Chapter 14

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

It was difficult to keep from tearing the gown and exposing all of her to him, but as he released his hold on her, he couldn’t stop himself from rubbing his thumb over a nipple that poked into the fabric. He grinned as her body responded to his touch. A moan escaped her as she tipped her head back, exposing the long column of her neck. Gods, he wanted to sink his fangs deep into her golden flesh. With a snarl, he scooped her up and headed for the bed.

“I find myself wanting to bite you.”

She nuzzled his neck, causing him to groan.

“I will not stop you. As a matter of fact, I encourage it.”

He set her on her feet on the thick carpet and, for a moment, thought of simply flashing her gown away, but he would much rather disrobe her himself. She looked up at him, questions in her eyes.

“What is it you wish to ask me?”

“How does a demigod and a guardian bond? I mean, I know the mating process is different than it has been for my brethren, except for Lucan. He mated a demigod named Sabin.” She smiled. “She is the granddaughter of Hades, so you two would be related.”

He searched his mind for the answer and was surprised that he actually knew. “Ra will bless our union when we are ready, but I believe when you drank my blood, you already started a bond on your end.” He reached for a strap on her gown and slipped it down until her shoulder was completely exposed. “When I drink from you––which I fully intend to do––I too, will start a bond.” He slid the other strap down her arm until the gown fell far enough to expose her breasts.

“The rest will come to us as we go. Are you okay with that?”

Desire filled her eyes. “Yes.”

He needed no more encouragement as he pushed the gown past her hips and let it fall into a pool at her feet. When she stepped free and stood before him in only what the gods had gifted her with, he licked his lips.

“Do I please you?”

“You take my breath away and now I’m not certain I can take things slow like I had planned.”

Her grin and the sparkle in her eyes spoke of sheer wickedness. “Who said anything about slow? After all, we have all evening. There is only one problem, however.”

“What is that?”

“You are still dressed.”

“Ah. Well, that is easily remedied.” And with a snap of his fingers, his nakedness matched her own.

“Hmm. Next time I’d like the pleasure of stripping you.” She took several steps back until the back of her knees hit the bed, then she crawled in until she was settled in the center of the oversized mattress.

He strode toward her, his gaze raking over every inch of her body as he knelt on the mattress. He had to admit, he loved the desire in her eyes and her naked body laid out in silk sheets as a goddess should be. Which gave him an idea. With a mere thought, he produced hundreds of rose petals varying from deep red to pale yellow and had them scatter across the bed. Her gaze widened and her lips parted.

“What are you doing?”

“All beautiful women should be surrounded by rose petals.”

“They smell lovely.”

He picked up a red one and placed it on her belly button, then kissed his way up her stomach. When he reached the underside of her breast, he slid his tongue along the soft flesh, then upward toward her nipple. He smiled when the rosy bud hardened in anticipation of his touch. She was a sensitive one, his mate.

My mate.

The word no longer felt foreign to him, nor did the feelings welling up inside him. This moment was right and meant to be. He positioned himself between her thighs, his palms now planted on either side of her shoulders and hovered over her. “Are you certain you want this?”

“You cannot feel my desire?”

“Oh I feel it, scent it, and see it in your eyes. I simply want to hear the words spill from your lips.”

“I want you, Kian. Now and forever.”

He lowered himself but kept his full weight from pressing into her, then claimed her mouth. Her hands found his lower back, then slid to his ass where she cupped as she tried to press into him. His erection rested against her wetness, and it took the will of his one hundred thousand years of living not to plunge deep inside her.

She ground against him, her tongue spearing his mouth, and that was when his fang pricked her tongue and gave him a taste of her blood. It wasn’t enough, though, and he craved more of her. Pulling free, he kissed her neck and played like he might bite her by scraping his fangs along her smooth skin.

She moaned and worked her hips, moving against his throbbing cock.

He paid her back by sucking a nipple into his mouth and giving it a slight bite.

Her nails dug into his backside, letting him know she could play this game as well. It pleased him he could make her body hum with desire. Not wanting her other breast to be left out, he kissed his way across her chest and pulled the other one into his mouth. The flicking of his tongue made her moan. So much heat and magical power filled the air and rushed around them it made his skin prickle. He wasn’t sure how much of it was his power or what belonged to her, as it seemed to combine and become one in a beautiful display of colored light. All he knew was the need he had to be inside her was something he could no longer fight.

At first, Gwen thought the lights were a figment of her desire, but she realized quickly they were real. Pale green, yellow and pink and it reminded her much of the northern lights as it danced across the room. She wanted to ask what it was, but Kian had poised his erection at her entrance and all she could do was look into his eyes and wait for pleasure to take away some of the heat that threatened to set her and this entire room on fire. As he slowly slid inside her, that fire only burned hotter. Nothing. Not one thing in her entire four hundred years of life had ever felt like this. Something deep inside her twisted and locked into place and it took her a moment to realize she wasn’t only connected to Kian physically, but her soul settled like a content kitten, and, for the first time, she felt like she was home. She belonged here in this moment with this man.

When he was fully inside her––their gazes never breaking from each other––he brought his mouth to her neck. The strike was quick, the pain only lasting a second before more pleasure filled every pore of her body. With each pull of her blood, he thrust into her, causing something inside her to build until she exploded. She swore she left her body and joined the dancing light. Became a part of the universe itself where time stood still until she was suddenly pulled back into reality where she realized she was screaming his name. He retracted his fangs and swiped his tongue over her wound to heal it quicker, and then he staked another claim to her mouth. The coppery taste of her blood still on his tongue only sent her into another tail-spinning orgasm. When she had come out of her last round of bliss, he pressed his mouth to her ear and whispered.

“My one and only.” Then groaned as his own release took him. They stayed tangled in each other’s arms for several minutes before he finally pulled free and rolled onto his back, his fingers laced with hers.

“I…” his voice trailed off, and she worried he wouldn’t finish his thought, but he finally continued.

“We are part of each other now. Not fully bonded, but it appears our powers did a little mingling.”

“I noticed that but I’m not sure what it means.” Then suddenly something snapped into place, and she knew it was a mental link with him. Kian?

Yes, I feel it was well. Our link will be handy during our mission.

“It will.” For a brief second, she wondered if that was the only reason he was even with her right now. To strengthen his abilities for his battle with Apep, but realized she was being silly. Especially when he smiled at her as he sat up, his naked body a sight to make any female swoon. He threw his legs over the side of the bed, then padded around to her side, holding out his hand.

“Come with me.”

She laid her fingers on his, and he helped her to her feet. “Where are we going?”

“It’s a surprise.” He led her across the expansive bedroom and into the bathroom, where a large sunken tub that would probably fit at least four people sat full of water. Lavender scented steam rose as he led her across the tile floor.

“I thought you might enjoy a good hot soak.”

“That sounds wonderful. Are you joining me?”

His brow jacked up as a devilish grin lifted the corner of his mouth. “Who else would wash your back?”

She laughed as he held her hand while she descended the few steps into the water. Slowly, she lowered herself into the silky, scented wetness. The heat seeped into tired muscles, and she relaxed further. A moment later, Kian slipped in and sat beside her causing the water to heat further, or maybe it was simply her and the reaction her body had to his. Before she knew what was happening, he started rubbing a soapy sea sponge over her shoulder and down her arm. He moved back to her shoulder, then swiped across her chest before he circled her breast, causing her to suck in a breath. Gwen leaned back, closed her eyes, and simply enjoyed the attention. It was certainly different for her since no man had ever drawn her a bath, let alone taken one with her and put so much thought to how he touched her body. She felt herself floating away on a cloud of bliss, and that pleasure became even more intoxicating when he slipped his fingers through her heated folds, then inside her. As he worked her into another frenzy of need, he kissed her neck and sharp points struck fast. Taking deep pulls of blood, the sensation went straight to her clit and sent her into another tail-spinning orgasm that nearly shattered her. When she finally came back into her head, she realized Kian had lifted her from the bath and was drying her with the softest towel that had ever touched her skin. He then picked her up and carried her back to bed and just as she was drifting into a deep sleep, she swore she heard him whisper…

Mine.