Chapter 34

Tap, tap, tap. Sam awoke the next morning to rain tapping on the roof of Selene's tent. The air was thick with moisture, the light muted from the dark clouds brewing outside. A storm was coming, just as Brunie had predicted.

They should arise for the day, Sam thought. Go to higher ground; find an inn or a tavern to hole up in until the storm passed. The tent was sturdy, but not strong enough to withstand heavy winds or lightning. They should leave now, while it was still early and the rain was soft.

Yet he didn't get up. He refused to move. There was no way he was cutting this moment short. Rolling over, he pulled Selene toward him. She nestled against his chest. They had spent the whole night together with their bodies intertwined. He traced his fingers up and down her back, marveling at the healing touch of his mate. Last night he had been too tired and injured to let his hands rove as he would have liked, but he was awake now—and feeling very much recovered.

Possessive rage gathered within him as he considered how easily he could have lost her last night. It was terrifying to think that he had left her unprotected. He should have scented the other vampire in the tree or suspected that Margery was up to something. Instead, he had been too rash, too trusting. He had never expected to have his kindness to Margery repaid so cruelly.

Selene had proven herself admirably, though. Not only was she unflappably calm, she was also brave and resourceful. Yet, now that he was certain she was his fated mate, Sam was even more troubled. He knew she enjoyed his company, but how would he make her understand how deeply their bond went? Since a demon and a human pairing was unknown to him, it would be even more foreign to her.

In the Underworld, he could give her everything she desired—wealth, protection, good health—but would that be enough? As his mate, she would receive her own title as Princess of the Underworld and be treated accordingly. Perhaps her gratitude for such a life would make her love him. Or at least learn to, in time.

Yet he wasn't satisfied with that. He wanted her to cleave to him now, not later. He needed a way to woo her, to win her affection in this realm. Or even better, bind her to him. Something permanent and powerful enough to go beyond a human's comprehension of such matters. One that would compel her to welcome her descent into the Underworld, especially when the growing vampire threat left little time for an extended courtship.

Claim her.

There was only one answer, and it was obvious. He needed to bed her while reciting the ancient incantation that would unite them as one. Normally, such a ritual was performed with vows spoken by both parties, but since Selene was not a demon, he would speak it alone.

Imagining it made his pulse quicken. When they were together in Brunie's kitchen and then the attic, his body had screamed to mark her with his scent, his seed. How desperately he had wanted to drive his body into hers, yet he was so concerned about hurting her, he hadn't fully considered all the implications of their first joining—or how powerful it would be if he spoke the binding chant during it.

Meditatively, he began to stroke her hair while planning his seduction. Although he was anxious to complete their bond, she deserved better than to be claimed in a tent stained with two moldering corpses nearby. He would find an inn along the way, one with a lavish suite where he could take his time with her. A quiet place that wouldn't trigger his instincts. The men of her world had obviously not appreciated her nature or understood how to properly tend to her, but he did. His mate was a sensual creature—passionate and responsive. As long as he could manage his instincts and stay in control, she would soon be his.

"Are you awake?" she whispered, pulling his attention back to the moment.

"Yes."

"How's your head?"

Sam touched his horn. "Better. Much better, actually."

"Good."

"What about you? How are you feeling?"

"All right," she said, but her tone was somber.

"You seem troubled."

"I feel like I should have more guilt about last night. I mean, I've never killed anyone before—"

"You acted in defense," he said vehemently.

"I know that. Sort of. It's just a weird thing to wrap my mind around."

"As a vampire, Margery was already dead."

"Yes, but I keep thinking about how the stake felt in my hand. When it went into her body and she fell on me… " She blew out a breath. "It's not something I'd like to do again."

"You won't have to. Ever."

"She said a lot of strange things to me. What do you think she meant about claiming her reward? And taking me to see a king? I thought queens ruled Aurelia. She knew I was human and didn"t want to drink me fully, she wanted me alive."

"She was old, and her mind had gone," Sam said, careful to ignore her other questions about Margery's intentions. "Had she bitten you, she would not have left you alive."

"Yes, somehow, I knew that." She shifted her hips. The motion pressed her breasts into his side, making his already stiff cock strain against his trousers. "But still, why would she—"

"Don't dwell on it. Her words sprung from madness," Sam said quickly. "I'm sorry I left you to face her alone."

"You couldn't have known what would happen. I"m just glad it"s over, and you"re okay. It was the worst night of my life, and I didn"t think anything could top the vampire attack in Snowmelt."

"Only good times lie ahead," he said, pressing a kiss to her forehead. He began tracing circles on her lower back. Even though he had just rejected the idea of claiming her in the tent, the drive to soothe her was undeniable. If he could use his hands and mouth to pleasure her, perhaps she could forget for a moment. Then they would be on their way.

His voice dropped an octave as he murmured, "Do you need… distraction?"

"Do I need what?" Then as realization seemed to take hold, she said, "Oh."

Slowly, he drew his hand over the curve of her hip under the blanket, then up her ribcage. He repeated the motion in the opposite direction while waiting for a signal from her, a sign, a word of encouragement…

"Yes," she breathed.

He didn't hesitate. Pushing her onto her back, he bent and took her mouth. Flicked his tongue against her lips so that she opened to him. She swirled her tongue around his, meeting his every stroke, then tangled her hands in his hair, tugging softly.

He deepened their kiss. She arched her back, making him very aware of the way her breasts jutted against his chest. His shaft jerked painfully against his pants, and he pulled back. Softened his kiss to make it less frantic. He cupped the underside of her breast, feeling much more confident about how to touch her now. When his thumb rubbed over the taut peak, she moaned. Aching to taste her again, he licked his way down her body. The feel of her warm flesh on his lips and tongue was addictive. Softly, he blew against one pearled nipple until she began to squirm.

"Sam, please," she said.

He drew a nipple between his lips, and she made a small sound of delight. He sucked hard before flicking his tongue back and forth. With his other hand, he stroked her opposite breast, careful to keep the pressure he knew she preferred.

Selene's hands roved up and down his back, squeezing his clenched musclesand stroking his heated skin. She was careful to avoid his injured horn but caressed the other one with sweeping touches that made him groan, causing the edge of his teeth to scrape against her breast. Her hips bucked as she cried out. Sam pulled back to search her face.

"Was that too hard?"

"No, no it was… I liked it," she panted. "More."

That one word made his claws shoot out then retract. Feeling as though his control was slipping, he paused to collect himself. Staring down at her, he took in the striking contrast of their bodies pressed together. Everything about her was lush and feminine, while his flesh bore the marks of combat and pain. Oftentimes it was his body, not his instincts that made him feel the most out of place in Aurelia. His stature was too big, his features too angular, his horns and claws too sharp to ever feel truly at home among the races of this realm. Yet he didn't feel like an outcast with her.

She wanted more? He would give her more. He would give her everything. The life she craved, the home she desired, the pleasure she needed.

Skillfully. Tenderly. Mercilessly.

Selene wet her lips when she saw Sam's gaze turn from lustful to something darker. He was staring down at her like a starving wolf watching his prey, or a hungry lion scenting blood. Ready to pounce and devour.

And damned if she didn't like it.

His hand crept down her neck to stroke between her breasts, then over her stomach. Lingering for a moment, his hand moved lower until it rested at the triangle between her legs.

"Show me how you like to be touched here," he said against her lips, cupping her damp heat.

"Sh-show you?"

"Guide my hand."

"But your claws—"

"I'll keep them sheathed. I swear it. Show me."

Selene swallowed. It was unnerving to be asked for such a bold thing, but Sam's voice was commanding. Compelling. There was no room for embarrassment, not when it was just the two of them.

She parted her thighs until he was touching her fully, intimately. The feel of his big fingers pressed against her wet folds was heady, and she noticed him close his eyes briefly as if overwhelmed by the sensation too. Reaching down, she took his index finger and placed it on her swollen clitoris. "Rub right here. But slowly. Gentle and steady." She guided his hand in a circular motion.

His eyes glittered as he watched her face then looked down at where their hands met. "Like this?" he asked as he continued the motion. Selene hips rose to meet each of his strokes. Her breathing became ragged.

Reaching out, she began to stroke all of the interesting dips and bulges of his chest. He had so many scars; most of them appeared to be knife wounds or burns. As much as they pained her to see, she also found them incredibly sexy. Each one was a testament to his resilience—a tangible mark that symbolized the strength he had to rise above the trauma of his past.

She trailed her fingers down to the bulge in his pants. He inhaled as she ran her hand back and forth over the leather that hid him from view. When she said she needed more of him, she didn't mean just his magic hands. She was certain that his cock would be just as magnificent as the rest of his body, and right now, she wanted to see it. Touch it. To lick and suck up and down its length. Imagine how it might feel plunging inside of her and filling her with throbbing heat. The mental image made her bite back a cry.

Wait.

Were they only messing around here, or was she actually about to have sex with a demon? Brief whispers of logic brushed through her mind. Could she get pregnant? No, it was fairly unlikely with her IUD. Demon STIs? Probably not since she was fairly certain he was a virgin. So the practicalities were taken care of, but what about the emotional part?

Did she really want to have a demon fuck her right at this moment? In the middle of nowhere, steps away from the vampire she killed?

Yes.

Because it wasn't just any demon. It was Sam. He was her demon. And right now, she wanted everything from him.

She fumbled with the laces of his pants. "Sam… take these off. I want to—"

"Can I bring you to come like this?" he interrupted, never deviating from the technique she had demonstrated with his hand.

His question made her eyelids flutter. "Oh, yes."

Okay, so she would just let this first orgasm happen, then they would have sex. The anticipation of Sam inside her gave way to a deeper desire than getting off. She wanted to be filled. Needed it at that moment. Drawing from her remaining depths of sanity, she said, "Sam, let me show you something else. Another way I like to be touched."

She grasped two of his fingers to position them right outside her opening. Then while biting her lip, she slid them into her wet heat.

"Selene!" he moaned as his hips jerked against her. Despite his injury, his horns grew longer, and she thought she saw the color of his eyes flicker. But her mind was so overwhelmed with desire she could have imagined it. Body trembling, he squeezed his eyes shut and ground his jaw. When his eyes opened again, the irises were no longer brown. They were deep red.

She showed him how to ease in and out of her. Gradually increasing the rhythm until the pleasure was too much. She dropped her hand from his, happy to let him do whatever he wanted. Helpless to do anything but accept.

"Oh, God, Sam, it's so good."

When he groaned and dropped his head, Selene registered that something was off. His body was changing, growing as she had seen it do when he was violent. But as the tension in her body climbed higher and higher, she was mindless to anything but sensation. The warmth of Sam's body against hers. The damp air swirling around her bare skin. The glide of his fingers filling her deep within.

Her muscles began to shake. Her body was coiled up tighter than she had ever thought possible. But when his thumb brushed over her clit, it was over.

The heat that had been pooling in her belly rose up to burst with a frightening intensity. A scream ripped out of her as the first spasm took hold. The force of it made her shake with ecstasy. Wave after wave of unbearable pleasure coursed through her. Over and over until her bones felt liquid.

Then she heard a growl. She opened her eyes to see Sam kneeling over her like an ancient god. He looked crazed—eyes red, horns extended, with a crimson sheen to his skin. Yet she wasn't afraid. She could sense how desperate he was for her, and she wasn't going to deny him. This was going to happen.

She tugged on his pants again. "Sam, I want you. All of you. Right now."

He shook his head, clenching his fists so hard she feared he'd crush his own bones. "No, we should stop."

"I don't want to stop."

"Not here," he bit out. "Later."

"No, I can't wait! Please, Sam, I want you inside me." She rolled her hips as though to beckon him, but the motion seemed to make any remaining control he had snap.

With a defeated groan, he threw his head back and roared. Suddenly, she felt her body being jostled. "Spread your legs," he commanded, tone thick with authority. As she complied, something sharp bit into both thighs when he kneeled between her legs. His voice was guttural as he looked down at her.

"Mine."