Hot Blooded

know why she was suddenly close to
tears. She wasn't ashamed of her past. She didn't want any other men now, but
she couldn't help that she had been born into a species that made it nearly
impossible not to have sex at certain times. She wasn't about to apologize for
who she was.
    Riordan caught the echo of her thoughts, the painful tightness in her chest,
and knew he hurt her. Had that been his intention? He hoped not. He would
despise himself if his newly acquired emotions were so out of control that he
could punish his lifemate for something she did before he met her.
    He swam slowly across the pool until he was directly in front of her. "I do
believe I am the idiot you called me. I apologize for my jealous streak. I also
find I have a rotten temper which I shall do my best to control." He grinned at
her, a sudden melting smile that brought life to his dark eyes. "It is the
passion in me. My blood runs hot and I am caught. Fortunately…" He moved closer
to her, his hands circling her ankles. "I can make up for my shortcomings in
other ways."
    "Don't you dare." She could see the mischief on his face.
    He yanked on her legs, catching her by surprise, so that she slid toward him,
her legs over his shoulders.
I thought I would find out how you taste. If
you're as tangy and spicy all over as I imagine you are
. Without giving her
the slightest opportunity to squirm away, he lowered his head between her
thighs.
    Juliette jumped, but his hands cupped her bare buttocks, fingers digging deep
to hold her still. His teeth scraped the inside of her thigh. She heard herself
moan softly. Felt the first surge of moist welcoming heat.
    "Lie back for me," he said softly, "relax, float. Just feel. Just feel this
time, Juliette."
    She loved the way he said her name with his peculiar, very sexy accent. She
loved the way his eyes went dark and smoldered and hungered and burned over her
body. His hair touched her sensitive skin, her body trembled. She felt his hand
pushing against her heat. She stared up at the night sky, watched the droplets
of rain come down in slow motion. Some landed on her face, some on her bare
breasts. Water from the pool slid over her stomach, a silken blanket arousing
her further. Juliette gave herself to him completely.
    His finger pushed into her, stroking deep caresses, teasing and dancing until
she moaned with pleasure. His mouth replaced his hand, a hot pulsing of fire
that left her breathless, unable to scream, unable to breathe. Pressure built
fast and hard and raged through her body for release. When her orgasm hit, it
was explosive and violent and shook her to the very core of her being.
    Riordan slowly lifted his head from between her thighs, holding her secure
when she might have drowned, might have just sunk to the bottom in a heap of
heated feminine flesh. He pulled her through the water to him, rocked her gently
while her body continued to sizzle and spark and ripple with pleasure.
    Juliette wrapped her arms around his neck and laid her head on his shoulder.
"I accept your apology."
    His arms tightened possessively. He floated over to the small shelf near the
water's edge. "I hoped you would feel my sincerity."
    "Do you think a woman can fall in love with a man she barely knows?"
    "I do not know, but she can fall in love with a man after she has walked in
his mind and knows who he is and what he stands for."
    She kissed his neck. "I never once dreamed I would have a man in my life.
Never once."
    "That is only because you could not conjure up the image of such a charming
man." He sank down onto the shelf looking pleased with himself and pulled her
onto his lap, cradling her close. "I have four brothers." He pushed the wet hair
from the side of her neck and threw it back in a long, wet trail over her
shoulder. "Our prince sent us out so many years ago this country has become our
home. I am the youngest in the family, and my brothers worry for me, all of
them. Nicolas and Rafael are out of the country at the moment so you are safe
from meeting them en masse. We have very close ties to a family of humans…"
    "The ones who work your cattle empire," she interrupted.
    "Ranch. It is large, but it is no empire. Yes, they run the ranch. They have
young orphaned relatives in the United States and two of my brothers went to
help them smooth the way to bring them home."
    She looked up at him suspiciously. "What does that mean? Smooth the way. By
using