by Beck, Paloma
“Please. Please. Please,” Layla began chanting and ended his resolve. From all the wetness on his fingers, he imagined she must be ready for him. He brought his moist fingers to his lips and licked them, sucking them into his mouth as Layla watched. Her eyes were sparkling. Small embers released from them like lightning bugs in the night sky. It was her magic and it was beautiful.
Madden secured her knees in each of his arms and placed himself at her core, opening her to his body and slowly pushed himself inside. Working to control his own need, he shifted just an inch at a time and allowed her to accommodate him slowly. Their eyes remained connected and he was vigilant for any sign of discomfort. It would destroy him to know he’d caused her pain.
Just when he felt a slight resistance and knew he was at her barrier, Madden used his fingers to arouse her clit, bring the flood of pleasure to that small tip, and push Layla to the edge of orgasm. He watched as first she tried to understand the feelings flooding her and then to fight them. Finally, Layla simply gave herself over to him. Just as she was going over the edge, he pushed himself farther inside and she screamed out her first orgasm. There would be more tonight.
Madden was mesmerized. Small droplets of sweat had formed along Layla’s forehead. Her skin glistened, her cheeks and chest flushed and her eyes closed. Long strands of strawberry blonde hair swirled along the pillow like ribbons. When he pulled out a small bit and then fully seated himself within her, her eyes sprang open again.
“We aren’t finished, love,” Madden explained as he smiled at her surprise.
“I can’t possibly…” Layla’s words were cut off by Madden’s thrust. He positioned himself carefully so she would feel him rubbing along that same sensitized clit. Her breathing immediately sped up and she fought for air as her back arched with every thrust.
”Oh, you most certainly can. And you most certainly will.” Madden leaned down and took her lower lip between his teeth, lightly nipping at her flesh and then soothing it with his tongue.
Stretching his body upwards, his eyes found where their bodies now joined. Her light reddish curls glistened with her arousal. Layla hugged him tightly with her thighs, so close that their curls tangled together, creating a joining of their own. It was an amazing sight.
“Look down, Layla, and see how perfect we look together.” His voice was riddled with lust and he flexed inside her again, pushing himself and spreading her wider still.
Madden watched as Layla’s eyes sought out their connection. Her golden eyes swirled, mesmerized and transfixed as she watched him shift his hips back, drag his cock out and then allow her grip to pull him back again. She whimpered and pushed her hips forward to meet his thrust.
He never stopped his thrusting. Madden worked to overwhelm Layla with sensation so all that existed was the two of them. His cock stroked over her clit, and touched the tip of her core with every forward motion. His chest abraded her sensitive nipples while he bent his mouth to hers to complete the joining.
Feeling his own imminent release, Madden used his sharp teeth to nip just a bit harder on Layla’s lower lip, drawing blood to the surface so he could take just another small sip, and assure himself she would sleep well at his side this night. Later, he would take the vein in her neck where the sensations would be most erotic but she wasn’t ready yet. Her blood was a warm, salty syrup that coated his throat as he allowed the power of it to wash through him. For now, this would satisfy him.
Layla bucked at the dual penetration—his teeth sunk into her flesh and his cock sunk into her core—and she came with such shocking strength that her walls hugged his cock and drew out every bit of life it had to give. Madden came hard, more than he ever had before. His cock refused to soften which was a common ailment he’d heard about from other mated males. It was how they assured a complete joining by not allowing for immediate separation. Already their mating had begun. For the rest of their time on earth, Madden and Layla would take their sustenance in one another. As a woman in the Magdalena Circle, she was a destined mate of a Valendite Breed. While she provided him strength and life through her blood, his blood would bring her lengthened life. They would now live and die together. Madden remained inside of her as they held each other and waited for sleep to take them. He hated for this time to end.
* * * *
Layla couldn’t believe what had just happened. She needed to gently extricate herself from his hold and find a way to calm herself. She’d fallen asleep in Madden’s arms after the most amazing experience. Damn, she couldn’t think about that now. The events to come—the Acclimation, the Pronouncement—couldn’t be denied now and she was feeling trapped, suffocated and completely out of control. Everything Layla had ever feared was coming true. She was mated and it would never end.
After at least an hour of edging herself from the bed, Layla sat in her library. It was nearly dawn and Madden still lay soundly sleeping in her bed. Layla couldn’t believe what she had done, what it felt like, what she still felt like hours later. Nothing her mother had ever told her and her sisters had prepared Layla for the overwhelming feelings that twitched in her belly or the need that gripped her with every movement she made. Her need for Madden was consuming her thoughts. She couldn’t think of anything but being joined with him again, even after feeling so fulfilled last night.
“Mother,” Layla whispered. Her tone was perturbed and frustration colored the edges of her words. She knew her call worked when she saw the quick puff of smoke and the unmistakable purple swirls that coalesced into her mother’s form. Layla was just as amazed by her mother’s ability to transport as she’d been the first time she saw the translucent figure become more corporeal until it melded into the solid form of her mother. Her mother’s powers were extraordinary and Layla couldn’t imagine ever being so powerful despite her mother’s continual reassurances to all her daughters.
Her mother cast her eyes upon Layla and seemed to understand right away how upset she was.
“Layla, why so forlorn?” Chiara asked her daughter.
“Mother, don’t you know?” Layla fought to keep her voice steady as she talked, but now that her mother was so close, she wanted her mother to hold her like a child again. She wanted to cry into her mother’s shoulder as her arms kept her safe from the world. But what might her mother think? Instead, Layla bowed her head and pulled a springy lock of her long hair across her cheek to block her face.
“Just as you did as a child,” Chiara brushed the hair away from Layla’s face and placed her own hand upon Layla’s cheek. Layla leaned into her mother’s touch and a silent tear slipped out.
“Mother…” Layla’s voice trapped in her throat by the raw emotion rolling through her. At once, she was drawn to Madden and desperately trying to hold onto her family, her innocence, and to everything she ever knew.
“I got news from your sisters that you’ve found your mate. Surely that doesn’t have you in this sullen mood?” Her mother seemed confused. Heck, Layla was just as confused. She should have known her mother would see nothing shocking about last night’s events.
Layla continued to sit in silence while her mother continued, “Layla, my dearest one, I know you are the youngest and likely the least interested in the prophecy, in finding a mate but you have known. You belong to the Circle of Magdalena.”
Layla understood the prophecy, she knew she held one of the deadly sins—some sort of curse put upon them for the indiscretions of their ancestors hundreds of years ago—and that being claimed by a Valendite Breed would render the sin gone. Fulfilling their obligation to sustain this breed of men provides the women in the Magdalena Circle a long, illness-free life.
“Mother, please see this from my point of view. I do not love him,” Layla emphasized her words, completely frustrated that her mother was giving her no sympathy. Then she paused, slowed her breathing to keep her emotions in check, “Now I am mated to him. I am bonded for life, for eternity.”
“Madden is a good man from a good family. Father
and I couldn’t be more pleased for you when we looked into his background, my dearest one. They own a local vineyard and another in Italy still, in our homeland.”
“I don’t care about what he does for a living, mother. There is more to this. I wanted time to get to know him.”
“You will get to know him. And just as I did with your father, you will grow to love him. It is determined, prophesied. Do you not feel it?” Her mother’s eyes were imploring Layla to be more reasonable. Crap. How could this be happening to her? She’d imagined being able to see her older sisters go through the mating process first.
“I feel a need for him,” Layla admitted softly, “but not love.”
“And how might you define this need?” Her mother was pushing her now. Layla could sense her mother using the same strategy she always used on her and her sisters to get them to understand something she thought so obvious. Her mother’s hand then fell on Layla’s head, stroked Layla’s hair as she’d done when her daughter was a little girl and caused Layla to consider her words.
“It is lust, mother. Just lust.”
“There is no such thing with you, Layla. It is determined that when you experience lust for the first time, it can only mean that is your life’s mate. It is not a destiny with which we can argue,” Chiara’s gentle voice soothed Layla while her soft strokes through Layla’s hair relaxed her tightened muscles. Layla curled into a ball and pulled her legs up to her torso for comfort.
“I always thought I would feel love, that love and lust would go hand-in-hand,” Layla explained as she dried the tears that continued to fall.
“You are worrying far too much. Allow the Acclimation to pull you along.” Layla rolled her eyes at her mother’s reference to the process of forming the emotional bond with one’s mate. “I saw that, Layla. I’ve always known this would be difficult for you, but that makes it no less right. You do realize that your poor sister Eloise is green with envy?”
Thinking about Eloise upset for the very opposite reason Layla herself was upset made Layla laugh and sit up. She wiped her eyes with the sleeve of the nightgown she wore and attempted a smile.
“What do I do?” Layla implored her mother, hoping to glean wisdom from the woman she always believed held the answers. Rather than answering, Chiara turned her head to look towards the library doors. Her head tilted as if she’d heard something but Layla heard nothing until a moment later when Madden stepped from the shadows. And it was from the shadows that Layla’s question was answered.
“You come back to bed, Layla love,” Madden’s voice broke the spell. Chiara guided her daughter’s hand into Madden’s and stepped away with a slight bow before leaving the room. Her mother had a deep respect for the Valendite breed they served, great reverence knowing that their unions sustained a necessary population of the near immortal.
“Mother,” Layla called after her.
“We will have time to talk later, my dearest one,” the words faded as her mother continued to move away from her.
Layla cast her eyes up to Madden, who tugged slightly on her hand before he looked over her shoulder and nodded to her mother.
“Thank you for your daughter,” he spoke with reverence. Though she wanted to be angry, he was speaking about her as if she weren’t there, she couldn’t seem to muster the anger. She followed behind him silently, her fingers linked in his, as they returned to her bedroom. Her skin was prickling again under his touch and the warm sensation in her lower stomach returned; her body was alert and ready for this man again. She had no idea lust could be this way, this warm, but Layla yearned for so much more. Layla wanted love.
* * * *
“Did she say when they’d return?” Eloise found Paige in the kitchen preparing breakfast. Eloise had heard the other sisters stirring but knew Madden was gone which meant that Layla must be gone as well. As much as Layla hated to hear her mother’s stories of the mating, Eloise was quite the opposite and ate the stories up so she knew all too well that Layla wouldn’t be able to stand being separated from Madden in this early stage. During the Acclimation, separation was unbearable. It was when the newly mated couple became accustomed to the unique bond only the Valendite Breed share with their Magdalena mate. Goddess, she couldn’t wait to have a mate of her own.
“She didn’t say,” Paige answered without batting an eyelash. Each of the sisters was thinking of Layla. They were worried for the sister least interested in finding a mate. Layla would be apprehensive and she wouldn’t have her sisters to help her. They had always been there for each other and now it was as if a part of each of them was gone.
“How long will she be away?” Eloise pressed on for more information.
“I know nothing,” Paige took a long breath and closed her eyes to find her center before continuing. “Mother stopped in to see Layla this morning and said that Madden would likely take Layla away for their Acclimation.”
“Do I smell muffins?” Gracie bounced into the kitchen and onto a barstool.
Eloise slid the basket of muffins across the counter without taking her eyes from Paige, “So Mother knows? And she approves?”
“Shall I say that I have never seen Mother more joyous? She was thrilled that Layla’s mate should come from such a highly regarded Valendite family as the Santuccis.” Paige rolled her eyes but her smirk spoke volumes. Paige’s skepticism was nearly as high as Layla’s but Eloise was more in line with Gracie who was nearly giggling and clapping her hands like a giddy little girl.
“The Santuccis own vineyards here and in Italy,” Sadie interjected as she strolled into the kitchen and grabbed a muffin. “Why are we talking about them?”
“Layla’s mate is Madden Santucci, the oldest son from Santucci Vineyards,” Paige answered.
“I read an article about their vineyards just the other day. It’s amazing they can be such public figures while keeping the secret of their Valendite lineage.” Gracie was always full of information on the local area happenings.
“Well, I’m jealous as can be of our little sister. Did you see him last night? He only had eyes for her. It made me shiver,” Eloise shared her envy outright, her sisters knew all too well what her soul sin was.
“I wouldn’t be too jealous,” Gemma laughed, coming in and grabbing the basket of muffins, “Layla didn’t look so happy about it. And I heard her earlier this morning talking to Mother.
“Mother was sure she’d get over it. We all know Layla well enough to know she loves a good romance,” Paige assured her sisters.
“And according to the article, the Santucci men are some of the most eligible bachelors in the valley,” Gracie offered.
“Then it is as it should be.” Eloise proclaimed it as truth.
Chapter Three
She still felt very much out of sorts. Once they drove into the compound where his family lived, she was all too aware that her life had changed irrevocably. Yet as much as Layla wanted to run, hide even, she knew where she’d most like to run is right back into his arms. She’d want nothing more than to wrap her legs around Madden’s waist and cling to his naked body.
“This is our home,” Madden’s strong, deep voice caused Layla to jump. She realized he had stopped the car and an enormous house loomed just beyond a large black gate.
“Your home,” she corrected him.
“It’s ours now. The Santucci Casa has four buildings. My parents live in the primary estate that you see directly in front of us, but there are three other homes on the property, one of which is ours,” Madden paused only to see Layla shake her head, “Layla love, everything that belongs to me now also belongs to you.” Madden turned Layla to face him as he spoke. He placed one of her hands over his heart and used his other hand to raise her chin up so their eyes could meet. “Everything I have is yours. Everything I am is yours.”
“What if I don’t want it?” Even as the words came out, Layla knew them to be untrue, and she knew immediately that Madden knew as well. There would be no secrets between them.
> Layla looked up at Madden’s beautiful home. Enormous stone pillars framed the large front doors and a stone path led through lush gardens to welcome visitors. His home was plucked from the hills of Italy. She remembered seeing several like this on one of their family vacations to southern Europe. Still, this home took her breath away with its classic beauty.
Madden pulled up to the front door and turned off the car. He sighed, the first outward sign of his frustration with her refusal to accept the mating. “Layla, you must accept this. We have bonded and now we acclimate. The choice is not ours, but we can own the desires and enjoy them. Come on, I will show you around your new home.”
“Stop calling it that,” Layla growled and Madden chuckled. She didn’t know why she fought it. This home, her new home, was everything she could want but the helpless, out of control feelings were overwhelming. Layla wanted to find love even though she understood her lust would identify her mate. Would she only have lust?
“Save that growl for later, Layla love. It will be much better served in our bedroom.” The light in Madden’s eyes told her he was purposely antagonizing her. Still Layla glared at him, causing him to chuckle again. “Come. We’ll go in through the front doors. Normally we’d park in the back, but for your first time, I want you to experience it as our future guests will.”
Layla said nothing but followed him, strolling from room to room in silence. Layla worked hard at not showing her approval of the décor. The interior of Madden’s home was equally beautiful as if designed straight from a magazine. Neutrals colors accented with shades of gold and burgundy were warm. This was a home she could see herself living in. If only it hadn’t been forced on her, she’d be just fine living here. As it was, she wasn’t prepared to give into this mating so easily. She couldn’t let on how much she loved his home and allow herself to be swept away without any hope of control.
