Carpathian 17 - Dark Curse

Excitement was building at the prospect of shape shifting. \"A little,\" she admitted.
    He lifted an eyebrow.
    Lara shrugged. \"Well, maybe a lot. You\'re very sure of yourself.\"
    \"I have lived a long time.\" He brought her fingers to his lips. \"But all this is new to me and I have found that I am learning as we go. Feel free to clue me in when I am making mistakes.\"
    \"Have no worries there,\" Lara said. She tugged at his hand, halting him before he could avoid her question by bringing down the safeguards. \"I really want to understand you better and I can\'t if I\'m worried all the time that you might become a vampire.\"
    \"That is no longer a possibility, Lara,\" he assured. \"You are the other half of my soul, the light to my darkness. Once found, your light guides and protects me. I have no doubt I will always be a difficult man, but I will not turn vampire.\" He jerked his chin toward the boulders, his eyebrow raised in challenge. \"Do you think you can remove the safeguards?\"
    A smile slowly formed. \"A test. You\'re challenging me.\"
    \"I am also timing you.\"
    It was her turn to raise an eyebrow. She spun around toward the entrance and lifted her hands into the air.
    Every stroke of the pattern he had woven was recorded in her mind. The aunts had drilled it into her to observe Page 101

    Christine Feehan: Dark Curse
    even the tiniest movement, a flick of a finger, a small nuance that made the difference of getting it right the first time and surviving.
    She could feel his eyes on her and the intensity of his gaze sent a shiver of awareness tingling down her spine.
    She had to really concentrate to block him out, to make the long graceful movements and the short, subtle ones accompany her soft murmured words. It was a silly chant really, one she had made up and used repeatedly as a child to help her learn how to weave and undo warding spells. Her hands moved swiftly, gracefully, following each thread of unseen light, seeking out each knot and double checking the threads in the weave of the pattern.
    Spider, spider spin your web, absorbing now these unseen threads. Spider, spider, throw your line, remove all that would harm or bind. Spider, spider, clear the way, protecting now this entryway.
    The boulders rocked back and forth for a moment, shimmered and disappeared. Lara spun around, grinning at him. He was there-too close-right on her in fact. She hadn\'t heard or felt him move, but as she turned, she turned right into his arms, her face raised toward his. Their gazes locked. A frisson of awareness-of arousal-raced from breasts to thighs.
    His finger curled around the nape of her neck, his thumb sliding over her cheek as he bent his head toward hers. His other hand slid down to the small of her back, urging her body close against him. Lara didn\'t pull away but neither did she lean into him, nervous and unsure of herself and him.
    Do not be afraid of this, Lara. It is just a kiss. I am asking only that in this you do not fear me. His thumb feathered across her cheek, his black gaze holding hers. I do not want you to ever fear I will take anything from you that you are not willing to give .
    His words played over her skin, floated on his warm breath. She could see the length of his lashes, the cut of his sensual mouth. He gave her time to pull back, lowering his head slowly, inch by inch, until his lips feathered over hers, back and forth, soft as velvet. Air backed up in her lungs and her heart beat too loud.
    I\'m not a coward. She whispered the words in his mind and moved into him, adjusting her body fully into his.
    No, you are not.
    He pressed a kiss to the corner of her mouth, teeth tugged on her full lower lip until she wanted to groan with pleasure. He flicked his tongue against her lips, and then licked, as if savoring her taste. His hand put even more pressure on her back, and her body went soft and pliant, molding to his until she felt they shared the same skin. His mind opened to hers, his emotions pouring in.
    She was instantly drenched in a flood of desire. Hot. Passionate. Yet at the same time, there was a tenderness so intimate tears flooded her eyes. She could feel his elation that she met him halfway, his intense need to protect her, his determination to be a good life mate to her, to make her happy and confident.
    She also felt that darkness swirling close to the surface, the demon rising to claim her. He ruthlessly pushed it down, holding the animal side of him in check. He was