Carpathian 23 - Dark Storm

of
     pleasure flashed through her. His tongue slid across the pinpricks on her neck, to
     seal the two small holes he’d left.
    The moment she could stand on her own, he stripped off her shirt, solidifying right
     in front of her, his hands already lifting her breasts to his mouth. His mouth was
     hot, on fire, suckling strongly, his tongue dancing over her nipple. His chest was
     bare, his skin nearly glowing, all hard mahogany. She cried out, a soft, strangled
     cry caught in her throat as his mouth tugged and pulled at her breast, teeth skimming
     her nipple, delivering a tiny sting of pain and easing it instantly with a velvet
     tongue.
    Riley’s heart pounded as Dax lifted his head to lock his gaze with hers. She could
     see the smoldering heat there, the stark hunger. He lifted one hand to his own chest.
     Her stomach clenched. Her mouth watered. Holding her gaze, he drew a line over his
     chest with one diamond nail. His hand went to the nape of her neck while the flames
     in his eyes leapt and burned. He put steady pressure on her until she bent her head
     to tentatively flick her tongue over the ruby beads seeping from that thin line over
     his heart.
    The moment she tasted him, she knew she was lost. There would never be enough time
     to spend with him. He made her feel alive. Her body sang when she was with him. Her
     sense of smell, her vision, everything was so different—so more. She craved him. Was
     addicted to the taste of him. The world around her faded away, leaving only Dax and
     his hard body and exquisite taste.
    She slid her palm down his chest to his flat, washboard stomach. She absorbed each
     defined muscle with her fingertips. Women dreamed of a man built like him—and he was
     hers. He’d given himself into her keeping. Her hand moved lower to find that impressive
     bulge. Boldly she rubbed gently, reveling in the ability to touch him.
    His mind poured into hers, sharing the pleasure her hands and mouth gave him, sharing
     erotic images in his head. She gasped at what she saw there, at how it made her burn
     even more for him.
    Enough, sivamet . You do not want to be sick. You have to come into my world slowly. I do not want
     there to be complications. To ensure her obedience he slipped his hand between her mouth and his chest.
    How could she slow down when she was already on the wild ride? She didn’t want to
     slow down at all, she wanted to burn for him. Go with him wherever he went. Horrified
     at her obsessive thoughts, Riley stepped back—or tried to. Dax simply glided, his
     movement fluid.
    He caught her chin, forcing her head up. I woke to your doubts beating at me. You are no more obsessed with me than I am with
     you. I cannot ever betray you, Riley. You are mine in this life and in all the lives
     given to us. It will still not be long enough for me.
    His confidence was a turn-on to her. She’d never met a man who could be so completely
     in charge without being overbearing.
    I know this is right, Riley assured. I know you’re what I want. She had to look away from those burning eyes to admit her failings. She looked down
     at her boots. It’s hard to believe that I’m the one you really want out of all the women in the
     world. You haven’t really seen any other woman besides me. Wait until you go into
     a city. Your world was different than it is now. There are so many beautiful women
     in the world for you to choose.
    Dax smiled down at her, once more forcing her chin up so that her eyes met his. Her
     heart nearly jumped from her chest there was such tenderness there.
    There is only one Riley and she is mine. He bent his head slowly to hers.
    Riley watched him come to her, his eyes blazing into hers, his perfect, chiseled lips
     slightly parted, his warm breath and then his mouth on hers. She gave herself up to
     his kiss, letting the world tumble away. He kissed her again and again and she found
     herself melting into him, her body going soft and pliant. His hands skimmed down her
     spine to the curve of her buttocks to lift and press her tight against his erection.
     Her breath caught in her lungs, still slightly shocked that he would want her so much
     he would take her right there out in the open.
    Did you doubt I could go long without having you again? Again there was an edge to his tone, as if her uncertainty on awakening reflected
     on his integrity in some way.
    I hoped you couldn’t. Although . . . She looked back toward camp. The others were