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  Movement brought Henry’s eyes blinking open in the dark room. His night vision quickly triggered to accompany the dark environment. He cursed as his eyes locked on the source that woke him up. Nanu, beautiful and looking unsure, sat on the other side of the bed.

  “What are you doing here?” His first reaction was that something was wrong. “Are you sick?” As she turned to look at him in the dark, her eyes bright and clear, he knew she wasn’t sick and he was in trouble.

  “No, I’m not sick. I came to talk.”

  Yeah, right. Henry checked the time to be hours after midnight. “At three in the morning?

  Can’t it wait? I just finally got to sleep a little while ago,” he said, scrubbing a hand over his face. He pulled himself to a sitting position in the bed and pondered how he could get away from her since he was literally naked under the sheets.

  “No, I’m sorry, it can’t.”

  Sighing, he said, “Then say what it is and get out.” She took a deep breath then faced him on the bed, one leg dangling off.

  “I want you so badly, Henry. Tonight I couldn’t even sleep. I just lay in bed thinking of you, wishing that I’ll hear a knock on my door and it’ll be you there. Do you know what that’s like?” she asked, yearning in her voice. Henry could have laughed.

  “Yeah, I’m well aware of what that’s like, Nanu. I live it every single day.”

  “Then why won’t you let us be together?” she said, almost shouting in her frustration.

  “You know why. You know what I want. I want you. Completely, totally, mated.”

  She gasped, her eyes widening.

  “And you know that your brother will never allow it. Hell, that doesn’t bother me as much the fact that you wouldn’t fight for me, Nanu. I have just enough self-respect to want that.

  To want a woman who loves me back, who wants me as much as I do her.” Henry couldn’t stand it anymore and threw back the covers, stalking naked to his dresser to pull on some shorts. He heard the bed dip as she stood.

  “That’s not fair! I don’t see you pushing my brother, fighting with him to win me. You walk out of the room every time he’s near.” Henry jerked as if she’d slapped him. His mind quickly tried to deny it, but he couldn’t. She was right. He spun around.

  “Fine. I’d do more than fight for you, but I won’t fuck you and leave it at that. I can’t. I want you, the whole you, in my bed every single night, waking up next to me, sleeping against me. I want to share my vein with you and take yours. I want a mate, Nanu. I want you.”

  Nanu was breathing hard, her hand clutching near her throat. “You...you really mean that?” He nodded once, gravelly. Henry couldn’t look at her. He felt like his heart was about to explode out of his chest. He waited for her to say something, to do something, and it was the worst torture.

  “I-I want that too.”

  Henry glared at her. “Don’t lie to me. Don’t play games, Nanu. If you say something like that you better mean it one-thousand fucking percent or you can go find the door.”

  She was shaking like a damned leaf, standing next to his bed wearing some kind of robe.

  She shook her head, nodding. “I mean it so much, Henry. I’ve wanted you for so long. I’ve wanted all those same things.”

  His heart soared but his mind made him ask. “You have? Then why haven’t you told your brother to let you see me? And why are you shaking like you’re freezing cold?” he asked harshly. She pulled the collar of her robe closer.

  “You have no idea what he’s like. Ever since I was young, he said he’d help me to choose the right mate. After my parents died, he was all I had left. I’d never wish to disrespect him. I love him dearly and I know he only thinks he’s doing what’s best. What my parents would have wanted. And I’m shaking because I’ve n-never been so nervous in all my life.”

  In a second, Henry went to her and wrapped her in his arms. He rubbed her back in

  circles until she finally stopped shaking against him. God, she felt good there. Like they were made to fit against each other just like this.

  He kissed her hair. “Are you sure?” Please be. Don’t break me, he pleaded.

  She nodded against him and looked up at him with watery eyes. “Yes, I’m sure, Henry. I can’t be away from you any longer.” Henry wiped her tears away, then, unable to hold back any longer, leaned down and kissed her.

  The kiss rocked him to his very soul. She made a soft sound in her throat, then clutched him closer. He was in heaven. He pulled his mouth away to bury his face in her ear. She smelled like lavender, like she always did.

  “Is this a dream?” he asked hoarsely. Her hands gripped the skin of his back, nails digging in—a reminder of the present.

  “No, my love. This is real.”

  “Nanu,” he whispered, then lost himself in her.

  Everything was hazy as he took her lips, tasted the skin at her neck. He dropped the robe from off her shoulders. His pupils dilated, taking in every inch of creamy dark skin. He pressed his palm over her shoulder and merely gazed at their differences.

  “You’re so beautiful.” She tucked her head against his chest. “Don’t be shy, Nanu. I’ve wanted to see you for so long.” His voice was ragged with its intensity. When she looked back up at him, fire was in her eyes. Fire and desire.

  She stepped back from him, and his eyes dipped down over her body. “You wore nothing here but that robe?” he somehow managed to ask over his tight throat.

  She smiled, and it was the smile of a seductress. She moved back onto the bed and sat up on it. He wished he had white sheets and not dark ones because wanted to see her contrasted against it. She crooked her finger at him and he followed like a puppy dog.

  “Can I turn the light on?” He wanted to see her in the light. His night vision was great, but he wanted to finally see the color of her nipples, the apex of her sex. When she nodded, he flipped on a lamp and felt the floor drop out from him.

  Perfection. Her hips flared out to rounded thighs that he wanted to squeeze and thrust between. His cock throbbed painfully in his shorts, feeling heavier and harder than it ever had.

  Her slender neck curved down to breasts that were beyond anything he’d ever pictured. And he’d imagined them a lot.

  She leaned back on her elbows and gave him a come-hither look. He did. He was hers to command. He came forward but couldn’t bring himself to touch her. It was too surreal. This couldn’t really be happening. Her soft hand grabbed his, spread his clenched fingers open, then pressed it against the soft mound of her breast.

  His breathing deepened as he felt her beaded nipple scrape against his palm. Her breasts were plump and generous but not too much so. As he cupped her breasts, she spilled out from the top of his hand. He wiped his free hand across his mouth to ensure he wasn’t drooling.

  “You’re lovely,” he said, his voice hoarse. Her nipples were the color of milk chocolate surrounded by gold. Her hand fisted the band of his shorts and pulled him close. He went. When his mouth found the hard peak of her nipple, it was bliss.

  Her hands sifted through his hair, holding him close, and he’d never been happier. He circled her areola, tugging on her nipple with his teeth, his lips. He brought his hand into the mix and gently squeezed the soft flesh.

  “Oh, Henry,” she sighed. Burning desire flooded his veins and soon he moved to her

  other breast flicking and tasting her, drawing her harder into his mouth until she was gasping, arching towards him.

  Breathing hard, he pulled back and looked at her. Her eyes were dazed and a flush crept over her chest and cheeks. He wanted to pull his shorts down now and take her. He wanted to take her in every way imaginable, every way possible. But he couldn’t do that to her now. He had to go slowly and gently.

  She lay back on the bed and spread her knees to him, her toes just brushing the edge of the bed. His hand shook as he touched her thigh. His eyes landed on her sex and wouldn’t leave.

  He coul
dn’t bring himself to look away.

  “I need to taste you there,” he said roughly. He didn’t know if she nodded or shook her head no, but he was going to do it anyway. He dropped to his knees, grabbed her thighs, and pulled her close. She squealed and let out a giggle that almost made him smile.

  Her sex had a thin strip of hair that traveled from the top of her sex up. The rest of her was bare smooth. She was flushed and wet, and Henry couldn’t keep himself away any longer.

  He covered her with his hand, stroked the bare skin with the tips of his fingers.

  “Amazing,” he said. In all his dreams, all his imagination, he’d never pictured this. This was the sexiest thing he’d ever seen.

  He stroked the thin line of hair as his other hand massaged her inner thigh. His life couldn’t get better. His cock throbbed, the tip leaking. It argued it would be better if you just got inside her. Be patient, he growled.

  Leaning forward, he pressed his cheek against her smooth sex. She smelled rich like the sexiest thing on earth. His mouth actually watered and he couldn’t wait anymore or he’d come in his shorts.

  His tongue darted out at the tip of her sex. He parted her lips open, then pressed down through them. He heard her breathing falter and wished he could make himself open his eyes to watch her face. He couldn’t. He had to savor this first time, the first taste. He found her tight slit and pushed inside with his tongue. Creamy honey coated him and he groaned, his balls drawing up even harder.

  He flattened his tongue and licked her from her opening up, over and over, until her hands were gripping the bedsheets and her hips were arching towards him. Only then did he spread her lips with his tongue and suckle her bud with quick flicks.

  She howled like a wolf to the moon, her back bowing off the bed. Her feet went around his shoulders and pushed him even closer. He could have smiled he loved it so much.

  He never relented. He thrashed his tongue against her with flicks that he’d imagined doing hundreds of times before. This was so much better than any dream.

  Her thigh started quivering in his hand. He rubbed her gently to soothe her and knew she was coming soon. There was one last thing he needed to do, to feel. He pressed a finger to her wet opening and pushed inside.

  They both moaned at the same time. She was hot, soft, wet. She closed around his finger in the best of ways. He pumped it inside her, nearly coming as he felt her muscles quivering around him.

  She panted, moaned, and whispered his name as a ragged plea as she flew apart. Henry licked her faster, pumped his finger inside her as she shuddered hard against him, hips pumping wildly against his mouth.

  When she finally settled down, breathing hard, he pulled his wet finger out and licked up her essence. Her legs fell loosely to the sides as he stood. His legs were shaking, his eyes hooded as he looked at her. She had a smile on her face and her body looked like she couldn’t lift her arm if she wanted to. After a moment, she turned to him with that smile.

  “Come here,” she said and parted her legs for him. It was a dream come true, but Henry hesitated.

  “I wouldn’t last a heartbeat. I can’t have our first union cut so short. I’ll go the bathroom and take care of this and be right back.” Nanu sat up, her eyes sparkling but clear.

  “No, you don’t,” she said, wrapping her arms around his waist. “I’ll take care of it for you. I’m your woman now.” Henry’s stomach flexed hard, but because of her words or her touch, he didn’t know. She slithered to the floor before him. Her touch burned him, grabbed his hard waist then gripped the band of his shorts and tugged.

  “Wait,” he said, his hand stopping her. The thought of her on her knees on the floor before him...he didn’t like it. “Don’t do this.” Even though the thought of her mouth sucking him deep made breathing difficult.

  “Henry, I want to. Please let me.” She rubbed her cheek back and forth across his

  straining erection and he bit his lip to keep from doing something crazy. Like whipping it out himself.

  Slowly, hesitantly, he nodded.

  She practically glowed as she tugged his shorts down. They dropped heavily around his feet. His cock fell forward and landed against her cheek. She smiled and wrapped her hand around him. The pressure was soft but so damned good.

  “Don’t be nervous. Just let me pleasure you.” She kissed the tip of him then stroked him, rubbing the skin around his cock back and forth. He couldn’t stop the groan that left him. His hand curled around her slender shoulder and if not for her there, he would have fallen and embarrassed the hell out of himself.

  “I like the way you feel. So hard and rigid but like soft velvet on the outside. I can’t wait to feel you slide inside me, Henry.” Her tongue wet the tip and then her wet mouth swallowed him.

  He nearly lost it right there. His fangs dropped, throbbing. He bit into his bottom lip to ease some of the pressure in his loins. She pulled back and sucked him, her tongue rubbing against him. When she came back down him again, it was pure torture. Her hot, wet mouth sucked him again and again, her hand fisted his cock and pumped him in the slightest of motions.

  He had to unclench his hand from her shoulder, too afraid he’d hurt her. She sucked him faster, her eyes closed, soft moans leaving her throat. Henry panted, his chest burning, heart thundering.

  She laved her tongue against him and took him deep into her throat until he was hitting it the back of it. “Stop,” he said raggedly. “Please, stop. I can’t. I’m going to—”

  Hot liquid boiled in his balls shot up to his cock ready to burst. His legs stiffened, ass clenching, breaths exploding from him. “Nanu, pull away!” She didn’t. Her hands cupped his ass, and she took him as deeply as she could.

  He couldn’t stop the hard, hot pulses as he came, couldn’t stop the harsh shout that left his throat. His hips jerked against her mouth and her tongue coaxed every drop of come from him until he was shaking in front of her like a damned leaf. She pulled back, his cock making a wet popping sound as he did. She ran her hands up his body as she stood, the smile of a seductress on her mouth.

  “As soon as you’re ready again, I’m ready to feel you inside me, Henry.”

  Henry pulled her close and kissed her. Kissed the woman he loved, the woman of his

  dreams.

  Chapter Twenty-three

  Chloe hesitated at the top of the stairs. She saw the barest of light escaping from under Tyrian’s bedroom door and knew he was in there.

  As she took a deep, shaky breath, she coached herself. She could do this. She was a Bellum. Strong willed, independent, unafraid of challenges. With that in mind, she turned the doorknob to his room; it didn’t budge. Gritting her teeth, she banged her fist on the door and didn’t stop until she heard footsteps coming.

  When the door swung open, Chloe forgot what she was about to say. Tyrian stood there naked, angry, and dripping wet with only a tiny towel wrapped around his lean, hard hips. Chloe licked her lips. She would give up her house in Colorado for the chance to lick all that water up.

  His hair was loose and splattered across his scarred cheek and shoulders in a way that her fingers twitched to touch.

  “What?” There was no ice in his tone, just anger. Was this progress?

  “What do you mean what? Are you honestly surprised I came?” His eyes actually rolled and then he spun away, leaving the door wide open. Doing a mental fist-pump, Chloe let herself inside, closing the door behind her. Tyrian entered the bathroom and she heard him getting back into the shower.

  Again, that nervous feeling fluttered inside her like a butterfly trying to get out. She lifted her chin, pulled her shoulders back, and followed him. The shower had a glass door instead of a curtain, which made it the greatest shower on earth for her to watch him. He was magnificent.

  Built hard and strong while carrying the marks of battle across his body. He ducked his head under the showerhead and she caught a glimpse of the crow brand across his shoulders. She wanted to trace it with her fingertip
s, learn its feel.

  “Are you going to stand there and watch me or tell me what you came here for?” Chloe smiled, realizing that he was angry. This was progress. It was getting harder for him to control himself around her and keep the icy wall up. Good.

  “I’d prefer to do both if you don’t mind.”

  His dark eyes cut her a hard look. “Well, I do. Get on with it, Chloe.” The way he said her name still managed to make her shiver.

  “I want you to be my Protector in the real way.” His hand slammed into the shower wall and she jumped at the loud bang it made.

  Shaking his head he said, “Why ever would you want that? Be realistic, Chloe. I’m a commander, a warlord. I’m not husband material. I won’t rub your feet when they hurt. I don’t want children. I don’t want you.” His words cut hard and deep. Deeper than they probably should have. She heard the utter conviction in his voice and it nearly sent her running from the room.

  “You’re wrong. You’ve been those things before and I think you have even more in you now. The pain from you past hasn’t crippled you, though you act as if it has. It’s made you stronger, made you realize how precious life is. If you’d stop looking at things in such a bitter light, you might just learn something, Ty.” He shut the water off and stalked to her, backing her into the door, dripping water over her dress and stocking-clad legs. It completely turned her on.

  “You know nothing. You are young and naive as I once was. Life is death and pain.”

  Chloe glared at him. “It’s only like that for you because you’ve let it be like that. I am so, so sorry for what happened to your family. I truly am, but it was such a long time ago. I mean do you still love her?”

  He drew back as if she’d slapped him. A look flashed across his face. Guilt? Shame?

  “No, I never loved Maria like that. It wasn’t the way of things then. I was a vampire of means, being the general of the Atal Warriors made me a status symbol. My marriage was arranged by my father.”