“Let her go, you devil!” Mina screamed. “Release her!”
Before Larus could protest, Devlin’s body whispered over the wind, moving so fast it looked as if he blurred into nothingness, taking Sophia with him.
Larus’s grip tightened on Mina’s arms, as he held her back. He knew if he made a scene and fought Devlin’s right to pursue the unclaimed woman, he’d risk harming both sisters in the fray. If he let Sophia go with him and did nothing, Devlin would take her, drink from her--hopefully making it pleasurable--and then try to seduce her. If she didn’t succumb, she’d be free to go.
“Sophia!” Mina yelled. Larus let go of her and she ran to where the vampire had been.
“No, Mina, do not!” Larus ordered, darting forward to grab her arm when she would run into the forest. “He won’t hurt her. He just wants... ”
“What?” she asked. “What does he want with Sophia? Is he the one who brought us here? What is he?”
“That is a vampire,” Larus said. “And he wants a taste of your sister, that is all. If we let him have it, he won’t harm her.”
“A taste?” Mina gasped in disbelief, her hand flying to her throat to where her wound was covered with the bandage. She shook her head, backing way. “Blood?”
Larus stiffened, reminded of how connected they were. “Yes, blood.”
Mina’s hand didn’t leave her neck. She continued to stare, wide-eyed. “You said if we stayed with you, you would protect us. You call this protection?”
“Mina.” Larus took a step toward her. He lifted his hand in offering. “He won’t harm her. I’ve known Devlin many years and he isn’t a cruel being, not for a vampire.”
“Not for a vampire,” Mina repeated, reading too well the meaning of that phrase. She looked into his eyes. “I have your word that Sophia will be fine?”
“Yes.” Larus nodded. Devlin wouldn’t kill Sophia, not after only a night. The old vampire had been instrumental in calling a truce to the vampire and lycan war, even though he held no love for the lycan kind. Larus didn’t want to tell Mina he suspected it was his fault Sophia was taken. In a twisted sense, Devlin probably thought he was doing the lycan king a favor--albeit with a selfish benefit--taking Sophia so that Larus could be alone to pursue Mina without interruption.
Mina’s bottom lip trembled and, to his surprise, she rushed forward. She passed his offered hand and threw her arms about his neck, hugging him. His body responded to hers instantly, becoming aroused. He slowly drew his arms in to hold her. The sweet smell of her filled him, tainted by dust.
“I’ll hold you to your word,” she said, pressing her face into his chest. “If you lie, I’ll hurt you.”
“Sophia will be treated well. She’ll be fed, given a bath and clothing.” Larus stroked down Mina’s dark hair. “Actually, she’ll probably rest better than out here with us. I would not be surprised if she remembers nothing of her time there. Come, it grows dark. There’s a stream nearby where you can bathe.”
Mina pulled back and nodded, seeming resigned to what she couldn’t change. Larus reached over and grabbed his cloak from the ground. He was reluctant to let her go, but if he kept holding her, he’d start kissing her and this time he doubted he’d stop at just that. Feeling a shiver over his skin and the dilatation of his eyes as they flickered dangerously with gold, he fought down the beast that would surface.
“This way,” he said gruffly, turning to the forest to go to the stream.
Chapter Seven
Mina watched Larus walk away. Whatever possessed her to trust his word? Eyeing his strong back, she followed him. Even though she was scared for her sister, she felt confident that Sophia would be all right. She’d looked into Larus’s green eyes and had felt a calmness coming over her. She felt safe.
Mina stayed close as he led her to a stream. There was enough silver moonlight to see by, so she had no problem keeping up. The sound of gently flowing water surrounded them. Larus laid the cloak on the shore and turned to study her. Mina swallowed, wondering if he was going to stay and strangely hoping he would.
“I’ll keep my back to you,” he said, confirming he had no intention of leaving her alone in the dark forest. “Call out if you have a need of me.”
Mina nodded and he turned away from her. She slowly stripped from her dress. She kept her eyes focused on his back, remembering the feel of his strong body when he held her. A tingling erupted in her limbs, making her want to be near him. The cool night air brushed her skin and she shivered. Keeping one eye on him to make sure he didn’t peek, and slightly disappointed when he didn’t, Mina touched her toe into the water. She was surprised to find it warm.
“There’s nothing in here, right?” she asked.
“I don’t sense anything,” he answered, sniffing the air. “Merfolk sometimes pass on their way to the ocean, but it’s unlikely they’d be here this time of year.”
“Merfolk?” Mina asked, walking deeper into the water.
“Half fish, half man or woman,” Larus answered. “I assure you they are harmless.”
“Ah.” Mina lowered her body, feeling oddly elated by the idea of him so close and herself so naked. The warm water encased her skin, only adding to the heat his nearness put inside her stomach. She kept talking, wanting to hear his voice. “Are they very big?”
“Average.” Larus shrugged.
“I wish I had soap,” Mina sighed wistfully. She rubbed her hands over her body, doing her best to scrub clean. Her eyes were glued on his back, roaming freely over his exposed calves and his strong butt beneath the tunic. She shivered, really wishing he’d turn around and disrobe so she may look fully at him. The image of him crouched before her without a stitch of clothing was burned into her mind. She’d been too stunned to memorize every detail like she wanted.
“I’ll get you something. Don’t worry, I won’t be far.” Mina wondered at the hoarseness of his voice as he said the words. Watching as he disappeared into the forest, she grew nervous, but he came back a few seconds later. He walked with his head down, watching his feet. “I won’t look.”
He lifted his hand when he reached the side of the stream and he held out what looked to be the inside of an overlarge daisy. She stepped forward to meet him. When she stood a few feet away, she stopped, not moving to take it.
“What does it do?” she asked. Was her voice hoarse as well now?
“Break it open. The liquid inside can be used to cleanse.” His words were low and strained.
“Do you not want to look at me?” she asked softly, turning almost pink with embarrassment.
Larus’s eyes darted up at the question. Mina tried to smile but it was hard under his penetrating gaze. She didn’t move and he seemed to take her stillness as permission. Slowly, almost hesitantly, his eyes moved down over her throat. Beads of water clung to her flesh, awash with moonlight and glistening like stars. His breathing deepened.
Mina took a bold step forward and grabbed the soap. Then, backing into the stream once more, she cracked it open. A sweet fragrance assaulted her from the flower bud. Holding the broken halves in one hand, she dipped her fingers inside to get them wet and began rubbing her arms. The soap tingled where it touched her and she smiled.
Larus turned from her, his motions stiff. Mina scrubbed her body, feeling the tingling of soap everywhere. Her flesh pulsed with life. Larus’s back was again to her and he didn’t say anything. Rubbing the flower into her hair, she lowered into the stream to rinse when she suddenly stopped. Looking around, she swallowed nervously.
“Ahhh!” she screamed, trying to sound alarmed. She made a run for Larus. He spun around and she flung herself into his warm chest. “Something... something in the water. I felt... by my foot.”
Larus looked at the stream and then to her. To her pleasure, his hands slid over her hips to hold her next to him. He glanced up at her soapy hair. “I detect nothing.”
One naked, soapy breast slid halfway off his tunic and pressed tightly to his chest. When she
breathed, she felt the texture of his hot skin caressing her, making the tip ache unbearably. Instinctively, she wanted to feel more.
“I felt something,” Mina insisted, clinging tighter and liking the way it brought her body up hard to his. She felt his arousal pressing into her softer stomach, but didn’t pull away. She shook to be so near him. “I’m scared. Would you come in and just make sure it’s nothing so I can wash my hair out?”
Larus looked deep into her eyes. Slowly, he nodded. Mina forced herself to let him go, unable tear her gaze away from him as he kicked off his boots. As he unknotted the tunic at his shoulder and the material fell to the ground, she gasped. His large shaft was fully erect.
His gaze flickered with gold determination, making her heart beat violently against the walls of her chest. He took a stalking step forward and Mina instantly kept away from him, going into the water once more. When she reached the middle, she stopped. He came before her, looking down over her body without touching.
Mina slowly lowered herself into the stream, watching his muscled chest and defined stomach pass by her vision as she knelt to rinse her hair. He edged forward even more, bringing his arousal closer to her face. She hesitated, before leaning her head back and going beneath the surface.
Mina rinsed, staying close to him. Breaking the surface, she rubbed the water from her eyes. She wondered why he made no move to touch her. His skin was dark, marred by a few scars, but nothing that detracted from his handsomeness. Not knowing what came over her, she leaned forward and brushed a kiss onto the side of his hip. He didn’t move.
Mina grew bolder when he didn’t pull away. She glided her hands over his legs, coming up from beneath the water. Caressing the outsides of his thighs, she moved her hands over his solid hips to his waist. She kept her eyes on him, liking the fire that burned within his green gaze.
She kissed him again, this time on the front of his hip. His stomach contracted and his arousal lurched at the motion. Curious, she brushed her lips to him once more, closer to his navel. His hips jerked forward, causing her hands to slip around to the backs of his thighs. Unable to resist, she let her fingers explore the hard cheeks of his butt.
“Mina,” he said, low and possessive.
“Do you want me to stop?” Shaking, she instantly pulled her hands off him. Her lips pressed nervously together. Had she done something wrong? Was she not supposed to kiss him like that? Touch him? Did he not want her to? She was no fool. She knew what would happen, what she asked for--for the most part. When he didn’t answer, only continued to breathe heavily, she asked, “Do you find me hideous because I am human? Is that it?”
A tear slipped over her cheek. A few days ago, she’d never known a creature like him could exist. Now, she couldn’t think of ever living without him. It was strange, but when he bit her, she felt as if he connected himself to her.
“I apologize, my lord, I-I’m not myself. I must be under a spell like Sophia.” Her words were weak, shaking so badly they could barely be understood. Mina moved to stand, wanting to get away from his rejection, wanting to hide her shame.
Larus’s hand shot out to stop her. He tightly gripped her upper arm. His words a low growl, he said, “You are not under a spell. I won’t have you believing that is why you desire me.”
Mina opened her mouth to protest, but Larus’s kiss crushed down on her, grinding passionately against her lips until she trembled and fell against him. She moaned lightly, rubbing her naked body into his chest. He was so hot.
His hips flexed forward, rocking into her. A growl sounded in the back of his throat. Larus’s hands were everywhere at once, running up and down her frame, cupping her butt, drawing her body closer.
“Argh,” he groaned, pulling his mouth away.
His eyes hot, he kept her tight to his body as he tried to regain control. Her flesh was so frail, so malleable against his harder length. She was slender, smooth, and so soft. He took a deep breath and then another, trying to force the picture of her from his mind--her ripe breasts budded with pink nipples, her parted thighs, the thatch of dark hair between them begging to be touched, kissed, licked. She’d taken the strip of cloth from her neck and it appeared she’d healed almost completely from the wound. The sight of her was almost as torturous as the smell coming from her thighs.
Larus didn’t remember humans being so supple. It had been a long time since Larus had felt such softness, or such longing. She was so cold and fragile compared to the hot-blooded lycan. Gruffly, he said, “Come.”
Grabbing Mina’s hand, he took quick steps as he led her to shore. Instinctively, he knew she was innocent to the ways of men. The knowledge only made her reaction to his touch all the more pure. He took his cloak and laid it out over the ground. Then, pulling her forward, he kissed her anew before urging her onto her knees.
“Continue,” he said harshly, almost as an order. He took a deep breath, forcing his arms to stay back.
Mina looked up at him. They were in the same position as they’d been in the water. She touched him, gliding her hands boldly as she discovered the feel of him. Her mouth brushed soft kisses along his hip and waist, liking the power she felt when he groaned and jerked for more. His fists clenched tightly at his sides.
When she continued her light teasing, getting close to his arousal only to shyly keep away, he reached forward, guiding her to him. She kissed his hard shaft, surprised by how much hotter it was than the rest of him.
“Ahhh,” he cried out, hoarse and panting. His hand on her hair tightened. “I have to stop you or you’ll finish me.”
Before Mina could understand his words, she was pressed on her back with his weight on top of her. He began kissing her, moving down over her neck. She stiffened as he neared the bite mark. Slowly, he licked it.
“I’m sorry for this,” he said.
“I want you to do it again,” Mina said in return, astonished that the words even escaped her lips.
He growled, but didn’t bite. “Don’t offer such to me for I’m already tempted.”
Larus moved his hands over her breasts, soon joining them with his journeying mouth. He sucked and pinched her nipples in turn, sometimes doing both at once as he used his mouth and hands together. Glorious sensations flooded her, running a rampant course through her blood.
Only when her hands worked erratically over his back and arms did he move lower, licking a hot trail to her navel. He rimmed the small hole with his tongue before drawing his wet kisses lower. He glided his hand along her hips, pulling toward her inner thighs. Mina tensed, instinctively drawing her thighs together to hide herself from view. Larus groaned and pushed her legs widely apart.
Before she could react, he latched his mouth onto her wet slit, rolling his tongue along the sensitive clit he found hidden within her folds. Mina had never felt anything like it. As if by a will of their own, her hips were pushing up to his mouth for more. His long tongue worked lower and she swore she felt it dip intimately inside her, reaching up as he stoked the flames he ignited. She rocked harder, riding his thrusting tongue as he held her hips and showed her how to set the pace.
“Oh!” she screamed, crying out for more when he moaned. “Ah, Larus. Larus!”
He groaned louder as she passionately called out his name. His fingers moved, replacing his tongue in her wet, silken depths. They were more firm and felt even better riding up to touch her.
Larus growled, letting her know that he loved the taste of her as he lapped it up. Her body was tight around his finger, but it felt so good she couldn’t think to stop. When she cried out, riding his hand willingly, he slipped in a second finger, stretching her more. She called out his name, over and over. As if unable to stop, he slipped in a third finger.
Mina tensed. She felt really full, but wanted more. His mouth continued its intimate massage as she rode his hand. His fingers curled within her. It was almost as if she could feel his desire for her inside her body, magnifying her own pleasure. She reached out, wanting to find the end
of her torment. Her body shook, as if everything she felt built into one astonishing moment of perfection.
“Larus,” she said weakly, her whole frame jerking as he brought forth her pleasure. At the sound, he pulled out. She clutched for him. “No, don’t go. Please, don’t stop doing that.”
He had no intention of leaving, as he brought his body over hers. The tip of his shaft dipped along her moist center, parting her still trembling lips as he aligned his body. His hand on her breast and his lips on her neck, he pushed forward, slowly gliding into her tight passage, stretching her open even more.
“Oh,” Mina gasped, panting wildly as she tried to think straight. She couldn’t. The pressure built until she thought she’d rip in two if he went any deeper. Then, with a strong push, he sank himself in, burying his shaft to the hilt.
“Argh!” he groaned, a conquering sound of complete satisfaction. “You feel so good, so soft.”
The initial pain subsided quickly as he moved, thrusting himself in and out of her body. There was something to his smell, his presence that took away every doubt, every sense of pain or fear. The tension built anew, intense and mind numbing. She was soon writhing against him for more, meeting his thrusts.
Larus pumped his hips fast and deep. She felt that he was holding back and whimpered in protest. There was a connection between them, as if she felt his thoughts, knew him, understood him. She met him thrust for thrust. The beast inside him took over, swirling in his eyes and elongating his teeth. The pace of his thrusting hips became almost frantic and hard. The thick arousal inside her seemed to expand and lengthen with the subtle change. His lips parted and he bit her neck. She moaned and didn’t fight it as he took her blood. He tensed and she knew it was all he could do to not ram her soft body into the ground.
Naughty Cupid Trilogy Page 22
