Part 32 (1/2)

”You're so tight.” Rhage groaned. His lips stripped free of his teeth, his fangs flas.h.i.+ng. ”Oh... G.o.d, I feel you all over my body.

Mary.”

His chest heaved and his abdomen clenched so hard the muscles threw shadows. As his hands squeezed her knees, his eyes dilated until there was hardly any blue left to them at all. And then his pupils flashed white.

Rhage's face contorted with some kind of panic. But then he shook his head as if to clear it and a.s.sumed an expression of concentration. Slowly the centers of his eyes turned back to black, as if he'd willed them so.

Mary stopped focusing on him and started thinking about herself.

Not caring about anything except where their bodies met, she planted her hands on his shoulders and pulled up from him. The friction was electric, and the burst of pleasure she felt helped her accept him more easily. She slid down on his erection and came forward and then repeated the motions over and over again. Her rhythm was a slow glide, each descent stretching her, each rise coating him with her body's silky response.

With increasing dominance she rode him, taking what she wanted, the thickness and the heat and the length of him creating a wild, twisting knot of energy deep in her core. She opened her eyes and looked down at him.

Rhage was a picture of male ecstasy. A fine s.h.i.+ne of sweat covered his broad chest and shoulders. His head was kicked back, his chin high, his blond hair falling on the pillow, his lips parted. He was watching her through lowered lids, eyes lingering on her face and her b.r.e.a.s.t.s and where they were joined.

As if he were utterly enthralled by her.

She squeezed her eyes closed and pushed his adoration from her mind. It was either that or lose touch with the o.r.g.a.s.m she was so close to because the sight of him made her want to weep.

It didn't take long for her to explode. With a shattering blast, the release swept through her, robbing her of sight and hearing, of breath and heartbeat, until all she could do was collapse onto him.

As her breathing slowed, she became aware that he was stroking her back gently and whispering soft words to her.

In the aftermath she was ashamed, and tears stung her eyes.

No matter who else he'd been with tonight, he didn't deserve to be used, and that was exactly what she'd done. She'd been angry when it all started, and then she'd shut him out right before she came by refusing to look at him. She'd treated him like a s.e.x toy.

”I'm sorry, Rhage. I'm... sorry...”

She moved to get off his hips and realized he was still thick inside of her. He hadn't even finished.

Oh, G.o.d, this was bad. The whole thing was bad.

Rhage's hands clamped on her thighs. ”Don't ever regret that we were together.”

She stared into his eyes. ”I feel like I just violated you.”

”I was more than willing. Mary, it's all right. Come here, let me kiss you.”

”How can you stand to have me near you?”

”The only thing I can't handle is your leaving.”

He took her wrists and urged her down to his mouth. As their lips met, he slid his arms all the way around her, holding her close.

The change in position made her acutely aware that he was full to bursting, so hard she could feel the involuntary twitches of his arousal.

He rocked his hips gently against her, sweeping her hair back from her face with his big palms. ”I won't be able to withstand the burn for much longer. You take me so high, I'm licking the ceiling right now. But for as long as I'm able, as long as I can stay in control, I want to love your body with mine. However it starts. However it ends.”

He moved his hips up and down, pulling out, sliding in. She felt herself melting all around him. The pleasure was deep, endless.

Terrifying.

”Did you kiss them tonight?” she asked roughly. ”The women?”

”No, I didn't kiss the female, I never do. And I hated it. I'm not doing it again, Mary. I'll find another way to keep myself from getting out of hand while you're in my life. I don't want anyone but you.”

She let him roll her over. As he settled on top of her, the warm, heavy weight of him pressed into the cradle of her body where he was lodged. He kissed her tenderly, licking at her with his tongue, cheris.h.i.+ng her with his lips. He was so gentle though he was immense inside of her and his body housed the kind of strength that could snap her in half.

”I won't finish this if you don't want me to,” he whispered into her neck. ”I'll pull out right now.”

She brought her hands up his back, feeling the s.h.i.+fting muscles and the expansion and compression of his ribs as he breathed. She inhaled deeply and caught a lovely, erotic scent. Dark, spicy, lush. Between her legs she felt an answering rush of wetness, as if the fragrance were a touch or a kiss.

”What is that wonderful smell?”

”Me,” he murmured against her mouth. ”It's what happens when a male bonds. I can't help it. If you let me keep going, it will be all over your skin, your hair. Inside of you, too.”

With that, he thrust deeply. She arched up to the pleasure, letting the heat flow throughout her body.

”I can't go through tonight again,” she moaned, more to herself than to him.

Falling completely still, he took her hand and placed it on his heart. ”Never again, Mary. I swear on my honor.”

His eyes were grave, the vow as good a one as she would get from any living thing. But the relief she felt at his pledge was trouble.

”I will not fall in love with you,” she said. ”I can't let myself. I won't.”

”That's all right. I'll love you enough for the both of us.” He surged inside of her, filling her depths.

”You don't know me.” She nipped at his shoulder and then sucked on his collarbone. The taste of his skin made her tongue sing, that special scent condensing in her mouth.

”Yeah, I do.” He pulled back, his eyes regarding her with an animal's conviction and clarity. ”I know you kept me safe when the sun was out and I was defenseless against it. I know you cared for me even though you were afraid. I know you fed me from your kitchen. I know you are a warrior, a survivor, a wahlker. And I know your voice is the loveliest sound my ears have ever heard.”

He kissed her softly. ”I know all about you, and everything I see is beautiful. Everything I see is mine.”

”I'm not yours,” she whispered.

The rejection didn't faze him. ”Fine. If I can't have you, then you do the taking. Have all of me, part of me, a small piece, whatever you want. Just please, have something.”

She reached up to his face, stroking the perfect planes and angles of his cheeks and jawline.

”Don't you fear pain?” she asked.

”No. But I'll tell you what scares the h.e.l.l out of me. Losing you.” He looked at her lips. ”Now do you want me to pull out?

Because I will.”