Authors: Kelly Ilebode
Aaron’s hand reached over, picking up her hair, liking how the strands curled as they dried. She did not seem to mind him playing with them as she ate. After a few moments, he trailed his fingers down her back; flattening his palm, he pressed it against her, closing his eyes. He could feel her blood coursing through her veins, the flow smooth and strong. Feeling her muscles shift, he opened his eyes to see her turned, now facing him. Gently, she placed her hand on his thigh.
His eyes, though half closed, watched her every move.
Sliding her hand up, she could feel the thick muscle in his thigh flexing at her touch. Reaching under his shirt, she continued up his stomach, admiring each line and indentation. He certainly was a beautiful specimen.
Sliding on to his lap, she straddled him before leaning down and kissing him gently on the lips.
Gripping her hips in his hands, Aaron fought the urge to push her off. Internally, he hated what he was going to do, but his body obviously had no problem.
Feeling he was indecisive, she pressed harder with her lips, coaxing him to relax as her hair shielded them both.
Aaron opened his mouth, allowing her tongue access. She tasted like chocolate, and it was intoxicating. Letting go of his restraint, Aaron gripped her behind her head, kissing her hard, while his tongue raged a war with hers.
Pulling his lips from hers to trail them down her neck, he inhaled deeply. She smelled delicious. Easing her robe off her shoulders to give him more access to her skin, he groaned as his teeth nipped at her near her collarbone. “Please tell me you are wearing something underneath this robe?”
Running her fingers through his thick hair, she smiled. “Of course not.”
Groaning louder, he dropped his head between her breasts. He could feel his desire rising. In a few moments, there would be no turning back. Gripping her hips again, he tried to rationalize his feelings.
“
Don’t think, Aaron, only feel.”
Leaning back, he reached up and pulled the robe farther down her arms, causing the fabric to open wide. He had to admit, she indeed was beautiful: Her skin creamy white. Her breasts heavy and full as pink nipples hardened. Aaron’s eyes feasted on her hungrily.
Mesmerized, he gently cupped both of her breasts with his hands, pinching the nipples between his thumb and forefinger.
Chavali brought her hands up to cover his against her skin, her head thrown back, moaning. She felt incredibly sexy, and she was offering him all that she had.
His hand slid up her skin, moving to wrap around her throat, down her neck, and then moving between her breasts. His hand eventually moved even farther down to the gentle curves of her stomach until it was blocked by the robe, now bunched up around her hips.
Staring into her eyes, he tugged at the belt that held the rest of the robe together. It only took several pulls before it melted away from her and she was completely naked on top of him.
Reaching around her, he grabbed her buttocks as she once again lowered her mouth to his. This time, there was no gentleness in her touch. She was done playing games. She needed him. Her lips danced over his as her hips slid back and forth on him, causing an immediate reaction as he felt her heat.
His fingers gripped her hips tightly.
“
Chavali, you must slow down.” His voice pleaded with her. “Let’s go to my bed. We have all night.”
Ignoring him, she reached between them, sliding her hands in his pajamas. He jumped at her touch, almost losing complete control. Within moments, he was deep inside her and he gulped, feeling her surrounding him. She was being the aggressor and he did not like it. Wrapping his arm behind her head, he pressed his mouth hard against hers, making a last attempt to slow it down.
Chavali turned her head to one side. “Drink, Aaron.”
Her request tore down any willpower he had left. He drove his teeth into her; she cried out from the pain, gripping his hair tightly as the first rush of blood filled his mouth, knowing that within moments the pain would be gone, replaced by pure wanton pleasure.
For Aaron, his thoughts were no longer coherent. Flipping her onto her back on the couch, he drove into her hard as he released his fangs from her neck. Aaron’s eyes flamed red while his hips continued their thrusting. Catching movement, he watched her blood drip from her neck. He hated himself, but he wanted more.
Chavali wrapped her legs tightly around his waist, sliding up onto her elbows as she reached up to him, pulling him back down to her. Gripping his arms, she bit his shoulder, lapping at the blood that immediately sprang to the surface and feeling his energy surge in her. Matching his movements, she could feel herself fading.
Aaron, sensing her release was imminent, stopped his thrusts. He was not going to let her have all of the control this evening. Chavali tried to move against him, but Aaron kept her pinned. He sensed her irritation immediately. Reaching under her, he pulled her up, standing to his feet with her impaled on him in one quick movement. Gasping, Chavali felt him deep within her, and had to grip his shoulders for support as he quickly strode to the bed, laying her down.
Before she could react, Aaron grabbed her ankle, turning her onto her stomach so that he was behind her. Growling, Chavali tried to break free. Aaron’s fingers dug into her hips, holding her steady as he started to thrust again, even deeper this time into her.
Chavali did not like the control taken from her, or the obvious fact that he was attempting to dominate her. Clutching the bed covers, she tried to pull away. Aaron held tightly with one hand as he brought his other around to touch at her core, moving his fingers rhythmically, until her moans let him know that she was ready again. Immediately, he stopped, breathing heavy, waiting for her to come back down.
Chavali knew he was toying with her. Squeezing internally, she smiled as he groaned at the pressure.
Within moments, he was thrusting wildly against her again. Running his hands up her back, Aaron pushed his fingers in her hair, twisting the strands around them before tugging hard.
The pain sent shock waves of pure pleasure to Chavali, and out of control, she started to tighten around him as his thrusts became more urgent.
Leaning over, pressing his chest against her back, Aaron drove his fangs deep behind her neck, wildly thrusting as he drank. Only when he felt her body shudder its release did he retract his fangs, throwing back his head, roaring, as he found his own release shooting deep inside her, while emerald eyes flashed across his mind.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Amira slid out of bed gently. She had been tossing and turning all night, and it was obvious she was not going to get any sleep. Slipping on her robe, she looked down as Dragan slept. Even though his bed was the largest she had ever seen, he still overpowered the space. She smiled softly as his hand reached to her side of the bed as if he were looking for her.
Closing the door quietly, so not to wake him, she padded quietly down the hallway. Reaching the top of the great stairs, she felt a wet nose against her hand. Running her fingers through his white fur, Amira watched as Shadow looked up at her while yawning.
“
Silly boy. You don’t need to come with me. I am just getting something to drink from the kitchen.” Stoically, the wolf stood his ground, patiently waiting for her to continue downstairs. “You are even more stubborn then your master.” Gently touching him again, she remembered Shadow’s despair when Dragan died. Ever faithful, he stood guard at the chapel, howling in grief. It was that sound of sadness that confirmed to her that Dragan had indeed died. Not that she hadn’t believed Aaron; she just couldn’t wrap her brain around the thought of never seeing him again.
Shaking herself out of her reverie, she didn’t want to think about the past. Dragan was alive, and more than proved it earlier in the evening with his passionate lovemaking.
Pushing open the kitchen door, she hesitated, surprised to see the light on and Aaron seated at the counter.
“
Aaron, what are you doing? I wasn’t expecting anyone to be awake.”
“
Disappointed it’s me?”
Cocking her head to one side, she closed the door behind her softly before walking over to the refrigerator, avoiding making eye contact until she could pull her emotions together. “Of course not.”
“
Sorry, Amira. I didn’t mean to take it out on you.”
Her eyes bored into his as she opened the juice, sitting down next to him.
Aaron inhaled deeply of her scent, feeling the familiar pang in his chest as he picked up Dragan’s scent also.
“
Want to talk about it?”
Reaching out, he brushed the strand of hair that had fallen over her eye. Sensing her stillness, he realized that she was holding her breath. Removing his hand, he closed his eyes, hearing her heart rate pick up at his touch.
“
Do I bother you, Amira?”
“
Of course not, Aaron! Why in the world would you say something like that?”
As he leaned into her, she fought the urge to lean away from him.
“
Because you act all jittery around me whenever you see me, especially after our little chat at your place.”
Her face scrunched up as if she were thinking really hard about something.
“
No, Amira.”
“
No what?”
“
No, I don’t want to talk about it.”
Sighing, Amira drank deeply. This conversation certainly was not going to relax her.
Sliding off the stool, Aaron stood at her side with his hand outstretched.
Hesitating slightly before sliding her hand in his, she stood next to him.
“
Come. You and I always talk better when we walk. Let’s go outside.”
Pulling back, Amira looked nervous again. “Do you think it is safe?”
“
We won’t go far, Amira. Please?”
Looking up at him, she marveled at how much he looked like Dragan. Knowing they were identical twins, she wondered how both brothers were going to handle watching Dragan age.
“
We are not going to handle it well. I try not to think about it.”
“
Aaron! You know I don’t like it when you read me.”
Grinning down at her, he pulled her to the door. “Sorry.”
Laughing, Amira knew that he was not the least bit sorry, but the air lightened around them. This was the Aaron she liked.
Shadow bolted outside in front of them, surprising them both. Gesturing for her to step through, Aaron closed the door behind them before stepping onto the great lawn.
“
We have not had a chance to talk about Dragan, Aaron. Is that what is bothering you? The fact that he is human now and you are not.”
Thoughtfully, Aaron let her words sink in.
“
Maybe. A lot seems to be bothering me lately, it seems.”
Nodding her head, Amira turned toward the lake. “Like Chavali, you mean. You certainly are not yourself around her.”
Aaron stopped suddenly, staring at her back. “What is that supposed to mean?”
Turning to face him, she shrugged. “You are such a gentlemen, Aaron, just like your brother, but around her you have a deep-seated anger. I don’t like seeing you that way.”
“
For God’s sake, Amira, she wanted Dragan dead and you also, unless you have forgotten!”
“
For a good reason to her…”
“
Please tell me you are not being serious right now.”
Amira turned back to the lake and continued walking. “Sometimes we do and feel things that no one else understands but it does not make it wrong.”
Shaking his head in disbelief, he remained silent for a brief time. Reaching the edge of the lawn, they both stared out at the water. The moon hung low in the sky, partly obscured by the clouds, but still illuminating the night enough for them to watch as the mist rose up over the water.
“
I would kill anyone who even thought of killing the people I love.”
Gooseflesh broke over Amira’s skin. It was not so much the words, but the tone he used that disturbed her. Amira gasped as Aaron’s face was within an inch of her face.
“
And that includes you.”
Mesmerized, Amira reached up, touching his skin with her fingertips as confusion flashed across her face. She watched his eyes close at her touch.
Feeling her pull away, he balled his fists that hung at his sides, resisting the urge to pull her back. His tryst with Chavali made him feel unclean. Amira’s touch washed that feeling away.
“
He is different, Aaron.” Waiting for a reaction, she continued when there was none.
“
He doesn’t seem happy to be alive. When he returned to us, I thought he would be happy to be with me. That we would have children, grow old together and just be. I think he is to some extent, but then I get this feeling that he is deeply saddened.”
“
Maybe he hadn’t planned on ever being human again, Amira.”
Her whisper reached across to him. “What do you mean?”
“
He was ready to die for you. When death is accepted, then happens, then taken away…that has to do something to a person. It is not always a good thing to be reborn, knowing deep inside that you must face death again.”
Tears welled in Amira’s eyes. “Yes, he has told me that. He told you this also?”
“
Not in so many words, but you are correct—he is struggling.”
Covering her face with her hands, Amira struggled to hold back the tears and the sob that wanted to escape her lips. She felt all that she did lately was cry.
Aaron quickly came up behind her, wrapping her in his arms. Turning, she pressed her face into his chest.
Holding her gently, he wiped at the tears that continued to fall down her cheeks. “Please don’t cry, sweet Amira. For what it is worth, he loves you deeply. It is not because of you that he feels this way.”
Nodding her head in understanding, she took a shaky breath. “It does not ease the pain, Aaron.”