared by her tentative caresses.
Refusing to contemplate the dangerous realization, Tiege instead reclaimed her lips in a kiss of fierce demand. A burst of triumph raced through him as she willingly met the thrust of his tongue with her own, her nails sinking into his lower back as she squirmed beneath the spiraling tension.
She might want to pretend that this was nothing more than duty, but her body was anxious to give him exactly what he needed.
Absorbing the electric energy that crackled over her skin, he skimmed his lips over her cheek and down the tender curve of her neck. He paused long enough to lavish attention on her straining nipples before he scooted downward, teasing her belly button with the tip of his tongue. She made a choked sound, her hands jerking from his hair so she could grip the sheet beneath her.
He chuckled, settling between her spread legs as he explored the rigid muscles of her lower st
omach. The air was drenched with the scent of warm honeysuckle and his own male spice, combining to make a new, highly erotic perfume.
Delectable.
Using the tip of his tongue, he traced the delicate line of her hip. Then, as she made a choked sound of need, he tugged her legs farther apart so he could discover the satiny skin of her inner thigh.
She wasn’t as soft or curvaceous as his usual bedmates. Her body was honed with muscles and sinew that reminded him of a purebred mare. Perfect.
Sliding his hands beneath her tight ass, he angled her up, giving him perfect access to the sweet pussy that already gleamed with her arousal.
Ambrosia, he decided, licking through the thick honey. She gave a jerk at his intimate caress, her groan breaking the silence that filled the room. Tiege smiled in anticipation. He intended to wrench more of those enticing sounds from her throat.
Glancing up at her face that had lost the wary expression that constantly pissed him off, he dipped his tongue deep into her body, using her moans and sighs to guide him as he intensified her pleasure. Once, then twice, he urged her toward the cusp of orgasm, only to pull back before she could tumble over the edge.
He wanted her hot and needy and so lost in sensations she could no longer deny the passion that thundered between them.
Intoxicated by the taste of her sweetness, Tiege twirled his tongue around her sensitive clit. He intended to torment her for hours, but even as he settled in for the long haul, Sloane was taking matters into her own hands.
Reaching down, she grabbed his shoulders and with the strength that came from years of training, she was hauling him back up her body.
“No more teasing,” she growled.
“Haven’t you heard that good things come to those who—” He bit off his words with a low curse as she reached to wrap her fingers around his straining cock.
Her touch was firm, just short of painful as she gave him one hard pump. Her hand hit his swollen balls, squeezing them tight before she pulled her fingers back to the blunt head that was beaded with pre-come.
Okay. She was right.
Enough teasing.
Settling in position, Tiege tugged away her fingers before he was pressing his cock into the opening of her body and entering her with one slow thrust.
Masters of Seduction Volume 2: Books 5-8: Paranormal Romance Box Set Page 21