“My father says it’s because I’m so stubborn.”
After lowering his hand, Kellen looked at her. “Your father’s your alpha, isn’t he?”
“Yes. How did you know?”
“Olena told me. That must’ve been difficult growing up.”
“Are you kidding?” she grimaced. “It’s still difficult, especially now.” She met his gaze, letting him know exactly what she was talking about.
He nodded. “I suppose coming here was a bad idea, huh?” Turning his head, he grinned at her and her stomach flipped over. Damn, the man could turn on the charm when he wanted to.
“Maybe a little.”
That made his grin widen. “Only a little?”
She opened her mouth to respond, but before she could utter any words, Kellen gathered her in his arms and kissed her. Then he broke away, pushed her back and ran a shaky hand over his face.
“I’m sorry. I just can’t stop thinking about you.”
“Me, too.”
He met her gaze. “Really?”
“Oh yeah.”
Growling, he pulled her to him and kissed her again.
The smoldering kiss warmed her body from the top of her head to the tips of her toes and all the parts in between.
Gasping for breath, Sophie squirmed on the sofa, trying to snuggle closer to him. She wanted—no, needed—to caress him, to have her body pressed against his. Trembling hands raced up and down his back searching for purpose, for a way in to touch his skin. Moving down to the hem of his T-shirt, her hands streaked under the fabric and finally over the smooth marble of his back.
He moaned into her mouth as she traced a line up and down his flesh with her short nails. Nibbling on her bottom lip, he moved down to her chin and up again to her mouth, sweeping his tongue between her lips to taste and tease her.
The man could kiss. With the hard press of his lips and the tantalizing way he moved his tongue over hers in a slow, torturous tango, he sent currents of white hot pleasure rippling over her body. And not once did she consider his fangs.
But that wasn’t entirely true. She did think about them, especially when the slight brushing of them on her lips sent a wave of shivers down her back. She’d heard of the rapture a vampire’s bite could bring. Would Kellen bite her if she asked? Did she have the courage to even ask such a thing?
With one hand wrapped in her hair and the other at the small of her back, he feasted on her mouth, tearing gasps of pleasure from her with every nip and nibble. She dug her fingers in while he moved over her chin and cheek with soft kisses that finally went to her ear.
“I can’t get you out of my mind.” He licked the side of her neck, brushing the tips of his fangs against her pulsing jugular. “You’re a drug, and I’m addicted.”
Letting her head fall back, Sophie dug her nails into his shoulders as he ravaged her neck, alternating between licking and sucking on her flesh. She’d surely have marks on her skin later, but at this moment she didn’t care. Nothing mattered right now but the flush of heat racing over her body and the deep ache between her thighs.
Kellen moved down her body, yanking at the collar of her shirt to press his lips to her collarbone and lower. “Where’s the bedroom?” He murmured, then trailed his tongue into the hollow of her throat.
“Down the hall…second…ah!…door on the right,” she managed between gasps.
In one fluid motion, Kellen wrapped one hand around her waist and the other under her legs, then stood, swooping her up into his muscular arms. The man was strong and proved it by moving down the hallway without missing a beat or a single breath.
Still peppering kisses on her chin and mouth, he kicked open the door to her room, glided in and carried her to the bed. When he neared it, he knelt on the mattress and laid her down gently as if she were made of glass. But she didn’t feel fragile or breakable. She felt fierce—emblazoned with a fiery passion so intense it nearly burned her from the inside out.
Kneeling beside her, he raked her body with his gaze. Even though she was still clothed, she felt the probing desire on her skin, as if he had touched her with the tips of his fingers. Biting her bottom lip, she reached for him, eager to pull him down to her body. She longed to feel his heavy weight on top of her.
But he dodged her hands, his eyes on hers, a roguish smile curling his sensuous mouth. “I want to see you. All of you.” He licked his lips and a hot wave swept into her belly. “Lift your arms.”
She did as he asked, raising her arms over her head. Slowly, he lifted the hem of her shirt, over her stomach and up over her breasts, finally pulling the cotton past her arms. The cool air in the room sent shivers racing over her body. Instinctively, she went to cover herself with her hands, but Kellen held her arms back, desire lighting his eyes.
His gaze lowered to her cotton-covered breasts, and the light in his eyes sparked even brighter. He traced a finger over the top of her bra cups. She quivered under the slight caress. He was teasing her and doing a damn good job of it.
“It unhooks at the front,” she breathed.
Chewing on his lower lip, in deep concentration, Kellen unhooked her bra with his thumb and forefinger. He brushed the halves aside and gazed at her adoringly. She could feel his hot breath on her nipples and she writhed in pleasure at the contradiction between the heat from his mouth and the cool of the room.
“You’re more and more bewitching every time I see you.” Leaning down, he took one rigid peak into his mouth.
Bowing her back, Sophie reveled in the pleasure surging through her as he sucked on her one nipple and rubbed the other with his fingers. After lavishing avid attention with his tongue and teeth to one aching peak, he moved onto the other, giving it equal consideration. When he was done and shifted his notice to her belly and navel, she was throbbing from every nerve ending.
He moved down her body to grip the band of her cotton pants with his fingers. Pressing openmouthed kisses to her belly, Kellen pulled her pants down, her panties along with them. Sitting up, he tugged them down her thighs, over her knees and gently took them off her ankles, paying particular care with her injury.
With her pants tossed to the floor, he came back down to her, ravenous desire making his eyes glow. The way he regarded her set her blood aflame. Like liquid fire, it raced through her to end up between her thighs.
When he ran a tongue over his fangs and gazed down at the sprinkling of red hair at the juncture of her legs, she could hardly catch her breath. Closing his eyes, he pressed his nose to just above her pubic mound and inhaled her scent. She had to bite down on her lip to stop from mewling.
Head still bent, he nudged her legs apart and positioned himself between them. He placed a hand on each of her thighs, pressing his fingers into her flesh.
“Will you watch as I make you come?”
She nodded, her breath lodged in her throat. She was torn in sensual torture; wanting him to end her suffering, while at the same time desiring for him to prolong it.
Deliberately slow, Kellen made his way up her thighs. Rubbing his hands in circles, he inched closer to her sex, all the while watching her face.
Sophie’s breath hitched in her throat as his fingers brushed over the light sprinkling of hair over her mound. Like a gentle breeze, his hands swept over her, careful not to touch too much too soon. He was teasing her, and it was driving her insane.
The throb in her belly hovered close to the line between pleasure and pain. She itched to ease her own suffering. But she couldn’t. He wouldn’t let her. She was at his mercy. And she liked that.
As Kellen continued to tease her sex with light brushings of his fingertips, she ran her hands over her breasts, pinching and pulling on her nipples. Writhing on the bed, she arched her back and pushed her pelvis up in hopes that Kellen would ease her anguish. That he would lick and suckle her, and fill her with his fingers, his tongue, anything to urge her over the edge to a mind-blowing climax.
Her wishes did not go long unfulfilled. Lyin
g down on his stomach between her spread legs, Kellen parted her with his thumbs. She could feel his hot breath on her intimate flesh as he nuzzled his face into her. Lightly at first, he trailed his tongue up and down her slick channel, swirling the tip as he reached her opening.
Heaving, Sophie thrashed about on the mattress. The torment of his tongue sent her soaring with flashes of pleasure. Each time he neared her throbbing nerve center she thought she’d suffocate from the torture of craving final release.
“Oh, Kellen, please,” she moaned.
As if caving in to her wishes, he nudged her clit with the tip of his tongue. She jerked up in response to the sizzling lash that whipped over her. With one hand, he pressed her down on the bed, keeping her still while he continued to lavish attention on her flesh. He lapped at her sex, suckling on it in between strokes of his tongue.
With ease, he slid two fingers into her, manipulating her with quick, hard thrusts. She could feel him pressing against her velvety flesh, as if in search for just the right spot. She prayed he’d find it and end her pleasurable agony.
The scorching heat between her legs was quickly nearing unbearable. Sophie was close to climaxing. The muscles in her belly and thighs tightened, preparing her for the overwhelming rush of ecstasy. A few more well-placed strokes and she’d tumble over the edge.
As he continued to thrust his fingers in and out, pushing as deep as he could go, Kellen suckled on her. She could feel his fangs scrape against her sensitive flesh as he sucked on her. She cried out from the sheer decadence and danger of it.
With one final stroke of his tongue, he pushed his fingers deeper, feeling her. All of her. Clamping her eyes shut against the sudden rush of bliss, she cried out as he found her spot, the fleshy mound on the inside of her channel. He pressed hard just as he clamped down on her nub with his lips.
She came in a searing liquid rush. White, blinding light flashed behind her eyes, and she couldn’t catch her breath. Thrashing about, she grabbed onto Kellen’s head, grasping for something—anything to release her from the electrifying hold he had her in. But he didn’t succumb to her attempts. He continued to stroke his tongue over her and move his fingers inside, prolonging her orgasm.
Another commanding wave of pleasure crashed over her, stealing her breath again, drowning her. All the muscles in her body tightened, the nerve endings flared. She couldn’t take any more. It was too much. She was certain to go mad, as sizzling hot flicks of rapture assaulted her body one right after another, until she couldn’t think beyond the sensations controlling her.
Finally, she stopped fighting, and rode the waves of pleasure until she was spent.
Chapter 21
Kellen watched Sophie’s face as she orgasmed. It was spectacular to see the way her eyes shifted from human to lycan and back again. It gave him an ego boost to know that he was able to give her so much pleasure that she had nearly lost herself to her beast.
Sleepily, she blinked up at him and smiled. Her whole face lit up as if a light bulb had switched on from the inside. She ran her hands over his head, and cupped his face, rubbing a thumb over his mouth.
“Take your damn clothes off and get on top of me.”
Nipping on her thumb, Kellen didn’t hesitate. He stripped off his T-shirt, tossed it over his shoulder and quickly shed his jeans. Leaning on his hands, he lifted himself over her, hovering so close he could feel her body heat enveloping him, and he kissed her.
Sighing, she parted her lips and swept her tongue over his. He loved the way she tasted—everywhere on her body. Like a fine wine, she enticed his tongue. Delectable and tantalizing. He’d remember her taste for the rest of his days.
As he nibbled on her lips, she dug her fingers into his back and pulled his body down. He couldn’t resist the enticement any longer. He ached to lay with her, to be inside her. To have her heat wrapped so snuggly around him would be a pleasure he’d forever hunger for. Like he had told her before, she was addictive. And he was hooked.
The moment he covered her with his body, he could hear and feel her heart race. Like wildfire, it rushed through her veins, and he could sense every surge, anticipate them even. He itched to press his mouth to her neck and take a taste, just one tiny sip of her blood. But he knew one wouldn’t be enough. He could imagine how delicious she would taste, like ambrosia, enticing, and addictive.
She ran her hands over his back, urgent and eager to possess. Cupping the back of his neck, she deepened the kiss, moaning into his mouth. He swallowed down each gasp, each heave of breath, willing and wanting to hear more of her groans, knowing he moved her to them. It was a powerful thing to pleasure a woman. Especially one as formidable as Sophie.
Throbbing for release, Kellen eased himself between her thighs and nuzzled against her sex. Obviously still sensitive, she jerked and writhed as he slid up and down her slick cleft. Finally, gloriously, she opened to him and he slid into her.
He closed his eyes against the savory assault on his body as he began to move inside her, finding a rhythm. She was so hot, so wet; it nearly did him in right there and then. There could never be another woman that felt so good writhing under him, responding to his every touch, every kiss.
He didn’t deserve her.
His hands framing her face, Kellen kissed her hard. He wanted her to know how incredible she was, how humbled he was to be with her, thrusting inside her.
She wrapped her legs around him as he picked up the pace. With every thrust he dug his fingers into her shoulders. He had to hang on. He was free-falling without the safety of a parachute. He didn’t know if he’d survive the fall.
Pressing kisses to her chin and down the side of her throat, Kellen thrust harder, faster, burying deep inside. She gasped as he rammed into her again and again, lifting her pelvis up to meet him each time.
His legs started to shake, the muscles clenched with strain. He was close, so close. Clamping his eyes shut, he drove into her as hard and as deep as he could. She raked her nails across his back and he knew there’d be divots in his flesh.
Then he heard the words that sent him spinning.
“Bite me,” she whimpered. “Kellen, bite me.”
Without hesitation, he did.
An explosion of taste and smell and color and sound erupted into his mouth and rushed through his body as her sweet blood touched his tongue. Intense sensations bombarded him all at once, sending him reeling.
In the same moment, he climaxed in a violent surge. Everything he ever was or ever would be poured out of him in that one, single, solitary moment. Kellen’s mind tried to reach out for something to hold onto as he spun out of control. But there was nothing there to catch him as he whirled into oblivion.
For several minutes, Kellen thought he had died. Had actually truly and properly died. Not the undeadness some people believed vampires existed in. Blinking back the light blinding him, he saw he was truly alive for the first time in his life. He saw Sophie. And knew he had been reborn.
Smiling, she stroked her fingers over his sweaty hair and face, and then kissed his cheek. “I never thought it could be like that.”
Unsure if he could move, he nuzzled into her neck and said, “Me, neither.” His voice was hoarse and thick with desire. He’d only just had her, but he wanted her all over again.
Not wanting to crush her beneath his weight, Kellen rolled over onto his back and puffed out a breath. “I thought you damn near killed me, woman.”
“Me? I’m not the one with the fangs.”
He jerked up to an elbow and gazed down at her, concern making his heart clench. “Did I hurt you?” He fingered the wounds on her neck. They were already starting to disappear. A lycan’s healing ability was no small thing, to be sure.
She shook her head and smiled, cupping his cheek. “Are you kidding me? It was…it was…amazing. I’ve never felt anything as incredible as that.” She rubbed a thumb over his lips. “You can bite me any time you want.”
He planted a quick kiss to her grin
ning mouth, then collapsed onto the bed on his back. She snuggled next to him and he wrapped his arm around her, glorying in the heat of her body. Content and fully satisfied, he realized he hadn’t felt like that in…forever. Actually, he’d never felt like that.
If he never had to move from this spot on Sophie’s bed, life would be perfect.
Head snug on his chest, Sophie trailed her fingers lazily up and down his sternum and sighed. He smiled to himself at her sigh of contentment. He almost felt like a damn hero. He chuckled at the thought.
“What’s funny?” she asked, her fingers still making figure eights over his chest.
“I was thinking about how damn good I feel.”
“Me, too. I haven’t felt this relaxed in years.”
“How’s the ankle?”
“What ankle?”
Laughing, Kellen drew her closer and kissed the top of her head. “Do you think anyone would miss us if we stayed right here for the next week?”
“I don’t know. I’m game if you are.”
“We could pretend that I went home and you’re taking a medical leave. No one would be the wiser.”
She stiffened in his arm and he winced at the poor choice of words he used. The spell instantly broke around them. He could actually feel the magic dissipate in the cool air.
Her fingers paused on his skin and he could almost hear the wheels turning in her mind. “When this case is over you’re going back to Necropolis, aren’t you?”
“That was the plan.”
She pushed up onto an elbow and looked him in the eye. “‘Was,’ or is?”
“I don’t know.”
“Would it make a difference to know that I’m falling in love with you?”
He kept her gaze. He didn’t know what to say. Love was such a foreign thing to him. He didn’t know if he’d ever really, truly experienced it in his lifetime.
He had strong feelings for Sophie, that was for sure, but he had nothing to compare it to. He had no basis of measurement. He didn’t want to tell her something that might or might not have been true or real.
Vivi Anna - [Valorian Chronicles 04] Page 13
