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Yes, Lucian.
He kept pummeling into her and she kept clawing at him and crying out. He felt every orgasm he gave her, repeatedly, one after the other. Sometimes he came with her, sometimes he just wanted to watch her shout and cry out.
Only when he felt a familiar human weariness come over her did he finally slow it down, resting his c**k inside her.
She lay panting, eyes closed, the chains quiet at last.
With his hands resting on the sides of the platform, he felt satiated in a way he’d never before experienced. He felt good and whole, especially knowing that he’d brought Claire so much pleasure.
She opened her eyes to mere slits. He felt her exhaustion, which would soon pass, because he also felt her streaming his vampire power and growing stronger because of it. Her voice came out hushed. “What’s going on in that head of yours?”
He stared down at her, amazed by the connection he felt to her. “I don’t know. You amaze me, Claire. This was astounding.”
He didn’t want to, but his internal clock knew they needed to get on with things, to clean up then head to Siberia.
But he didn’t want to leave the well of her body.
As he stared into her eyes, he felt his chest seize. At first he thought the blood-madness rolled again. But he quickly realized it was something else: One day, probably really soon, he’d have to take this woman to Santa Fe.
She put her index finger between his brows, rubbing at his frown line. “What are we going to do?”
He shook his head. He understood her. They were both trapped by the chains that bound them. “Everything will be all right.”
Slowly, he withdrew from her, his chest once more feeling tight. He went about his business methodically, but he didn’t meet her gaze again as he unlocked each of the manacles. He then helped her to her feet, but she fell limp against him; if he hadn’t caught her she would have dropped to the floor in a heap.
He scowled. “You okay?”
But she looked up at him, laughing. “I’m better than okay. You softened my bones with so much pleasure. I think I might even have passed out once or twice.”
He smiled in return and ran his fingers through her beautiful auburn hair. He wanted to say something to her, but words wouldn’t come.
She put her hands on his face, as she often did. His body stilled for her, waiting, as he looked into her light-brown eyes.
“I loved every minute of this experience.”
He nodded, searching her eyes. “I did, too.” He put a hand over his heart. “I feel better than I have in decades. Hell, maybe even centuries, and I have you to thank for that.”
“I feel the same way.”
“But you’re leaving.”
“I am.”
He nodded. “How about we gather up our clothes and get back to our suite.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
* * *
Claire sat on the side of the bed, her legs and arms crossed. She’d insisted that Lucian shower first because she’d need more time in the bathroom and she didn’t want him waiting around for her, especially if Rumy needed him. Men were quick in the shower, and she wanted to wash her hair and strip off all the makeup.
Her thoughts, however, had stayed fixed in the specialty room. She’d loved every second of the experience, which still stunned her. Where had this penchant come from for dominance and sex combined?
All throughout the lovemaking, she’d been so fully engaged, but now, separated as she was from his body, she felt terribly removed from Lucian. The chain at her neck was perfectly quiet. She could tell that Lucian held his emotions in check, not surprising. He’d said it exactly right: She was leaving.
The memories of what had just happened on the platform began to flow in a sudden stream. She watched them almost as an observer, especially each time she orgasmed and what she’d felt: the pleasure, the desire, and something more, something she had a hard time putting a name to.
Then it came to her: affection. She’d felt affection for Lucian the whole time, the burgeoning of something greater than mere like or even respect. Dammit, she’d started to love the vampire, the very thing she’d been avoiding.
She leaned over, planted her elbow on her thigh, and dropped her forehead into her hand. Oh, hell, what was happening to her?
She no longer recognized herself, which was part of the problem. She streamed so much of Lucian’s power that she didn’t know where he left off and she began. In psychological terms she was growing far too dependent on him, on a vampire with a darkness that lived inside him, one needing to dominate. She’d not only let him, she’d savored the experience.
She might even have treasured it, which made matters worse.
Tears burned her eyes. In the space of just a few days she’d grown fond of Lucian—yes, she loved him, or had the beginnings of love for him—but she couldn’t be feeling these things. She had a life to return to, a family, a job she loved, and a mission to continue with her social work.
She deserved a chance to be a wife and a mother, married to a normal human man, arguing with him about finances and how to raise their children, not whether he needed his blood-needs met or wondering if this would be the night Daniel would kill Lucian and she’d never see him again.
If this kept up, if she continued to have sex with Lucian, how the hell would she ever be able to part from him when the time came?
Everything okay?
Lucian’s voice drew her out of the sudden pain that had engulfed her chest. She sat up and squared her shoulders.
Everything’s fine.
You don’t sound all right.
I’m trying to be sensible and it’s proving difficult.
The water no longer ran in the shower. She rose to her feet, heading to the open bathroom door—and there he was. He stood with a black terry towel tucked around his waist.
She met his gaze, trying not to feel so much for the man.
He stared back, shaking his head as though he understood. “I don’t want you to be unhappy.”
His words did her in. Claire gave a small cry and went to him. He engulfed her in his arms, holding her tight.
Claire.
I’m sorry, I’m just feeling way too much right now. I loved what we just did together and I shouldn’t. I shouldn’t be caring for you as much as I am, but I do. And now we have an extinction weapon to find, my friend to save who-the-hell-knows-how, and some kind of River of Lights ride to take.
For a long time, he rubbed her back, just holding her. He said nothing, but the double-chains vibrated with his concern.
