The Blood Bride (Blood Secrets) (14 page)

Hope pinched her nipple, then reached across herself to find the other giving it the same attention. Her breath caught and her eyes closed while she spiralled higher.

Water sloshed and lips opened over hers. In that moment of passion she returned the touch of mouth and tongue that surprised her, uncaring of the consequences.

She felt the hand that covered hers, gently removing her fingers from her hot core to be replaced with larger, harder ones. The strokes now turned urgent, as she tried vainly to open her legs farther, tilting her hips upward, towards the man by the bath, thrashing wildly. The knowing movement of fingers urging her on, while she knew instinctively to give herself over to the passion that now burned within her—towards Xavier.

He thrust his tongue within her mouth, in time to the finger moves, and he grasped her breast, kneading it softly, then rolled her nipple between finger and thumb. She moaned and shook as he thumbed the small nub between her legs and teased it.

She quivered with sensation, chest heaving, as finally, with one last move of his fingers, he pushed her over the edge.

She felt the climax as his mouth left hers, and she dragged in deep breaths, eyes opening sightlessly. The rhythmic movement of the muscles between her legs clenched his fingers as the orgasm streaked through her body. Finally they stilled and she gripped her legs around him—claiming him intimately as hers.

“I told you we weren’t finished.” His voice was dark and full of promise, and she looked back to see him reaching for his belt. His shirt was already gone, lying in a heap, where it soaked up the water that had spilled over the sides of the tub.

The rasp of his zipper filled the air. He slid black pants and underwear to the wet floor. His erection stood large and proud in front of her, and she gulped.

Before, when he had found her in the bedroom it had been the sudden thudding and rapid beat of her heart had driven him to enter without permission. Crashing through had been instinctual. The roiling emotions, primal and animalistic in intensity, had moved him towards her without thought. Once inside there had been no way he could turn back. He smelt her arousal when he walked back in the door. That musky scent had told him she was hot, and once he’d kissed her, his senses had narrowed to her. All he could think about was her.

Her arousal scented the air. His need to be with her took over. He needed to be with her, in every possible way. The need and passion had him so turned on, it had taken every inch of his willpower not to strip her naked and thrust within her body straight away.

Then the phone had rung, and he had cursed it, as much as thanked some long-forgotten deity for the interruption. This number was one that very few people had, so he couldn’t ignore its urgent summons.

The buzzing had cleared the sensual fog he had been lost in for a few minutes. When he returned to the bedroom where he had left her, she was gone. But he heard the moans, the splashing water and his senses heightened further, knowing she had been as aroused as he was. Heaven knew, he shouldn’t have entered, but his body had refused to listen.

Walking into the bathroom, he’d found her lost in passion, and he couldn’t ignore the need that obviously rode her like a demon. Come whatever, he had to taste her, touch her. Be one with her.

And by God, she had responded like he had never seen before. Feeling her orgasm on his fingers had finally pushed him into making a decision. But he had to be sure.

So now, here he stood, watching her, and waiting for her answer to the unspoken question. His erection jutting proudly from the hairs at his groin, the seeping of his magic—imbued in him when he had become a Master, left him tingling. He couldn’t control the way it seeped from his pores.

Her eyes shone like violet fire as she reached out with her soft, small hand, barely glancing his flesh, slipping her hand over his tip, capturing the moisture that escaped. He watched, as she looked at it on her finger then brought it to her lips, flicking at it with her pink tongue. Then she smiled at him.

She rose in the bath, bubbles cascading over her curves as she stood. Her nipples stood erect, and one hand snaked back to her breast, lifting it to him as if in offering, while the other fastened around his proud length. Softly she pumped him, leaning against the wall and lifting one foot to place on the edge of the bathtub, turning towards him so he could see her glistening, moist pink flesh.

He groaned and moved towards her mouth. She opened wide to his tongue as it sought entry. He pushed her hand away, and he cupped her breasts, flicking at the nipples. She moaned, and he kissed her with every inch of passion within him.

She was so turned on. She didn’t care about the rules that should keep them apart. Never before had she experienced pleasure so deep as when he had joined her, and she burnt. The feel of her fingers within her hadn’t been enough, and she knew he was aroused. Felt it in the stiffness of his shaft hard against her belly, and the seeping fluid that escaped his body, salty to the taste. She too was hot, needing for him to fill her. She wanted to enjoy the intimate act with him, and wanted him to feel the same soul-deep connection.

She writhed against the cold, tiled wall as she pumped him. Once his hand brushed hers away, she let it slip down her own body, letting it move wetly between her legs while she continued to explore his velvet covered hardness.

The feel of his hands on her breasts left her breathless, each breath harder to capture than the last, and she panted. Each flick of his fingers on her erect nipples seemed to pull at something within her, making it tighter and hotter.

He removed his hands from her breasts, captured her waist and lifted her. Shock interrupted her pleasure momentarily, but he pulled her towards him, then she smiled. She let go and he dragged her up against him. His sleek and hairless chest touched her nipples, and the reaction was electric, frissons of pleasure exploding over and through her system.

She swung her legs around his waist while he staggered through the doorway. Hope felt the tip of his penis at her core. Unable to wait any longer, she pushed herself down onto him and groaned as she took all of him within her body. He moaned, stopped still, and when she looked at his eyes, they were so smoky, she could feel his fire burning within her own veins.

Hope flexed her heels against rock-hard buttocks and tipped herself forward, letting him settle deeper within her core.

“Oh, God!” She moved again, as she subtly flexed her muscles, and this time she felt the pressure of his hands as they pulled at her, pushing closer, as scorching mouths met and tongues tangled. Then they undulated together.

Firmer.

Harder.

Faster.

The sound of moans and cries filled the air as they continued to surge towards each other, the slapping of skin and the scent of arousal growing stronger with each touch.

Hope arched her back, feeling the climax building in her body once more. She cried out, feeling the flexing of her muscles, and felt him stiffen on one last hard thrust, and he joined her, locked together in their private ecstasy. Her heart thudded, crashing wildly as she felt the twin movement in his.

Slowly she slumped towards him, winding her limp arms around his neck, collapsing against a shoulder, feeling boneless and replete.

She kept her legs around him, and nestled in.

He carried her towards the bed and angled himself. They dropped towards the covers side on, so that they both lay entwined upon the covers. Her eyes remained shut while she let her breathing settle, noting the soft movement of his touch gliding up and down her back.

“I’ve never done that before. Well, you know… Not like that.” She whispered the words to him and slowly opened her eyes.

His gazed at her with haunting green eyes. “Then I am pleased you were with me.” He leant forward and kissed her softly on the lips, pulling the covers over both of them. She lay silent, listening to the beat of his heart beneath her ear, and drifted off to sleep.

He stayed still. The feel of her surrounding his flesh had been something he had never experienced before, and he was confused. Previously, sex had been fun and even sometimes an almost athletic exercise. Being an immortal had meant many partners and experiences, but he could honestly say it had never been like this before.

Never had he experienced this burning need to be with just one person, with it driving everything else from his mind.

He thought over the phone call that had interrupted them, before flinging an arm over his eyes.

James had rung through, angry and upset at the decisions he and Cressida had made. He had refused to acknowledge sending the nestlings from the house, even for a short term, was the safest and best option. Xavier made a mental note to discuss the ongoing issues he experienced with James with Javed. The
Yeux Secondes
was supposed to accept the decisions of the Master, ensuring the house and its affairs ran smoothly, but somehow along the way James had forgotten it wasn’t his nest and he wasn’t the Master. That concerned him—greatly.

With a sigh, he let himself relax once more, breathing deeply, expanding his chest as he allowed the tension that built within him to seep away. He had told Javed to ensure no one else interrupted him. He grunted quietly, thinking about his responsibilities once more. Javed was making an excellent second, and he had no doubt, at some time in the near future, he would soon be ready for his own nest. For now, Xavier was thankful that his second would ensure his Master was undisturbed.

He smiled faintly. He could sleep, but when they woke, he would be ready for more of this experience, of loving Hope.

He closed his eyes, feeling the weight of her body nestled against him, allowing the unfamiliar emotion of contentment and well-being to spread through him as he shifted restlessly. Then, slowly, he cleared his mind, letting the blessed oblivion of sleep claim him.

Chapter Five

She moved, feeling something hard and unforgiving below her head as she shifted again, becoming restless. An unfamiliar feeling of warmth surrounded her, enfolding her, and she snuggled down, opening her eyes then shutting them again quickly, once she realised she wasn’t alone in the bed.

She could feel the movement of his hands along her body and Hope realised she was naked, with aches in spots that hadn’t ached in ages. Very naked indeed, with a hard naked body sharing the bed with her. She swallowed hard, and the abrasions around her mouth protested. She moaned quietly.

Dear God! The erotic dream hadn’t been a dream after all! Her stomach sank like a stone. She’d had sex with Xavier! To compound her stupidity, she was still here, naked and in the bed with Xavier! Hope opened her eyes with a small moan of distress. She needed to get out of here, make sure she was dressed before he woke.

She scrambled to the edge of the bed, trying not to wake him. Quickly finding a cover to pull around her nude body, she attempted to clamber out. She nearly made it. She congratulated herself, until her foot caught in the covers, and she almost tumbled off the bed.

He clamped both hands around her waist before she made contact with the cold hard floor, and she jerked with surprise.

“Good morning, Hope.” His voice sent shivers through her and she remembered what he had done with that mouth, just last night.

“Oh God!” The words escaped her lips, and she felt a red tide of embarrassment crawling under her skin.

“Not quite the reaction I expected.” The words were tinged with amusement. He grasped her waist then pulled her back towards that hard, warm…and naked chest. Her body reacted once more to the proximity, heating where they touched.

Awkwardness fought with need, and she moved against him. Arousal reared, clawing at her with desperation, at the shock of his skin against hers. Hope clawed inwardly for control of her emotions, but it skittered away as she gulped for air.

“Uhh, Xavier? I don’t think this is such a great…” She stopped, trying to find the words. “You know I don’t usually…” Each sentence stuttered and died. What was there for her to say?
I think having sex with you is the worst decision of your life? Of my life?
She shut her mouth with a snap, because that was only true on some levels.

Each comment sounded either like she was a pitiable piece of humanity, or full of herself.
You are making such a hash of this
. She rolled her eyes at the useless thoughts crashing through her brain, and she struggled to find her equilibrium.

“Hope? There is nothing wrong with enjoying a physical relationship. Masters and nestlings have been doing it for centuries.” The amusement she had heard before was gone, and his words were affectionate. She closed her eyes.

God, don’t let me make more of a mess of this than I already have.
If she were brutally honest, she’d tell him she wanted more than just a wham, bam, thanks for the sex, ma’am type of encounter. But he was a Master, and she a nestling. With an effort she kept her mouth shut.

“Hope? Seriously, we have done nothing wrong.” She heard him move, while uncertainty filled her. “I can go if you are so uncomfortable with this.” The words were soft, as was his hand as he reached over and gently touched her shoulder. Tears burnt her eyes, a sensation that seemed to always be close to the surface at the moment, annoying her.

Instinctively, her body curled towards him, and she gave in once more with a quiet sigh. She turned around and attempted a wobbly smile when she saw the concern on his face. He pulled her close, back against him and the sensation of warmth and belonging grew again. This time she leant forward, allowing the sheet to slip, as she touched her mouth gently to his. In that instant, she knew. She wasn’t going to fight this anymore. She couldn’t, when it was the one thing that made her feel like she was needed.