Page 60 of The Guardian's Curse

“Which is why I wouldn’t have bitten you.” He kissed the curve of her shoulder, then her neck. “I would taste you at your sweetest.”

She shivered. “Then what about now?”

His lips brushed her ear. “It’s tempting.”

“Then why not? I give you permission.” Even with his desire laid bare, she feared his rejection again.

“There is only an hour until sunrise,” he said. “And I would need more than an hour to have my way with you. It would be a shame to rush.”

“Then I suppose we should both go to bed.” Or better, into the shower to deal with this situation he’d just begun. She started to slide off the counter, but he held her waist firmly, keeping her in place.

“I said nothing of the sort. There are plenty of ways to spend an hour, Shoshanna, without going our separate ways to be frustrated,” he said indignantly. His nimble fingers searched at her back. “Where are the bloody ties on this thing?”

She let out a laugh. “Can I open my eyes?”

He froze. “I’d rather you didn’t. I...I’m sorry.”

Even as his hands lingered on her skin, she felt the distance yawning between them once more. She gripped his narrow waist to keep him from fleeing again. “It’s okay.” She lifted her right arm to let him undress her. “This is a modern dress. No ties. Zipper down the side. Nope, further back.”

His fingers grazed her breast, sending a shiver over her as he unzipped the side of the snug bustier. Then with a little chuckle, he lifted her up easily and shook the dress off her like it was a pesky bit of debris. “There we are,” he said. Then he carried her...into the living room, by the sound of his feet across the wood floor. Then there was the soft tread of his feet on carpet, and the familiar smell of her perfume and soap in her bedroom.

When the door closed behind them, she heard a familiar purr. She stole a peek and saw Magneto in the middle of her neatly made bed. His yellow eyes glared up at them as he turned sideways. His tail fluffed in his best menacing display.

“Oh, hello, sir,” Alistair greeted jovially. “I’m about to put your mum to bed. Go find something interesting to knock over.” There was a thump as the cat left the bed, then a rattle of him nosing in his food dish.

She laughed as Alistair laid her on the bed and kissed her again. He made quick work of her strapless bra, exposing her to the cool air. She held her breath, wishing she could see the look in his eyes.

“Mein Gott,” he murmured. His lips brushed over her breast, then his tongue swirled around her nipple, teasing it into a peak. “You are so beautiful. Sheer perfection.”

“Stop it,” she muttered.

His head lifted. “Oh?”

“Don’t stop that,” she scolded. She felt him smile against her as he returned his attention to the tight bud. His touch was like finally getting a drink on a scorching summer day. “I just—”

“Shoshanna,” he said against her tingling skin. “Enough talking. Shall I occupy your mouth instead?”

“That would be quite lovely,” she said, mimicking his accent. He chuckled, then lowered his head to kiss her.

His cool lips sealed to hers, and she forgot her own name as he showed her what a kiss could be. The men before him had smashed their lips to hers and used their tongues in a clumsy stumble. Kissing Alistair was a song and dance that made her dizzy and delighted.

He broke away long enough to kiss the side of her throat, as if to mark the spot where he would someday drink.

Someday. Wasn’t that a strange thought? To think that this might not be some strange dream borne of a little too much wine and adrenaline?

The thought of him biting her sent a shudder of pleasure through her, and she hiked her leg over his. He pulled her thigh up, one strong hand holding her to him while he kissed her neck. He was hard beneath his tailored trousers, and his hips undulated slightly as he ground against her.

She lost track of time as he explored her, his lips marking every inch of her with soft kisses. His fingers walked up the inside of her thigh until they settled at the warmth of her sex. She gasped, hips bucking at his touch.

“I hate to leave you unsatisfied,” he purred in her ear. His fingers stroked at her in tandem with his tongue in her mouth. He broke away, leaving her breathless. “Sunrise isn’t far. Shall I leave you with something to remember me by?”

She nodded eagerly, and his hands left her. When he touched her again, his gloves were gone. His cool fingers slid up her thigh and under her panties. She let out a soft moan as he stroked and circled slowly.

The way he made her feel was so strange; she felt safe and secure. Even with her eyes closed, her body completely exposed to this powerful, predatory creature, she had no fear. Wonderful tension tightened between her thighs as he mastered her body with the same deft confidence as the grand piano.

His fingers quickened as the first fluttering spasms rippled through her. His mouth was at her throat, tongue flicking against her skin. “You smell divine,” he growled. He kissed her, closing his teeth just enough to scrape over the vein.

At that touch of his fangs, the hint of what was to come, something twisted in her core and drew every cell of her body in tight. She arched into him, her mouth open in a silent gasp. His strong arm slid under her, and he lowered her gently to kiss her lips.

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