“Yeah.” Logan looked to her for an explanation she couldn’t offer.
“Show him your fangs,” the angel said, “using your glamour.”
Rhyse had probably never followed an order in his entire existence, but his curiosity was such that this time he did.
“Can you see what he is?”
“Why are you asking me that?”
“Can you see his fangs, Loge?” Addison asked.
He looked at her. “Why wouldn’t I?”
Those who understood what was happening released a collective sigh of relief. Then, Addison figured out the reason Graham and Loge were staring at her and Micah was very obviously trying not to: Because Logan had successfully unwrapped her, leaving her in a silk corset, undies, and not much else.
Until Rhyse made some kind of territorial sound only males could decipher and gave her his jacket, so at least her butt was covered.
“All clear, M.” Then, while she had his attention, she thought, “Can I ask you for a favor?”
“You will have to give me more information before I can answer definitively.”
“I need to know if my shield is good enough.”
He looked at her for a moment without a yes or a no. Then he closed his eyes, and she felt a brief pressure shift in her head, like a headache that only lasted a few seconds. “It is adequate for most, but not all.”
“Meaning, you got through.”
“I could have.”
“Thanks.” For the favor and for respecting her privacy. Everybody already incorrectly assumed she was sleeping with Rhyse, but somehow it seemed worse if an angel knew exactly how much she wanted to.
“Sometimes the things we want are in direct opposition of the things we need.”
“Huh?” She looked at him, her mouth ajar. “How’d you know I was…? You peeked, didn’t you?”
His face lightened a bit. “You asked for it, Addison. Because of your…uniqueness, my curiosity got the better of me. But it was just a little peek.” Thankfully, he didn’t seem surprised or horrified or judgmental, anyway.
“It’s nice to know even an angel is tempted every once in a while.” She smiled. “But you’re not going to…”
“No, Addison. I won’t tell anyone. We are forbidden from taking part in gossip, which I believe this qualifies as. But it would be wise to stay away from demons and other angels until your shield is stronger.”
“Yeah, I heard that.”
He looked at her pointedly. “You should also stay away from particularly strong vampires.”
“I can’t. He’s…protecting me.”
“You must learn how to protect yourself.”
He was right. The only one she could count on was herself, so toughening up wasn’t optional. Neither was staying away from vampires, even Rhyse. Any thoughts she had to the contrary were hormone-induced, idiotic romanticizing.
After an awkward silence, she pointed to the dog. “He needs a new home. I thought—”
Rhyse shook his head. “We are not taking the dog.”
“That’s—”
“We are not taking the dog.”
“That’s because we aren’t doing anything.” She mumbled it just in case someone was paying attention to how she spoke to the oh-so-important Prime.
Micah ripped off one of the chest straps on his champion outfit. “I’ll take care of him.” The were watched the angel intently and sat as Micah wrapped the strap around the animal’s neck. He didn’t wag his tail, though.
After giving Graham some sort of instructions and doing the kingly nod of thanks to Logan and Micah, Rhyse came over to her.
“Make sure he finds a nice home,” she said.
“He tried to kill you and yet you feel guilt,” Rhyse said. “I will never understand your mind.”
“And I’ll never understand why you hate dogs so much.”
“I love dogs.” Rhyse wrapped his arms around her. “Now, say goodbye.”
“Wait, where are we—?”
Forty-one
“You are such a liar,” Addison shouted, pushing away from him. “You promised me you would bring me home, not back here!”
They would never be alone were they to remain near the city. The snow provided the temporary isolation they needed.
“Perhaps you should have been more specific about the order of things. From my perspective, that promise was trumped by the more recent one.”
She shrugged. “What are you talking about?”
“I told you I would feel you come—” He tilted his head. “After all the excitement, I have forgotten. Did I give an exact number of times I would feel you come?”
A distinct blush filled her cheeks and chest. “That wasn’t a promise.”
“Yes, it was. And I always keep my promises.”
“What if I don’t agree to it?”
“You already have.”
“Oh, come on! I was bleeding out. No one can be held responsible for a little head movement when they’re bleeding out.”
“Your wound was healed, and my blood coursed through you.” And in the midst of the fighting, all he’d desired was to be with her. “How did it feel to have part of me inside you, Addison?”
“Doesn’t count.” She backed up as he came towards her. “I never agreed.”
“Your agreement was in the look on your face and your moans as you took me in your mouth. The movement of your hips and the arch of your back as you dug your fingernails into my skin. The change of your scent from fear to desire. Those things do not lie.”
“Nor do they mean anything other than your blood tastes better than chocolate.”
He smirked. “And the quickening of your heart and breath?”
“The room was on fire, what do you expect?”
“I mean now, Addison. This room is not on fire, you are not bleeding, there is nothing dangerous here. So tell me why your heart pounds and your breath is shallow now.”
She put her hand over her heart as if that would slow it down. “You’re a vampire.” She still tried to deny this, but with each of his steps, she weakened.
“I am.” He stroked her cheek. He would be gentle, savor every moment and every inch of her. Then, when she was ready, he’d stop being gentle.
“Vampires are killers,” she whispered.
“When the need arises, yes.” He caressed her lip with his thumb, then pressed down lightly. When her mouth opened, a quiet moan was freed. “But I sense a different kind of need right now.” He leaned halfway to her and stopped. She must come to him, so both of them understood how much they wanted this.
He watched her struggle, the war between what she desired and what she feared. If she wanted this half as much as he did, she would relent soon. “No decision made by any being on Earth or beyond will lead us away from what you saw in your vision. You know that.”
“I—” She swallowed her empty denial—she knew it was inevitable. They were inevitable. “I don’t…I’m not sure…”
A kiss would silence her. It would also guarantee her fall. But he held fast to the idea that she must join him without coercion, knowing it was exactly what she wanted. The waiting was almost as horrible as being human had been. So he considered another tactic, one that might prove more successful—one he had never nor would ever attempt with another being.
“Addison, I do not mean to alarm you, but if you do not kiss me soon I believe that I will die. And all your hard work to make me well enough to leave you alone would have been for naught.”
She smiled playfully, beautifully. “That would be terrible.”
“It would be for me, but you might enjoy it—to see me die at your feet because you did not give me what I require.”
She lifted onto her toes, her mouth nearing his. Far too slowly. He caressed the small of her back, forbidding himself to pull her into him.
“I don’t think it would kill you, Rhyse. You’re pretty tough.”
“Kiss me.” Not a beg, a request.
??
?Just one kiss?”
“It is difficult to say if one kiss will be enough to keep me from the great beyond, but it is a good place to begin.”
She brushed her lips across his lightly and closed her eyes. “I know what you’re doing, and I know what’s going to happen if I kiss you.”
“And what is that?”
“You’re going to pick me up, carry me over to the bed, and ravish me.”
“I do not know what you are talking about. I asked only for a kiss. We have kissed twice before and each ended without any ravishing at all.”
She sighed unhappily. “I know.”
“Why do you deny this?”
She was silent long enough for him to wonder if perhaps he’d erred in some way and she was now considering her other options. “It’s just… I think it’s a bad idea to start…”
“Nothing will start. I will provide you pleasure, and you will do the same for me. There is nothing to fear, so say the words. Tell me what you want.”
“I want to… I want to kiss you,” she said. “And then I want you to pick me up and carry me to the bed.”
“Sounds detestable thus far. Continue.”
Her lips pulled away as she smiled and snuck a finger between their mouths to shush him. Or perhaps simply to torment him.
“And then…” she said, “I’m going to ravish you.”
Having been the Prime for hundreds of years, he’d had countless females, but none had ever dared say anything like that to him, and he’d never heard anything more erotic. Of course, he would never allow it to happen as such. If he gave over all control, he would not feel her in all the ways he desired.
“I would very much like to see you try, Addison.”
As soon as her lips met his and her arms wrapped around his neck, he stopped thinking of anything beyond this moment. His fist burrowed in her hair, his other arm pulling her closer, feeling her heat multiply his.
She broke the kiss. “I may come to my senses any second, so what are you waiting for?”
He answered by sliding his hands under her and lifting her up, wrapping her legs around his hips. The bed seemed light years away, and if she didn’t get so nauseous every time they phased, he would have gotten her there much faster. Only because there was plenty to do and feel on the way was it acceptable. Perhaps even more than acceptable, the anticipation of seeing her spread out naked, feeling her under him, building with each passing moment.
On second thought, he would much rather act than anticipate. He was on top of her moments after tossing her onto the bed, tearing off the jacket he’d given her, growling when he saw the corset she wore beneath. If she’d been wearing her old clothes, he would already have her naked. Damn it, there actually was a benefit to her dressing that way. At least her panties were easily taken care of—a single tug tore them away.
He took a moment to enjoy her beauty, her desire for him, his desire to see her pleased. Unparalleled.
“Oh, shit,” she groaned. “Please don’t tell me you changed your mind.”
“Never.”
“Then…?” She fidgeted, uncomfortable under his gaze when she had no cause to be.
“I am undecided on where I wish to start.” He pinned her hands to the sheets, kissed her, and knew what he wanted first. “I will make you come. Hear you come.”
“Then you’d better get to it.” She lifted an eyebrow.
“That sounded like a challenge.” Something this wasn’t—the challenge would be to make him stop. But nothing with Addison was ever simple or without conflict; therefore, he didn’t expect this to be, either.
“Maybe it was.” The breathiness of her voice betrayed her as he slid down her body.
“No one would challenge the Prime unless they wanted to lose.” He spoke against the inside of her thigh. “How badly do you want to lose, Addison?”
“Pretty badly.” Her fists closed around the sheets, and her hips pressed up as he dragged his lips higher. He held her gently, just enough so she didn’t wiggle right off the bed. “Oh my—”
With one swipe of his tongue to her core, he felt her surrender. But even though he needed to taste her again, he moved away slightly.
“Wait!” she whined. “Don’t stop.”
“Just pretty badly?”
“Damn you.” She let out her breath, glaring at him between her legs. “Okay, really, really badly. Happy now?”
“Yes. However, I intend to be much happier soon.” When he slipped his hands under her thighs and lowered his mouth to her heat, she made the most beautiful cry he’d ever heard. Uncontrolled submission to pleasure. To him. He used his tongue to tease, his fingers because he couldn’t bear not to. But, despite his desire to do otherwise, he was gentle and took his time to explore her, to understand her needs and her body.
Her fingers raked through his hair, fisted and pulled. If she intended for it to be a signal for him to slow down, she would have to be more obvious and far more insistent. He held her still so he could pleasure her as he wished. Preparing her body to receive his.
She tasted of life, joy, fervor. The fire within her fed his, and when his desire increased, so did the volume of her moans. She was music—her voice and her body moving in harmony, orchestrated by his touch.
Quite quickly, she neared her end, her moans and whimpers as unique as the woman who made them, only making him want more of her. All the way until her muscles tightened and then beyond. She cried out to a deity, then screamed his name, her body crumbling then jolting, limp then tight, as each aftershock struck. But he didn’t stop until she’d had another orgasm and begged him to kiss her elsewhere.
“Come up here.” She tugged him with human arms that could never move him if he did not allow it. It seemed to make her happy to have some amount of physical control over him, so he pretended, dragging his lips along her skin as he slowly moved up her body to her mouth. What would she do if she understood how much control beyond the physical she had over him?
When she took a shuddering breath, he reassessed his plan. He couldn’t forget she was mostly human, and therefore he must take care of her. If he used her mouth and body as he desired, she wouldn’t get the air she already gasped for. So, ignoring the ache of his cock, he stayed at her side. Traced the contour of her cheek, the line of her jaw, the curve of her lips, and gave them both a moment to recover.
Unfortunately, no amount of denial or avoidance freed him from the clenching of his chest, the feeling just looking at her created within him.
Don’t be an imbecile. It is not real. It will pass. It had to. The most dangerous thing he could do right now was think. He would enjoy this experience for everything it was, despite the possibility of their bond strengthening.
Pleasure. Nothing else. Rhyse had never lied to himself. Until now.
“Wow.” She extended the word into multiple syllables by adding quite a few W’s. “Remind me never to say no to you again.”
He kissed her lightly. “Done.” He dragged his finger along the top of her corset, on the inside, stopping in the crevice between her breasts. His lips replaced his finger. “As lovely as this is, it is very important you continue to breathe. Why have we not taken it off yet?”
“I don’t know how to. Felicity helped me get into it.”
“Sit up.”
“You’re going to have to get off me first.”
“Such a pity.” When he rolled away from her, she scooted onto her knees and turned her back to him.
After he loosened the ties, she took a deep breath. “Torture device, I tell you.”
“No, they are all still in storage. I thought we might save those for tomorrow.”
She smiled at him over her shoulder. “When did you get funny?”
Still behind her, he reached around her waist and undid the corset’s hooks one by one, cursing the man who sold her the undergarment. With every inch of smooth skin exposed came a greater irony. He was the Prime, the king, and had proven himself worthy of those titles cou
ntless times. Yet this soft creature who smelled of peace under the soot of war stripped away all his power with her life force, her beauty, and her laugh.
He simply wasn’t strong enough to beat her.
“Promise I’ll never have to put on anything like that again, and I’ll wear nothing but leather for the rest of my life.” She stretched and arched her back when the corset fell.
Her breasts caused him to forget the comment he’d thought to make. Her laughter stopped as he cupped her fullness in his palm, caressed her nipple with his thumb, lowered his lips to her shoulder. She tilted her head, presenting him with her lovely neck. His other hand slid down her belly and cupped her, gently rocking her against his erection, provoking a deep moan from them both.
It was unwise to put himself in this position—so close to her neck. He pulled his lips from her and focused on the heat of her core. As it increased so did the volume of her whimpers. She leaned back against his chest, unable to balance or hold herself up.
For once, there was no struggle for dominance between them, no games or fighting. Because they were lovers, equals. And through her, he experienced a newness of pleasure and sensation that he desired far more than power.
“You need to stop that, Rhyse.” Her hands covered his, stopping his movements only by pressing his hand tighter to her core. He didn’t want to stop—he wanted all of her, in every way imaginable, until he was so deep in her body and her mind and her heart that she would never dream of anything more.
“For what reason?”
She didn’t answer, making this the only time she’d ever been without something to say. Instead she turned back around and, keeping him at arm’s length, slowly started unbuttoning his shirt. Did she think she was immortal? They only had another fifty or sixty years before she died, and he intended on using that time to its full potential.
But he steeled his desire to rip his shirt out of her hands and tear it to pieces, because that would undoubtedly terrify her. He rolled onto his back to calm himself. An act that proved impossible when she climbed on top of him, straddling his hips, the heat of her sex burning through the fabric of his pants.
He groaned when she rocked against his length, using his cock to please herself and to punish him. “You try my patience, Vitae.”