He murmured her name and moved that dangerous hand again,sliding first one and then two fingers inside her. The shocking invasionspurred her higher, and she clenched around him, wanting something just out ofreach. He crisscrossed those talented fingers and brushed across a spot insideher she hadn’t realized existed.
She arched against him, shutting her eyes and falling intothe fire. Still drinking from her, he forced her to ride his fingers beforepressing unerringly on her clit.
She cried out as a white-hot climax ripped through her withenough force to shove her head back into his hand. He moved his fingers, all ofthem, forcing her to ride out the waves until she collapsed against him, herforehead dropping to the muscles of his upper chest. His fangs retracted, andhe licked the wound clean, making her shudder several times. Finally, shegathered the strength to pull away from his torso and look up at his dark gaze,her mind befuddled and her body zinging wildly.
“That’s why I waited, Ivy,” he murmured, the gold rimmingthe blue in his eyes again. “You give me an inch, and I’ll own your body. It’sthe exchange. I need your blood, and I gain power over you in response. Makesure it’s what you want, baby. Because if I get that power, I’ll use it. I’llkeep it forever.”
Chapter Six
She shoved at him, so he slowly let her slide down his bodyand waited until she regained her balance before releasing her. The strands ofher silky hair ran through his fingers, stoking the hunger gripping him evenhotter. Finally being able to touch her barreled lust to his groin. His fangsstarted to descend again, and he focused solely on retracting them whileshackling the beast at his core. He couldn’t fully mate her until sheunderstood all the repercussions.
But mate her he would.
He couldn’t look away from her. How many times had he takenthat green ribbon out of his pocket and run his fingers over it throughouttime? The green had faded, and the sides had frayed, but the material wasalways with him. He’d reached for that tie more than once after a fight,finding comfort in his connection to her. But even then, he’d been careful notto mar the silk with blood, no matter how much of it he was losing.
God, she was gorgeous, her mouth swollen from his kiss andher face flushed from her orgasm.
“You son of a bitch.” Striking out, she nailed him in thejaw with a right cross. Then she yelped, yanking her hand to her chest andcradling it, her eyes spitting fire.
“You know,” he drawled, forcing his hands to remain at hissides and not on her hips where he wanted them. The immortal being deep downroared to take her to the ground and plant that marking on her ass for good, sohe manacled his control with both hands. “I admit it’s been a while since I’vegiven a woman an orgasm—or two—but... I don’t remember this being theresponse.”
Her gaze dropped to his ankle, and her nostrils flared.
“I wouldn’t,” he advised, his breath heating. He’d beenright and fair to give her more than a century to learn her strength and value,but he was finished with this defiance. His enemies were getting closer, and itwas becoming impossible to stay away from her—not only on a strength level. Herbrilliance and fortitude were a powerful draw and one he couldn’t ignore anylonger. “You’ve made your own way, lass.”
“I haven’t,” she snapped, still holding her arm.
His nape itched. “Heal your hand and then we’ll argue.” Hecouldn’t just stand there while she was in pain. “Did you break it?”
“No,” she said, her lip slightly out in an adorable pout. “Imay have cracked a couple of knuckles.”
“Heal them.” He didn’t have time for stubbornness, and thatpout made him want to cuddle her close. But if he touched her again, clotheswere coming off.
She averted her gaze.
Instinct whispered down his spine. “You can’t heal yourself,can you?” Damn it. Apparently, he wasn’t the only one getting weaker by theyear. It was time they mated. At the thought, the beast at his core roared, andblood pounded through his head, making his ears ring.
He’d grown to admire her through the years in addition toliking her, and his feelings for her had become more intense these last few decades.For ten years, he’d known this day was coming, but he’d also wanted to ensurethat she had as much freedom as he could give her until it was too late. Shefaced him without backing away, and he had to admire even that. His mate trulywas a brave little thing. “Come here, Ivy.”
She swallowed but didn’t move. Stubborn girl. Reaching out,he snagged her hair and gently drew her to him. “You’re hurt. Stop beingstubborn.” Letting his fangs drop, he slashed open his wrist. “I could give youmyjugular,” he rumbled. The idea of her sweet mouth on his neckelectrified his skin in a way he’d never felt before. The reality was nearlyunimaginable.
Rolling her eyes, she reached for his hand and lifted it toher mouth, her skin unbearably soft against his. Taking a deep breath, she loweredher mouth and delicately drank his blood. Lightning flashed through him, andhis cock strained against the zipper of his pants. Need and lust tightened hismuscles, and he clamped down on desire. He’d never wanted anything or anyonemore than he did Ivy O’Dwyer right now.
She finished drinking and pushed his hand away, licking herlips.
He groaned quietly, his hands nearly shaking with the needto touch her. But right now, they had to get a few things straight.
She looked toward the door. “I really do need to get on withmy new life.”
He smiled and was gratified when she took a step back. Itwas impressive how well she could read him after all this time. “We’re bothgetting weaker, and you’re obviously independent enough to make your owndecisions now. We need to mate, Ivy.”
She gulped. “We are mated.”
Cute. She was playing dumb while scrambling for control. Hegot that. “Sex, bite, mark,” he murmured, appreciating the damask-colored blushthat slammed across her delicate cheekbones. “We have to meet four times a yearnow, and it’s not enough for me.” He lifted his chin, focusing on her nowhealed hand. “You can’t heal yourself on your own. Both of us are going tobecome weaker, and we can’t let that happen.”
She inhaled and then slowly exhaled as if trying to calmherself. “I have to admit, I would like to try sex.”
His cock pulsed in complete agreement.
