Vampire in Atlantis

into her own hands, so to speak.
    “Daniel, listen to me. If you don’t make love to me right now, I’m going to scream really, really loudly, which will bring all the bad guys from miles around racing to find us, and that will ruin everything, and then—”
    She couldn’t think of what would happen after her “and then,” but it didn’t matter because Daniel opened his eyes and smiled and then he took her mouth in a hard, branding kiss, and when her body arched up to his of its own accord, he moved forward, driving into her, claiming her in the most primal way.
    She made a little sound of distress—he’d been right, it did hurt a little—but he held perfectly still and gave her a chance to adjust to his invasion. When she relaxed and could feel her inner muscles softening to welcome him, he began to move, thrusting gently into her body and then out again, over and over in rhythmic motions as timeless as the waves of the sea striking the shore.
    Her own passion rose to meet his, waves of ecstasy beginning to surface again as the feel of his erection, so large inside her, touched places she’d never known she had—nerves and centers of sensation she’d never known existed. Slowly, and then with growing intensity, she felt her passion for this man, finally in her arms, finally in her body, rise and encircle her with pure, almost magical sensation.
    She felt she could face anything and triumph—even if the witch forced power through the Emperor again, she could conquer them both with the power of her love for Daniel and this amazing, miraculous sensation.
    “I like affirming life very much,” she said breathlessly, and then he plunged deep inside her, deeper than he’d been before, and her entire consciousness, body and soul, jumped, spinning, off the edge of the world.

     
    Daniel felt the exact moment Serai began to reach her peak, and he increased his pace, building her orgasm as high as he could and then prolonging it, while he captured her cries with his mouth. He kissed her, feeling every tremor and spasm in her body as an exquisite goad to his own pleasure, even while he tried to ensure hers. His cock had never been so sensitive, and he was fighting against release, trying to hold on, but two more thrusts and he was gone, coming and coming inside her, his cock and his brain emptied by sheer, world-shattering pleasure.
    He collapsed, but caught himself with his arms, careful not to crush her with his weight but needing to feel all of her body against his own. He pressed kisses against her cheeks, nose, and mouth, murmuring meaningless phrases, until they both stopped shaking.
    “You were right,” she said seriously. “That was much better.”
    He laughed, delighted with her. Delighted with himself. Delighted with every damn thing in the universe.
    “I’m glad, because that’s only the beginning,” he said, kissing her again.
    She kissed him back but then suddenly stopped and pushed him away, her eyes dark and unfocused.
    “Reisen again?” he growled, thinking of all the ways he’d like to make the damn warrior suffer for interrupting them at such a private time.
    “No,” she finally said, narrowing her eyes. “Worse. The high prince of Atlantis is on his way here, with his brother.”
    “Here? Now?” He carefully disengaged from her body and started swearing, cursing viciously in at least three different languages.
    “They’ll be here in less than half an hour,” she said, calmly enough, but he knew her well enough to read the fire in her eyes. “Luckily I have another shirt, with the buttons intact. Time to make use of that river for the bath I’ve needed all day.”
    “I know they’re your royalty, mi amara , but I might have to kick their asses for them,” he growled.
    She pulled his head back down to hers and kissed him thoroughly and then stood up and headed for the water. “I may help you do it,” she said. “I’d enjoy that very much, I think.”
    Daniel followed her to the river, thinking of the saber-toothed tiger and grinning. “My money’s on you.”

Chapter 21
     

     
    Still warm from Daniel’s lovemaking, Serai waited in the moonlight for the man who was to have made her queen of all Atlantis. She’d pictured this moment in her mind so many thousands of times, when she’d been held captive: her first conversation with whichever Atlantean prince would rescue her. Then, when she’d known Conlan was to be hers, she’d tried to listen for news of him