Carpathian 23 - Dark Storm

Filled with strength. He was both gentle and tough. Courageous. Images flashed through her mind, his memories,
     his youth, his centuries of hunting, his stark, utter loneliness, even when he traveled
     with Arabejila, believing he would never have a woman of his own, believing he had
     failed his best friend and that friend’s daughter. Her heart ached for him. She wanted
     to be the woman to comfort and love him.
    “Now, pick up the flower again and come sit between my legs while I braid the vines
     and small flowers in your hair. While I braid your hair, you feed me one petal as
     you eat one. Once this is done, our courtship ritual will be complete and you will
     have indicated your willingness for me to continue with our relationship.”
    Riley frowned at him, but without a word scooted closer, turning to face away from
     him. Her heart pounded with the enormity of what she was doing. She was no young girl
     to jump into a relationship because she was overwhelmed with physical attraction,
     and yet she seemed too helpless to stop herself. She wanted him. Craved him. And every
     minute in his company just seemed to amplify her needs.
    He reached out and pulled her into the junction between his open legs, back against
     him, until she was so close, every muscle seemed imprinted into her skin. He radiated
     heat, his warmth surrounding her like a blanket. She pressed her lips together as
     he gathered her long hair in his hands, dividing it into three sections.
    A shiver of arousal went through her. She was burning up. Needing him. Was it the
     flower? The ceremony? His taste? Or the man? Everything was blending together into
     one potent aphrodisiac. His hands were in her hair and every gentle tug sent electricity
     arcing and snapping through her. Her need of him bordered on obsession. She broke
     off a petal and reached behind her with it.
    Their eyes met. A flood of liquid heat dampened her panties. She had the sudden urge
     to reach back and pull his head to hers. The flames in his eyes leapt and burned.
     His lips parted—those perfectly sculpted, tempting lips—and she placed the petal in his mouth. His white teeth bit down, and her stomach
     clenched in response. Deliberately, eyes still locked with his, she put a petal in
     her mouth. His taste burst on her tongue, hot and masculine, shattering her every
     idea of the hunger between a man and a woman. She felt almost desperate for him.
    Still locked with his gaze, she saw that same heady combination of lust and hunger
     flaming in his eyes and then something else crept in—something dangerous and feral.
     He looked all at once predatory. Beneath his skin she caught the faint lift of scales,
     almost as if a beast lay in wait. He turned his head slowly but she knew he was aware
     of everything and everyone around them. Only then was she aware of the approach of
     Gary and Jubal. Disappointment and frustration rushed through her.
    “Another petal for both of us.”
    His voice was husky. He was just as affected as she was and that made her feel better.
     He didn’t want their time together alone to end any more than she did. She put another
     petal in his mouth and crushed a second in her own. The second petal only seemed to
     increase her desire. Knowing Jubal and Gary were approaching fast should have taken
     the heat out of her skin and the hot surge from her veins, but nothing seemed to dampen
     her desire for Dax, not even company.
    Riley was grateful for the night, although the full moon seemed to turn night into
     a soft glowing day. She managed to place the last petals into Dax’s mouth and her
     own just as Gary and Jubal reached them.
    “Good evening,” Dax said pleasantly.
    Had Riley not seen his reaction she would never have known he was smoldering with
     desire for her and not at all happy with the interruption.
    “Where did you get that flower?” Gary asked, excitement edging his voice
    Dax frowned, the flames in his eyes growing. Clearly he didn’t like the demand in
     Gary’s voice.
    “Gary and Jubal came here looking for a particular flower,” Riley explained hastily.
    “It’s important,” Gary added. “That flower is extinct in the Carpathian Mountains.
     We’ve speculated for a while now that it’s important for the women��s ability to conceive.”
    Dax shook his head. “I’ve lost so much time. I thought, from your memories, that Xavier
     was the culprit behind the loss of our women and children, that it was his