Twisted Fate: Of Love And Darkness Part 9

Sydney was too stunned to do anything but stare at him as he pulled off his T-s.h.i.+rt and then tugged down his jeans. He isn't wearing boxers this time. Nor was he turned on at the moment. His girth was still impressive, she noted with a blush.

He climbed into bed, leaving her standing next to it, feeling oddly deflated because she expected a fight. She had been relis.h.i.+ng the idea, because she needed an outlet for her anger and frustration.

How dare he keep her out of an important matter that she knew, she just knew concerned her? He had no right to lock her in her bedroom while he told everyone else what was going on. She was so angry she didn't even want to crawl into the bed with him. Which angered her even more because it was her bed. He should be the one to sleep on the floor. Or out in the garage, for all she cared. Aruba was looking better and better by the minute.

"Yes, it concerns you, Sydney."

She blinked and focused on him. He lay in the bed, on his back, with the blankets pulled up to his waist. One arm was thrown across his eyes, presumably to block out the glare of the lamp she'd left turned on.

"And I didn't want you in there because I didn't think you really wanted to hear all the gory details of what happened to that kid. But if you really want to know, I'll tell you."

"You will?" she asked uncertainly.

"I hope you have a strong stomach."

"Just tell me why." She inched closer. "Why did you show up on my doorstep, dragging a half-dead s.h.i.+fter with you?"

Gavin was silent for a moment, and then he blew out a breath. "He was on his way here to court you. Just like, it seems, every d.a.m.ned Light One in the frigging universe." He moved his arm so he could look at her. His eyes glowed when he said, "They know about you, Sydney. Your life is now in imminent danger."

"Oh, G.o.d." She sank onto the side of the bed. As real as it had all become, it still hadn't really felt truly real. Not until now. She lifted her gaze and looked at him. "I'm going to die, aren't I?"

In a flash, Gavin reached out and hooked his arm around her waist, pulling her down on top of him. He put his hand on the back of her head and pressed her face into his chest.

"No," he said, infusing the one word with every bit of determination he likely possessed.

She lifted her head so she could look at him. "I don't want to die."

Gavin offered a half-smile. "You won't. You have me for a mate, remember? I used to be their leader. I know how they think. They won't get past me."

"But you aren't my mate. Not yet." But he could be. Only one thing stood in their way. It was her choice. She could make it happen. She only needed to decide if she wanted to.

No, she didn't need to decide. She knew.

So she needed to decide if she was ready.

No, she didn't. She was ready. She was more than ready. With that man and his overheated, sharply defined body sleeping next to her night after night, she was frankly surprised she hadn't yet attacked him.

Really, there was no question, no reason they shouldn't make it official. No reason at all.

None.

She scrambled to climb under the covers. "Make love to me, Gavin."

"What?" His voice lifted high enough to rival William's when he sang karaoke. He suddenly sounded far less sure of himself.

"Make me your mate. Right now. Let's make it official. It will only strengthen the bond between us, and that will make it easier to protect me."

"Uh . . . okay," he said as his slow-functioning brain seemed to struggle with what she said.

Sydney reached into the drawer in bedside table and lifted a square piece of foil out of the box she had tucked in there. She held it up for his inspection. "But only if we use this. I know you believe my purpose is to produce children, but you're going to have to go at my pace, Gavin. I'm not there yet. And I don't want to worry about being pregnant while we're fighting this battle."

He hesitated, then wrapped his arms around her waist. "I don't believe that is your purpose, Sydney. You have a far greater purpose than I can even comprehend. I just want you. I just want to feel you and to please you."

"Oh, Gavin," she whispered, as her eyes welled with tears.

Gavin groaned. "Don't cry. I hate it when women cry."

She sniffled and choked on a half-sob, half-laugh. "You're such a romantic."

He wrapped his arm around her waist and flipped her onto her back, covering her with his body. She felt his erection pressing into the juncture of her thighs and she sucked in a ragged breath.

"I'm not romantic, Sydney. Not even remotely. I hope you can live with that."

She wrapped her arms around his back and brought him closer. "I can live with that," she a.s.sured him, and then she kissed him.

Gavin's first s.e.xual experience came back in a rush, like a crazy dream, except he was wide-awake. He couldn't decide if that was bad or good. While it had barely lasted five minutes, he had still enjoyed himself.

Holy s.h.i.+t, he hoped he could last more than five minutes this time. This was Sydney, his Chala, the woman he'd come to, er, like. Maybe care for. Certainly appreciate. And respect. He wanted, no needed, this to be spectacular, for her sake. She deserved no less.

"Are you going to partic.i.p.ate here?"

She had pulled away, broken the kiss, and he hadn't realized it. He was too busy mentally preparing himself to impress her.

"Oh. Uh, yeah. Are you sure about this?"

"You ask almost like you want me to change my mind."

He cupped her face and stared into her eyes. "No. I don't want you to change your mind. I just . . ."

"Are you worried I'll regret my decision in the morning?"

He shook his head. "I'm afraid I'll disappoint you." What the h.e.l.l was wrong with him? He had well over three hundred years' worth of s.e.xual experience under his belt. He knew how to please a woman.

"That's so sweet." She kissed his nose and smiled, his beautiful blond imp.

Now she was calling him sweet. If he didn't get this situation under control soon, he would have to turn in his man card.

"f.u.c.k me, I don't even know where to start."

"Here. How about if I do this." She wiggled out of her top. He stared at her bare b.r.e.a.s.t.s, milky white and peaked with roses. When he continued to stare, she grabbed his head and maneuvered it toward one of those tempting buds.

And he'd been worried she wouldn't know her way around a bedroom?

He obligingly licked, and she arched her back, her mouth forming a silent O, her fingers tangling in his hair. When he suckled, her hands squeezed to the point of pain.

"Like that?" he asked, finally relaxing enough to realize it was like riding a horse. Okay, no, this was nothing like riding a horse. But he was back on top of his game. He knew what to do. He knew what she wanted.

"Not that," she said, pus.h.i.+ng against the side of his head when he kissed a trail up to her ear and flicked his tongue inside.

"Oh. Right."

"But around the edge. I like that. Maybe nibble on the lobe."

"This is so surreal."

"I know. It is, isn't it?"

"No, not this." He motioned with his hand, indicated the two of them. "I mean this. Me, acting like this is my first time ever, and you, practically teaching me what to do."

She giggled. "I admit, I never thought you would be nervous. You're always soso tough and confident."

He blew out a breath and rolled over to lay on his back beside her. "d.a.m.n it, Sydney. I don't know what the h.e.l.l's wrong with me. I want to mate with you. The Fates know I want to have s.e.x with you. I've fantasized about a hundred different ways to do it, too. I don't think I've ever had this problem before."

"Maybe it's because you actually care this time."

Maybe.

She sat up and straddled him, her perky b.r.e.a.s.t.s jiggling slightly. And then she took charge.

Sydney, taking what she wanted, was a beautiful thing. She threaded her fingers with his and pressed his hands into the mattress while she kissed him and rocked against his c.o.c.k until he was legitimately afraid he would c.u.m all over himself.

"Sydney, I'm gonna-"

With a serene smile, she lifted her hips and then moved so she kneeled on the bed next to him. She licked and nibbled and kissed his ear, along his neck, and down his chest, focusing on his flat brown nipples, while her hand moved south, following his happy trail, until she cupped his c.o.c.k and caused his hips to buck of their own accord.

"f.u.c.k."

He surged into a seated position, wrapped his arm around her waist, and flipped her onto her back again. She lay there, staring up at him, her eyes wide and br.i.m.m.i.n.g over with desire.

For him.

"I'm going to lose it if you keep going." He grabbed her pajama bottoms and tugged them from her body. "I think it's my turn to show you what that feels like."

There was no trepidation in her gaze, no fear, no worry. Just antic.i.p.ation. And l.u.s.t.

He wors.h.i.+ped her body, kissing every bit of flesh he could, using his hands to continue stroking those areas he noticed drove her most wild. He made his way down, from her b.r.e.a.s.t.s to her belly, to her hip bones, and then he deliberately skipped the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow and instead trailed kisses down her left leg.

He suckled on her big toe while his fingers skimmed along her leg, and when she rolled her hips and twisted her hands in the sheets and cried out for release, he reached up and stroked her between the thighs. She came apart almost instantly, and then, chuckling, he kissed his way up her right leg, until he was face level with heaven. A tiny triangle of golden curls he knew hid pleasure and enjoyment for them both.

He lifted his gaze and saw her watching him, her b.r.e.a.s.t.s heaving, her eyes dilated so much he could hardly see the blue.

"Ready?"

"For what?" she asked, the confusion evident in her voice.

He didn't bother to answer. He licked her instead. She arched off the bed and cried out.

"Yes!"

He settled between her thighs and lifted her legs so they draped over his shoulders. He ran a finger along her seam and it came away wet. She was drenched and ready.

For him.

The earlier self-doubt threatened to invade his mind again, so he distracted himself by focusing on her instead. He licked and suckled, while thrusting with two fingers, until she jumped and bucked so hard he was half afraid they would both go tumbling off the bed.

As soon as she exploded with her second o.r.g.a.s.m, he sat up and snagged the condom she'd dropped on the bed next to her. With one hand still pumping, stretching out her pleasure, he used the other and his teeth to release the latex from its case. He had to use both hands to get it rolled over his almost painfully swollen c.o.c.k, but that took only a few seconds, and then he was back, covering her with his body, pressing into her, not giving her a chance to change her mind. He was pretty sure she wouldn't at this point, but he saw no reason to take any chances.

He had no interest in discovering if one really could die from blue b.a.l.l.s.

Gavin grabbed her a.s.s with one hand and wrapped the other around her back, clamping onto her shoulder so he could get the best leverage. She lifted her hips, wrapped her legs around his back, and cupped his face, pulling him down to make love to her mouth as well as her body.

f.u.c.k. It really was only going to take five minutes.

"Won't. Be. The. Only Time. Tonight," he vowed between thrusts, grinding his teeth against the impending release.

And then he let go, gave himself over to her. To the pleasure. To his Chala.

His mate.

Chapter 8.

When Gavin strode into the kitchen the next morning, William glanced up from where he stood at the counter, pouring pancake batter onto an electric griddle. And then he did a double-take. And then he sighed.

"I see she finally gave in." The idea clearly gave him heartburn.

Gavin chuckled and stepped up to the counter to pour a cup of coffee. "I'd say it was the other way around. Let me tell you, your charge is a hot little number in the bedroom. If I'd known what she was capable of, I would have tried-"

William slashed a hand through the air and Gavin was rendered momentarily speechless. "Spare me the details. She's like a sister to me."

"And you're still here," Gavin commented when the power of speech returned.

He drained the last of the pot of coffee into his cup and regarded the Fate over the rim. Instead of his usual dress or skirt, William wore a bright yellow, fitted sweater and a pair of horizontally striped leggings. He was a giant walking b.u.mble bee. But at least he made a mean breakfast.

"Why is that?" Gavin wondered. "It's official. We're mated. If you won't take my word for it, watch for the sated smile when she gets out of the shower."

"I've no doubt you had s.e.x last night," William said waspishly. "Trust me, the entire household is fully aware of what the two of you did last night."

"We were that loud, huh?" Gavin was not the least abashed.

William sniffed delicately and expertly flipped a series of pancakes on the electric griddle.

Gavin shrugged one shoulder and lifted the coffeepot, replacing it when he realized it was empty. "Hey, I can't help it. I think Sydney's new favorite word is yes. Guess she likes to say it loudly." He grinned.