Lover Eternal

a little of that marking scent he was leaving all over her body.

She cried out wildly as she climaxed. And before her pulses faded, he shot up over her and plunged back inside.

She called his name, nails scoring his back.

He let himself go over the edge while looking into her wide, dazed eyes. With nothing to hold back, he came over and over again, pumping his flow into her. The orgasm kept going and he rode the waves that overtook him. The ecstasy seemed to have no end, and there was no stopping it.

Not that he would have if he'd had the power to.

Mary held on to Rhage as he shuddered once more, his body seizing, his breath coming out of him in a rush. He groaned deep in his chest, and she felt him jerk and release again inside of her.

It was a shattering kind of intimacy, she so calm, he in the throes of some kind of multiple orgasming. With her concentration undiminished by passion, she felt every small thing in his body as well as each heavy thrust. She knew exactly when another release was coming for him, could feel the trembling in his belly and thighs. It was happening now, his breath catching, his pecs and shoulders going tight along with his hips as he surged again.

He lifted his head this time, lips peeling off his fangs, eyes squeezed shut. His body contracted, all his muscles tensing, and then she felt the movement deep inside of her.

His eyes opened. They were glazed over.

'I'm sorry, Mary.' Another spasm overtook him, and he did his best to talk through it. 'Never… happened… before. Can't stop. God damn.'

He let out a guttural sound, a mixture of apology and ecstasy.

She smiled at him and ran her hands up his smooth back, feeling those thick muscles grab bone as his lower body drove into her again. She was saturated between her legs and deliciously hot from all the heat pouring off of him. That wonderful smell of his bond for her was thick in the air, the dark fragrance surrounding her.

He heaved himself up on his arms, making as though he were going to pull out.

'Where are you going?' She wrapped her legs around his hips.

'Crushing… you.' His breath sucked in again on a hiss.

'I'm perfectly fine.'

'Oh, Mary… I…' He arched again, chest coming forward, head falling back, neck straining, shoulders bulging. Good lord, he was gorgeous.

Abruptly he sagged, his body going completely limp on top of her. His deadweight was immense, more than she could bear and still breathe. Fortunately, he rolled away and tucked her against him. His heart thundered in his chest, and she listened as it slowed.

'Did I hurt you?' he asked roughly.

'Not at all.'

He kissed her and withdrew, lurching into the bathroom. He came back with a towel, which he gently eased between her legs.

'Do you want me to start the shower?' he said. 'I've, ah, kind of made a mess of you.'

'Hardly. And no, I just want to lie here.'

'I can't explain why that happened.' He frowned as he pulled the covers and blankets back on the bed and over them both. 'Although… well, maybe I do know.'

'Whatever the reason, you're incredible.' She pressed her lips to his jawline. 'Absolutely incredible.'

They lay together quietly for a while.

'Listen, Mary, my body's been through a lot lately.'

'It sure has.'

'I'm going to need to… take care of myself.'

Something in his tone of voice was off, and she looked up at him. He was staring at the ceiling.

A chill shot through her. 'How so?'

'I'm going to need to feed. From a female. Of my species.'

'Oh.' She thought of how his fangs had felt traveling up her spine. And remembered the shiver of anticipation when he'd nuzzled her neck. Shades of his night out had her pulling back. She couldn't go through that again. Waiting in his bed, knowing that he was with another woman.

He took her hands in his. 'Mary, I have to feed now so I can stay in control. And I want you to be with me when I do it. If it's too difficult for you to watch, at least you can be in the same room. I don't want there to be a question in your mind about what happens between myself and the female.'

'Who will you' — she cleared her throat—'drink from?'

'I've thought about that. I don't want it to be with anyone I've had.'

So that should narrow the pool down to what, five women? Maybe six?

She shook her head, feeling like a bitch.

'I'm going to call on one of the Chosen.'

Tell me they are toothless hags, she thought. 'What are they?'

'Primarily they serve the Scribe Virgin, our deity, but for a while they serviced unmated members of the Brotherhood for blood. In modern times we haven't used them like that, but I'm going to contact them, see if something can be arranged.'

'When?'

'As soon as possible. Perhaps tomorrow night.'

'I'll be gone by then.' As his expression went dark, she didn't give him a chance to speak. 'It's time for me to go.'

'The hell it is.'

'Rhage, be realistic. Do you honestly expect me to just stay here with you forever?'

'That's what I want. So, yes.'

'Has it occurred to you I miss my house, my things, my—'

'I'll have them moved here. Everything.'

She shook her head. 'I need to go home.'

'It's not safe.'

'Then we're going to have to make it safe. I'll install an alarm, learn to shoot, I don't know. But I have to get back to my life.'

He closed his eyes.

'Rhage, look at me. Look at me.' She squeezed his hand. 'I have things I need to do. In my world.'

His lips tightened into a slash. 'Will you let me have Vishous install a security system?'

'Yes.'

'And you will come stay here with me some days.'

She took a deep breath. 'What if I say no?'

'Then I'll come to you.'

'I don't think—'

'I've told you before. Stop thinking.'

His lips found hers, but before his tongue slipped inside and stole her ability to be logical, she pushed him back.

'Rhage, you know this isn't going anywhere. This… whatever it is between us. It's not. It can't.'

He rolled over onto his back, putting an arm behind his head. As his jaw clenched, the cords of his neck stood out.

She hated this; she really did. But it was better to get it all out. 'I appreciate everything you've done for me. The sacrifice to keep me safe—'

'Why did you get so upset the night I went out?'

'Excuse me?'

'Why did you care that I'd been with someone else? Or did you just feel like a little rough sex and needed to hide behind a reason for it?' His eyes shifted to hers. The blue was neon sharp, nearly too bright to look into. 'Listen, the next time you want some hard grind, all you've got to do is ask. I can play it like that.'