Sex Symbol (29 page)

“You found something that might help us?”

“I’m not sure you’ll want to hear what I’ve found.”

I could hear the warning in his voice. But I was tired of worrying. I wanted this to be over with. And I wanted to survive. “What did you find?”

He stared into the fire, and I watched as the flames reflected in his honey colored eyes. I had finally decided he wasn’t going to answer me when Eramus said very softly, “You could take me as your mate.”

“What would that mean exactly?” I felt as if he was already a part of me. I wasn’t sure what “taking him as my mate” would mean exactly, but I was willing to hear him out.

“There are all different kinds of ways you can become someone’s mate. You could go the traditional route and get married.”

For a second there I couldn’t breathe. Did he just mention marriage? It’s not that I was opposed to the idea, I was just completely unprepared.

“Don’t get me wrong,” he said quickly. The look on my face must have alerted him to my surprise. “I’m just saying what I’ve read. To be truly mated, according to some, will actually lend you the strength of your mate.”

“What are you saying?”

“You would be able to draw from my strength. If everything goes to hell tomorrow it might give you a greater chance of survival.” He paused before adding, “In the event that I’m not able to help you.”

What he meant was that if he was killed he wanted to be sure I made it out alive. I wasn’t sure what to say. Was he doing this just to save me or did he really want to be my mate?

“And would this benefit you in any way?”

He smiled sadly. “You still don’t understand that I want to be with you. Of course I’d get something out of it—you. We’d also have a greater connection.”

“Like telepathy?”

“Not exactly. We won’t be able to hear each other’s thoughts or anything like that. But I can sense when you’re in danger.”

I smiled. “That’s sort of romantic.”

“Yeah, like a knight in fur-covered armor,” he joked.

Eramus had moved to sit on the rug in front of the stone hearth. I was quiet for several minutes while I joined him to stare into the fire. I searched the flames for answers I knew they didn’t have. The fabric of my jeans became hot against my skin and I stepped back, taking a seat beside Eramus on the rug. I watched him for several minutes, wondering how to say what I was feeling. I simply couldn’t face tonight alone.

Finally he said, “My grandfather always said that there is one true mate for every werewolf. Someone who will add to what they are.”

“Sort of as if there’s someone for everyone?”

“Yes.”

“And what do you think about that?”

“I believe you were meant for me.” He took my hand and pulled me closer. “And I was meant for you.”

I couldn’t count the times I’d dreamed of his handsome face since he moved in beside me. Not one of those dreams equaled up to this moment. After James and I didn’t work out, I never thought I’d be happy again. For the past year it felt as if I couldn’t breathe most of the time. Especially when I thought of James or trying to move on. As I sat there holding Eramus’ hand, I realized that for the first time in a while I could breathe deeply again. I had never wanted anything more than to be with him.

“How is it done? Other than marriage.”

He hesitated. “After all that’s happened I hate to even tell you this, but you’d have to take some of my blood.”

That probably should have upset me, but it really didn’t. I can’t say the thought was appealing, but after everything else it was nice to at least be given the choice.

“Will I, you know, turn?”

“No. There’s more. I’d need to take some of your blood too. Sort of like an exchange. It would bind us to each other. It’s normally done just between two werewolves. But I think there is enough of the wolf in you for it to work.”

“What would that mean for tomorrow night, besides me being stronger?”

“You would be mine,” he said softly.

“Would Maxwell be able to sense this?”

“If it works correctly, everyone would.”

I moved closer and brushed the hair back from his face. I remembered the way I felt when he touched me for the very first time, and knew that a part of me was already his. No matter how much I had loved James my feelings for him could never compare to what I felt just sitting beside Eramus. It wasn’t just lust or affection, it was real. And it was definitely love. I would have given my soul if he’d asked, but all he wanted was my blood.

“What do I need to do?”

He brushed the hair back from my face, imitating my gesture from before. The softness in his eyes made me weak.

“Make love to me,” he whispered. “I’ll explain the rest as we go. It’s not entirely unlike turning a vampire.”

I trembled slightly as he took my face in his hands. “You won’t grow fangs, I swear.”

“How is it like turning a vampire then? I don’t understand.”

“There must be an exchange of blood and of flesh.” He kissed me softly, and as he pulled back he asked, “Are you afraid of me?”

I smiled as I watched his eyes turn amber. “No.”

He closed his eyes and sighed. He seemed to be holding back so much. “You’ve seen what I am, and you’d still be willing to do this?”

“Yes.”

I knew the moment he held me that I should never have been afraid of him, even for a second. I had no doubt that he would die to protect me. No place in the world would ever be as safe as his arms.

He kissed me again and I felt a change within him. When he pulled back, nothing had visibly changed. I can’t explain it other than there was a certain…power in his kiss. I knew he would not hold back with me this time. The beast was going to come out, even if he didn’t change.

I remembered what Crazy Wolf had said about being afraid that if we’d had sex years ago he might have broken me. I was pretty sure that after the changes I’d undergone, Eramus wouldn’t break me. But it might still be more than I could take. He held me close, deepening the kiss.

The world around me ceased to exist. It was as if time stood still. Tomorrow night faded from my thoughts along with everything else. There was nothing but the feel of his lips against mine. His tongue probed my mouth gently and I moaned.

His hands caressed my body, relieving me of my coat and my shirt before I realized what was going on. His touch was soft and gentle, filled with desire. The look in his eyes said more than any flowery words ever could. He wanted me. That was easy to see. But he also loved me and the emotion clearly etched in his expression made my chest feel tight.

Just like the beast he made reference to so often, Eramus was obviously powerful. He could just take me if he chose, but he didn’t. He surrendered to me when he could have conquered. Is there anything really sexier than that?

“Do it,” I whispered. “Take me.”

He smiled and for the first time I realized his fangs had grown. But this time I wasn’t afraid. He took my index finger and brought it slowly to his lips. I tensed, knowing that he intended to prick my finger, but there was no pain. My body began to arch and I shook with the pleasure his small bite produced.

“Isn’t it only supposed to feel good when a vampire bites you?” I gasped.

His eyes blazed just like the fire and I shivered again.

“Werewolves enjoy a little pain with their pleasure.”

He didn’t need to say more. Obviously, I had changed enough that this applied to me. Because I sure as hell liked the sensation when he bit me. Eramus put my fingertip into his mouth and sucked gently, bringing another moan from my lips. I could feel my eyes rolling back and my toes curling so hard I thought it might cause a cramp.

After a few minutes he withdrew my finger and his lips were stained red with my blood. I watched as Eramus pulled open his robe, revealing the body that occupied so many of my thoughts. I wrapped myself around him, rubbing my face against the soft hair on his stomach.

I watched as he brought his fingertip to his fangs before lowering his hand toward me.

“Your turn,” he said. His voice had grown deeper with desire and the change he was no doubt fighting back. He’d told me that sex and violence brought out the beast. Wasn’t this a little of both? He must have been in turmoil.

He placed his hand on the back of my head and brought my lips to the wound. “Yes,” he whispered as I wrapped my lips around his finger. I drank deeply, surprised at how much I was enjoying this. I ran my tongue up and down his finger, pulling it in and out of my mouth and he moaned.

Eramus pulled me back suddenly and kissed me again. Our blood mingled as we kissed and I felt a rush at the contact. I reached up and over his chest, sliding the robe off his shoulders and as my hand touched his skin I felt a shiver run through him as well. There was something so forbidden, so all consuming and yet gentle about his seduction. I had never felt this way before. I thought that only vampires could seduce someone this way, but I was wrong. It wouldn’t have surprised me if Eramus could hypnotize with his eyes just like Dracula.

I felt his hands at my waist, unbuttoning my jeans and sliding them down my hips. I rose quickly and finished undressing, tossing my clothes into a corner.

Eramus pulled me back against him and down to the floor. The soft hair on his chest tickled across my breasts, making my already hard nipples ache to be touched. He pulled one taut peak into his mouth and sucked it hard. My back arched, thrusting my breast harder against his mouth. His tongue swirled round and round, teasing my flesh until I cried out.

Eramus pulled back with a wicked smile, before lowering his head to my abs. His lips were so hot they burned against my skin as he kissed a trail down my body.

“You know, Lucy, there’s something I’ve wanted to do since the first time I saw you.”

“What’s that?”

He flashed me a wolfish grin as he replied, “I want to eat your pussy.”

He started near my ass and ran his tongue all the way up to my clit. A shiver ran through me as he took the throbbing bud into his mouth. He moaned against my skin and the vibration almost made me come. He lapped and sucked at my flesh, pulling my pussy lips in and out of his mouth ’til I wanted to cry with frustration.

I needed to feel him inside me. “What are you waiting for?”

Eramus slid one long finger into my pussy and I started to grind against him. His tongue flicked back and forth across my clit while he fingered me, bringing me closer to the release I sought. It was good, but I wanted more.

His hand moved faster and faster, making a wet slapping noise as he moved. Knowing my pussy was that wet and hearing the sound as he fingered me was such a turn-on. I put my hand on his head, using the leverage to ride his face.

“Eramus, please. I need you to fuck me.”

“Not yet.”

He slid two fingers inside, spreading me wide as his tongue made a long, slow stroke over my clit. My muscles clenched and Eramus gave my pussy a little slap, effectively stopping my orgasm.

“Hold that thought,” he whispered.

The fire beside me was nothing compared to the heat of his naked skin against mine. He entered me slowly and I moaned, arching myself against him, trying to get him to move faster, but he wouldn’t. He continued his slow penetration of my body as he whispered, “You are mine.” And with those words it was done.

Power, ancient and primal, broke over me and I clung to him. He was moving faster now, and I was completely lost to the sensation. Nothing existed beyond his body, his hair spilling across my face, and the smell of his skin. Whatever resistance was left within me, I gave it all up in that moment and release flooded through me.

When Eramus cried out with his own release, I felt a wave of power rush over me again. We truly were bound to each other now—I could feel it. The emotion was too real, too raw to make me do anything but cry softly. I can only describe it as feeling complete. I had loved before, but I had never felt anything to compare to this.

“Let me take you to bed,” he whispered, as he kissed my forehead.

Apparently what had happened between us had taken a lot out of me, because I found myself unable to stand. Eramus swept me into his arms as if I weighed nothing at all and started carrying me upstairs.

It felt as if I blinked and the next thing I knew Eramus was tucking me into bed. He snuggled up beside me on top of the covers, tucking a pillow behind my head.

“What happened?”

“You passed out,” he said, smiling. “But only for a minute.”

I looked over at his bedside clock and realized that it had been two hours since I’d left my house. Wow.

“Don’t worry,” he said softly, “everything’s going to be all right.”

Whether I believed that or not, I desperately needed to hear it. I hugged him as tightly as I could and willed myself to believe what he said. Everything was going to be all right.

I’m not sure how much later it was when I drifted off to sleep, but the last thing I remember is the beating of his heart beneath my ear. That, and thinking if we died tomorrow, at least we had tonight.

The next day was a blur. All that mattered was that night. I took the red dress upstairs and put it in my closet. I’d be damned if I wore what Maxwell requested. I put on jeans, a comfortable pair of boots, my coat and a t-shirt that said, “Eat me.”

“Oh, that’s nice,” Eramus said. I knew he was joking, but he didn’t laugh. Who could blame him? “You might want to reconsider what you wear in front of a bunch of werewolves.”

“It’s my way of coping.”

Eramus was sitting on the edge of my bed pretty much watching me waste time. My hair was braided, my makeup was as good as it was going to get. But I didn’t want to leave. Stupid really, considering how much I wanted this to be over with.

“Eramus?”

“Yes?”

“I know I haven’t said it before and I should have. I just want you to know that I—”

“I know,” he said, stopping me before I could say the words. “If saying it out loud scares you, it’s all right to wait a while.”

I loved him, was in fact certain of it. I just had yet to tell him. Now seemed like the right moment, but maybe not. Even though I was over James, I was not over having someone I trusted break my heart. That might sound like the same thing but it really isn’t.