Dark Awakening (7 page)

With a growl, he wrapped his arm around her waist and prevented her from hopping off his lap. "Damn it, Kimi, why is any male attracted to any female? What makes one beautiful woman uninteresting and another unforgettable? Just because demons know their mates on sight doesn't mean we have no choices. I could have kept my distance and nothing would have happened."

"But I took that option away from you."

"I'd already made the decision to find you when you were older and finished with college. You merely moved up the time frame." Nic shrugged. "I'm glad you did. I want to be at your side the next time Augustin attacks."

"Bull! You tried to avoid me," Kimi accused. "You even ducked out of your mother's wedding dinner when I showed up—after complaining to Mika about how I was chasing you."

For a minute he looked blank, then he gave her that infernal smirk. "It was only a complaint because I couldn't have you. I'd promised Mika that I'd keep my distance until you were older, and until I'd learned how to temper my strength enough not to hurt you. But from the start, Kimi, I wanted you. Never doubt that."

Kimi thought about things for a minute. She could sit here and pout that Nic was interested solely because of some stupid demon bond, or she could believe him about only avoiding her because of a promise to Mika and that he would have chosen to come to her in a few years. Demons lied—she knew that—but she believed Nic was being honest with her.

But it was Augustin they needed to stay focused on. He was dangerous and he was after her. The idea of him stealing her powers and using them to further his own agenda was intolerable to her. No matter what, she couldn't let him succeed. Kimi made a decision, one she wished she didn't have to consider.

"Nic," she said, clutching his biceps, "if it looks like we can't defeat Augustin, I want you to take my magic. I'd rather you have it than him."

Nic scowled so ferociously Kimi straightened. "I will not take you by force," he snarled.

"It wouldn't be with force. I'd want you to do it."

He looked at her funny. "It has to be rape. No one can steal your powers any other way. Something about the act of violence opens a hole in your psyche, and that's what allows a demon male to use an incantation to steal your talent."

"Wait a second," she said, gripping him more firmly, "are you saying that if I willingly make love with you, I'll still have my magic afterward?"

"Yes." Nic's confusion cleared and he grinned. "Why, is that what you're thinking of doing? Have at me, tes."

"You're not lying, are you?" she asked.

"No, I'm telling you the truth. You have my word on it, and demons never break an oath."

Kimi thought for a moment. The demon male she'd wanted for eight months wanted her back, and she could have sex with him and still have her powers. Besides, if Augustin showed up they could both die, and she wanted to experience everything with Nic. "I was in charge last time," she said. "This time
you
have at
me.
"

With a low growl, Nic moved, putting Kimi on the bed and covering her with his body. She gasped, but he suspected that was because of his preternatural speed rather than any alarm over his actions. When he raised his head to check, she smiled at him and threw her arms around his neck.

Smoothing her hair out of her eyes, Nic took a moment to gaze at her: his vishtau mate. "You're gorgeous—
special,
" he told her, wanting Kimi to understand that, even without this connection between them, he'd want her still.

Slowly he lowered his head to hers, kissing her softly. Her generous lips had sparked fantasies since they'd first met, and if he was lucky, Kimi would be willing to do some of those things he'd imagined. He nipped her bottom lip lightly and then soothed it with the tip of his tongue.

Her hands tightened around him, but he wasn't going to be rushed. He kissed one corner of her mouth, then the other. She turned her head, trying to get more of him.

Nic moved down, bit her chin and nibbled his way to the pulse point in her throat. Because his T-shirt was too big for her, it sagged at the neckline, exposing her collarbone; he kissed along one side. As he reached the center, he tugged the shirt lower and nuzzled the valley between her breasts. She inhaled softly and held her breath.

Nic wasn't done yet. Shifting to her side, he returned to Kimi's lips, delicately sucking on them. She opened her mouth for him, but he ignored her request.

"You're teasing," Kimi complained.

Raising his head, he let her see his eyes. As aroused as he was, he knew they glowed brightly—her gasp confirmed that. But Nic had himself on a short tether. It wouldn't take much to derail his intention to worship her before joining their bodies, so he had a plan. And there was need: Kimi was human, not tied to him the way he was to her—he had to convince her that there were advantages to keeping him around.

"I remember the first time I saw you," he admitted. "We were standing on the beach and the moonlight caught your face." He lightly traced her cheekbone with his finger. "You took my breath away, and my thoughts were only of you."

"Because of that vishtau thing," she said, and he heard a note of resentment in her voice.

Nic shook his head. "I didn't know yet that you were my mate—you were too far away from me. It was you and the way you shine that caught my attention. Not merely your beauty—you, Kimi."

"If you're so into me, why are you moving this slow? You were faster earlier."

He couldn't stop the smile. "You set the pace, then. This time, I am." And he'd take it as slowly as he could for as long as he could. "I'm past the impatience of youth and can take time to savor you, tes." Though it was a struggle.

She put out a hand, stopping him from lowering his lips to hers. "What does tes mean? Will you tell me now?"

The debate was brief; he wanted her to know. "It translates to
beloved.
" And without giving her time to reply, Nic kissed her, his mouth moving lazily against hers.

It only took a moment before Kimi's tongue trailed over his lips. Nic opened his mouth, let her in. She was trying to take over, and for now he was content to let her. She was exploring him. Earlier, when she'd encouraged him to taste her, she hadn't returned the favor; this time she was the aggressor.

Nic felt his emotions and lust start to slip the leash, and he fought to hang on. He needed more time before this swamped him. He ran his hand along her side, caressed her flank and moved down to the back of her knee. His finger circled there, and then he lifted her leg over his hip and pulled her closer. They both groaned at the feel of their bodies pressing together.

This was so right, was the perfection he'd been waiting for. Sweet Kimi with her big brown eyes and those lush lips was finally in his arms. He pushed her shirt up and traced the elastic waist of her panties.

She pulled out of his arms, but Nic didn't try to hold her. As she sat up, she yanked the shirt over her head, tossed it aside, and dove back down at him.

His control slipped further at the feel of her bare breasts against his chest. Kimi shoved him to his back, straddled him, and Nic fought hard to let her keep the superior position. It went against his nature. She kissed him wildly, demanding his surrender, which he gladly gave. He fisted his hands in the blankets, trying to hold out, trying to let her retain dominance. Then she shifted, her nipples grazed him, and Nic lost the struggle. He flipped her so that he was on top.

Giving her lips one last kiss, he moved down to her breasts. With a light touch, he traced one areola. Before he even reach them, her nipples were taut and Nic grinned—her responsiveness excited him so much. He nibbled at the underside of her breast, not stopping until she arched and twisted with ecstasy.

Instead of obeying her unspoken request, he moved to tease the other breast. Damn, he loved touching her this way, driving her as crazy as she drove him.

The tip of his cock protruded from his boxers, something he didn't realize until Kimi circled her fingers over its head. Nic growled in pleasure. She toyed with him, pushing him to his limits. Then she brought her finger to her mouth, looked him in the eye, and licked it.

His tether snapped.
Kimi is human,
he reminded himself as he pushed his shorts off. He couldn't thrust as hard as he did with demon females and he couldn't bite her. But desire flooded him and Nic knew he would have to fight to hold back.

The sight of her panties prevented him from ripping them off her and plunging inside. They were high cut, sexy in style, but there was something so damn innocent about that white cotton. Nic groaned, his body trying to overrule his mind. Intellect won at last.

Returning to her breasts, he finally took a nipple into his mouth, teasing her with his tongue, lips, and teeth. She was moaning before he moved to the other. "Beautiful," he murmured, and dipped his head.

Kimi's hands sank into his hair, holding him to her as if she was worried he'd stop before she was ready. She clutched at him when he slipped lower, but Nic ignored that—she'd thank him later. He kissed his way down her body to her navel, paused to trace it with his tongue, then went lower yet.

Using both hands, he carefully pushed the waistband of her panties down. She kicked free of them and then they both went still. Nic looked up her body at her face, met her gaze. His mate was aroused, her pupils dilated, and he smiled.

Nudging her legs apart, Nic moved between them. One was canted to the side and he nibbled at the hollow behind her knee. He kissed and licked his way up her inner thigh, pausing now and then to pay special attention to whatever spot made her moan. By the time he reached his goal, he had both of her legs over his shoulders and Kimi was open to his gaze.

Her moisture glistened inside her folds, and Nic bent his head to taste. He meant to tease her longer, but she grabbed his head and drew his mouth where she wanted it. That inflamed him further—he loved that Kimi made him aware of what pleased her.

He didn't deny her any longer. This was one of his favorite things and it was even more so with his mate. Breathless, she told him exactly what she wanted, and he realized from her voice and words that she was more aroused than he'd known. He circled the center of her pleasure, and in mere moments, brought her to the brink. Before she could come, though, he pulled away.

"Nic!
Damn
it!"

Using his thumbs to open her even more, he leaned forward and kissed her there. She gasped and arched her hips. With a small smile, he moved a bit farther down and sank his tongue into her. He thrust and withdrew until Kimi was pleading, her legs clenching and relaxing.

He didn't want her coming yet, and she cursed when he stopped. The laugh escaped before he could stifle it. Her thighs tightened around him, trying to hold him where he was, but he easily broke away and returned to her lips.

Kimi rocked against him, and the head of his sex nudged her entrance. He froze; he had to or he'd thrust inside her—and he couldn't, not yet. This was his
mate;
he had to take care of her. Nic fought the instinct that demanded he join with Kimi, but he wasn't sure he was going to win the battle.

"Nic?"

He gazed into her face, saw her arousal—and he saw her trust. Kimi had put her faith in him.

Breaking free, he rolled off the bed. She groaned a curse that made him grin despite the way his cock ached. He found his rucksack and dug out a condom. He had the thing ready to roll before he returned to the bed.

As soon as he was sheathed, he rejoined her and kissed Kimi, his hand moving between her legs to bring her back to the level of arousal she'd felt before he'd left. "I need you, Kimi," he murmured against her lips. And not only for right now. Again and again. Forever.

After brief hesitation, Kimi's hand curled around him and she guided him into her body. Nic struggled for control, struggled to keep his emotions in check. She was tight enough to squeeze him, and it felt good. So damn good. Warring against instinct, he kept his entry slow. He needed to ensure that Kimi found nothing save pleasure in his arms.

Once he was completely inside her, he paused, and as he looked into her eyes, something tightened around his heart. This was his vishtau mate, and though she was human, Kimi Noguchi was more than he'd ever dreamt.

Nic had to move—had to—and he fought to keep his strokes light. Kimi moved with him, her hips arching into his. She held him near and he loved that. He'd found were he belonged: in the arms of his mate. His thrusts became faster.

The urge to bite her slammed into him. He couldn't do it. Not while he was this aroused; he would hurt her. Nic levered himself farther away, but Kimi wrapped her arms and legs more tightly around him and drew him to her.

He let himself be dragged back. His body shook, not only from desire, but from the restraint he forced upon it.

Kimi's long hair trailed off the side of the pillow onto the bed. He wanted to feel it falling across his body, to have her tease him with her tresses. Next time. He could wait.

"Nic!" Kimi's voice was thick, her eyes heavy-lidded.

He knew she was close, that he'd need to do her harder to send her over the edge. Not too hard, he warned himself even as he moved more forcefully into her. The other women he'd been with hadn't excited him like Kimi did, and he hadn't worried about losing his self-command to the point where he hurt them. He had to be careful; it would take so little for his mate to push him into mindless hunger.

His body shook as he battled to hang onto awareness. And then she bit him. She sank her teeth into his biceps and Nic was lost. "Bite me again," he growled. Kimi did.

The world narrowed to encompass only one goal—reaching orgasm. He drove into her, pinning her to the bed with his hips. Nic was on the edge, a hairbreadth away when Kimi cried out. She clasped him tighter and her body bowed. It was too much for him. His soul reached for hers as he came with her—as he found the joy only his vishtau mate could give him.