Cruz smiled, the saddest smile she’d ever seen. “Nor do I.” His grin faded and sheer agony flashed in his gaze. “How long do you have before the bonding ceremony will take place?”
“A week.” Kiara gulped. Sickness rolled through her stomach. This couldn’t be happening. Couldn’t be real. She wanted Cruz forever. His expression didn’t match the words he said. A distance resided in his eyes. “I need you to fight, do something. Tell me some way to stop this.”
Cruz looked away from her for a long moment before he glanced back with a pained expression. “I have no suggestion that will be good for you.”
“Anything is good as long as we’re together.” She pleaded for him to offer something, some way out.
Cruz shook his head, and all of Kiara’s hopes and dreams plummeted. Why was he not fighting? Offering an answer to make sure the mate bond didn’t happen? The more she mulled it over, the more rage bubbled up and showed its ugly face. Shifting away from him, she glared. “You’re willing to just let me go?”
“Kiara,” Cruz said in a soft tone.
The one word declared her worst fears. He didn’t care. Kiara lurched from the couch, fists tight at her side. “Have you been using me?”
“No,” Cruz whispered, looking at the ground.
His reactions didn’t make any sense. She’d come here thinking he’d fight for her. Find a solution in all this mess. Not find a coward who’d let her walk away from him. “Then what are you afraid of?”
Cruz raised his head; his eyes burned with anger Kiara had never seen from him. Deadly. “I’m not afraid of anything.”
“Why then?” Kiara whispered. Her chin trembled and
tears filled her eyes. “Why will you just let me go? Do you not love me enough?”
In one swift movement, Cruz lunged at her and Kiara found herself on the other side of the room, pushed against a wall with an angry Cruz staring down at her. “I am tormented, Kiara. Hearing this makes me want to slaughter anyone who touches you, but I’m faced with the knowledge it’s not my right. I’m using every ounce of my strength not to think selfishly in hopes that my restraint will aid in your happiness.”
“I don’t want your restraint.” Kiara’s voice trembled as tears dampened her cheeks. “I want you to fight for me—for us.”
Conflicting emotions crossed Cruz’s face before his eyes focused. Gathering her in his arms, he crushed his lips against hers. What his reaction meant, she couldn’t quite figure out, nor did she care. She wanted one thing. Her body demanded her thoughts to silence—instead, burn with desire for what she’d wanted for so long—Cruz naked, between her thighs, and finding a home there.
Chapter Four
Cruz couldn’t get enough of Kiara, feel enough of her. He ran his hands along her sides, to her breasts, along her neck. Felt everywhere to memorize her. Selfishness drove him now. He might not have forever with her, but he had now, and he wouldn’t waste his chance no matter how wrong claiming her was. Kiara moaned against his mouth as his tongue swiped against hers. Hard, rough kisses to leave no misunderstanding the desperation she felt, as did he.
Pushing her harder against the wall, he pinned her, declaring to the world she belonged to him. Kiara whimpered and ground her body against his, squirming her stomach against his groin. Cruz groaned, leaning in deeper, opening his mouth wider to suck her tongue into his mouth. Reaching up, he cupped her neck in his hands, felt her pulse racing. His fangs pressed against his gums to come free and Cruz did nothing to stop them. He wanted Kiara to see how aroused she made him now.
Kiara ran her tongue across one of his fangs, earning a deep shudder from him. Her mouth was so sweet. Her body molded right against Cruz’s, designed to fit him.
Pulling away from her, he panted. “Do you know what you do to me, Kiara?”
She grinned, a devilish smile warming him right to his hard groin. “I can feel what I do to you.” Leaning up toward him, she flicked her tongue out, piercing the soft tissue with the sharp edge of his fang. Blood dripped and Cruz sucked her tongue into his mouth, drawing the blood—a thick, rich taste to fuel him.
Kiara allowed him to sample her for only a moment before she pulled her tongue back as the small wound healed. “I’ll give you more of what you want,” she purred, “but first, I want something else in my mouth.”
Cruz tensed as Kiara slid her way down his body. She kept her gaze steady on his as she undid his belt buckle; a sexy smile formed on her face, enticing him. In no time, she had him free of his pants; his cock bobbed in front of her face. So close to him, she inhaled. “This is the first time you’ve allowed me to see you.”
He fought for the strength to speak now, failed, and simply nodded in return. He’d never let her touch him because his control would flee. As Kiara wrapped her hand around him, stroked the tip of his erection, Cruz knew he had made the right decision. His head fell back and he groaned, a sound to speak of the desires he suffered.
When he felt her tongue lick out, connecting with the arousal that formed at the tip, Cruz snapped his head back down and could have come. Seeing Kiara on her knees, her lips resting at the head of his cock, he almost lost his mind.
Opening her mouth, Kiara took him in balls deep. Cruz’s eyes rolled back into his head and he moaned. For a woman with no experience, she sure held talent. Her tongue swirled along his shaft as she sucked him. Cruz opened his eyes to see Kiara’s head bobbing.
His cock, slick with her saliva, slid in and out of her mouth. Each time she drew him in, Cruz groaned, and every time she withdrew, he hissed. Her long hair draped over her shoulders and as much as he enjoyed watching her, marveled in the sensation of her lips on him, if she continued, he wouldn’t last. He wasn’t prepared for this to end here.
He cupped her cheeks in his hands, and with a deep suck, she released him from her mouth. Her hand clamped around him as she stroked, leaving Cruz to tremble in his stance.
“I’ve dreamed of doing this to you.”
Cruz chuckled, a deep, throaty sound. “As have I.” Months of dreaming—fantasizing—jerking off to the thought. Nothing, though, compared to the real thing. No amount of thoughts could have possibly prepared him for the sight of her on his cock. Still damp with her saliva, she worked along his shaft, stroking with a tight embrace to render him no longer mindful of thoughts.