Authors: Hope Welsh
Tags: #vampires, #contemmporary romance, #paranormal, #love story, #erotic, #erotic romance, #paranormal romance, #vampire series
Once Forbidden
No portion of this book may be reproduced,
scanned, or distributed in any print or electronic form without the permission
of the author.
This is a work of fiction. Names,
characters, places and incidents either are the products of the author’s
imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance between persons living
and dead, establishments, events, or location is entirely coincidental.
If you think someone else might enjoy this
book, please feel free to loan them this copy via Amazon’s lending service.
Copyright © 2012 Hope Welsh
Cover Art © 2012 ninjaMel
Designs
All rights reserved
ISBN 13 978-1-890785-30-7
Table of Contents
It
was forbidden.
That
thought reverberated though Devlin’s mind as he stood in the growing crowd and
watched the firefighters pull the unconscious woman from the house. He studied
her dispassionately as they placed her on a stretcher. He heard words that had
no real meaning for him; they were words of mortals—words of those without the
power to
know.
Fifty
percent burns. Wouldn’t survive. Too much damage.
But
they were wrong. Devlin sensed the strength in the woman. She was
not
going to die. But he knew she’d probably want to. Her skin was damaged beyond
the means of modern medicine.
She
wasn’t beyond
his
means, though. He could heal her—make her whole again.
Devlin considered the possibility. It was forbidden. Vampires weren’t to
involve themselves with the frailties of humans. And yet….
This
human was different. This woman was extraordinary. Of course, he had never come
to her, but he had been watching her. The woman was one of the Chosen—one of the few that could be reborn. Sired was the proper term, of course. But it
wasn’t appropriate, not for her.
Since
coming to North Carolina five years before, Devlin had sensed her presence and
been drawn to her. Finding out her name would have been easy, but he hadn’t.
Somehow, he’d known that knowing her name would make her even more desirable to
him than she already was.
As
she rarely left her house, Devlin deduced she worked from home. He knew that
she was solitary—which suited him, as this was a solitary existence. Very
often, the Chosen were solitary creatures, almost as if nature had been
training them for the possibility of being forever changed.
All
vampires could sense the Chosen. He’d sensed others, but none of them drew him
as she did. In the Old Days, there would have been no question. When a vampire
wanted a mate—that person was simply sired. All that had changed with the
Hunters. Humans that considered it their sacred duty to kill every vampire they
could find. The Elders had changed the law one hundred years before—outlawing
the change of a human.
For
this woman though, he considered the forbidden anyway. She was special—and not
simply because she was one of the Chosen.
The
woman had risked her own life to go into the burning house for a child. He’d
been watching her as her dark hair had caught in the light of the street lamp
as she’d been carrying her groceries home. Long and gleaming, he’d longed to
run his fingers through it. Once more, he’d been following her—watching her.
She
was a small woman, probably at least a foot shorter than his own six-three. But
her determination more than made up for what she lacked in height.
Flames
and vampires were a fatal mix, of course, so he’d had no choice but to wait. Against
all the rules of the Elders and his own common sense, he had called 911. What a
laugh that would have given those he knew. But somehow, he’d known that she
would come out of the house alive. The child had survived as well. She’d
brought the child out and turned back inside, looking for more survivors.
Such
foolishness, he thought now. But valor he could admire. And desire.
Yes,
he had the answer. He’d make her his—to hell with what the Elders would say. He’d
been alone long enough. She would be his mate.
He
heard someone whispering.
Sarah Hart.
Such a pretty name, he mused.
Sarah.
Devlin
turned and disappeared into the night, knowing he’d go to her when it was time.
The
dream was so real….
“You
will belong to me, Sarah. When the time is right, you will know,” he said in a
deep hypnotic voice.
“But
how? Why? I don’t understand any of this!” she exclaimed. She couldn’t move her
eyes from his. They were dark green and intoxicating, and had the power to make
her feel things she’d thought to never feel again. Desire. Need. And
more—wanted.
“You
will know,” he said simply. “For now, that is all I will tell you.”
“But
this is a dream,” she whispered. “I know it’s a dream.”
The
answering smile made her shiver—but with excitement, not fear. “Do you want
this to be real, then?” Devlin asked, brushing his cool fingers down her cheek.
“Could you accept this as your reality?” he queried.
Sarah
shuddered at his touch. In these dreams, he made her feel things that she
thought should be wrong. It wasn’t desire—it was stronger than that. When he
made love to her, it was wild and free and—beautiful. “Yes,” she whispered with
conviction, “I could.” With him, she felt beautiful and desirable. How could he
not know any woman would want that when awake?
Devlin
studied her thoughtfully. “Enough of talk,” he growled. “I want you.”
Sarah
felt a surge of longing at his words. Just those three words had the power to
make her grow wet with need. Inside her. She needed him inside her. Her stomach
clenched with an almost painful longing. “I know,” she admitted. And she did
know. It was there in those hypnotic eyes. Her heartbeat quickened at the heat
radiating from them. His eyes lingered on her throat and her breathing hitched.
“Take me,” she said softly on a renewed wave of burning need. “Please.”
Devlin
wasn’t gentle and she didn’t want him to be. He lifted her and placed her on
the center of a large four-post bed. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she
knew she should wonder where she was, but she didn’t—and never did—not when she
was with Devlin. When she was with him—everything just was the way it was meant
to be.
She
felt the cool sheets caressing her back. Sarah’s eyes never left his as he
removed her gown by the simple means of tearing it out of his way.
His
hands cupped her bared breasts possessively, gently, and she groaned, closing
her eyes.
“No.
Watch me,” he ordered, his voice guttural. “Watch me as I take you.”
Sarah’s
eyes shot open, wide blue eyes meeting green. “Yes,” she agreed, helpless to
disobey.
It
was hard though.
When
she felt his fingers pinching her nipples not quite gently it was almost
impossible to keep her eyes open. Each tug on her sensitive nipples went trough
her, straight down to her stomach and beyond, heightening her need for him. His
cool fingers felt so good against her heated skin. She did as he asked, though,
and kept her eyes on his.
Finally,
when she couldn’t hold still any longer, she reached for him, pulling his dark
head down to her. Sarah released a moan as he drew one nipple into the hot
suction of his mouth, drawing deeply on her, sucking as if it were his
lifeline. She felt his hands move beneath her to hold her against him and
reveled in it.
He
wanted her—she never had cause to doubt his need for her, and it made her feel
powerful and somehow special. She groaned when she felt his teeth. He nipped
her breast then laved the small hurt with the twirl of his tongue. One hand was
slowly moving down her stomach and to the juncture of her thighs.
Sarah
never thought to close herself to him. Her leg parted, jerking as his fingers
found her clitoris. He flicked it—gently at first, then faster and harder. She
felt the dampness as it flowed, and knew that she’d go mad if he didn’t come
inside her soon. She arched against his fingers, silently seeking more.
Devlin
gave a low chuckle, and she felt it against her breast, as his fingers found
her, moving gently at first between the swollen folds. She moaned when two
fingers drove inside her, spreading her.
She
tugged at his hair, her head thrashing as he used his fingers to bring her to
the edge of climax.
Devlin
lifted his head from her breast. “You like this,” he said knowingly.
“You
know I do,” she said weakly. “Please, take me now.”
He
smiled, his eyes dark. “I will,” he promised. “When it is time.” He moved down
the length of her body now, until his head was between her thighs.