Carpathian 17 - Dark Curse

dazzling crystals spread across the meadows and draped over the tall trees. Even the shadows had a silvery shine to them.
    Lara turned her face up to the night. She\'d always felt so out of place unless she was caving, hiding by day so the sunlight couldn\'t touch her skin, and trying to keep others from noticing. Now, here in the mountains, with night closing her in, she felt truly alive for the first time. She turned her face up again for another kiss, melting against Nicolas, into him, burrowing as close as she could get.
    Hayfields and crystallized bogs passed below as he swept her away, floating through the clouds, the flakes brushing her hair and skin and she turned her face up to try to catch the snow on her tongue. She laughed softly, happy and excited. Her body pulsed with heat from the slow, sultry teasing of his teeth and tongue driving her mad with desire.
    I love this feeling. And she did. She wasn\'t in the least bit afraid when he set her down on the firm rock at the entrance to his lair.
    Nicolas could barely breathe with wanting her. He stripped away her long, flowing dress before they were inside the cave, unable to wait one moment longer to be skin to skin. She stood at the entrance with the snow falling softly all around her, the moon sliding in and out of the gray clouds to illuminate the wealth of satin skin.
    His lungs burned for air. A fire raged in his belly and spread to his groin. \"Lift your arms over your head and turn around,\" he instructed, his voice roughening.
    Lara felt the power of being not only a life mate, but a woman, in that moment. She stretched her arms above her head, a slow, graceful movement that lifted her breasts. She heard him growl, a deep rumbling that only added to the slick heat gathering between her legs. Her hair spilled around her face and flowed down her back, a silky, sensual slide that added to the gathering heat.
    His gaze burned over her, making the ache in her body grow with each passing second. She began a slow turn, just a little self-conscious, watching the tension in his face, watching as each muscle tensed, grew taut. He stepped toward her and her mouth went dry.
    \"You are so beautiful, Lara.\"
    He made her feel beautiful whether she was or not. He made her feel sexy, the only woman alive that could make him burn. He crowded her close to the cave entrance, his body aggressive. Her hands came up to press against his chest. He caught both wrists and slid her palms down the heavy muscles of his chest. As he did so, Page 126

    Christine Feehan: Dark Curse
    his clothing was gone, leaving behind hard, hot skin. Beneath her palms, his stomach muscles tightened and knotted in anticipation.
    Her breath caught in her throat. She gasped at the heat pouring from him. Her gaze slid down his taut body.
    \"Look at me.\"
    At the rough command, her gaze jumped back to his eyes. The dark arousal caught and held her there as he continued to press her palms down his body to his heavy, aching erection. Her lungs burned as he closed her fingers around the thick, hard shaft, pulsing with life, with hunger, with such need. The naked lust blazing in the dark depths of his eyes nearly had her body rippling with shock. She felt her deep response, slick hot heat, her inner muscles contracting and spasming, desperate for him.
    \"Do you know what I want from you?\"
    She shook her head, unable to look away from the demand in his eyes.
    \"Complete surrender, fél ku kuuluaak sÃ-vam belso . Beloved, nothing less. I want everything you are.
    That is who I am.\"
    She had known all along he would want that. Her fingers stroked caresses along the thick shaft. He felt like velvet-encased steel, so hard, jerking and pulsing compulsively beneath her exploration. She traced each beloved line with the tips of her fingers, wanting so many things.
    \"Taking my blood is a part of Carpathian lovemaking.\"
    He refused to release her from his black, demanding gaze. \"There can be no compromise here, Lara. Not for either one of us. You have to trust me with your body or we can wait until you do.\"
    She was suddenly afraid. She shivered with need, her body desperate for release, her mind craving him, wanting the experiences his hot gaze promised. He would accept nothing less than total surrender, putting herself into his hands and trusting that he wouldn\'t do anything she couldn\'t cope with. His mind was left open to hers, allowing her to see every erotic image, everything he wanted from her.