by Tawny Taylor
Talen’s mouth thinned even more. “I’ll find out.”
“We should call the police.”
“I’ll take care of it, while you rest.”
She wanted to call now, get it over with, while the memories of the man’s face were still fresh, but she had a feeling it wouldn’t be a short conversation. Quite the opposite.
She glanced around, found a clock. It was just after three. She’d only been sleeping for a couple of hours.
Her head hurt.
She was tired. And still shaking.
She rubbed at her temples. “You’ll call the police?”
“Yes, in a few minutes.” Talen eased beneath the covers beside her and, taking her with him, lay on his back, cradling her head. He tucked her against him, until she lay flush to his side. Despite the pounding in her head, a current of sensual awareness rippled through her body.
So big. And brave. And strong.
She’d been an absolute idiot for leaving his apartment earlier. Granted, she’d had absolutely no clue how much danger she was in. But to think her stung pride had almost cost her life…and worse, Talen his. She’d never be able to live with the guilt if he’d been hurt, let alone killed.
Tears burned her eyes. “Dammit, if I wasn’t so freaked out and exhausted, I might handle this better.” Mad at herself for crying, she dragged the back of her hand across her eyes. She sniffled. “I’m sorry I left.”
He caught her chin and forced her to meet his gaze. Gently, he wiped a tear from her cheek. “You don’t have to apologize. I’m the one who should be saying I’m sorry.”
“Why? What do you mean? If I hadn’t gone back to my place, the attacker wouldn’t have found me, and you wouldn’t have practically gotten stabbed to death.”
“And if I hadn’t kissed you…” He pulled her tighter to his side.
The little ripples inside her started getting bigger.
Great, now she was horny, on top of mad…and scared…and confused. God help her, she wanted him to make her forget. For a little while. “I liked the kiss. I wanted more.”
He nuzzled her hair. “So did I.”
“Then why stop?” She smoothed a hand over his chest, mapping the line of the scar beneath his T-shirt. “I wasn’t complaining.”
He caught her hand just as a fingertip found a hard nipple. His fingers clamped around her wrist like a vi s e. Rolling, he dragged her arm over her head and pinned her body beneath his.
Ooooh, yes. She’d just pushed a button, a pretty lethal one, at that. For some crazy reason, the terror of the earlier attack made the physical contact with Talen that much more powerful. No, essential.
She needed his touch, desperately. She needed to know she was alive. To be certain someone realized she existed. To feel another human being’s hands on her body, arms locked around her waist.
Staring up into eyes that had gone dark and wild, she dragged in a deep breath. Above her was a man on the verge of losing control.
She was in heaven.
His heartbeat pounded so hard and fast she could feel it thumping against her breasts. And his breaths were so quick and shallow they puffed like little gusts over her face. Her heart started racing too.
“I don’t know what it is about you,” he whispered, his gaze jumping from her eyes to her mouth and then back to her eyes again.
“I’ll take that as a compliment.” The heat swelling in her body was making her feel squirmy.
Pulsing. Thrumming. Liquid heat.
“It’s been so long since I’ve touched a woman like this, since I’ve dared. Or since anyone has touched me.”
His words shocked her, and the hollow tone of his voice left her feeling empty. Yet the throbbing need swelling inside her didn’t ease. In fact, it increased until her face flamed.
This man had more than a few secrets. He had lots of them, and God help her, she wanted to know every one.
“Touch me, Talen. Please. I’m begging.”
A long stretch of silence dragged between them, only somewhat softened by the sounds of their shallow breathing. It was agony and ecstasy both. To be so close and yet have him refuse to lay his hands on her.
“Talen?”
“Oh, may the gods forgive me.”
Talen’s kiss was nothing like earlier. It was a hard, hungry possession. Tongue, teeth, lips. He tasted and took, conquered and seduced.
Suddenly finding both arms pinned over her head, she returned every stroke and stab, every sigh and moan.
The pounding ache between her legs intensified once again as flames of desire danced and twisted in her chest. She dragged her feet apart, allowing Talen’s hips to nestle between her thighs. More sweet torture.
God yes, this was so good, so right. Talen was everything she’d ever wanted in a lover. Strong and powerful, sensual and attentive, a little mysterious. And also, in a strange and unexpected way, vulnerable.
She had no idea what it would take to keep him around after all this craziness was over, but somehow she’d do it. This man, she wanted for more than a night or two. By revealing his weakness, by allowing her to see how desperately he wanted her, he had done what so many others had failed to do.
He had already left a little mark on her heart.
Burning up. So hot.
Too much material between them, a torturous barrier.
A whimpered bubbled up from deep inside, slipped between her lips, to be swallowed up by Talen.
How much longer would he torment her like this? Cruel bastard!
She dragged her mouth from his, jerking her head to the side. It took several hard gasps to pull enough air in her lungs to speak. “Talen, clothes.”
Eyes glassy, face flushed, hair mussed, he nodded, crossed his arms and lifted his shirt over his head, revealing abs straight out of a fitness magazine. Up her gaze went, following the bottom of his shirt, from a washboard stomach to tight pecs, broad chest, glorious face.
While his hands were occupied, she set hers to work too, working the button of his fly. Pop, out it came, down went the zipper, revealing a vee of smooth-skinned flesh. No underwear. God, that was sexy!
She glanced up, her gaze catching a look of absolute agony on Talen’s face and her blood began to boil. He pushed her onto her back, practically tore her shirt and bra off, and yanked her pants off, leaving nothing between her quivering body and his scorching hot gaze but one unsubstantial pair of lace panties.
“Don’t move,” he growled, his jaw set. He rolled off her and shoved his pants down, revealing one thick, full erection, a set of heavily muscled legs, and…oh yes, he was turning around…that was one fine butt.
Her panties became even wetter.
He bent down, dug in his pants pocket. A familiar crinkle of plastic cut through the silence. Then, moving with the stealth and restrained power of a jungle cat, he climbed onto the bed. Over her. On hands and knees. His gaze raking across her exposed flesh so intensely it felt like a literal caress.
No, not a caress, it was a harder touch, like fingernails dragging against her skin, down from her collarbone, over the swell of both breasts. Her nipples pebbled, tight and hard.
She arched her back, pushing them higher, a silent plea for his touch. If only he’d take them into his warm mouth, suckle them.
“You are incredible, beautiful, perfect,” he murmured, sounding almost awestruck. It was so touching and sweet, she nearly melted.
She wanted to tell him the many thoughts that were running through her head, but she was afraid to, knowing they’d ruin the moment. Instead, she bit her lip and gave him a grateful smile. When he didn’t move or speak, she took his hand in hers and pulled it to her, flattening it over her breast.
He glanced askance, waiting for a nod before he gently fondled her soft fullness. Inside, she screamed, more. But outside, she kept her face a mask of absolute rapture, encouraging him with soft sighs and little groans.
Oh so right. So good.
He pinched her nipple, rolled it, s
ending white-hot blades of desire shooting through her body.
“Yes, oh yes.” She arched her back more, parted her quivering thighs. The burning ache between them pounded on and on, ever increasing, growing more urgent. Still, he continued a slow, meticulous torment. He pulled one turgid nipple into his mouth and finally slipped a hand between her legs to explore her center.
More desperate for release than ever before, she grabbed his head, fisted his hair, and pulled, forcing his mouth to her breast. Her hips rocked against his shy, teasing touch.
Harder. Please, harder.
Too empty.
The inner walls of her sex clamped around aching emptiness and wave after wave of liquid heat throbbed from them. A fingertip dipped inside, and she swore she was about to die.
Out it went and she swallowed a sob.
“Talen, you’re cruel.”
“I don’t want it to end too quickly. Too fast.” He sounded as breathless as she felt. His finger slipped inside her again, and this time, she clamped her inner muscles around it.
Ooooh…
“And you’re tight,” he murmured, testing her. “Sweet goddess.”
Sweet goddess was right! Did he know what he was doing to her? What that fingertip was stroking?
A guttural sound rumbled from his chest, and she smiled, sensing he was as close to snapping as she was. Every cell in her body celebrated when he inched higher, licking, nipping and kissing his way up her torso, over her breasts to her neck, ears, chin, cheeks, mouth.
“Rubber?” she whispered.
“Rubber?” He tipped his head, giving her a puzzled, flush-faced look.
“You know, condom? If you don’t have any, I have one. In my purse.”
“Um. No. I don’t.”
“I’ll get it.” She started to get up, but he held her in place.
“No. I’ll get your purse.” He returned, her purse clasped in one strong hand, before she’d been able to catch her breath.
“My girlfriend stuck these in here when we went to the bar. Long story.” She fished one out--Ultra Ribbed for her pleasure-- and handed it to Talen.
He tore open the wrapper, unrolled the rubber, inspected it, and finally after much difficulty put it on. Clearly, he had never used one before. She wasn’t sure how to feel about that.
He settled his hips between her spread legs.
Soon! She’d be full of hard, hot cock. Finally, the flared tip of his rod nudged at her opening, and she opened her legs wider and held her breath.
Now, please now.
He inched inside, his shaft stretching her, a slow, absolutely exquisite invasion. Deeper, deeper still, until he had fully seated himself within her. They groaned in unison. Just as slowly, he withdrew, the intimate caress stirring the heat blazing in her body to near lethal temperatures.
In and out, he shafted her with the meticulous care he’d taken in every act of foreplay. She’d never had such an attentive, thorough lover. He seemed to be relishing every sensation—sight, taste, sound, touch—like it was his first time.
Surely, it couldn’t be. Not with the skill he was showing, how he knew exactly where to touch her, how much pressure, to drive her wild with desire.
Angling back, he knelt upright and forced her legs wide apart. He found the hard nub nestled beneath the folds of her labia and stroked up and down. With every thrust of his rod, every caress of her clit, she soared closer to the pinnacle.
In moments, her skin was slick, her muscles trembling, and a whirling vortex of energy was gathering strength in her core. Seeming to sense her upward climb toward completion, he quickened the pace of his caresses. She could tell he was there too, with her. His deep breaths echoed in her head, a glorious accent to the soft slapping sound of their flesh meeting.
The scent of sex hung heavy and sweet in the air, and she gulped it in, eager to drink her fill. She swept her tongue over her lower lip then bit, tasting his kiss still lingering on her mouth.
Harder, faster his length drove in and out, and harder, faster her heartbeat and breathing became. She closed her eyes and let the sensations carry her away, to a beautiful place where she could see scents, taste colors, where her entire being was as small and tight as a pinhead, centered on the pleasure Talen’s body was giving her.
One glorious second later that pinhead exploded in a huge blast of colors and heat. A wave of tingling, zapping bliss shot out from her center, blazing up to the roots of her hair and down to the soles of her feet. The spasms followed, as her body milked Talen’s cock, drawing out her pleasure, making it last for an eternity. It was the most intense orgasm she had ever experienced, the longest too. It barely eased when her body tightened again, the heat of a second climax gathering in her core.
Talen pistoned into her, just the way her body demanded. She rocked her hips, taking him as deep as she could and moaned as a second orgasm rolled over her like a tidal wave. A flurry of sensations blasted her mind, and she opened her eyes, falling deep into Talen’s hooded gaze. A low growl slipped past Talen’s lips. He cupped her face, holding it tenderly as he found release. Hot air singed the skin of her chest and stomach.
The heat slowly eased.
Talen withdrew, disposed of the rubber , lay down and gathered her close.
She smiled as she rested her head on his chest, listening to the racing thump-wump of his heartbeat and the whoosh of air sawing in and out of his lungs. His skin smelled sweet and spicy.
Warm. Safe. Content. She’d be happy to stay like this forever.
Was there any chance this was really as magical and special as it seemed? They were virtual strangers and yet this felt good. Right. Perfect. Like they’d known each other for years, had made love every night, knew every inch of each other’s bodies.
Could this man accomplish what so many others had failed to do? Or was she a fool for even hoping that might be true?
Chapter Three
Talen couldn’t speak. He could barely look Keri in the eye. Not when she was looking at him like that. Oh, goddess. Now what?
He was a shit. The worst kind of scum. He’d been weak, and instead of resisting Keri as he should have, he’d let his defenses slip.
She was so beautiful and vulnerable. But those weren’t the characteristics that had led him to do the unforgivable.
He’d met a lot of women over the centuries, many of them beautiful like Keri, and all of them vulnerable in some way too. What had made Keri different was that she’d warmed his icy heart somehow. It had been centuries since anyone had done that, so long he’d almost forgotten how good it felt.
Maybe it had been what he’d seen in her eyes as they’d shared the most intimate moments any two people could experience. Or perhaps it was the way her face lit when she smiled. He couldn’t say. All he knew was that the ice encasing this prince of fire’s heart had melted, releasing a flood of emotions he hadn’t known he was capable of feeling again.
He was overjoyed and yet devastated. The price for these precious moments would be Keri’s to pay, and that was almost enough to destroy him.
What if Keri took her own life, like Tanith had? When the gods had shown him what had happened, and the eternal price Tanith had paid for committing suicide, a part of his soul had crumbled to dust. The next time he was rejuvenated, he not only remembered everything about his condemned lover but he discovered he had a festering wound on his chest. And unlike the injuries he suffered with each death, it wasn’t healed by the gods before he returned to the living. Instead, it remained. A punishment.
Slowly, it healed, gradually. It took many deaths and rebirths to notice. Years passed. Eons. Until finally the bleeding ceased. The burning eased. Still, even now, he bore a ragged, tight scar across from the base of his throat to the bottom of his ribcage. And his memories of her remained impossibly clear, right down to the anguish in her eyes as she watched him die. Painful reminders to keep his vow.
He couldn’t let Keri suffer the same fate. It was that simple. Couldn’t.
Let. That. Happen…again.
“I don’t normally do this.” Keri wore nothing but a towel as she padded barefoot from the bathroom. Her long hair fell in heavy wet waves over her shoulders and down her back. Fat sparkling droplets of water dripped from the curled ends.
Unsure whether she was waiting for a response from him or not, he nodded. “Me neither.”
“I mean, I’ve had my share of casual sex…” Her cheeks and forehead flushed a hot pink that had him wishing he had a lot more time to spend with her, like years. “Oh God, I sound so pathetic.” Plopping on the bed, she smacked her hands over her face. “I’m going to scare you away. I just know it.”
If only there was some way he could stay with her. For one more day. He’d pay any price, make any sacrifice.
As long as that sacrifice was his to pay, not hers.
He thought he’d been to hell but Hades had nothing on the place he’d taken them to now. He sat beside her, drawing her onto his lap. He inhaled the scent clinging to her hair, dragging one deep breath after another. “You couldn’t scare me away if you tried.”
Her hands slid down her face, revealing a set of hope-filled eyes. “Really?” And he knew then and there that he needed to tell her everything.
This would be the first time for him. Telling his secret had been forbidden. But he would gladly face the wrath of every god in the heavens if it meant Keri would be able to go on with her life after he died.
“I need to tell you a story.” He gently pried her fingers off her face and kissed her fingertips, each one. “About a man who was once very selfish and narrow-minded.”
“Who was this man? Was it you?”
“It was. A long time ago, I did a terrible thing. I let my lust for a woman blind me to what was truly important. I’ve paid the price for my sin for many years, and it’s time to pay again.”
“What’s that mean?” Her fist tightened around the bottom of her towel toga. Her head dropped. “Please, don’t give me some convoluted explanation for why you won’t see me anymore. I can’t stand to hear one more illogical explanation from another man. You don’t know what—”
“Look at me.”