Wicked Road to Hel (League of Guardians 1)

Chapter 5

Ana should have pushed him away. Hell, she could have crushed his larynx in less than a few seconds if she wanted to.

She should have done a lot of things other than what she did do, which was to stare into his dark eyes and do . . . nothing.

His hand along her jaw sent electrical pulses rippling across her flesh and she shivered as they spread along her body. Declan’s lips were inches from hers with only her rapid breaths between them.

His scent was heady, intoxicating, like a blast of rock and roll entwined with a shot of tequila. He was hard-edged and boldly passionate, an apt description for the man who on a good day irritated the crap out of her and on a bad day left her weak with want.

“I won’t . . . we can’t,” she sputtered, hating the way her tongue was all tangled up.

“Just one taste,” he whispered as his eyes bored into hers, a ghost of a smile lifting the corners of his mouth. “If you can handle it.” He was daring her to refuse.

She felt his other hand slide along the back of her waist until it rested upon the curve of her butt, his long fingers splayed across her flesh possessively. Declan was tall, over six feet by several inches, and her small frame fit perfectly against his. He pulled her in close and she felt the hardness of his body as if it had been imprinted upon her own flesh.

Her muscles tensed, but then she relaxed.

Two could play his game. She moved against him, her hip rubbing suggestively along his thigh, and returned his smile as his body stilled.

She should have pushed him away, but she didn’t. In her mind’s eye she watched the two of them from across the room. She saw his darkness against the pale of her skin, saw his hands upon her body, and felt his urgent need. It was matched equally by the hunger he’d awakened inside her.

It was incredibly erotic and she began to pulse fiercely, the small bud of desire between the folds of her sex engorged and painfully aroused. Things were moving way too fast. She needed a full stop.

And yet she did nothing.

Ana hissed softly and felt the edges of her control slipping as his large hand at her ass dug in and crushed her against him.

She was on the verge of orgasm and Declan had barely touched her. He was breathing hard, they were both fully clothed, and he’d not even kissed her yet.

“What are you waiting for?” she asked hoarsely.

His hand slid to the base of her skull as his other cupped her from behind. In one graceful movement he placed her upon the counter and slid between her legs. The bright lights overhead dimmed, and for the first time Ana noticed the glittery energy that lit his dark eyes.

He was silent as he looked down at her, and everything inside her melted. Her hands crept up hard abs until they rested upon his chest and she felt the heat of his skin through the thin T-shirt he wore. God, did he have to feel as good as he smelled? She licked her lips and her mouth went dry at the thought of tasting him.

He was nearly flush against her and Ana felt the aggressive nature that was her vampire erupt from within. She wrapped her legs around him and pulled herself up until her breasts were crushed against his chest.

“I’m waiting,” he murmured against her flesh.

“For what?”

Crap, don’t you go there . . . His lips skated across her neck and she hissed at the sensation left in his wake.

“For you to ask nicely,” he replied.

Her fangs lengthened, but she pushed them back. The darkness that always lingered around the edges of her mind was calling like a seductive whisper.

She couldn’t taste him because she was afraid she’d never be able to stop.

“I don’t think this is a good idea.” She closed her eyes and stifled a groan as he suckled the flesh between the crook of her neck and her collarbone.

“Really.” His mouth was nearly to hers, her head held in place by a hand on each side of her jaw. “I think you’re lying.”

Jesus, but she felt like she was coming apart, and it took nearly everything inside her to remain calm, to keep the beast at rest and yet . . . it had been so long since she’d fed for pure pleasure.

She opened her mouth to protest but his lips were there, sliding across her own with an assured ease as his tongue darted inside. So much for waiting for permission.

Her fingers dug into him and she tried to push him away, but his arms tightened around hers. He forced her head back as he attacked her mouth with an aggressiveness that teased the beast inside.