Undying Hunger (26 page)

He lifted the shower wand and turned on the spray. “You make me want to be more,” he said and cupped her nape with his free hand. “Lean back onto the headrest.”

She did as instructed. But inside, her mind buzzed with the idea of her big bad warrior on his knees bathing her. Alex’s heart pounded, ready to burst from his tenderness. Not once in her life had any man ever cared for her in this way.

Warm water sluiced over her scalp and down her shoulders. Alex clasped his arm and opened her eyes. “You don’t have to do this. I’m perfectly capable of washing myself.”

“I know you are. You’re more capable and stronger than any female I’ve ever known. But I want to.” He broke free of her hold and snagged one of the bottles from the side of the tub. Squeezing a dollop of the gel into his palm, he added, “Let me take care of you.”

Markus smoothed the shampoo over her hair, and it was as if his touch, his words, held the power to make her let go, to transport her. Unbidden, her eyelids lowered.

They’d come so far to get to this place. Surely two people had survived greater obstacles.

But she refused to look back anymore. Their past was over, sealed tight. Because she couldn’t imagine a future without him.

His large, calloused fingers worked the thick lather through her strands, and the muscles in her arms and legs unwound with each stroke. “I love you.” The three words rolled off her tongue. As natural as breathing.

Easy.

Real.

The massage to her scalp paused. “You know without a doubt, I’d die for you,” he said. “But even more so than that, for you, I live.”

Her lashes lifted, and Markus’s gaze bored into her soul.

“My beautiful Vixen…I love you with all my being.”

Chapter Twenty-Seven

One week later

Markus stretched out on his side along the edge of his bed and crossed his ankles, waiting for Alexandria to emerge from the bathroom after her shower. He wasn’t about to miss this. For what seemed like an eternity, he’d dreamed of waking to this each evening, lying in his bed with the gorgeous woman on the other side of the wall performing the mundane daily activities such as showering and dressing for the night.

How so very ordinary.

Normal.

Fantastic.

Alexandria padded from the bathroom wrapped once more in one of the mansion’s bath sheets. Her hair hung in a dark, wet, and glistening veil over her shoulders. She looked up, caught his stare, and smiled.

“I see you’re already dressed,” she said, and continued over to the dresser.

“Yup. Thought I’d wait here and enjoy the show.”

“Voyeur, much?” She tossed him a wicked grin over her shoulder.

“Depends on who’s on display.”

“Oh, is that how it goes? I should feel very special to have your undivided attention then?” Her towel fell to the floor, unveiling the smooth, pale curve of her back and the most glorious ass that had ever graced the planet. Blood rushed to his cock, swelling his shaft. She leaned over to grab something from one of the drawers, giving him a view that truly deserved to be worshipped. That is—if he could’ve managed to move and drop to his knees with his dick so damn hard.

“No, baby,” Markus said. “I’m the one who’s feeling quite blessed.”

She stepped into an undergarment, pulled it up, and a thin strap of black lace nestled between her cheeks. A groan rolled from his throat, and his cock throbbed. Fucking hell. How could one be envious of a single piece of cotton? He palmed the aching bulge pressed against his zipper.

“Are you on patrol tonight?” she asked, as if she were oblivious to his physical anguish.
Vixen.
She knew exactly what she was doing to him. Finishing her task of dressing, she tugged up a pair of tight leather pants, the cowhide conforming to her rear like a damn second skin.

Fuck this. She belonged to him. And it was about damn time he did something about it. He couldn’t go another night without making her his. For eternity.

“Markus?”

“What?”

“I asked if you were on patrol tonight?” She smiled. “Where did you go?”

He swung his legs off the bed and stood. “I was thinking about you.”

“Well.” She shrugged, then quickly donned a shirt. “How can a girl be mad at that?” She slid a palm under her hair and pulled the damp strands free.

“No. I don’t have to work tonight.” Markus moved in and wrapped his arm around her shoulders, bringing her close. “We have someplace we need to be.”

“We do?” she asked.

He phased, and the room around them shimmered into nothingness. The floor fell away, and they were in dizzying flight, weightless. Mere seconds later, they landed, coalescing in the basement of his mountain cabin.

“Whoa.” Alexandria grabbed his arm, steadying herself. “You could warn a girl.”

“No time.” Markus tugged her around until her chest collided with his. “I needed this too badly.”

He fused his mouth with hers, diving inside. She moaned, and he swallowed the sound. Her flavor sparked his already-simmering desire. So damn good.

Breaking away, Alexandria gasped. “Not that I’m not loving this,” she said, patting his chest. “But why are we here?”

That was his vixen. Tenacious. She’d never been easily swayed from what she had on her mind. “I brought you here because I thought it was time we made what we have together permanent.”

Her forehead wrinkled in disbelief and she took a step back. “Are you asking me to marry you?”

“I want more than that, baby.” He closed the distance between them, unable to stand another moment without her touch. “Something deeper. Unbreakable.” He pressed his body to hers, loving the way he could sense her every inhale. “Mate with me, Vixen.” It wasn’t a question. Hell, no. He was bastard enough to put it out there like a command, because the idea of her rejection wasn’t compatible with his existence.

“You’re serious…” She maneuvered out of his arms and turned away.

And his heart crashed against his breastbone.

“Yeah,” he muttered. “I’m damn serious.” He clasped her wrist, needing to make sure she didn’t make a run for it. “You don’t want this?”

She glanced over her shoulder, and he could have sworn moisture welled in her eyes. Looking up at him from under her lashes, she croaked, “You jerk.” She shoved at him, knocking him backward. “Of course I want this…more than anything. You caught me off guard.” She shook her head. “I just needed a moment to catch my breath.”

“Damn, Vixen.” Markus smoothed a hand over his chest.

“I’m not normally a fan of surprises.” She crossed her arms under her breasts, pushing them up until they swelled in the vee of her sleeveless black leather tank top.

“That makes two of us,” he grumbled, finding it hard to think straight with her cleavage making his fingers itch.

“But for you, and for this occasion, I’m happy to make an exception.” She smiled, and with a sway of her hips, moved within reach.

“Well, aren’t I the lucky vampire tonight?” He gave her his best arrogant smirk.

“Yes, you are,” she said. “And I’m the most fortunate female on earth.” She licked her lips, forcing a growl from his throat at the sight.

“That’s right.” His voice went primal. “You’re mine.” He fisted her hair and tugged her head back. A sharp exhale escaped her, but her eyes flashed with arousal.

Fuck. His shaft bucked against the restraint of his zipper. He wanted her so damn bad. Right there. Bent over the bed rails. Her legs bare. Thighs spread wide. Her pussy wet, glistening, yearning for his cock.

But that would have to wait. Markus uncurled his fist from her hair. He had to do this right.

“So how do we do this?” She ran her fingers beneath his shirt, her nails scratching over his abs. And he couldn’t help but imagine them running over the head of his dick. He groaned.

“First, you’re going to have to stop what you’re doing,” he said. “If not, I’m going to be inside you, and we’ll never get around to mating.”

“Well, we wouldn’t want that,” she drawled, and pulled her hand away. “I do enjoy teasing you, though, and getting you all hot and bothered.” Smiling, she tugged his shirt back in place.

“Don’t worry, Vixen,” he said. “You’ll get your chance.”

Markus maneuvered around her and over to the nightstand, where a few days before he’d placed a pouch containing what they would need. Mating her had never been a question. Alexandria had been his from the first moment he’d seen her. He’d only been waiting for the perfect moment.

“This is for you.” He handed over the dark blue velvet bag and began undressing.

“What’s inside?”

“Pull the gloves out and put those on first.” He tossed his shirt onto the chair behind him and worked on shedding his boots and jeans. “The bindings inside contain silver.”

“Oh…” Alexandria opened the drawstring to the soft material and proceeded as instructed. “I take it I’m going to be tying you to the bed with these?” she asked, straps in hand.

“That’s right.” Naked, Markus climbed onto the bed and stretched out onto his back. Still rigid, his cock settled onto his abs.

Smirking, she stared down at him. “Well, you seem mighty comfortable with the idea that I’m supposed to bind you with silver.” She shook her head. “This is going to hurt like a bitch.”

“Does it appear like I care?” He wagged his eyebrows, more than ready to proceed.

She stared back at him, scrutinizing his expression. “Not in the least.”

“Then don’t worry about me,” he said, making damn sure she could see how much he needed her. “I want this, Vixen.”

“So do I.” Her tone was gentle, yet her expression had never been more serious.

“Do it,” he commanded, and placed his arms over his head. “I have to submit to you, then you drain me.”

“All of you?” Alexandria placed one binding around his wrist, and his flesh sizzled against the toxic metal.

Hissing, he bit down with his molars.

“Damn,” she spat. “I’m sorry.”

“I’m good,” he gritted out. “And yeah. All of me,” he added. “Once you finish, my soul will seek yours out, and then you’ll need to feed me. Bring me back. When I leave, I’ll take a portion of you with me. Once I return and wake, it’s over. We’ll be blended.” He inhaled deeply, bracing himself for the next wrist strap. She was so damn worth it.

“I can’t wait for you to be a part of me,” she said, and pulled the last binding tight.

Another sizzle filled his ears and the burn arrowed up his arm. He closed his eyes, dug his nails into his palms, and held on as the initial heat wave passed.

“From what I know that Elle’s shared with me, we’ll be able to communicate telepathically,” she said. “Imagine how intimate that’s going to feel.”

“Fucking intense.” His cock jerked. “I’ll be able hear your thoughts, sense what you feel when I’m buried inside you,” he said, his voice hoarse with growing lust.

Alexandria strolled around the foot of the bed, pulled her tank over her head, and allowed it to fall to the floor. Christ, she was a midnight seductress with her coal-black hair streaming in waves down her back.

She undid the hook to her bra. The lace tumbled down her arms, and her full breasts swung free. His mouth watered at the sight, fangs bursting from his gums. Holy hell, his cock pulsed, ached with need.

“Don’t make me wait.” Markus yanked on his bindings, rocking the bed.

“Never, my love.” A sultry glow emanated from her violet gaze. Inserting her thumbs at the waistband of her pants, she shimmied out of the leather and the barely-there piece of cotton and lace covering her sex.

“Gorgeous,” he rasped. “Come here, baby.”

Like a succubus stalking her victim, Alexandria crawled onto the mattress and straddled his legs. Lowering her head to his cock, she looked up from under her lashes. “Submit to me, warrior,” she commanded, her breath teasing his flesh.

“Yours.” He groaned, and his shaft twitched with anticipation. No way in hell could he ever deny her. If she desired, he’d find a way to give her the moon.

Her tongue flicked out and she dragged the flat tip along the back of his cock from root to tip. A hard shudder seized his body.

“Fuck…” He grunted. “Again.”

She gripped his rod with a tight fist, and his spine arched. “Who’s in command here?”

“Shit.” He sucked in a calming breath. “You are.”

“That’s better.” She pulled his erection toward her mouth once more, and the head disappeared inside her lips.

Air punched free from his lungs. Sweet torture.

Slowly, her tongue followed the sensitive rim, exquisitely exploring every inch of him. His molars ached from the tension on his jaw. He had to hold back. No matter how badly his body screamed for release.

“Vixen…” He shook his head, squeezing his eyelids shut. “Can’t… Fuck. Too good.”

Suddenly, her warm, wet core enveloped his cock. His eyes sprang open as she sank over him, taking him balls-deep. He roared. The desire to grab her hips and drive into her over and over took him to the edge.

Her head lolled, and her thick midnight locks brushed his thighs. Nails biting into his legs, she slid up and down on his stiff shaft. Drenched with her arousal, his erection leisurely disappeared in and out of her pussy. The visual was maddening, destroying him.

“Goddammit,” he bit out. “Fuck me.” He panted.

She groaned, taking him, riding him. “Feels so good.” She came forward, planting her palms onto his chest. “Never want this to end.” The white tips of her fangs glinted in the pale room light.

“We never will, baby,” he rumbled and twisted his head to the side, giving her access to his throat. And it was all the encouragement she needed. His love dived in, driving the sharp points into his vein.

“Alexandria!” he bellowed, his lungs burning as his orgasm burst from the head of his cock.

A gasp sounded at his neck, and she shuddered. “Markus…” she cried out, and her pussy clamped down on him. Her core pulsed around his shaft, drawing every drop of his cum from his balls.

“Christ!” he gritted out. “Love you.”

She pulled at his vein, drinking him as she continued to rock up and down on him.

“That’s it, baby,” he murmured. “All of me.” The room dimmed, and unbidden, his eyelids lowered. “Yours,” the word fell from his lips, heavy, thick.

“Markus?” Her voice called to him from some distant plane. He needed to be there. But she was so damn far away.

“Vixen?”
he yelled, but it was as if her name rang out only inside his head.

“Come to me, my love,” Alexandria ordered.

And he had to obey. She was where he was meant to be.

Breaking free from his earthly body with ethereal fingers, he sought out his mate. Like a red-hot target for his icy form, a fiery glow surrounded his mate. He sank into her. So warm. So very warm. A prism of color exploded before him, red, blue, and yellow, a welcoming firestorm.

“My love,”
her voice enveloped him.
“My God, Markus,”
she whispered inside his head.

“Alexandria…”
She was glorious inside and out. Her spirit moved through him, danced in perfect time with his. They were made for each other. Destined to be one.

“You have to come back,”
she said.
“I need you here with me.”

Something tugged at him. It was as if some unseen force had seized the fibers of his otherworldly body and begun to reel him in. A part of him wanted to cry out at the injustice of having to leave a place so pure and divine. However, his other half knew there was more, a purpose he’d yet to fulfill.

“Drink, Markus,” she shouted. “Come on, you stubborn bastard. You have to take more than that.”

A tearing sensation resonated inside his head, yet there was no pain. Bright light flashed, and his world went mute. He was falling, spiraling toward some magnetic point. Yet there was no fear. Somehow he knew exactly where he’d land.