Leya went dead still, eyes wide. “No, please, don’t leave.” She grasped his hand, dread bleeding into her. Memories of being trapped alone inside the dark, collapsing volcano dug their claws in deep.
It was as if he understood, or maybe he read the fear in her eyes, because he nodded. “All right.”
He scooted her to the middle, then slid in beside her, spooning against her back, his big palm splayed on her stomach, anchoring her.
“You’re one of the strongest people I know, Leya,” he said quietly, stroking her belly. “What you did in the volcano, not many would have been so brave, channeling powers like mine to break my sire free of the holding spell.”
“I was scared,” she admitted. “The sorcerer was choking me to get me to release my hold on the cage, and I couldn’t do a thing about it. I thought he would kill me, but I heard you in my head, and it gave me the strength I needed. That didn’t terrify me as much as when I lost my grip on you and fell into the collapsing volcano. And then those rebels appeared, probably searching for our remains…”
“I’m so sorry for what you endured.” He kissed her head. “You are unbelievably courageous,me’morae.”
Exhaling deeply, she moved her hand to cover his on her stomach. “And you? With that spell on you, your powers had to hurt you, being unable to use them?”
“Yes. Then you drew on it and eased me some. Zior removed what remained later. It was just a power-muting spell.”
“Oh, good.” Still, her heart hurt for him. To be immortal and imbued with all those dangerous powers constantly roiling through him, having no internal peace. Ever.
His Creator must truly hate them.
“I have you now, my little Siphon. I’ll teach you how to strengthen your abilities, to take another’s power and to channel it without them being aware.” He kissed her shoulder. “Sleep,caeli mea. I’ll be right here.”
There was so much more she wanted to know, but exhaustion clung to her as if she’d sprinted a hundred-mile marathon. Finally safe in the shelter of his arms, she let herself succumb to sleep…
Leya stirred awake to a shadowy room and a warm body aligned snugly against hers. Lightning flashed briefly into the room. A sigh of happiness caught in her throat.
A calloused hand gently stroked her stomach. And the arm she slept on was attached to questing fingers lazily caressing her breast through her thin gown. A thumb traced her nipple, and her languid body craved more. Need strummed through every inch of her.
A warm mouth kissed her nape as the hand on her belly glided lower, teasing the skin near her mound.
“Stop tormenting me,” she grumbled in a voice husky with sleep.
“All you had to do from the minute you awakened was tell me to touch you.” His warm lips brushed her bare shoulder. “And I would have feasted on your delectable breasts properly.”
Heat flooded her face. She turned, or tried to, but his grip tightened on her belly, keeping her pinned to him, and he stroked her nipples to stiff points then tugged one nub, a pull that zipped straight to her core.
A moan caught in her throat.
More lightning zipped across the dark sky, brightening the room. With the covers off them, Leya could clearly see his hand slip between her thighs. She parted them, the sensual visual causing desire to surge as he stroked her achy flesh.
“You’re so wet. Good,” he rasped, lightly brushing her swollen nub with his thumb. He slipped a finger into her, then another. His mouth clamped on her neck as he sucked her flesh and worked his fingers in and out of her.
Panting now, she pushed into him. “More—”
He teased her clit. She whimpered, gripping his powerful forearm, nails digging into his skin. He grasped her flesh and tugged—
A cry broke free as her release swept through her. Breathing hard, she tried to shift, wanting him inside her, but he didn’t let her move. She glanced over her shoulder. “I want you inside me.”
His stare held hers, and he licked his fingers clean of her wetness then kissed her mouth, and removed his pants with one hand. “I want you just as badly.”
He pulled her to his naked body. His hot, hard length pressed between her butt cheeks. He dragged her leg over his, and his cock slid against her wet core. His hips shuttled back and forth, his erection sliding between her folds and bumping her clit, rousing all her nerve endings.
“Aerén,” she groaned.
He gripped his length, found her drenched opening, and pushed. The broad head breached her and slipped in, stretching her. Leya clutched his arm, panting.
“Okay?”
“Yes…” it came out of her in a strangled breath. In this position, it was so much tighter, and there was a slight sting, but the pleasure—God!It was indescribable. “More.”
