Dark Secret

Colby felt shattered, fragmented, by the mindless, endless pleasure that rippled on and on until she knew she would never be happy without him. She felt his eruption, the hot jetting release that sent more tremors through blood and bone, through every cell until even her vision blurred. She buried her nails deep into his arms, trying desperately to anchor herself while the world rocked around her.

Rafael leaned his body over hers, his breathing every bit as harsh and desperate as hers. Their hearts beat together, a crazy syncopation as they tried to draw in the night air. Colby lay hack against the rocks, his head pillowed on her breasts. She was beginning to feel the effects of making violent love against hard stone. 'Ow.'

'Ow?' he repeated and lifted his head to look at her.

She peeked at him from beneath her lashes. It was a mistake. He looked darkly sensual, his face sinfully sexy. His eyes were dark with passion, with possession, and still far too hungry. She shook her head. 'We can't. I mean it. This rock is hard. I didn't notice before, but I'm not going to be able to walk.'

'And I thought cowgirls were tough.' His tongue lapped at her nipple and her small muscles clenched around him. He was still hard, still buried deep inside her, and wanted to stay that way.

'Not this tough.' She looked around her. Several small waterfalls poured into the hot springs coming up from the ground, cooling them enough to use as a spa. 'I haven't been here in years. It's miles from my ranch and I'm always too busy to get out this way. I'd almost forgotten it was here.' Ferns covered the ground and surrounded the large flat boulders forming the ring around the basin. 'It is beautiful.'

'I thought you might like it.' His teeth teased and tugged to feel her reaction.

She pushed at his shoulders. 'You have to stop. I can't take any more right now. I think you killed me.'

His tongue stroked over her breast, curled around her nipple. He lifted his head and smiled at her. A slow, sexy smile. 'Not yet.'

'No.' She said it firmly, though her blood was already thickening at the wicked glint in his eyes. 'I can't move. I think I'll just lie here all night, draped over this rock. You go do whatever needs doing and let me sleep.' Perversely, when he slipped out of her, she felt bereft. There was no stopping the small sound of protest.

'You need to get in the spring or you really will be sore.' He lifted her as if she weighed no more than a feather, cradled her against his chest, and carried her to the steaming spring. He paused, the same sensual smile teasing her senses. 'Unless you want me to lick you better. My saliva acts like a healing agent.'

Colby circled his neck with her arms. 'I could like you when you act like this, Rafael.' She kissed his throat, nibbled her way to his jaw. 'Why don't you act like this all the time? Sweet and gentle.'

He waited until her lips teased the corner of his before turning his head to capture her mouth. His move was aggressive and commanding, taking possession, his tongue spearing deep and tangling with hers in a wild mating. Her heart jumped and her blood sang. He lifted his head, black eyes glittering at her. 'That is why. I know you. Inside and out, I know what you need, maybe better than you do. You like me rough.'

Colby pulled back to stare up at his face, etched with stark possession. 'Is that what you think, Rafael?' Her tone was very serious. 'Is that what you think you read in my mind?'

'You would never respect a man you could dominate, Colby. You are a strong woman and you require a man who can make decisions, not be overwhelmed by the strength of your personality.' He answered her just as seriously.

'Rafael, I can't be submissive to you. It isn't in my character-don't you see that as well? I have to have some control, some partnership, or it would never work between us. I could never love you. I know I'm sexually addicted, but I want to be in love with you as much as you want me to be. I just can't make that leap knowing you don't respect my judgment.'

'Querida, why would you think I do not respect your judgment? You are in a situation you cannot possibly understand. It makes sense to rely on my judgment until you have gained the knowledge and power necessary to cope with our world.'

There was such love in his voice, such a wealth of tenderness, her heart turned over. If he could only be like that all the time. She closed her eyes as his teeth teased her pulse and her body responded with a fresh wave of heat. 'I would like to explore this sexual addiction to me. It sounds most interesting.'

'Great. Now you're telling me I'm kinky.' She leaned back and stared up at the stars. Maybe she was. The things he did to her body were inconceivable with anyone else, but with him, she melted every time he came near her. 'Maybe I am, but only when it comes to you.'

'I like you kinky,' he whispered against her neck. Against c pulse beating in her throat. 'I need to taste you tonight, meu amor. Give yourself to me.'

'No way.' She shook her head even as her body went weak at the sensual brush of his voice. Deep inside, her muscles clenched and her womb throbbed. She could feel heat build-and it had nothing to do with the hot springs. 'Last time you got all vampy on me and scared me to death. Sink your fangs into someone else.'

His mouth moved down her throat, his tongue lapping at the small dip in her shoulder. His teeth scraped back and forth in a particularly erotic way. She closed her eyes. 'Make sure it isn't a woman, though.'

He waded into the water so that it lapped around his thighs. Laughter vibrated against her neck, teeth teasing. 'I want you again.'

'You always want me, you're wearing me out,' Colby said.

'Again,' he insisted, easing them both down into the arcing water. 'Wrap your legs around my waist.' His eyes were dark with passion as he took possession of her mouth, licking at her lips, taking teasing bites until she was kissing him back, her arms sliding around his neck, her breasts pressed tight against his chest.

He sat with his back against the side of the natural basin, pulling her down onto his lap, dragging her legs around him so that he could spear into her tight channel as she settled over him. He swore softly, against her neck. 'Deus, Colby. You are so hot and tight. It feels like heaven.' His hands guided her hips into a slow, rocking rhythm. 'That is perfect. You drive me out of my mind.'

She started to sit straight, to ride him with a leisurely pace, but his hands slid up her back, pressing her close, keeping her against him. His mouth moved over her shoulder, licked at her, blazing kisses across her skin. 'I have to taste you, meu amor. There will be no mistakes this time. Give yourself to me. It will be such pleasure.' His sinful voice whispered temptation. 'You have no idea how much I need you. No one else will ever need you or love you the way I do. They will never understand your needs or your hunger.' His tongue swirled over her pulse, just along the swell of her breast. His teeth scraped seductively. 'Give yourself to me.'

Steel ran through his arms, yet he held her with a gentle possessiveness, even more persuasive than the way her body was rippling with fire. His breath was warm on her skin, and each tiny bite made her muscles clench and tighten around him. The desire to give him whatever he wanted, whatever he needed, pulsed through her.

'I am not going to shield you, pequena. ' His voice was rough with passion and she felt him grow thicker and harder, his hips thrusting upward to meet her lazy ride.

His obvious heightened arousal only fed her own. She cradled his head, his hair a silky slide over her skin. His tongue swirled and her muscles tightened and gripped. She felt the fresh flood of liquid heat, of excitement, burning between her legs. Her heart beat once, twice. His fangs sank deep, white-hot pain lashing through her body to give way to sheer erotic pleasure. She gasped, threw her head back, a soft cry escaping as every nerve ending in her body sizzled to life. She thought she could feel sparks igniting as he thrust deeper. The force began to build and build until she thought she might die of the pleasure. She began to pick up the pace, needing release, but his hands slid to her hips, rocking her gently, preventing a climax, keeping her teetering on the edge of madness.

It was an incredible luxury to hold her naked in his arms, her body riding his while he drank the nectar from her body. She was scorching hot, surrounding him with velvet heat, her muscles gripping him tightly, squeezing and massaging until his head roared with lust and love. Her blood sang in his veins burned through his body until he felt complete. He swept his tongue across her breast, closing the twin pinpricks, his body thickening even more. He found her mouth with his, poured everything he felt for her into his kiss. She tightened her arms around his neck, kissed him back as she slowly slid up and down the hard length him, sending shudders of ecstasy through both of them. 'I love you, Colby. You are everything to me.' He whispered the words against her lips. His heart was pounding out of his chest in anticipation. She was all soft skin, all heat and fire, a haven for him. Her body was made for his and he took the greatest pride in knowing he could make her scream in pleasure.

His fingernail lengthened. His hand shook with the enormity of the moment. Colby would be his for all time, joined in his world, her life twined with his, the miracle of his species. The ritual words had bound them, but he had been close to the beast. He was always too close to the beast for anything less than a full commitment between them. For one moment time stopped. His heart thundered in his ears. She would hate that he was taking this