[excerpt] (10 page)

Her voice was a siren’s sonnet that settled right in his groin, but then, wasn’t that the whole point of the seductress?

Serina stifled a grin as he strained not to blink. “Don’t look at me as if you’re going to burn a hole through me, just try to feel with your mind and heart at the same time.” She scooted closer and began a slow lazy stretch of her arms over her head, with every intention of nudging her endowment forward. An invitation she hoped he’d accept.

He blurted, “Your desire shall be your death if you don’t kiss me soon.” Lucian puckered up and leaned into the lady. His advances were halted when Serina placed a firm hand to his chest..

“Not so fast, sir.” She winked.

“All right, my desire shall be my death if I do not feel the promise of dreams your lips offer.” Lucian returned the wink. With one swift move, he grasped her arms, pulled her across his lap, and turned her on her back.

The mischievous twinkle in her eye defined who she was: swift, cunning, sexy, loyal, and spirited beyond the norm. She was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen and to have her in his arms was far more than he deserved. Lucian tucked one arm behind her back to cradle her head, while his other hand held her chin.

“Can you read my mind now?” he asked. Serina began to lift her head to kiss him when he stopped her in her tracks. He grinned. “Not so fast, m’lady.” He dipped his head to greet her, his mouth finding solace on hers. He pulled away licking his lips. “God, woman, you’re so sweet, I feel as if I may lose myself in you, and I’ve only just kissed you. Is this part of your magic?”

“Lucian if I held that force, I’d have men knocking down my door all the time, yet you, sir—” She nodded towards the remains of her front door. “―seem to be the only man intent on doing just that!” Serina wrapped her arms around him. “Kiss me again?”

“Where are my manners?” He moved a breath away from her. “You’ll never have to ask again.” He snuggled beside her, crossed one leg over her legs, propped himself up on an elbow and gazed into her eyes. He began fidgeting with the buttons on her shirt, loosening them one at a time, waiting in between each one to see if a protest of sorts came. When none came, he advanced higher to the next button. Lucian left the last few buttons closed, more for her modesty. He found no corset beneath the shirt and silently thanked the Gods. He’d seen the torturous devices hanging in the wash room and knew if he were to ever have to remove one, well, the woman would be years older by the time he figured its secrets out. He slid his fingers across her ribs and abdomen and beneath him she shivered and tiny goose bumps formed.

“Chilly, my wild rose?” He blew a warm breath over her tummy.

Her thought went to him.
Quite the opposite, m’lord.

“I got that, m’lady. Life is going to be interesting between us. I am most flattered and shall continue to fulfill your desires.”

“You’re a cocky SOB.”

“You’ll find out soon enough just how cocky.” Lucian bent his head toward Serina’s stomach and with the swirl his tongue inched his way across her sweet flesh. When he got to the last button he nibbled at it. Surprising them both, the button flew across the room leaving Serina baring all and laughing. “Oops. I’ll stitch that back for you later.” Lucian never took his eyes from Serina’s face as he took her breast into his mouth, teasing her with his tongue, first with a quick flick then a light graze of teeth.

Opening her mouth to speak, Serina found her vocabulary reduced to moans, unable to form coherent thoughts from the pleasures he bestowed upon her. She caressed his cheek with her finger as his tongue caressed her breast. She loved the way his mouth feathered over her skin, and caused a deep, warm need between her thighs. She tried to relax, to just breathe, to enjoy these new sensations but she needed an outlet.

Serina went to work exploring Lucian. She ran her hands through the silken texture of his hair, then marched her fingers up and down his back, to her final destination, his scrumptious derriere.

That one gesture caused Lucian to change positions. He slid across her stomach and covered her with the weight of his hips.

She wiggled impatient. She needed his heated desire once more pressed hard against her mons either to relieve the incessant itch or rub her raw before she lost what was left of her sanity. This lust or hunger now awake within her, screamed for his undivided attention. Luscious little sensations reached well into her private lips and struck a chord. She ached to have his fingers, his mouth or the silky-smooth shaft she’d held in the carriage, buried within her to dance and resonate deep inside her.

Being this close to her, Lucian had to regain some control or this, his first time, would well be over before it began. Serina made him feel like a man for the first time in his life, made him feel things he’d only overheard others brag about in their conquests. This was no conquest. He was giving his heart to the woman.

“Can you read my thoughts now, m’lady?” He pressed his hips into her and gave a wiggle back and forth spreading her legs further apart until he nestled comfortably between them, and hit that one spot she itched to have scratched. He kissed her neck, lightly at first and then harder as he lost himself. Her delicate skin and the fragrance of blooming roses, intoxicated him. He thrilled listening to the small sounds of pleasure she made. This, without a doubt, he could get used to.

Everything Serina felt at that moment intensified tenfold as his lips ravaged her. She found out fast, her neck had a direct path to the deepest part of her body, where all her wants, desires, and dreams lay secretly locked away and his lush lips were the key. Serina returned a slow swivel of her hips. With all the movement between them the black skirt she wore ended up well up past her hips. She didn’t remember how it got there only that she wanted it gone. Her satin drawers and his trousers were all that separated her from her dreams.

“Lucian,” Serina asked. “Would you make love to me, now? Here? P—”

Lucian closed his lips over Serina’s, silencing her pleas. His kiss was deep and long as passion drove his instincts. He broke away to see a smile on her lips. “I already told you, you’d never have to ask me again. I meant that. Are you sure here and now? I mean don’t get me wrong, m’lady, I’m willing and able, but I want you to be positive.”

“I’ve waited my entire life for you. My heart and head tell me I’m right. And trust me they rarely agree on anything. I’ve had dreams and desires that I’ve never thought I’d experience until I met you. I know you feel the same way. And not just because of this.” Serina met the firmness of his erection when she pulled him closer.

With her fingertip, she traced the outline of his lips. “I fancy your lips kissing me here.” Serina pointed to her mouth. She kissed him lightly. “And here.” She pointed to her neck. She gave him another light playful kiss. “And here.” Again, she covered his mouth with hers and delivered one deep, luring kiss, then she broke away, and she made a trail with her fingertip down between her breasts. “And definitely here.” She slipped her fingers across her nipples watching him with a curious anticipation as he followed her finger. With a slight shift of hand, Serina grabbed Lucian’s chin. With her eyes closed she met his mouth, hers slightly open, and slid her tongue to his and began the mating dance.

By this time, Lucian had Serina’s drawers down, well past her hips, and on their way to their final destination, the floor. His disappeared just as quickly.

“I want to see you. I want to touch you, to make love with you, Lucian. And I want you to do the same to me.” Serina was in no way embarrassed by her words. Confidence ruled her.

He stood before her, firm, lean muscles everywhere. “You are incredibly beautiful,” she said staring in awe at his penis. She swiftly lifted her gaze before he caught her being so bold.

“You failed to mention one minor detail, m’lady.” Lucian slid his hand over the length of his erection to give Serina a show of what he had to offer her.

Serina licked her lips. The length and breadth alone would not disappear inside her without a fight. Half of a grin worked onto her lips. The fight would be well worth the effort.

“That’s not minor, luv,” she teased as she wrapped her fingers around him and squeezed.

Lucian’s body quivered.

Serina climbed from the couch and slid the blouse from her shoulders. It fell to the floor. The skirt vanished as well.

Lucian’s intention? To ravish every inch of the woman from her thick, auburn hair, to her sparkling eyes, and those full, firm creamy breasts! And her mind. He loved her mind. She was brilliant, caring, compassionate, witty, desirable…

He closed the distance. His hands on her face, he tilted her chin to gaze into her eyes. He ran his fingers through her silken locks, and tugged her head back, exposing the luscious line of her neck. With only the warmth from his lips on her neck, her body stiffened with anticipation. The pulse beneath her skin raced as he kissed her. Had he not been so intrigued with every aspect of making love to this woman, the idea of her pulse should have bothered him. He’d touch on that subject later.

Until it, her scent, and the little
thump-thump—thump-thump—thump-thump
, ate at him and consumed what was going to be his first erotic moment of his life.

“You know, m’lady being a vampire may not be such an awful fate for you if I actually end up becoming one. I love the reaction I get when I kiss you here.” Lucian kissed her neck. “And here.” He kissed her cheek. “And definitely here.” Lucian covered her breast and lapped at her nipple. He nibbled harder, flicked his tongue around her areola and suckled drawing her ripeness out. “Just think what would happen if I held special powers as you do and nibbled here?” He slid his hand between her thighs and pressed into her mons.

Serina moaned beneath his lips.

“Trust me, Lucian, you
are
special.” The only thing that took a second or two to register was the fact he’d said something about a vampire. She couldn’t quite recall if he said he was one or if he wanted to be one. At that point, she didn’t care. She really didn’t. If he did turn, she’d find a way to follow him—to the gates of the graves if that’s where they ended up. Serina lapped at his nipples, now firm from her ascension and the tastiest little treat she’d had in her mouth, thus far.

Positive her knees were about to give out from under her, she slid her hands down and held onto his tush. She teased him as she slid her fingers between his cheeks, pinched him, patted him lightly and moved lower. When she grasped his sac, its squishy texture hardened.

“Everything turns to stone when I touch you.”

“Everything but my heart.” Lucian kissed the tip of her nose then crept back to her collarbone.

With his erection pressed against her stomach, firm, thick and hot little tremors sprinted through her as Lucian’s lips worked their magic. “You’re going to leave one of those little marks on my throat that tells everyone I’ve been up to no good, Lucian.” She leaned backwards with a little moue.

“No good? And here I thought I was being so very good.” He mimicked her pout. “I like the mark I’ve given you. I think it’ll be one of many. The rest, however, will not be open to public viewing, luv.” He slid his hand between her thighs again, and weaved his fingers through her dark curls. A warm moist invitation awaited him. When he ran his index finger and middle finger over her
cresson
and pinched her little nubbin, her teeth clamped down harder than vise grips onto his nipple. “
Ooh
!” An intense thrill settled in his groin.

He caressed her womanhood, stretched her, searching for that spot deep within her that would assuage the blissful pressure in her. From her body’s reactions and the gentle groans she whimpered, he knew he’d discovered something.

Her muscles tightened and gripped his fingers. Tenderly, he eased two fingers inside her. He didn’t want to hurt her when he entered her, knowing this would be her first time...his, too.

Serina didn’t look hurt. Her smile reeked of shameless satisfaction. He continued to slip his fingers in, out, around, and over that one soft little fleshy nub that left her body trembling in his arms. Lucian thrust his tongue into her while his fingers caressed her private lips. Exact opposites on each end of her body.

About to lift her, movement through Serina’s window caught his eye. His dream of their first joining and his erection shattered. “Do not hesitate, and run for cover.”

“Huh? What?” she asked one step away from a trance.

“We’ve company in about ten seconds. Move your dainty little
arse
unless you want Duncan viewing it.”

One moment Lucian had Serina beside him and the next, he stood alone, naked, in her parlor. “Where are you?” he hollered.

“Upstairs, hurry.” She giggled. “Oh that
was
close.”

Lucian skulked into her bedroom and plopped down atop her bed. His long face made Serina bite the inside of her cheeks.

“What’s the matter, m’lord?”

“You have to ask?” He motioned to his naked body. “All my things are in a heap on your floor. Not to mention, we didn’t…”

“We will when the time is right and not before. Let me cover meself and I’ll go get your knickers.” Serina kissed Lucian softly before she headed out. “I rather fancied that downstairs, m’lord. Thank you.”