Shadow's Claim

into her panties. Strange—she thought he was holding his breath too.

When his fingers slipped to her sex, he groaned at her ear, “Wet, so fucking wet.”

Struggling not to whimper, she bit her lip again.

“Woman, you madden me”—he ripped her panties free with one forceful yank—“at every turn.”

“Vampire! Don’t . . .” She trailed off—because he’d begun to stroke her.

With infinite tenderness, he rubbed his thumb up and down her clitoris, the rest of his fingers teasing her opening.

Nothing could possibly feel this good. She needed more. How to get more?

“I love how sensual you are, Bride. Even now you’re rocking to my fingers, as if I’d petted you like this a thousand times.”

Am I? She gazed down, shamelessly watching him fondle her bared sex. With his thumb making slick circles, he crooked his forefinger, breaching her only with his knuckle. And it was—

Rapture.

“Ah, gods,” she whispered. Sure enough, she was slowly undulating to his touch, wanting it deeper, the pressure greater.

“You’ll do that when you’re beneath me,” he promised her. “Look how hard your little nipples strain against your top.” She felt a ghosting sweep of fingertips across them, making her shiver. “Did you like when I sucked them?”

His words and his sinful voice worked together, stoking her desire like a forge. “Vampire, you really want me to . . . to . . . here?”

“Yes. Tell me you’ll let me do anything to you.”

Her brows drew together. “You know I can’t say that, can’t allow that.”

“One day you will.”

Why were those words so important to him?

“For now, you’ll come for me.” The wicked things he was doing to her . . . pressure right at her core, then a tickling sensation, then more pressure.

When her head lolled, he cradled the back of it with his free hand. Holding her so gently, he brought his forehead to hers, pinning her gaze with his own—as if he wouldn’t let her look away.

The intensity of his eyes, the need in them . . . she found herself tunneling her fingers into his thick hair, clutching him close.

“Open for your male, Bett,” he said, his voice hoarse. Below, his fingers continued their play.

She surrendered completely, mindlessly spreading her thighs for the vampire.

The pleasure was so great she feared its end. Eyes pleading, she whispered, “You won’t stop?”

“Never, dragă.”

“But what if I cry out?”

“I can make your release softer, less intense. Would you like that?”

In a miserable tone, she said, “Nooo.”

He gave a strained chuckle. “I didn’t think so.”

She was panting—half panicked, half out of her mind with lust. “Daciano, it’s so strong. . . . Oh, gods, I am going to scream. I-I won’t be able to stop.”

“Press your mouth against my neck.”

She laid her hands on his chest, leaning her face closer. . . . Against her lips, she perceived the smoothness of his skin. His vampire scent was just as drugging as it’d been last night, making her moan.

When she buried her face in the crook where his neck met his shoulder and inhaled deeply, a sound rumbled from deep in his chest. She felt it beneath her clutching palms.

With each of his strokes, she moaned against his neck harder and harder. She parted her lips, licking his delicious skin.

The taste of him sent her right to the edge, hovering. . . .

Chapter 23

Trehan was in an agony of bliss. He was about to bring his Bride to come for the first time in their lives. His cock felt like it’d explode. And she’d just started licking his skin.

His head fell back as his fingers stroked her. The heel of his palm rested on her tiny thatch of hair, her folds plump and slick in his hold. My gods, her tongue is flicking against me.

Teeth clenched, he gazed upward, fantasies tangling in his mind. He imagined her hot little tongue, pictured her tracing it over the very tip of one aching fang. Or tucking it against his sac as she masturbated him with her soft hand. Or dragging it along the length of his shaft as her eyes gazed up and held his.

“Vampire,” she whispered with a wet swirl that had his hips bucking, grinding against her lush bottom. “Need . . . to . . . scream. . . .”

“I’ll take care of you, Bett. Just let it come.” Right before her cry burst from her, he splayed the fingers of his free hand over one side of her face, cupping her head closer, pressing her mouth harder against him to muffle the sound.

Her body stiffened. Her lithe muscles tightened so beautifully. Her fingernails bit into his chest. Then . . .

Release.

She bucked to his fingers, screaming against his neck.

When he felt the entrance to her sheath clamp around his knuckle, his cock surged in his pants, desperate to claim that virgin flesh.

As she writhed, his fangs went sharp as blades. What would it hurt to graze them over the pale curve of her shoulder, the swell of her sweet breast . . . ?

At the idea of piercing one little mound, he nearly lost his seed, but he refused to repeat his shame from their first night together.

When she could come no more, she pushed at his hand. After a few last fleeting strokes, he finally relented, removing it from her drenched sex.

The impulse to lick his fingers again was undeniable.

Her taste! “Mieroase rai,” he groaned against his fingertips. Honeyed heaven.

Inhale. Exhale. Control. This was for her. Only for her. Control.

As they both sat catching their breath, she leaned her head against him—allowing him to hold her. He didn’t ponder his fortune, just rested his cheek against her forehead. He was surprised by how satisfied he felt—when his shaft throbbed just beneath her.

Yes, satisfied. And proud. I’ve waited lifetimes to do that. With each of her shivery aftershocks, his shoulders went back farther.

“No one saw?”

He pressed a tender kiss to her hair. “No one, love. They’ll believe a fog bank rolled in. In a moment, I’ll make it fade.”

“But I . . . there were sounds—”

“That carry differently. Anyone nearby was too busy taking advantage of the cover of mist, I assure you.”

“Okay.” To his astonishment, she nestled closer to him. Just as he’d promised, she was relaxed and sated in his arms.

In moments, she’d be angry, the spell broken. For now, he squeezed her body close, savoring every second.