Carpathian 11 - Dark Descent

felt her muscles contract, grip, squeeze, and grip until they both went up in flames together.
    Joie lay beside him, unable to move, wanting to laugh with joy. Her fingers found his, tangled, and held on. She believed in living life to the fulest, but she had always thought she would do so alone. For the first time in her life, she felt complete and utter satisfaction. Complete and utter peace.
    "I feel exactly the same way," Traian said. "I cannot help wondering—if you had been the Carpathian and I the human with a beloved family, would I have been as trusting as you have been? You cannot know what your faith and trust mean to me."
    Joie turned her head, a mischievous grin on her face. "I decided I liked flying and the shape-shifting would be cool. And if you do something so sily as to cheat on me or run off with someone else, I'm very good with a knife."
    He raised an eyebrow. "I thought you would be worried about giving up food. It does smel good. I have even sampled some from time to time."
    "No one said anything about giving up food." She eyed him with suspicion. "There are certain things women can't do without, Traian. Chocolate at certain times of the month is essential to health. Not necessarily my health, but the health of al males in the vicinity. I'm not giving up chocolate, not even for great sex."
    He propped himself up on one elbow, the pad of his finger tracing a circle around her breast. "Chocolate is that important, is it?"
    "Essential. Absolutely essential. That's nonnegotiable."
    "What kind of chocolate must you have?"
    "Dark chocolate, of course. Is there any other kind?"
    He dipped his head to pul her breast into his mouth, suckling strongly just to feel her reaction. His tongue swirled over her nipple before he kissed her. His kiss was long and slow and thorough. When he lifted his head, he laughed softly at her expression. She stared up at him, bemused, one hand touching her lips in wonder where the taste of dark chocolate melting in her mouth was very real.
    "How did you do that?"
    "You need and I provide—that is how it works. I believe you wanted to see your brother and sister tonight."
    She alowed him to pul her up. "Anytime? You can do that anytime? Wow. I think I'm going to like this lifemate business."
    Traian laughed, hardly able to believe the happiness blossoming inside him. Hardly daring to believe Joie was real.

Chapter Nine
    Joie stood in the doorway of the lounge, her gaze scanning the crowd as she always did, getting a feel for the throng, picking out the ones most likely to cause trouble and the ones who might be interested in more than they should. She noted a tal, dark-haired man in the corner who looked up when she walked in with Traian. He quickly glanced away from them, taking a sudden interest in his drink, but she could tel he was watching them carefuly. A second man drew her interest. He sat in one of the high-backed chairs near the fire, a newspaper in his hands. He was short and slender and wore reading glasses. He was looking over the top of the thick rims at Gabriele.
    Jubal turned and waved to Joie. Gabriele looked up, gave a glad cry, and rushed toward her. Joie prepared herself to be practicaly bowled over as her sister embraced her, hugging her joyfuly. Over Gabriele's shoulder, she noted the man in the glasses looking past her to Traian. Recognition flickered across his face, and he carefuly folded the newspaper and laid it on the smal table in front of him before rising.
    Traian, Joie warned. She set Gabriele gently to her side and just a little behind her.
    Traian scanned the room, was slightly shocked when he realized the slender man was human yet seemed to recognize who and what Traian was. Moreover, he was expecting Traian, had come to the inn in the hope of finding him. Traian noted with amusement that Joie had tried to position her body between him and the stranger. The rush of joy and affection, a lightening of his heart and soul, made him tremble. He couldn't remember if anyone in his long lifetime had worried about him or tried to protect him. That smal gesture meant the world to him.
    Behind it was her faith in him. She'd made a leap of faith, committing herself to his life, his world. She believed he wanted her happiness above his own, and she wanted to give him happiness. He had a mad desire to scoop her up and run back to her room, where he could make love to her al over again. He looked at her, alowed the thought to shimmer in his mind, to