Caressed by the Edge of Darkness

by Amanda J. Greene

  “I don’t know if I can.”

  Maybe it was wrong of him to want this from her, to make her do this. She was new to passion and her male should teach her, should show her. He would but first he needed this connection with her, this bond.

  “Gabriel, I don’t want to…hurt you in anyway.”

  “You won’t. I swear, you won’t.” They weren’t in a dungeon’s cell, he wasn’t wrapped in chains and laid out on a stone slab. His body battered, is skin scored and burnt. He wasn’t weak from starvation, his fangs burned in his mouth, his bloodlust a fraction from catapulting him into never ending madness. She was not the Madame. She didn’t smell like death, she didn’t have pale as the moon skin or dark as night eyes that glinted with evil. He wasn’t being taken against his will, he wasn’t going to struggle against the restrains until he bled, until his bones snapped, only to heal and snap again.

  He was giving himself to Jordan. She would be his master and he would be hers. “You’ll do this for me?”

  Her silence was deafening. Agonizing. Nothing like offering yourself raw and being denied.

  “Yes.” She gave him an all business nod. She placed her hand over his and eased his grasp from her neck. She lovingly kissed the pad of each of finger and whispered, “Make me yours and I’ll make you mine.”

  He closed his eyes and his body rocked. Did she know what those words meant to him?

  Gabriel rejoined her on the bed and stretched out. “Come here.” He gripped her hips and drew her up his body, forcing her to straddle his face. Her sex, so wet, so needy, but if she was going to take him on her own, she need to be drenched.

  He licked up her center and she trembled. “Let’s practice,” he said, his breath tickling her too sensitive flesh. “I want you to ride my mouth.”

  Fingers now gripping her ass, he showed her how to move and growled with approval when she took over.

  He feasted upon her and nearly lost his seed as she spasmed against his tongue. God, he’d never get enough of this. Of her.

  Her thighs trembled and her breaths panted. Just when he thought he might have pushed her too far, his mortal asked, “Now?”

  Gabriel reached back and gripped the headboard. His chest pumped with heavy breaths as he desperately filled his lungs with her scent. Calm. His heart slowed and his muscles relaxed. He steeled himself, but he couldn’t remove the gravel from his voice, “Mount me.”

  She hesitated then Jordan inched down his body until her thighs framed his hips. She lowered herself, her slick folds gliding over him. Pressure everywhere. From her searing heat, from his rising demon. From his consuming need not to hurt her, no to give into the memories that lashed him like a whip.

  His claws elongated, scarring the wood. I can do this.

  As if she’d heard his desperate thoughts, her eyes lit with concern. Her doubt stabbed him. “So good,” he hissed past his fangs.

  She rolled her hips again and again. He’d prepared her, now she did the same for him. Allowing him to adjust to the feel of her on him.

  When his balls drew up and the crown of his dick throbbed, he snapped, “Enough. Take me inside you.”

  Rising up on her knees, she grabbed his cock. Her fingers couldn’t wrap around the base.

  Poised at her slick entrance, she brushed the tip over her clit. He savagely fought the urge to toss her off him, to shove her down on his aching shaft, to roll her beneath him and ruthlessly thrust into her slick heat.

  “Watch me, Gabriel.”

  Her pleasure rough voice sharpened his focus. “Yes, love, yes.”

  She lowered herself on him. The wide head of his penis slipped inside.

  His breath stilled, his lungs tightened. His gaze riveted on the place their bodies met. Right. This is so right. She’s right.

  Widening her knees, Jordan pressed down then pulled up and went down again, taking him a little further into her body. She moved on him again, but she was stuck.

  “Gabriel, please. I need…lower. I need more.”

  Give her more! He flexed his hips, pushing his shaft in another inch and hit her maidenhead. Chills lanced him. There was only one thing he could do.

  “Put your hands on my shoulders.”

  Jordan’s palms slid up his chest, her fingers pressed into the caps of his shoulders. Her touch burned him, a scolding reminder of who he was with. The Madame never touched him like this. She’d kept as much distance as she could during the act.

  Gritting his teeth, he ordered, “Hold on to me.” She nodded and he tightened his hold on the headboard. “I’m sorry.”

  His hips bucked, bouncing her up and back down.

  “Gabriel?”

  “Tight,” he hissed and he bucked again. Harder. She went up and slammed down. He felt her body give, impaling her. “You can take it. All of it.” One more forceful thrust and his cock hit the top of her sex. Her core clenched his every inch, tearing a strangled groan from his chest.

  Jordan’s tiny nails cut into his skin. He blinked up at her. Her eyes were squeezed shut, her jaw clenched, her lips thinned.

  He hadn’t wanted to cause her pain but this unavoidable. “Jordan. Look at me.”

  She didn’t obey him at first, but then her lashes fluttered open.

  “It’s all you now. Set your pace, love.”

  Biting her lower lip, she began to maneuver on him. His muscles bunched beneath her as he fought to remain still. He throbbed inside her. Stretched her. Filled her.

  Holding his gaze, she gave a tentative rock of her hips. Her lips parted on a sigh and his body went tight as a bow string. She moved on him again and Gabriel knew he’d made the right choice as he watched her discover this pleasure for the first time. He never knew how much he wanted this. Need this. Needed her.

  “So…good.” She shuddered.

  Her knees drew in, tightening her core even more her body squeezed him. He groaned with pleasure even as he battled his memories. The pressure against his hips, clenching him—No! This was Jordan. She was with him. She was riding him.

  She leaned forward and took his mouth. Had she sensed his thoughts slipping?

  “Only me and you.”

  Yes. Jordan was with him. He was buried to the hilt in his woman. “It’s you. I know it’s you.”

  Connection. She felt it in her blood, in her bones. This was more than just sex. This was a bond. He’d asked if she trusted him, but, really, this was more about him trusting her. He valued nothing more than his calm, cold, control and he’d relinquished all to her. For her.

  A sense of power claimed her. This man, this vampire king was starved for her.

  Jordan braced her weight of her knees and lifted until her body only gripped the tip of him. She paused then and Gabriel thrashed beneath her, his enormous frame rocked the bed. The wood of the headboard groaned in protest.

  His jaw snapped, his fangs slicing his bottom lip. She watched, entranced by the crimson that slipped to his chin.

  A taste…His tongue swept the blood away, the cut instantly healed. Her breath left her on a longing moan and her legs gave out, sending her crashing back down on his rigid length. She cried out. His cock stretched her to the limit, the fit so tight. She never knew it could feel like this.

  He cursed. “Yes, love, take it all and put me out of my misery.”

  She rose back up and slammed back down again and again, slow at first then faster.

  “Lean back,” he grated.

  She did and….her vision blurred. “Oh…Gabriel…” She shuddered, pleasure surging through her as his shaft stroked along that spot inside. Twisting her hips, she increased the pressure, the pleasure. Her head fell back, her hair cascaded over her body. The ends brushed the tops of his thighs. He hissed as if the sensation was too much.

  His eyes locked on her breasts, his lips peeled back over his dripping fangs. Her nipples painfully tightened under his ravenous stare. Should she lean forward? Let him lick her, suck her…bite her?

  She shivered uncontroll
ably as she fantasized him sinking his fangs into her breast.

  He flexed his hips and began to thrust, sending her bouncing and gliding on his cock. She whipped her hips, matching his rhythm. Her core tightened, pleasure rising to overwhelm her.

  She released his shoulders. Her fingers tangled with her hair, drawing it up and away from her neck, revealing her pounding pulse. A sensual smile curled her lips when he breathlessly gasped, “Fuck.”

  His flickering gaze burned her throat, his tongue ran over his fangs and his cock swelled even more inside her.

  Too much…too much…The tension within her tightened, tightened, then snapped. Her body shuddered, her thighs clamped his lips. “Gabriel…umm.”

  The headboard splintered under his deathlike grip. His eyes black as night now, his fangs sharp as daggers, his breaths pounded from his chest. He looked…feral. Fear sparked within her and she stilled. His shaft pulsed inside her, so hard she could feel the rapid thunder of his heart. A heart that didn’t need to beat.

  Her body was weak from her climax, her instincts dimmed by ecstasy. She couldn’t defend herself against the vampire, if necessary.

  Every muscle in his taut body strained as he fought for control. She scarcely knew how, but he was restraining the demon.

  She swallowed, clearing her throat, her voice rough, “Gabriel, I’m here.” Carefully, she leaned forward to massage his arms. The wood cracked even more and the bed swayed beneath them. “It’s me.” She thought to reach for his wrists but went for his fingers instead. In his state, he could think she meant to chain him and he would lash out.

  Her breasts swayed over his face. His growl equal parts arousal and aggression.

  She pried his fingers from the wood and placed his palms on her hips. His claws extended, pricking her skin. Just about to draw blood—He rolled her under him, never leaving her heat.

  “Be…right…for you,” he rasped, his voice broken. “Take care of you…love.”

  She pressed kisses to his jaw and chin, whispering, “You are, Gabriel. You are.”

  His big body surged over her, into her. She wound her legs around his waist. With every thrust, his hips brushed her thighs, his ass flexed beneath her calves, driving his cock in deeper, harder. Taking.

  Suddenly, Jordan was struck by the undeniable beauty of him. His eyes smoldered like hot coals, holding her captive. His fangs glinted in the dim light, his body covered herself, and…their hearts synced.

  Lost. They were lost in each other.

  Her back ached, her hips rolled to meet his. Little noises broke from her throat as that sweet tension began to coil within her again.

  “So hot.” Gabriel’s deep voice thick with unmet need. “So tight.” His dark eyes ravaged with desperation. “Again. I need to feel you again.”

  His mouth latched onto a straining nipple and she yelled out at the sharp jolt of pleasure.

  He growled and his hips began to swing. Pounding her. The root of his shaft grinding against her clit. His arms stretched above her to grab hold of the headboard once more. He used it as leverage to pull his body deeper into her. He took. He dominated. She climaxed around him, her body gripped him like a fist.

  Snarling, he plunged. Deep. He buried himself to the hilt. Throwing his back he roared as his hot seed poured into her, scorching jets over…and over…until he collapsed atop her.

  She loved it. Jordan threw her arms wide, her legs slipped from his hips. Rapturous exhaustion. Her limb blissfully numb. His weight held her in place.

  Gabriel’s lips found her ear. “Mine.” He punctuated the word with a shove of his still stiff cock. A thrill shot through her, flames of desire began to build within her again.

  He withdrew and rolled to his back, an arm draped over his eyes. “God, you please me,” he whispered in awe.

  He was still hard. Ready for another round.

  He turned on his side and gathered her to him. His erection pressed against the side of her hip. “Can’t get enough of you.”

  “Again?”

  “Oh, yes.” He positioned her, back to his front, and entered her from behind. “Slow.” His breath caressed her nape. He nipped at her shoulder. “Savor.”

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Gabriel had never felt such contentment. The satisfaction of stroking her hair, her soft breaths caressing his torso as he leaned back against the cracked headboard…he was at peace. For the first time since he could remember he was sated and…happy.

  He could get use to this after play. He’d never stuck around when he was finished. He made sure every woman found her pleasure, but his hook ups were always quick, rough.

  Why had he ever fought this? Why had he not want this? Not wanted to want her? Ridiculous.

  He’d been convinced emotion would make him weak, but he’d never felt stronger.

  Before Jordan had drifted off she’d whispered, “Don’t hide your broken parts. Gabriel, I need to see them. You can see mine.”

  He hadn’t wanted to be healed. Had never imagined such a thing was even possible. Even now, he feared this wasn’t real. That what they’d shared had been a dream.

  For so long, sex had been about control. Power. Power that always flowed to him, through him.

  She’d wantonly rode his cock, taking him with abandon. She’d been so lovely. Painfully so. Tonight had been nothing like before and when he’d begun to slip back there, she’d drawn him back to her. She had gasped his name, sighed and whispered it, screamed it until her voice cracked. He’d never wanted his lovers to use his name, just as he’d never allowed the Madame to know it.

  He viciously shoved the memories way. The past was not welcome here. Not in times like this. Not with Jordan.

  With her he’d broken his pattern. Would it last? Yes, he’d make sure of it. If he didn’t, he could lose her. She was a gentle, delicate creature that made him want to be a better man.

  He smiled. Gentle and delicate with a sharp tongue and fiery temper. She was a scrapper. She wasn’t afraid of him, wasn’t intimidated. She challenged him, defied him, but when he touched her she surrendered that ferocity to him. Melted for him.

  He’d worried he’d hurt her, but Jordan had taken him, screamed in bliss with his every fierce thrust. Still, he had held back. He’d battled his instinct, his demon, every second. He craved to plunge his fangs in deep, to draw on her vein and take her into him. Her blood would sweeten with her orgasm. The temptation to feel her pulse fade beneath his lips, to hear her gasp her last breath then slice his own artery for her to feed her—to change her, make her his for eternity—had driven him to the brink of madness. He’d been too close too many times.

  His heart ached. He knew he should let her go. He knew he shouldn’t have allowed this to happen, he should’ve kept his lust in check…but he regretted nothing. She was his. She belonged with him, just like this. In his arms, in his bed, in his heart. He wouldn’t let her go.

  When had he become such a romantic sap? If past him could see him now…The vampire would be torn with envy.

  To go from cold as death to blazing inferno in less than two weeks? Couldn’t be possible. It shouldn’t be possible. But Jordan had changed him. Everything felt new with her. He felt new.

  Had his instinct known it would be like this? When he’d found her photo, he’d been struck by her penetrating violet eyes. They’d called to him, mesmerized him. He’d been driven by the voracious need to find her, to have her, even before he’d met her. Had his vampire known this connection awaited?

  His heart stilled. Could she be his mate? Did he dare hope?

  Jordan, his forever?

  Unsettled by his thoughts, Gabriel drew away from her. The sun would soon set and he had business to see to.

  He showered and dressed, then came back to the bed. She was hugging his pillow to her chest, tangled curls fell over her brow. He brushed the silken strands away from her face. The simple touch ignited his desire. Tempted to drag her to the edge of the mattress, hook her legs over h
is arms, and work his penis from his pants and drive inside her tightness, he took a staggering step back.

  His little mortal needed her sleep. He’d pushed her hard and she would need some time to recover. He’d let Row know she’d be down a bar tender tonight and when he was finished with work, he and Jordan would settle their future.

  If she even wanted a future with him. She seemed intent on leaving, striking out on her own. And he had coaxed her to accept him, to accept them while her mind had been a haze of need. Now, in the sober light of the moon, she might have regrets. Doubts.

  He knew nothing of dating or wooing women, but he’d be honest. He’d cut open his heart, lay bare his soul and offer himself to her.

  Gabriel took in a deep breath, branding his lungs with the scent of jasmine and sex. His fingers tingled with the head to touch her, but he slipped on his leather gloves. “Little mortal, you’ve changed everything.”

  Jordan woke to the sound of scraping steel.

  Panic seized her throat in a vice grip. Where was she?

  She struggled to open her eyes and her body was stiff. Her arms and legs ached as if she’d been fighting for her life. Her temples pounded, the pain reminiscent of the drug’s side effects. No!

  She kicked at whatever was weighing her legs down and struck out with her fists. Her knuckles connected with...pillows?

  Jordan stilled and took in a deep breath. Gabriel’s scent overwhelmed her and in a rush the memories from the early morning tackled her, sending her tumbling from her nightmare and into the real world.

  She pressed her face against the pillow and took in another long breath.

  She wasn’t in a cell, she wasn’t being restrained or sedated. She was in his room. In his bed. The aches and twinges she felt weren’t from a fight, but from sex. Mind blowing, life changing sex. Gabriel had pleasured her with his words and his body until she couldn’t move. When he finally pulled from her and pressed her head against his chest, his lungs expanded with a contented sigh, “You’ve pleased me, beyond measure.”