by Sara K
Once Michael had her safe he drew her into his arms he laid her on the ground, breathing a sign of relieve. She had only stared at him, dazedly before collapsing against him. She was in shock, her face was pale, and her eyes too big, her breathing came out as loud gasps. She trembled and shivered against him and Michael drew her naked form over his and wrapped his legs over her lower body to give her heat. His arms wrapped her upper body tightly unable to release her from his grip. He had come so close to losing her. Fury boiled inside him, and the monster in him raised its head.
With sudden anger, he thumped his closed fist in the ground and groaned with ferocity and hatred. Not for her. Never for her. He would love her with his last breath. If she had fallen from such a height the chances of survival were not good. He cursed himself and the vampire who he had destroyed in his courtyard, the one who had damaged the wall and made the courtyard a hazard. Michael swore with self-hatred, how could he not have seen the damage earlier. Why had he not inspected the grounds once the vampire was taken care of? His stupidly, his mistake nearly cost his Clara’s life.
Michael wallowed in his thoughts, his jaw tightened with anger and fear for Clara. Deliberately he allowed his fists to uncurl and rub her back gently, up and down in slow motion. Glancing down he saw her face buried on his chest, her hands were placed along her side. He frowned at her naked body and wondered why she was undressed and alone outside. Before he had gone to visit Cassie and Justin he ensured she was asleep. Michael was curious as to what happened after he had gone.
She was ever so quite against him, oblivious to his nudity as well as her own. When he had shifted shape, he knew she had seen him, he would have done so earlier, but he thought he would be able to save her in his wolf form. He only hoped she did not remember. When his anger faded and concern overtook as well as emotions he, felt the softness of her body pressed against him. Her breasts were against his chest; slowly his hand drifted down and trailed along the underside of her breast. His entire being tightened and hardened, until his erection lifted and touched the junction between her legs. His hands continued stroking her, whilst his erection prodded and probed between her legs. Feeling something nudge against her skin, Kristine opened her eyes looking confused. Her lips pressed together to not cry out. Her hands trailed down his muscled chest and she realised the ache in her fingers. She moaned in pain.
Michael drew her fingers inside her mouth, stroking and licking with his tongue. “Are you alright." He asked gently, his gaze searched her face intently. She nodded in protest and shivered.
Clara was well aware of his hands on her body. They were ever so gentle that she shivered again. Michael took that as a sign of her being cold and pressed her closer against him, his legs draped over hers. Suddenly she was warm, lifting her head she looked down at him, wanting to speak but unable to say what she wanted.
"Say anything, sweetheart." He told her, reading her mind. Clara didn’t care; she was far too confused and shocked to care whether he read her mind.
"I don’t know what happened." She started weakly. Shifting slightly her lower body came into contact with the thickness of him. She saw him groan and hardened even more. A little surprised with her being on top of him she attempted to move away. Michael's strong hands grasped her hips in both hands and moved her gently over him, so his erection rubbed against the triangle of curls. "Feel that, honey." He told her, his voice strained. He pressed her harder against him "See my desire for you, feel it."
Clara gasped, although in the dark she couldn’t see him, she certainly felt him. She felt the way he manoeuvred her hips over himself and when he parted her legs wide and rolled her over and rested himself over her little body, Clara winced as pain shot through her. She flinched when his hands roamed over her.
Michael saw it then; he saw what made her withdraw. Not just her emotional state but her physical health. Lifting his head his gaze scanned her body, with his powerful vision he saw the bruises, the scratches ever so clearly. He swore in his language for not being careful with her, if he had taken her here, claimed her he would have hurt her beyond repair.
"Explain to me what happened. How is it that every time I leave you alone trouble finds you." He asked as he carried her inside.
He was angry at her. She could feel it and it made her feel like a little child being told off and reprimand. She swallowed hard and told him about the dream and how she woke up outside in the dark without any knowledge of how she got there.
"I thought I was sleepwalking." She said. "But then I realise I don’t sleep walk which made everything all the more difficult to understand."
"The dream, what voices did you hear." He asked.
Clara shrugged her shoulder and then winced as pain shot through her again. Looking down she saw her shoulder was sore and throbbing.
"I don’t know, none that I recognise. I'm too tired to think about the dream." Letting her head fall back against the headboard she closed her eyes and muttered. "I could sleep forever."
Resting her ahead back, against the pillow Clara signed deeply one he interpreted as sadness and told him she was thinking too much. "We're such different people, Michael." She muttered. "I called you." she said looking up at him. "I thought I was going to die and you were in my mind, the last person I called because in my heart something told me that you'd come no matter what." She frowned and glanced at him. "I don’t know why my heart believed that so much, whilst my mind thought you had deserted me." Michael took her hand, kissing her palm, creating wonderful sensations. "I felt hurt, Michael. My mind kept telling me you didn’t want me anymore." She confessed.
"Impossible, honey. I want you more than I want to breathe. You do not know how much. My love for you is unconditional. In time I know you will come to love me, want me as I do you."
Clara widened her eyes in agitation. "What if I can't do this? What if I can't be in a proper relationship? I've never done this before. Commitment is something I'm afraid off."
"You worry too much." He whispered, lowering his mouth to hers. She held her breath waiting for him to kiss her. She didn’t know what she wanted. Did she want him? Did she want him to kiss her? Her mind was in turmoil. The only comfort she had was that he would never hurt her. He was ever so tender and gentle, although his body held power and force which she didn’t want to see. She felt his mouth move across her throat and her heart began to pound in anticipation. He was incredibly gentle, tender so careful not to hurt her. His breath was warm against her neck as his mouth moved across her throat and her pulse quickened underneath his palm. His lips drifted up her throat, his teeth tugged gently on her chin, skimmed along her cheek to find the corner of her mouth. His tongue stroked, lingered. Traced her lips until she moaned against him, wrapped her arms around his neck and opened for him.
With a tug of his hand, Michael drew away the sheet covering satin skin, the treasure he desperately wanted. Would sell his soul to obtain. She didn’t protest but watched him closely her eyes never leaving his face. Michael growled deep in his throat as his eyes skimmed to every inch of her body, the dirt and bruises were present.
"You saved me didn’t you." her alarmed voice lifted his head, his eyes drifting over her face. "The wolf changed into you." she asked, alarmed and shocked at the same time. She waited for confirmation and he gave it to her.
“Yes, I only regret not shifting earlier; your injuries could have been prevented. I did not want to scare you but in the end it was necessary."
"Oh, Michael don't blame yourself." She said. "It's not your fault."
"I should have been there before. I am sorry."
"Sometimes, you can’t always protect the ones you love." She said sadly, meeting his gaze. "Sometimes risks have to be taken."
"You are thinking with your human mind."
"That's because I am human."
"I will not allow you to take risks, Clara In all my existence I have never protected or cherished nor wanted anything as much as you."
Clara yaw
ned. "Are you telling me you've never risked anything?"
"Precisely. I had nothing I could call my own. My duty was to protect my race and our leader, to hunt vampires and eliminate threats. I am a warrior, Clara. It’s my job." Michael brushed a strand of hair from her forehead. His fingers skimmed along her skin, her temple. Clara closed her eyes.
"I'm sorry; I'm not going to pretend I understand but..." another yawn and her eyelids dropped.
Michael placed two pillows behind her and placed her head gently onto them. His love for her grew every day. Her half covered body was tempting, his desire was endless. He wanted to lick and suck every inch of her he wanted to make love to her in the purest way. His passion was over consuming.
“It’s pretty strange having a voice in your head. I thought I was going insane." The voice dropped lower.
Michael stroked the pulse beating at her neck. "It takes energy to speak to another without using your lips and voice. If you hear me speak to you in your mind, do not panic or become upset. It is a natural and intimate way for us."
"I don’t know how I'll feel about that." She said hazily.
Now that he had shown her the telepathic link, he looked forward to communicating with her intimately, whispering right into her mind. A soft smile curved his lips. Michael watched her sleeping form. "Are you hurting anywhere?"
With his fingers he gently touched the bruises over her chest, the temptation was too resisting. He pushed the sheet lower, his hands moved down her spine, shaped her breasts, memorised the curve of her hips. He felt her protest in her mind, the uncomfortable feeling she had started to experience. The sudden withdrawal.
"Do you detest my touch, sweetheart." He asked as gently and calmly as possible.
She didn’t reply after several seconds. "Not like I hated when…" catching herself she bit her lips and traded what she was about to say." I can't explain how your touch makes me feel. It's not something I first thought it would be. Maybe because I haven’t been touched by anyone the way I've been touched with you. When you kiss me I feel alive, I feel all these emotions which makes me wonder if I'm supposed to be feeling them." opening her eyes she stared into his eyes. "Please don’t think I hate your kisses and touches. It's just…I'm afraid." Clara let out a deep breath.
"What were your feelings outside? I wanted you right then before I realised you were hurt."
Clara blushed in embarrassment. God she remembered the feeling of him pressed against her. Most of all she remembered the tight face as if he was struggling for control, the eyes that heated with desire and fire. "I don’t know, Michael. I was so scared of what happened that I didn’t pay attention to what you were trying to do."
"We have all the time I believe in courting a woman before claiming her."
"And you've done such a wonderful job of it." She snapped derisively "By bringing me here and controlling me and treating me as a sex slave."
Michael shook his head. "It was necessary for me to keep you here. You belong to me. You are not a sex slave, Clara but belong only to me, by my side. We do not only connect physically but also emotionally."
Clara thought about that. She believed him about the connection thing since he was so tuned to her emotions and her thoughts. Nothing ever escaped him. Yawning she said. "I'm tired, although I'd like to ask you what you've been doing tonight. I just don’t have the energy to…" her voice trailed off. Michael caught her hand, placing kisses against her palm.
Sleep my love
Clara groaned and touched her head. "I think this will take a while to get used to."
Michael fought of a smile. "Do you not want to communicate back in the same way?"
Clara made a little face. "No, don’t want to get you excited than you already are."
"I am excited every time I see you, Clara. There is nothing else that gives me joy."
"You're very hopeful, aren’t you?"
"Yes, when I know I can get what I like."
Clara rolled her eyes. "Men, always so sure of themselves."
Michael chuckled. "And women, always so stubborn."
Clara tilted her head and glanced up at him. "Have you never been with a woman?"
"Perhaps I can answer your questions another time. The sun will rise soon."
"Always so caring, aren’t you." she joked." But I want an answer."
Michael bent his head and kissed her lightly on the lips, withdrawing quickly. "Always very stubborn." He started telling her the truth. "I have not been with a woman for the last six hundred years. In the beginning I was with several women, I was young, happy and enjoyed female company."
"I can see why women fell all over you. You're beautiful and enchanting."
"I am glad you find those qualities in me, perhaps those will be enough for you to spend eternity with me." he said humorously.
"Carry on. Where did you live?"
Michael's thoughts drifted to the past. "For the first two hundred years I remained in Italy alongside other's from my race. Occasionally I travelled to Russia where several newly formed vampires lived. For the last six hundred years I grew stronger in strength. I became a warrior. I travelled Europe, jumping from continent to continent hunting and killing vampires. For six centuries I honoured my race, fought alongside them. I became too restless to stay in one country, in one place. I was forever on the move. When Shea cursed me I felt I would betray the people I worked so hard to protect. The High Council warned me only a true sole mate can break the curse."
His gaze searched her face. "You changed everything, Clara. I knew I had found the one I burn for with every setting sun."
Chapter 18: The KILL
“I’m sorry you were so alone." Clara said tiredly.
Something dark flashed in his eyes. "Do not pity me."
"I'm not." She yawned. "I understand what alone feels like, I know what it’s like to live in the darkness and have no hope. I've been through that too, remember. Not for several hundred years. But long enough to know the terrible ache."
"You have been utterly alone for twenty years, sweetheart." He stated gently.
Clara nodded sorrowfully. "Don’t go there, Michael." she warned as her throat closed with sobs. "I can't bear to remember."
His fingers stroked back her hair. “Let me take away the pain. I want to take away those memories so you never have to remember again."
"You can't erase twenty years of my life." She said incredulously
"I can do anything for your happiness." his lips were inches away from her lips. "Let me give you pleasure, sweetheart. Allow me to heal the broken parts of you."
"What!"
As in demonstration, Michael loomed over her, pulled back the sheets until every part of her was exposed to him. He sucked in a breath and concentrated on her face. Slowly his hands slid up her thigh, the other tracing each breast.
"Clara –"
She did not know what was happening, except she was lying naked whilst his hands were on her body. His hands roamed over her skin, making her shiver beneath him. Was she totally insane to allow this man so close to her? A sudden panic went shooting through her as those terrible memories resurfaced. Clara closed her eyes and swallowed the lump. In her mind she saw those hands stroking her, felt Michael caressing, licking her flesh inch by inch. Clara was torn between surrendering to him and withdrawing into herself. He was ever so gentle; when she opened her eyes his gaze caught hers and held her within their dark depths.
Michael gently, carefully captured each breast in his palm squeezed softly. His fingers gently circling each nipple at the same time his eyes watched her moan in discomfort than pleasure. This was the first step for her. It was a necessity otherwise the joining would be much harder and difficult for her.
It was a hardship for him to control himself, to keep at bay the demon that threatened to release his head and claim her without thought. Regardless he stroked every inch of her skin with his hands and tongue; occasionally she would take in deep breaths or close her eyes. Michael
hovered over her, bracing his knees on either side of her hips; he lowered his mouth letting his tongue lick and savour her flesh, taking away the bruises and marks left by the earlier accident.
Clara felt exposed, naked. Her hands clenched the mattress then lifted to draw him away. With her hands on his chest she pushed lightly. "Please… I can't."
His brown eyes flashed furiously, his right hand slipped between her thighs. "You can. We are nearly there." Michael hated himself for doing this to her. She wasn’t ready neither was she comfortable. Grinding his teeth with hatred for the mortal who reduced her to this, he parted her legs watching her face for the emotions that appeared as his fingers caressed her inner thigh.
Her body tensed in rejection. She bit her lips to prevent herself from crying out. God, she didn’t even feel any pleasure just a desire to get away from the memories that entered her mind, reminding her off a time not long ago. Would she ever forget? Or would those memories destroy her, interfere with her life.
Michael lowered his mouth to hers with a sudden growl and kissed her with a deep, never ending longing. His mouth explored hers. His tongue parted her lips, thrust into her mouth. He ignored her thrashing body and thrust into her mouth, explored the interior. He deepened the kiss as the wild fire in him was set ablaze. He never wanted to separate her from him. He devoured her mouth thirstily feeling the darkness mingle with the sheer pleasure. On and on he kept the flow of kisses, not giving her chance to breathe instead inhaling into her mouth, giving her his breath.
She knew he had drugged her completely and utterly. She had given him control over her without knowing it. His kisses knocked the sense out of her. She felt the heat radiating from him. Smelt his masculine scent. She didn’t know how to breathe when his mouth overtook hers. Clara lay still, eyes closed surrendering her mouth to his for invasion. She felt his tongue at the back of her throat and chocked. Instantly he withdrew and she gulped in chunks of air into her lungs. His lips left her mouth and trailed down her body. She shivered, closing her legs and wrapping an arm around her waist to ward him off.