His hands slid around her and pulled her closer as his tongue played and sparred with hers exploring every curve of her mouth with abandon and need. He tilted his head slightly to deepen their kiss and smiled when he heard her soft moan of approval. Her hands buried themselves in his hair and pulled him closer, and Marcus felt something deep inside him soar.
When his hand traveled back around and across her belly, reaching for the hem of her shirt, he felt her instantly stiffen and pull back. She broke away, and took a step away from him, her eyes wide and frightened, and her breath coming out in quick, jerky gasps.
“Please,” she croaked, her eyes welling with tears–which only caused them to shimmer like sapphires. “Please, Marcus. You need to leave. I can’t…I just can’t do this.” She shook her head, and ran over to the French doors overlooking the garden. The garden where they had danced–where he had kissed her for the first time. Where, for just a moment in time, she felt like a normal woman. A normal woman who was beginning to care for a man who was everything that she never thought a man could be. Wrapping her arms around herself, she stared out into the darkness.
“Elizabeth,” he murmured, at a complete loss. What in the hell had just happened?
He knew that she wanted him. Christ, he could smell her arousal, thick and heady, coming off her in waves. She had kissed him back! Hell and damnation, he thought with a frown, it would be so much easier if he could only compel her to tell him what was scaring her so badly. She had the look of a cornered animal, and it was tugging at something deep inside him, the need to protect and comfort her.
He took a tentative step towards her, then another, until he was standing behind her. He cautiously wrapped his arms around her and pulled her back against his chest, and heard her sharp intake of breath as her body began to tremble violently.
“Ah, Baby,” he murmured into her hair, his lips so incredibly warm and tender. “Please. Just tell me what you are so afraid of.”
Elizabeth took a deep, shaky breath as she tried desperately to ignore the feeling of his body pressed so firmly against her back, or the feel of his arms as they wrapped themselves around her, holding her so close. She heard his words and felt his breath against her hair–but just couldn’t find her voice. His arms felt so damn good, so comforting. She was lost in a world of sensation and it was overwhelming her. This was something that she thought she would never feel.
Terror and longing filled her, as her body and mind fought a silent, inner battle against what she had programmed herself to feel, and what her entire being felt when Marcus was near her. She wanted to run from him–yet at the same time, wanted nothing more than to run to him. She wanted to turn in his arms and kiss him–just feel him. Let herself feel what is was like to be cared for, and cherished. Let herself go for just once in her life.To know a touch that wasn’t harsh and abusive.
She was jerked from her thoughts when she felt his hands moving over her stomach in what was intended to be a gentle, comforting way–but his touch only caused that panic to wash over her once again like a tsunami. Good God, she was a pathetic mess!
Liz grabbed Marcus’s hand when he neared that place, and stopped his exploration. “Don’t,” she begged. Her voice, nothing more than a pitiful whisper, and she shook with emotion. “Please, Marcus…just don’t.”
Marcus turned her around to face him; his eyes boring into hers, his expression somber as he silently studied her. Suddenly, he dropped down to his knees in front of her.
“What are you doing?” she shrieked, the fear that was consuming her instantly turning her hands to ice, and causing true panic to set in. This can’t be happening! He couldn’t see! He just couldn’t! She tried to back away, but Marcus’s hand slid around her back and held her in place as his other hand slid the tank top that she wore up, slowly…torturously, exposing the long jagged scar that crossed her belly.
Her eyes welled and burned with hot, humiliated tears as she felt his entire body go rigid, and she knew that he had to be repulsed by her. Damn it! She didn’t want him to see. Not him!
Damaged! Her mind screamed at her once again. She tried to pull the cotton material back down, but the shaking of his head and his hand at her wrist stopped her cold.
He looked up at her, his face laced, not with revulsion as she had expected, but with pain and sorrow…and what looked to be anger. This couldn’t be real. This just could not be happening!
“Christ, Liz. Who in the hell did this to you?” he asked softly, his words clipped, his beautiful eyes gleaming with fire. She could see his jaw flexing in anger and wondered just who in the hell this man was? How could he not be sickened by her imperfection when he himself was perfect?
Elizabeth shook her head as the tears formed on her lashes and slid their way down her cheeks. She choked back a sob as the realization hit her full on that this amazing man wasn’t disgusted by her. He didn’t see her as imperfect, damaged goods. Her scar didn’t repulse him. Her mind screamed at her that in his eyes, she mattered. That she could trust him. “It doesn’t matter,” she choked out, her throat tightening to the point of pain as she took a deep, shaky breath.
Marcus’s hand slid across Liz’s stomach protectively as he gazed up into her face, wanting nothing more at that moment than to find the bastard who had done this to her and rip his throat out. He knew by the placement and size of the mark that she had to have been close to death, and the mere thought of it caused a shudder to run through his body as anger and fury bubbled up inside of him. He wanted blood!
The scar was at least six inches in length and traveled from the left side of her belly button almost around to her back. Son of a Bitch! He silently seethed; someone had actually tried to kill her!
When she told him that it didn’t matter and he saw her tears–he did what he had been dreaming of since running into her in the kitchen that very first night. His hand slid around her back, joining the other as he leaned forward and kissed her stomach, finally tasting her glorious skin–and it was wondrous. He groaned as he traced the raised flesh of her scar with his tongue, basking in the spicy taste and feel of her silken flesh, and placing soft kisses wherever his tongue ventured.
“Marcus,” he heard her whisper breathlessly, and a smile curved his lips a moment later when he felt her fingers snake themselves back into his hair and curling into fists as she pulled him closer. Good God, how he wanted this woman! And he knew that he could quite possibly be making the biggest mistake of his long existence, but at this particular moment in time–he just didn’t give a damn. This felt right. And mortal or not, he needed her as he had never needed anyone before. It was a deep, gut-wrenching need that consumed him, threatening to burst him into flame like an exploding star.
His hands slid down the curve of her backside, then slowly to the backs of her thighs, gently easing her legs apart slightly before going to the waistband of the yoga pants that she wore. He gently nipped at the tender flesh near her belly button as he glided the material down her legs, his fingers trailing and stroking a fiery path against her skin as he did, and he could feel the gooseflesh breaking out on her skin.
“Please…” she murmured softly, and he looked up to see her watching him through heavy-lidded, passion filled eyes. But, he could also see the doubt there, the fear that she was imperfect, and it caused his body to tighten with the need to show her just how absolutely beautiful and desirable she truly was. To make her realize that she was…everything.
“God, Elizabeth,” he husked, as he stood and lifted her into his arms, carrying her over to the bed and carefully setting her down on its edge. He stepped between her thighs, his hands curling around her face as he leaned down to kiss her. “You are exquisite,” he breathed, right before his mouth took hers. Firm, demanding, and filled with all the passion that he felt coursing through his body. There was no fighting it anymore. He just couldn’t. He not only wanted her…he needed her.
Their tongues toyed and slid against each other’s as their mouths meshed
together in quiet desperation, and Marcus had the insane notion that he could kiss this woman forever. And even that wouldn’t be nearly long enough.
Elizabeth responded to Marcus’s touch with a longing and abandon that she had never before experienced. This man made her body snap and tingle with a deep, powerful, desperate hunger. She pushed her insecurities aside as she returned his kiss with everything that she had, eliciting a sexy as hell growl from the man when she gently tugged at the front of his jeans–needing more than anything at that moment to feel his skin against hers. No barriers between them, just flesh against glorious flesh. She was beyond the point of no return and she only hoped that she could find her way back once this was done.
She could feel her hands shaking wildly as she tried to undo the button, and willed herself not to let her nerves get to her. She was safe with him, she silently told herself. She didn’t know how she knew it…..she just did.
His chest rumbled again when she finally released the button and carefully slid the zipper down, feeling the proof of his desire pressing firmly against the confining material. He was very large, and thick, and ready.
Marcus tore his lips from hers only long enough to pull the tank top that she wore over her head and toss it across the room. He took her mouth once again as he shimmied out of his jeans, and her fingers instinctively went to the buttons of his shirt, undoing each one with ease.
He groaned as if in pain, as her warm hands slid across his bare chest to ease the shirt off his shoulders. Her hands felt so damn good, he thought with yet another tortured sound emanating from his chest. Good, God! He wanted to feel them everywhere.
He shrugged off his shirt and let it fall to the floor, dropping to his knees once again before her. Marcus pulled ever so slightly away and gazed into her eyes, holding and capturing them. He lifted his hand to her cheek and stroked it softly with his fingertips, his thumbs tracing the contours of her swollen lips.
“I don’t want to frighten you,” he choked out, his voice nothing more than a hoarse whisper as his eyes wandered over her face, studying every inch of her perfect features as if he were burning them to memory.
Liz gave him a nervous smile before leaning forward and resting her forehead against his, trying desperately not to look down and gape at his considerable assets. But, Good Lord, it was impossible not to, and she gulped slightly. A tiny part of her thrilled that he obviously desired her–even with her flaws– and a part of her was terrified at his mere size. It had been a long time for her, and she had to admit to herself that this was intimidating the hell out of her. To say that he was well-endowed was a severe understatement!
“I’m not going to lie to you,” she murmured, with a slight, uneasy chuckle. “I’m about scared shitless right now. “ She leaned back and once again captured his eyes. “But, it’s not you that I’m frightened of, Marcus. I can’t explain it, but I’m not frightened of you. I’m…I’m… I know that I’m not…” She trailed off, at a loss for words. How could he ever understand? She had never been good enough, and now with the scars that she carried–both physically and emotionally–why would he ever want her? The man was utter perfection and could have any woman that he wanted, so why her? She was nothing. She was damaged.
Marcus’s finger traced her scar as he looked down, a tingle running up his spine at the sheer perfection of this woman. “Elizabeth, you are the most beautiful woman that I have ever had the pleasure of knowing, both inside and out. I enjoy talking with you, being with you. Christ, you make me smile, and laugh… and, it is taking every ounce of self-control that I have at the moment not to just throw you back onto this bed and ravish you,” he admitted with a lopsided grin. His eyes snapped and crackled with sincerity, and she couldn’t help but burst out into a low, throaty laugh that was like a shot of pure adrenaline straight to his groin.
“Then, what’s…what’s stopping you?” she asked, her voice shaking slightly, still not quite believing that this was really happening. She was waiting for that moment when she would wake up and realize that this had all just been a dream.
Marcus kissed her quickly on the lips as he shook his head. “Not with you,” he informed her quietly. “Elizabeth, I know someone hurt you, badly. And that you have built these walls up around yourself as a defense. I know that you are afraid to trust, and to…God knows what else. Believe me, I know.” He looked at her warmly, his eyes delving into hers, seemingly seeing straight into her very soul, and she felt a shot of pure heat rush over her, only to settle at the apex of her thighs with a deep-seated need and a warm rush. She was physically aching for him. “But, I also know that you will tell me what happened to you when you are ready. I just don’t want you to experience another moment of fear, or doubt, or to feel that you, for some insane reason that I can’t even begin to fathom, are not the most exquisite creature that I have ever set my eyes on. So, my lovely, beautiful, Elizabeth, when I do make love to you, it will because you beg me too, and there will not be even the slightest bit of hesitation in your eyes–only want, and desire.”
Liz’s mouth dropped open, her eyes wide with surprise, and her body flushing from the heat of longing running through her like a runaway freight train. Holy shit! This man could melt her into a puddle with just his words! What in the hell was she getting herself into? This was completelyforeign to her! She had never before felt so wanted.
Before she had time to question herself any further, Marcus leaned back on his haunches and kissed the inside of her knee, causing a gasp of surprise to come rushing past her lips.
She watched in fascination as his mouth moved up her thigh, then to the other knee, following the same path, yet stopping just short of where she needed him most. A shiver of desire ran through her, causing her legs to feel like jelly. It was as if every nerve ending in her body had suddenly been charged with an electric current, vibrating right into her very bones. It was intense, exciting…. and frightening as all hell. She knew that she could very easily care for this man, more than she ever should, and the thought was intimidating. Would she be able to keep her feelings in check?
His hands slid around her waist as he teased and toyed with her skin. His mouth glided along her hip, then up her stomach to the underside of her breast, placing soft kisses there, and she swore that she would go mad from the pure sensation pulsing through her veins. It was warm and erotic and she needed him–so damned bad.
Elizabeth groaned, her head falling back and her eyes sliding closed as his lips moved to cover her taut peak, sucking it into his, oh so skilled mouth. She bit down hard on her lip to keep from screaming out to him as her hands made their way into his thick, silky hair, pulling him closer as she arched her back, wanting to get as close to him as possible.
Her thighs involuntarily tightened around him when he moved to the other breast, lavishing it with the same sweet attention, and she knew without a doubt that it wouldn’t take long for her to willingly beg this man to take her. She was on fire when a moment later his hand tenderly cupped her at her core, before his fingers slipped through her velvety folds. She almost catapulted right off of the bed at the sweet contact.
“Oh…my, God! Marcus!” she cried out, and her body responded to him with every fiber of her being. She had never been so ready for anyone before, and the feel of his strong fingers stroking her almost sent her hurtling over the edge. When he gently slipped one inside, then another, she couldn’t hold back. “Please…” she groaned as she ground herself against him.
Marcus’s mouth left her breast and he kissed his way down to meet his hand at the juncture of her thighs. He greedily tasted her, thinking to himself that he had actually died and gone to Heaven. He nibbled and kissed her feminine folds as if he were a starving man. She was beyond incredible. He wanted nothing more than to devour her–body, mind, and soul, but cautioned himself to take it slow. She needed to trust that he would never hurt her.
“Please…” he heard her whisper again, her voice nothing more than a soft breathy plea. H
e hesitantly stopped what he was doing and looked up at her. Her head was thrown back, her lips parted as she panted for air, but as soon as his mouth left her, her head snapped up and her gaze sought out and found his. They stared silently at each other for what seemed an eternity to Marcus, before her lips turned up into a shy smile.
“Please, don’t make me beg,” she finally murmured. “Just know that… I do need you.” She cupped his face in her hand and he could feel her trembling. “Know that I want you,” she finished, and Marcus felt as if he would burst into flame right then and there with the desire rushing through him like hot, molten lava.
Not thinking, Marcus used his vampire speed to sweep her up into his arms and onto the middle of the king-sized bed, holding her small frame against his very large one as his lips took hers once again. If she noticed it, she didn’t say anything; she only wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back.
Shit! He really needed to watch that crap, he thought before losing himself to the taste and feel of her once again…..which was so damned easy to do.
He felt her shift and wriggle against him, silently urging him to finish what he had started, and he was more than happy to comply. He moved between her thighs and slowly inched his way inside her, making certain to take it slow and give her time to adjust to him.
She was unbelievably tight and the last thing that he wanted was to hurt her in any way. He stopped midway and pulled his lips from hers, needing to see her expression, and when he did he was floored by the passion he saw in her beautiful blue eyes. They sparkled and gleamed as she met his gaze steadily–her kiss-swollen lips glistening like dew.
Marcus' Mortal Embrace (Book 3) (The Supernatural Desire Series) Page 12
