Forever Valentine (6 page)

His lips claimed hers then as his body covered hers. His weight was welcome, though he used his forearms to brace most of his heavy bulk off her. Still, the tantalizing brush of his chest, the rasp of his legs over and between hers, all these things only heightened her pleasure.

Ian felt what she felt. Her pleasure heightened his own in a way he had never before experienced. So this is what his newly mated friends had discovered. The perfect union of souls, the communion of spirits that brought more fulfillment than anything he’d ever known. He could happily live on this abundant, exuberant energy for the rest of his life and never go hungry.

If Jena would let him.

If she chose to stay demi-vampir and never be converted to full vampire, he would live out her lifespan with her and leave this realm with her when she departed. It was just that simple. He could not live without her and would follow when she moved on to other realms.

Jena stopped his shower of kisses with her gentle palms on either side of his head, pushing upward to get his attention. When their eyes met, he knew she’d walked in his thoughts and not liked what she found there.

He tried to head off her serious words. “I’m sorry. Let’s not ruin this moment with thoughts of the future, my love. It was wrong of me to dwell on such thing at a moment like this.”

He saw as well as felt her think on his words as he rubbed his lower half against hers, reigniting the fire he’d let flag. Her hands tugged downward now, bringing his lips within a breath of hers.

“Don’t let it happen again, lover. We’ll talk about that other stuff…when the time comes. But not now.” She trailed her lips over his, her lower body reaching upwards as if yearning for him. And he felt the deep need in her thoughts that reflected his own.

All that mattered now was this, their coming together in passion and…love. For the first time in his long life, he’d found a woman who loved him and he loved her in return. It didn’t seem possible that he could be so blessed, but he didn’t question it. No, the time for questions was over. Now was a time for action.

“Later,” he agreed as he moved his lips down her body, stopping here and there to worship at her soft spots. “We’ll talk later.”

He paused for a long time at her breasts, toying with her ripe nipples, teasing them with his teeth in a way that made her squirm deliciously. He felt her responses and he used his own mental powers to influence her reactions, to increase her sexual fire. He made her come just from his lips on her body, loving the little climax that fueled his own ardor. She was so responsive to him, it was gratifying to feel the love along with the passion for once. It was a heady mix that fueled him more than he ever would have thought. Love tasted divine to his senses and he wanted more.

His goal for the evening became clear. He would keep her coming for him all night long. Ian smiled wolfishly as he thought of the orgy of the senses to come. By morning, neither of them would be able to walk. He’d be completely drunk on their power, and she would be blissfully exhausted.

“Mmm,” she wiggled deliciously under him as he moved lower, “I like your plan, Ian.”

He started, knowing she’d just read his thoughts as easily as if they were her own. Perhaps she was even unaware of doing so. It felt so natural, even now, he was just barely aware of her warm presence in his mind as he was in hers. She was comfortable, and so very welcome. His heart poured love into their connection, and she smiled at him so serenely he felt overwhelmed by the power this small demi-vampir woman had over him. Still, he wouldn’t have it any other way. He would rather have one night with her, than all his centuries alone.

But he was getting maudlin again and he had an objective. One from which they would both reap the benefits, should he achieve his orgasmic goal.

Ian scooted lower on the bed, spreading her legs wide as he settled between them. She was open to his gaze and she was devastatingly beautiful to him.

Even though he had pleasured many, many women over his centuries, it had been a long time indeed since he’d taken any real time to fully immerse himself in his lover as he so badly wanted to do with Jena. He wanted to worship every inch of her skin, pay homage to every freckle and tiny scar. He wanted to learn her body and study every dip and valley he held so dear. The lesson would begin tonight and last for years, and he would be a diligent student.

And he would teach her a few things as well. For all that she had lovers in the past, Ian could easily read her responses, and memories for that matter, to know that Jena still had quite a bit to learn about giving and receiving pleasure. He would be a dutiful master. And she’d love every minute of his tutelage.

The fingers of one hand teased her nipples as his mouth hovered, breathing hot air down over the sensitive folds of her sex. His other hand spread her pussy wide as he lowered his lips to kiss her softly at first, then with more fervor.

Her taste was divine. Her scent and feel was all that was right in the universe, and he never wanted to be parted from her again. This was
his
woman. The one created just for him. Fate had brought them together and he would allow nothing and no one to part them ever again. It was his destiny to protect and cherish his mate. And love her. Oh, how he loved every last thing about her. He would spend lifetimes proving his love and exploring the amazing new feelings she brought out in him.

Ian had always considered himself a hard man, but when confronted by Jena’s soft heart and commanding personality, he found himself as pliable as clay. She could shape him into anything she chose, and he would conform gladly, but he knew she was well aware of her power over him and her soul was too pure to use it against him. Her love for him would prevent her from ever hurting him, just as his love for her did the same. Together they were invincible. Each would protect the other. Forever.

Or how ever long they had.

Ian growled at himself, knowing he was heading into dangerous territory with his thoughts again. He refocused instead on the wondrous taste of his mate. His. Mate.

Never had he thought he would speak those words, but here she was, just where he wanted her—spread wide and waiting for his possession. He exerted a little mental push and sucked on her distended clit, teasing it a little with his tongue.

“Ian!”

He loved the sound of his name on her lips when she came.

He shifted back, lifting her up and flipping her onto her stomach. Running his large hands over the pale globes of her heart-shaped ass, he marveled at the perfection the fates had gifted him with. She was gorgeous.

And her ass would look even better after a bit of his loving discipline.

“Ian?” Her voice quavered as she jumped a bit, quite obviously reading his thoughts.

He bent to kiss the small of her back as his hands massaged her butt cheeks with a circular motion.

“Don’t be afraid. I’d never hurt you.”

“But…but you want to spank me?” She sounded lovingly confused as he nipped her fleshy cheek with just slightly distended fangs, though he was careful not to break the skin.

“You’ve never been spanked by a lover.” He didn’t ask it as a question, he could read it in her memories. “Never played the truly submissive role.”

“No.” Her reply was breathless and he could read excitement and the desire to try in her mind. Deep down, this beautiful, capable woman wanted to be submissive to her lover. She just hadn’t known it and had never found a man strong enough to do it. Ian had no doubts about his ability to lovingly master her pleasure, though he would never try to dominate her in daily life. Still, he was just barbarian enough to want to take the lead in the bedroom—or wherever they made love—and if he was reading her right, she was more than willing to submit.

“Could God have given me a more perfect mate? I think not.” Ian chuckled as he raised her arms above her head. “Don’t move your hands now. Keep them just where I put them.”

“Okay.” Her voice was shaky with both excitement and a hint of anxiety. He noted the way her little fingers curled into the bedding, scratching and straining with her rising anticipation.

He kissed the nape of her neck, loving that she was unsure, but willing to trust him. He loved her. Period. He let that thought flow through their connection and was gratified when she relaxed a bit under his hands. He stroked down her back, enjoying the soft feel of her skin against his rough hands. He kneaded her tense muscles, giving her an impromptu back rub that went down her legs and back up to the fleshy globes of her ass…and between.

One hand dipped into the dark recesses between her legs as his other hand arranged her long limbs, spreading them wider to accommodate his searching touch. She rewarded him with a sigh of delight as his fingers slid home within her tight channel, testing her wetness. She was so ready for him, but he had one more thing to show her before he took his pleasure.

Holding the fingers of one hand deep within her, he used his other hand to swat her ass. It wasn’t a light blow, but neither would it do any injury. The stinging swat made her jump, but he kept his fingers within her, riding her throughout. He loved the way she clenched on his hand and would give anything for her to do the same on his cock.

Patience, he counseled himself. He’d get there in time. First he had to be sure she was okay with this and that she’d enjoy it as much as he did.

He delivered a few more stinging spanks, loving the way she responded, crying out his name on excited sobs. He also noted the lovely pinkening of her ass cheeks. They were as beautiful as he’d imagined and more, with her amazing blood rushing to the surface to soothe her stinging skin.

“You like that?” He nearly had to bite his lip to keep from chuckling. She was on fire in his arms, as responsive as he could’ve hoped. She was most definitely enjoying this little game and it was only the first of many he had to teach her. Sex between them would only get better—and more adventurous—with time. Ian looked forward to it with glee.

“Ian!” She nearly came as he delivered another blow, but he held her back from the precipice, removing his fingers from her wet channel as she cried out in protest. But he wanted to be inside her when she came this time, and he wanted to come with her—deep, hard and buried in his mate.

Moving quickly, he stuffed a pillow beneath her hips, raising them just a bit, and took his place behind her, between her spread legs. Shoving home, he impaled her on his cock in one smooth move as she bucked upward and nearly screamed with satisfaction. He was so hard and ready, he would come very quickly, but then she was just as close, so it would all be okay.

Urgently, he moved within her, sliding in and out, establishing a torturous rhythm that drove them both higher. He held her hips and watched the way her miraculous body accepted him. She was so special, so alluring, so ultimately feminine to him. She was all he’d ever wanted and all he would ever want.

And she was all his.

She accepted his quirks and was willing to learn. He liked that in a woman, but he
loved
it in
his
woman. He made sure that thought communicated through to her as he plowed more forcefully into her welcoming sheath. His hands massaged her pink cheeks and tugged on her hips, getting a little rougher as they both neared the edge.

Ian placed a single, strategic swat on her sweet ass that made her tighten on him in a way that could not be ignored. Collapsing down over her back, Ian sank his teeth—now fully distended—into the curve of her neck, allowing just a hint of her sweet essence to coat his tongue as he drove them both over the edge.

It didn’t take much.

His mate’s blood was far more powerful than any other’s. Her orgasm powered through his soul in a way he’d never felt before and would never feel again with any other woman.

Only her.

For all eternity.

Or as long as she would give them.

After a long, long, satisfying climax, Ian began to relax. She had wrung him out and as predicted, he was more than a little drunk on the energy that came of their joining.

He grunted a little as he moved off her, taking his weight from her in an effort not to crush her. She was so precious to him, so fragile…so mortal, regardless that she was demi-vampir. He would spend the rest of his life seeing to her health and safety regardless of her decision, though he hoped and prayed she would choose to spend eternity with him, exploring their love.

Ian rearranged their limbs when he found the energy to move again so that she rested against him, spooned into his body. Where she belonged. She was already fast asleep, and he couldn’t love her more.

Chapter Six

Ian stared at his lover’s beautiful face as he felt dawn break in the east. For centuries, the creeping light of dawn had been his signal to seek shelter away from the damaging light of the sun. It had sapped him of energy and sent him into a sleep that was as close to death as he could come. Only dire circumstances had been able to rouse him when the sun ruled the sky, and then only to a semi-conscious state.

But Ian greeted this new dawn with more vigor than he’d ever felt. It sizzled through his veins in a dance of glory, though he counseled himself silently to not get his hopes up. A few sips of demi-vampir blood might give him a boost in energy, but it didn’t necessarily mean he’d be able to go sunbathing anytime soon.

Though Ian would sacrifice a great deal to just be able to glimpse the earth bathed in sunlight one more time, he would not risk the new happiness he’d found with Jena. Joined as they were now, if one of them felt pain, the other would too, and the bond would only grow and deepen over time. They were one now, never to be apart again in this realm.

It was his greatest joy. Greater even than the fantastical, forbidden idea of seeing the sun again after over eight hundred years.

“Mmm, what time is it?” Jena’s groggy voice reached his ears as he contemplated their future.

“Dawn.”

Jena sat up, wiping sleep from her eyes. “I need a shower.”

Ian pulled her into his arms and kissed the top of her disheveled hair. “I love how you look, all rumpled from making love with me.”