"You going to be okay?" David asked worriedly.
"Yeah."
Now that he’d fed, and the moment was nearly upon him, he was much calmer and more relaxed. He almost went insane on the ride to the rest area and drove like a bat out of hell all the way back with the monster clawing at his insides. But now, here, he felt somewhat in control of himself again. For the first time since yesterday afternoon, he had a firm grip on himself.
His heart contracted when he saw Sera wasn't in the living room. "You're back!" Kathleen greeted happily.
"Where's Sera?" he demanded.
"In her room," Kathleen replied. "Taking a nap."
His gaze swung to Mike. "You left her alone?" The idea of it rattled his newly found composure.
"She's perfectly capable of taking care of herself!" Kathleen retorted.
Liam's jaw clenched, but he refused to look at her. "She's fine," Mike said. "I've been checking on her, and don't forget I can sense Beth's presence too."
"Who's Beth?" Danielle asked.
"Oh crap," Jack moaned in disgust. "Good going, Mike. I'm not doing it this time!"
"Doing what?" Kathleen demanded haughtily.
David chuckled under his breath as he stepped into the room. "Be gentle," he mumbled to Liam. "I'll do it," he volunteered.
"Do what?" Kathleen and Danielle asked in unison.
Liam couldn't help but laugh as he turned on his heel and headed down the hall. He paused at the door, suddenly hesitant. He didn't know what would happen when he saw her, didn’t know what he would do. He only hoped he could keep himself under control for as long as this took. He didn't want to hurt her any more than was necessary, any more than he already had.
He took a deep breath and pushed the door open. Shadows enshrouded the room; the blinds closed against the night. His eyes instantly adjusted to it. "Sera," he said.
She was sitting on the bed, the blanket wrapped around her as she gazed at him. "I knew you were back," she whispered. "I felt it."
He frowned as he stepped into the room and closed the door. "Are you okay?"
"Yes. Did you succeed?"
"Yes."
"Good." The word caused his entire body to tighten. "Does it hurt?"
He wanted to tell her it didn't, but he couldn't. "Yes."
"A lot?" she asked tremulously.
"Sera," he breathed.
"I'm not changing my mind. I'm just scared."
"I understand that."
"I wanted to leave. I wanted to run. I don't want to die. But I couldn't leave you. I couldn't make my legs go. I just couldn't."
Her words brought the beast surging forth. He inhaled deeply to calm it. "I'll try to make it as easy as possible for you."
She stood and moved toward him. The shadows shifted and moved around her as she stepped from their embrace. "I know you will."
His hands shook as he grabbed her shoulders. She smiled as she released the blanket. It slipped smoothly down her body to puddle on the floor at her feet. The shadows hugged every inch of naked flesh as her hair cascaded freely down her back in thick, golden waves. Her full breasts heaved with her rapid inhalations. The white bandage covered her delicate skin from her collarbone to mid breastplate, and the sight of it was enough to drive him mad. His hands clenched on her. She was trembling, but she didn't move away from him.
"Make love to me," she whispered. "Do it then."
He groaned as her words shoved the creature aside and brought forth the man. He easily scooped her into his arms and carried her across the room. Depositing her on the bed, he fell on top of her in a heedless rush as his mouth seized hers. She whimpered as her hands dug into his hair. She pulled him closer against her as her tongue intertwined with his.
His hands caressed her breasts until her nipples hardened. Now that he was here, with her, he suddenly wanted to savor every second, and to relish in the feel of her. He wanted to memorize every inch of her glorious, silken body.
He kissed her lovingly as he tasted the sweetness of her mouth. Somewhere along the way she managed to slip his sweater over his head. She ran her hands along the rigid muscles of his back. They shifted and bunched beneath her touch as she tasted him. The hair on his chest was wiry against her cheek; the bristles on his chin rubbed her delicate skin. She teased his nipples, bringing them to life as he had done to hers.
He kissed and explored her as he made love to her with his fingers and mouth. There was no urgency, no rush as he moved over her. Although she was trembling with anticipation, wet with need, he didn't take her, and she didn't rush him to do so.
His jeans were somehow removed. He rubbed the head of his cock against her temptingly wet sheath but still didn't bury himself within her. He wanted to spend the whole night feeling her, tasting her, teasing her, but her body became too tempting to refuse.
Sera trembled as he rubbed against her, and slid a little way in before pulling back out. She arched against him, moaning her dismay and making her urgency known with her writhing movements. She needed him now. She wanted him to fill her, to stretch her, to be a part of her. He slid leisurely in again, going a little further this time before pulling back out. She nipped at his shoulder to show her displeasure.
He chuckled as he slipped back into her. "I intend to drive you mad with want," he whispered in her ear.
"You already are!" she gasped.
He slid back into her and buried himself to the hilt with a groan of possession. Her legs tightened around him as she arched into him. He moved slowly within her, his mouth on hers as he made love to her with deliberate tenderness. His lips slid over her neck, her shoulders, her
