Claiming Valeria (21 page)

As Valeria turned the lock on her door, it seemed to
throw a switch in Rui as well. He took her by the shoulders and pulled her to him
for a hard kiss. The apologetic man was gone and in his place was a dominant male
fada intent on taking his woman.

“
Madre de Deus
,” he muttered against her neck. “If you
knew how much I want you—”

Her stomach quivered. Oh, she knew. If it was anything like how
she felt, she knew just how much he wanted her. Desire was a hot, liquid pulse in
her core. Need was a red heat in her brain. If he’d asked, she’d have lain down
on the floor right then and there and let him have her.

His nostrils flared, and she knew he scented her arousal. He
gave a rumble of satisfaction and turned his head, fitting his mouth to hers. She
eagerly twined her arms around his neck and took his tongue into her mouth, sucking
hard. He tasted of coffee and the sweet pastry and his own unique male flavor.

He moved his mouth to her neck, nipping and licking the tender
skin. Excitement raced up and down her spine. He brought a hand to her breast.
“No promises, then. This is just sex, right?” His thumb traced a circle around her
aching nipple.

Her inner thighs clenched. She arched her back and pressed into
his caress. “
Sim
,” she managed to say.

“
Bom
.” A fist captured her braid, drawing back her head.
“I agree.”

“You do? I mean, good.”

His teeth closed on the soft underside of her jaw, gentle but
firm. Letting her know who was in control. “But it’s going to be all night. And
if I want you again tomorrow night—and I will—I’ll have you. No going back to just
kisses.”

She swallowed. “Promises, promises.”

Rui chuckled darkly and brought his mouth down on hers again.
Pleasure rippled over her skin. She placed a hand on his arm to steady herself.
Beneath the shirt, his muscles flexed under her touch. He muttered something incoherent
and gathered her closer with one arm, the other hand holding her steady for his
kiss.

“Mm,” she said, fitting herself to him.

He rumbled his approval and deepened the kiss, tasting her in
slow, deep strokes. She brought her hands to his face, rubbing her thumbs over the
black stubble of his night-beard, exploring the strong bones of his jaw beneath.
He pulled her closer and she twined a leg around his hip, rubbing herself against
his thigh.

Rui bit out something raw and primitive. He raised his head and
she saw his animal in his eyes, a rich, wild gold, and then the room spun and she
was on the mattress, his big body covering hers, his erection pressing into the
notch between her thighs exactly where she needed it. She closed her eyes and forgot
everything but his lips on hers and the hard body pressing hers to the bed.

His mouth moved to her breasts, nipping her through the thin
cotton knit. She whimpered and gripped his nape to pull him closer. With a growl,
he lifted his head and, taking her wrists in one of his hands, raised her arms above
her head so she couldn’t touch him. Then he closed his lips over her nipple and
drew hard.

She gasped and arched her back, twining her legs around his body
so that her aching center was pressed against his pelvis. He lifted his head, but
rather than give her relief, he gazed down at her, one hand keeping her arms against
the mattress above her head.

She moistened her lips. “Rui?”

His eyes were dark with some unnamed emotion. “You and Okeanos
never…did you? I have no right to ask, but—”

She glanced away. “No.”

“Why is that, Valeria?”

She shrugged, and he nuzzled her neck.

“Thank you,” he said in a thick voice. “I don’t deserve it, but—”

“No, you don’t,” she agreed, but her words lacked force.

“Ah, baby, you’re such a gift. So precious…I swear I won’t ever
forget that again.”

Long, work-roughened fingers pushed up her skirt, exposing the
tiny black panties that were all she had on underneath. He cupped her mound. Just
cupped her, without moving, his fingers firm, possessive. He bent forward to press
a reverent kiss just below her navel.

“
Bonita
,” he breathed against her skin. “So pretty. So
very, very pretty.”

Her eyes drifted shut. He rubbed a single finger over her center,
a teasing caress through the silky cloth, and her eyes flew open again. “That’s
better,” he said. “I want you looking at me, remembering who you belong to.”

Her head moved back and forth against the sheet. “No,” she moaned.

“No?” He drew a slow circle around her clit. “That’s not the
answer I want to hear,
querida
. Now keep those eyes open or I’ll tease you
until you’re pleading for release.”

She stared at him for a moment and then her lips curved in a
slow smile. She almost chuckled when he eyed her uncertainly. He’d always been in
control of their lovemaking, which was fine with her. He was a hard, aggressive
male, and she had no desire to change him. But he wasn’t going to have it all his
own way.

On his knees begging
.

She traced her tongue over her lower lip. “Maybe,” she said,
“I want you to tease me.”

* * *

Rui’s whole body went taut. Damn, it made him hard, hearing
her husky voice asking him to tease her. He was so attuned to her that he could
swear he heard her heart speed up. Her cheeks had a pretty flush and her brown eyes
were nearly black with desire. But she still found the will to resist him.

This doesn’t mean I’m agreeing to the mate claim
, she’d
said.

Not because she didn’t want him—she couldn’t hide how
aroused she was—but because she was afraid he’d hurt her again.
Deus
, that
tore at him. But he’d already resolved to do whatever it took to make it up to her.
He’d just have to pray she had a heart big enough to accept him, flaws and all.

Meanwhile, he’d make sure this was a night she’d never forget.

Maybe I want you to tease me
.

“Yeah?” His smile was all teeth. It was her turn to look uncertain.
“Well, then, let’s start by taking this off.”

His hands went to her shoulders, helping her to sit back up.
The dress’s zipper was on the back, so he turned her sideways and eased it down,
pressing a kiss to each vertebrae in turn as he gradually exposed her smooth, toned
back. When he reached the base of her spine, he rose back up to press a kiss to
her nape. She was so soft, so ready, her musk filling his nostrils.

His need ratcheted, fierce and primal. He jerked the wide black
straps down over her shoulders, trapping her arms. “So you want to be teased,” he
said, this time in a growl against the back of her neck.

“Yes.” Her throat worked. “But…not too much.”

“Oh, no,
boneca
. You don’t get to set the rules. Just
be prepared to beg—and maybe I’ll take pity on you.” He pulled the dress down a
little further so that her breasts popped out. He fingered a taut, rose-brown nipple.
“I think I’ll tease these pretty breasts of yours for a while.”

She moaned and dropped her head back against his chest. He brought
his other arm around her so that he could play with both of her breasts. She was
swollen, sensitive. Even his tiniest touches elicited a whimper.

“Please, Rui—”

He lightly squeezed her nipples. “
Sim
?”

“I—I need more.”

“I know, sweetheart. But if I give it to you too soon, it wouldn’t
be any fun.”

“Says who?” she muttered, and he gave a bark of laughter.

But he released her breasts to cup her jaw in one hand and give
her a leisurely kiss. While he was distracted, she managed to wriggle the dress
off her arms so that she could bring them up to clasp him closer. Her head turned,
seeking his mouth. He groaned against her lips and then somehow managed to pull
himself back.

He reached for the dress bunched around her hips. “Lift your
arms.”

When she obeyed, he pulled the garment over her head and
dropped it onto the trunk at the foot of the bed before standing up to shuck his
own clothes. When he turned around Valeria was seated cross-legged on the bed, wearing
nothing but those tiny satin panties, her thick braid falling over one shoulder.

He came to stand before her. She flashed him a smile and scooted
to the edge of the mattress, where she placed a hand on his abdomen. Her thumb caressed
his scar, which had healed into a thin pink line.

“Did I ever thank you for what you did that day? If you hadn’t
been there—”

He shrugged, his gaze on her hand. “I don’t need your thanks.”

“What do you need then? This?”

Her thumb moved lower and his cock jerked, eager to be inside
her. She stroked her fingers lower, then curled them around his hot, hard length.
His breath hissed out. Her fingers were cool and a little rough from crabbing. That
hint of roughness on a woman made his balls tighten deliciously.

“That’s a start,” he managed to say.

But he wanted to draw this out for both of them. Taking her hands,
he pressed her down onto the mattress and removed her panties, then brought his
hand to the tight black curls that shielded her mound. He moved his fingers in a
slow circle, careful not to touch her slick, swollen nub.

She raised herself on her forearms to watch him. He continued
to touch her. Light, easy touches that had her tensing and moaning.

“More, Rui. Oh, please.”

“But you want to be teased.”

Her head dropped back onto the mattress. “I’m an idiot.”

“No, you’re right. You want this to be slow…perfect—and so do
I.” Her legs were dangling off the bed. He lifted her hips and shifted her so that
she was all the way on the mattress before climbing on top of her and straddling
her thighs. “Now let me see—I can tease you here…” He cupped her breasts and played
with the rosy furled nipples. “Or here…” He slid his hands lower, stroking down
her ribcage to her hips.

She moaned and closed her eyes, the lashes an inky fringe against
her cheeks.

“Or maybe here…” He lowered his mouth to her belly, kissing and
nipping the soft skin.

She made a low sound and reached for his shoulders, trying to
pull him closer.

He nuzzled her palm. “
Eu te adoro,
querida
. Accept
the mate claim. We belong together.”

She stilled and didn’t reply. He tightened his jaw but didn’t
press her, turning his attention instead back to her abdomen, moving lower until
his mouth was poised above her warm, moist center. He licked a circle around her
clitoris, careful not to touch it.

“Rui—” Her hands clamped on his head, trying to pull him to her.

“Oh, no.” He removed her hands and placed them on the mattress.
He raised his head and gave her a stern look. “Remember who’s in charge here. Or
do I have to tie your wrists?”

She shot him a heated look. “No.”

He grinned to himself. He loved Valeria’s fiery side. “Good girl,”
he murmured, just to taunt her, and then licked up her moist, tender slit, savoring
the salty musk. He was rewarded by her moan. He slid a finger inside her, then two,
still licking and sucking her, until she broke and her hands gripped his head again.
This time he let them remain there, intent on helping her reach the climax he sensed
was just seconds away.

“Please, please, please…” She writhed beneath his hands and mouth,
her heated core clamping on his fingers.

“That’s it,” he encouraged. “Beg me.”

“Yes, anything.” Her head moved from side to side on the sheet.
“Just—”

“Taste you? All right.” He suckled her swollen pearl of flesh.

She let out a little scream, dug her heels into the mattress
and came.

He rode it out with her, bringing her down with soft, easy licks
before raising himself up over her. “On your knees.” Both man and animal needed
it this way, his body covering hers, making her completely his.

Her gaze caught his, the brown overlaid with aqua. He knew his
own were golden; both their animals to the fore. He held his breath, waiting to
see what she would do, knowing that if she tried to run or fight, his animal would
take her down—although gently, because she was the mate.

Then she smiled—a decidedly feral smile—and turned over, presenting
her bottom to him.

“
Deus
.” His throat closed. He placed his hands on her
hips and sat back on his haunches, taking her in as he tried to catch his breath
again.

She was every man’s erotic dream. His gaze traced greedily down
her body: the strong, elegant shoulders…the graceful dip of her back…the lush curve
of her ass. Some of her hair had escaped its braid, wispy curls forming a soft brown
halo around her head.

Something about those delicate wisps made his chest clench; a
hot, sweet ache. Damn, he loved her.

Leaning forward, he feathered his lips over the smooth skin between
her shoulder blades, grateful just to touch her, to be pressed against her, skin
to skin. She shivered and he recalled she was ticklish there. His lips curved and
he did it again.

She moaned his name.

“
Sim
?”
He rose back up. “Do you want something,
love?” He slipped his hand between her thighs. She was warm and wet. His balls pulsed
with the desire to take her. He inhaled raggedly and caressed her with a single
long finger.

Her breath sucked in. “Yes. No. Rui—” Her fingers clenched on
the sheets.

“
Acalme-te
, querida
. I know what you want.”

He played with her a few moments more and then unable to wait
any longer, came back onto his knees. Gripping her hips, he nudged his tip against
her opening. She made a little sound of pleasure and, reaching beneath her body,
took hold of him and slid him back and forth through her hot, moist silk, teasing
them both until his teeth gritted with need.