Darkest Risings (36 page)

Pressure
built inside her, and she fought the urge to let the swirling tide of release
overtake her. When she came, she wanted him inside her where he belonged, where
she longed for him to be. She hadn’t noticed that they’d been moving the entire
time he’d been tonguing her, and clawed at him in alarm when he began to tilt
her backwards.

When
she fell onto his soft bed, she barely had time to recover before his face was
buried against her once again. She bent her knees and tugged frantically at his
hair. “Aldin! Please.”

“Come
for me, Wilhemina,” he said against her.

The
vibrations of his words nearly sent her soaring over the edge, but she managed
to hang on…by a single thread. A fine sheen of sweat broke on her skin, and she
panted. “Need. You. Inside. Me,” she said through gritted teeth as the building
pleasure threatened to swallow her.

She
cried out when he abruptly sat up on his knees and nudged her thighs wide. He
stared down at her with such intensity, as if he could peer into her very soul.
She fought the urge to squirm, and gasped when he slowly reached down and ran
one long finger over her breast, then nipple. His touch was almost too much on
her already over-sensitized skin. And when his finger continued downward over her
abdomen, around her navel, then settled on her clit, she couldn’t help but cry
out as the explosion of pleasure threatened to overtake her once again.

She
stared up at him, waiting while the silk sheets caressed her back with every
shiver that ran through her spine.

“This
is mine.” He applied more pressure on her clit and she gasped. “Only mine.” His
black eyes swallowed her whole.

She
nodded because she wasn’t sure if she could speak at the moment.

“Say
it,” he grated.

“Only
yours,” she managed in a choked whisper.

He
circled her clit, and as the waves rose to claim her, he shifted and slid his
cock home. He thrust hard through her clenching channel, sending another wave
of unadulterated euphoria bursting through her. She tried to scream, but no
sound came from her throat. Her mouth gaped open along with her eyes as she dug
her fingers into his shoulders and her heels into his ass as he continued to
ride her. He gave no mercy, and she wanted none.

He
stared down at her as he thrust into her again and again, and just when she
thought the pleasure was too much, his mouth opened and she watched his fangs
slide down. A part of her brain told her she should be scared, but she found
that the fact he was showing her a side of him he likely didn’t share often
excited her that much more.
 
He slowly
dipped his head toward her, and she urged him forward with her hands.

“I
love you, Wilhemina.”

His
teeth popped through her skin at the top of her left breast and another orgasm
barreled down on her like an unexpected avalanche. This time, her scream of
pleasure rang out through the room, and he thrust hard in response. He grunted
and came in her with hot pulses, the sensation sending electricity zinging
through her system until she thought she might black out since no one could
possibly survive this kind of euphoria. The buzzing was starting in her ears
again, and she wondered if anyone had ever died from the intensity of
love-making.

He
gently pulled his fangs from her and rolled over onto his back, bringing her
with him without breaking the connection of their bodies. She sprawled over his
chest, and he put his wrist to his mouth. He never took his eyes from her as he
bit through the flesh then slowly extended his arm to her. The dark blood from
his bite was surprisingly tempting. He held perfectly still, waiting, putting
the decision fully in her hands.

“No
regrets, Wilhemina. If you do this, be sure. There is no going back. I won’t be
able to live with myself if you later feel you’ve made a mistake. If you ever
grow to despise me…” He squeezed his eyes shut.

She
reached out and linked her fingers with his to draw him to her mouth. His black
eyes opened, and she watched him, making sure he could see that she knew
exactly what she was about to do, that she knew the profound effect the
decision she’d made would have on her life. She wanted him to understand that
she would never have regrets about loving him, accepted him for who and what he
was, and wanted to be with him always.

“Never
will I have regrets,” she said before giving his wrist a long, slow lick.
“Never will I despise you.” The coppery tang of his blood hit her taste buds,
wrenching a tortured moan of bliss from her throat. As she took his life force
into her body, it was as if every cell vibrated with anticipation of something
that was just out of reach. He brought up his other hand and tangled his
fingers in her hair.

Her
stomach clenched, and she began to greedily feed from him. His essence flowed
through her veins, becoming a part of her—he became a part of her—forever. She
was certain that even when the time came to draw her last breath, he would
remain a part of her for eternity.

He
tugged her up and kissed her before settling her against his side. His fingers
remained idly sifting through her hair, the sensation sending soothing pulses
of pleasure undulating through her.

As
sleep began to claim her, she snuggled against him tighter.

“Will
it hurt?” she murmured.

“No.”

“Your
skin is almost back to its normal color. Are you better?”

“Yes.
I’m always better when you’re here.”

“I’m
sleepy.”

“I
know. I’ll be here when you wake. I won’t leave you.”

She
nodded, and the last thing she felt before sleep claimed her was his warm lips
and breath on her cheek.

 
The peace Aldin felt with Wilhemina pressed up
against him snoring softly was akin to the peace he thought the trees must feel
as they bent and swayed in a gentle breeze on a warm day. The slight weight of
her arm draped low on his belly was something he could get used to fast. He’d
never made a habit out of spending the night with any other woman. They had
been for his amusement, his outlet. He had been for their pleasure.

But
with Wilhemina? Amusement was the furthest thing from his mind. She brought him
a depth of euphoria he’d only dreamed of experiencing. When he was inside her
warm wetness—the place that wept only for him—the rest of the world ceased to
exist. She consumed him when he possessed her. Not only did their bodies meld
when he made love to her, but their souls and hearts blended together, making
them one…making him whole.

She
would awake soon, and he wondered if she would regret her decision to let him
change her. She’d assured him she never would, but how could she, the most
beautiful flower, be drawn to him, the darkness? He’d always doubted his
nourishing abilities where women were concerned, but he’d try his damndest to
give her what she needed—whatever that may be—to keep her content and happy. He
could offer her protection and pleasure with ease. Those things were in his
nature. But the tenderness, the romantic gestures? Those would be hard for him
to get the hang of. For her? He’d never stop trying until the day his heart
gave its last beat.

She
stirred against him, and his breath caught in his lungs when her long hair slid
off her skin, exposing the creamy swell of one breast that was hidden beneath.
His fingers itched, wanting to touch, but the last thing she needed was him
pawing her on her first morning of waking as a vampire.

“Aldin, we need to have a meeting.”

Ashe’s
voice slipped through his mind as easily as his own thoughts.

“I can’t come yet, brother.”

“This is serious.”

“I understand, but I will not leave
Wilhemina until she awakes.”

For
some reason, he hesitated telling Ashe that the bond between them had been
sealed. It wasn’t that he didn’t trust his brother, because he trusted Ashe
with his life without hesitation. It was more that he was selfish and didn’t
want to share the moment with anyone. Not yet anyway.

“
I understand, Aldin. We will meet in an
hour, and I will see you as soon as you are able. I hope that you have good
news to share. We are in need of something good.”

“I’ll see you.”

Ashe’s
response told him that he’d guessed the reason for his refusal to leave
Wilhemina. And he’d been right when he said that they could all use some good
news. But had Ashe meant they needed it because of what had already happened or
because of something else? A slither of dread snaked down his spine as he
wondered about Ragnor’s condition.

Wilhemina
stretched beside him like a contented cat. Her nipples brushed against his
side, the innocent touch sending fire straight to his groin. When her gray eyes
opened and she smiled at him, his heart nearly stopped at the sheer, blind
radiance of that grin.

“Good
morning,” she said in a voice made husky by sleep.

He
pulled her up until she was draped over his chest, and her mouth was a scant,
tantalizing inch from his. Her breath warmed his skin.

“Good
morning, beautiful.” He cupped her nape and drew her in for a lazy, thorough
kiss.

Her
natural sweet taste rushed him like floodwaters, and he felt more alive than he
had in years.

“Mmm.
You taste even better than I remember.” She sighed deeply.

He
smiled, wondering if she realized that was because all of her senses were now
heightened. She would feel, taste, smell, hear, and see everything in more
detail, with more awareness. Things that were once undetectable to her—whispers
from across a crowded room, the subtle aroma of freshly blooming flowers in a
light breeze, an owl perched high in a tree in the blackness of night—would now
be detectable with ease.

And
sex. He squeezed his eyes shut as her fingers toyed with one of his nipples,
teasing it into a tiny, tight bud. He wondered if she had any clue what she did
to him, how she could turn him inside out with a brush of her lips or a passing
caress of her hand.

She
began kissing his chest, and he slipped his fingers into the mass of thick, red
hair, encouraging her progress. But even he hadn’t been prepared when she
climbed on top of him and impaled herself on his throbbing cock. She’d moved so
quick he hadn’t had time to prepare himself for the gripping muscles of her
warm, wet sheath. She smiled down at him and stilled when a tortured growl
slipped from his throat.

He
raised a brow at her in question.

In
answer, she bucked her hips, which buried him to the hilt. He cupped the globes
of her ass and sat up. She wrapped her arms around his neck and began riding
him. The rise and fall of her hips mesmerizing, the gentle bounce of her full
breasts intoxicating.

Soon
small mewls of pleasure poured from her full lips, and her eyes fixed on his.
His body notched up another degree in heat, nearing the exploding point when
blackness crept over her gray eyes, giving him undisputed proof of the pleasure
she felt as she rose on her knees then fell on to him over and over. She threw
her head back and the throb of her pulse in the long jugular running down her
slim throat called to him.

He
licked his lips as she brought him closer and closer to release, writhing and
rotating on him, driving him crazy. As her muscles clenched down hard around
him, signaling her impending orgasm, her partly opened mouth revealed the small
fangs that had slid instinctively into place. His heart nearly stopped in
anticipation as she bent to lick his neck. His balls tightened, ready to empty
his seed inside her, and when she cried out and sank her teeth into his neck,
he bellowed out as he exploded.

He
pressed her to his throat as he pumped up into her relentlessly, drawing out
every last wave of both of their climaxes. When her inner muscles settled to a
subtle quiver around his cock, she eased from his neck and tenderly licked the
bite.

She
sat back, and he peered up into her beautiful face, wondering what he’d done to
deserve her. But when the blackness cleared from her eyes, dawning realization
set in.

“Oh
my God! What did I do?” She began to frantically examine his neck, but when she
tried to scramble off him, he slid his hands to her hips and dug his fingers in
to hold her to him.

“No,”
he growled.

“But—”

“But
nothing. You did no wrong. What just happened was perfectly natural, and I
might add that I enjoyed it immensely.”

He
loved the way her skin pinkened as she blushed. “I don’t know what came over
me,” she said quietly.

“Wilhemina,
nothing came over you but instincts. They are much stronger now, and you will
follow them without as much thought. Trust them. They will never steer you
wrong.” He gently rolled her under him, and stroked her cheek with his thumb
before trailing it down to her breast and circling her nipple. He bent and
licked the tightening peak, and his cock twitched, readying for another round
when she moaned. “This is a part of your life now. It is something we will
share often.” He nibbled at the soft skin above her nipple as he slipped his
fingers down her body, and dipped two inside her. They slid deep, the passage
slick and ready from the combined essence of their climaxes. She cried out, and
he thrust into her again as he pushed down gently on her clit with his thumb.
“That’s it, honey. Come for me again. Feel me.”