Dalakis Passion 2 - Lucian's Delight (5 page)

you did any less you would not be a
Dalakis
." Then he was gone, swallowed up into
the darkness of the night. The door slammed shut and bolted behind him.
Lucian climbed the stairs and strode down the hall, carrying his precious bundle
into the master suite. Carefully, he placed her on the silky coverlet. Was it only a few
hours ago that he'd dreamed of having
her
here with him? Now that she was here in
the flesh it was almost too much for him to comprehend. Delight was no longer just a
dream, but a flesh and blood woman, and she was his.
Gingerly, he unhooked the purse that was still slung around her neck and tossed it
on the floor. Rolling up the sleeves of his shirt, he went to work. Taking care not to
disturb her, he stripped her dirty, torn clothing from her body. Bruises marred her pale
white flesh, stoking the fire of his anger once again.
With great difficulty, he buried his fury, focusing his total concentration on Delight.
Nothing mattered beyond her comfort and well-being.
When she was totally naked, he lifted her into his arms once again and carried her
to the master bath where a steaming bath was waiting for them. Silently thanking his
brother for his foresight and thoughtfulness, he lowered Delight into the water.
Her eyelids fluttered and then her eyes shot open, large and fearful. Frantically, she
pushed against his chest, splashing water everywhere, but he kept one arm wrapped
around her shoulders until he was certain she was settled safely in the tub. Slipping his
arm away, he sat on the floor and leaned over the smooth marble edge that rimmed the
large tub. "You are safe now. Nothing can harm you here." He purposely made his
voice soft and non-threatening.
"You saved me." Her panic eased when he released her. She seemed a little dazed
and uncertain and her blue eyes looked enormous in her pale face.
"Yes." Lucian soaped a soft sea sponge and began to draw it over her arms and
chest, washing away the filth and fear of her ordeal.
Uttering a small cry of distress, Delight crossed her arms over her chest even as she
curled her body into a tight little ball. "Go away."
The sight of her like that almost brought him to his knees, but her feisty words
assured him that she would be fine in time. Carefully, Lucian cupped her chin with his
fingers and tilted her face up to meet his.
Stubbornly, she tried to keep her face averted, but he was just as stubborn as she
and kept up a steady pressure until she finally relented. Scowling, she lifted her eyes to
his. "Well?"
He tried desperately not to laugh, for she was spitting like a bedraggled kitten. But
Lucian was no fool when it came to women and he knew that she wouldn't appreciate
the analogy. "There is no need to hide your body from me or to fear
me
."
"You're a complete stranger, so you'll excuse me if we have a difference of opinion
over that." Delight spoke calmly, but he could sense her discomfort and rising fear.
"I am no stranger. I am the other half of you.
The part that has been missing your
entire life."
Lucian released her face, again picked up the sponge, and began to run it
gently up and down her legs.
Delight shifted in the tub, but didn't pull away from him. "You know me," his
mesmerizing voice cajoled her. "You've dreamed of me. Of the pleasure I can bring
you." Dropping the sponge, he allowed his fingers to trace her hipbone. "Of the
pleasure we can bring one another."
He could feel her heart pounding in her chest as his hand glided up her side and
over her shoulder, until he was cupping her neck. Keeping his large hand wrapped
around her fragile neck, he tilted up her chin with his thumb. Capturing her gaze with
his, he slowly lowered his mouth to hers.
Lucian didn't kiss her right away. He didn't want to rush her or scare her. He
wanted her to want him, so he bent all his considerable skills to the pleasurable task of
seducing her.
His tongue traced the contours of her lips, memorizing their shape, reveling in their
soft texture. Delight tasted faintly of cherries and he knew it was from the translucent
lip gloss that she usually wore. He nibbled at her lips, running his tongue along the
seam where they met. Slowly, like a petal opening to the sun, they parted and he
slipped just inside. Not far, just enough for him to taste the honey of her mouth.
His patience was rewarded when her tongue darted out to touch his before
retreating. The game of advance and retreat was played out over and over until Lucian
thought he'd go mad with desire. His own lungs were pumping hard and his entire
body was throbbing. The press of his cock against the zipper of his pants was almost
painful, urging him to bury himself in her warmth and ride her until they were both
sated. Yet, he did nothing more than gently kiss her.
It was Delight who finally deepened their embrace. Her hands, which had been
clasped tight over her breasts, gradually slid up over his chest, leaving a damp trail on
his shirt. He groaned when her fingers sifted through the long strands of his hair,
cupping the back of his head and urging him closer to her.
He wrapped both of his hands around the edges of the tub to keep from touching
her. Using only his mouth, Lucian plunged into Delight. Their tongues stroked and
dueled as he angled his head so he could get deeper inside. Taking his time, he enjoyed
her unique texture and flavor.
Like the clever hunter he was, Lucian withdrew from her mouth, lightly skimming
his lips against hers.
Luring her to him.
Delight followed him. This time it was she who
thrust her tongue into his waiting warmth. He allowed her the lead, letting her do as
she pleased, waiting until she urged his tongue to play with hers.
Her hands were tightly wrapped in his hair, her fingers massaging his skull. Lucian
reveled in the sensual delight she gave him as she touched him with her mouth and her
hands.
Unconsciously, she arched her back in the tub, offering her breasts to him even as
her legs relaxed in the water and parted slightly. Like a sexy water nymph, she tempted
him to take her.
Lucian's blood was pumping through his veins along with all the emotion of the
evening. It was a dangerous cocktail of lust, anger, possession, and tenderness, all vying
for control of his mind and body. Bloodlust was roaring through him, as he smelled her
blood and her arousal. Its seductive scent drifted up to him. His nostrils flared as he
took a deep breath and pulled away from Delight.
A cry of disappointment filled the air as she tried to bring his mouth back to hers.
But he forced himself to ignore it. "I want you."
"Yes," she murmured as she lolled back against the tub.
He almost grabbed her then, but he had to be sure.
"Delight."
He knew his voice
was harsh, but need was riding him hard and there was no gentleness left in him. The
water slopped over the side of the tub as she sat up abruptly. He knew he had her full
attention now.
"I want you." His words were raw and unadorned. "I want to bury my cock so
deep in your body you won't know where I end and you begin. I want to fuck you so
many times you won't remember what it was like before me. I want to touch you, taste
you, and take you every way possible. I want to eat your pussy and I want you to suck
my cock until I come in your mouth. I want to make you mine in every way possible."
He paused for a moment, his eyes burning with desire as he stared at her. "Do you
understand?"
Delight opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. He could see the fine
shivers that racked her entire body. Tipping back his head, he closed his eyes, unwilling
to see her denial. It was his fault for pushing her so hard and fast.
But he was fighting his own instincts as well. And they were screaming at him to
bind her to him using any methods possible. Right now that meant sexually. His cock
was throbbing in rhythm to the blood pumping in his veins. He wanted to pound into
her soft, welcoming body until they both came over and over. But time was running
out. There was only a few hours left in the night and he wanted to spend them fucking
Delight.
So light was her touch that he didn't feel it at first over the raging desire that racked
his body. He sensed it more than he felt it. Almost afraid that it wasn't real, he slowly
lowered his head and opened his eyes. Her small hand covered his where it gripped the
edge of the tub. He absently noted that some of the marble had crumbled under his
punishing grip.
Her face was solemn as she nodded at him. It wasn't enough. He needed the words.
"Tell me what you want."
She flinched slightly at his order, but never faltered.
"You.
I want you, Lucian."
Giving him a small, hesitant smile, she patted his hand. "I don't know why I trust you,
but I do. And I've never wanted a man the way I want you."
"You're sure? Because once you are mine there is no going back." His face was as
fierce as his words. "What is mine, I hold." Leaning down, he brought his lips close to
hers.
"Forever."
It was a promise that he sealed with a searing kiss.
Delight threw her arms around his shoulders and he plucked her out of the tub.
Water sluiced from her body, soaking him, but he didn't care. She'd dry soon enough
and he wouldn't be dressed much longer. His lips never leaving hers, he carried her
back to his bedroom and his bed.
Chapter Six
Delight hardly recognized herself. She wasn't the type of woman who slept with a
man she hardly knew. In fact, she'd only slept with two men in her entire life. Well,
really one boy and one man.
The first had been a one-night stand with a male friend a few nights after her
mother had died. Delight had been looking for comfort and Brad had been only too
happy to oblige. Their friendship hadn't survived as the experience hadn't been that
great for either one of them. Delight had been emotionally fragile and a virgin, and Brad
had lacked the necessary restraint and finesse to make the experience enjoyable.
Her second attempt at a romantic relationship had been with a man she'd dated for
a while in her early twenties. It wasn't easy for a young, single woman who was raising
a child on her own to get many dates. Most guys didn't want a woman who was tied
down so much, so it had been a surprise when Mason Dean had asked her out. Older
and more sophisticated, Mason was a banker. Delight had been flattered by his
attention. It was unfortunate that she hadn't found out about his wife until after they'd
slept together.
Since that debacle Delight had dated, but very infrequently. She'd been burned
twice and wasn't willing to risk her heart or self-respect again. That's why her behavior
around Lucian surprised her. She barely knew him, but she trusted him implicitly.
She peeked up at him as he carried her into his bedroom. The man was beautiful in
a harsh and wholly masculine way. With his high cheekbones and forehead, and thin
lips, his face had no softness. Even his eyes were hard, their green depths as piercing
and sharp as emeralds. Yet the man oozed a sensuality that would attract women to
him like bees to nectar.
His arms were like steel bands around her, his grip unbreakable. There wasn't an
ounce of flab anywhere on the man. There would be no escaping him.
Delight had never felt safer in her life.
A shiver racked her body as the memories of the evening assaulted her mind. She'd
watched a man be murdered right in front of her. Then she'd run for her very life and
faced the real fear of being raped and murdered.
"
Shh
," his deep voice washed over her, helping to heal her wounded soul.
"Nothing can harm you here."
"I need to call the police." Delight was surprised by the hoarseness of her voice.
Raising her fingers, she gently rubbed her throat and winced when the action caused
her pain.
"It's all being taken care of," he assured her as he stepped up onto the platform and
laid her on the bed. Tugging the covers out from under her, he tucked the duvet around
her.
Delight sighed as her aching body hit the soft mattress. The luxurious covering felt
soothing against her skin. It was so tempting just to sink back and fall asleep so she
wouldn't have to deal with any of this. She thought about doing just that. But just for a
second.
Deverauxes
didn't shirk their responsibilities.
"I'll need to give them a statement." She propped herself up on one arm and
scanned the room, searching for her clothing. Deciding that the dirty heap by the bed
must be what was left of her
clothing,
she sighed and began to tug back the covers. As
much as she didn't want to put those garments on her body again, she really didn't
have any choice. And lying there thinking about it wasn't going to make it any easier.
"What do you think you are doing?" His eyebrows came together as he scowled at
her, making him look even more austere. The tone of his voice was clipped and his
accent was more pronounced than it had been.
"I told you." Delight eased herself into a sitting position and swung her legs over
the side of the bed. It was a king-sized one that sat high off the floor on a platform and
her feet dangled in the air. "I have to speak to the police."
His large hand clamped over her shoulder, stopping her. "The bodies are being
taken care of and the appropriate authorities are being contacted." Gently, but steadily,
he pushed her until she was lying back on the bed with her legs dangling over the side.
"Tomorrow is time enough to deal with them."
"But..." her voice trailed off as he loomed over her, large and fierce. She really
should be afraid of him, but she found she was not. Instead, she found herself becoming
unbearably aroused.
Lucian was a very large man. She figured he had to be at least six-foot-four and all
of it was solid, rippling muscle. As she watched him, he casually unbuttoned his shirt,
one button at a time. With each button that was undone, the silk fabric of his shirt
parted a little more, revealing a wide, thick chest that tapered down to a rippling
washboard stomach. Delight licked her lips, her mouth suddenly dry.
He shrugged out of his shirt and tossed it aside. Bending down, he removed his