Carpathian 17 - Dark Curse

like silky rain over her bare skin. Her womb tightened and her hips moved restlessly.
    His entire focus seemed to be on her-on her body, her skin. His hands ran along the sides of her breasts, her ribs, shaped her hips and slid smoothly over and beneath her bottom to stroke beneath each cheek and down her thighs. The leisurely exploration was slow and gentle and all the while his tongue lapped at her scars. She could feel the brush of his lips as he planted little kisses along the path of her spine and into the small of her back. Her body vibrated beneath his touch, every nerve ending aware of him.
    A sound escaped, somewhere between a moan and a slow hiss of need. She pressed closer to the pillow, tears burning in her eyes. How could she want him this way when he had taken her dignity, her independence, so hard-won after a childhood of abuse? But her body was on fire for him. Every touch of his hands, every lap of his tongue, even the brush of his hair sent flames dancing over her skin and built the hunger blossoming inside of her.
    I am almost finished, o jelä sielamak. Light of my soul, stay still for me. Because if she didn\'t, his body was going to go up in flames. He had started out with only a thought to heal her, but his groin was full and aching, pressed tightly against her thigh as he worked.
    Nicolas tried to keep the feel of her satin skin and the rounded curves of her body from affecting him, but it was impossible. Her body trembled, her legs moved restlessly and he scented the call of mates, but a small sob escaped, muffled and restrained. He remained deeply merged with her, reading her distress.
    It is good to want your life mate, Lara. Enjoy the feeling, do not fear it. Just because we both desire one Page 89

    Christine Feehan: Dark Curse
    another\'s body does not mean we have to act on that desire. You are safe with me. I wish only to heal you, not to add to your fears.
    There was a small silence. He held his breath waiting for her response.
    I\'m not ready. There was apology and guilt in her voice.
    How could you be? You have to trust before you can give your body into my keeping. There is no need to be upset because I want you. You are my life mate. His tongue touched the back of her thigh in a slow, intimate dip into a whitened dimple. I am supposed to want you as you are supposed to want me .
    Lara rubbed her face against the pillow, arousal teasing her thighs. I guess that is the one thing we don\'t have to worry about . Every stroke of his tongue intensified the need building. She was very confused, torn with fear, afraid to commit to him, yet her body betrayed her-wet, weeping with hunger, calling to his, breasts sensitive, feminine channel inflamed and needy.
    He took his time on the backs of her calves, not rushing when his own hungers grew with every brush of his skin against hers.
    This is not about sex, Lara, this is about healing. When I make love to you, there will be no doubt what I am doing. But you will not be confused and afraid. You will come to me willingly or not at all.
    That was the trouble-she was willing-at least her body was and that felt like a betrayal of herself. She had allowed him to draw her back, in essence to agree to commit her life to his again, yet he still seemed to have all the power.
    \"The true power lies with you,\" Nicolas objected, reading her fears easily. He sat up, waving his hand so that a soft material covered her bare skin, keeping her from feeling so exposed and vulnerable. He gathered her back into his arms, cradling her body to his. \"A woman is the greatest treasure a man can have.\" He could feel her body trembling and she looked up at him through troubled eyes veiled with thick lashes. \"You really are too weak to be taken to the inn, but if it would make you feel better, I can do so. My fear is that if we are attacked, we would be very vulnerable there.\"
    He needed blood-and so did she. As weak as she was, he doubted if she could go more than a couple of hours before he would be forced to give her another exchange and he was uncertain how best to broach the subject with her.
    \"I\'m not afraid of being here.\"
    That hadn\'t been the trouble, Nicolas knew. And he caught her desire, hastily suppressed, to be in the open where she could feel free. He didn\'t want to move her, at least not until she was significantly stronger.
    Nicolas settled against the headboard of the bed with Lara in his arms. He rested his chin on top of her silky hair