Destiny United (18 page)

He frowned. “Don’t hide yourself from me, Aila. Never
hide yourself from me.” He rose to his feet and pulled her arms away from her
stomach, setting them at her sides. His gaze roamed up and down her body, growing
dark and hungry. “Beautiful.”

When she shivered, he frowned again. “You’re cold.”

She chuckled. “No.”

A smirk settled on his lips then he bent down to finish
drying her with saintly restraint. Aila waited patiently but when his fingers
trailed behind her knee she squirmed with a giggle. He removed his fingers from
her skin and she almost lamented the giggle. Until his lips replaced them. They
grazed her knee, then her inner thigh, moving up slowly, torturously. She
chuckled and did a little wiggle again, then gasped when he nipped her skin in
warning. When he reached the inside of her mid-thigh she couldn’t hold back a
soft moan. A rush of heat flooded her core. Parts of her ached in ways she’d
never experienced. She clenched her thighs to relieve the burn. Could he tell
she was wet from more than just lake water? He looked up at her with a cocky
grin. Oh, yes, he could tell. Higher still, his lips moved, until he was almost
–

“Stop,” she said, clamping her legs together at the
knees.

“No,” he growled, forcing them back open.

“Marcelo,” she pleaded.

He sighed. “All right.” He released his vice grip on her
legs. “You don’t want me to kiss you down there. Yet.” Instead he glided his
tongue around her navel, licking up the water drops. “How about here?”

She hissed in a breath and goose bumps rose on her skin.
Her knees wouldn’t hold her weight much longer. When his t-shirt caressed her
side, where her hips flared, she snickered and squirmed until he grasped her
backside with both hands.

“Be still,” he commanded.

She tried. She really tried.

With a resounding sigh he stood and looked her sternly in
the eye, though she could see the teasing beneath. “Again, you test my control.
Do you have any idea how much I want to throw you to the ground, enter you in
one thrust, and pound into you until you beg for mercy?”

Her eyes grew wide as her stomach fluttered with desire.

“Yet you continue to squirm beneath my touch.”

“N-no. You can’t,” she said.

“Exactly. I have to make sure you’re ready first.”

“No. I mean you can’t…we can’t –”

He cut her off with a kiss. His tongue swooped into her
mouth, his hand tangled in her hair pulling her back for deeper access. She
groaned against him, rocking her hips into his erection, desperate for release.
Then he bit down on her bottom lip. Hard.

“Ow!” she cried, pulling away. “What was that for?”

With a dark chuckle, he answered, “Toying with someone
bigger than you.”

***

She pursed her lips and scowled at him. “Humph. See if I
let you taste this delicious mouth again.” She tried to take a step back but
hell would freeze over before he would let her go. He kept one arm wrapped around
her waist. “Didn’t I tell you to keep your fangs to yourself?”

“Oh, those weren’t my fangs,
querida.
Believe me, you’ll know when those come out.” When her eyes widened in what he
hoped was curiosity, he couldn’t hold himself back any longer. He tackled her
to the ground with a not-so-graceful thud.

“Now,” he said, his eyes riveted to her breasts, “you
were saying something about wanting me inside you.”

“No, vampire.” She grabbed onto his head but seemed conflicted
about whether she should push him away or pull him closer. He kissed each rosy
peak as they hardened under his lips.

“That’s…not…not…” She gasped when he pulled a nipple
fully into his mouth. He swirled his tongue around it and she groaned, fisting
her hands into his hair.

One hand moved down between her curls, parting her flesh,
finding her folds slick and wet. “Ah,
querida,
how I’ve wanted to touch you here.”

Another gasp from her lips almost had him inside her with
a brutal push, but he forced himself to wait. Instead he lowered his body to
lie next to her on his side. He spread the wetness, keeping her slick as he
stroked her, teasing at first, watching her breath quicken as she squirmed
under his touch. Her back arched, so feline in its movement, and her eyes
fluttered closed. Each stroke elicited a different sound from her parted lips. The
feminine gasps and moans made him so hard it hurt.
Gods,
I could play her like an instrument
.

He lapped at the nearest breast mercilessly while his
fingers worked her to a flushed frenzy. When he thought she was ready he
slipped one finger towards her entrance.

Her eyes flew open, her knees clamped together. “No!”

What is this?
A
glance
at her face and he could see it. Fear. “What is
it,
querida
?”

She sat up on her elbows. “Nothing. We just can’t…go that
far.” She sounded breathless, confused. He didn’t want to make her nervous, not
when she was so close.

“All right,
querida.
We’ll
just do as before. You liked that, right?”

She nodded and leaned back.

He pressed his mouth onto hers then whispered between gentle
kisses, “Relax,
cosita
.
Siempre
voy a cuidar de ti
. I will always take care of you.”

When her body melted against his, he nudged her thighs
back open. He slid down her body planting wet kisses as he went. Her neck, her
chest, one on each breast, one on her flat belly. Then he wrapped a hand around
each of her slender thighs, keeping them pressed open as he lowered himself
between them.

“Marcelo?”

“Don’t fight me on this,
querida.
You need it.” He parted her wetness. “I need it.”

Her protest was cut off when his tongue made the first
sweep on her sensitive flesh. She gasped and lifted her hips when he circled her
clit lightly with the tip of his tongue. He teased her, not allowing her
release until he was sure the pressure was built so high she would never forget
when he finally brought her to climax.

“Please,” she breathed, digging her nails into his scalp.

He shuddered.
Gods that feels so
good.
Using firm, slow strokes he licked her until she was
writhing so much he had to hold her tight to keep her from slipping away. He
looked up at his stunning mate. Her delicate cheeks were pink, her breasts
bounced with each movement. Instinct roared, proud and pleased he could satisfy
her. Her scent was delicious, sweet and fresh like honeydew. He replaced his
tongue with his fingers and brought his lips to her ear.

“What’s my name, little temptress?” he rasped.

“W-what?”

“I want you to say my name.
Now
.”

A confused irritation crossed her features. “Why?”

“Because I need to know it is me you crave,” he growled
in her ear. “That it is me you think of when you come. Not your human
boyfriend.
Me.
The vampire who will win your
heart. The vampire who will make you his.” When she hesitated he nipped her
ear. “
Say it
.”

“Marcelo!” she cried out as he squeezed her clit.

***

Time stopped as waves of intensity rolled through Aila’s
body all the way down to her toes. She must have been screaming but could hear
no sound. She couldn’t feel the leaves under her body, or see the stars above
her. The only thing she knew at that moment was Marcelo’s wicked, magical
fingers. He brought her over the edge then slammed her back down, shattering
her from the inside out. She could scarcely breathe. After what felt like
hours, it finally ended.

Feeling sated and more relaxed than ever, she gazed into
Marcelo’s gorgeous eyes. He brushed the hair from her face and kissed her
forehead. She reached up to stroke his cheek but he grasped her hand and
brought it to his lips, kissing her palm instead. Her heart skipped a beat.

Oh shit. Am I falling in love?

Suddenly she was pinned under his body, her arms held
tight above her head, his hips shoved between her thighs, erection pointed
straight towards her –

“What are you doing?” she said in a panic, trying to snap
her legs shut.

“I’m not finished with you yet,” he answered with a
delicious smile.

Mmmm…those lips. No! No, no, no. I’m not ready for this!

Then she was taken away, far from Marcelo’s loving embrace.
She was back in Albany, thrust deep into repressed memories. The dead leaves of
autumn rustled below her, scratching against her skin. A body was heavy on top
of hers. The blackness of the night sky seemed endless. Hot, musty breath stank
all around her.

She panicked. Her heart pounded in her chest, tears stung
her eyes. “Marcelo, stop!”

With a frustrated growl, he did. He sat up on his knees
and took a few calming breaths before turning his attention to her. “Why, Aila?
What are you afraid of?”

She avoided his gaze, and his question.

“Damn it, tell me!” His sudden bellow made her flinch.
“Is it your boyfriend?”

She knew in her heart she should tell him the reason for
her fears, but she just couldn’t find the words. When she felt his heated gaze
studying her, waiting for an answer, she cleared her dry throat and said, “Sort
of. Look, I’ll return the favor, okay?”

“Favor?” His eyes lit with fire and ice. Anger seeped
into his voice. “Aila, I am not one of your boy toys that you need to manipulate
to get what you want!”

She blinked.
Why should he be
angry when I only offered to help him? Did I offend him? And did a vampire
really just say “boy toy”?

He pushed away from her and grabbed his clothes from the
ground.

“Where are you going?” she snapped.

“To get food,” he growled. “Stay here.”

Like she was going anywhere in the dark forest by herself.
Wearing just those jeans again, he padded off, disappearing into the trees. She
pulled on her clothes then sat by the fire, her arms wrapped around her knees.

Goddamn moody vampires!
One minute he was bossing her around, the next he was raving about her smile, and
then he just stormed away when she’d only offered him what he’d given her. What
did he really want from her? Was all of this just to get in her pants?

They still had at least two days before they reached the
door – though he’d said nothing about where it was or how to find it. She’d
already succumbed to his gruff brand of charm more than once. Could she cut off
all intimate contact for the rest of the trip? And what would happen once they
reached the Underworld? Would he disappear and continue his quest like he’d
said? Her heart dropped at the thought.

She heaved a frustrated sigh. It was clear the two of
them had chemistry, at least physically. In truth, it was more than chemistry.
Marcelo was sex on a stick. What woman wouldn’t succumb to that?

She rubbed her hands over her weary face. This was
getting too complicated. This…thing…she had with Marcelo…it was just a fling.
She had a boyfriend.
I have a fucking boyfriend!
Granted, he hadn’t so much as texted her in two days.

“If you were mine, thoughts of you would be in my mind
endlessly.”

Marcelo had said it earlier, and by God, it was probably
true.
Damn him
.

Damn him to hell for being so
irresistible!
She almost wished she’d never met him. Why couldn’t
Sage have escorted her to the Underworld? Or at least have sent someone less
attractive.
Way
less attractive.

She rested her head on her knees wondering where she
would sleep tonight, when something whizzed by her head and landed with a
thunk
into a tree beside her. It was an arrow. A soft
whimper of fear escaped her before she noticed something dangling on a string
wrapped around it. A note? Someone was sending her a message? She walked to the
arrow and tore off the handwritten note.

“Want to know your destiny, prophesied one? Ditch the vampire
and meet me on the west side of the lake.”

She turned in a circle peering into the woods, searching
for signs of movement. Was someone watching her as she read this? Shivers crept
down her spine. Creepy.

Now the question remained, should she go, or shouldn’t
she? Pros: Someone knew something about her destiny and may be willing to share
it. Cons: Marcelo would be pissed.

Been there, done that.
Curiosity
got the better of her. Surely Marcelo could find her if she screamed for help.
That was what vampire bodyguards were for, right?

 
Having full confidence in him, and forced
confidence in herself, she left the comfort of the campfire and headed towards
the west side of the lake. The only reason she knew which way was west was
because Marcelo had taught her while they had been tracking.
Score one for the vampire.

Ten minutes later she was halfway around the west side of
the lake. She froze listening for signs of company, scenting the air like
Marcelo had taught her. But she sensed nothing. She clenched her fists.

“Where’s your magical faery powers now?” she muttered,
forgoing all stealth and stomping across the rocky beach.

If she hadn’t been so annoyed with herself she might have
heard the footsteps before the tall figure stepped out of the tree line. She watched
him warily as he walked towards her, brimming with that supernatural confidence
every immortal seemed to have. He wasn’t human. No human could have been that
silent. He didn’t smell like a vampire either, though she couldn’t be sure only
having met one. Marcelo smelled exotic and warm and earthy all at once, but
underneath that, on a baser level, he smelled like blood.

The mysterious not-human’s skin was so pale it almost
glowed in the moonlight and she had the urge to introduce him to the concept of
tanning beds. But like a good diplomat, she held her tongue. His long hair,
pulled back in a ponytail, was just a couple shades darker than his skin.