He pushed her legs farther apart, revealing damp, pale curls and swollen folds. He licked his lips, desperate for another taste, but he forced the craving aside. Later, when she was sated and docile and wouldn't balk, he'd indulge his desire to spend more time lapping at every delicious inch of her. Now, he needed to be one with her.
Gripping her lean, feminine thighs in his hands, Duke murmured, "Tell me you're ready."
Desire and uncertainty both crossed her face. "I am ... but this is going to change everything, isn't it?"
Even if he could, Duke refused to lie to her. "Yes. You're mine and you always will be. You'll know that after tonight."
"Not forever. I-I don't want that. You can't possibly either."
Duke stifled his frustration. He could argue with her, but words now meant nothing. She'd have to feel them together, sealing this bond.
Bracing himself, Duke positioned himself at her entrance, fitted the sensitive head of his cock right against her slick welcome. Then he pushed.
And sucked in a stunned breath. "Bloody hell, you're tight."
She shifted beneath him with a whimper.
He let out a shuddering breath. She'd barely taken a quarter of his length. He checked his instinct to ram deep, claim her in one stroke.
Balancing on his knees, he parted her folds with his thumbs and pushed in slowly, watching more of his erection disappear into the hot, silky depths of her body. Beneath him, she thrashed. A pale flush crawled over her cheeks, now spreading to her chest.
"Hurt, Sunshine?"
She thrashed her head from side to side. "Too slow. Deeper."
Joy burst through his heart. Felicia yearned to complete the bond--even if she didn't recognize the emotion. She was everything he wanted, everything he hadn't known he'd been searching for through countless meaningless trysts.
She gripped the couch and raised herself to him. He sank a bit deeper. God, she felt delicious. His thoughts short-circuited, and he could hardly catch his breath. Sweat broke out over his skin.
The little noises Felicia made in the back of her throat were driving him mad.
Moans, whimpers, mewls, pleas. Each told him what she wanted. He'd be damned if he wouldn't give it to her.
Because Mason never would again.
The thought spurred him on as he gripped her hips, gritted this teeth, and pushed in the rest of his length with all his might.
"Simon!" she gasped.
Amazingly, she contracted around him with a scream, her flesh sucking him in deeper, caressing his length until Duke thought he might lose his bloody mind. A second later, he drew back until just his tip remained tucked in her sweet sex, then he grabbed the arm of the couch above her head, and surged into her. Fast. Hard. And she cried out again, now digging her nails into his back.
Thrilled, he set a mad rhythm, blistering, blinding, as he captured her mouth beneath his. Yes! He tasted that unique blend of elements, spices, and her own personal something that screamed the fact she was made for him, as he was made for her.
Beneath him, Felicia opened to him in every way, her skin flushing darker with every thrust. Her eyes looked so blue, moist with a plea that had her near tears. Duke read her need as clearly as if she'd spoken because he was inside her in every way, connecting more than their bodies, even more than their hearts. They were one need, one soul. His chest tightened. He couldn't imagine ever wanting anyone else again.
Cupping her face in his hands, he layered his mouth over hers, plundering deep with his kiss as he did with his body. She clutched desperate fingers around his wrists, blue eyes wild and clinging. Her end was near. So was his. He tightened, slowed, hoping to stave off the inevitable. He wasn't willing to give her up. Ever.
Felicia deepened their kiss, raking his shoulders with her nails. He hissed in pleasure. Then, to his shock, she pushed him up to his knees ... and kept urging him back.
Uncurling his legs, he lay supine on the couch. Felicia climbed over him, determination and craving evident in her concentration and burning eyes. She moved over him, then took his length inside her, deep, deep, deep, setting a pace that made him gasp--and made holding back damn near impossible.
"Felicia, I-- Shit. Wait. Bloody hell!"
Frantically, she shook her head, her nails digging into his shoulders and her hips crashing down to him again and again. "No. Please ..."
When she ground into him, rubbing erotically, peppering kisses up his neck, fire licked across his skin. He wasn't going to last.
Then she whimpered and her sex pulsed hard all around him. "Simon!"
Hearing his name on her lips again rocketed him into the most brilliant pleasure ever, stripping away his control.
Ecstasy pummeled him. He exploded, smashing away memories of any other pleasure, of any other woman, leaving only Felicia behind.
Slowly, his breathing returned to normal. His heart stopped revving. The woman in his arms wilted across his chest with a long sigh of satisfaction. Neither moved.
"Sunshine," he murmured in her ear.
"I'm dead," she croaked, her voice ringing with exhaustion.
He smiled. "How ever shall I revive you?"
The thought of taking her in the luxury of a bed with hours at their disposal, feeling her complete willingness and trust, knowing he had her love, made him hard again.
Lifting up, he thrust slow and deep.
Her startled gaze flew to his. "Already? Us mere mortals need a bit of time to recover. You don't?"
"Because we generate energy from sex, wizards are pretty much ready every 121
moment of every day." He surged inside her again.
As he closed in on her mouth to brush a warm kiss on those candy red lips, the phone in his trouser pocket began to vibrate loudly.
"Damn lousy timing ..." If this was Bram, his problem had better be life or death.
Leaning for his clothes, he groped until he retrieved the mobile. He fumbled it in his grip, and it landed on his chest, display up.
Felicia clapped eyes on it and froze.
Duke snatched it and glared at the lighted display. Mason. Fuck!
Bloody impeccable timing. He silenced the little device and tossed it to the floor even as she started pulling away.
"Felicia, don't."
She shoved against his chest, but Duke gripped her hips, holding her in place.
Guilt and uncertainty crept across her face. Damn if she wasn't retreating back into her shell.
She shook her head. "This isn't right. It isn't real."
"The hell it isn't," he rasped. "We were as close as two people can be, and not just physically. You can't deny it."
Her face closed up. "Try to understand. You say I'm your magical mate. But I'm still your brother's fiancee, and he's expecting a wife. I don't know where that leaves me."
Duke's mind raced. Females--witches and otherwise--didn't experience a wizard's mating instinct. How could he convince her they were meant to be?
"You planned to marry Mason for children. I'll give them to you. As many as you want."
She shook her head. "I also sought a companion. A friend. But this, you ... it's more than I can take."
"What does that mean? If you wanted children, you knew you'd have a lover, as well. Did you expect to spend your entire married life feeling nothing beyond friendship?"
She didn't say anything. But her face spoke volumes. Yes, she'd fully intended to marry her friend Mason, procreate, but never expand the boundaries of their relationship.
Duke refused to settle for that.
"This conversation is pointless." She lifted away from him and started fumbling for her clothes.
He let her go--for now. Though he really wanted to make love to her again, talking was more important than sex. If he worked through her issue, her anxiety wouldn't interfere with their lovemaking again.
"How so?" He reached for his jeans and donned them.
"We've consummated the bond. That's all that was required, correct? Hopefully, your signature's changed and we won't have to ..."
"Have sex again? That's where you're wrong, Sunshine. I promise you, this was the first time of many."
Her fists clenched and her red lips pursed together. "That wasn't what I agreed to.
Our mating is temporary, to shield me from Mathias. I've spoken words I don't agree with and now done this." She pointed to the couch, fighting tears. "There shouldn't be more."
She sniffed the sobs back, jaw clenched. Damn, he couldn't bear to see her hurting. Clearly, their lovemaking had gotten to her, scared her. He could remind her that 122
she'd enjoyed it as well, but that was counterproductive. Duke knew he was affecting her emotions. He must tread carefully until he earned her complete trust.
"But there is, even if my signature has changed. Those words that didn't mean anything to you, meant everything to me. You are the only one for me. I love you."
Felicia gasped. She knew he wasn't lying.
Hand to her chest, she backed away with terror all over her face. "How is that possible? You've known me for two days."
"I suspected the first time I saw you from a distance, months ago, that I would fall for you. I knew it for certain when I kissed you. I'm even more sure now."
She backed away another step, turned her back to him, scrambling into the rest of her clothes. "Love is...a fallacy. It's what men like you say to women like us when you want sex. Then you'll claim you fell out of love when you become bored."
Duke found himself wanting to pound someone's face, and he would--just as soon as he figured out which man deserved the honors. "Who the hell broke your heart? I know it wasn't Mason. You chose him because he was safe."
Felicia grabbed her bra and shoes, shot him a glance rife with anguish, then headed for the door. "I'd never let anyone have that chance."
Her answer stunned him to the core. He should back away, think, let her do the same. Already, he'd said too much. But he couldn't simply let her go.
Before she could escape, he grabbed her arm. "I'm not giving up on you, Sunshine."
She jerked from his grasp. "You will. It's human nature."
"Remember, I'm not human."
That reminder exploded across her face--even as an actual explosion rattled the walls and doors around them. The retort died on her tongue. Screaming nearby sent a chill down his spine.
He grabbed Felicia's hand. "Damn it! We're under attack. Come with me."
Chapter 12
FELICIA GASPED. "M ATHIAS IS here?"
"Likely." Duke pulled her out of the room, into the hall.
"How did he find us?"
That question had already flashed through Duke's mind. None of the answers were good. "Shock must have told him either where to find us or how to follow your imprint on me."
"So ... you abducting me, us hiding and mating, was all for nothing?"
He curled an arm around her and held tight, needing to feel her close. "No. You're still alive. If I have anything to say about it, you'll stay that way."
As he guided her down the hall, he pulled out his phone and hit the button to dial Bram, who answered on the first ring. "Did you seal the deal with Felicia?"
"Bugger off. We're under attack." Another explosion rocked the hallway around him. The lights flickered ominously. Men shouted above.
"Where are the women?"
"Finding them now."
In the dark, narrow hallway, he ran into Sabelle. "Mathias and the Anarki are here."
"Tell her to abandon!" Bram shouted in his ear.
Duke held the phone far from his ear. "She heard you. We all did."
Bram grumbled, "Get Felicia out fast. Once you do, we'll teleport back and fight."
He hated leaving the rest to fight, but getting Felicia to safety was first priority.
"I'll call you once we're safe."
He rang off, then turned to Sabelle. "Escape routes?"
She nodded. "There's a tunnel. Ice's father was paranoid and dug a path from here to the village. In the office, look behind the bookcase on the left. On the shelf, there's a key to one of Bram's cars. It's a late-model Volvo. Gray. Parked in front of the butcher shop. Go."
"You and the others coming with us?"
Another explosion rocked the caves. Loose rock and dust showered them from the ceilings and walls. Duke swore. Felicia grabbed his arm for support. He drew her close, fear edging through him.
Sabelle shook her head. "Once you're gone, we'll teleport to Kari's pub."
He hesitated, hating to leave them, but they'd get to safety faster magically than by car. "Be careful. Um ... has my signature become more ... normal?"
She shook her head, expression rife with apology. "No."
Felicia sighed. "I don't understand."
They'd have to figure out why later. Now, Duke grabbed his mate's hand. "Let's go."
Felicia dug in her heels. "What about the diary? We can't leave it."
"I'll take it." Sabelle's face turned grim.
"I can ... if you'd like." Felicia touched the witch's shoulder. "I'll guard it with my life."
Sabelle gnawed on her lip, hesitating.
Duke's first instinct was to refuse; he and Felicia didn't need extra danger. But now that Mathias had gotten close enough to see Felicia's affect on his signature, a plan to keep her safe dive-bombed his brain, so simple ... so perfect. It would keep the diary safe as well.