Broken Dawn

by Duvall, Dianne

  Seth patted his shoulder. “Don’t worry about it. You had a lot on your mind. And this sort of thing happens from time to time. How is Kayla doing?”

  “She’s good.” He stepped outside with Seth and Roubal. “The cuts on her face are looking better and the bruising is fading.”

  “Excellent. Have you told her what you are?”

  “Yes,” Nick admitted. He saw no sense in trying to avoid it when Seth could pluck the information right out of his head if he wanted to. “Mostly.”

  Seth nodded, unperturbed. “It’s not an easy task, I know.” Seth had done the same himself when he had finally—after thousands of years of being alone—fallen in love not long ago.

  “Care to offer any tips?” Nick asked hopefully.

  Seth snorted. “Hell no. Like you, I opted to put off mentioning vampires.”

  “How’d that go?”

  “It came back and bit me in the ass when vampires attacked her.”

  “Shit. That’s right. I heard about that. She didn’t know vampires existed until then?”

  “No.” Seth smiled. “But sometimes when you bungle things, women love you anyway.” And Leah really loved Seth. Anyone with eyes could see it.

  “Hey, I forgot to ask: What’s Kayla’s gift? You said she’s a gifted one.”

  “She’s an empath. Like Bastien, she can feel others’ emotions with a touch. Her gift just isn’t as strong as his, so she may not be aware of it.”

  Kayla was an empath?

  Hmm. Since she seemed surprised whenever she said something naughty to him, Nick wondered if perhaps his desire might be influencing her when she felt it through touch.

  “You can remove Kayla’s cast as soon as her daughter leaves,” Seth mentioned.

  “Thank you. She’s on the way to the airport with Becca right now.”

  “Good. You can go ahead and begin your hunt then.” The ancient immortal’s lips quirked up on one side. “I know you’re hoping to end it early tonight.”

  Laughing, Nick shook his head. “We can’t hide anything from you, can we?”

  “Not even if you tried. Good hunting to you.”

  “Thank you.”

  Seth guided Richard Roubal over to the Mercedes.

  Nick locked his front door and headed for his Tesla, his footsteps light once more as his thoughts returned to Kayla and the night ahead.

  The doorbell rang.

  Kayla’s pulse jumped. A touch of panic struck when she checked her appearance in the bathroom mirror.

  What the hell was I thinking? Instead of her usual yoga pants and tank top or T-shirt, she wore a pretty, but casual, dress. In the rare instances she sported this particular dress, she usually added leggings beneath it because the loose skirt stopped well above her knees and she always worried the wind would blow it up and show her underwear. But tonight she hadn’t. Instead, she’d donned her sexiest undies—a lacy black bra with matching bikini panties—then topped everything off with heels.

  She didn’t do much with the rest of her look. She blow-dried her long brown hair to make it fluffier but didn’t style it or spray it. And she hadn’t bothered with makeup. Nick was used to seeing her without it, so clear lip balm was all she’d added.

  Now that he was waiting at her front door, however, the dress felt too weird… as if she were broadcasting that she’d wanted to wear something that would give Nick easy access.

  Which, technically speaking, she had.

  Oh hell. She was just nervous. She hadn’t had sex with anyone other than her ex in two decades.

  The doorbell rang again.

  “Coming,” she called. Careful not to twist an ankle in the barely broken-in high heels, she hurried down the stairs and over to the front door. Turning the locks, she opened it.

  Despite the heels, Nick still towered over her. Light from her living room spilled across him, glinting on his hair, which was still slicked back from a shower. He wore slacks tonight instead of the cargo pants he favored but had topped them with a T-shirt. Both were black and hugged his muscled form.

  “Hi,” she said breathlessly.

  “Hi.” His gaze met hers, skimmed down to the cleavage the dress’s neckline exposed, and continued along the rest of her to the high heels that were already making her feet hurt. Amber light flared to life behind his irises. “You’re so beautiful, Kayla.”

  “Thank you.” She stepped back, inviting him in. “How was work?” She closed and locked the door.

  “Annoying.”

  Frowning, she turned to face him. “Did something happen?”

  He shook his head, all but devouring her with his gaze. “No. I just couldn’t wait to see you.”

  “Me, too,” she admitted and fingered the hem of her dress. “Are you hungry?” She could whip up a quick dinner for them if he—

  “Only for you.”

  “Oh, thank goodness,” she breathed, moving forward.

  They came together in a rush of need, lips brushing, tongues stroking. His muscled arms banded around her and crushed her close, letting her feel how much he wanted her. He was already hard. And she ached to feel him inside her.

  Rising onto her toes, she wrapped her arms around his neck and hummed her approval when he loosened his hold just enough to palm one of her breasts. Heat shot through her as he teased her nipple through the thin material of her dress and bra, circling it, skimming across it, then delivering a pinch. “Yes,” she breathed.

  He spun her in his arms and pulled her against him, her back to his front. When he lowered his lips to her neck, she tilted her head to give him better access. Heat swirled through her as he cupped both her breasts and squeezed.

  “Nick.”

  He slipped a hand beneath the neckline of the dress, eased the lace of her bra aside, and palmed her bare flesh. It felt so good. She’d fantasized about this—about Nick touching her—for so long.

  Reaching back, she gripped his hips and rubbed her ass against his hard cock.

  He groaned, his hand tightening on her breast, sending a jolt of pleasure straight to her center.

  Her inner muscles clenched in response, then clenched again when he lowered his other hand to her thigh and caressed the skin left bare by the short skirt. She glanced up at him over her shoulder. His lips met hers, devouring and enflaming her further as he slid that hand up her thigh, closer and closer until he cupped her over her lacy panties.

  “You are so fucking hot,” he murmured before delivering another hungry kiss. He applied just enough pressure to her clit to make her whimper with need before he shifted his touch up to the skin above her panties. A moan escaped her as he slipped his long fingers beneath the flimsy fabric, over the triangle of curls, and sought her entrance. “You’re already wet for me,” he uttered hoarsely, rubbing his erection against her ass. At the same time, he ground the heel of his hand against her clit, sending fire through her.

  “Yes.”

  He thrust a finger inside her, then a second. “You’re so tight.”

  And she wanted him to stretch her with the big, hard length she’d cupped last night.

  He rocked against her, matching the rhythm of the fingers he thrust inside her. Her breath shortened as he teased her clit with his thumb, circling and stroking. At the same time, he rolled and pinched her nipple. His teeth nipped the sensitive skin of her neck while he continued strumming her clit with his thumb, thrusting his fingers deeper inside her, driving the pleasure higher and higher until an orgasm crashed through her. His hold on her tightened as her inner walls clamped down on his fingers again and again and again while she rode the crest of pleasure.

  Her knees weakened, but Nick kept her from falling.

  Quiet descended, disturbed only by their harsh breathing.

  “I probably should have asked you this sooner,” he uttered, his voice rough with the desire that kept him hard against her. “But Becca is gone, right? Her flight left when it was supposed to?”

  Kayla laughed. “Yes.”

/>   He withdrew his fingers from her body, then turned her to face him. His eyes glowed bright amber as he gave her a wry smile and shook his head. “Once I saw you in that dress, all I could think about was dragging your skirt up, burying my fingers deep inside you, and stroking you until you came.”

  Renewed arousal slithered through her. “Mission accomplished.”

  He laughed. “Where are your keys?”

  “In the kitchen.”

  Taking her hand, he led her to the kitchen and grabbed her keys. “Wrap your arms around me.”

  Kayla didn’t hesitate. Pressing her body to his, she rose onto her toes and wrapped her arms around his neck.

  “Now your legs.”

  Excitement flared. Jumping up, she wrapped her legs around his waist.

  He settled a hand on her ass and squeezed. “Now hold on.”

  The room around them blurred. A thud sounded. They went weightless. Another thud sounded. Then they were in his bedroom next door.

  Chapter Eight

  Nick laughed at the astonished look on Kayla’s lovely face.

  She stared up at him, her pretty hazel eyes wide and her lips kiss-swollen as she lowered her feet to the floor.

  He shrugged. “I wanted a bigger bed beneath us so my feet wouldn’t hang off the end when I bury myself balls deep inside you.”

  She shook her head. “I swear you could make me come just by speaking.”

  Rampant need tightened every muscle despite the amusement she inspired. “Do you want to make me come, Kayla?”

  “Yes.”

  He took a step back. “Then strip for me.”

  A blush climbed her cheeks as she reached behind her back and found the zipper of her dress. When the fabric across her breasts loosened, she peeled one shoulder down and slipped her arm out.

  “Slower,” he murmured, wanting to savor this moment.

  She paused. Then she reached for the other shoulder and slowly slid the fabric down her arm, delivering a sensual caress to her soft-as-silk skin as she did.

  “That’s it.” He took another step back, his hands curling into fists to keep from reaching for her.

  Gripping the fabric bunched at her waist, she hesitated, then leaned forward and arched her back, sticking her exquisite, lace-covered ass out as she eased the material over her hips and down her thighs.

  Shit, she set him on fire. She was so damn desirable. Nick didn’t think he had been this turned on even when he was a randy teenager looking to get laid for the first time.

  The dress dropped to the floor. All she wore now was the black bra and panties that provided such an alluring contrast to her pale skin and those high fuck-me heels.

  She straightened. Giving him a heated look, she brushed her fingers over her collarbone, then drew them down over one breast. “Do you like what you see?” she asked softly.

  His cock strained against his pants as he watched her glide those delicate fingers around the taut peak the lace both concealed and revealed, watched her stroke that nipple, pinch it, then saw the desire that darkened her eyes. “You’re so fucking beautiful.”

  “When you look at me like that,” she said, her voice so low and sultry it sent a shiver through him, “you make me believe it.”

  How could she not believe it? She stole his breath. “Now the rest of it.”

  The fingers brushing her nipple stilled. Some of the hunger in her gaze receded as uncertainty crept in.

  “What is it?”

  She bit her lip. “My breasts aren’t what they used to be.”

  He glanced at her gorgeous breasts, then met her gaze again. “What did they used to be?”

  She laughed, some of the sudden awkwardness leaving her. “Perkier. Pregnancy and breastfeeding changed them.”

  He stared at her breasts. “Then thank you, pregnancy and breastfeeding. Because I love your breasts.”

  Shaking her head, she touched a little piece of plastic between the lush mounds and the lacy cups parted.

  Nick swallowed. Front-clasp bras were his new favorite thing. It had been so long since he’d been with a woman that he’d never actually seen one before, only advertisements for them.

  Kayla arched her back a little as she eased the straps down her arms and let the black lace fall to the floor.

  He stared at the plump flesh she revealed. “Perfect.” The word emerged almost a growl.

  “Really?” she asked, the soft question betraying her uncertainty.

  Nick strolled toward her, his cock painfully hard, until he was so close she had to tilt her head back to look at him. He cupped her breasts in his hands, squeezed them lightly, and drew his thumbs across the hard pink peaks.

  Her breath caught. A flush of desire darkened her cheeks.

  “If they were any more perfect,” he confessed, “I’d come in my pants like an untried boy.”

  She smiled.

  Nick shook his head. “That’s not a good thing, woman. I’m clinging to control by my fingertips.”

  “And what happens when you lose control?” She arched her back again, pressing her breasts harder into his palms.

  He squeezed.

  She moaned.

  “I bury my cock deep inside you and take you fast and hard.”

  “Oh shit,” she whispered. “Yeah. Let’s do that.”

  He laughed and groaned at the same time, both amused and eager to comply. “Get on the bed.”

  Kayla backed up until she hit the mattress. Propping her hands on the edge behind her, she jumped. Her bottom barely grazed the top of the bed before sliding off.

  A chuckle escaped him as he shook his head. “You are too damn adorable.”

  She laughed. “I can’t help it. Your bed is freaking huge.”

  Closing the distance between them, he clasped her hips and lifted her up onto the mattress. “I’m a big man.”

  “Hell yes, you are.”

  Since his hands were already on her hips, Nick drew her panties down, baring a dark thatch of curls. Tugging the lace down her lightly muscled legs, he caressed her soft skin until he reached her shoes. The panties fell to the floor. One high heel followed them, then the other.

  Nick parted her thighs with his hips and lowered his lips to hers for a tender kiss. “Scoot back a little.”

  He heard her heartbeat pick up as she edged back on the bed. He curled a hand around one of her ankles. “Not too far.” He clasped her other ankle and drew her legs farther apart. “I want to be able to do this.” Slipping his hands under her thighs, he gripped her tempting ass and slid her a little closer. Then he bent, lowered his head, and delivered a long, slow lick to her clit.

  Kayla fell back on the bed with a moan that nearly undid him.

  He circled the little bundle of nerves with his tongue, teasing and stroking.

  She threw her hands out to the sides and fisted the covers. Her knees rose. Planting her feet on the bedding, she began to rock against him, arching up as he licked and nipped and sucked and teased.

  “Nick,” she moaned.

  He loved the sound of his name on her lips. Loved her scent. Her taste. Every moan he elicited. He moved his tongue with preternatural speed so it would feel like a vibrator.

  She bucked against him, muscles straining as she cried out with another orgasm.

  Nick straightened. Need pounded through him. Reaching over his shoulder, he gripped the back of his T-shirt and yanked it over his head. His pants and boxers hit the floor half a second later. His boots joined the pile before Kayla could even catch her breath.

  Still clutching the covers, she devoured what she could see of him with her eyes. “Crap,” she breathed suddenly.

  He stilled. “What?”

  She bit her lip as her brow furrowed. “Do you have any condoms? I haven’t done this in so long that I completely forgot.”

  He shook his head. “I’m immune to all human illnesses, including STDs. And you’re not ovulating—I would sense it.” He couldn’t get her pregnant even if she were
ovulating but didn’t want to go into that right now.

  “Cool to the first thing. The second’s a little weird,” she said, a twinkle of amusement entering her eyes. “But good. I don’t want anything between us when you’re inside me.”

  Shit. Joining her on the bed, Nick counseled himself not to be too rough and silently cursed when he immediately disregarded that, slid his arms beneath her, lifted, and tossed her.

  A startled sound escaped her as her head landed on the pillows. Subtle ab muscles rippled as she propped herself up on her elbows and stared at him. Her eyes widened when they fell to the erection jutting toward her.

  “I’ll go slow,” he vowed. It might kill him, but he’d do it for her.

  The tip of her pink tongue slipped out and glided over her lips as though she were imagining how he’d taste. “Don’t.”

  He paused. Don’t what? Don’t take her?

  Her eyes met his. She parted her legs to make room for him. “Don’t go slow. Don’t hold back.”

  Fire raced through him.

  “And don’t make me wait any longer. I want you inside me. Now, Nick.”

  Fuck. He wanted that, too.

  Nick settled himself between her thighs and nudged her entrance with his hard cock. She felt so small beneath him. So delicate. He loved that. Loved her. But knew it was too soon to tell her.

  Wrapping her arms around him, she pulled him closer.

  Both moaned as he pressed forward, entering her slowly despite her entreaties. She was so warm and wet and tight, squeezing him as he thrust a little deeper and withdrew, thrust deeper and withdrew, continuing until he was finally seated to the hilt inside her.

  Her fingers curled against his back, her short nails pricking his skin. Lifting her knees, she wrapped her legs around him and rotated her hips, grinding against him. “Soooo good.”

  His control snapped. Nick did as she’d requested then, taking her fast and hard, driving into her over and over again, no holds barred. She felt too good. He’d waited too long. Had wanted to be with her for years.

  He teased her breasts, devoured her lips, and thrust even deeper as she scored his back with her nails. Slipping a hand beneath her, he gripped her beautiful ass, altered the angle of her hips, and ground against her clit with every hard thrust. Moans of pleasure escaped her as she clutched him tighter, urging him on and driving him wild until she threw her head back and cried out.