Twilight's Eternal Embrace (13 page)

"
Does this bother you? Am I too brazen?
"

He pulled her closer.
"
Not in the least. I like a female who will speak her mind.
"

She was silent for a moment
,
wondering if he had many females at his beck
and
call. He
claime
d there were few women in his clan, but it didn
'
t mean he hadn
'
t slept with
at least one of
them.

"
Why the frown?
"

"
Hmm? Nothing.
"
She shook her head.

"
Really?
"
He chuckled.
"
Now you wish to clam up.
"

"
If you must know.
..
I wondered if there were females in your clan you have spent time with?
"

"
None of importance and all much older than I.
"

"
But the Oiche Sith age well. A
n
Oiche Sith female of thirty and nine would look no older than I.
"

"
True, but I know their true age. I told you, we have few females left and most are already mated. If I spent
time
, as you put it, I would most likely be dead. A mated male would not look kindly upon me if I made advances toward his wife. We are a jealous lot.
"

"
Another thing we have in common. We are a jealous lot also.
"
Secretly she was glad he had not been with another female.

"
And you?
"
he asked.

Her brows furrowed.
"
What do you mean?
"

"
Is there a young man who wishes for your hand?
"
His voice grumbled, making her smile.

"
No. Most of the males my age find me odd. I like to mind the animals and hunt rather than sew and cook.
"

"
You intimidate them. They are afraid you will best them.
"

She lifted her shoulders.
"
May
hap
. I never cared to find out.
"

This made his grin widen.
"
Good.
"

Lightning lit the sky and a low rumble followed, reminding them of the impending storm.

"
We must hurry back to the horses.
"
He turned, but she held onto his arm.

"
No. I refuse to go back so soon. Are you afraid to get wet?
"

"
No
t at all
, but I fear you will catch a chill.
"

"
I will be fine. But I shall not be if I must leave you and go home.
"

He contemplated her words, his gaze drifting over her features. He finally came to the conclusion on his own that she would not budge and relented.
"
Let us move closer to the rocks and find shelter in one of the caves.
"
He pointed in the direction.

She halted her steps.
"
You can spot a cave from here?
"

"
Aye.
"
He helped her along.

Her eyesight was limited as clouds blocked the moon. Before they could find cover, the sky opened up with large droplets of water
,
splattering their faces and clothes.

"
It will be quicker if I carry you,
"
he told her.

To be in his arms was not a bad place
.
She nodded her head, giving him permission. He swept her into his arms and flitted to the cave
. O
nce they were inside
, he set her down with care
. He then gathered bramble and sticks and created a fire. It took less than five minutes to accomplish the feat, but still her teeth chattered. She moved closer to the
warmth
and held her hands above it.

His gaze met hers with concern.
"
I knew you would catch a chill.
"

"
I will be fine.
"
Her teeth continued to click together and he shook his head.

"
You need to take off your clothes.
"

She blinked at his demand and h
er
eye
brows rose.
"But
I have nothing to change into.
"

He
shrugged off
his mantle.
"
The fur is of good stock and is not wet beneath.
You may wrap yourself in this while your clothes dry.
"

Her hand reached for the mantle, brushing her fingers against his. She shivered, but this time it was not from the cold. With all her bravery about wanting to touch him in a more intimate manner, the thought of undressing in front of him made her nervous.
Her eyes flickered warily to his.

"
You hesitate.
"
He frowned, clearly not understanding her hesitation. Then comprehension finally dawned on him
why she took pause.
He smiled at her apologetically.
"
I
sha
ll turn away while you undress. Keep your undergarments on if you must.
"

She didn
'
t bother to tell him she did not wear any other garments beneath her shirt and braccae. When he gave her his back, she quickly shrugged out of her clothes, wrapping the mantle around her.
"
You may turn around now.
"

The mantle covered all but
the
lower part of her calves and feet, but the way his eyes blazed with hunger, she felt as if she stood there bare to his gaze.

He cleared his throat as he reached for her clothing and laid them out to dry.

She sat near the fire. She fisted the fur at her neck, keeping the mantle securely around her.
"
Will you sit with me?
"

"
Aye.
" His
h
ead brushed the top of the cave as he strode over to her, and yet,
he still moved with a predatory grace born of his kind. He settl
ed behind her and drew her near so her back lay against his chest. His hand moved
the
wet strands
of hair
away from her neck and he placed a kiss on the tender flesh. Warmth spread through her at his mere touch. She turned in his arms and he lifted her so she sat on his lap. His lips found hers, taking her under his charm with a slide of tongue and teeth. His hand moved beneath the mantle and froze as
he
touched skin and not her underclothes. He pulled away and searched her eyes.

She didn
'
t want him to stop. She let go of the mantle and put her arms around his neck.
"
It will be all right. I trust you.
"

Chapter Twenty

The little fool
, Bram thought. She trusted him? Did she not know how much he wanted to feel every inch of her? How he wanted
to
make her his? All his blood pooled to one spot
which
throbbed against her behind with demanding insistence. His fangs lengthened to sharp points. He wanted a taste of her blood. As if she sensed this, she moved her head to the side, giving him access to the tender flesh where her heartbeat throbbed in the vein with temptation. His finger caressed the area with reverence before he sunk his teeth into her skin.

Her sharp intake of breath eased into a sigh as he drank. His hand slid over her breasts, not daring to go lower to where her womanhood begged for his touch. Her arousal wafted around him like a tease. She moaned as his fingers caressed her. Her sounds of encouragement guided his hand down, past her stomach and lower still.

He couldn
'
t do this.

He reluctantly pulled his mouth away from her neck, closing the wound. He gently laid her down upon his mantle. His gaze slid over her in appreciation. The Heavens above, he wanted her more than anything he had ever wanted.

She reached for him, tugging on his waistband. He helped her along and removed his clothes.
Her gaze skated over his bare chest then lower before her hand followed the same path.
He thought he
'
d die if she didn
'
t continue her soft caresses. But stop, they must. His hand held hers as he lay down beside her.

"
I want you, Adryanna, but I must not take you. I will not be able to hold back. I
will
—
"

She placed a finger over his lips, halting his words.
"
I understand. Just hold me.
"

He pulled her into his arms. How could the feel of her warm flesh against his seem so right when such an illicit act would be sanctioned as a violation of the rules? He held her tighter as if he feared one of the elders would rip her from his grasp.

To befriend a Lathe Sith was forbidden. The rule was drummed into his head at a young age. What Adryanna and he did now proved why the rules were put forth. If he just held her, he could control the bloodlust
,
or so he fooled himself into thinking
,
when in truth he ached to drink her blood as he took her. Could they find a way to change their destinies?

Sheerin believed it possible. Why else would he have broached the subject to the elders?
"
Adryanna?
"

"
Hmm.
"
She purred with contentment, his sweet lass.

"
My cousin is good with potions and understands the body and the way it reacts to ailments and such.
"

His statement caught her attention and she turned in his arms to face him.
"
He does?
"

He nodded.
"
He may know of a way for us to be together.
"

Her eyes lit up.
"
How? Whatever it is, I shall do it.
"

His lips curved. It warmed his heart to know her resolve to be with him was as strong as his was to be with her.
"
I do not know. My cousin does not trust me. He wants to know the reasons why I search for a way. I did not want to reveal our time together without your permission. If I am wrong to trust him, then you will be in danger.
"

"
Do you trust him?
"

"
Aye
,
I do.
"

"
Then tell him about us. You want this too, do you not?
"

He kissed her long and hard before he let her breathe again.
"
I want you so badly I cannot bear to let you return to your dwelling when we part each coming of the dawn.
"
His hands were in her hair as he took her lips again and again. The torture of wanting her was so great he could hardly stand it, but restraint and control to keep her safe overrode his
passion
. He would not harm her.

Time slipped away and her body relaxed in his arms as sleep overtook her. She did not realize how close she
'
d been to
his
ravishing her body, taking her sweet nectar and relishing in the fact that he could. His hand caressed her cheek, pink
-
tinged in color.

The rain pelted against the rocks outside, a constant lull of comfort. He had always loved the rain, the clean smell of it and the
pitter-patter
sounds it made as it fell against the castle walls—
both,
peaceful and beautiful. His gaze traveled over Adryanna. The
rain calmed him and brought him
contentment
, soothing away thoughts of aggression.
Adryanna
's presence in his life did the same, making him want to embrace the calmer aspects of his existence
. The demon inside him may want to take her and use her, but the man wanted to keep her safe.

Her skin was smooth and delicate. She looked so much younger when she slept where dreams took her far
away from worries. Her hair was a ray of sunshine, the colors shimmering in the firelight. She was beautiful and unmarred by time. He hoped he was doing the right thing. She claimed she wanted to be with him, but would she be happy in his world, knowing she would age faster than he would? His hand caressed her arm in slow even strokes. Would he love her the same when her skin wrinkled and her hair turned silver? He paused in his caress as he realized where his thoughts had wandered. He
loved
her. He tested the words again.
"
Aye, I do.
"
He would be at her side as long as she would allow him to be.