Volcan's Fire (Guardians of The Elements #1)

by Cathy McAllister

  “May I take your jacket, signorina?”

  The waiter helped her out of her jacket and straightened her chair, then disappeared. Volcan sat down on his chair again and pushed the documents aside.

  “I’ve taken the liberty of ordering already. I hope you don’t mind?” He looked at her inquiringly.

  Coreena shook her head gently.

  “No… no, that’s… great.”

  This man was exactly as she had thought – dominant and determined. She wondered if he would display the same dominance in bed. When she realised where her thoughts were going, yet again, she called herself forcefully to order.

  “I hope you’ve had a nice day,” said Volcan, looking at her closely over the table.

  Coreena was aware that his eyes were lingering on the cleavage of her ‘classic black dress’. The craving that was evident in his eyes made her burn between her thighs. She felt naked beneath his intense gaze.

  “I… yes, thank you. And you?”

  Volcan lifted his gaze. Looking directly into these yearning eyes took Coreena’s breath away. Coreena swallowed and touched her lips nervously with the tip of her tongue. She felt the sudden wetness in her panties and, irritated, pressed her thighs together. Damn it! That had never happened to her before – one look putting her into this state of arousal. She wondered what would happen if this man were to really get going. This thought alone made her blood boil.

  “I spent the whole day waiting for the evening to arrive,” murmured Volcan in response to her question that she had long since forgotten about.

  “Did you?” she asked uncertainly.

  “Yes, I can’t wait to discuss the plans for the campaign with you,” he said innocently, and he relaxed back into his seat, not taking his eyes off her.

  Coreena did not believe a word of it. She could see all too clearly in his eyes what he really meant. This man seemed very sure of himself, but Coreena did not intend to let him seduce her. She sensed that one night with him would undoubtedly send her head over heels in love with him. And Volcan Custos was clearly not the marrying type. She had already let one man hurt her. She was not going to make the same mistake again. Even if that meant never letting another man into her life.

  The waiter served the wine, a Bianco Venezia Guilia. Coreena had presumed correctly that Volcan enjoyed the good things in life. He definitely had an excellent taste in wine. When the waiter had gone again, Volcan raised his glass.

  “Here’s to working well together,” he said.

  Likewise, Coreena raised her glass, and her hands shook because of the way he was looking at her. This much sex appeal should be banned! This man was a danger that needed to be taken seriously. All the alarm bells were already ringing inside her, and she wondered how she was going to survive this evening.

  After the meal Coreena was somewhat more relaxed. Volcan had only spoken with her professionally and had not made any further attempts at flirtation. She was amazed at how educated and intelligent he was. Not only attractive in appearance. There was a lot more to this man. Against her will she became more and more fascinated by her new client. As far as the campaign for his cosmetics line was concerned – she already had some ideas in mind, and she could not wait to start on the work.

  Volcan filled up her glass again and she raised her hand in protest. If she drank any more she would be in serious danger of doing something that she would very probably later regret. She did not tolerate very much alcohol.

  “I have enough! Really!” she declined.

  “Relax. A little wine won’t hurt you.”

  “You’re determined to see me drunk, are you?”

  Volcan laughed and his eyes sparkled as he teased her.

  “It would do you good to get a little drunk. Then you’d finally be chilled and relaxed.” he teased.

  “I am chilled!” protested Coreena.

  He laughed again, this time a quiet, throaty laugh that caused a fluttering in her belly.

  “You’re as chilled as a mouse in the presence of a cat,” he teased. “You’re still afraid that I could tear down your defences and show you things that you haven’t even dared to dream about.”

  “What are you on about…?” she said, outraged.

  Volcan leant across to her and looked right into her eyes.

  “Are you denying that there’s something going on between us? I felt it as soon as I entered your office. You felt it, too, didn’t you?” he murmured quietly. “I can see it in your eyes. Have you not imagined what it would feel like if I were to kiss you? If I were to peel you out of your dress and kiss every inch of your body…”

  “Stop!”

  Coreena had frozen in her seat. Her pulse was racing and her whole body was tingling with arousal. If he only knew how right he was. He only needed to look at her, to talk to her in this deep, sensual tone with this Scottish accent, and she was already so wet that she was afraid that he would be able to smell the scent of her arousal. She had to stop him. She was not the sort of woman who had one-night stands, and right now she was not at all interested in having any relationship. Her work was the only thing that was important to her. A man had no place in her well-ordered life.

  *

  Volcan looked into these unbelievably blue eyes. How beautiful she was. He knew about the contradictory emotions within her. Confusion. Desire. Fear. She wanted him as much as he wanted her. The scent of her arousal rose enticingly to his nose, tormenting his heightened senses. What he would give to be alone with her right now. He wanted to lose himself in her wet heat and make her cry out his name when he brought her to the climax. By the elements, how much he yearned to taste her nectar. He wanted to enjoy her like a delicious dessert. Volcan was just able to suppress a groan, but if he were to stand up right now, then everyone in the restaurant would see the state he was in. His sex felt as if it was about to burst through his zip.

  His question still remained unanswered. He kept on looking at her. She could not deny it. Her pupils were wide and her cheeks blushing. Her half-opened lips were begging to be kissed. By the elements! He wanted to kiss her senseless.

  “Would you like anything else?” the waiter interrupted the tension that had built up between Volcan and Coreena.

  Volcan would have liked to punch the man. He had been so close, but now Coreena had pulled herself together and looked away from him. She was looking at the dance floor, where a few couples were moving to the sound of the music, as if that was exactly what she wanted to do right now. He could tell by the heavy rising and falling of her breast what she was really thinking. She wanted him as much as he wanted her. It was just that she would rather bite off her tongue than admit that.

  “Bring us two cappuccinos and two grappas, please,” Volcan ordered, suppressing his anger with difficulty.

  “Of course. Straight away.”

  When the waiter was gone, Volcan took time studying Coreena’s profile. She had a slight stub nose and full cheeks. His queen was not too thin. Perfectly rounded in all the important places. Volcan was not interested in bony women. He liked gently rounded hips and full breasts. And her behind was also not at all bad. As he imagined her kneeling in front of him and he, from behind… Damn it! His cock was pushing painfully against his trouser zip. He would really appreciate her going under the table right now and freeing his cock from its prison. And then, with those full lips…

  “Shit!” He swore quietly and clenched his fists.

  Coreena turned towards him.

  “Did you say something?”

  “Nothing important,” he uttered between clenched teeth. “I just need to quickly… make a phone call.”

  He took one of the menus and stood up, making sure that the menu covered his clearly bulging trousers. He moved away quickly. Instead of going to the telephone he fled to the toilet where he locked himself in a cubicle and relieved himself.

  *

  Coreena breathed a sigh of relief when Volcan had gone. Now she had a few minutes to pull herself to
gether. She felt like a school girl on her first date. No! Not even then had she been so nervous. The hunger in Volcan’s eyes, when he got up from the table, had shocked her. Never before had a man looked at her like that – as if he wanted to eat her right there in front of everybody. The thought that she was able to cause such desire in him was, at the same time, both shocking and arousing.

  The waiter brought the cappuccino and the grappa and she busied herself stirring sugar into the cappuccino. She had no idea how many bags of sugar she had already put into the cup.

  “I’m back,” Volcan’s voice sounded cheerful, with no sign of arousal.

  Had she perhaps imagined it? How was he able to cool down so quickly, when he had just been gone for a few minutes to make a telephone call. She was still burning with unfulfilled desire, and her pussy was pulsating with longing. Or had he perhaps..? Just the thought of him putting his hand on himself to reduce the pressure made her even wetter. The bugger! And she was sitting here as if on glowing coals.

  Coreena just nodded and took a careful sip of her cappuccino. As she had feared, it was much too sweet. She simply was not thinking clearly and had obviously put at least six sachets of sugar into the cup, as could be seen by the number of crumpled paper sachets on the table.

  Volcan brought the discussion back to business matters and Coreena relaxed a little. She even laughed at a few of the jokes that Volcan made, but suddenly the sound of the music distracted them.

  “Salsa!” she cried out enthusiastically.

  “You like Salsa?”

  She nodded.

  “Shall we have a go?” suggested Volcan.

  Coreena panicked at the thought of dancing with him. If a harmless handshake unbalanced her, what was going to happen if he took her in his arms and whirled her across the dance floor.

  “Maybe best not,” she declined. “I haven’t done it for ages…”

  “Nonsense! Don’t be such a spoil sport.”

  Volcan had stood up and was holding out his hand to her. He was a man who did not take no for an answer. Coreena battled with herself, then she took his hand and he led her onto the dance floor.

  Volcan was a good dancer and a strong dance partner, who lead her precisely and confidently across the dance floor. Coreena was all too aware of his hand on her back. As her dress had no back to it, his warm hand lay directly on her bare skin. The only reason that her arousal did not cause her to make mistakes was purely down to the fact that Salsa was in her blood and also Volcan was a good leader. Coreena was aware that a few women were looking at her with envy. Against her will she felt a gentle wave of pride because of her attractive dance partner. When the song finished the band played a Blues number. Coreena wanted to remove herself from Volcan’s arms, but he pulled her close to his body and put both arms around her.

  “You’re not going to brush me off now, are you, Miss Tanner?” he murmured into her ear. “I’m not going to miss out on this chance to finally hold you in my arms and breathe in your scent. Mmm. How beautifully you smell.”

  His hot breath spread over her neck and her hairs stood on end. Her hands were on his chest and she could feel his powerful heartbeat. She breathed in his woody aftershave. She liked the smell. It suited him. He pulled her still closer to him and she held her breath. It was unsettlingly obvious what was pressing hard against her belly, and he did not seem to have a problem with her feeling how much he wanted her.

  “Are you shocked that I desire you?” he asked quietly.

  As hard as she tried, Coreena could not respond. Yes, it did shock her, but she was shocked far more by her own reaction to it. She was tempted to rub herself against him. The yearning that she felt was unbearable.

  “You’re a desirable woman, Coreena. Holding you in my arms like this, I can’t think of anything other than losing myself in you. Your sweet scent is clouding my senses – so much so that I had to go to the toilet earlier to relieve myself.”

  Coreena felt panic rising in her. Of course, she had already suspected that he had done that, but the open admission coming from his lips set her body on fire. Her heart was beating wildly and her nipples were pressing against the lace of her bra. She wanted to release herself from his embrace and flee from her emotions, but he held her tightly.

  “No! Don’t run away,” he begged huskily. “Do you know what I was thinking of when I touched myself? I was thinking of you and imagining you kneeling in front of me and taking my cock between your wonderful lips. Oh yes, a man can imagine all sorts, looking at your lips.”

  He pulled away from her a little and looked at her. Coreena was not able to avoid his fiery gaze. She felt hypnotised. Her breathing was heavy and her heart was beating wildly.

  “I’d like to kiss you,” he whispered hoarsely.

  “Please don’t, I…”

  He interrupted her by putting his mouth on hers and gently tracing her lips with his tongue. She shook and heat flooded her lower regions. Volcan took her lower lip between his lips and gently sucked on it. Coreena closed her eyes and put her head to the side, to give him better access. His tongue parted her lips and pushed enticingly slowly into her mouth, brushing teasingly over her tongue. A groan came from her lips and his kiss became deeper. The passion that overcame her switched off her brain and she forgot where she was, forgot her pledge never to allow herself to be seduced by a man like Volcan. Instead of that she pushed herself against him longingly. Volcan had led her to the edge of the dance floor and they were now some distance from the other dancers, behind a palm tree and a loudspeaker.

  Coreena held onto Volcan, as she could not rely on her own legs now. No man had ever kissed her this way before. His dominance was overwhelming. Under normal circumstances that would have turned her off. She never wanted to be inferior to a man. However, with Volcan it felt right. She felt desired and wonderfully feminine. In the frenzy of passion he was her support, just as he had confidently moved her around the dance floor earlier.

  As Volcan finally let go of her, breathing heavily, she felt the sudden loss of his proximity as a physical pain.

  “Coreena. If I kiss you for a minute longer, they’ll be no stopping me and I’ll take you here, in front of all these people, no matter what the consequences,” he said huskily. “Let’s go. Come to my place. Let me make love to you.”

  Now that he had let go of her she realised what she had just done. She was ashamed of the way she had kissed him in public. How had she lost her head like that?

  “No, I can’t. I… I must get home. I’ll call a taxi…”

  “That’s out of the question. Of course, I’ll take you home. I promise that I will behave myself. No more invasion of your space, OK? I’ve understood. I won’t force myself on you any more – at least not this evening.”

  “I don’t think I trust you, Mr. Custos,” she said, still breathing heavily.

  “Why so formal, Coreena? Don’t you think, after that kiss, that you could call me Volcan?”

  “You forced yourself on me. I didn’t allow you to kiss me. You… you took me by surprise, that’s all.”

  ‘Lies again! You coward! You can’t even admit to your misconduct!’ she rebuked herself.

  Volcan gently stroked her cheek, his thumb brushing the corner of her mouth, and she quivered at his touch. She avoided his searching look, knowing that desire must be written all over her face.

  “Are you denying that it arouses you when I touch you? Didn’t you respond to my kiss? Coreena, I want you more than I have ever wanted a woman. And I definitely don’t want you for just one night. I want to make you my queen. I’ll carry you in my hands and…”

  “Stop talking!” she sternly interrupted him. “I know men like you only too well. I’ll design you’re campaign if you still want me to, but I will never, and I mean never, share your bed! And now I want to go home. So please let me go before I make a scene in front of all these people!”

  Chapter 4

  Coreena closed the door behind her, breathing a sigh of
relief. Volcan did indeed bring her home nicely and, as promised, did not come near her again. On the one hand she was grateful to him for that, and she felt relieved. On the other hand she felt some disappointment deep inside. Even though she was fighting it, she still felt strongly attracted to him. If it were only a matter of physical attraction she would have found it easier to resist him, but the fact that he was also intelligent and educated made the whole thing much more difficult. She could not just lump him together with those other dull-brained gigolos.

  After she had taken a cold shower, to cool her heated blood, she wandered into the kitchen in her dressing gown and made herself a coffee with frothy milk and brown sugar. Then she sat down on the sofa in the lounge and put the TV on. Restlessly she flicked through the channels but she could not concentrate on anything. Again and again her thoughts returned to Volcan and his hot kisses. Damn! This man really knew how to set a woman on fire. No man had ever kissed her in such a way that she forgot everything else around her. Goodness! She would have almost given himself to him right there on the dance floor, without having a care as to how many people saw her doing it. Just the thought of it made her tremble with desire. She felt the tingle of yearning in her pussy. The cold shower did not appear to have helped at all. Involuntarily, she moved a hand to the gap in her dressing gown and pushed in, taking hold of a naked breast. Her nipples immediately became erect and a quiet sigh left her lips. Only then did she realise what she was doing and heat flooded her pussy. She put her coffee down and used her other hand, too, so that she could caress both breasts. She conjured up every detail about Volcan – the sound of his deep voice, the feeling of his slightly rough hands and his arousing smell.

  *

  Volcan stared, as if spellbound, at the image before him. He had slipped into Coreena’s apartment in his immaterial form as he did not yet want to be apart from her. He had really only intended to look at her once more before returning to his penthouse suite, but he had not been able to resist enjoying the sight of watching her shower. After that he had promised himself that he would leave but he had stayed and now, as if hypnotised, he was watching her hands moving over her magnificent, full breasts, caressing the round hills. She had lain back on the sofa. Her cheeks had reddened slightly and she had closed her eyes. He felt like a vile voyeur, which, strictly speaking, he was, but he was not in a position to do the only honourable thing and leave Coreena in her well-deserved private space.