Page 76 of Damien’s Mate

“Wow.” She leaned against him. “Which one do you want?”

His voice grew husky. “I want a lion. I want your lion. I want you to Turn me and give me one, so a piece of you will always be inside me, no matter what happens.”

That made her feel awed—and sad. “You mean, if I don’t come back. You think I won’t.”

He kissed her softly. “No matter what.”

“I will come back.” She cupped her hand around his cheek. “I swear. We can do it then.”

“No. I want it now.”

I told you he should have been a lion, her lioness said. We can make him one. He can be our mate.

Lila put the carving down on the dresser, and pulled Damien’s head down to kiss her again. He swept her into his arms, deepening the kiss, his tongue brushing the inside of her lips, twining with hers, demanding more.

Lila let out a soft groan, pressing against him. His arousal was instant, his shaft hard and strong against her hips.

She loved the way he wanted her—the way he’d always wanted her. He made her feel like a kingdom to be conquered, a goddess to be worshiped, a priceless artifact to be treasured.

Their hands were already pulling at each other’s clothes, searching for heated skin, stroking and caressing, stoking the fire that always burned so hot between them.

Damien lifted her up and walked them over to the bed, laying her down and stretching out beside her. He looked down at her, running his fingers through her hair, his eyes traveling over her face, the curve of her neck, her breast.

His fingers followed, slow and caressing, a faint smile appearing on his face. He pulled her shirt up, over her head, and slid his hands around to unhook her bra so he could bury his face in her breasts.

He lavished attention on her nipples, rolling his tongue around them, and she felt the heat in her core. She knew he still thought she had perfect breasts, and he loved licking them, sucking on them, making her lioness purr.

He cupped his hand around her ribcage, where the bruises had finally faded. “I’m glad you’re all better,” he said. “But I’m not sure I’m sorry you got hurt. If you hadn’t, this would never have happened. You and me.”

“It’s like fate,” she said. And as she did, a shimmer of blue energy flickered around them, outlining their bodies.

“What was that?” he whispered, awed.

“I don’t know.” It was almost like the Draken magic in the artifact box.

He trailed his fingers down between her breasts. “I love you,” he whispered.

The blue light flickered again. “I think it’s magic,” she said.

“We’re magic.”

They finished undressing each other slowly, watching the light flicker between them, getting stronger with each kiss, each caress, each word of love.

The passion built between them, and Lila felt that place in her chest that belonged to Damien expanding and warming, as if the sun had come out.

He stroked between her legs, watching her face as the sensation built between them. The feeling began to overwhelm her, and she pulled him close, all the way inside her, because she needed to hold on to him, to know he was right there with her.

He moved within her, harder and deeper, and she moaned, biting that place where his neck met his shoulder.

“Do it,” he whispered. “I want you to. I need you to.”

Her lioness gave a wild snarl, and she sank her teeth into his skin.

Chapter 31

Lila’s bite burned into Damien’s shoulder, the pain spreading throughout his body. He could feel something growing inside him—some dark force, reaching every cell, every nerve ending.

Remy was right. It hurt like hell.