She, on the other hand, was not. A side glance at the mirror across the room revealed that she was beyond bedraggled. Her hair was a crazy tangle of curls sticking up in odd places all over her head, her skin was pale and her eyes were heavy with the remnants of sleep. She looked like a waif wrapped in her crumpled sheet. Turning in time to catch him watching her as she was giving herself the once over, Kaitriana grinned impishly. Her attention was captured by the sound of voices from outside and it was then she noticed that the shadows in the room were not caused by the shutters blocking out the light. The night was fully dark already.
His eyes followed the line of hers and he answered smoothly, “The sun set two full hours ago lass.”
She pulled up the skirt of her sheet and made her way towards him. Her muscles had only a little stiffness after their long encounter; recalling various details brought a blush to her cheeks as she approached. He noticed and gave her a devilish smile, “You are young and newly transitioned. You require more rest than we Ancients. Given that you were drained and then kept me up half the day with your lusty demands, it is a wonder you are awake this soon.”
The blush blossomed fully when she tried to sputter a response to that. Lorcan stood, brushing his slacks and grinning at her fluster, “Not to worry love, all will expect us arrive late. The mating ritual is fatiguing for any female, even one well into her immortality.”
She did not feel different exactly with the bonding that had taken place. It was more like there was an added current between them, an extra spark. She was heightened in her awareness of him. Smiling sweetly, Kaitriana closed the space between them and leaned up so that he would give her his lips. After he did, Lorcan withdrew and tugged on a haphazard curl, commenting, “Your lips are swollen.” Looking down into her upturned face, he smirked, “Makes me want to bite them.”
He patted her playfully on the butt when he moved past into the main part of their chambers. Pulling a few items together on his desk, he still had an eye on her when she glanced his way, “Do you need to feed, Kat?” At her negative response, he raised a brow. She was standing in the same place and appeared to be in no hurry to move along, so he nudged, “Kaitriana, is there anything that you require to get ready? I assume you can conjure anything you might need before we go below?”
She nibbled on her lips, considering, “I want coffee...steaming with way too much cream.” Inspired, her eyes lit, “And a sugar cookie…a humongous sugar cookie.” Kaitriana nodded emphatically to let him know he had heard her correctly.
Lorcan grinned, she was an adorably strange little creature, “You want food?” She nodded again confirming and he laughed when an errant curl plopped in her face as a result.
She blew it away before she explained, “I have Myrrdyn’s memory of them …I very much want one.” Kaitriana would prefer to continue with this discussion. It would effectively keep her from the embarrassment of having any conversation with him about last night. She needed time to get herself settled into the fact that she had been decisively wedded and exceedingly well bedded by her sexy warrior.
He gave her a firm nod, his expression unreadable, “Then I will make certain to get you what you want, Kat. Can you get yourself ready in the meantime?”
She decidedly ignored his question and gave him her own, “Do you ever eat Lorcan? I understand your breed does not require it, but merely for pleasure?”
Lorcan knew his vision did not fail him at her tiny blush or his hearing as she had faltered slightly over her reference to ‘pleasure.’ Laughter was in his eyes and he let her see it to know that he was aware of her discomfort.
Shuffling more items on his desk, he replied simply, “Yes, upon occasion when something strikes my fancy.” When finished, he gave her a knowing look and dropped a kiss to her brow when he strode by her towards the door. He threw back, “I can understand why you might be famished. You were quite the demanding vixen last night….”
Her eyes narrowed on his retreating form and she decided that her vampire was too cocky. When she called out to him, her voice was sticky sweet.
He turned to Kaitriana in question to find her posing with her hands on her hips. Lorcan saw the twinkle in her eyes and wondered what outrageous thing the little witch was about to spout.
Nibbling at her lips, Kat questioned, “You said you expected I would sleep longer...would those gathered for tonight’s celebration assume the same?” He was suspicious of her motives and it was reflected in his slow nod. She appeared earnestly inquisitive, “Do you suppose then they may not expect us for another hour or more?”
Exasperated, he crossed his arms over his chest. He did not know her game but it was obvious she intended to drag her feet. His female was embarrassed over what had transpired between them and perhaps she worried that everyone would also be aware. Lorcan adopted what he hoped was an encouraging tone, “Kaitriana, there is no reason for you to delay joining this celebration. After you bathe, it should be a quick matter for you to be ready if you use your magic.”
She unconsciously licked her lips when her eyes raked over him. Her tone was deliberately defiant, “I find there to be reason for delay.” His expression shifted from encouraging to skeptical. She stared back in challenge. Raising her hands, she unhooked the knot that held her sheet and let it fall. His intake of breath was easily audible across the room. Keeping her eyes trained on his, she started measured steps backwards until she was brought up short against their bed. Kaitriana whispered brazenly, mischief twinkling in the depths of blue, “I fear my craving has changed.”
His eyes blackened. Lorcan was already jerking buttons loose on his clothing as he took long strides across the room. The shirt was tossed unceremoniously to the floor before he even reached her. Pulling Kaitriana up into his arms, he flattened her tiny form against his and took her mouth hard.
Her color was high and she was breathless when he finally raised his lips. Lorcan could not help himself and brushed his to hers once more, observing, “Your lips are bruised, love. You are certain you want this now?" He was concerned that she might still be suffering other lingering effects from their mating.
Leaning up on her toes, she nibbled at the corner of his mouth and tossed his words back at him, “Good thing I heal quickly, isn’t it?" His gaze turned smoldering.
Lorcan steadied her back on her feet and ran a hand in a rough caress down her front. His manner reeked confidence, assured of the immediate effect his touch would evoke. Cupping his hand firmly over her below, he was not surprised to find his passionate minx ready for him. Leaning in he took her in another hot kiss as his fingers began to play. After he was satisfied with the level of her response, he hushed solemnly against her mouth, “You distracted me last night; I forgot to show you what my kiss feels like here.” Lorcan rubbed a single finger deep so she would know exactly where and was rewarded with the flood of warmth against his hand.
After he stoked her fire until she was moving against him restlessly, Lorcan then pulled back with a self-satisfied whisper, “I think you like the idea, Witch." A few more strokes against her and he added meaningfully, “You are something that strikes my fancy, Kaitriana.”
Laughing when her blush told him that she caught on to the innuendo, he delivered a playful push that sent her toppling back onto their bed. Capturing her arms, he was on her and stretching them over her head before she could right herself. Lorcan rocked his body into her. His voice had gone all steely authoritative when he ordered, “Do not move...not a single inch.” It had her sighing with longing and Kaitriana just nodded dutifully.
Lorcan licked his way down her front. Brushing his mouth lightly across the peaks of her breasts, he gave each a few hard sweeps with the point of his tongue. He ventured on down her torso, lingering over the circle of her navel with a swirling tongue. His hands found home against her heated core while he continued to explore her skin with slow flicks of his tongue.
When Kaitriana arched in welcome to the touch of his fingers, Lorcan quic
kly withdrew his hands to her hips and pressed downward. Giving a nip to the skin of her belly just above her mound, he grated out softly, “No Witch…be still.”
Kat let out a groan of protest but obligingly lowered her hips. Lorcan waited a minute to see if she would remain compliant and then returned his hands to their earlier place. He followed by covering the spot he had nipped with an open mouthed kiss, purposely grazing the flesh with his fangs. No sooner had he put his mouth there than he slowly delved his fingertips into her. He could feel the muscles clench in her abdomen as she fought to remain unmoving and another groan escaped from her tightly pressed lips. At the same time that he thrust his fingers forward, Lorcan dropped his open mouth to the little button of flesh hidden just above. He delivered a velvety lick.
The movement roused a cry of pleasure from his little witch and her hands came to his shoulders, leaving scratches. The enjoyment he was gaining from forcing his unruly mate to his will was obvious. He lifted his mouth and waited for her to look to him.
It took a second to rouse herself from the depths of pleasure and realize that the absence of his touch was purposeful. When she raised her head, he captured her gaze and then pointedly removed his hands to her hips. The message was clear in his eyes.
Kaitriana made a face that mirrored her frustration and suddenly snarled at him with a snap of her fangs. The brow he quirked was a rebuke. She bared her fangs a single time more, absent the growling and lowered back to the bed, obediently returning her arms over her head. Nodding his approval, he nipped the inside of her thigh, “Good little witch.”
Her churlish retort was interrupted by the return of his hands and mouth. Kaitriana clenched her hands tight around the pillow above her outstretched arms. Closing her eyes, her body went rigid as she fought to remain still beneath the agonizing play of his mouth.
He went back to circling that little spot slowly with his tongue, just brushing the sides while he joined a second finger with the first and increased the pace. He knew she was rapidly approaching her climax and probably would have already reached it had she not been required to concentrate on remaining still. The uncontrollable tiny tremors in her thighs and quick shallow breaths confirmed it.
Kaitriana was in agony with the need for release and she knew he realized the same. If he would only give her one second to press firmly against his mouth she could find that glorious sensation. She was tearing the fine fabric on the pillow when she caught his whisper, “Patience, Witch.” A testy growl was her only response and she continued to destroy the material of the pillow while harboring a burning hope that it was his favorite.
Licking downward, his mouth grazed lightly over her tender, wet flesh. Lorcan moaned against her, the taste here was nearly as intoxicating as her blood. His thumb took over stroking the nub nestled above where his mouth lingered. Withdrawing his fingers he wound his arm under her hips, tilting her slightly to allow the press of his tongue into her slow and deep. Her sharp little gasp told her intense liking.
Lorcan felt her begin to pulse ever so gently against his mouth and he did not have the heart to restrict her response further. When he had her begging Lorcan switched to teasing little bites on the silky flesh. The way she was calling his name was a plea in itself when he finally withdrew his thumb to return his mouth to the sensitized spot. Placing rhythmic licks there, his fingers reclaimed her and set an unrelenting pace that matched the movements of his tongue. Her body went taut as pleasure claimed her and she cried out softly. He could feel the intensity of her pulsing climax around his hand.
Lorcan tore away his remaining clothes before the last wave left her and dragged her hips to where he knelt on the edge of the bed. Her eyes were misty with passion when they met his. Nudging his length against her, he watched the tremble that washed over her. She was already pressing sweetly to him in anticipation when he whispered, “You were perfect, beauty. Come here.”
She extended her hands towards his chest to meet him as he leaned over and pushed in slowly. Her eyes were glittering with magic when he quickly withdrew and returned with a hard stroke. She offered him an alluring smile the moment before she growled and wound her hands tightly in his hair, yanking his mouth hard to hers. He was seduced by her greedy demand and deepened the kiss.
The little whimpers in her throat indicated that she was approaching the edge again. Lorcan did not have the resolve to spend hours lingering over her as he had the night before; he was quickly nearing his end. Breaking the kiss, he nuzzled her neck and whispered, “Put your legs around my hips, sweetheart.” As soon as she complied, he groaned in ecstasy. The slight shift gave deeper access and the tight squeeze of her against him nearly had him spilling. He quickened his pace, driving harder. He wrapped his arms behind her upper back and lifted her slightly, opening his mouth over to throat to sink his fangs slowly into her flesh.
It sent her over again. Her arms fell away from him limply and she murmured his name adoringly when she closed her eyes and slipped into bliss. The pulse against him, coupled with the exquisite taste of her washing over his tongue, drove him to join her. With another groan, he buried himself and finished with a shudder.
Long minutes later he gathered himself enough to raise his weight off the witch. Her smug look was the first thing he saw. Lorcan did not have the energy at that exact moment to ponder it or give her anything more than a quick kiss on the lips before he shoved over onto his back. Kaitriana followed and arranged herself squarely on his chest. He lifted one lid and found her grinning saucily, “Maybe the Ancient one should try to sleep more too.”
His answer was a swat on her bare backside and she yelped, more startled than in any pain. Laughing merrily, she gave him a quick kiss, “Only a suggestion, love. When you catch your breath can you get me that cookie?”
He laid his head back on the cush of the bed, grumbling, “I will show you a cookie, Witch.”
She reached down and clasped each of his hands in her own. At her prolonged silence, he opened his eyes again to find her studying each hand in turn. Raising a brow in askance, he waited. Lorcan could tell she was hesitating, so he asked bluntly, “What?”
Kaitriana was loathe to ruin the fun of the night, but never one to control her curiosity, she could not hold back. Certainly she needed it satisfied before they journeyed below. She bit her lip with a little trepidation before she spoke, “You did use magic…with me yesterday, did you not?”
Much to her relief, his mood did not sour and his expression remained unchanged when he answered, “Yes.” In the mood to pay her back for her teasing Lorcan gave her no more, merely shutting his eyes and lowering his head again.
He was punished by the hard stab of her finger to his chest, “You cannot reveal that and then take a nap.”
Lorcan did not even bother to look at her, “You said I should try to sleep more, Witch. How can I do that with you yammering on incessantly?” She jabbed him again. At his lack of response, she leaned down and nipped his chest. When a few more seconds had clicked by without a reaction from him, she whined pitifully, “Lorcan…this is important.”
Laughter rumbled in his chest and he shifted to recline against the pillows, nearly dislodging her from her position with the unexpected movement. He patiently waited until she was through scrambling to regain her spot before he offered his wrist, hoping that a feeding might keep her from plying him with a thousand questions while he gave explanation.
She scooted in his hold so that she could view his face and took the offering. Expectantly she peered up at him. He pushed her crazy fall of curls back from her face with his free hand before hugging her tight, “You know full well that I have magic, you sensed it. I had already determined I would share the secret with you before you came back to me.” Kaitriana increased the pressure of her bite for just a moment, her silent way of admonishing him for not being honest with her from the start.
Tapping her on the nose, Lorcan frowned down with disapproval before he went on, “The magic remained after
my transition but I never revealed that and have always refrained from using it. Last night was the first time I have intentionally called it. Consider it my mating gift to you Kaitriana.”
Unable to contain her thrill, she released her bite, her excitement palpable. Lorcan cut off her attempt to speak with the press of a single finger to her lips. In turn, she licked at it wickedly, causing a smile to tug at his lips before his expression grew serious, “Kaitriana, it was my gift to you and you only. Your knowledge of it is not to be shared and it is not to be discussed outside the walls of our rooms. If I ever decide to make my power known in the Realm, it will be my decision alone.”
To his shock, Kaitriana only shrugged and kissed his fingertip, answering solemnly, “Yes, love.”
The look her gave her suggested that he thought someone had swatched witches with him while he slept. He mumbled something similar to that under his breath, prompting Kaitriana to make a face at him. The action readily assured him that this was, in fact, his bratwitch. Lorcan eased her to the side and left the bed in a fluid motion, grabbing up his discarded clothing.
He glanced down at her after he had inspected it to determine whether or not damage had been rendered in his hurried undressing. He muttered, “If I had known you would become such an agreeable wench after a good toss, I would have had you flat on your back outside the gate in the snow that first night.”
Her answer was the light kick of her foot to his backside. He spun on her and with his vampire’s speed caught her ankle before she had a chance to pull back. Her eyes were wide until she caught the playful gleam in his, “Get yourself ready, Witch. I will see if I can satisfy your other craving before we join the celebration.” After securing her agreement he shadowed off in search of baked goods for his impractical mate.
Chosen: Book 1 in the Ancients of Light series Page 26
