Dark Challenge. Christine Feehan. Dark Series – book 5

Julian’s arms tightened around her until their strength threatened to crack her bones, but Desari only held him closer, listening to the anguish in his voice. She cradled his head to her, protective, feminine, his refuge and salvation.

“We have lost so many. I have hunted boyhood friends, dared not become too close to anyone in case I was called upon to end his existence.” His hands moved over her skin, tracing each rib. The palms of his hands were hot as they moved to find her waist. Julian lifted his head to allow his eyes to drift slowly, possessively over her. His molten gaze ignited a firestorm of need in Desari. She loved the weight of his eyes on her, the hunger burning so intensely there.

She watched as he slowly lifted one hand, and stared at his perfect nails for a moment before one lengthened into a sharp talon. Very slowly he inserted it between her breasts, just touching the wisp of lace that hugged her body. One downward sweep sliced the material easily, spilling her breasts free.

Desari held her breath, afraid to move or speak, not wanting to shatter the moment, not wanting that look of hunger for her alone to ever leave his face. His hands moved upward, sliding over her skin to cup her breasts. His heated gaze went to her face, studying every detail, every expression, every emotion in her dark eyes.

“I will never deserve you, Desari, no matter how long we live, no matter how hard I try. I do not deserve a woman such as you.” He whispered the words, meaning every one of them.

She smiled, tilting her head to one side. “Perhaps not, Julian,” she agreed. “But I am not the angel you think me. You have only to ask my brother the trouble you are letting yourself in for. But I promise you, I do plan on showing you.”

Her voice, soft and pure, straight from heaven, slipped over his body like the brush of her fingertips, touching him everywhere, teasing, stroking, promising the very things fantasies were made of. She wanted to end his suffering, take away the centuries of emptiness without hope, the terrible burden of the deaths he carried, forced to hunt his friends and end their lives in order to save mortals and immortals alike. She wanted to play and tease, be as mischievous as possible, teach him the meaning of her kind of “trouble.”

A sound intruded. The others were still far too close to them. The campsite was some distance away, but Carpathians had exceptionally acute hearing. Julian could hear them breaking camp, starting up vehicles. He took a deep breath and forced himself to calm the raging storm within. He would not subject the other men, all so close to turning, to the sounds of their lovemaking.

Very tenderly he cupped the creamy fullness of Desari’s breasts in the palms of his hands. His thumbs caressed her nipples into hard, beckoning peaks. “You are so beautiful, Desari, your skin so warm and soft.” He bent his head to trace the valley between her breasts with his tongue, lingering over the steady beat of her heart. “I want you so badly I feel I might go insane if I do not have you at this moment.”

She lay her head over his, rubbing his thick mane of golden hair with her chin. “But?”

Julian sighed softly. “I will have to be content with looking at you in adoration.” He reluctantly released her and stepped away. “I think I can manage to wait a short time.” His golden eyes glittered at her dangerously. “If you do something to distract me.”

Desari tilted her head, her long hair sliding like so much silk over her shoulder, partially covering her bare skin from his view. A small, feminine smile curved her soft mouth. Just the sight of it made him groan. “Distract you?” Her voice hummed with promise. “I can think of several interesting things we can try to distract you from thinking of my family.” Her smile was sexy, enticing, a promise.

“You are not helping me,” he scolded, his body an unrelenting ache.