Luca's Magic Embrace (31 page)

She couldn’t get over how incredible he made her feel. She’d gone years never being able to come during intercourse, yet this man knew exactly what to do to make her body sing. It was as if he’d known her forever.

“I love you, Samantha,” he affirmed. “You have no idea what you do to me.”

“I love hearing you tell me that. I love you. I want to be your wife, to be with you, forever. I guess I just want to keep saying it and hearing it to make sure this is real.”

“Oh, this is real, all right. So is this.” Luca dipped his head and passionately kissed her. Their tongues danced together as he drove his velvety steel shaft into her hot center. Samantha was slick with need and ready to take all of him as he sheathed himself in a single, smooth stroke.

Luca stopped kissing Samantha so he could look into her eyes as he possessed her. She was so responsive to his every move, and he could not seem to get enough of her. Unhurriedly, he rocked in and out of her, enjoying her tight heat. Rolling over onto his back, he brought her with him so she was on top.

“That’s it, baby. Ride me, good and slow,” he directed. He placed his hands on her waist, letting her set the pace.

Samantha hadn’t been on top very often, but it was something she had yearned to do. Writhing on Luca, she closed her eyes and let the sensation take over her body. Arching her hips, her breath hitched as her clit brushed against his pubic bone. She pressed down to meet his every primal thrust stimulating her sensitive nub.

Luca was lost in her rhythm. His heart beat for this woman. She was resplendent and sensual, so open to discovery. He took his time, provocatively surging into her again and again. Luca splayed his hands across Samantha’s ass: massaging her, guiding her. The sight of her perky breasts mere inches from his face teased him. His tongue darted out to capture one. She accommodated his silent request, leaning toward him so that he could suckle her tightly beaded point. Taking it between his teeth, he bit down slightly, then sucked it once more.

Samantha moaned in blissful pain; his bite tingled down to her aching sex. She could feel the rise of her orgasm evolving. So close, but she needed more of him. As if he could read her thoughts, his fingertips approached the crevice of her bottom. The feel of his hands on her so close to her ass, where she’d learned to experiment, thrilled her. She couldn’t explain her urge; it felt like a driving primal pulse within her. Encouraging him, she pushed herself further into his hands.

Luca sensed that she craved the touch of him inside her. Reaching around her mound, he glided his forefinger over her wet folds. Lubricating his hand, he moved around her back again. Softly, he feathered his moist digit around her rosebud. He felt her shudder under his touch, yet she pushed back again, seeking more.

“Is this what you need?” He continued to circle her bottom.

She shook her head, not wanting to voice her desire.

“Come on, Samantha. Let go. It’s okay to let go. Tell me and I’ll give you want you need.”

“Inside me. Please,” she panted. As the pace and tension increased, her heart raced. She wanted it, needed it.

“Yes, so nice. I love how you open for me,” he whispered. Slowly and gently he slid a digit into her untouched need. Feeling her clench, he guided her. “That’s it baby, let me in. Relax, feel me and push back a little. Ah yeah, you’re taking me.” He felt his finger slip all the way into her tight hole. Her core began to quiver and clench down around his cock. She was going over the edge.

A thrilling awareness ripped through Samantha upon Luca’s dark invasion. She felt deliciously full. As soon as she’d felt his finger enter her from behind in conjunction with his engorged masculinity, a mind-shattering orgasm slammed into her. Rocking feverishly, she thrashed above him, riding the glorious climax. He was thrusting up into her hard; the sound of flesh meeting flesh rang through her ears. Her senses had never felt so abundantly bombarded. She screamed Luca’s name wildly as she came. “Yes, Luca, fuck me, please,” she cried.

Luca thrust up into her over and over, possessing her, taking her. Hearing his name, he reveled in how easily she submitted to the throes of passion. As soon as he’d filled her, she fisted his swollen shaft in a tingly hold, pulsating around him.

Seeking to bond with her further, he extended a claw, slicing his own wrist. He held the beaded blood to her pink lips, and she instinctively captured it, sucking greedily. Shocking her into another climax, his powerful blood filled her mouth. She came fast and hard and took him with her. Losing every last shred of control, Luca jarred and spilled his hot seed deep within her.

Lying still beneath Samantha, Luca’s body celebrated the simultaneous wild release they’d experienced. Their bodies mingled as one as they drifted into a relaxed state of euphoria. Samantha rolled off Luca onto her back. He wrapped an arm around her, pulling her close to him. She lazily draped her leg over his and placed a palm on his chest. An awareness of calm settled between them. Having sated both their physical and emotional selves, they silently touched and luxuriated in their newly blossomed love.

Samantha immediately felt Luca’s blood whirr through her veins. She loved everything about Luca and realized that after weeks of turmoil, she simply was at peace. She loved him more than she’d ever thought was possible. He’d helped her transform from mere mortal to witch and soon she was to be his wife.

Tracing a finger on his chest, she looked up to meet his eyes. “I want you to know that in this moment, I’ve never been happier in my entire life. These past few weeks have been life-changing for me. I felt horrible about what happened, not knowing. I was scared about being a witch…actually I hated being turned into a witch. And maybe my gifts still do scare me a little bit,” she admitted. “But I don’t care if I never remember what happened to me. I am who I am now. There’s nothing but the future ahead of us, and I can’t wait to marry you, to start our life.”

He kissed the top of her head. “Me too. It’s strange. I’ve been living for hundreds of years, but ever since I met you, I’ve realized that I haven’t really been living. Or loving. Don’t laugh, but I feel kind of reborn, so to speak. I need you in my home, my bed. You’re already in my heart.”

Samantha and Luca lay naked in each other’s arms for over an hour on the deck, talking and planning for their future together. A lazy ride back up the muddy Mississippi eventually brought them back to their port. The sounds of street players ripping jazz tunes along the waterfront welcomed them home.

Two weeks had passed since Luca had asked Samantha to marry him. As if she was living in a dream, they had fallen into a comfortable rhythm. Samantha spent her days planning and training with Ilsbeth. She’d nearly forgotten the chaos of her tribulations with Asgear and the amulet. The stray wolves that had escaped had never been found. Pack troubles temporarily calmed, Kade and Sydney had returned to their mansion.

Having them as neighbors was great company for Samantha. She didn’t know anyone else in New Orleans yet, except Luca’s friends and Ilsbeth. She’d grown closer to Sydney, happy there was another human woman around to talk to on occasion. Sydney and she had lunched a few times, discussing wedding plans. Sydney and Kade planned to elope since Sydney had no family, while she and Luca were still deciding what to do.

She’d called her sister, Jess, and told her about the engagement. Jess was thrilled and making plans to visit within the month. She also filled her in on how she’d become a witch, and explained Luca’s vampirism. Her older sister seemed to take it in her stride, wishing she’d been the one who’d been turned into a witch. Jess had always been a bit more adventurous than her. Samantha felt like she’d had all the adventure she’d ever wanted and then some. Passionate sex with Luca was all the excitement she needed to keep her blissfully content.

Samantha hadn’t told her parents about her vampire lover or her newly-acquired magic. Her parents could be quite reserved and she thought it best to tell them in person. Ringing her mother, she simply told her that she’d fallen in love with a wonderful man, they were engaged and she was moving to New Orleans. Happy for Samantha, they’d congratulated her and told her they were anxious to meet him. She laughed when she hung up the phone, thinking about how that get together would go
. Hi Mom and Dad. Meet Luca, my fiancé. He’s a vampire
.
And oh by the way, I’m a witch now. Yeah, I’ve given up computers and can make fire with my hands.

She hadn’t really given up computers. Kade had offered her a job working in Issacson Securities in the technology division. She agreed to do it part time, given her new responsibilities and training at the coven. Xavier, Chief Information Officer and fellow geek, would be her new boss. They got along really well, and she was looking forward to starting her new career once she moved. Having already given notice at her old job, she arranged for movers to pack and bring her belongings to her new home.

Her home. Luca’s home. Their home.
At first, she’d thought it would be strange moving into his lovely Garden District mansion, already furnished. But Luca insisted they redesign the interior together. He desperately wanted, not just a menagerie of precious collectibles, but a warm loving space. A home they’d built together with love.

Sometimes Samantha was amazed at her gentle giant. There was no doubt that Luca could be a dominant, impressive man, especially in the bedroom. Yet time and time again, he’d shown Samantha his tender heart, caring for her like no other man had ever done. She loved him back with every ounce of her being.

That morning, she’d made plans for a dinner party with Luca’s close friends and a few of her sisters from the coven, to celebrate their engagement. Samantha had even coaxed a reluctant Dominique into coming over, promising she’d find a willing human donor who’d be interested in taking care of her specific nutritional needs. Acquiescing to Luca’s demand for peace, Dominique had agreed to call a truce, especially after hearing of their engagement and that they’d be co-workers. Samantha apologized for what she’d done to her even though she still had no memories of silvering her.

Even though Luca insisted she hire a caterer for the event, Samantha planned on making a few of the dishes herself. She’d always loved to cook, but had never had the time or anyone to cook for when she was single. She knew vampires didn’t eat much, but planned on donating any leftover food to a local shelter immediately afterwards. Her aunt had given her the recipe for homemade bread, so she was busy kneading the dough when Luca walked up behind her and kissed her neck.

“Hey there, home early today?” she asked, enjoying the feel of his chest against her back.

“Yeah. Now that I’ve gotten things under control again at the office, I can work from home like I usually do. Besides, I thought I’d see if you needed any help today,” he offered. “I can’t tell you how delightfully strange it is to see a hot woman in my kitchen rolling dough in her hands. Once upon a time, I thought I’d be alone forever. Now here I am, wishing I was that dough.”

“You’re sweet. Let me wash my hands, and I’ll see what I can do. I’d much rather be running my hands over your body than playing with bread.” She winked. “Besides, there’s not much I really have to do to get ready.”

“I’m gonna go downstairs, take a shower and wait for you. Don’t want to interrupt you, or I won’t get to taste that secret recipe you’ve been hiding. Did I ever tell you how much I love hot buns?”

His double entendre wasn’t lost on her. “Well I have some hot ones with your name on them. Just give me a minute, and I’ll be down to join you,” she promised.

Luca turned to look at her and noticed her cheeks were dreadfully pale. “Hey, you okay? You look as white as a ghost. I wish you’d let the caterers do everything. Come rest with me before the party,” he pleaded.

“I promise I’m fine. I’m just a little tired from all our non-stop, mind-blowing sex. Now go on. Shoo. I’ll be down soon. I promise.”

Reluctantly, Luca went downstairs, but something was bothering him about the way she looked. She hadn’t seemed tired but then again, he’d been gone all morning. Maybe she’d been out in the garden earlier and the late summer heat had gotten to her.

Samantha watched him go downstairs. The truth was that she hadn’t been feeling well, but her optimistic spirit kept her going. She was so excited about the party that she wasn’t about to let a little lightheadedness ruin it. A few times during the morning she’d needed to sit down from the dizziness. Normally not one to feel faint, she chalked it up to the intense sessions she’d been having with Ilsbeth.

Every day, Samantha spent several hours training and testing her powers. She’d learned how to better control her call on the elements, no longer afraid that she’d mistakenly set fire to something. Instead of spouting in tongues with little understanding, she had started studying Latin and other foreign languages used in the spells. Ilsbeth had given her the responsibility of shoring up the coven’s digital library and website after she’d been able to breach its security. Reorganizing the database gave Samantha the opportunity to sift through and learn everything important to being a sister within the coven. She’d committed to learning the craft and actually found herself having fun every time she mastered a new skill.

Patting the dough one last time with oil, she covered the bowl to give it time to rise. After washing her hands, she dried them and decided to join Luca. Maybe he was right. Maybe she just needed a nap before the party.

Halfway down the stairs, her vision started to blur slightly as a wave of nausea rolled over her. Grabbing the railing, she steadied herself. A few more steps and she reasoned that she could make it over to the sofa. By the time she reached the landing, she could no longer stand. A tunnel of black enclosed her as she fell to the ground.