How to Tame a Beast in Seven Days

by Kerrelyn Sparks

  Heat invaded her cheeks. Maybe being naked wasn’t so bad after all. It had probably been ages since the poor man had been able to touch anyone. She bit her lip. Were they able to touch because they were both Embraced? Or did it have something to do with her mother being struck by lightning? Had she somehow become immune to lightning?

  “You’re frowning.” With his thumb, he stroked the skin between her eyebrows. “Why not be happy that we don’t have to wait for a drought?”

  “I was trying to figure out why—”

  “No.” He smoothed his fingers over her brow and down the curve of her face. “No more thinking. For the rest of the night, you should do nothing but feel.”

  “But I have a theory—” She stopped when he placed a finger on her lips.

  “Feel as I make love to my wife.”

  She swallowed hard. Maybe she should tell him the truth now. Shouldn’t he know who exactly his wife was? But what if he felt betrayed by her deception?

  “You’re frowning again.”

  She took a deep breath to prepare herself, but that caused her bare breasts to push against his chest in such a delicious manner that her thoughts scattered momentarily before she was able to focus once more. “There’s something I should tell you.”

  “Later.” He rubbed his thumb along her lips, and once again she fell prey to an intriguing sensation. All her awareness centered on the tingling of her lips and a sudden, urgent desire to be kissed.

  “For now, there are only a few words I want to hear.” He pressed gently on her lower lip. “You can tell me faster, slower, harder, and—” He leaned closer till his mouth was only a breath away from hers.

  Sweet goddesses, yes. Please kiss me.

  He pressed his lips lightly against hers, then pulled back to look at her. “Softer.”

  Was that it? She needed more.

  “Then there’s my favorite—” He cradled her head with his hands. “—don’t stop.”

  Her hands slipped up to his shoulders. “Don’t stop.”

  He smiled, then leaned over to give her a slow, languid kiss, one that made her feel cherished and warm, as if she could gently melt into him. And the more she melted, the more she wanted to feel. There was the sweet pressure and nibbling he was doing to her lips, the strength of his broad shoulders beneath her hands, the softness of his hair as it curled around her fingers. Her breasts felt oddly full and heavy, and heat gathered between her legs, filling her with a need so demanding, she was sorely tempted to press against the hardness in his breeches.

  At first thought, that didn’t seem like a wise thing to do. But the more she fought the need, the more intense it became. Perhaps he wouldn’t notice a tiny, little rub, just enough to ease the torment building inside her.

  He noticed. With a growl, he thrust his tongue into her mouth.

  Stunned, she reared back, breaking the kiss. “What are you—”

  He planted his hands on her bare rump and pulled her hard against him.

  She gasped. “Leo?”

  “Let me in.”

  She blinked. “In? Where?”

  “Here.” He ground his hardness against her. “And here.” He cupped a hand around the back of her head and kissed her once more.

  If the first kiss had melted her, this one set her on fire. It was no gentle wooing of a lady, but a victor claiming possession. He demanded entrance. He invaded. His mouth devoured hers, and with each stroke of his tongue, he rocked her against the hard length in his breeches.

  Moisture seeped from her womanly core, and a quivering, aching need escalated inside her till she blatantly squirmed against him.

  A noise sounded deep in his throat. He broke the kiss, grabbed her around the waist, and set her on the nearby table.

  “The food,” she murmured as her hip brushed against the basket. He transferred the basket and corked bottle of wine to a nearby easy chair, his movement so fast, it blurred before her eyes.

  “Here.” He handed her one goblet and downed the second one.

  She took a few sips of wine, then halted with the goblet halfway to her mouth when he yanked off his shirt. His shoulders were incredibly broad, the skin smooth except for one scar across his left shoulder. Dark-brown hair curled in the center of his chest, then made a line down to the swelling in his breeches.

  “Done?” He took the goblet from her, noticed it was still half full, then with a crooked smile, he shoved her onto her back.

  “Leo?” She gasped when he fondled a breast, then leaned over to draw her nipple into his mouth. Good goddesses, the things this man could do with his tongue.

  “Now for a feast.” He poured the rest of her wine over her breasts, then down her ribs and belly, finishing the last drops between her legs. After tossing the goblet aside, he began with her breasts, licking and suckling till she was whimpering with pleasure.

  “Leo.” She dug her fingers into his soft hair, then rubbed her hands across the bare skin of his shoulders and back. When he dragged his tongue down the wine path to her belly, she squeezed her thighs together as the raw need in her womanly core intensified to nearly frantic levels.

  She gasped when his fingers delved into the curls between her legs. Was he supposed to be touching her there?

  “I want to see you.” Before she could object, he lifted her legs and spread them wide.

  “Leo!” Good goddesses, was he supposed to be looking at her?

  “Beautiful.” He hooked a foot around a chair leg and dragged it closer. Then he sat with her legs draped over his shoulders. “I think you’ll taste like woman and sweet wine.”

  She blinked. Taste? Surely he wasn’t supposed to taste her! “Leo, this can’t be right—” She gasped when his fingers skimmed over her folds.

  “You’re so pink and soft. And wet. Ah, this is especially pretty.” He tickled a spot that made her jolt. “Hang on.” He grasped her thighs and leaned in.

  She cried out when his mouth enveloped her. Holy goddesses, she didn’t care if this wasn’t right, she wanted more of it. He suckled gently, then teased her with his tongue.

  “Faster,” she breathed, and he complied. “Harder.” The pleasure spiraled upward, taking her with it. “Don’t stop!”

  She screamed as she shattered. Delicious throbs racked her body, and she squeezed him with her thighs. Good goddesses, if this was making love, she’d want to do it every day.

  Closing her eyes, she stretched. “That was lovely. Could we have a bite to eat afore going to sleep?”

  “You want a taste of this?”

  She opened her eyes, then gasped. “Oh, my … what?” He’d dropped his breeches, and an enormous … thing was pointing upward. Holy goddesses, it was the lightning rod!

  “You’d better not have a taste right now. I’m about to explode.”

  “What?” Could he actually explode? She jolted when he parted her folds and inserted a finger inside her.

  He gave her a lopsided grin. “It’ll be a tight fit.”

  Huh? Surely he wasn’t intending to put the lightning rod inside her? “Tha—that’s not going to work.”

  “It will.” He inserted a second finger. “Relax.”

  Who was he kidding?

  “You’re so beautiful.” His fingers stroked her inside, while his other hand teased the sweet spot he’d suckled earlier. “Soft, wet, and swollen. Does it feel good?”

  She whimpered.

  “I want to make you scream again. Ah, do you hear that?” He waggled his fingers inside her. “The sound of more juice.”

  She moaned. The aching need was coming back stronger than ever.

  He removed his fingers and licked them. Just the sight of that made more moisture seep from her.

  “Leo…”

  “Yes?” He wrapped her legs around his waist.

  “Don’t stop.”

  A corner of his mouth curled up. “My favorite words.” He nuzzled his cock against her and pushed slowly in.

  She pressed her heels against hi
s back, her muscles tensing as he eased inside. When a twinge of pain made her cry out, he stopped.

  “By the Light.” He closed his eyes briefly as he breathed heavily. His grip on her hips tightened.

  “Is something wrong?”

  He opened his eyes. “You’re a virgin.”

  She huffed. “Did ye think I wouldn’t—” Her breath caught. Oh, dear goddesses, no. Was he taking this as proof that she wasn’t Tatiana? She hadn’t realized a man could detect something like virginity. Would he reject her now for her deception?

  He leaned over her, his gaze burning into hers. “There is only one thing I need to know. And I will have the truth, understand?”

  Tears welled in her eyes as she nodded.

  “Do you want me as your husband?”

  Relief rocked through her, for that was so easy to answer. “Yes. Yes, I do.”

  “Good.” He grasped her hips and plunged inside her.

  She cried out.

  “It’ll be all right.” He kissed her cheek as her tears overflowed. “It won’t hurt again.”

  She shook her head. “It’s not just the pain. It’s … regret. I should have told you before.”

  “No regrets.” He held her face with his hands and wiped her tears with his thumbs. “Don’t you see? You’re the only one I can touch. We’re supposed to be together.”

  She touched his hair as another tear escaped. Red and black. And the two will become one. Even the Telling Stones had said they were destined for each other. “I love ye so much, Leo.”

  “I love you, too.” He slowly pulled out, then pushed back in. “Are you all right?”

  “Yes.” She clutched his shoulders as he slid out and in once more. The pain was quickly subsiding, and a wonderful feeling of friction and fullness was taking its place. “Faster.”

  He quickened his pace, and soon she was caught in a whirlwind of sensation. Hot and glorious.

  “Don’t stop!” Her fingers dug into his back. She lifted her hips to meet each thrust. She needed him deeper. Hotter. He was part of her now, emblazoned on her heart, and she was burning from the inside out.

  With a shout, he pumped into her. She moaned, so close to exploding with him. He reached between her legs, pressing against her special spot, then giving it a tug.

  She cried out as all her senses burst. He pulled her into his arms, holding her tight as the throbbing slowly subsided.

  “Holy Light, Ana.” He rubbed her back. “I’ll never get enough of you.”

  She wrapped her arms around his neck. “I didn’t know it could be like that. But is it normally done on a table?”

  With a grin, he released her. “Stay put.” He strode into the dressing room.

  As if she had the energy to move. Besides, the view of his buttocks as he walked away was quite mesmerizing.

  He returned, carrying a damp washcloth in his hand.

  “I—” She blinked. “What happened to your lightning rod?”

  He snorted. “It’s finally at peace. After seven days of blue balls.”

  She tilted her head, studying his male part. It seemed more pink than blue. Still rather long, but much friendlier looking.

  “I appreciate your sudden fascination with my cock, but if you keep staring, I’ll be wanting more.”

  She gave him an incredulous look. “There’s more?”

  “Yes, but you’ll be too sore for some things.” He stepped closer. “Spread your legs.”

  She did a little, but he pushed them wider apart and wiped her thighs with the washcloth. “What are you doing?”

  “Cleaning off the blood. Your virgin blood.”

  She swallowed hard. “I-I can explain.”

  “I’ve been waiting for the truth.” He folded the washcloth and pressed a clean side against her vagina.

  She sucked in a breath at the coolness against her heated skin.

  “I’ve been waiting for you to trust me.” He rubbed ever so slowly and gently. “Luciana.”

  Chapter Thirty-one

  Leo watched as one emotion after another flitted across her face—shock, fear, worry, shame, regret. How had she ever hoped to succeed with this deception when her face gave everything away?

  Alarm skittered through his chest. It had taken him less than a week to figure out she was not Lady Tatiana. If her lies were exposed at the royal court, the king would have the perfect excuse for executing her. “I need to know everything, so I can protect you.”

  She winced. “Aren’t you angry with me?”

  “Well, let me think. I have a brave, beautiful, formerly virginal wife who can somehow miraculously touch me and make love to me, but she’s not very good at lying.” His mouth twitched as he continued to stroke her with the washcloth. “Do you think I should be angry?”

  “I—” She moaned. “I can’t think at all when you do that.”

  His hand stilled. “Tell me everything, so I can figure out what to do with you.”

  She blinked. “What does that mean?”

  “It means I’m not sure what to do. I’d like to tease you until you climax again, but should I use my hands or my mouth?” He heaved a sigh. “Tough decision.”

  Her mouth fell open.

  His gaze shifted to her mouth. “Or maybe I should enjoy the sweetness of your lips.”

  “You mean more kissing?”

  “Not exactly.” He glanced down at his cock, then back to her mouth.

  She looked down, then back up, her eyes widening. “Ar—are you serious?”

  He nodded.

  She glanced down once again. Her head tilted as she bit her lip.

  “Luciana?”

  “Yes.”

  “So you admit that’s your true name?”

  “Oh.” She sat up. “Shame on you. I was distracted by your…”

  “Cock.” He rubbed the washcloth against her clitoris. “You’re easily distracted.”

  Her eyes glazed over. “Is this an interrogation technique?”

  He smiled. “Maybe.”

  “Mmm. Then I’ll make a full confession.” She closed her eyes briefly. “I asked you to call me Ana, so it would feel like you were marrying me instead of my sister.”

  “Then you really wanted to marry me.”

  “Yes, I did.” She reached out to touch his cock.

  His breath hissed. “Luciana.”

  “Is this allowed?”

  “Hell, yes.”

  “Ah.” Her hand circled him. “It’s softer than I thought it would be.”

  “Not for long.” He gritted his teeth as she gently squeezed.

  “How do you know my name?”

  “I read the letter you hid in the—” He stiffened. By the Light, she’d turned the tables on him and was now interrogating him. With a snort, he took her hand off his cock. “You’re a clever one.”

  Her eyes twinkled with humor. “We’ll have very clever children.”

  “True. Will you tell me more while we eat?” When she nodded, he lifted her off the table and gave her his discarded shirt to wear. While she put it on, he slipped his breeches back on.

  She talked, confirming most of his suspicions, as they unloaded the basket of food. She and Lady Tatiana were indeed twins. Their mother had died after giving birth to them on a night when the moons embraced. They both shared the gift of seeing the dead.

  “Where is your sister now?” he asked as he refilled their goblets with wine.

  With a sigh, Luciana sat at the table. “She passed away after she was poisoned. Father was bringing her to the convent on the Isle of Moon, since he knew from his correspondence with Mother Ginessa that we had a gifted healer there.”

  Leo drew a chair close to her and sat. “Didn’t your father correspond with you?”

  She shook her head. “I was raised as an orphan for nineteen years. I never knew I had a father or sister until they arrived.”

  “I’m sorry.” He set a piece of cold roast chicken on her plate. “It must have been lonely for you.”<
br />
  “No, not at all. I was raised with four other girls who became my sisters.”

  “The ones you correspond with using seals?” He bit into a slice of chicken.

  Her eyes widened. “You know about that?”

  He nodded as he chewed and motioned to the easy chair where she’d hidden the letter.

  She sighed. “I miss them so much. We were all raised as orphans, but now I wonder if they actually have family like me.”

  He drank some wine. “So you agreed to risk your life for your father when you had just met him?”

  She nodded and took a bite of cheese. “He tried to talk me out of it. He’d already lost Tatiana, so he didn’t want to lose me. But how could I send him away, knowing he would be executed if he failed to follow the king’s order?”

  “You’re incredibly brave.” He refilled his goblet. “I’m sorry you lost your sister before you were able to meet her.”

  Luciana smiled. “Actually, we’ve become good friends. Her spirit followed me here. She’s the one who drew the arrow in the sand for you to see.”

  “Lady Tatiana is one of your spies?”

  “Yes. I see her often.” She ate some chicken.

  He cast a wary glance around the room. “She’s not here now, is she?” When Luciana shook her head, he drank some wine in relief.

  “She was here, but she left with my mother.”

  He choked. “Your mother was here?”

  Luciana grinned. “They disappeared before you ripped the towel off me.”

  “Oh.” He cleared his throat. “Thank the Light.”

  “Mother helped me escape the catacombs. And Christopher told me about the poisoned soup. Oh, that reminds me, I need to make sure Rowena isn’t harmed.”

  “And who are Christopher and Rowena?” he asked.

  After she explained, he promised to take care of the matter. Then she told him about her theory to explain why they could touch.

  “The scorch mark in the tower is from a lightning strike?” he asked.

  “Yes. And since I survived it before I was born, I believe I must be immune.”

  He squeezed her hand. “It’s been years since I was able to touch anyone.”