Once again, she reached for his hand, understanding what he meant. “Why do you think I would end up hating you?” She worried it might be the other way around. Would he think her a wanton woman? She tried to cap her desire, but the need to live what happened in her dreams overruled common sense.
“I will not lie. I believe in the truth, always. I want you. I want to lay you on the bed and make passionate love to you until neither of us can move.”
“Then what’s stopping you?” she whispered.
“Love, did I hear you correctly?” His jaw dropped slightly.
Her gaze moved to his stormy eyes. “I will admit, I’m not the type who sleeps with a man on the first date.” She looked down at his chest. “Hell, not even the second or third.” Moved back up to meet his. “I can’t say what it is, this connection I feel. I just know I need you.”
He pulled her close, his mouth crushing hers. Their tongues glided across each other in a play for dominance. Her nipples hardened and strained against the fabric of her dress. With only the thin layer of material between them, there was no missing his erection. She pulled away and gasped for air then led him to the darkened bedroom. Her courage wavered for a moment. She’d come this far, there would be no stopping now. She didn’t want to stop.
“Marcus, I don’t know how to explain it. I trust you, and to be honest, your touch sets me on fire. I need you, but if this isn’t what you want, then I’ll understand.” She held her breath and waited for his response.
He closed the distance and cupped her cheek. “There’s no way in hell I’m leaving now, unless of course, you toss me on the street.”
She reached for his shirt, her fingers trembling as she loosened the first button. He grabbed her wrists. “If at any time you want to stop, tell me.”
“I won’t stop.” She continued to fumble with the buttons until they were completely undone. Pushed the shirt over his broad shoulders and down thick biceps, lingering to allow herself the pleasure of hard muscle beneath her fingertips. When the moonlight danced across his chest, she inhaled. The man was remarkable, better than her dreams because he stood in front of her for real this time.
He removed the clip that bound her hair and loosened her curls until they spilled around her shoulders. The desire that burned in his eyes made her dress feel like a second skin. Tracing a line along the column of her neck, the tips of his fingers caused her to shiver. She hardly noticed when he reached behind her neck and untied the halter, until the dress fell to her waist. Normally she might have felt exposed, but all of the nightly dreams made everything familiar. They were like old lovers.
When he bent and pulled her nipple into his mouth, she arched her back and moaned. Every nerve in her body fired and she could hardly breathe. Would her heart be able to take the thunderous pounding from her arousal? All she wanted to do was get him naked.
“You have too many clothes on,” she whispered, reaching for the button on his pants.
He released her and she nearly cried out from the ache he left behind. “I could say the same for you, love.” He kicked off his boots while she finished shoving her dress to the floor. Grabbing the waistband of his pants, she yanked them down and he stepped free. There was no missing his erection as she was eye level with all its glory.
She licked her lips, desperate to savor him. He was much bigger than she had experienced in the past, but that only heightened her arousal. Dropping to her knees, she ran her tongue over the tip of his shaft. He tasted of salt and seduction. He slid his fingers into her hair and fisted.
She moaned around him. Sucked him in, taking as much as she could and became drunk by the pleasure she gave him.
He threw his head back. “Damn, that feels so good. Don’t stop.”
As if she could. No, she was a woman possessed, determined to take him over the edge. At this moment, she wanted nothing more than to return the pleasures he had given her every night for the past several months.
Chapter Ten
Sweat beaded on his forehead. Close, so very close. He never expected this. Had dreamed about it, but never imagined it would happen like this. He wanted to beg her to stop, but the words caught in his throat when he yelled out her name. Damn. He was falling, his body burning in a black hole of desire and he thought his release would never end. When he finally snapped back to reality, he still wasn’t sated. He wanted all of her.
She pulled back and he scooped her up, laying her on the bed. “Cassie, you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen,” he whispered in her ear. He lapped the valley between her breasts then licked his way to her pink bud, wrapping his lips around it. He teased until she cried out. Cupped her other breast and rolled her nipple between his thumb and finger.
She arched her back and cried out.
He licked his way down her taut belly. Her body was more than he could have ever believed. His desire to please her, to give her more than she had just given him drove him to near madness. He had never felt this way about any woman. Ever. His desire might be his undoing, but he was unable to stop. To hell with the consequences, he’d deal with those later.
When his tongue found her soft folds, he licked. Drank in her taste as he inserted two fingers and began to thrust them in and out. Slow at first, then he quickened the pace. Her breaths came in frantic gasps. She was teetering on the edge and he was about to bring the female who had been chosen for him to orgasm. Never would she know the touch of another man.
He would kill any who dared.
“Don’t stop.”
Her core tightened around him, sucking his fingers in deeper. She burned like an inferno, and his fangs lengthened. Scraping along her nub, he was unable to hold them back any longer.
“Marcus,” she screamed. Her body bucked while he continued to swirl his tongue between her folds. He pumped his fingers and nibbled her clit, determined to bring her over the edge again. His free hand reached up and rolled her nipple between his fingers, and she blessed him again with her screams of pleasure.
“Marcus, please,” she begged. “I need you inside me.” Her breasts heaved up and down with each frantic breath.
He groaned. That was precisely where he wanted to be as well. “Don’t worry, love, I’m not finished bringing you pleasure.” Moving to his knees, he poised himself over her for a moment before he came to his senses. She didn’t know he was immortal, therefore immune to human disease. He slipped off the bed and rolled on a condom with incredible speed, then was back, rubbing the tip of his shaft along her slickness. He thrust until he was seated deep inside. Quivered in pleasure for a moment while he enjoyed her soft wetness wrapped around him. He was where he belonged. He and his mate were joined in carnal desire.
She bucked wildly beneath him. Her heat engulfed him, sent fire through his body. She was both heaven and hell, and the beast who hid deep inside him emerged, pinning her arms above her head. His pace quickened. The need to drink from his mate overwhelmed him, but he fought it. He sensed her closing in on another orgasm, so he stopped with only the tip of his cock still inside her. The animal in him wanted...no, needed her to beg him. He ran his tongue along her neck, causing her body to quiver.
“Marcus, don’t stop.”
He stopped, oh why the hell did he stop? She shifted, but he had pinned her down. Damn but he pushed the right buttons. Three orgasms already and still she wanted more. Greedy bitch. Yes!
“Marcus.”
Damn it, he licked her neck. Her thoughts moved back to her dreams of when he bit her. God, she wanted him to bite her now. She almost wished he had fangs. I’m mental. Her mind wouldn’t stop torturing her.
“Marcus, please. I need you.” She wasn’t beyond begging at this point. It must have worked because he thrust into her, filled her, stretched her and took her to unimaginable heights. He was a perfect fit. She moved her hips, and he started to thrust. His pace hard and fast. God, she couldn’t get enough. More, more, more! He moved his mouth from her neck to her nipple. Her body burned lik
e she’d been dipped in melted wax. She was on the edge, ready to leap to the other side.
“Come for me, my love,” he whispered.
Body and mind were flung into a bright light. Pleasure gripped her and squeezed until tears rolled down her cheeks. It was never-ending, wave after wave of mind-numbing ecstasy. She walked a fine line between pleasure and pain.
“Cassie!” His face twisted with pleasure, and she swore to the heavens he did have fangs.
They both lay panting, their bodies slick with sweat when he pulled her into his arms and kissed her. Warm and tender, unlike a few minutes ago when he had been animalistic. She decided she liked both sides of this man. They faced each other, on their sides, still connected. He caressed her cheek.
“Are you all right, love? I didn’t hurt you, did I?”
She broke into a smile. “No, as a matter of fact, I have never been better.” She moved a wisp of hair from his eyes and felt a sudden pang. Without a doubt, she could fall in love with this man. It seemed silly to her. She hardly knew him, yet there was a connection. A sense that she already knew him. Stop or you’ll get hurt. End it before he breaks your heart.
“You seem sad. Did I do something wrong?”
“No, everything is perfect.” She curled into him and closed her eyes, letting the darkness overtake her.
Cassie woke to strong arms wrapped around her. A smile crossed her lips at the slow, methodical breathing behind her. Muscles ached in all the right places, and her mind reeled from the explosive orgasms of the night before. Christ, the dreams in no way compared to the real thing. It was so much more. She pulled out her emotions and examined them, but was still left perplexed. Fear drove her to end this, but need said what if? What if unfounded fears ruined a chance at happiness? Take it one day at a time. Live in the moment, mother always said. I miss you, Mom. Mother would have understood her apprehension.
She rolled over and gazed at the handsome man who slept beside her. Desire stirred. In the light of the morning, the black ink on his left bicep came into view. A symbol, with a pair of wings spread out behind it. She tilted her head and reached to caress the mark.
“Good morning, sunshine,” he whispered.
Flinching, she pulled away. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to wake you.”
He grabbed her hand and brought it to his lips, planting a soft kiss on her knuckles. “Never fear touching me, I belong to you.”
Not sure what the words meant, she went back to caressing his tattoo. “What does your tattoo mean?”
His steely gaze never left hers. “It’s an Ankh, the Egyptian symbol meaning life or living.”
“Of course. I recognize it now.” She squinted. “What do the wings mean?”
“They represent the guardian angel.”
“A living guardian angel. Right?”
“Right.” Spoken against her lips.
A moan escaped. “Care to join me in the shower?”
“I’ll race you,” he replied.
He threw back the covers to reveal a fully erect cock. She licked her lips and jumped from the bed, racing to the attached bathroom. Cassie was grateful there was a large, walk-in shower that would allow for extra-curricular activities. He slid in behind her and reached for the knob, turning on the dual heads.
The glass door was slid shut, and steam rose to the ceiling. She stood under the water and let it roll over sore muscles. His kissed her neck.
She moaned.
He reached for the soap, lathered his hands and ran the suds over her sensitive breasts.
“Marcus.” She reached for him. Her thumb rubbed over the tip of his cock, causing it to jump.
He leaned in, his tongue forcing her lips apart and pressed her against the wall. She teased him with slow strokes while her body ached to take him in. His tongue flicked across her nipple, causing her to arch her back.
“God, Marcus, I want you. I need you to fuck me senseless.” Christ, tell me those words did not just come out of my mouth. She didn’t recognize the woman she’d become in the last twenty-four hours. Not even John had brought out the naughty inside her.
He nipped her earlobe. “I never disobey.” Turned her, grabbed her arms and placed her palms on the shower wall. “Don’t move.” His voice a command not to be questioned. His knee came between her legs, spreading them apart. Long fingers slid through her slick folds and sent fire to her clit before he entered from behind.
She gasped. He filled her, stretching her to the limits. He pulled back, only the tip of his cock still seated inside. She tried to push against him, but he held firm, preventing her pleasure.
“More,” she begged.
He thrust deep, hands clasped over hers, pinning them to the wall while he licked a heated trail up her spine. “Are you enjoying yourself, love?”
“God, yes. So good.”
“Yes, you feel so good. I don’t think I’ll ever get enough of you.”
Slow movements drove her insane. God, he’s going to kill me slowly. “Harder,” she panted.
One hand kept hers pinned against the wall while the other moved down to her clit where he made lazy circles. His cock slid in and out, faster, harder until he slammed into her. Pressure built first at her toes then worked its way up her legs until it reached her core. Heat flooded her and she threw her head back. Cried out as wave after wave of pleasure pounded her body.
He turned her around, grabbed behind her knees as he lifted her off the floor. She wrapped her legs around his waist which only gave him better access. Pressing her back into the wall, he continued his thrusts. She dug her nails into his shoulders while she kissed him. Their tongues matched the ferocity of their sex.
“Damn, love. I’m going to lose it,” he whispered against her lips.
The explosion happened. His cock swelled and filled her with his hot release. She climbed to the heavens and crashed down with him. They cried each other’s name as he gripped her tight. After the waves subsided, he set her feet on the floor, her knees nearly buckling.
He cupped her face and placed a gentle kiss. “Sweetheart. I don’t think...hell, I can’t think.”
“Me neither. Maybe we’d better get cleaned up.” They untangled themselves and that was when it hit her. “Oh my god! We didn’t use a condom.”
“Damn. I’m so sorry. I promise I’m safe and as far as you getting preg––”
She held up her hand to stop him. “Don’t worry about that. As long as you swear then I trust you.” She went back to showering and they finished up in silence. Cassie dressed in a pair of jeans and a tank top then ran a comb through her hair before heading to the kitchen. “I’ll start coffee,” she called behind her.
What the hell am I thinking? He looks at me and sends shivers up my spine and torches my panties. Her mind was uneasy as she placed the carafe on the burner and pressed start. Marcus came up behind and wrapped his arms around her waist. Planting a kiss on the top of her head. “You seem troubled, what bothers you? Is it the condom?”
Dare she say the words that haunted her mind? Best to be honest, after all, he had been last night. She turned to face him. “No, it’s not the condom it’s just I don’t want you to think poorly of me.” She stared at the floor. “I mean...I’m not normally like this.”
“So passionate?”
“Such a floozy.”
He gripped her chin. “Never say that again. You are a passionate woman who knows what she wants.” He brushed his lips across hers. “Never be ashamed of that.”
She offered a smile. “Thank you.”
The coffeemaker beeped. “Coffee?”
“Sure.”
“If I remember, you like it black.” She reached for a mug.
“Good memory.”
Cassie poured two mugs, handed him his, then put cream and sugar in hers. “Are you hungry? I can make breakfast.”
“No. I’m not much of a breakfast eater.” He took a seat at the table. “What’s on your agenda today?”
“Jill
and I are meeting for an early dinner.” Her eyes widened. “I know, why don’t you come and bring your sister?”
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah, it’ll be fun.”
He sipped his coffee. “I’ll check with her, I’m sure she’d love it.” He stood and rinsed his cup in the sink. “I should go. I have a few things to take care of.” He kissed her. “I’ll call you later and get the details for dinner.”
“Sounds good.”
Chapter Eleven
The minute Marcus stepped out the front door, Lucan summoned him.
Marcus, put your dick back in your pants and get your ass home. The king is calling a meeting.
Tell Aidyn I will be there shortly. Oh and Lucan?
What?
Fuck you!
He heard the guardian snort. Haven’t you had enough already?
He shook his head and climbed into the car. You and I will talk later.
I look forward to it.
He shoved on a pair of sunglasses and backed out of the driveway. Heading to the storage where he kept all of his toys safely tucked away. After half an hour, he had the car parked and was on his way back to Vandeldor. Aidyn, Garin, Seth and Lucan were already seated at the table in Aidyn’s office when Marcus entered.
“Good, now we can get started,” Aidyn said and looked at Marcus. “Your mate was correct. Someone was watching you last night.”
Marcus leaned forward in the chair, tension hardened every muscle. “You mean other than the minions?”
“Yes. Neither Lucan nor I could sense who, but...” Aidyn rubbed the back of his neck. “Odage was there, I just know it, but I couldn’t find him. The bastard was hiding somehow.”
“We followed the minions, they had two women with them. No doubt they were taking them back to Odage,” Lucan said.
“The women are safe?” Marcus asked.
Lucan nodded. “Tucked into their beds when I left them.”
Aidyn pushed back his chair as he stood. “Your orders haven’t changed. Return to the human realm and find that fucking dragon. I know I don’t need to tell you that this could get ugly. I’m meeting with the demons from our faction tomorrow to see whether or not they will assist us.”
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