by Kari Thomas
“Mmm.” He licked a long, hot caress across her throat and she moaned. “Over and over again. I want to make you mine in every way possible. Brand you with my mouth, my body.”
She wanted it too. Desperately. Passion soared deep within her, leaving her breathless and aching with a need she’d never felt before. Every part of his body touched hers.
But she could still feel his restraint.
She curled her fingers in his long hair and tugged until he was face to face with her. Looking long into the dark mercury of his eyes, she didn’t care that he could probably see the love shining in hers. “Aiden,” Her lips curved in a seductive smile. “Didn’t anyone ever tell you it’s not smart to tease a witch?”
His sensuous mouth turned up in a smile that was distinctly wolfish. “Trust me, my little witch, I’m not teasing.” He slowly touched her lips with his, a gentle pressure belying his heated words. “I’m promising.”
Kira trembled in anticipation at the look in his searing, seductive gaze. It was now or never. “Then, why are you holding back?” A myriad of mixed expressions flashed across his face and his eyes darkened. Tension radiated off him in waves and Kira held her breath.
Aiden moved slightly, pressing his weight a little more onto her. “You’re so damn fragile,” he muttered.
“I won’t break,” she said softly.
“You don’t understand, Kira.” He stared down at her, his lips in a tight slash. “I want you with a hunger that scares me. That would…should…scare you. I want to devour you.”
“Devouring is good.”
“Help me here, baby,” he growled, “I’m trying to explain...and I don’t know how the hell to say…’’
She felt a blush heat her cheeks. “Are you hesitating because...” She closed her eyes for a moment, suddenly feeling shy. Then, she looked at him. “Because you don’t know…if this is…my…first…time or not?”
His strained features darkened even more and he jerked his head up. “Damn!” His groan sounded choked. “Kira, please tell me you didn’t just say that you’re a virgin.”
“You don’t have to growl so mean about it,” she countered with a frown, a rosy tint coloring her cheeks.
He growled anyway. Long and rough.
It scared her. It excited her.
She blushed even more.
Aiden muttered several dark expletives under his breath. He dropped his head, burying his face against her neck. “This is crazy,” he moaned. “I can’t—’’
Kira felt a moment of panic.
He was going to walk away from this? From her? Now? It was not going to happen. Not when they were so close. She caressed his bent head, her fingers sliding slowly through his long hair, and waited for what would happen next. Confused, heart racing, she couldn’t stop the quiver shimmering over her body, from head to toe.
“That’s why,” he muttered, anger tingeing his tone. He lifted his head and stared down at her with fire burning in his eyes. “You shivered. Just now. You’re so damn innocent, Kira. I knew it the first moment I saw you.”
“Is that such a bad thing?” She bravely met his hard stare. “I know…you’ve been with other women, Aiden.” It was something she didn’t want to think about. Especially with the truth about his relationship with Sonia still a troubling uncertainty in her mind.
“Damn it, that’s not what I’m trying to say,” Aiden gritted out, a muscle clenching in his jaw. “Before, I was worried about hurting you. Now, knowing you’re a virgin, only makes it worse.”
“Hurting me?” Kira’s confusion reflected in her voice but her hand was gentle, soothing as she caressed his cheek with a soft touch. That she needed to reassure him was new to her. He always seemed so sure, so confident. “I’m not afraid that you’ll hurt me, Aiden.”
“Kira,” he growled her name through clenched teeth. “Listen to me. I’ve never wanted another woman like I want you. The need is consuming me, torturing me. I’ve never felt hunger like this before. I’m not sure…that I can be gentle, as gentle as you deserve. There’s a darkness in me, baby, that you could never comprehend. I’m afraid of losing control.”
She felt her love grow deeper, stronger. It left her breathless. Exhilarated. She leaned up and touched his lips with hers. Bewitchingly soft, she repeated, “I’m not afraid that you’ll hurt me, Aiden.”
He groaned, the sound torn from deep within him. For one brief moment of sanity he thought about leaving. Now. Before it was too late to ever turn back. But the need inside him burned incessantly. The beast side of his nature hovered close to the surface, demanding he claim Kira as his own. She lay so trustingly beneath him, her eyes filled with a wealth of emotion he didn’t want to acknowledge.
Damn. Her innocence mocked him.
Before hearing her confession his only worry had been losing control, letting his beast free. If he made love to her he wasn’t sure how much control he’d have. Kyle had told him that he’d almost changed when he first made love to Sonia. Could he risk that happening?
Was it Kyle’s love for his wife that had kept him in control of his human side, protecting Sonia from the beast that hovered so close while in the throes of passion? Did he dare risk Kira’s innocence? She moved beneath him, her soft body curving up into his. He wanted to growl and groan at the same time. “Stay still,” he warned huskily.
“Your shirt buttons are scraping my…’’ She bit her lip to hide a small smile. “...my breasts. My gown isn’t very much protection.”
Damn her.
The little witch didn’t have to remind him just how transparent her gown was. He was acutely aware of every inch of her delectable body beneath that damn slinky silk. But two could play at this game.
“Do you want me to move off you?”
“No.” Kira smiled, her sultry look stealing his breath. “But, you could take off your shirt.”
Holding her gaze with his, he slowly sat up. Catching the front of his shirt with both hands, he jerked hard. The shirt ripped open, buttons flying. He pulled it off and threw it to the floor. He was determined to show her just how dangerous this game could be. He slowly reached down and slid his hands beneath the thin straps on her gown. With a deliberately rough tug, he pulled both straps down and bared her breasts.
His breath caught in his throat. Not wanting to get distracted from his plan of action, he moved over her. The moment bare chest touched bare breasts, electricity arced from one body to the other, and they both groaned in unison. He moved against her, sensuously rubbing his hard chest over her soft breasts. Her nipples pebbled from the sweet, torturous friction, and she purred like a kitten.
That bewitching sound was his undoing.
His conscience warred with the raging demands of his body, and lost. She was his.
No matter the consequences.
One hand on each side of her breasts, he slid the gown down her waist and over her hips. He begrudged having to lift his body away from hers, to finish pulling the gown away from her body. She gasped the same moment he groaned as his hands encountered bare skin below her hips. A befuddled part of his brain registered the fact that she wasn’t wearing any underwear beneath her enticing gown. He almost laughed to think he’d missed something so important, hadn’t noticed it earlier on. But he had been a bit occupied, he justified.
His hands stilled on the soft, silky curve of her hips where her gown bunched just above the apex of her thighs. Damned if the desperate need to take her, right at that moment, wasn’t making him tremble with the knowledge that he could.
“Aiden,” she whispered his name like a caress.
“Don’t say no, Kira,” he gritted out, his voice husky. “Not now.”
“I wasn’t,” she answered. Hearing the teasing tone in her breathless voice, he searched her eyes. He lifted his brows in question.
“I was only going to say…” Her lips curved in an enticingly feminine smile and his heart thudded. “that, now it’s your slacks and zipper scraping me. Maybe you shoul
d take off your pants?”
“Witch,” he growled, not knowing if he meant it as an endearment or an expletive. For one brief moment it flittered through his mind that her powers were more than just magical. The power she had over him went deeper. If his body wasn’t on fire, from wanting her so badly, he might have had the sense to be scared of that significant fact. Instead, he lunged to his feet with one graceful move and stood staring down at her. Keeping her gaze locked with his, his movements purposely erotic, he reached for the snap on his jeans and slowly pulled his zipper down, sliding off his jeans.
Kira barely registered the fact he wasn’t wearing underwear. Instead, she bit back an appreciative moan, her mouth forming a silent “oh.” He was unbearably sexy, all virile male. Muscled and hard. Lean hips and long legs, wide chest and shoulders, skin tanned bronze from head to toe. She let her gaze roam appreciatively over every lethal inch.
Her eyes followed the trail of black fur from his broad chest down his narrow waist to the vee surrounding his jutting erection. She swallowed dryly. He was bigger than she had imagined. And oh-so-breathtakingly virile. The proud, jutting evidence of his desire sent tantalizing chills scurrying over her skin.
Suddenly, all her confidence fled. He was experienced. She wasn’t. Would he be disappointed in her?
“Finish taking off your gown, baby, and throw it over here, with my jeans.”
She shivered at the deep, rough tone of his voice. But it wasn’t fear that made her heart race, and her breathing escalate. It was the poignant, hungry look in his eyes.
And it was the remembrance of his fear that he’d hurt her.
A voice, soul-deep, told her this was right. Here. Now.
She loved him and that was all that mattered. Nothing else was more important than this moment.
She sat up and pushed the gown away from her body, exposing herself to his hungry gaze. She dropped it on the floor beside the bed, resisting the urge to cover her bared body. His gaze flashed molten fire as she reclined gracefully back against the covers, innocently inviting his long, searing look.
“So beautiful,” he murmured hoarsely. “You take my breath away, little witch.”
Kira’s heart fluttered at his unintended endearment. The rough rasp of his voice as he said ‘little witch’ sent flutters of desire racing over every part of her, inside and out.
Aiden’s eyes blazed, his breathing harsh, as he slowly lowered his body down to cover hers.
Her heart beat so hard she thought it might burst her chest. Not in fear, but in anticipation. His bare skin hotly covered every inch of hers, and Kira felt as if she couldn’t catch her breath.
Aiden grinned knowingly. “Breathe, sweetheart. Now isn’t the time to be fainting on me.”
“Fainting is the last thing on my mind,” she countered.
He trailed his fingers teasingly across her breasts, down to her stomach, and circled her naval with a skimming touch. His grin faded as she shivered. “Tell me it’s not fear causing you to tremble when I touch you.” She heard the openly vulnerable tone in his voice, and it touched her heart like nothing else could.
“I’m afraid you’ll be disappointed in me,” she answered half-truthfully.
His eyes darkened to black. “Never.” He caressed a path back to her breasts. “Do you know how many times I’ve wondered if you were wearing a bra? Every time I saw you I was convinced you dressed yourself in seductive outfits simply to drive me crazy with the need to know. I fantasized about undressing you. Touching you.” He bent his head, his long hair teasingly brushing the tops of her breasts. “Kissing you. Here. Like this.” Before she could catch her breath, he closed his hot mouth around one nipple and suckled deep.
Kira moaned and clutched a handful of his hair, pulling him closer. His rough tongue caressed her nipple, swirling around with hungry licks. His hand closed around her soft flesh squeezing it rhythmically while his mouth pulled her further in. Kira felt the sensual pull in her womb before it traveled to the bottom of her feet, her toes curling. In was only a lingering moment before he moved his mouth to her other breast and gave it the same rapt attention. Her toes curled again, clenching.
She couldn’t help it, she purred.
He jerked his head up and stared down into her eyes. “Damn, that’s sexy. Don’t stop.” He moved his hands down her waist, past her hips, then curled them under her bottom, tilting her hips up.
Kira moaned in sweet surrender as she felt the hardness of his erection pushing against her lower stomach, nudging her.
Aiden tensed, holding still. His control was slipping fast. He could feel the beast inside him rising up, too close to taking over, demanding that he take her now. He took several deep breaths, desperately attempting to calm the raging desire threatening to overwhelm his common sense. He didn’t want to hurt her. He’d waited too long for this moment, and he’d be damned if he’d ever give her reason to fear him. Doubts reared in the back of his mind.
Would he be able to keep control, not change, when he claimed her body? Would his beast’s lust overwhelm him, leave her in danger of being taken by the wildness that was such an integrated part of him?
Lust? No, what he felt for her wasn’t as elemental as that. Somewhere along the way, his feelings had subtly changed without him ever realizing it. His body wanted hers. Desperately. The beast demanded he claim his mate. But his heart wanted more.
That scared the hell out of him.
Before he could change his mind, Kira sealed their fate. She reached up and touched his cheek with her soft hand. She looked deep into his eyes and smiled. “You won’t hurt me,” she said softly, gently. “Don’t stop.”
A rough moan rose from deep within him and past his clenched teeth. “There’s no turning back,” he warned, his voice gruff.
His little witch gave him a seductive smile that took his breath away. “You made a promise. No teasing. Remember?”
A possessive growl broke past his lips. He leaned down and kissed her with a gentleness that belied the fire raging inside him. “Before this night is over,” he promised darkly, “I will claim every inch of you. You will be mine, little witch.
“Mine.”
This time his kiss irrevocably claimed her heart…and her soul. From this moment on Kira knew there would be no going back.
No matter the consequences.
Aiden growled low in his throat and muttered against her lips, “Open your mouth, baby, let me taste you more.”
Tasting? It was more like devouring. Kira lost all coherent thought as his hot, raspy tongue delved into her mouth and took possession. He tasted like a potent aphrodisiac, all male wildness. She wanted more. She wanted to taste every inch of his hot, hard body, drown herself in his untamed wildness, lose herself in his virile essence. She wanted all he had to give.
And more.
As if reading her thoughts, Aiden broke his kiss, his breathing harsh and hot against her swollen lips. “I want more. All of you. Tell me you want the same.”
Kira’s heart melted. He was giving her one last chance to change her mind. To stop this before it was too late. For both of them. Inwardly she sighed. It was too late the moment we met. Butterflies flew wildly in her stomach, her heart raced, and a pool of molten desire settled low in her belly. Kira opened her eyes and looked deep into his. “I want this too, Aiden.” She caressed the grim slash of his bottom lip and said the words they both needed to hear spoken aloud.
“Make me yours.”
For a brief moment Aiden’s eyes flashed an eerie red. Before she could even comprehend what she’d seen, he dipped his head and licked her throat in one long, hot swipe of his tongue. She couldn’t help it. She purred from the overwhelming rough pleasure.
He tongued her skin, roaming over every inch of her throat, down to her collarbones, across the tops of her breasts, and then lower. Kira gasped when she felt him roam lower, his tongue sliding over her quivering stomach in one long, hot sweep. She trembled, knowing his intended destinati
on. She grasped handfuls of his hair and held tight, biting down on her lip to keep from gasping aloud again.
Aiden slowed his onslaught just as he reached her lower belly. He paused above her silken curls and blew softly. Kira lurched upward but he placed his hands on her hips, holding her still as he continued his torment.
She tried to force herself to obey his silent command but it was impossible. Something deep within her stirred to life, a sudden raging fire she couldn’t hold back. “Aiden.” Her voice broke and she choked back what she was going to say as clawing need took over.
The moment she rasped his name in that sexy plea, Aiden’s control broke and he gave into his fierce desires. He buried his face in her soft, feminine curls and inhaled deeply. Kira’s intoxicating scent flooded his nostrils, branded his senses. His head swam and the need to devour her overwhelmed him. From deep inside him the beast reared to life, possessive, demanding. For one brief moment he felt more than the hunger of the beast. He felt it demand he claim his mate … now. He fought to keep his mind clear. It was a losing battle.
Kira wiggled against his mouth and he lost it. Gripping her hips tighter, he growled hungrily, “Mine!”
Parting her soft, plump, nether lips with his tongue, he delved deep. Kira cried out, and her keening urged him on. He lapped her sweet honeyed essence, flicking his tongue in and out. From deep within him a rough, growling sound of pleasure rumbled up. He was lost, in her scent, in the taste of her. Before he could stop himself, he raked his teeth across her nether lips and bit down lightly.
She uttered a small scream and pulled on his hair. Aiden reluctantly lifted his head and stared at her. Her beautiful face was flushed, lips parted as she gasped gulps of air, her eyes dark with fiery passion.
He lost his breath. Her cries hadn’t been in fear, or revulsion, as he’d feared.
He grinned, his body battling with his heart’s desire to take things slow, to take his time. “Don’t forget to breathe, sweetheart.”
Kira groaned, still gasping in short bursts of air through her parted lips. “I’m not sure breathing is an option at this point.”