Page 44 of Luna Rising

“Right there. Harder,” I ground out, a corresponding ache pulsing at my core.

He wound his hand in my windblown hair and tugged my head to the side. His knuckles raked down my neck, pressing hard against the knots and drawing moans from throat. The pain was glorious, as was the pressure building between my thighs.

“You are the tensest vampire I’ve ever met.” Ewan brushed his lips over my earlobe, his tongue darting out to encircle it as his fingers kneaded my back.

“I have a lot on my mind.” The words rushed out on a moan, claws piercing the couch cushions. “Do that again.”

Ewan jammed his rough knuckle into a rigid muscle and wiggled it until I saw stars.

“Yes. Yes. Keep going,” I breathed.

“Why aren’t you this vocal in the bedroom?” he murmured.

My throat was so dry that I choked on my laughter. “This feels so good I might orgasm, if that counts.”

He pinched the spot just above my collarbone between his thumb and forefinger. My nipples tightened, straining against the cups of my new silk bra. He let go of my hair, his hand skimming my thin sweater before snaking between my legs.

He cupped me through my jeans and ground the heel of his palm against me as his other hand continued to work out the tension in my neck. The combination of pleasure and pain and Ewan was intoxicating. I pressed against his hand, trying to increase the friction, but my jeans denied me.

“Less clothing.” I panted out the words.

“You or me?”

“Both. Immediately. Or I might spontaneously combust.”

“Oh, yeah?” The amusement in his voice set my fangs on edge. He nuzzled my neck and then dug his chin between my shoulder and collarbone. “Does that feel good?”

“A little to the left. Yes, fuck. Right there.”

My hips bucked as I arched my back. Gaia, I needed the jeans off.

Ewan turned his face toward mine. “You are so beautiful.” He inhaled deeply, nostrils flaring. “I love the smell of you. I can taste you in the air.” His large hand closed over my right breast, over my thin sweater.

“That’s because my panties are soaked. Are you planning on doing something about that? Because, in case you forgot, I’m perfectly capable of getting myself off.”

His growl echoed through the house as desire reverberated through our bond. The sharp points of his fangs skimmed my throat. “Want to know what I plan on doing about it?”

I reached for the button on my jeans. “No, I want you to do it.”

He caught my wrist as his fangs pressed harder against my skin. “You’re gorgeous when you’re demanding.”

Lips parted, body vibrating from the anticipation of his bite, I gave a breathy laugh. “I think you meant to say horny.”

This time, when his fangs traveled down my neck, they sliced the skin as he went. I loved to hate his teasing, or maybe I hated to love it. Whatever. My hormones raged worse than a teenage boy in the throes of puberty. All I wanted was for him to sink something inside of me, and I really didn’t care if it was his fangs or cock.

In a blur of motion, Ewan vaulted the couch, scooped me off the cushions and tossed me over his shoulder. I yelped and grabbed handfuls of his shirt. He sped up the stairs to our room and placed me on my feet at the foot of the bed. I looked up into his dark, lust-filled eyes and ran my hands down his chest, admiring the hard planes of his muscles.

Ewan smoothed my hair back from my face, a small smile spreading across his lips. “I owe you centuries of telling you ‘I love you.’” He cupped my cheeks as I curled my fingers around his belt.

Our bond sizzled with the intensity of his emotions and brought happy tears to my eyes and a rush of warmth beneath my legs. Maybe it was because I’d waited for so long, lived so many lifetimes without him, but I would never get tired of hearing him say those words.

“I love you. All of you. The good parts, the not so good parts, the wicked parts, the parts you hate.” Ewan’s irises were pure gold as he covered my mouth with his and swept his tongue into my mouth.

The kiss started off sweet and slow and so full of our love that I thought I might burst. I had never been great at expressing my feelings with words, probably because I hadn’t been allowed to have feelings for the guys that I had messed around with growing up.

My father didn’t demand I remain a virgin until my inevitable betrothal or anything and only asked that I be discreet. My mother was the one who warned me not to get attached. At the time, I had thought it was just her being annoying, but I understood now that she had wanted to save me heartbreak. If I had felt even a tenth of the love that I had for Ewan for someone like Liam, it would have killed me to sever ties.

He pulled back from the kiss, sliding his palms down the side of my neck, while he ran his thumbs down my throat. Our eyes met, his pupils blown. Gaia, he was so very beautiful, and so very mine in every way possible. The love I had for him was a physical ache in my chest. I felt the magical tether that bound our souls and intertwined our fates. The power in our bond was absolute, eternal, and overwhelming.

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