Dark Blood Page 26

  Her hair fell in a pool of red into his lap, teasing his cock, adding to the chaos growing in his mind. The sensation of living silk sliding around and over him, her tongue and hands was almost too much to take. He kept his hips from bucking and his hands from fisting in her hair and dragging her mouth to his cock using his years of discipline--but it wasn't easy.

  She lifted her head to look at him. His heart nearly stopped. The stark intensity of her fiery passion shone in her eyes. Already her skin took on a glow, the color changing from pale porcelain to a flushed deep pink. With each move she made, her hair crackled, alive with energy. Very slowly she moved her body up his, the hot vee between her legs leaving behind evidence of her arousal on his calf. She moved over his thighs and straddled his groin, refusing to give him the satisfaction of sheathing his rock-hard weapon.

  Once again she removed the patch and flung it away from her, licking up his belly and over his ribs, over every scratch and bruise until she reached the stab wound in his chest. He heard that soft healing litany echoing through his mind, a melody of love that surrounded him, enfolded him with fire. Branislava. His lifemate. She was fire and passion. She was love to him. Everything good in the world. When she healed him, she didn't just heal with her love and her gifts, or even the miraculous saliva of her species. She also healed with her fiery passion, and the urgent need she had for his body.

  When her mouth moved over his wounds, when her tongue lapped at his lacerations and bruises, there was blatant seduction along with her healing balm. His body reacted, every nerve ending springing to life, alert and pouring heat through his bloodstream. He brought his hands up to her breasts, massaging and kneading, his fingers settling on her nipples to tug and roll.

  The pretty pink flush on her body deepened. Her skin, soft and supple, burned hotter. Over the base of his cock, where her body met his, a fire seemed to ignite. He was fast losing his ability to accommodate her. He issued a warning growl, letting her know he was about at his limit.

  "I'm working here," she murmured, flashing a reprimand at him from under her lashes.

  He caught her arms and rolled her under him, his knee inside her thigh, pushing her legs apart. "So am I." His voice was harsh with need. "I'm starving and I want to eat you up."

  He did just that, lifting her hips and dragging her to him, lowering his head so he could devour her. She screamed, a loud cry of bliss as his tongue plunged deep and drew the cinnamon honey he craved from her body. It was warm and thick, like molasses and he found himself growling like the wolf he was, ravenous for her. He held her firmly as her body tried to roll and buck.

  "Be still," he ordered harshly, when he could find a moment to speak.

  When she didn't comply with his order, he smacked her bottom to get her attention. Her nerve endings fired with passion, more delicious honey spilling into his mouth. He couldn't resist trying it again and again, and each time he got the same results, more of what he needed. Each time the honey was hotter and spicier, the taste more delicious than ever. He licked at her scorching sheath, and then nuzzled her, inhaling her perfect scent. He couldn't resist taking little nips up her inner thigh, tiny teasing bites that had flames of desire licking up her legs.

  He moved over top of her, catching her wrists, pinning them over her head so he could look down at her body, sprawled beneath his larger one. Her breath came in ragged gasps so that her breasts heaved and moved invitingly--temptingly. He leaned down and captured the left one, drawing the soft mound into the heat of his mouth.

  She moaned softly, her body rippling as his tongue stroked her nipple, and then he suckled strongly. Her head thrashed. Her hips rose beneath him. It was all music, part of the night. He loved the sounds she made and the way her body was so ultra-responsive to everything he did to her.

  He kissed his way over the creamy curve of her breast to find her pulse beating so wildly--so temptingly. He heard the answering beat deep in his own veins and without warning, without preamble, he sank his teeth deep. She cried out, sobbed, lifted her hips and writhed. She tried to lift her arms to circle his head and hold him to her, but he held her helpless, enjoying bringing her so much pleasure. He felt it in her mind, her need rising like a volcano.

  He drank her essence, taking her into his body, that same spicy taste just as addictive. He wanted to be the wolf and eat her up. There was something so beautiful in her face, in her glowing body as she lay beneath him, her pleas growing more desperate as her need intensified.

  When he had taken his fill, he gripped her wrists hard and looked into her eyes. "Stay still, just like this." He leaned down and kissed her mouth, that beautiful mouth he wanted to spend a lifetime playing in and kissing and loving.

  "I don't think I can," she admitted a little desperately.

  He licked down her ear and nipped at her chin. "Then I'll help you. Because this is for me. I want to drive you insane and watch you catch fire. We're safe here. There's no forest to burn down. I can light a match and watch you burn."

  As she lay there, vines rushed from the ground and circled her arms, forming two long sleeves that went from wrist to bicep.

  "There you go, mon chaton feroce. There is no moving when I want you still." He sat up and ran his hand possessively down her body from breast to belly, splaying his fingers wide to take in as much of her skin as possible. "I can take my time with you. You can scream to your heart's content and your body can go up in flames over and over and no one will interrupt us."

  He smiled down at her shocked expression, watching the flames in her eyes grow even brighter. More cinnamon honey spilled from her body. More than anything, the faith in her for him, the trust she had, excited him. She gave herself into his keeping, knowing he would bring her only pleasure--and he intended to do just that.

  "I'm wolf, Branka. Wolves are often rough, bordering on brutal. But I touch you with love. And I'd never want to harm you. Tell me to stop if you don't like something."

  "Fortunately for you, I like the way you love me. I like rough, bordering on brutal. If I don't like something, you'll hear about it fast," she assured. "And, Zev, I know you would never harm me."

  She killed him with her soft seductive voice, with the thrash of her body and the bucking of her hips as if she couldn't wait for him. Deliberately she spread her thighs for him. Opening herself for him. Silently begging him for more. For anything.

  He laughed softly. "You're so eager, my love. Let's just see what fun I can have with you." He rose over top of her, on his hands and knees, moving up until he was nearly on her head. His cock felt heavy with need, his sac sliding sensuously over her breast and bumping her chin. Using one hand, he wrapped his fist around his shaft and brought the head to her lips.

  "I dream of you sucking me dry. That beautiful mouth of yours wrapped tightly around me, so tight like a hot fist. I had that dream from the moment I laid eyes on you, your mouth so beautiful and tempting. I love you lying here beneath me, helpless, an offering. Mine." He smeared droplets along the seam of her mouth. "Mine to play with, mine to love."

  Her tongue darted out and caught his offering. She licked at every last drop and then strained toward his cock. "Please," she finally said, her eyes growing even brighter when he held himself just out of reach. Her body glowed even hotter.

  He pushed into her mouth, sliding deep, groaning with bliss. He shared the feeling with her, mind to mind. She rewarded him with stroking his shaft with her tongue and then teasing at the sensitive spot beneath the flared head. He closed his eyes briefly, unable to believe that she was his. Everything in her reached for him. She gave herself wholly over to his care.

  Love welled up, sharp and terrible and all encompassing. More, Branislava didn't think about herself or her own needs when she attended to him. She focused solely on his pleasure. Her every move was filled with love and he couldn't help but feel it in the eagerness she had each time they came together like this.

  She gave a little cry of protest when he pulled out of her mou
th and slid down her chest, between her breasts, his mouth nibbling at her chin as he slid farther down to her belly. He kissed and bit lightly, stimulating her body more, watching the fire growing hotter in her until the little sparks began to snap around them like fireflies in the night.

  He loved that. Her passion. Her fire. He wanted her to have the chance to set the night on fire where nothing could get harmed. High up the snow-covered glacier, they were safe. Even if a tree caught fire, there was nothing else to burn, and he'd already made certain the foliage around them was safe.

  Zev kissed his way across her quivering, flat belly to her mound and then swiped his tongue through her soft folds again, watching the delicious shiver go through her body with satisfaction. Her fingers dug into the rich loam. He noticed the soil under her begin to glow with a soft red light and where her fingers sank into the dirt, the red appeared crimson. Joy burst through him. Loving her was an adventure, a beautiful, incredible journey of love.

  He spread her legs farther apart, pulling them over his shoulders as he knelt up against her, easily lifting her bottom from the bed of petals. Her eyes were huge, the green nearly gone to be replaced by those hot, flicking flames. Her skin was hot to the touch. His cock jerked in anticipation of her scorching sheath wrapped tightly around it.

  "Hurry," she panted, trying to move her body in a kind of desperation to find his cock. She never tried to hide her eagerness from him. She always hungered for his body, just as he hungered for hers.

  He laughed softly, his happiness spilling over. He had no idea why he'd been given such a miracle, but he knew he would always treasure her. She was a gift beyond anything else in the world. He took one more moment to just look at her, lying there, breathing raggedly, her eyes flickering with flames, yet pleading. Her body was flushed and hot with sparks leaping around her and the ground beneath her rising in temperature directly in proportion to hers. Her hair was everywhere, that mass of red silk, a fiery fall he was madly in love with.

  He entered her in one, swift, brutal thrust. She screamed. Her voice rose to the misty clouds, such perfect music of pure pleasure. His voice blended with hers, a husky long wolfish howl of pure ecstasy as her muscles gripped him with scorching-hot silk. She was so tight he had to drive through her sheath like a piston, forcing his way through the tight-wrapped silk to lodge deep.

  He used his mind to free her arms, not wanting her to feel discomfort. In any case, he loved the way she clutched him, driving her nails into his skin and holding on to him as if he was her only anchor. Immediately she slid her hand down his belly to the junction between his legs, where their bodies joined, her fingers stroking back and forth over the base of his cock.

  "You're so beautiful, Zev," she whispered, her breath coming in ragged gasps.

  She was the beautiful one. Around them, the ground took on a red glow as he began to move, long, excruciatingly slow strokes, dragging over her sensitive bud, burying himself deep, all the while watching her face. Her head tossed and her lips parted. Her skin grew hotter. The fierce heat spread like wildfire while the storm built inside of her.

  "More," she pleaded. "Give me more."

  He laughed softly. "You're an insatiable little thing, aren't you? A very demanding woman." He loved her that way.

  He took his time, holding her hips in place, refusing to give in to her demands, setting a leisurely pace that drove her wild. She squirmed and writhed, trying to force him into a more forceful speed, but he refused to cooperate, watching her skin flush even more red, watching the sparks leaping around her body and the glow spread across the ground as she tossed her head and pleaded with him for release.

  He kept her on that edge, building the tension, feeling her coil tighter and tighter. She screamed again when he suddenly shifted gears, riding her hard, setting a brutal pace, wanting to drive her up as high as possible, to stay inside of her for as long as possible. She began her song, that soft melodic chanting of his name, tears swimming in her eyes, fingers digging deeper into his biceps.

  He let himself lose all control, reveling in his ability to do so. Branislava not only could handle it, but she welcomed the madness that took him. Her body was made for his, for the pounding pleasure and the incredible, impossible heat. The firestorm leapt from her to him, burning through his every vein, pooling in his groin like the molten lava rising in her.

  They burned together, the scorching heat growing hotter by the moment until a fine sheen of sweat spread over his body. Still, he didn't stop, couldn't stop. He lost himself in her, all that fire, burning with her, getting closer and closer to the very heart of the volcano. He felt the first wicked ripple, her sheath clamping down hard around him, fisting him in living silken flames. The volcano erupted, shaking them both, a fireball bursting through her, through him, her body milking and squeezing every last drop from him as they burned together.

  The orgasm tore through her, her panting cries filling his mind with pure joy. His body sang along with his heart. He savored every second of her orgasm and his, the heat and fire, the ecstasy unmatched by anything else he'd ever known.

  Very slowly he lowered her legs to the ground, slipped from her body and collapsed beside her. She turned into his arms immediately, snuggling close to him, her body still shuddering with aftershocks. She was burning hot against him, her skin like the smooth silken fire that had wrapped around his cock so lovingly. Her hair tumbled over his chest, adding to the sensation of being covered in silk.

  "The night air feels good, doesn't it?" she said, when she could catch her breath.

  She was right. The cool of the snowcapped mountains felt amazing against the heat of his skin. The ground was a hot bed of petals, but it was cooling rapidly. "The night's fading, Branka. Let's just stay right here. We can open the ground and rest here."

  She pressed kisses along his neck. "I like the idea. It's so beautiful up here." She glanced toward the tree. "And look at that, we didn't even burn down the tree."

  He brushed a kiss on top of her head. "It does look a little scorched. Look at the base and the leaves."

  She laughed softly. "I don't think so. You're making that up."

  "Maybe." He wasn't so sure. The ground had definitely heated up around the base of the tree, probably affecting the roots underground.

  "You make life fun when everything around us is a little crazy, Zev," she confided. "Thank you. This is the perfect place, far from everything and everyone."

  "It's the two of us, Branka," he pointed out. "We're good together. We belong."

  She nuzzled him again, inhaling his scent. "You always seem to know what I need."

  He laughed softly. "Of course I know what you need. I take my vows to you seriously. You'll always be first."

  There was a stirring in Zev's mind. Faint laughter. Do you want to tell me why the lake has risen three inches? I think half the glacier melted. Down here, everyone thinks there's a possibility that the volcano is becoming active. I told them you two were setting the night on fire, Fen taunted him.

  I don't believe you.

  How did I know you two were up there? The entire top of the mountain glowed right through the mist. You can bet it caused quite a stir down below with farmers rushing out to make certain the volcano wasn't about to blow and kill them all.

  Ha. Ha. You're so funny. Zev was beginning to grow just a little uneasy. Fen sounded amused, but not necessarily as if he was making it up.

  Not three inches. We didn't melt the entire glacier. Although they could have. Branislava had burned hot enough to melt the ice cap.

  Don't bet on it, bro. And go to ground. Both of you are exhausted.

  Zev gave him the mental equivalent of rolling his eyes. Dimitri had warned him about Fen's penchant for being the older brother and how he'd forget that Zev and Dimitri were not only entirely grown-up but had been around for centuries.

  Zev wrapped his arms around Branislava, holding her close. "I thought we'd be safe up here, mon chaton feroce, but already, Fen is a
sking why the lake below has risen three inches. He claims we melted the glacier."

  "He's such an exaggerator," Branislava countered, content to bury her face in his neck. She lay quietly for a moment. "He is joking, right? We didn't really melt the glacier, did we?"

  "Hell if I know," Zev said, too content to move and go check. "We could have."

  "What else did he say?"

  "The mountain glowed red through the mist, and the farmers all thought the volcano was active again. But you know he likes to tease."

  She started laughing. "You have to admit it would be kind of funny if it was the truth. Can you imagine the prince asking everyone for reports? Worse, what if he told Gregori to do a flyby to make certain the mountain was safe?"

  "He'd get an eyeful with the two of us lying here naked," Zev said. He glanced up to the sky. Dawn was breaking, light penetrating through the clouds of mist. "We do need to go to ground and heal a bit, Branka. Your spirit and my body. We're both a bit battered."

  "I suppose so. This feels like such freedom to me, Zev. Thank you again for finding this place for us. I really love it."

  He tipped her chin up with his thumb and kissed her thoroughly. "Open the ground, mon chaton feroce, and let's get some sleep."

  Branislava waved her hand and opened the ground close to them. "If we did melt part of the glacier, you know we'll never hear the end of it. My sister and Fen and Skyler and Dimitri will never stop giving us a bad time."

  He floated them into the deep hole. "Let me just say, Branislava, if we did melt the glacier and the lake has risen three inches and we're teased for the next ten centuries, it was so worth it."

  Her soft laughter told him she agreed with him.

  15

  Branislava stared down at the deep blue lake shimmering below her. She studied the water lapping at the shore very closely. I don't think there's more water in it than there was last night, she told Zev, but her voice indicated she wasn't certain.