Night Play (Dark-Hunter 5)

"Relax," Otto said. "It's not like I'm making you sleep in the garage or anything."

The two of them left Bride and Vane alone in the room.

"So here we are," Bride said, unsure of herself.

Vane pulled her close. "It's weird not to have to hide myself from you."

"So what all can you do?"

"Just about anything. I can travel through time in any direction. I could flash us from here to Paris or anywhere else you'd like to visit."

Bride considered that. She could have anything, but there was only one thing that would make her really happy. "Can you make me thin?"

Vane looked less than pleased. "I could."

"Do it."

He frowned at her as if the request completely baffled him. "Why?"

"Because I've always wanted to be one of those tiny little women and I never have been."

He moved to stand behind her so that he could pull her against him and hold her close. "I don't want you skinny, Bride. I like you as you are." His breath tickled her neck as he spoke and sent heat all over her. "My people have a saying. Meat is for the man, the bone is for the dog."

"Yeah, but you're both."

"And when given a choice between ribs and steak, I go for top choice every time."

Bride hissed as he placed his lips against her neck and nibbled her. She closed her eyes and inhaled the warm, masculine scent of him. He felt so good holding her. It made her weak and breathless.

"Is this all there is between us, Vane? Just sex?"

He laid his cheek against hers in such a loving gesture that it tore through her heart. "No, Bride. Sex is just the physical demonstration of what I feel for you." He took her hand and led it to his heart where she felt it pounding against her palm. "No one has ever touched me like you do. You're like a whisper. Gentle, soft. Soothing. In my world, the people only shout and scream.

But you you're my haven."

She shivered at his poetic words. "God, you're good."

"It's not a line, Bride. I may be human, but I'm also an animal and the animal in me doesn't lie or deceive. I never thought that part of me would be tamed, but it is now. It doesn't want to lash out at anyone. It just wants you."

How could a woman say no to that?

Bride gasped as her clothes vanished. "Vane?"

Before she could get his name out, they were both lying naked in the bed, under the covers.

"That's some talent you have there," she said as he nuzzled her neck.

"You've no idea," he breathed in her ear before he licked it.

Bride's head swirled at the ecstasy of his touch. For once he didn't waste any time with her. He slid himself inside her with one forceful thrust.

They moaned in unison.

Bride looked up into the raw pleasure on his face. This wasn't playtime to him, he was most serious about taking her.

She slid her hands over his back, feeling his muscles ripple as he thrust into her, strong and powerful. He was the wolf and he was hungry. His green eyes devoured her.

Vane couldn't think straight as he felt her softness under him. The animal in him wanted complete possession. It wanted to mate and to dominate.

The man in him wanted her tenderness. Her heart.

Most of all, he wanted to spend the rest of his life staring into her amber eyes. They were dark now with passion. Her lips were slightly parted as she panted with pleasure.

Vane claimed that mouth. He growled at the taste of her. At the sensation of her tongue against his while he thrust himself deep inside her over and over again.

Famished for her, he forced himself to be easy with her body. To remember that she was human and frail.

He would die if he ever hurt her.

But oh, the feel of her hands on his back. The way she clutched at his ass.

She didn't just screw him. She made love to him. And that meant more to him than anything else.

Even if he were immortal, he would never feel anything better than her long, smooth legs entwined with his.

Bride was breathless as Vane devoured her. No man had ever made love to her like this as if he couldn't get enough of her. As if he were desperate to be inside her body.

There was so much power and strength in the arms wrapped around her.

Arms that held her tenderly. Carefully.

Every forceful stroke pounded pleasure through her.

"I love the way your hands feel on me," he breathed raggedly as she cupped his rear. "And I love being able to take you like this."

"Like what?"

"Face-to-face," he said, punctuating each word with a deep, lush stroke. "So that I can feel your breasts on my chest. See your expression when you come for me."

He kissed her then. It was masterful and devouring. Fulfilling.

Bride was completely swept away by him. By the intense pleasure of him so thick and full inside her. The way he felt sliding against her body.

Vane let his powers flow through both of them. There was no longer any need to harness them or mask them. He let their passion fuel his powers, charging them to their highest level.

The sensation of it went through him like lightning, heightening every aspect of her flesh against his.

He knew the minute she felt the swell of his powers. She threw her head back in ultimate ecstasy. Her breathing ragged, she met him stroke for stroke.

And when she came, he had to shield her scream with his powers to keep the others from knowing what they were doing.

He smiled at the sight of her lost in the throes of her orgasm. At the feeling of her hands on his back as she gripped him tight.

Then Vane let himself join her. He growled as he released himself inside her. He lay on top of her, panting while his body continued to shiver and spasm.

All the while she played with his hair and held him close.

"That was incredible," Bride breathed. Then she frowned. "You do get bigger toward the end, don't you?"

"Yes," he said, nibbling her lips, "and I can't pull out of you for a few more minutes without hurting you."

Bride could still feel his body quivering. "Why do you do that and how did you keep me"

"I used a time spell so that you weren't aware of how long it took me to finish." He hissed as another wave of orgasm went through him.

Vane half-expected her to be repulsed. She wasn't.

Instead, she cradled his head to her and toyed with his hair until he was completely spent.

When he was finally finished, he slid himself out of her and collapsed by her side.

She turned to face him. "So this is what you're really like?"

Vane nodded and waited for his heart to stop pounding. She draped herself over his chest and kissed his right nipple. He growled as she gave a light, playful lick to it.

"If you keep doing that, we'll be in this bed for the rest of the day."

Bride scoffed. "I know you men. You'll need at least a few hours to" Her voice trailed off as she felt him hardening against her thigh.

"I'm not human, Bride. Sex invigorates us. It doesn't make us tired."

She lifted the sheet to see the truth of that statement. He was already hard again. "So I can play with you as much as I like?"

"Um-hmmm. I'm all yours, pet."

Biting her lip, Bride slid her hand down to cup him gently and to explore the entire length of him. Since Taylor had never made love to her with the lights on or in daylight, she'd never really had a chance to examine a guy up close before.