entrance and sank down on him, taking him all the way to the hilt. He was big, and it had been so long. He stretched her, but it was a wonderful stretch. Made her feel alive.
Joachim roared.
She panted his name over and over again. 'Joachim.' She couldn't say it enough. It was in her head, branded on every cell in her body. 'Joachim.'
She was safe. She was sated—and would soon find release again. Her nerve endings were already sparking with renewed life.
She anchored her hands on Joachim's chest. Their faces were inches apart, his breath a part of her and her breath a part of him.
'Kiss me,' he said.
Her mouth meshed against Joachim's. She gasped in pleasure and he swallowed the sound. Hard, hot, gentle, fast, slow, his tongue sparred with hers as she rode him. It was sheer bliss. Total ravishment.
The kiss became savage, and in turn, the loving became savage. Her teeth banged his; her body slammed up and down. She purred, she groaned, she gasped some more.
'That's it,' Joachim praised. 'Take it all.'
'Yes.'
'No more fear.' Joachim.
'No more,' she panted.
'Come for me, sweet.' Joachim nipped her collarbone. He strained against his bonds. 'Show me how much you like having me inside you.'
There was no holding back at that point, no prolonging the pleasure. She erupted for the second time. The orgasm was so intense a black web clouded her vision. She was dying slowly, quickly, unable to breathe, yet so alive she could have stayed exactly where she was forever. 'Joachim,' she screamed, and for once she didn't care how broken her voice sounded.
'Brenna.' Joachim roared loud and long and reared up, sinking deep, deeper than she'd ever thought possible.
She collapsed onto his chest. 'Thank you,' she panted. 'Thank you.'
'Untie me,' he ordered harshly.
She didn't think to deny him. Blindly she reached up and removed the bonds. His arms instantly wrapped around her, pulling her close and holding her tightly. Cherishing her.
'No more fear,' he said again.
'No more,' she agreed. She would have agreed with anything he said just then. Marry him—yes. Be his slave—of course. His heat surrounded her, enveloped her, beckoned her.
'Mine,' he said.
'Yours,' she breathed. 'Joachim's.' Her eyes closed, her lids growing heavier and heavier with every second that passed. Sleep summoned, a peaceful sleep she'd needed for so long but had been too afraid to take. 'Don't let me go.'
'Never.'
Oblivion claimed her then. She was smiling.
SHIVAWN STOOD IN THE hallway for a long while. He wished Brenna had chosen him, but it had been Joachim her eyes had heated for. Joachim she'd probably wanted all along. He was angry, so very angry. She was beautiful, she was passionate, she was kind. But she wasn't his. He knew that now. No matter how much pleasure Shivawn could have given her, no matter how safe he could have made her feel, she would always have wanted Joachim.
The two were mates, that much was clear now.
And so he ended up alone.
Perhaps one day he would find a woman who loved him like that. Who wanted him above all others.
He blinked when he realized Alyssa had stepped into the hall and now stood a few feet away from him. He scowled at her.
She frowned at him. 'You smell like a human,' she said flatly. 'Have you been with one? Is she your mate?'
'What business is it of yours?' He leapt into a quick stride.
She followed suit, keeping pace beside him. 'Is she?'
'No,' he snapped.
'I told you I would see to your needs,' she snapped back. 'You should have come to me.'
'And I told you no.' Alyssa was beautiful, and Shivawn even felt himself stir for a taste of her, but he would not touch her. He didn't have Valerian's love for the vampires.
Vampires survived on blood and sometimes took more than they should. He'd made the mistake of bedding a vampire only once and had almost died for it. Never again, he'd vowed. Alyssa knew that, but she always sought him out when she came to visit.
'Goodbye, Alyssa,' he said, and strode away from her.
She wasn't content to remain behind this time. She rushed after him, even jumped in front of him. Her eyes glowed. 'I've always known I would have you one day, Shivawn, and I've decided today is that day.'
Her lips slammed into his, her tongue forcing its way into his mouth. The taste of her filled him. Not a taste of blood and death, but of woman. Shivawn found himself responding. He was disgusted with himself but maybe, just maybe, she could help him forget his loneliness.
'One night,' he growled. 'That's all I'll give you.'
Triumph blazed in her eyes, and her red, red lips curled in a sensual smile. 'That's all I'm asking for.'
CHAPTER 25
SHAYE LOUNGED AT THE EDGE of the bathing pool. Warm, steaming water lapped at her sensitized skin. The scent of orchids filled the room, sweetly perfuming the air with a sultry ambiance. She inhaled deeply. Her body was sore, but her spirit was invigorated.
Valerian sat behind her, massaging her shoulders. His magical fingers worked her muscles expertly. He knew exactly where to rub, knew the precise amount of pressure to apply for optimum enjoyment. Her head lolled back, resting on his shoulder. Steam coated their skin and his exhalations chilled the sheen of liquid.
'Thank you for gifting me with your virginity,' he said.
'My pleasure.' Really. She'd never enjoyed herself more. Never thought losing all control, all sense of her cool facade could be so blissful.
In the pleasure-filled hours they'd just spent together, she'd realized a few things. She'd given Valerian more than her body; she'd given him pieces of herself, just as she'd feared. She hadn't meant to, had tried to guard against it, yet had been helpless to do otherwise. But it was going to be okay.
He was a nymph, and nymphs liked sex (and lots of it), but she would be the one he came to. She was going to trust him. Not love him, she assured herself, still refusing to experience the emotion. But trust.
It would be hard, she didn't doubt that, but to keep him in her life she was willing to try.
'Your wounds healed,' she said without turning to face him. She'd noticed when they adjourned to this bath.
'Yes.'
'I'm glad.'
'Me, too.'
'Now you have the strength to tell me the secret spot on a woman's body,' she said. 'The place that brings maximum pleasure.'
'Mmm, well. I will tell you for a kiss.' He nuzzled the side of her cheek.
Ah, she loved his bargaining. 'I'll kiss you if you tell me what I want to know,' she said throatily, grinding against the erection pressed against her lower back.
