Carpathian 09 - Dark Guardian

its head and roared for release. Roared to claim what belonged to it.
    Jaxon sensed the change in him. It was in the hard possession of his hands, the sudden aggression of his body. For the first time she was afraid. She caught his thick black hair in her fists and made a small sound somewhere between submission and protest. "Lucian." She whispered his name like a talisman, knowing he would always protect her.
    At once he raised his head. Her breath caught in her throat. Behind the depths of his eyes crouched a primitive animal; she could see it, the red flames in its eyes, the heat and hunger gathering into a fierce conflagration. Her heart thudded wildly. "Lucian." She tightened her grip in his hair, two large handfuls, holding on for her life.
    "It is all right, angel," he said tenderly. He kissed her throat gently, lingering over her wildly beating pulse.
    "I could never hurt you. You are my life, the air I breathe. I may sometimes act more animal than man, but I am truly a man after all."
    "But not human." Jaxon's voice was a mere thread of sound.
    "Not human," he agreed. "A Carpathian male, very much needing his lifemate at this moment."
    Jaxon was suddenly acutely conscious of her disheveled clothes. "I think it would be best if you removed yourself from my bedroom."
    "Best for whom?" Amusement tinged his voice. "Not me." Very gently he arranged her black top to cover her creamy skin. "Do you have any idea how much you mean to me?" He shook his head. "It is not possible that you could know."
    She was afraid to breathe. Her entire body was crying out for his, completely betraying her saner self.
    "Lucian, I really need to be alone for a while."
    "So you can deny that you want me?"
    "Absolutely," she agreed readily. There was no reason to deny it. He was lucky she wasn't experienced.

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    She might just be ripping his clothes off. The idea took her breath away.
    He arched an expressive eyebrow at her. "It takes my breath away, too," he murmured against her throat, proving he was a shadow firmly entrenched in her mind.
    She wanted to be annoyed with him. He had no right to listen to her every thought. But she found herself laughing. It just seemed so intimate, lying on the bed with his arm curved around her waist, his black eyes moving over her with such stark hunger in them. "You're so bad, Lucian."
    Jaxon closed her eyes tiredly. It felt good to simply lie there and be still. Not think. Not do anything but feel his warmth and strength. "I'm so tired. It must be close to dawn. Why are we always talking until dawn?"
    "So you grow tired and sleep all day while I am at my weakest. It is a good way to keep you chained to my side." Lucian stretched lazily "I intend to sleep here with you, so settle down and do not try to argue with me."
    Jaxon thumped his shoulder, then shifted to lay her head on it "I wasn't going to argue with you. Why ever would you think that? I never argue."
    Lucian smiled at her. She was so small, it amazed him she was such a strong person. "Of course you do not argue. What was I thinking? Go to sleep, honey, and allow my poor body to rest."
    "I'm already asleep. You're the one gabbing."
    Lucian concentrated on safeguarding the estate. He found he was more than a little distracted with Jaxon snuggled so close to him, her body fitting perfectly into the curve of his. She thought him so controlled, and perhaps it was true in every other matter—every matter other than Jaxon. He was not so sure of his ability to protect her from his own needs and hungers.
    "Lucian?" The drowsy note in her voice sent his gut clenching into a ball of fire that was spreading like molten lava.
    "Go to sleep." He draped his arm over her, completely engulfing her. Of their own accord his fingers tangled in the thick mop of untamed hair. His own voice was husky with need.
    "Don't you sleep underground or something? I know you don't use a coffin, but this seems too normal for you." Her voice held suspicion.
    Lucian hesitated. There could be no untruths between lifemates, and he had always been careful to tell her those details of his life she asked about. But this. What was he to answer? "Go to sleep."
    At once Jaxon tried to lift her head. Lucian didn't appear to notice. His arm lay firmly in place. "Tell me, Lucian, or I'm going to bug you all day."
    He sighed. "I thought you didn't like hearing all the gory details of my existence." His