“You’re pretty quiet,” Raven said to her.
“Just thinking.”
“About what?”
“Everything. Azriel, Alaric, Figlio. Everything and everyone.”
He pushed the bedroom door open and led her in. As soon as Charity crossed the threshold, she felt as if she’d stepped into a Victorian haunted house. Massive windows stood out on walls decorated with antique rose wallpaper. A bed, piled high with comforters, lacy quilts, and pillows loomed before yet another blazing fireplace. The room had a dark, ominous feel to it, as did the rest of the house.
Charity turned when she heard the bedroom door shut behind her. Raven stood at the door. He turned a key in the lock, effectively shutting them in, then walked to an armoire.
“What are you doing?”
He answered the question by setting the key atop the armoire far out of her reach.
“So, am I your prisoner now?”
“Oh, you’ve been my prisoner since we met.” He turned to face her, fire in his eyes.
She took a step back, feeling a niggling of fear.
He advanced on her.
“You can’t run from me.”
She retreated further.
* * *
He couldn’t say when he had decided, or whether it was because he feared someone would beat him to it, but he would have her. Not because she needed the strength he would give her though, or even because he knew how desperately she wanted him. He would take her because he needed to take her. Needed to feel her body beneath his. Needed to sheath himself deep inside of her. He knew she wouldn’t always be his for the taking. At this very moment she belonged more to Figlio than she would ever belong to him. But while she was here with him, alone with him, he would have her. He would take her as many times as he wanted in as many ways as he wanted and there was nobody to stop him.
“Take off your clothes,” he whispered, advancing until he had her pressed between the wall and his body. He lowered his mouth to hers and licked her lower lip, making circles over the sensitive flesh with his tongue. She tasted good, better than he remembered. But it wasn’t enough. He needed more. So much more. He closed his mouth over hers, kissed her with a hunger he hadn’t known he had. All of his millennia imprisoned beneath the earth far from the touch of a woman seemed a distant memory as he ravaged her mouth. “My gosh, I want you so bad,” he gasped when he’d pulled back.
“Do you really?” she asked, “Or is this another of your games?”
He stepped forward and ground his hips against her, letting her feel just how serious he was.
Her mouth trembled when she opened it to speak but no words came forth. Instead, she reached up with her free hand and ran her fingers through his hair. He knew she saw the desire in his eyes just as much as she felt it in his kiss. It was a heady mix of erotic pleasure and carnal want to know she returned his feelings.
He settled his body more comfortably against her and deepened the kiss. Setting his arms at either side of her head, he let his mouth move against her in a rapturous dance of yearning.
He was really going through with this. He nearly couldn’t believe it. Michael had admonished him against it, but here he was. He couldn’t concern himself with fear of the pit or fear of punishment. His cock had been throbbing for her since first he looked upon her. And she did need whatever power he could give her. She’d seemed so helpless out in the wood as the ghouls closed in on them, so in need of protection. Even then, his body stirred for her, and he knew he wouldn’t be able to keep himself from partaking of her. Now, with her body soft and pliant against his, his arousal was a much mental as physical. Her hair was fragrant with the scent of apples, and her body smelled like sweet vanilla cream. He would take her this night and love her like he’d loved no other woman in his entire existence, knowing well that this joining with her could very well be their last. So he would bury himself in her to his root. He’d forget Azriel and Michael and the whole damned world around them. He’d take her so completely that there would be only him and her and the heat of their bodies joined as one with the heady smell of sex hot on the air around them.
Her body was liquid heat beneath his touch. She moaned into his mouth and he tasted her, dipping his tongue deep into her honey sweetness and savoring the sheer delight in this simple pleasure.
“You belong to me tonight,” he said as he lifted her and carried her to the bed. He settled her across the lacy quilts and fat goosedown comforter. Even in jeans and a flannel shirt, she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.
He stood over her, staring. He savored her lips, now poufy from kissing, and the great rounds of her breasts. Loved the way her body slimmed so delicately at her waist, only to flare again at her hips. Yes, he would have her tonight, and every night until Figlio came and claimed her for his own.
He lowered himself until he covered her. Pressing his lips against her, he kissed her, sucking her tongue until she became fevered with need for him. Her hands came up to encircle his waist, and she pulled him to her as he deepened the kiss.
* * *
Charity couldn’t talk, couldn’t even think straight. Every touch lit a fire within her, every kiss made her hungry for more. She feared she could never have enough of him. The taste of his tongue filled her mouth, yet she wanted more. The press of his body pinned her to the bed, yet she couldn’t feel enough of him. Her hands roved his body, mindless currents of passion now. She squeezed the muscled mass of his butt, ran her hands up and down his thighs, felt his arousal pressing into her. A million things she wanted to do with him and things she hoped he would do to her. He tasted so good, and his body felt so right pressed against hers. She never wanted this to end.
But then he was rising from her. Staring down at her again.
“Get up,” he said. His voice, husky with want, sent shivers through her body. “I want you to strip for me.”
“I can’t strip. I…I don’t know how.”
“I want you to stand before the fire and take your clothes off piece by piece. Nice and slow, so I can enjoy every inch of you. I want to look at you. Have my fill of you before I taste. See every bit of you before I feast.”
His words send a shiver of pleasure through her. “But—”
He pressed a finger over her lips. “Don’t think. Just do as I say.”
Feeling more than a little nervous, she rose to her feet. She’d never done anything of the sort before, and unexpectedly, her body quickened at the thought of removing every piece of clothing before a man like Raven as he sat watching her. Enjoying her. She felt the tickling trickle of desire between her legs before she’d even stood by the fireplace and wondered who was this man that could bring out such needs in her. She sauntered to a spot a few feet in front of the fire and turned to face him. She’d never sauntered before, but when she saw he’d dropped to the bed to gaze at her, she figured maybe she wasn’t so bad at it.
“Take the shirt off,” he said.
She brought her hands up to the shirt and began pulling at her buttons. One popped off and fell to the floor at her feet. Nervous, she kicked it aside and went on to the next button, glancing up to see if he’d noticed. She paused when she saw he was frowning at her.
“Nice and slow,” he said. “We have all night.”
She swallowed and fought down the urge to bite her fingernails. Slowly, she brought her hands to the remaining buttons and began to leisurely undo them.
“Yeah, that’s it. Now look at me. I want your eyes on my face so you know who that body belongs to.”
Again she had to fight down the urge to chew her nails. Stripping was one thing. But stripping and looking at him at the same time was a bit much for someone like her. Until she’d met Raven, she’d been about as sexually adventurous as a nun. Well, not quite like a nun, but nearly.
She lifted her head and took her gaze from her booted feet to the bed where he sat, grinning at her. His eyes bored into her where she stood. Slowly, lusciously, he licked his
lips.
“You have no idea how badly I want you,” he said. “You have no idea how good I’m going to make you feel.”
A slow fire was building within her. With each button she unlatched, her desire rose to a higher, more fevered pitch until at last she undid the final button and stood before him with the flaps of the flannel open.
“Good girl. Now take it off.”
She felt the heat of the fire warming her skin when she eased one arm free of the thick material. Then the other arm was free. All the while, she was conscious of his eyes on her. Feasting on her as though she were a luscious morsel made for his pleasure.
“You’re exquisite,” Raven said. “Perfect. Good enough to eat. Want to know what I’m thinking right now?”
Unable to speak, she nodded.
“I’m wondering if that lacy blue bra of yours has matching panties.”
“Victoria’s Secret,” she blurted. Figures, she finally says something and it makes absolutely no sense.
“Even more than that, I want to see the bare flesh beneath. I just don’t know if I can wait.” He shifted on the bed. “The bra,” he ordered. “I want it off of you. Now.”
Her breathing increasing, she bent her arms behind her back and undid the latches of the bra as he watched. His long braid had fallen over his shoulder and hung down over his chest.
She shivered when she pulled the bra off, and her breasts fell free of the constricting material. Immediately, the warmth of the fire warmed them too. But what she wanted was the warmth of Raven’s mouth on them, suckling them.
Raven moaned and settled one hand over his crotch, rubbing at the erection straining against his pants. “The things I’m gonna do to you,” he promised between his teeth. “Come here. I want to taste you.”
On wobbly legs, she went to him. She was so desperate to feel his mouth cover her breasts, so in need to feel his tongue on her nipples she wasn’t sure she’d make it the short distance. When she got to him, he pulled her between his legs. His hands spanned her waist, and he pressed his cheek against her bared skin, breathing in the scent of her. She quivered at his touch. At the sheer need of him.
“So beautiful,” Raven gasped. His mouth closed over a breast. He flicked his wet tongue over an erect nipple, and she arched her back in response. He sucked the bud between his teeth, applying just enough pressure to make her half mad. Waves of pleasure pummeled her when he ran his tongue over it. Her skin felt so tender, so sensitized beneath his tongue. Great gulping sighs spilled from her as he licked the nipple.
“Oh, Raven,” she moaned. “It feels so good. Please take me.”
He pulled away from her and stared into her eyes. “Not just yet.”
He traced her spine with a finger, but when he reached her buttocks, he squeezed, pulling her closer still. He punctuated each squeeze of her butt with a torturous laving of one nipple, then the other.
She writhed, needing him so badly, it hurt. When she thought she’d lose her mind, he set one hand between them and pushed her away. “Take off your boots. And your pants.”
She gasped. “Please. I need you so badly. I’ve waited all day.”
“The boots and the pants.”
She stepped back towards the fireplace, trying desperately to get control of herself. She knew he was playing her like a fiddle, but she couldn’t help it. His touch excited her like nothing else. Every kiss sent heat shooting through her body. A heat so intense, she marveled that she managed to keep her wits about her. She knew he wanted her. Probably as much as she wanted him. She could tell from the look in his eyes and the vigor with which he rubbed at his swollen cock that he wanted her.
Then a thought occurred to her. If he was going to play with her, why couldn’t she play with him?
Deciding that was exactly what she would do, she bent and lifted her foot. Slowly, she worked the zipper of her boot down. She took even longer to do the second boot. One glance at him, at his impatient look at her pants was enough to know she had been right. It was about time he was the one suffering. Though, if she was honest with herself, she was suffering just as badly as he was.
“The pants. I want them off of you.”
She smiled at him. “Of course.” She undid the button of her jeans, lowered the zipper, gave him another smile.
“Now.” Raven’s cock was so hard he thought it would explode if he didn’t get his release soon. She was luscious, delectable, and he didn’t think he could wait much longer to have her. Damn the girl, she was moving even slower now than she had before. She was enjoying herself.
Charity stepped out of her jeans. Raven’s eyes were hot on her, and she loved the way it felt. She was so turned on, she could probably come right on the spot just from his eyes on her. Turning to face the fire so he had an unobstructed view of her blue thong, she bent to remove her socks. She heard a low growl emanating from the bed behind her and tried to keep from smiling. Before she stood erect again, she gave him a little wiggle. What she couldn’t see was Raven getting to his feet and starting forward. One moment she was wiggling, the next, he’d lifted her, cradling her in his arms, and carried her to the bed. He tossed her across the comforter and tore her panties from her body before she’d had a chance to orient herself. Then he was climbing atop her. Pinning her arms to the mattress over her head, he threw a leg over her and straddled her stomach.
“So, you would torture me,” he demanded of her.
She writhed, enjoying the sleek feel of his snakeskin pants against her bare flesh and loving how his erection pressed into her. She could feel the taut muscles that stood out on his thighs flexing against her as he repositioned himself. The fact that he was fully clothed while she was naked didn’t escape her notice either. But she felt a power in her undress, a control she had never felt before and she liked it.
“I only did as you told me to do.”
“Oh, is that so? I told you to torment me?”
“You said to be slow.”
He considered her for a moment. “So I did. But I changed my mind.”
He lay across her. Slipped his tongue into her mouth. He tasted of the wine they’d had with dinner and of bread dumplings. He was ambrosia and every fantasy she’d ever had. Everything she’d ever wanted. He plundered her. He was so masterful, and she wanted more than anything to play the love slave for him. She’d never felt such desires.
“Take me, Raven. Make love to me now.”
He pulled his mouth free of hers and gazed at her. For a moment he only stared down at her, grinning. “I bet you do,” he said at last. "Why don’t you tell me how much?”
“A lot.”
“Mmm.”
He bent over her again, placing kisses across her throat. Feather light kisses that both tickled and tormented her. Then he was running his tongue along the inflamed flesh, tasting her at one moment, nipping her gently the next. She wanted to scream out from the sheer pleasure of it. It felt so good.
“You like that?” he asked, gazing into her eyes.
“Yes.”
“How about this,” he said as he gave her another lick. She tasted like sweet wine, Raven thought as he ran his tongue over her skin. So good. But what he really wanted to taste was one of those delectable nipples again. Hell, he wanted to taste both of them again. He wanted to feel them in his mouth and against his tongue. And he wanted more than that. He wanted to taste all of her. Every inch of her. And he would. There was nobody here to stop him doing whatever he wanted to her. She was his for the taking, and he planned to take her.
He licked a trail down her breast until he found her nipple. The air came out of her in a swoosh. He licked around the sensitive nub, nibbling on it as she writhed. When he closed his mouth over it, she thought she’d swoon. Liquid fire coursed through her veins, and her loins came to life with erotic heat. Pleasure pummeled her as she fought for control but couldn’t find it. Only one thing could sate her need.
“Raven. Please. I need you.”
He sucked the per
t nub into his mouth and closed his teeth around it, flicking it with his tongue. She twisted and writhed beneath his erotic assault, desperate for release. He made a meal of her, moving from one breast to the other, sending bolts of electricity through her body.
“Please,” she begged again.
“You’re my little prisoner now.”
She was more than happy to be his prisoner. She was more than happy to be whatever he wanted her to be, and he knew it. She just wanted an end to this torment, a release to her suffering. She needed him inside of her.
“Tell me you’re mine,” he said in a low voice.
She opened her mouth to speak, but no sound came out. Had she forgotten how to speak? All she could think about was having their bodies joined as one and the ecstasy such a union would bring.
“Tell me you belong to me,” he ordered, licking the hollow between her breasts.
She shivered at the intimate touch of his wet tongue against her. Struggling for control, she cleared her throat and spoke in a soft voice. “I belong to you.”
He smiled, wishing it were true. He ran a finger lightly between her breasts where his lips had been, then over her stomach. Her skin was so soft it was like touching a newborn. He pressed his lips to her stomach and ran his tongue along her belly, poking her navel with it and enjoying how fiercely her body reacted to him.
Then he brought his hand to rest just above the junction of her thighs. She panted, hungry for his touch. He closed his hand over her throbbing center and stroked her. She purred like a cat in heat.
“How does that feel?”
“So good.”
He tickled her with his fingers, nudging them just a hint deeper but careful not to enter her and give her release. With his knee, he pushed her legs wider until she was completely open for him. She writhed, and he loved it.
The Nephilim War: Book One Page 9
