Deep is the Night: Dark Fire

by Denise A. Agnew

  “Curioser and curioser. Go on.”

  “All right.” He looked reluctant. “When my parents were killed in the fire at our castle a few years back, I was injured.”

  “Your fiancée left you because of the injury?” She wanted to hate the woman right away. “But if she loved you, how could she?”

  “It’s complicated.”

  Her breath hitched, almost as if his pain became hers. “Gilda told me about the fire, but not in detail.”

  When his gaze caught hers she saw genuine grief. “When the fire started I was away from the castle at a party. I came home and the place was already smoking. I called the police on my cell phone and rushed in to find my parents upstairs in their bedroom, overcome by smoke and bleeding from what looked to be small puncture wounds in their neck. I managed to drag them out one by one. As I was pulling my father out of the house, I slipped on the stairs. A stupid thing. I hit my head and almost didn’t make it before the fire reached my location. By that time, neighbors had seen the smoke and pulled me the rest of the way out of the castle. When I awoke in the hospital I could…do certain things I couldn’t before.”

  “Read minds?” Her heart beat with a slow, painful reaction to his tale. “That’s why your fiancée left you?”

  “Yes. Among other things.”

  She saw evasion in his eyes, and knew right then the story held more facets than he’d revealed. “Lachlan, this isn’t going to work if you hold anything back.”

  He nodded, regret lining his handsome features. “Things happened you wouldn’t believe.”

  She summoned a smile. “After living in Pine Forest a month, I’m about ready to believe anything. Try me.”

  Before he could tell her, Cedric again knocked and brought in their dinner. Salmon for her and a prime rib for Lachlan. Lachlan asked that they not be disturbed for next hour. Cedric assured him they wouldn’t be interrupted unless they rang the small bell pull near the door.

  After eating their dinner for a quiet minute or two, Lachlan spoke as he poured more wine for them. “Can we leave explanations for later? I want our meal to be pleasant, and talking about murder isn’t exactly my idea of a good time.”

  Contrite, she realized she shouldn’t push him into talking about his parent’s death or his fiancée leaving. A year may have passed, but that didn’t mean his heartache left him entirely.

  “Of course.” She smiled. “Let’s enjoy dinner.”

  After taking their time with the succulent dishes, they rang for Cedric and he brought a dessert cart. She decided she didn’t have room for a sweet, but Lachlan grinned wolfishly and picked a piece of cake called Death by Chocolate. Lachlan ate the dessert with obvious enjoyment, and she teased him about where he could have room for all that food.

  “I have a very high metabolism.” His lashes lowered slowly with one of those lazy, all-knowing looks that made her stomach flutter with excitement. “I work it off.”

  She imagined too well what he might do to burn those calories. An image flashed into her mind of him on top of her, pumping his lusty way between her thighs, his cock rasping against her sensitive walls. Desire resurged almost painfully. She wanted him inside her.

  Now.

  “Erin?” His whispered question made her eyes pop open. “If you don’t stop visualizing, I’m going to have a difficult time keeping my hands off you.”

  Damn, she’d drifted away on another wild daydream. “Sorry.”

  One corner of his mouth twitched in a cocky, knowing grin. “No apology needed. I liked what I saw in your mind. I liked it very much.”

  Heat traveled straight from her face down to her breasts.

  “Would you like to dance?” She couldn’t believe she’d asked, but it popped out of her mouth. The soft music held the right sway for a close dance, and she craved nearness with him. “Please.”

  He went to the door and locked it, and when he turned back, he walked toward Erin with a stride that showed his assurance. Lachlan held his hand out to her and she took it. As he drew her toward the center of the room and slipped his arms about her, she slid her hands up to his shoulders. They didn’t keep distance; his hands tucked her closer and soon they nestled together like long-time lovers. Their bodies touched, chest to breasts. As they turned his hips and thighs brushed against her, and she felt his full-blown erection.

  Realizing this man could be this turned on by her this fast gave her a heady sense of power. She urged him nearer, and they pressed cheek to cheek. Flowing into his arms and swaying to the music seemed the most natural thing in the world.

  Soon his hands explored, drifting with possessive, yet gentle caresses over her shoulders and down her back. The first brush of his palm against the bare skin of her neck caused her to shiver.

  “All right?” he asked huskily into her ear. He touched the lobe with his tongue, then kissed it.

  “God, yes. It feels good. You feel good.”

  “Mmm…” The low, deep sound almost sounded like a male predator’s longing growl for his mate.

  He continued the cadence of the dance, and his leg slipped between hers as he swung her around. As they moved with a smooth turn, one of his hands slipped down and cupped her ass. She gasped, startled and yet desiring the touch. Erin reached up and pushed her fingers through the thick hair at the back of Lachlan’s neck and kneaded him. Brushing his hands over her ass, he cupped and squeezed and played over her until she moaned.

  She squealed when he dipped her. He laughed and when he brought her up, their lips almost brushed.

  Kiss me. Please kiss me. She whispered the words in her mind.

  He stared into her eyes and a strange weakness overtook her limbs. Erin clung to him, expecting the kiss any time. When he hesitated, she took the decision away from him, once and for all. She cupped his face and hoped he could see hunger and determination. No more pretending.

  Lachlan said it would be up to her.

  She could no longer deny she ached in every place a woman could ache. She throbbed with an overwhelming and consuming desire to make deep, hard love with him and appease the burning inside her that had built from the day she met him. Over the short time she’d known, him she’d learned very few things about him, and yet she felt as if she knew Lachlan down deep where it counted.

  He would never harm her, and he wanted to protect her with his life. His soul felt pure and his heart golden. Her senses told Erin that Lachlan Tavish was the most exciting man she’d met. Learning fresh things about him every day would change her world and expand it until she would never be soul-deep alone again.

  She wanted everything with him.

  Mental. Physical.

  And, oh, yes…Erin wanted the incredible fuck he’d talked about.

  Reaching up for his arrogant, gorgeous head, she pulled his head down and kissed him.

  He groaned, and she took advantage of his parted lips to plunge her tongue into his mouth. The taste of his tongue tangling with hers, brushing and challenging, made her want him hard and hot between her legs.

  She pulled back from him, breathless. His gaze held more fire than she’d ever seen in his expression before. Without a word she took his hand and walked to the table. She grabbed the envelope and went for the closed room. When she reached the door, she hesitated before ripping open the envelope and taking out the key.

  “I’m yours to take, Erin,” he said, his voice rough with passion. “If you want me.”

  She shoved the key in the lock and opened the door. “I want you, Lachlan. I want all of you.”

  Chapter 15

  Once inside the bedroom, Lachlan flicked on the light. The large room boosted an opulent setting much like the rest of the establishment. Swags of extravagant velvet drapery covered the windows as well as the deep couch. An opulent matching comforter covered the king-sized bed.

  “Wow,” Erin whispered as she took in the room and the bed.

  I’ll say. We could do some serious fucking on that bed.

  With
a gasp and a laugh, she verbalized her thoughts. “You are too much, Lachlan Tavish.”

  He stripped off his suit jacket and tossed it on a chair.

  He locked the door and reached for her. He brought her against his body, his grip enveloping her in safety and warmth. If ever a man’s protection felt sincere and without a desire to take more than to give, Lachlan Travis’s arms proved it.

  “Tell me if you want me. Now,” he said with a husky nuance in his voice.

  Again, she cherished his assurance. “I want you, Lachlan, now.”

  A confident smile swept his face. “I can’t wait to get inside you.” He whispered against her ear as he brought her close, his powerful arms cradling her with tenderness. “We’ll do everything you need, and more.”

  “More?”

  “Anything you desire, any way you want it. I’ll slide into you and move deep and hard and fast, so fast you’ll come apart in my arms. God, I want to see you come. I want to fuck you until you scream.”

  An idea flashed into her mind, and a heated flush spread from her neck to her face. “Talk dirty to me. That’s what I want.”

  With a husky groan he said, “Oh, lass, you got it.”

  He licked her earlobe, then caught it between his lips and sucked. “You want me to lick your pussy?”

  “Oh, God, yes.”

  “Flick your clit with my tongue?”

  She shivered. Arousal spiked inside her, and she felt a telltale trickle of moisture between her thighs. “Please.”

  “Stick my tongue deep inside you?”

  “Yes.” Her breathing came rapid, and she clutched at his shoulders and writhed in his arms as he pulled her dress up in back. “Yes.”

  With one smooth move, he slid inside her panty hose and her panties to cup one butt cheek in each hand. “You have the sweetest ass.”

  Lachlan’s husky, lust-thickened voice sent deep, uncontrollable need straight into her center. He massaged her butt with a continual squeezing motion. He kissed her, his tongue making love to her mouth with lush movements that teased and demanded.

  When he pulled back he slid one hand out of her panties so he could tilt her chin upwards. “I’m going to do some things to you that you may not have experienced, Erin. But if you don’t like what I’m doing at any time, tell me and I’ll stop.”

  Just the idea of him committing forbidden and exciting sex acts with her made her excitement more urgent. “Yes. Anything.”

  With a nod, he slid the strap down until the top of her breast was reveled. Her body trembled with anticipation as he gazed down at her breast like it might be a precious jewel. He cupped her, holding her breast high as his mouth dipped.

  Lachlan’s warm breath gusted over her. “So damned sweet. Do you want me to suck it, Erin? Lick it?”

  His dirty talk, no-holds-barred, sent her libido into high gear. “Yes.”

  As he slipped the fabric of her bodice completely down and bared both her breasts, he said, “These are as pretty as I remember.”

  With a moan he indulged. His tongue and lips became a firestorm across her skin, white hot as he nibbled all around her nipples until at last he suckled and licked. The exquisite sensation of his fingers tugging one nipple while he sucked and laved the other, made her cream her panties in a wild rush.

  She cried out, half mad with screaming desire. He broke contact with her breasts.

  Lachlan’s hands wandered down to her waist and then to her hips, caressing as he traveled. As Erin’s excitement built to frantic proportions, she decided nothing mattered but finding that all-consuming orgasm. She wanted him any way she could get him. He slowly unzipped the back of the dress then slid her dress upwards over her head. With a hurried movement he tossed the garment on a chair.

  For one earth-shaking moment she felt vulnerable. With naked breasts and only panty hose, panties, and screw-me shoes, she veered from a wild desire to shove him on the bed and give him the ride of his life, to a terrifying sensation of panic.

  He seemed to sense her fear, and with a smile that promised pleasure like she’d never known, Lachlan said, “Erin, lass, you’re in control. Remember that.”

  He waited, and seconds later she nodded her consent.

  Lachlan went down on his knees. With quick deliberation, he unhooked her shoes. As he cupped the length of her leg, he allowed his fingers to travel up to her thigh. His big, gentle fingers felt hot on her nylon-clad skin. To keep her balance, she kept her hands on his shoulders, enjoying the sensation of hard muscle at the same time.

  She shuddered and closed her eyes as he removed the high heels one by one. He tossed the shoes aside. Working with deliberation, he carefully stripped her hose and panties down her legs. Silky nylon glided down her skin and the slow brush of garment against skin heightened her arousal.

  Naked, she stood vulnerable to his heated gaze and ravenous touch.

  When he rose back up, he gathered Erin close again. This time, as he kissed her, he kept his tongue deep in her mouth, moving and exploring.

  Every ounce of shyness she might have had, disappeared as his fingers slid down her backside and found their way to her wet and aching folds. He touched her labia and drew her moisture up, passing it over her anus with gentle glides.

  She jerked and shivered in his grip at the unaccustomed sensation. Each moan of pleasure escalated as he made certain her puckered rear entry was lubricated.

  Erin moaned against his mouth, excited by this forbidden love play. She’d never indulged in this type of sex before.

  Do you want this, Erin?

  Yes. Please.

  She knew he wouldn’t hurt her.

  With a light touch, he gently inserted the middle finger of his left hand a small way into that tight entrance.

  She gasped and broke the kiss.

  Worry overlaid his smoldering gaze. He slipped his finger out of her. “Does that hurt?”

  Shivering with the most powerful stimulation she’d ever felt, she shook her head. “Don’t stop.”

  With a grin of satisfaction, he maneuvered so he stood slightly to the side of her. She kept her right arm looped over his shoulder, a steadying grip and a desire to bring him closer.

  “Mmm…wet…hot.” He licked her nipple just as his fingers slipped and slid across her folds. With a super slow touch, he slid two fingers deep inside her cunt.

  She arched against his fingers as pleasure rocketed through her. As he slid his fingers in and out in a soft, excruciatingly slow pace, the sensations made her move in torment. He kept his fingers embedded, his thumb sliding up to part the hood protecting her clit.

  One swift pass over Erin’s clit, and she gasped and moaned.

  “Oh, yeah,” he breathed. “That’s it. Cream up for me. You’re going to be so hot and wet when I take you.”

  She wanted that all right, and the potent, husky flavor of his voice stirred her into a frenzy of excitement.

  “You want me inside you don’t you?” His combination of pleading and deep sexual arousal added to the fuel.

  Again he moved his fingers and he touched something inside her that brought exquisite pleasure. She moved, tormented. “Yes, yes.”

  He slid his finger, slow and sure, back into her rear entry. The gentle pressure, barely inserted, drove her nuts. She moved on his fingers, enjoying the double penetration. When he leaned down and sucked a nipple into his mouth, moved his finger in her ass, and flicked her clit with his thumb, she almost screamed with excitement.

  “Oh, please, please, please, please,” she gasped with pleasure.

  She didn’t care what she sounded like, what she looked like. Erin had gone animal. Gone wild with a sexual desire so profound it sent doubts straight out of her head.

  “I want you so much, Erin.” His voice rasped against her ear as he started a verbal assault on her defenses. “I want to suck your clit. I want to stick my tongue inside you. I want to hear you beg me to take you.”

  Erin almost reared out of his arms and demand
ed a quick fornication to remove the pounding ache. He slid his thumb upward and rotated, a light brush right over her clit.

  She moaned and chanted her feelings. “Lachlan. Oh, God, oh, God, oh—”

  Erin’s breathing went into high gear as she reached for orgasm. Ripples of pleasure built as his fingers caressed inside her, and his thumb brushed teasing flicks designed to drive her insane. His finger moved in her ass again.

  “That’s it,” he groaned into her mouth. “Come. Come.”

  Pressure built with lightning speed, roaring into her. Erin stifled her scream as a climax ripped from her, taking her by surprise with sweet bliss. Her fingers dug into him and held on for dear life. She shook as her breath squealed out of her, high and sobbing. She panted, trying to catch her breath and half out of her mind.

  Instead of releasing her flesh, he continued to ply her clit, keeping up the pressure with relentless attention.

  Oversensitive from the blasting climax, she moved her hips and whimpered. She felt wet, slick and swollen, ready to hold Lachlan’s cock deep inside her.

  As another wave of pleasure hit, her vagina rippled and tightened around his deeply imbedded fingers and his stimulation of her anus. He stopped as her muscles clamped on him, but then he inched his fingers in and out, in and out, forcing the tight muscles to throb and burn with renewed need. Pumping his fingers with a rhythm that mimicked sex, he dipped and slid inside her.

  With a moan of male satisfaction, Lachlan slipped his fingers from her. Erin whimpered in protest. Her body wanted his with a ferocity she couldn’t contain. She felt like she could come dozens of times in this man’s arms.

  Oh, Lachlan, that felt fantastic.

  Mmm…that’s good.

  As she shuddered and quaked, he held her. “That’s it, lass.” He kissed her forehead and then gently led her over to the huge bed. “Sit down.” His demand came husky and with a hint of a smile. “Lay back.” Before she could catch her breath, he went to his knees in front of her. “Spread your legs, sweetheart.”

  Eager, she did as told and lay back. She knew what he would do, and the idea made a new heat build between her legs, slick, hot and full of wanting.