Page 4

To clear my head, I supposed. But why clear it when I could erase everything with lust? Was this lust, though? Or something deeper that stirred in my belly like a handful of hummingbirds? And why the hell did I keep asking questions when Julian was exploring my mouth so thoroughly?

He gripped beneath the thighs and lifted me, and my skirt rode up to my hips as I wrapped my legs around him. My arms hooked over his shoulders. The sensations in my body drowned out my wandering mind as he walked us into the bedroom, kicking the door shut behind him even though no one else was in the house.

Julian was a drug I couldn’t get enough of, and I was addicted.

“Charlotte,” he whispered, trailing kisses down my throat to my cleavage as he unbuttoned each inch.

His voice alone stoked the fire burning in my core. It was all I could do to keep my grip on his shoulders as I arched up to meet his ministrations. I wanted him inside of me, completing me.

Sensing my urgency, he smiled, eyes glowing blue-purple and fangs elongated. And before I could fully gasp, our clothes were tossed on the ground. Julian stood above me, drinking in my naked body with so much want his eyes glazed over. His scrutiny made me squirm as he climbed above me. When I tried to reach for him, he captured my hands in his, shaking his head slowly.

“Julian,” I complained, wanting to touch the smooth muscles of his chest and arms.

“You are a goddess, my love,” he said, scooping my hands into one of his so he could swipe a thumb over my hardened nipple.

I don’t want flattery. I want to be fucked, I said in my mind. I shot upward, nipping at his lip.

“One does not fuck a goddess,” Julian admonished, pulling just out of reach and lightly pinching my nipple. One worships. He lowered his head to the other breast, covering it with his mouth, running his fang over the sensitive tip.

I wanted to complain again, but all I could manage was a moan of need as he worked his way down over my stomach, gripping my hips as he approached the area begging for attention. My fingers threaded through the silken curls on his head as he teased around the spot that would satisfy me.

“That’s torture, not worship,” I managed to get out between heavy breaths.

He paused to look at me, holding my thighs firmly apart.

“I could order it,” I said, desperate to make him comply.

“Mind-bending won’t be necessary,” he said and dipped his face so that only his beautiful gaze was visible, locked on me as his mouth finally made contact with the bundle of nerves waiting for him.

My body jerked as he sucked on me. He slid his fingers up the flesh of my thighs until they stroked the lips of my entrance, then spread me open to give access to his velvet tongue. He tasted me with long, languid strokes that brought moans of pleasure, replacing my words and threats. Gods he was good. He’d had centuries of practice, and prior lives filled with learning how to pleasure me specifically.

His hands joined in the practiced dance of exploration as ecstasy coiled inside of me, building toward the promise of release. I tugged harder at his head, muscles tensing in anticipation, then he stopped, replaced by a cool breeze as he zoomed to the side of the bed to cup my cheek.

“Wha…what are you doing?” I managed to croak out.

In answer, he zoomed off again, and before I could react was back with one of his silk ties. His tongue darted out to wet his lips. In a heartbeat, he’d secured my wrists to the headboard of his bed, firmly yet comfortably.

“There’s no need—” I protested, but with another gust of air, he was tying a second tie around my mouth.

“If you are opposed, I will undo this,” he said, trailing a finger down my body and landing between my legs. “In past lives, you enjoyed it.”

He waited until I nodded, then smiled, fangs out and eyes burning like coals in a fire. The vision of him standing over me, naked, deadly, and completely at attention made me throw my head back and groan.

Two fingers slid inside of me, curling and pumping as his mouth settled over the inside of my thigh. A sharp prick told me he was ready to feast. The jolt of pleasure melted through me as always. Every stroke, every pull of his mouth, and now every circle of his thumb, were magnified.

All I knew was Julian, and Julian was all I wanted as the coil in my stomach exploded, launching me into a climax that had me seeing stars and losing complete control of my body. He did not stop or ease me down. Instead, new eruptions of bliss ratcheted through me, one over another, until I thought I’d lose consciousness.

Only then did he lick the wound on my thigh closed and slow his motions to a stop, leaving me a quivering mess on the bed.

“Charlotte?” he asked carefully, sliding up to cup my face. The magma still hadn’t found its way out and continued to glow behind his eyes.

Unable to talk, and not because of the tie in my mouth, I lifted my jelly legs and hooked them over his hips. His grin told me he understood, and he slid inside of me, face flushed with my blood.

How was it possible that my body was ready for more? I didn’t question, just enjoyed the wonderful sensation of him filling me—stretching me with each thrust as he built toward his own climax. He readjusted, guiding my legs up over his shoulders so he could bury himself as far as possible, hitting the spot deep inside of me that made me moan with pleasure yet again. My sounds were what he needed to truly let go. With perfect rhythm, he slammed inside of me until I screamed out another muffled orgasm. Only then did his release come as well.

He slowed, watching me as aftershocks zapped my body. He removed the tie from my mouth and replaced it with his lips, swollen, soft, and passionate. Or kiss lingered as he undid my wrists and lay back, pulling me against him.

“Did I hurt you?” he asked, brushing the hair from my face.