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" I know you . . ." I whispered.
The man was tal , but not more than an inch tal er than myself. He was muscled, from what I could tel , with a V waist and broad shoulders. His heritage and warm toffee skin suggested that he might be half-Japanese, half-black, but that in itself was impossible to tel , because I had no idea if he was human or not. Definitely not an FBH, though, because he emanated energy like a lighthouse.
His eyes were liquid--like glossy obsidian or flowing ink. They glowed, shimmering with a dappling of stars. A craggy set of scars marked one cheek and his forehead, but rather than mar his looks, they added to them. His hair was the color of honey, amber, and wheat, al streaked together in a shimmering array of high and low lights, and he wore it back in a ponytail.
"You are so beautiful," I whispered, not caring if he heard me. He was the most gorgeous creature I'd ever laid eyes on, scars and al .
He laughed then, and slid off the brown leather coat that hit him mid-calf. Beneath the rich-toned coat he was dressed in a pair of brown cargo pants, a black turtleneck, and around his neck, he wore a pendant of smoky rutilated quartz. He had on motorcycle boots, but there was something . . . and then I noticed.
Frost trickled off the heels. Frost, like the frost of Hi'ran's boots. And when the man gazed up at me, I caught a whiff of bonfires, of smoke, of the early tang of autumn hoarfrost.
Automatical y, without a second thought, I stepped in front of him, Hi'ran's words ringing in my head. "Keep your eyes open, my sweet. Keep your mind open. Remember the curve of my lips, the scent of old leather and autumn carnivals, the frost that lingers on my breath. Listen for the song your Mark sings when I'm near."
"You can't . . . Could you be . . . ?" But I got no further, for the mark on my forehead started to sing, to play me one chord at a time, as the man reached out to take my hands. Awash in the current of flame that raced between us, I moved toward him, and he held out his arms.
"How . . . ? Who . . . ?"
"Shush . . . let it be what it is, Delilah. He's my Master, too. And we're both his chosen." He pul ed me into his arms, and I wrapped my arms around his neck as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
As I gazed into his eyes, I could see the ages long past, the eons gone by for this man--whoever and whatever he might be. I wanted to snuggle deep into his arms and rest, safe from the storms of my life.
He slid his arms around my waist and pul ed me close. As his lips sought mine, I was able to think clearly enough just to ask, "What's your name?"
His hands wandering along my thigh, his gaze fastened on my face, he whispered, "Shade. Just cal me Shade." And then his lips found mine, and everything in the world slid away except the power of his kiss.
CHAPTER 18
I have no idea how long I stood there, kissing him, pressed against his chest and listening to his heart beat as hard as my own, but after what seemed like forever, his hands began to move, and they slid under my shirt, touching my flesh, and I recognized his touch. He'd kissed me before in shadow form, and I wanted more. I knew, in my heart, with him I could have what I never could have with Hi'ran. With Shade, I could have what I couldn't find with Chase or with Zachary. Shade's energy enveloped me like the haunting strains of a distant waltz, like a storm battering at my senses.
Pul ing him down to the bench, I frantical y began sliding his turtleneck up to reveal his chest--toned and strong, but also covered with the scars of time.
He pul ed the shirt off and, eyes luminous, gazed into my face.
"Are you sure you want this?"
"Now, I want you now. I know you, I know you . . ." I could only repeat over and over the thoughts running through my head as I struggled to remove my clothing. He helped, sliding my shirt off as I struggled out of my jeans. I needed him, needed to quench my thirst, needed to be touched, to be loved, to be taken and thoroughly sated in a way I'd never felt before.
Shade said nothing more, but slipped off his boots and his pants. He was golden in his color, reminding me of warm sugar toffee, of a vanil a latte, and I slid my hands down his sides, running them shamelessly around to cup his butt. His muscles were oh, so firm, and he was ready, so ready for me. I wanted to taste him, looked at his cock with hunger, but my fangs reminded me of failed attempts before. My heritage had given me non-retractable fangs, just enough to hurt someone if I made a wrong move.
However, Shade seemed to pick up on my desire. "It's al right. If you want to, I would love it--you can't hurt me as easily as you can a human. Trust me,"
he whispered.
It was my turn to ask, "Are you sure?"
He nodded, and I knelt in front of him, cautiously licking his erection, the tip of my tongue running up its length to tickle the head. One fang caught a bit of the flesh, but he didn't even wince, and, emboldened, I gave a long, coiling lick around the head of his penis, pressing my lips to the top. I couldn't ful y take him in my mouth--it would leave fang marks al the way down--but I sucked lightly with my lips, pursing them around him, enjoying the feel and light, salty taste of him on my tongue.
He moaned and motioned me up. I slid up his body, pressing my breasts against his skin as I did so, feeling his cock press against my groin and stomach.
Shade laid me on the bench and leaned over me, taking one of my nipples in his mouth, sucking, as his fingers trailed down my abs, down to my thatch, where he slid them inside me, kissing me deeply as he did so. His tongue caught on my fangs, but he gently moved it away and continued to probe my mouth, even as he fingered me into a sudden, jolting orgasm that I wasn't ready for. Spiraling, I let out a cry, sharp and jagged, as he moved between my legs and slowly, inch by inch, slid inside me.
Shade was wide and hard, and I felt every inch of him as he entered me. He set up a delicious movement, the friction driving me crazy as he matched his rhythm to mine, and then thought fel away as I looked into his eyes and spun out of control, fal ing over the cliff into a bliss I'd never felt before. My panther and Tabby both were sailing with me, and for the very first time, al of my selves responded as Shade tore me outside of myself, fil ed me ful with sparkling joy, and set me free from any lingering doubts I had about myself as a woman.
Some time later--I have no idea how long--he reluctantly broke away. "You must return home now," he said, kissing my neck gently. "I don't want you to go, but you can't remain in Haseofon for too long while you are stil in body. I can come and go as I please, because of my nature, but you must return to your bed." He cocked his head in a peculiar way that made me want to laugh.
"I thought I was here in spirit."
"No, my dear, your body is here, too, in a way. It has been since you entered this chamber. You are bilocating, in two places at once. It's difficult to maintain, though, and the thread is wearing thin."
