"You"re my wife and you will obey me."
"I don"t think I like this game anymore."
She reached for the blindfold, but Charles grasped her hands and gently pinned them above her head. Desire washed over him as her b.r.e.a.s.t.s flattened beneath his chest. He kissed her forehead and the tip of her nose. "Trust me. I will make you happy."
"So I"m supposed to sit still while you do whatever you want?"
"No. You can writhe and thrust those gorgeous hips. You can wrap your beautiful legs around me and squeeze with all your mortal strength. You can call my name and moan in ecstasy. When I kiss you, you may kiss me back. Use your tongue. Your lips. Your teeth. You may do anything to enhance your pleasure except for one thing."
"What"s that?" She sounded so enticingly breathless and her heartbeat echoed in his ears.
"You can"t rush me, beauty. You can"t ask me to cheat you out of pleasure. Now, if you want me to take off the blindfold, if you want me to stop, I will. We can play another game, but you will be missing out."
Charles stared at her parted lips, waiting for her reply. His c.o.c.k, wedged between their bodies, felt like steel. Suddenly he wondered if he could fulfill his promise of waiting for release until she was completely sated. Whether he had one o.r.g.a.s.m or fifty didn"t matter to a vampire, especially one with his physical conditioning. He could literally come all night long and still hunger for more, but he wanted to wait. The postponement of his climax would drive him absolutely wild. Already his heartbeat quickened just thinking about it. The sensation of her body growing hotter and pulsing around his fingers, c.o.c.k, and tongue would drive him insane with need. The scent of her arousal filled the room, intoxicating him.
Keeping both of her hands captive in one of his, he shifted position slightly and stroked her inner thighs.
"I"m going to caress you. I"m going to stick my fingers inside you, love. Do you want that?"
"Yes."
"Good."
His thumb circled her damp p.u.s.s.y lips, then he inserted his index finger and stroked gently. She was so warm and wet. Their game had obviously aroused her so much that he doubted she would want to stop, but he had to be sure. Two of his fingers were inside her now, exploring her slick p.u.s.s.y. At the same time, his thumb circled her c.l.i.t.
"Oh," she moaned, wiggling her hips a bit.
Ever so slowly he removed his fingers. They were glossy with the evidence of her pa.s.sion.
"You"re so wet." He kissed her lips. "What is your answer, Marie? Do we play our roles or try another game? Do you want to be claimed by the G.o.d of fire?"
"Yes. I do. I want him -- I mean you. This. I want this."
"Then, my beauty, you will not rush me again."
"No. I won"t. Not again."
Charles smiled and released her hands. He covered her body with his and supported his weight on his forearms. "Good."
With the utmost tenderness, he kissed every inch of her face. Closing his eyes, he enjoyed the sensation of her smooth flesh beneath his lips. Slowly, he kissed his way down one of her cheeks, over her jaw, and up her other cheek. Finally he reached her throat. He trailed the tip of his tongue over the column of soft skin, then he lapped it.
How he ached to bite her, to plunge his fangs into her flesh while he thrust into her p.u.s.s.y. Allowing himself the slightest, most pleasurable tease, he rested the tips of his fangs against her neck without breaking the skin.
Moaning softly, Marie tensed even more and arched against him. A grin tugged at his lips. She loved to be bitten. Most humans did, as long as the vampire was experienced in providing pleasure. The urge to taste her blood sent waves of pure pa.s.sion through his entire body. Groaning, he parted her thighs with his knee and rested his swollen c.o.c.k between her legs.
"Oh, yes." She entwined her legs with his and rubbed her c.l.i.t against his steely erection. For a moment he almost lost all reason and took her hard. His hunger was ferocious. He felt like a wild animal made foolish by the scent of his mate in heat.
His fingernails dug through the satin sheets to the mattress below, ripping as he clenched his fists. He would owe Zigor for a new bed, but at that moment he didn"t give a d.a.m.n. Besides, such incidents weren"t unheard of at Burgundy Peak.
Edging his way down her body, he licked and kissed every inch of her torso, careful not to touch her nipples. Those spiky jewels would wait, aching and desperate, until he returned to pay them proper homage. His hands caressed her hips at the same moment his tongue explored her navel. G.o.d, it was like kissing Venus. She was so smooth and pale, so plump and feminine. His entire body tingled and buzzed from touching her. He had dreamed of lying with Marie in a bed of black satin. Now the dream was real. She surrendered to him, yet in that surrender she demanded ultimate pleasure.
Pausing over her c.l.i.t, he breathed on it, hoping it provided the same thrill as when she breathed on his c.o.c.khead. He didn"t lick or kiss the flesh, however, but turned his attention to one of her thighs. Licking and kissing his way to her knee, he reveled in her moans and panting breath. Her body tensed with need and she used her foot to stroke his shoulder and hip, the motion incredibly arousing.
His lips moved to her calf and ankle. When he finally reached her foot, he covered it with kisses, too. He ran his thumb along the arch, and she jumped and giggled. Oh, yes. She was so ticklish there. Moving to her other foot, he repeated the same slow, carnal ritual up her leg to her hip.
Looming over her, he gazed at her face. d.a.m.n, she looked so s.e.xy with the scarf covering her eyes, her cheeks flushed a charming shade of pink, and her full lips parted. Her enticing b.r.e.a.s.t.s arched toward him, the nipples taut. They had waited long enough.
Taking one pebble-hard bud between his lips, he sucked and licked it. She cried out, a high-pitched sound of delight, and wrapped her arms around him tightly. Her fingers sank into his shoulders, and Charles groaned with desire.
Using the tip of his tongue, he circled her areola before teasing the very tip of her nipple. He traced its shape and tenderly nibbled it with his lips until the scent of her l.u.s.t filled him and her breathing grew ragged with impending o.r.g.a.s.m. Slowly, he moved to her other nipple.
"Oh, G.o.d, I don"t think I can take much more," she panted. "I want you so, so badly."
He chuckled deep in his throat, too busy with her nipple to reply. With a final lick, he slid down her body and settled between her legs. Lying on his side, he lifted her legs over his shoulders and thrust his tongue into her p.u.s.s.y.
"Oh! Please. Please!" Her fingers dug into his scalp. She tried writhing, but he held her hips steady as he explored her soft feminine flesh. Turning his attention to her c.l.i.t, he ran his tongue down one side of it, then up the other. At the first stroke directly on the pa.s.sion-swelled nub, she came, moaning and panting, her legs clamping around him.
Charles continued licking and sucking her c.l.i.t until the very last ripple coursed through her body. He slipped from where he lay trapped between her satin-skinned legs. Glancing at her, he was shocked to realize she was crying.
"What"s wrong?" When she didn"t reply, he gently shook her shoulder. "Talk to me, Marie."
Drawing a deep breath, she tugged off the scarf as she turned to him, her eyes glossy with tears. "I"ve just missed... I"ve missed Charles so much. It seems like forever since I"ve felt that unconditional love he had for me. He"s the only person who has ever loved me like that."
Why did she have to say that? Guilt washed over him. He felt so terrible that he nearly lost his erection. She missed him, yet here she was with John Brookfield. Or was she? Did she or did she not know? More importantly, could he continue with this lie? No. It was over.
"His love did have a condition." He shook his head and stretched out beside her, though he didn"t look at her. Instead he gazed at the candles flickering on the stand. "He could love you as long as he retained his ideal image of vampirism."
"What do you mean?" She reached for a tissue on the nightstand.
Taking it from her hand, he wiped her eyes and held it over her nose. "Blow."
She did as he asked, unable to keep from laughing a bit. Her fingertips brushed his as she took back the tissue and finished the job herself.
Sighing, she stared deeply into his eyes and tossed his words back at him. "Talk to me."
"Charles is a coward, Marie."
"What?" This time she didn"t try stifling her laughter.
"It"s true. He"ll face his enemies and would give his life to defend the weak, but he is terrified of losing you."
Looping her arms around his neck, she straddled his waist. "He could never lose me."
"I can"t lie anymore. It"s me." He dropped the accent, or actually picked up his American one. Over the centuries, he"d learned to speak in so many ways. After using American English for the past hundred and fifty years, it had become as comfortable to him as his birth accent.
"Thank goodness we can drop the act after all. For a while I was worried you were being followed or the room was bugged or something." She reached for his mask, but he stopped her, a wave of surprise crashing over him.
"You knew?"
"Of course I knew." She curled her lip. "Give me some credit, Charles."
"I thought you might know, but you didn"t give much indication."
"I thought you were in disguise because of the hunters. Why didn"t you contact me before this? I have been worried sick about you." She embraced him tightly. "Oh, Charles, it has been so horrible not knowing if you were dead or alive. What"s going on?"
"Marie." He held her, closing his eyes tightly. It felt so good to hold her while being himself again, though he was not really the same man she remembered. The moment he feared had arrived and there was no time for cowardice now. "I have more to tell you. The hunters I encountered were killed three months ago. I was never held captive."
"But Zigor and Mel told me you were missing. Then down at the party I thought I felt Zigor in my mind telling me not to question you but let you confide in me in your own way, so I thought you must have had a very good reason for this charade."
"My Master." Gritting his teeth, Charles shook his head. "He can never mind his own business."
Charles knew the extent of Zigor"s powers. If the ancient one had impressed a thought upon a mortal, even one with a strong mind, they would not be able to resist. Had it not been for Zigor, Charles would have been saved these past several hours of confusion and guilt, but he realized that was probably the reason Zigor had interfered.
"I want to know what is going on, Charles."
"I asked Mel and Zigor to tell you I was dead."
Sitting back, she stared at him with a combination of rage and pain. "You wanted me out of your life? You could have at least had the decency to come and tell me yourself without making me worry all this time --"
"Will you be quiet and listen to me? I didn"t want you out of my life. I needed you so much, Marie. You can"t imagine how much I"ve needed you with me."
"Then why?"
"I"m not like I used to be. Hunters confronted me while I was fighting off another vampire who was attacking someone. All this." He pointed at the scars covering his body. "It"s not part of a costume. It"s real, and it might take centuries to fade."
Her brow furrowed and she nodded slowly. "I thought it might have been something like that."
"You did?"
"It felt too real to be makeup, but I wasn"t sure. Did something happen to your eyes, too? Is that why they"re yellow?"
"No." He reached under the mask and removed the lenses, relieved to be rid of them.
Smiling, Marie edged closer. She touched his bearded jaw and ran her fingertips over his lips while gazing into his eyes. "That"s better."
Charles"s heart pounded. Every muscle in his body tensed, for he knew what was coming next.
She reached behind his head to unfasten the mask. "Let me see your face."
He remained statue still as she untied the mask. Inside he screamed and fought against revealing himself to her.
With the ties undone, she tugged the mask off. Her loving yet sorrowful gaze never faltered. "How did this happen?"
"Silver melted down and poured into spray guns. The hunters surrounded me. I guess I"m lucky to be alive."
"You guess? I"d say you"re d.a.m.n lucky, and so am I. Oh, G.o.d, Charles, I love you so much."
She threw her arms around him and buried her face between his shoulder and neck. "Why didn"t you let me know?"
"I was afraid you wouldn"t want me, or worse, you would just stay with me out of pity."
"Pity? You big dope! Do you know the kind of h.e.l.l I"ve been through these past months? Charles, there"s only one way I"d ever leave you, and that"s if you ever pull another stunt like this again." She lifted her face and stared deeply into his eyes. "I can accept the dangers of your private crusades, but I cannot accept this kind of dishonesty."
"I"m so sorry." He caressed her face. Indescribable happiness flooded his entire body. For a second he felt like crying, too, but the old fashioned warrior in him just wouldn"t allow it. Instead he held her close and kissed her hair. "I love you so much, Marie."
Then she kissed him. Her soft, beautiful lips moved sensuously against his. Using the delicate tip of her tongue, she traced the strange shape of his scarred lips. She thrust her tongue into his mouth. Groaning deep in his throat, he met her stroke for stroke. While she kissed him, her hands touched every inch of his face.
Sitting back on her heels, Marie continued exploring his forehead and cheeks with her fingertips. She stared at the mottled skin with curiosity rather than the disgust he had expected. "I"m so sorry, Charles. G.o.d, I don"t want to think about how much pain you were in."
"It was pretty bad, but it was worse because I didn"t have you with me."
"I wish you would have let me be there. Swear you will never do anything like this again. If you"re able to send for me, promise me you will. When you asked me to marry you, Charles, I thought we were agreeing to share everything, good or bad. That"s the only arrangement I"ll accept."
"I love you so much. I am so lucky to have you, Marie."
Her lips turned up in a sweet smile. "Those are lovely words, but I want a promise from you, Charles."
"All right. I promise. I will never do anything like this again. I will never lie to you to suit myself, and I will cherish you forever."
"And I promise the same." She hugged him tightly. "Now are you going to finish making love with me, Vulcan? You promised me a night of decadence."
"Oh, G.o.d. Yes, beautiful Venus. I have planned a night you won"t soon forget."
Marie doubted anyone could be as happy as she was at that moment. She couldn" t tear her gaze from Charles, and not because his handsome looks had been ravaged, but because she was thrilled he was with her again and no longer in danger. How could he have thought she wouldn"t want him? He was the most important person in her life. Her heart and soul belonged to him. She would willingly give her life for his, yet he had doubted her affection? No. She didn"t believe that was the truth. If he had truly doubted her, he wouldn"t have come here tonight. The horrible accident itself had shaken his confidence. Charles had always seemed so invulnerable. He had seen it all and done it all. He wore his warrior image with pride. No one would ever doubt his courage or think he was afraid of anything, but like everyone else, Charles had his weaknesses. If only he had allowed her to share in his pain - It didn"t matter. They were together now, and she intended to make up for lost time. "Oh, Charles." She embraced him again, closing her eyes and rubbing her cheek against his while her hands ma.s.saged his back in gentle circles. "I can"t stop telling you how much I love you."
"I"ll never grow tired of hearing it. I love you, too, Marie." Gently, he pushed her onto her back.
Marie gazed up at him and smiled. It felt so good to look into his familiar gray eyes. They were so beautiful, so strong and loving. She could spend eternity staring into those eyes and never grow bored. She reached for him. "Kiss me."
Covering her body with his, he kissed her upper lip, then her lower. Marie wrapped both of her legs around one of his and threaded her fingers through his hair. Her c.l.i.t and p.u.s.s.y tingled with desire. The steely erection pressing against her teased and aroused her. If only he"d stick it deep inside her. She wanted to be full of his stiff, velvet-skinned c.o.c.k.
"Please take me, Charles. I don"t want to wait any longer."
Lifting his face from hers, he smiled the slightest bit and stroked wisps of hair from her forehead. "I told you I didn"t want to rush. That wasn"t just a game, Marie."
"But you don"t know how much I need you."
"Yes, I do." For emphasis, he rubbed his c.o.c.k against her. "I"m ready to explode with desire, but I want to give you more."
Closing his lips over one of her nipples, Charles sucked and licked the tip at the same time his fingers slipped inside her. He caressed her slick pa.s.sage and used his thumb to circle her c.l.i.t.
She moaned, thrusting her hips against his hand and arching her back in an attempt to force her nipple deeper into his mouth. With a l.u.s.ty growl, he sucked harder on the plump pink jewel. His thumb rubbed faster over her c.l.i.t. Being sucked and rubbed by the man she desired more than anybody in the world stirred her to incomparable heights of pa.s.sion. Unable to contain herself, Marie came long and hard. He continued his carnal ministrations, drawing out her pleasure until she lay still, a joyful smile on her lips.
Again the nightstand drawer slid open. Marie watched with interest as he removed two containers and several strips of black satin. His gray gaze, filled with l.u.s.t and a touch of mischief, flickered in her direction. "In the mood for something different?"
Her smile broadened. "You mean even more different than acting out the parts of G.o.ds in love?"