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He pushed her legs farther apart, revealing damp, pale curls and swollen folds. He licked his lips, desperate for another taste, but he forced the craving aside. Later, when she was sated and docile and wouldnt balk, hed indulge his desire to spend more time lapping at every delicious inch of her. Now, he needed to be one with her.
Gripping her lean, feminine thighs in his hands, Duke murmured, "Tell me youre ready. "
Desire and uncertainty both crossed her face. "I am . . . but this is going to change everything, isnt it?"
Even if he could, Duke refused to lie to her. "Yes. Youre mine and you always will be. Youll know that after tonight. "
"Not forever. I-I dont want that. You cant possibly either. "
Duke stifled his frustration. He could argue with her, but words now meant nothing. Shed have to feel them together, sealing this bond.
Bracing himself, Duke positioned himself at her entrance, fitted the sensitive head of his cock right against her slick welcome. Then he pushed.
And sucked in a stunned breath. "Bloody hell, youre tight. "
She shifted beneath him with a whimper.
He let out a shuddering breath. Shed barely taken a quarter of his length. He checked his instinct to ram deep, claim her in one stroke.
Balancing on his knees, he parted her folds with his thumbs and pushed in slowly, watching more of his erection disappear into the hot, silky depths of her body. Beneath him, she thrashed. A pale flush crawled over her cheeks, now spreading to her chest.
"Hurt, Sunshine?"
She thrashed her head from side to side. "Too slow. Deeper. "
Joy burst through his heart. Felicia yearned to complete the bond--even if she didnt recognize the emotion. She was everything he wanted, everything he hadnt known hed been searching for through countless meaningless trysts.
She gripped the couch and raised herself to him. He sank a bit deeper. God, she felt delicious. His thoughts short-circuited, and he could hardly catch his breath. Sweat broke out over his skin.
The little noises Felicia made in the back of her throat were driving him mad.
Moans, whimpers, mewls, pleas. Each told him what she wanted. Hed be damned if he wouldnt give it to her.
Because Mason never would again.
The thought spurred him on as he gripped her hips, gritted this teeth, and pushed in the rest of his length with all his might.
"Simon!" she gasped.
Amazingly, she contracted around him with a scream, her flesh sucking him in deeper, caressing his length until Duke thought he might lose his bloody mind. A second later, he drew back until just his tip remained tucked in her sweet sex, then he grabbed the arm of the couch above her head, and surged into her. Fast. Hard. And she cried out again, now digging her nails into his back.
Thrilled, he set a mad rhythm, blistering, blinding, as he captured her mouth beneath his. Yes! He tasted that unique blend of elements, spices, and her own personal something that screamed the fact she was made for him, as he was made for her.
Beneath him, Felicia opened to him in every way, her skin flushing darker with every thrust. Her eyes looked so blue, moist with a plea that had her near tears. Duke read her need as clearly as if shed spoken because he was inside her in every way, connecting more than their bodies, even more than their hearts. They were one need, one soul. His chest tightened. He couldnt imagine ever wanting anyone else again.
Cupping her face in his hands, he layered his mouth over hers, plundering deep with his kiss as he did with his body. She clutched desperate fingers around his wrists, blue eyes wild and clinging. Her end was near. So was his. He tightened, slowed, hoping to stave off the inevitable. He wasnt willing to give her up. Ever.
Felicia deepened their kiss, raking his shoulders with her nails. He hissed in pleasure. Then, to his shock, she pushed him up to his knees . . . and kept urging him back.
Uncurling his legs, he lay supine on the couch. Felicia climbed over him, determination and craving evident in her concentration and burning eyes. She moved over him, then took his length inside her, deep, deep, deep, setting a pace that made him gasp--and made holding back damn near impossible.
"Felicia, I-- Shit. Wait. Bloody hell!"
Frantically, she shook her head, her nails digging into his shoulders and her hips crashing down to him again and again. "No. Please . . . "
When she ground into him, rubbing erotically, peppering kisses up his neck, fire licked across his skin. He wasnt going to last.
Then she whimpered and her sex pulsed hard all around him. "Simon!"
Hearing his name on her lips again rocketed him into the most brilliant pleasure ever, stripping away his control.
Ecstasy pummeled him. He exploded, smashing away memories of any other pleasure, of any other woman, leaving only Felicia behind.
Slowly, his breathing returned to normal. His heart stopped revving. The woman in his arms wilted across his chest with a long sigh of satisfaction. Neither moved.
"Sunshine," he murmured in her ear.
"Im dead," she croaked, her voice ringing with exhaustion.
He smiled. "How ever shall I revive you?"
The thought of taking her in the luxury of a bed with hours at their disposal, feeling her complete willingness and trust, knowing he had her love, made him hard again.
Lifting up, he thrust slow and deep.
Her startled gaze flew to his. "Already? Us mere mortals need a bit of time to recover. You dont?"
"Because we generate energy from sex, wizards are pretty much ready every 121
moment of every day. " He surged inside her again.
As he closed in on her mouth to brush a warm kiss on those candy red lips, the phone in his trouser pocket began to vibrate loudly.
"Damn lousy timing . . . " If this was Bram, his problem had better be life or death.
Leaning for his clothes, he groped until he retrieved the mobile. He fumbled it in his grip, and it landed on his chest, display up.
Felicia clapped eyes on it and froze.
Duke snatched it and glared at the lighted display. Mason. Fuck!
Bloody impeccable timing. He silenced the little device and tossed it to the floor even as she started pulling away.
"Felicia, dont. "
She shoved against his chest, but Duke gripped her hips, holding her in place.
Guilt and uncertainty crept across her face. Damn if she wasnt retreating back into her shell.
She shook her head. "This isnt right. It isnt real. "
"The hell it isnt," he rasped. "We were as close as two people can be, and not just physically. You cant deny it. "
Her face closed up. "Try to understand. You say Im your magical mate. But Im still your brothers fiancee, and hes expecting a wife. I dont know where that leaves me. "
Dukes mind raced. Females--witches and otherwise--didnt experience a wizards mating instinct. How could he convince her they were meant to be?
"You planned to marry Mason for children. Ill give them to you. As many as you want. "
She shook her head. "I also sought a companion. A friend. But this, you . . . its more than I can take. "
"What does that mean? If you wanted children, you knew youd have a lover, as well. Did you expect to spend your entire married life feeling nothing beyond friendship?"
She didnt say anything. But her face spoke volumes. Yes, shed fully intended to marry her friend Mason, procreate, but never expand the boundaries of their relationship.
Duke refused to settle for that.
"This conversation is pointless. " She lifted away from him and started fumbling for her clothes.
He let her go--for now. Though he really wanted to make love to her again, talking was more important than sex. If he worked through her issue, her anxiety wouldnt interfere with their lovemaking again.
"How so?" He reached for his jeans and donned them.
"Weve consummated the
bond. Thats all that was required, correct? Hopefully, your signatures changed and we wont have to . . . "
"Have sex again? Thats where youre wrong, Sunshine. I promise you, this was the first time of many. "
Her fists clenched and her red lips pursed together. "That wasnt what I agreed to.
Our mating is temporary, to shield me from Mathias. Ive spoken words I dont agree with and now done this. " She pointed to the couch, fighting tears. "There shouldnt be more. "
She sniffed the sobs back, jaw clenched. Damn, he couldnt bear to see her hurting. Clearly, their lovemaking had gotten to her, scared her. He could remind her that 122
shed enjoyed it as well, but that was counterproductive. Duke knew he was affecting her emotions. He must tread carefully until he earned her complete trust.
"But there is, even if my signature has changed. Those words that didnt mean anything to you, meant everything to me. You are the only one for me. I love you. "
Felicia gasped. She knew he wasnt lying.
Hand to her chest, she backed away with terror all over her face. "How is that possible? Youve known me for two days. "
"I suspected the first time I saw you from a distance, months ago, that I would fall for you. I knew it for certain when I kissed you. Im even more sure now. "
She backed away another step, turned her back to him, scrambling into the rest of her clothes. "Love is. . . a fallacy. Its what men like you say to women like us when you want sex. Then youll claim you fell out of love when you become bored. "
Duke found himself wanting to pound someones face, and he would--just as soon as he figured out which man deserved the honors. "Who the hell broke your heart? I know it wasnt Mason. You chose him because he was safe. "
Felicia grabbed her bra and shoes, shot him a glance rife with anguish, then headed for the door. "Id never let anyone have that chance. "
Her answer stunned him to the core. He should back away, think, let her do the same. Already, hed said too much. But he couldnt simply let her go.
Before she could escape, he grabbed her arm. "Im not giving up on you, Sunshine. "
She jerked from his grasp. "You will. Its human nature. "
"Remember, Im not human. "
That reminder exploded across her face--even as an actual explosion rattled the walls and doors around them. The retort died on her tongue. Screaming nearby sent a chill down his spine.
He grabbed Felicias hand. "Damn it! Were under attack. Come with me. "
Chapter 12
FELICIA GASPED. "M ATHIAS IS here?"
"Likely. " Duke pulled her out of the room, into the hall.
"How did he find us?"
That question had already flashed through Dukes mind. None of the answers were good. "Shock must have told him either where to find us or how to follow your imprint on me. "
"So . . . you abducting me, us hiding and mating, was all for nothing?"
He curled an arm around her and held tight, needing to feel her close. "No. Youre still alive. If I have anything to say about it, youll stay that way. "
As he guided her down the hall, he pulled out his phone and hit the button to dial Bram, who answered on the first ring. "Did you seal the deal with Felicia?"
"Bugger off. Were under attack. " Another explosion rocked the hallway around him. The lights flickered ominously. Men shouted above.
"Where are the women?"
"Finding them now. "
In the dark, narrow hallway, he ran into Sabelle. "Mathias and the Anarki are here. "
"Tell her to abandon!" Bram shouted in his ear.
Duke held the phone far from his ear. "She heard you. We all did. "
Bram grumbled, "Get Felicia out fast. Once you do, well teleport back and fight. "
He hated leaving the rest to fight, but getting Felicia to safety was first priority.
"Ill call you once were safe. "
He rang off, then turned to Sabelle. "Escape routes?"
She nodded. "Theres a tunnel. Ices father was paranoid and dug a path from here to the village. In the office, look behind the bookcase on the left. On the shelf, theres a key to one of Brams cars. Its a late-model Volvo. Gray. Parked in front of the butcher shop. Go. "
"You and the others coming with us?"
Another explosion rocked the caves. Loose rock and dust showered them from the ceilings and walls. Duke swore. Felicia grabbed his arm for support. He drew her close, fear edging through him.
Sabelle shook her head. "Once youre gone, well teleport to Karis pub. "
He hesitated, hating to leave them, but theyd get to safety faster magically than by car. "Be careful. Um . . . has my signature become more . . . normal?"
She shook her head, expression rife with apology. "No. "
Felicia sighed. "I dont understand. "
Theyd have to figure out why later. Now, Duke grabbed his mates hand. "Lets go. "
Felicia dug in her heels. "What about the diary? We cant leave it. "
"Ill take it. " Sabelles face turned grim.
"I can . . . if youd like. " Felicia touched the witchs shoulder. "Ill guard it with my life. "
Sabelle gnawed on her lip, hesitating.
Dukes first instinct was to refuse; he and Felicia didnt need extra danger. But now that Mathias had gotten close enough to see Felicias affect on his signature, a plan to keep her safe dive-bombed his brain, so simple . . . so perfect. It would keep the diary safe as well.