Volatile Breath of Darkness

by Candice Stauffer

  she had found a comfortable position on top his lap with her legs wrapped around his waist, and then he

  framed her face with his hands. “I choose now,” he whispered against her lips, “and forever.”

  ~Nine~

  “I KNEW ALL along you would make the right decision.” It was a lie. At first when Brianna had given

  him the choice of now or never, she dreaded what would happen if he turned around and walked away.

  She meant it. One way or another, from that moment on, she would’ve searched for a way to get away

  from him. Living without him would’ve been hell, but it would’ve been better than spending the rest of

  her life so close to him and waiting for him to come around to her way thinking. He wasn’t fully there yet,

  but over time she was certain it would happen. He would learn to see himself as she saw him.

  Still holding her face in his hands, he feathered his thumbs over her lips. “Don’t look too happy, little

  one. You might very well regret winning this battle. I have many faults.”

  “Are you trying to tell me that you are not an easy boyfriend to deal with?” She paused. “This does

  mean that I can call you my boyfriend now, right?”

  “Boyfriend?” He shook his head. “You will never refer to me as your boyfriend again. I am your

  mate. And I’m telling you that as your eternal mate I will not be easy to deal with.”

  “By eternal do you mean what we have is a forever sort of thing?”

  “It is not a thing. It is a commitment, little one.”

  Given the fact that she was completely naked sitting on his lap being called little one did not bother

  her at all. She heard and felt it as the endearment it had always been meant. “I have a confession.”

  “I am listening.”

  She wriggled on his lap. “I know putting up with you won’t be easy, but you’re the only man I want

  to live with. Besides, I don’t intend to make living with me easy for you. I can be very stubborn and

  bossy. What’s good for me is good for you, right?”

  “We can hash out the stipulations later. Kissing you would be very good for me right now,” he

  whispered the words against her lips.

  Even through the fabric of his jeans she felt the heat of his hard, engorged cock between her legs. It

  was driving her mad with what she could only name as lust. Imagining the feel of him buried deep inside

  her, filling her, she smoothed her hands over his muscular chest and then his broad shoulders just for the

  exquisite pleasure of touching him. “Image that.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and shifted just

  enough to rub her tender breast against the heat radiating from his chest. “I was just thinking that kissing

  you would be very good for me.”

  A bolt of fiery energy ran through her mind and her body when he captured her mouth with his. At

  first his kiss was firm and demanding, but then it turned gentle, almost too tender. She sensed he was

  holding himself in check because he was still uncertain. She wasn’t having it. Taking charge she began to

  move her body up and down slowly as if she were impaling herself with his cock while deepening the

  kiss. Her efforts to push him past the point of being able to restrain his passion quickly paid off by

  revving up their kiss to the next level.

  His hands were everywhere. Touching her skin. Massaging her body. Every cell in her body seemed

  inflamed. Her flesh had become delightfully oversensitive as he explored every inch of it. They were both

  panting and moaning as their kiss continued to deepen and their souls merged. Her entire body ached and

  burned in the most amazing, delicious ways as he, still holding her, stood up. He bent over and lowered

  her onto the bed. For a second, she thought he was going to turn around and walk away.

  “That isn’t happening.” He unbuttoned his jeans and pulled them down and then kicked his feet free

  as he got onto the bed. Nudging her legs apart he took his place between her legs. “There are so many

  things I want to do to you and with you, but right now I just need to be inside you.”

  As odd as it seemed she knew he was apologizing and asking for her permission. “I want you to

  make love to me. I’ve wanted this for a long time.”

  “I know. I wanted our second time to be perfect. I wanted to take our time, but I need you now.”

  Looking frustrated, he reached down between their bodies and causing a shockwave of pleasure to rock

  her, he slid his fingers over her entrance. Sliding a finger inside her and then pulling it out to use the silky

  moisture he’d discovered to caress and tease her clitoris, he smiled at her. “You’re already wet for me,”

  he said, his gaze burning hot.

  Arching her body, moving her throbbing core against his hand, she was already so close to

  climaxing. “Foreplay? That’s what you were apologizing for? We’re way beyond needing I’ve been ready

  for you since the night we met.”

  “Is that so?”

  Clenching her teeth as he continued to caress her most sensitive place, she nodded. “It’s way past

  time for you to do something about it.”

  “It’s good we’ve been teetering on the edge of the state of arousal.” He shifted his body and grabbed

  his cock and then held its broad head at her tingling warm damp entrance and rubbed it in a circular

  motion over her.

  She lifted her hips to force him inside, but he stilled her by placing his palm on her belly. “Hold on.

  Give me a second. I need to…”

  “Forget it. I’ve given you enough seconds.” Pushing his hand away, she wrapped her legs around his

  hips and lifted her butt off the mattress. For a moment, feeling a stinging, stretching sensation as her inner

  muscles clenched around him, she shivered in delight. She loved the way his large erection filled her.

  “You are such a beautiful woman, little one. Perfect in every spectacular way,” he whispered. “And

  you’re so incredibly impatient. I told you to give me a second.” He had laughter in his voice. “I’m very

  pleased to know you enjoy the way I fill you up.”

  She felt heat rising to her cheeks. “Some thoughts are meant to be private.” She was a little angry

  over how easy it was for him to get into her mind.

  “You’ve been able to get into my mind from the start. I’ve always welcomed you into my mind.”

  “Unless you’re mad or feel it’s better for me to not know something.” For the first time she realized

  that there would never be any secrets between them unless he was the one keeping them.

  Pushing his cock a bit further through her tight entrance, he groaned. “It’s strange timing for you to

  pick a fight with me. I don’t think you really want to exchange blows right now. . You’re venting. You’re

  hot and bothered. I understand. I happen to be incredibly hot and bothered as well. I also happen to know

  of a better way for you oust your frustration.”

  He was right. It was an odd time to have a falling out with him over his supernatural abilities. She’d

  already accepted who and what he was. Further inflaming her he bent his head and kissed her long and

  hard until they were both panting and she was withering restlessly beneath him. He pulled back a bit and

  looked into her eyes. She got lost in his golden brown gaze as the color turned to black. It’s wasn’t a dull

  black. Not at all. His eyes generated a glow as if he were staring into a flame.

  Holding his weight on one elbow, he continued to kiss her as he took hi
s time gently cupping and

  massaging her breasts and teasing her nipples with his free hand. In short, he was driving her insane. His

  hands touching her, his mouth kissing her and hard, hot shaft throbbing, stretching her, just inside her

  entrance. She wanted him deeper, filling her. He was in control, patiently waiting for her body to adjust to

  his size. To hell with comfort. She wanted him to lose control. She wanted him wild, slamming into her.

  Her breath burst from her lungs when he took her nipple between his teeth and lapped at it with his

  tongue.

  “Please. Now.” Her plea, barely a whisper, came out as a gasp. Tangling her fingers in his thick hair,

  holding him close, she lifted her hips to force him further inside her.

  ***

  She thought he’d been patiently waiting. She couldn’t have been more wrong. The only thing that enabled

  him to hold himself back was his fear of hurting her. It was much more important than his pleasure. Her

  comfort and wellbeing would always be more important than his. Then, he heard her plea and felt her

  body relax and open to him. It was his undoing. He buried his cock with one hard thrust of his hips. Her

  nails dug into his shoulders as she cried out.

  Holding his breath, feeling the heat of her channel gripping him tightly, he froze as he stared into her

  eyes. He was well endowed, but the thought of actually hurting her shamed him. He hadn’t properly

  prepared her. He hadn’t taken the time to make sure she was ready to receive him. “I didn’t mean to hurt

  you. I’m sorry.” He moved, inching his way out of her body. It felt so good. He planned to pull all the

  way out, but stopped.

  Causing him to feel the strangest flutter in his heart, he felt her body relax again. Smiling up at him,

  her fingers trailing down his back and then gripping his ass, she wiggled and pushed her body toward him

  while pressing down on his ass. “You didn’t hurt me.” He felt his pulse skyrocket and temperature climb.

  “You feel so good, so enormous inside me. And hot.” He watched her tongue dart out to moisten her lip.

  “You feel so amazingly hot. You’re so big and hard. I can feel you throbbing inside me. Why would you

  apologize for it?”

  He couldn’t have prevented his smile from broadening if his life depended on it. He liked her choice

  of words. A lot. “I suppose I was suffering a moment of insanity.” Watching her eyes go wide he began

  to slowly pump his hips. “You feel wonderful, little one, so wonderful. Your blazing succulent vessel

  wraps so tightly around my cock.”

  Picking up his pace, creating the most exhilarating heat he’d ever known, she moved with him

  readily meeting his every thrust. He’d found Heaven. No. She’d led him to Heaven. He’d lived for so long

  and never knew the true meaning of excellence until that moment. Joined together as one they were utter

  perfection.

  He buried himself deep. Every muscle in his body flexed to the point of pain as he went entirely still

  in an attempt to regain control. He was teetering on the verge of a jarring climax. He’d known before they

  started he wouldn’t last for as long as he would like, but he wouldn’t allow himself to dive over the cliff

  of pleasure until she was ready to tumble off with him.

  ***

  Restlessly moving her lower body she began to slide her lust-dampened depths over his engorged shaft in

  sensually slow gyrating movements. His broad muscular shoulders trembled beneath her hands. “Stay

  still,” he growled in a deep animalistic tone.

  “I can’t” She rotated and twisted her hips to indulge herself in the magnificent pleasure of using his

  thick iron-hard erection to massage her inflamed womanly center. “You feel so good.” She ran her hands

  down the solid budging muscles of his biceps.

  “You are a cruel woman.” He lowered his head and nibbled and kissed her neck and jaw as he

  worked his way to her lips. “I love it.” He began pumping his hips as he seized her mouth with savage

  urgency. His tongue delved deep and tangled with hers. Body. Soul. And mind. She felt him in every part

  of her. Surrounding her. Needing her. Loving her. It was the most thrilling all-encompassing, ravenous

  kiss.

  His steely thighs crowded her hips in the most scintillating way. She loved the way his bronze,

  miraculously sexy muscular frame covered her body. He was an eye-catching, dominating and incredibly

  captivating male. His need for her defied logic. He didn’t even need to place a hand on a woman to turn

  her on. The enthralling power of his voice and eyes could cause any women to hyperventilate and

  collapse in a heap at his feet.

  All at once, he stopped kissing her and rocking his hips. Narrowing his gaze, he gave her a stern

  look. “Not needing or wanting you, and only you, would defy reason. You are my mate. You are my

  greatest cherished treasure. You are the most captivating, gorgeous, sexy, desirable woman ever born. I

  happily belong to you. You are my love, my heart, and my life. No other woman matters to me.”

  Fighting back the urge to laugh, she glared at him. “Sometimes your ability to get into my head

  really irritates me.”

  Barely touching her he feathered a kiss on her mouth. “I won’t say I’m sorry for it.”

  She bit down on his lip. “I don’t want you to apologize.”

  He stared down at her for a few seconds as a warning growl vibrated in his chest. “What do you

  want?”

  “Deeper! Harder! Faster! I want you to pound me into oblivion!”

  His eyes blazing, he smiled. “I can do that.”

  “Prove it.”

  He surged into her and took wild and fierce possession of her. Delicious tremors started deep in her

  core and then ricocheted throughout her entire body. A sweltering tide of enlivening sensations overtook

  her. Reeling in a wickedly passionate ocean pleasure she uncontrollably bucked beneath him in an effort

  to meet his powerful thrusts. Each deep penetration of his huge, aggressive rod increased the level of

  pleasure she received from his hot blooded lovemaking.

  ***

  Just when he reached the point of losing control, she stilled beneath him. He slowed just a little, because

  he couldn’t stop, as he looked down at her. “I love you, Brianna. From now until the end of time, I will

  always love you.”

  “I’ve always loved you, Nikolas. And I will always love you.”

  The need to take her mortal breath and replace it with his immortal breath burned in him. It was the

  only way to permanently seal their bonds for eternity, but he decided to wait. The experience would likely

  upset her. He didn’t want anything to ruin the experience of their second time together after he ruined the

  first. And so, knowing her climax was close, he reached beneath her and lifted her hips to better align her

  body to maximize her gratification.

  “Oh, Nikolas.” She reached up and clasped her hands around his neck and lifted her head to kiss him

  as she moved her body with his. “It’s…oh Nikolas…you feel so good.”

  He savored the nectar of her intoxicating kiss. Having reached a place where he could no longer speak, he

  kissed her as he brought them to a magnificent summit of physical and spiritual bliss. She screamed

  against his throat and shuddered uncontrollably as she came. The walls of her molten hot sheath

  mercilessly, fantastically rippled around and squeezed his cock. />
  His orgasm was powerful. Like hers it went on and on. It rocked him senseless. For a moment, as

  they each struggled to catch their breath, they trembled in each other’s arms. After a few minutes,

  realizing he was likely crushing her beneath his weight, he lifted his body up onto his elbows and gazed

  down at her.

  Without saying a word she reached up and pulled him down to kiss him. He returned her kiss with

  the love and tenderness he had for her. He was completely satisfied, but he knew he would never get

  enough of her. He would always want and need more. Wrapping his arm around her, keeping his body

  lodged in hers, he took her with him as he rolled over onto his back.

  Sprawled out on top of him, her head resting on his chest, she sighed. “I can’t believe we waited for

  so many days after the first time before doing that.”

  Laughing softly, he caressed her back. “I blame you for the wait.”

  In retaliation, she bit his chest. “Liar!”

  That night they made love for hours. Eventually, curling her body up against his, fatigue claimed her.

  While she slept soundly in his arms, he listened to her breathe as he contemplated the next step in their

  union. He needed to perform the ritual that would give her his eternal breath. He wasn’t prepared for the

  inner conflicts he suddenly found himself struggling with. It was such natural thing for him to do. And

  yet, the thought of something going wrong, terrified him. He couldn’t warn her. When all was said and

  done, she needed to allow him to take her last mortal breath and replace it with his immortal breath. It

  seemed so simple. But it wasn’t. He saw that now. What if she feared him when he took her breath? It

  would kill her.

  By the time he started to allow himself to fall asleep, he felt the presence of danger. Demetri was

  close. His thoughts were dark and focused on Brianna. He planned to enter Nikolas’ property and study

  his safeguards to find a way to get beyond them. Carefully scooting out from beneath Brianna, he got out

  of the bed. He opened the glass french doors and stepped outside onto the deck. He turned to take one last

  look at Brianna sleeping on his bed. It was time. Demetri had to be destroyed.

  Turning away from the window, he leapt on top of the ledge. Focusing, using his mind to locate