Tempted

Chapter 10

Max’s heart thundered in his ears. He couldn’t look away from the absolutely perfect woman on the bed. His mate. A rosy blush spread from her pert breasts to her pale cheeks. Love and a hint of uncertainty lingered in her chocolate eyes. It was exactly what he wanted to see. He needed the love, and the uncertainty would make her think twice the next time someone shot a gun. The woman had a lot to learn.

He had no intention of being a bossy asshole with her. On the rare occasion he gave an order, it was necessary for safety, and she’d damn well follow it. No better place to start than the bedroom. “Spread your legs.”

Interest filtered in her amazing eyes, followed by ... yeah ... that was defiance.

His cock hardened to rock, threatening to burst from his jeans. He lowered his voice to the commanding tone he used when training the younger vampires on the field. “Now.”

A gasp escaped her. She paused, then slowly did as he said. Yeah. She was wet.

He allowed his expression to darken to the one he used when the young vamps didn’t listen. “Wider.”

The tiniest of shivers ran through her body. Yet, focused on him, she spread her legs wider.

“Good girl.” Leaning down, he blew the softest of breaths over her barely concealed clit.

The sound she gave could’ve come from a strangled cat. He fought a grin, making plans. “That wasn’t quite the whimper I wanted, sweetheart.” He crouched down to taste. “Summer and sex.” Like the best fucking July on record.

She tried to squirm away, and he stopped her with a heavy hand to the abdomen. “Don’t think for a second I won’t tie you down.”

Her thighs quivered. Moisture coated them.

Oh yeah. His woman had some untapped depths. Hands on her skin, he leaned forward to tempt and taste. He played with his tongue, with his fingers, driving her to a series of whimpers until finally enclosing her clit with his mouth.

She stiffened, her back arching.

With a low growl, he sucked.

She cried out, waves rolling under his palm and mouth as she came. He plunged two fingers inside her, throwing her into a second, more intense orgasm.

God. She was perfect. He gentled her until she quieted. Quick motions had his T-shirt ripped off and his pants hitting the floor. His mate was sprawled on the bed, lazy satisfaction in her dark eyes and a pretty smile on her face.

His heart thumped hard.

Her gaze wandered over his body. She gave a sight cough when she reached his cock. “Wow.” Intrigue and wonder filled her eyes, and she sat up to grasp him, her fingers not long enough to touch. Slowly, almost tentatively, she leaned forward and ran her tongue along the tip.

Fire shot straight to his balls. Jesus.

“Oh.” Closing her eyes, she sighed and slid her mouth over him.

The heat from her mouth was phenomenal. Max sucked in air. Then the woman took more of him with a soft hum of appreciation. She swallowed.

Thunder roared in his ears. Like a rubber band, his control snapped. His hands manacling her arms, he flipped her around to hands and knees. Hands clenching her hips, he drove inside her with one strong thrust.

She stiffened, then relaxed. “Oh, Max.”

Her internal walls clamped down on him, sending sparks of fire along his every nerve ending. Pleasure too intense to exist rippled across his cock to his spine. Fast and hard, he pounded into her. Whatever primitive beast lived inside him shot to the surface. A primal need to possess, to completely master her had his fangs dropping low.

His balls slapped her ass, the sound barely audible over their harsh breathing. Faster. Harder. More. He needed more.

Angling his body over her, he enclosed her. She shoved back against him, meeting him thrust for thrust, a desperate mewling panting out.

He reached under her, flattening his hand across her upper chest, tugging her back to meet his thrusts. Controlling her. White-hot fire ripped down his spine, lava encasing his balls. Rational thought disappeared. Pure, raw need took over. Feeling the desperate climb building inside her, his free hand found her clit.

He pinched.

She cried out, her back bowing, the orgasm whipping through her and tightening her hold on him.

The ripples clawed his cock with a force that had him seeing red. Instinct had his fangs piercing her neck.

Blood.

Sweet, like sunshine, it filled his mouth, filled his soul. He erupted in a release so powerful time stopped. For the briefest of seconds, the entire world narrowed to one small woman. Then it slammed back with a roar of sound.

He’d never be the same.

As he collapsed to the side, his heart pounded, his lungs panted, and his legs shook. He yanked the comforter over them and wrapped his arms around Sarah. Tight against her, reality crashed home. He’d mated her.

“I love you, Milaya.” He tucked her securely into his body where he could keep her safe. Forever.

“I love you, too,” she mumbled, snuggling her butt closer.

His cock woke up. “Um, we need to talk.”

“Later. Sleep now.”

“No.” He rolled her under him, propping his weight on his elbows. She opened her eyes to glare. Amusement had him fighting a grin. She looked like a grumpy kitten. Then he sobered. “I mated you.”

The sleep cleared from her eyes. “Huh?” She rubbed her neck where the puncture wound had closed, but the outline—his bite—would always remain. “You bit me.”

“Yeah.” He shouldn’t be feeling such intense pleasure from that fact.

She gasped. A tiny frown furrowed her eyebrows. “I’m immortal?”

“Well, you will be soon. I mean, not immortal completely. We can die by beheading.” Not to mention what the damn virus could do to her. “I’m sorry.”

“Well”—she slid both hands up his arms to clasp his shoulders—“I figured we’d get around to the mating part after the courting and dating. But we’ve done everything else backwards, so what the heck.”

He shook his head, thinking she didn’t understand. “You’re not mad?”

“No.” A mischievous smile settled on her kissable lips. “I like the idea of being immortal. It’s very cool. I do love you. But I still want the courtship part.”

“You’ll get the courtship part.” He’d never understand the woman. But damn, he loved her.

Her breath caught. “Hey. So, now that we’re mated, will my gift kick in with you? I mean, will I be able to see images from objects you touch?”

“Probably.” If it made her happy, he’d touch whatever she wanted. “In fact, as your chromosomal pairs alter, you’ll probably feel a bunch of changes.”

“Wow. So many changes.” Intrigue had her lips bowing in concentration.

The plan he wanted to hit her with made even more sense now. He hoped she’d agree so he didn’t have to force her to headquarters. Though he’d do what he had to do. “Speaking of changes, I’ve been thinking.”

“That sounds scary.” Her small hands caressed his shoulders.

“Yeah. Well, you can’t go back to your teaching job, can you?”

“No.” The woman had a pretty pout. “Even though the doctor said I’m not crazy, I’m sure the school can’t hire me back. Maybe no school will hire me.”

Max kept his face bland while elation whipped through him. He certainly wasn’t qualified to do what she did naturally—what she was meant to do—teach. “Well, I happen to know of a teaching job where I live. We’re getting a bunch of animals soon.”

She huffed out a laugh. “The kids can’t be that bad, Max. Geez.”

He frowned. “No. Real animals. Shifters. You know, mainly mountain lion shifters, but maybe some wolves.”

Her hands stilled. “Shifters? Like real fantasy-channel people who shift into animals?”

“Yeah, and now that some of us are taking mates, there may be vampire kids, too.” They required a qualified teacher. He’d need to okay the plan with Dage, but his friend would agree. They were family, after all. “You’d also teach Janie, who’s human.”

“Oh.” Sarah’s smile lit up the room. “Where you live sounds like the perfect place for us to date. Count me in.”

Relief filled him. He’d have hated to kidnap her twice in one week. He rolled her so they could spoon. “I love you, Sarah.”

“See what a good plan and compromise can do? There’s hope for you yet.” She snuggled into him with a soft sigh. “I love you too, Max.”