Dark Promises (Dark 25)

She had no idea what to do, but she needed more. She kissed him like a woman starved, and she had been starved. She kissed him like a woman possessed, and she was fairly certain he'd possessed her. At the very least she was under some spell he'd ensnared her with.

His hands were on her bare skin, whispering over the swell of her breasts, sliding down to her nipples, thumbs doing delicious things that sent fiery streaks straight toward her most feminine core. Then his mouth was there. At her breasts. Alternating between them, sucking them deep and then flicking with his tongue, using the edge of his teeth until she was crying out in desperate hunger.

There was no holding on to sanity. Her mind slipped right past every coherent thought and she could only feel when his fingers moved down her body, his mouth following. His fingers found the heat and wet silk between her legs and dipped. Her head thrashed wildly and she dug her fingers into his shoulders to anchor herself when she was fairly certain she was going to fly apart and never come back together. It didn't matter.

This was worth her sanity. Right here. Right now. His hands. His mouth. His hard, hot body. She'd forgotten what a man's body felt like. No, she'd never had a man's body. She'd been a teenager fumbling in the dark with another teenager. This man knew exactly what he was doing, finding her song. Her music. Playing her body like a master would play an instrument.

Her breath came in ragged gasps. Her body was burning up, the tension coiling so tight she thought she might die. She couldn't get enough of touching him, and twice she tried desperately to roll over, to be on top, to attack him to get what she wanted because he was going too slow and she was nearly sobbing with her need.

"Shh," he whispered. "I have you. You are in my care, han sivamak, and I will give you everything."

She tried to be calm. She tried to get her brain working, but her body had taken over. There was no going back and she didn't even want to. He had to be inside of her before that empty, hollow hole consumed her. He had to be inside of her until the horrible, unrelenting emptiness was filled by him, just as he'd flooded her mind with him, filling every lonely spot in her mind.

Then he was there. Kneeling over her, between her legs. She felt him at her entrance. She heard him let his breath out as he slipped just an inch inside of her. Burning. Stretching. He had to fight her tight, hot tunnel. One small inch at a time. Retreat. Come back. She thrashed under him, her hips bucking. Trying to take him. Needing him.

He felt far too big. He'd looked far too big. She didn't think her body could ever accommodate his size, but his soft murmurings and gentle but insistent hands told her he was going to possess her.

"Relax, han sivamak, do this for me. Trust me. This will be good for you. You are so tight, and scalding hot. Heaven. Nirvana. Lady, give yourself to me."

His voice was a rough growl. He slid in farther, pushing against her tight muscles that didn't want to give way, not even when she was so slick with need. So hungry for him. Her hands went to his broad shoulders, the only part of him she could reach. When he retreated, she sobbed, trying to get him back.

"Trixie," he whispered softly, "look at me."

Her gaze jumped to his face. He was beautiful. His hunger was every bit as deep as her own. She saw the clawing need there. For her. For her body. For Trixie--no other woman--and she wanted to weep. She saw herself in his mind. He thought she was beautiful. In the same way she saw him. Her eyes burned. Stung. No one had ever looked at her the way he was. Not one single person. As if she was his everything. His reason for getting up and going to bed. His reason for breathing. She saw that, in his eyes. On his face. In his mind.

"Give yourself to me. Let yourself fly."

"Too high. Too much," she said. But she wanted. Wanted. Everything he could give her. But then after . . . After she would lose such beauty. Could she live with that?

"I will always catch you, no matter how high. Give yourself to me."

How could she resist his voice? His voice was so rough with hunger. Rough with need. Sensual. He pushed deeper into her, connecting them. She took a breath and let herself take the plunge. Eyes on his, she forced her body to relax.

"Thank you, han sivamak. Beloved," he whispered. "You are so tight and scorching hot. I had no idea it would be like this. Did you? Did you know?"

He slid in another couple of inches, stretching her past bearable, but it was so good. So unbelievably good. She hadn't known. How could she? Tears leaked out of her eyes. She couldn't stop them. She couldn't believe he was inside of her. Filling her. Taking her. Wanting her.

More, the way he looked at her filled that hollow space, the one she had never been able to fill with her love of her family. The one that haunted her every night when she went to bed. He was there. Fane. A man she didn't know, yet she knew him better than she knew herself.

"Hold on, beloved. Take a breath. I am going to take you all the way."

She didn't know if she could stand so much pleasure. She took a breath and kept her gaze steady on his. Wanting him. Needing him. Welcoming him. He drew back and surged forward, tunneling through her tight channel. The slide of his cock, the stretch and burn coupled with the friction sent her tumbling over the edge into some other dimension. She heard herself scream. She felt the tide take her, throwing her out into space. He kept moving in her, driving deep, over and over, prolonging the massive wave rippling through her.

No. She hadn't known anything could be like this. She couldn't catch her breath, but she never wanted him to stop. And he didn't. Fane was already building the next wave in her, taking her right back up, his rough voice turning more sensual as he encouraged.

"That is my lady," he said. "Again. For me. Again, Trixie. Give yourself to me again."

She was going to keep giving herself to him as long and as many times as she could all night.

10

Aleksei woke to the sound of choking. Beside him, Gabrielle's body was hot, covered in sweat, and she was gasping for breath, clawing at the dirt surrounding them, fighting for air. His first thought was to open the earth for her. He didn't. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her body over the top of his, his mouth finding hers, breathing for her. Into her. Filling her lungs with air.

Kessake. Do not panic. You are safe with me. You are fully Carpathian. Not human. You are not buried alive.

Her hands clutched at him, fists finding his hair, gripping hard. Holding on to him. Her heart beat so hard he feared it would explode, but she held on to him and let his mouth take hers. He was gentle. Calm. Willing her to be so.

Your heart beats too fast. Feel mine. Hear mine. Follow the rhythm of my heart and slow yours, little cat.

He actually felt her make the effort to follow his instructions and he moved one hand down her spine, following the delicate curve to the smooth slope of her buttocks. As he did, he cleaned her body and provided a slight cushion of air above them. He let his hand stay on her bottom while she slowed her heart until it matched the rhythm of his.

Aleksei continued to breathe for her. Slow. Easy. Intimately. Her body felt wonderful draped over his, her soft breasts pressing deep into his chest. He could wake up every rising just like this, although he might prefer to find his cock buried in her or her mouth wrapped around him. Just the thought had his body stirring with need.

That is what I wanted exactly. You are doing good. Now open your eyes and look at me.

Her heart lurched. Her fists tightened in his hair and he felt her body stiffen. No. No, I can't do it, Aleksei.

What did I tell you about saying no to me? There is no reason not to open your eyes and look at your man. I have you in my arms. In my care. Do as I say.

Please. Please. Please, don't ask me to do that.

He felt her mounting terror. She still had the idea that she was buried alive in her mind. He didn't touch her mind, but he knew. He knew because she was so terrified and her body showed that terror to him.

He stopped breathing for her and kissed her. Gently. Very gently.

He hadn't known he could be gentle, but that was what she needed. Coaxing. Kislany. He whispered the word in her mind. Little girl. Baby. His. You are safe with me. Now open your eyes and see me. See that you are safe with me.

She struggled with obeying his command. He felt her struggle and was proud of her that she tried when clearly she was so afraid. He stroked one hand through her hair; the other smoothed over the curve of her bottom.

Finally her long lashes lifted and she looked at him. Straight into his eyes. He smiled at her. There you are. Can you see that I would never allow any harm to come to you? I may be more demon than man, but you are my woman and in my care. Kiss me, Gabrielle. Do not worry about breathing. Feel the earth. The soil. It strokes over you, feeding your body. Healing and rejuvenating you. Nourishing you.