The Invitation

by Ava McKnight

  She could smell him. And his hot, masculine scent did a wicked number on her insides. Her hand splayed on his wide chest, at the opening of his shirt. Her fingertips touched the skin exposed there. It was warm and smooth. She wanted to touch all of him.

  She asked, "Are you a demon, too?"

  "Yes," he whispered.

  Cass tried to reconcile what that meant, exactly. He couldn't be evil. He wouldn't have bothered saving her. He wouldn't be taking such great care with her now.

  She considered the superhuman strength he'd exhibited at the club. She'd thought he'd dressed as a vampire for the party. He'd put her in a coffin. All signs were leading in one direction…

  "So you go to these parties to save foolish women from a fate worse than death?"

  "No."

  Cass was quiet for a moment. When no further explanation was forthcoming, she asked, "They why did you save me?"

  His fingers seemed to tighten around her long strands of hair. "You've stopped trembling."

  She hadn't realized it, though she had realized that he'd smoothly changed the subject. "Yes," she answered. "But I can't breathe."

  He laughed, low and deep. "I'm not surprised. Your top is probably cutting off your circulation." She nodded in agreement. Marcus said, "Let me loosen these ties." His fingers skimmed down the long line of her back, touching the skin between the crisscrossed laces. His touch was light and velvety. Cass wondered if it was really the tight corset that made it difficult for her to pull in a full breath, or if it was a result of being so close to Marcus. Having his hands on her body while his intense gaze held hers.

  He tugged at the double-knotted bow at the bottom of the corset and unraveled the ties. His fingers spread wide across her back, loosening the laces and the top until Cass was no longer packed into it.

  She let out a long sigh. "Better."

  His hand moved up her back until his fingers tangled in her long hair again. Cass was still tucked against his body, her lips so close to his throat it was all she could do not to brush them against his skin or trail her tongue over the thick cords of his neck. Actually, she wanted to do more than that. She wanted to taste him. Not just with her lips and tongue. She had the overwhelming desire to graze his neck with her teeth, nip at the flesh.

  His other hand, resting on her outer thigh, moved slowly to the exposed skin between the lacy top of her thigh-high stocking and the bottom of her leather skirt, which was hitched up high. His fingers caressed her warm flesh. His hand moved higher, under the hem of her skirt, pushing it up.

  This was what she'd wanted in the club. She'd wanted him to shove the material up to her waist and drive himself deep inside her. She wanted it still. Even more so than before. The desire was more powerful than anything she'd ever felt. The need to have him inside her was all-consuming.

  "Marcus," she whispered, giving into the urge to taste his skin. Her head dipped and her lips eased over his neck. Her tongue flicked over the rigid cords before she used her teeth to gently clamp down on the skin. She sucked softly, eliciting a groan from him.

  The hand on her leg moved forward to her inner thigh and she willingly parted her legs for him. She wanted him to press the pad of his thumb to her throbbing clit, to push those long fingers deep inside her.

  "I can smell you," he said in a low, rough tone. "I can smell your arousal. I know you're wet for me."

  "Yes," she said in a breathless voice.

  She unbuttoned his shirt while she continued to lick and nip at his neck. Her hand eased over the hard muscles of his chest. A fingertip grazed a nipple. It was small and hard. She scraped it with her nail, soothed it with the pad of her finger. She had the overwhelming urge to dig her nails into his flesh. She wanted them both to lose all control. She wanted him to fuck her hard, to satiate every carnal urge currently surging inside her, driving her half out of her mind with desire.

  His fingers skimmed over her lacy panties, making her squirm in his lap. She lifted her head, flicked her tongue over his earlobe before drawing it gently into her mouth. She sucked on it a moment, then trailed her mouth over his strong jaw line. As though she fueled his desire, he eased aside the swath of lace at the heart of her. His fingers moved over her sensitive flesh, parting the folds. He pushed two of them deep inside her and Cass cried out. Her head fell back as he stroked her, more forcefully than she'd anticipated, but it was exactly what she needed. His thumb found her swollen clit. The pad pressed against it at first, then moved in a slow, circular motion. The effect was dizzying. Cass gave herself over to the erotic sensations rapidly building inside her—too fast, she knew. She'd come hard and the thought both alarmed and aroused her. Mostly it aroused her.

  Her hand left his chest and gripped the one between her legs. She pressed it to her as she arched her back and pushed herself against his hand. His mouth was on her neck now, nipping at her flesh the way she'd done with his. She felt the sharp scrape of his fangs against her delicate skin. Her body quivered and her pulse raged in her head, filling her ears, hammering inside her.

  She was so close…

  "Now," he whispered.

  "Yes," Cass gasped. And suddenly, everything inside her unraveled. She let out a loud cry, followed by several needy whimpers as her inner muscles clenched his fingers, prolonging the pleasure, squeezing tight, quivering as her orgasm racked her entire being.

  Chapter Four

  Endless moments passed. Marcus finally sighed against her neck, as though he'd been holding his breath, waiting for her to let go. "You were fighting it," he whispered.

  She nodded. Her breath was scarce. He held her until it returned. Then, Cass eased out of his tight embrace and off of his lap. She felt languid yet vibrant. Her insides thrummed with a steady beat, her wet pussy pulsed with life. She walked, unsteadily, to the bar in the far corner. She poured a large snifter of brandy and took a long, deep sip. She savored the liquor and the fire it created inside her. Then she returned to Marcus and handed him the glass.

  Their eyes met and she held his gaze. Something carnal swirled in her belly, urging her to do things she wouldn't normally do. Urging her to let loose those inhibitions she held close and indulge her fantasies.

  The glimmer in his eyes told her Marcus wanted her to do just that.

  Cass moved away from him when he reached for her. He settled back against the sofa, watched her with great interest as she crossed to the tall fireplace. She faced him and reached for the top of the long line of hook-and-eye closures at the front of her corset. Slowly, she eased every one of the tiny clasps apart, until the corset fell open around her. The entire time, her gaze remained locked with his. She could see the heat flood Marcus's body. His eyes deepened in color, his skin seemed to darken to a warm bronze color. He shifted on the cushion, as though needing a more comfortable position. As though his cock were straining against the fly of his tight leather pants.

  The thought fueled her desire. Cass let the corset fall to the floor. She cupped her full breasts, kneaded them gently. Then she pinched the hard nipples, rolling them between her fingers and thumbs. She felt her own arousal build again, and she was certain she saw Marcus's arousal mirrored in his heated gaze. Cass couldn't help but smile. A slow, wicked grin touched her lips, which she knew told Marcus that she sensed his desire.

  She crossed the room, walked back to where he sat. She stood in front of him, wedged between his parted legs.

  Such powerful thighs. Such a powerful body. She couldn't wait to feel it on top of her, underneath her.

  She slipped a forefinger under the thin elastic string that comprised the waistband of her miniscule panties. She stretched it toward him and gave him a mischievous look.

  "Rip them off of me," she said in a low, husky voice.

  His nostrils flared. His dark, heated gaze turned even more smoldering. His jaw clenched briefly, as though her request both thrilled and vexed him. But then he reached a hand out to her and wrapped his fingers around the thin material. One quick tug and the
string gave. Without further instruction, he yanked on the other side. Then he slowly eased the lacy material forward, dragging it along her swollen, sensitive lips, making her quiver. His eyes never left hers, never wavered for a second. Cass wondered if he could make her come with that heated look alone.

  He reached out for her but she slipped away from him. As she walked back to the fireplace, she threw him a seductive look over her shoulder. She was feeling pretty damn sexy, unbelievably alluring. She crossed to the oversize chair that sat by the fireplace. She placed a high heel on the cushion, leaned forward to rest a hand on the back of the chair for support. She ran the other hand over a breast, along her side, across a bare cheek. She slid her fingers along the crevice, moving them forward until she was stroking the plumped up, dewy folds between her legs. She stared at Marcus over her shoulder, gauged his heated response to her.

  She changed the position of her hand, moved it to the front of her, and rubbed her clit. Slowly at first, then with purpose as she inched toward another powerful release.

  Marcus stood. He stripped off his shirt, reached for the button on the waistband of his leather pants. He slid the zipper down the track as he approached her. Cass's heart picked up a few extra beats. She couldn't take her eyes off of him. He was magnificent. Tall and muscular, exuding a raw intensity that excited her.

  He stood behind her, placed his hands at the curve of her waist, right above the lacy garter belt she wore. He lingered there for only a moment. Then his hands moved over her body. Upward, first, to cup her full breasts. He gave them a gentle squeeze, teased the nipples into tight, puckered points. Then downward to her ass. Cass was close to coming from her own ministrations; Marcus's hands on her body and the fire in his eyes pushed her even closer to the edge.

  He pushed a finger into her from behind, stroked her slowly before slipping in a second finger. His other hand splayed along her ass, the thumb of that large hand nestled in the crack, covering the small opening there. It moved in a slow, circular rhythm as his fingers pumped in and out of her wet pussy. Cass continued to rub her clit, feeling the various sensations mingle and flow through her body. Together, she and Marcus elevated her arousal to a powerful crescendo and she screamed in sheer ecstasy as she came.

  Marcus barely gave her time to recover. He pushed his pants over his hips, followed by his black briefs. His long, thick cock sprang free and Cass felt her desire grow again. He eased his wet fingers over the tip and down the shaft, rubbing her juices over his hard cock.

  "Do you want me to fuck you?"

  "Oh, yes," Cass practically swooned. "From the minute I saw you at the club, I've wanted to feel you inside me. Please," she urged.

  Excitement flashed in his silver eyes. Marcus grasped her hips with his large hands and pushed himself deep inside her, causing Cass to cry out again. He filled her completely and she felt herself stretch around him. It was a snug fit, one that felt wholly intimate and erotic.

  She clutched the top of the chair, needing the steady support as Marcus moved inside her, slowly, tentatively.

  Cass felt him holding back, sensed that he wasn't accustomed to losing himself in the moment. But that was exactly what she wanted. As exquisite as it was to have him withdraw his long, thick cock from her body, then ease it back into her, Cass thought she'd go half out of her mind if he continued at this pace. She wanted him to lose control; she wanted them both to lose control. She wanted to drown in the erotic sensations he sparked, wanted to be consumed by the desire she felt. She wanted—needed—Marcus to fuck her hard, to respond to the fiery sensations blazing inside her.

  But she knew he was trying to keep his emotions and passion in check.

  Cass pushed back against him, meeting him stroke for stroke until she deliberately forced him to increase the pace. She heard his sharp breath and felt his composure begin to slip.

  Cass's heart hammered in her chest. She gripped a cheek and pulled it taut, opening herself even more to him. As Marcus thrust deep inside her, she inched quickly toward another powerful orgasm. She felt the tightening inside her body, felt the ripple of pleasure that suddenly exploded and stole her breath.

  Marcus continued to thrust into her, pounding hard, yet still frustratingly controlled. As another orgasm loomed, she pulled slowly away from Marcus; the desire to give him as much pleasure as he gave her was too overwhelming to ignore.

  She straightened and turned to face him fully. Her eyes slid down the hard wall of his chest to his magnificent cock. A wicked thrill shot through her at the thought of what she was about to do. Cass wanted desperately to push him to the edge of sanity, to make him as crazy with desire as she was.

  She dropped to her knees in front of him. Her hand eased over his slick flesh, gently at first, from tip to shaft. Then she gripped him tighter and dipped her head to him. She tasted his warm skin with her tongue and he let out a terse groan, as though he knew he wouldn't win this battle of wills.

  Cass licked him in long, full strokes, tasting herself on his hot skin. She flicked her tongue over the tip, licked the small indentation, sucked in the drop of moisture that formed there. Then she took him deep in her mouth, sucked him hard.

  Marcus gripped the sides of her head, his long fingers tangled in her hair. His mounting desire spurred her on. He was close to losing control, she could feel it.

  Cass knew she was playing a dangerous game. He was a big man—in many ways. He could easily overpower her.

  And he was a demon.

  But she wasn't afraid of him. Rather, the thought of Marcus exerting a little force with her gave her a perverse thrill. She felt—deep within her soul—that Marcus would not hurt her. She felt safe with him. Safe enough to act on her sexual impulses, fulfill her darkest fantasies.

  She gently cupped his balls with one hand as she continued to lick and suck his cock. Soon, he was bucking against her, fucking her mouth. His fingers tightened around strands of hair, creating a gentle tension, conveying a sense of urgency. He was close. So very close. She could sense it. And the knowledge that she'd done this to him—that she'd made him lose control—only encouraged her further. She wanted desperately to be the recipient of all his pent-up passion.

  She pulled her head back, slowly extracting him from her mouth. She stared up at him, saw the fire in his eyes. She couldn't help but smile. She felt wicked and wild. Alive for the first time in longer than she could remember. Hell, maybe she'd never felt this alive. This turned inside out. This vibrant.

  She eased herself into the large chair. She draped a long leg over each arm of the chair, spreading herself wide for him. She fingered her nipples, drawing circles over them, keeping them tight. Then she moved one hand down her body to her clit. She rubbed it slowly, all the while her eyes were locked with Marcus's. He dropped to one knee in front of her.

  "Do you want to taste me?" she asked in a soft, breathless voice.

  A grin tugged at the corners of his luscious mouth. "I want to do a hell of a lot more than that."

  A sharp stab of desire pricked her between the legs, causing her to shudder.

  Marcus leaned toward her. She removed her hand just as his tongue slid over her sensitive flesh. One long lap that ended with the tip of his tongue flicking her throbbing clit.

  Cass let out a small cry. She placed her hands on the cushion beside her hips and lifted herself off the chair, pushing her mound against his mouth. Marcus cupped her buttocks with his hands and licked her wet pussy, pushing his tongue inside her then frantically tonguing her clit. She bit back the scream that threatened to escape, along with a litany of erotic words she'd never voiced before, but which were now forming on the tip of her tongue.

  Oh, the things she wanted him to do to her! Her mother would drop dead on the spot if she had any idea of the thoughts that consumed Cass. Truly wicked, naughty thoughts that good girls like Cass weren't supposed to have.

  When Marcus moved a hand so that he could push his long fingers into her, while he sucked the erect nub bet
ween her legs, Cass knew she was a goner.

  "Oh, yes," she moaned. "Oh, God, yes. Make me come, Marcus. Please…" She felt all the erotic sensations inside her converge and explode. She cried out as her head thrashed from side to side with her blinding need. And then Marcus was suddenly inside her, pushing his hard cock deep, hammering into her with such a frenzied pace she thought she'd come again within seconds. She held back though, wanting to savor the feeling of him inside her.

  "You feel so good," he whispered in a strained voice. "So tight and wet." He leaned over her, captured her mouth in a hot, demanding kiss.

  Cass lost herself instantly. All the insecurities she'd ever felt, the guilt that had nearly consumed her since childhood because she couldn't live up to her mother's impossible expectations fell by the wayside. She was no longer stuffy, prim and proper Cass, seeking her parents' approval. She felt reborn, as though she were emerging from a cocoon, seeing things clearly for the first time in her life. Cass could feel the climax welling inside her, could sense how close he was as well.

  Marcus broke the kiss. His eyes locked with hers, his passion reflected in the shimmering silver pools. As he continued to pump in and out of her, he grunted, "You. Are. Mine."

  And then he thrust so hard and so deep, Cass screamed out his name, letting all the exquisite, erotic sensations consume her in a dizzying, mind-numbing fog.

  She felt Marcus shudder deep inside her, felt him clutch at her, heard him growl low and primal. She thought she was going to come again. Her inner walls held him tightly, milking him as they both rode the waves of ecstasy.

  She never imagined anything could feel so good…so right. She wanted these erotic sensations to go and on…forever.

  Eventually, though, they ebbed. Marcus collapsed on top of her and she held him to her, their bodies pressed together as they both fought for a full breath of air.

  Her legs slid off the arms of the chair and wrapped around his waist, keeping him positioned between her legs, keeping him inside her. Her fingers twined with the silky black strands that nearly touched his broad shoulders.