Midnight Temptation

by Shari Nichols

  Desire, warm and wanton, flashed in her eyes, filling the emptiness inside his chest.

  In one quick move, he switched their positions so he was on top and planted his hands on either side of her head. He lifted her hips and nudged the tip of his cock inside her entrance. He moved, slowly at first, taking his time, wanting to bring her to new heights. But when she pushed her hips up, the last bit of his control slipped. He couldn’t hold back; he thrust hard and deep.

  Heaven was the only word that came to mind. He filled her, and at that moment, he never felt so alive.

  “You’re so wet for me. You feel so damn good, so tight. This won’t last long,” he murmured in a voice thick with lust. God, it was better than he imagined.

  She arched into him, her body molded to his. She met him stroke for stroke, grasping at his shoulders, digging her fingers into his skin.

  The sound of their bodies slapping together, their heavy breathing piercing the air, became too much.

  “Jesus, Gillian.”

  He drove into her over and over. She moved with him, driving him to the brink of insanity. Her legs spread wider, and she was right there with him. Finally, he got to claim her, after months of fantasizing. She was real, and his.

  “Oh Garrett, I need—”

  He slid his fingers between them to rub her clit. He tried to prolong his orgasm. His body stretched to the breaking point. Her cry went off and rang sharply through the room. The expression on her face and the sound of her climax set him off. He stroked into her again and then when he could take no more, his hips jerked once, twice.

  “I’m going to…ah!” He growled her name and crushed her body to his while he exploded into her. Wave after wave of pleasure consumed him.

  When he finally caught his breath and his ability to form coherent words again, he pressed his forehead to hers, praying he didn’t hurt her. “I’m so sorry if I was rough with you.” He reached up and stroked her cheek. When she remained silent, his gut tightened. He brushed her hair off her face. “Talk to me, baby.”

  Her eyes turned smoky and filled with unmistakable lust. “Take me to your bedroom.”

  Chapter 24

  Butterflies fluttered in Gillian’s belly. She wanted to curl against Garrett and melt into a puddle on the mattress, but right now she could barely move. She sighed with contentment and ran her hands up and down his muscled back. She was rewarded with his sharp intake of breath. She smiled, reveling in the moment. She continued to stroke him, loving the feel of his skin. It was like touching silk over steel. His naked body was a thing to behold. She’d never felt like this before. He was unlike any guy she’d ever been with. He knew how to rile her, piss her off, and leave her breathless with passion. All of which screamed disaster in red blinking lights. Brooke would say she was overthinking things.

  Brooke.

  She tensed, fretting what would happen when they did find her. No matter what, she’d never lose sight of hope.

  “Gillian? What are you thinking? I can see the tension come over you.” He brushed a finger between her brows. “Right here.” Garrett murmured in a throaty voice and then buried his face in her neck. He turned onto his back, taking her with him. “No regrets, I hope.”

  “It’s nothing. I’m here with you and just experienced the best sex of my life,” she said and touched her lips. Still basking in the afterglow of postcoital bliss, she moved to tuck in the nook of Garrett’s arm. Normally, she would’ve been self-conscious lying beside him naked, but the undisguised lust in his gaze was all the assurance she needed.

  “Why do I detect a ‘but’ in there?” He moved onto his elbow and reached over to push her hair behind her ear.

  “I can’t help but feeling guilty enjoying myself, when Brooke’s still out there with Lawrence.”

  “I understand.” He caressed her arms, and she shivered. “You care very deeply for the ones you love. I’ve seen you with your friends. You go out of your way to care for the people in your life. It’s what makes you the warm, wonderful person that you are. For now, we know Brooke’s alive. You’ve seen her in your visions, and you got a message from Natalya’s aunt. If we could rescue her any faster, we would. In a few days, she’ll be back here with you. I give you my word.”

  They lounged on his king-sized bed with their legs entwined. Decorated in navy and taupe with dark wood furniture, this room gave off a more masculine vibe. After round two on the couch, they’d made their way up here to his master suite on the third floor. She’d snuck into the bathroom for a quick shower and let her hair air-dry.

  “I’m still blown away by all of this, but in a very good way.” Being here with him was the best adrenaline rush of her life, like walking on a tight rope from twenty stories up. “This sure beats all those times we were at each other’s throats. I’m still not letting you off the hook about going to the party.” Great sex or not, she wasn’t giving in on the matter. His scent invaded her senses, a combination of sandalwood, sweat, and clean laundry. She breathed him in and closed her eyes. She stretched like a cat, loving the feel of his arms wrapped around her.

  “Breaking the rules seems to be a thing for you. I wonder how far back this rebellious streak of yours goes.” A mischievous sparkle flashed in his eyes.

  He turned her so she lay flat on her back and tickled her sides. His fingers moved to caress her breast then danced across her nipple, making her shiver.

  “I talked to Alex by the way, and he agrees with you.” His hand moved to her stomach. He drew lazy circles across her skin with his finger. “We’re letting you go with us to the ball, but you must do exactly what we tell you, understood?”

  She sighed with relief. “I promise you won’t regret it. Don’t worry. I already have a costume. Thank you.”

  Once Brooke was found and Lawrence was behind bars, she wasn’t sure what would happen to this pseudo-relationship of theirs. Would she be another notch on his belt when all was said and done? She pushed the unpleasant thought to the back of her mind.

  “You’re welcome.”

  He pulled her toward him so they faced each other and placed a tender kiss on her lips. They’d made love twice already in the span of hours, and yet, his erection still prodded her. Her finger traced a line from the center of his chest to his heart. The image of a Mallowmar cookie came to mind. Somewhere under the hard shell lay a marshmallow.

  “I do have a question.” Cuddling together like this, skin to skin, made all the barriers between them melt away.

  “You can ask me anything, Gillian.”

  He stroked her hair and massaged her scalp. She sighed with contentment, loving his sensual touch.

  “When we were making love, did you think about biting me? I was just curious if that’s a major turn-on for you.”

  His hand stilled mid-stroke and untangled from her hair. He stretched his arms over his head, and his chest flexed with the movement. She couldn’t stop staring at all the lean, sinewy muscle in front of her. His torso and stomach looked to be carved from stone. Her gaze roamed lower to his dark “happy trail”. She licked her lips in appreciation. Ellen was right, he was a God.

  “You know how to get right to the point, don’t you?” From the edge to his voice, the question seemed to weigh heavily on him.

  “I’m sorry. I just think we should be honest with each other from now on. I want to get to know all of you. No more playing pretend,” she said and sunk deeper into the pillows.

  “Okay, I suppose you do have a point.” He sat up and ran a hand through his hair, making it stand on end. “My urge to bite you is the same intense, sexual urge I have to lick inside your core, and suck on your breasts, taste the sweetness of your release. But biting into the flesh and tasting your blood, getting aroused from the act itself is purely a vampiric tendency, not a human one.”

  “When you say it like that I get warm all over,” she whispered. His sultry words made her body flame to life, ready to combust. “You told me that I could never get addicted to your bloo
d. If that’s not your concern, then what is?”

  He gazed at her with raw hunger in his eyes. “There are those vampires that can get carried away in the throes of passion. They drink too much and drain all the blood from the body. I’d never bite you no matter how tempted I was because biting you could bring up memories of what you witnessed with Brooke, and what Lawrence did to her. Are you bringing this up because you saw my fangs? Did they frighten you?”

  “No, I found them sexy. I just want to get to know you better, Garrett, every part of you. It would be totally different with you. It would be incredibly sensual. Don’t ever compare yourself to Lawrence. You’re nothing like him. You’re kind and loving…generous. You’re a man of honor.”

  He took a deep breath. “I don’t know about that last part. I’m supposed to be protecting you, not seducing you. I never intended for this to happen. I suppose it was inevitable. I couldn’t fight my attraction to you no matter how hard I tried. It only grew the more I got to know you.” A fierce expression came over his handsome face. “I’ve already crossed a dozen lines. Don’t ask me to cross anymore.”

  He leaned over and pressed his lips to her mouth, kissing her deeply. He rubbed a finger between her legs. His touch made her melt. Her body liquefied on the spot.

  She pulled away, breathless. “I understand why you won’t bite me, but I want to feel your fangs on me.” She touched his cheek, running her hand over a day’s worth of delicious scruff. “Please.”

  “Gillian, sweet, sweet Gillian. What are you doing to me?” His blue eyes stayed latched on hers, turning molten with desire, and her heart fluttered in response. “The moment I pushed inside your warm, wet heat I went over to the dark side, and loved every minute of it, I might add. There’s no going back for me.” He spread her legs, and climbed on top of her, forcing her breath out in a rush.

  His hardness beckoned her and made her wild for him.

  His dark head moved down her body, and the sight aroused her beyond belief. He cupped her breast and his fangs scraped her nipple. The sensation of the two made her wet and needy, desperate for more. He moved lower still, and his fangs grazed her inner thigh.

  “Garrett, don’t stop,” she whispered on a moan.

  His tongue darted inside her core. He licked and sucked, over and over in the same sensitive spot. And just when she thought she’d explode into a million pieces and scatter to the wind, he reared up, guided his thick erection into her core, and pushed inside her to the root. She whimpered from the tingling heat shooting up her spine.

  “I need to feel you. You feel so tight, so good. You drive me crazy.”

  He filled every part of her, stretching her until she swore she could take no more. Pleasure and pain collided together in a sensation of pure bliss. When he looked at her this time, his expression radiated with desire, and if she stared at him long enough, she swore she could get lost forever.

  He lifted her arms over her head and laced their fingers together. She wanted to stay this way until the sun came up—their two bodies joined together as one without a care in the world, but then reality would set in and pull them from their bubble.

  With every part of their bodies touching, he moved at a slower pace, unlike the frantic lovemaking of earlier. This time his paced slowed and became more intimate in every way. She loved the weight and the heat from his body on hers.

  “Oh, God…Garrett.” Her body began to shudder with each deep stroke. She moaned and lifted her hips, and he increased the pace. Waves of pleasure curled up her spine, making every nerve ending tingle. Sensations moved through her with each roll of her hips. When it became too much, she turned her head.

  “Gillian, stay with me,” he said in a commanding voice, touching her chin. “I need to see your face when you come.” He reared up, altering the angle without slowing his pace, and they both let out a groan.

  He kept his gaze locked on hers. The edge of her climax raced through her. Her body began to undulate from the heat and the friction. Her nerve endings sparked with pleasure and pain. “I’m close. I’m going to—” She gripped his broad shoulders for dear life.

  “Come with baby, that’s it.” His words elicited another gasp from her lips.

  A rainbow of light and color filled her vision and she broke apart.

  He repeated her name and lifted her hips, driving into her with one last thrust. His face twisted into an expression of pure bliss. With a roar, he spilled inside her. After a few minutes, he continued to breathe hard with his face buried in her neck. He eventually lifted his head and kissed her softly on the lips, then rolled off her.

  “You undo me, Gillian.” His words made her heart flutter.

  Sated and happy, she turned and touched his jaw. “I’ve always secretly wondered if the legends about vampires are true, the ones about being able to go all night long?”

  In one quick movement, he pinned her to the mattress with the weight of his body. A sinful gleam flared in his blue eyes. “Baby, I’m only just getting started.”

  Hours later, after ravishing each other God knew how many times, they sat tangled together, soaking in his clawfoot tub. Candlelight flickered from just about every surface of his bathroom. Enveloped in steam, he glanced up at the skylight and the view of the night sky.

  “I could get used to this,” Garrett whispered close to Gillian’s ear. His gaze moved to her neck. He brushed the hair off her nape and massaged her shoulders.

  In response, Gillian lifted her leg, and one pink, painted toenail darted out to crank on the faucet to add a little hot water. “Me too. Except for the part where we get all pruney.” She lifted her hand to show him and rested her head against his shoulder. He had no intention of going anywhere.

  The scent of shampoo and body wash lingered in the air, along with the intoxicating fragrance of her sweet musk. Her lovely ass stayed nestled against the ridge of his erection. Needless to say, he’d been hard from the moment they got into the bath. He wrapped his arms around her body, loving the silky texture of her skin. As long as he lived he could honestly admit without hesitation that nothing compared to this. Every minute he spent with Gillian moved him beyond words.

  “I think I like getting pruney with you.” He smoothed her hair back and kissed her temple. “Tell me a secret about yourself. I want to know you, Gillian, for real this time.” There was no sense in holding back anymore.

  “Tonight when I was out there all alone, I couldn’t stop thinking if something happened to me, I’d never see you again.” Her words made his chest tight.

  She somehow managed to scoop out all the ugliness and death he’d seen over his lifetime and fill it with lightness and beauty. And the thought of anything happening to her threatened to let it all back in. But nothing would, nothing could, as long as she stayed in his arms. A warm, fuzziness spread from his head to his toes.

  “I’m here now and I’m not going anywhere.” The statement felt completely out of character for him, considering his pattern with women. Never getting too close meant that no one got hurt, and yet, the idea of losing Gillian made panic settle into his limbs like wet concrete.

  He reached his hand between her thighs, gliding his fingers in her moist flesh. She opened for him on a sigh, splashing water over the sides of the tub. He loved making her squirm. “There will be puddles leaking into the basement if we keep this up,” he said with a chuckle.

  “Is this how you persuade all your witnesses to talk?” she asked, sliding her hand out to poke him in the ribs.

  “Only the gorgeous ones.” He moved his hands to rest on either side of the tub and stared over her head to the window, wondering what repercussions he’d face for getting involved with a witness. “I’m kidding. Overall my lifetimes, I’ve never done something like this before. I plan to email my boss and take full responsibility. I value my professional life.”

  “I didn’t plan on this happening either, Garrett.” After a tense moment, she sat up and hugged her knees to her chest.

 
; “No, baby, I didn’t mean it to come out sounding harsh. For the past hundred or so years, my career was all I had. I value it, but I value you more.” He rubbed her back. “Okay, back to my question, I believe you were about to tell me a secret that you’ve never told anyone.”

  She relaxed against his chest. “After everything you’ve been through, I’m afraid it may sound insensitive.”

  “Hey, you should never be afraid to speak your truth, no matter what.” He stroked her wet hair. “In this scenario, how about we assume I’m a flesh and blood man.”

  “Well, in that case, I do have a secret I’ve never told anyone. Ever since my mom died, I’ve dreamed about having a large family of my own. Growing up without any siblings was lonely, especially on holidays. I always imagined my children would resemble my mom in some way. Everyone told us we looked so much alike. For me, it would be like getting a piece of her back to treasure every day. Does that sound cheesy to you?”

  He remained silent. Her words cut through him like a knife. No matter how much he cared about her, it would never be enough. He couldn’t give her what she wanted, what she deserved. Whatever foolish hopes he held onto evaporated like mist. He swallowed the lump now clogging his throat. “Not at all. I think it’s a beautiful sentiment.”

  “Your turn for a secret. Have you ever been in love?” she asked in a tentative voice. The question filled him with regret.

  He rubbed his hand along the nape of her neck. “There was a woman once, Lilly. She lived in the village I grew up in. We fell in love, but it didn’t work out in the end. What about you?”

  “No. I’ve kissed a lot of frogs in my day.” Her slender shoulders slumped forward. “But sadly, none of them turned out to be princes.”

  “I find that hard to believe unless you’re simply meeting the wrong ones. You’re smart, caring, not to mention incredibly beautiful. I bet men would be lining up for you in droves if they thought they had a chance. What about what you do with your cards or one of Saje’s love potions for that matter? You’ve never put either to good use?”