Whispers of Night: 1 (Immortal Embrace) (37 page)

“I’m not here for them. I’ve actually come to see you.” His rich, melodic voice soothed her like a warm caress. The sound made her whole body shiver and filled her with a longing so powerful it threatened to consume her. She hated herself for being so weak. He had that effect on her. His face was pained, his deep voice raspy.

“How did you find me?” She cleared her throat and took another step back.

“It wasn’t easy.” He followed. The yearning that pooled between her legs was instant. She wanted him even though he’d caused her so much pain.

Bastard
, she repeated to herself, hoping it would cool her desire. It didn’t. She was on fire. “It wasn’t supposed to be.” She tried again to sound indifferent.
Fuck him.
He didn’t deserve one second of her time.

He flinched as if she’d said the words aloud. Maybe he sensed it. But it didn’t deter him apparently. “We need to talk.”

“You better make it quick because I’m leaving.” She glanced over her shoulder. Why? She wasn’t sure. All she had to do was trace. Old human habits died hard, she supposed.

“I deserve that.” He took a deep breath before speaking. “All right, here goes. The last time we saw each other I was angry. The way I acted wasn’t fair. I should have listened to your side and I didn’t.”

“Okay.” This ought to be good. She crossed her arms over her chest. She would amuse herself with his paltry apology. He stood there watching her, waiting. “It’s fine, I’m past it.” She focused on the stars as her heart squeezed painfully in her chest. Why was he doing this to her? Hadn’t he tortured her enough?

“You’re not past it and neither am I.” His words cut deep.

“Stop. I’ve got to go now. Goodbye, Dane.” She couldn’t hear anymore. The despair was too much. It was closing in around her, choking any semblance of happiness she’d managed to hold on to after he abandoned her.

“Please wait.” He reached for her.

“Don’t you dare touch me!” She stumbled back to get away from him. Hadn’t he said those exact words to her once?

“I miss you, Jenny.” Agony distorted his features. All his muscles stood tense as if he was trying with all his strength not to reach for her.

“Then I’ll send you a picture.” She dragged her gaze away. It was time to leave.

He traced to her. “I know I deserve your anger. You were right. I didn’t want to listen, I was a fool. If I had listened to you from the beginning, none of this would’ve happened between us. I shouldn’t have expected your trust when I wasn’t willing to give mine in return.”

“Why are you telling me this now? Are you trying to torture me?” She slapped him. Damn him for getting to her.

He seized her wrist. “Let me fix this between us.” He dragged her against the firm planes of his sculpted chest.

Dear god, that feels good.
“There is no us, remember? You left.” She tried to push him away.

“I know.” He was so close and his presence brought back all the painful memories of the passion they’d once shared.

“Please go away.” She shivered as she closed her eyes. His arms gently encircled her, caging her against him. The warmth of his body enveloping her was like heaven in the midst of the personal hell she’d suffered over losing him.

“I would rather die a thousand deaths than walk away from you again.” He nuzzled her neck.

She trembled at his words. Her heart wanted to believe him but she’d heard it all before. He was unpredictable. They were too different. “I have to go now.” She felt him tense. He tightened his hold as he bent forward and kissed her forehead. “What the fuck are you doing? Stop it.” She struggled but he wouldn’t let go.

“I don’t want to lose you again.” Such gut-wrenching pain racked his voice that it took the wind out of her sails.

“You-you made the decision to leave, not me. You have no one to blame but yourself.” She stilled. He had to understand that there were consequences. He showed no empathy for her pain. No tender words.

“I regret my actions and if I could take them back I would.” He shook her slightly as if to somehow possibly get her to see his side. Fat chance—he didn’t give a damn that he’d hurt her.

“You were so cruel. I never thought you’d do that to me. What about the next time I do something that displeases you? What then?” She stiffened.

“There won’t be a next time. Marry me, Jenny.”

“What?” Did she hear him correctly, was he serious? Yeah right. Not that easy. But at the same time, her heart squeezed with a twinge of excitement. Damn him.

“You heard me, marry me.”

“Now you’re really not funny.” She scowled at him. What a fucking bastard, playing the marriage card.

“It wasn’t meant to be funny. I’m serious.” He lifted her chin to make her look at him.

She wasn’t going to fall for it. Nope. Her pulse raced. “Why are you doing this?” The realization that he was serious hit her hard.

“Because we belong together, that’s why.”

“It’s not that easy. You hurt me.” She shivered at the memory of the suffering she’d endured because of him.

“You deserved so much better than what I offered you the first time around. But I swear, if you give me another chance I will spend the rest of my life making sure you never feel this way again.”

“And you assume a marriage proposal makes it all better?” Tears filled her eyes.

“No, but I promise to have faith in us no matter what choices you make. I will value your opinions and we will be a team.”

“I don’t know.” She wanted so much to believe his words.

“Kiss me.” He lowered his face to hers, whispering against her lips. His intoxicating taste sent shivers down her spine.

In that moment she knew she was utterly lost to him. Her blood raced as he devoured her mouth. The heat rose and before she realized it, she was kissing him back with the same pent-up need. She hadn’t felt his touch in so long. She melted against him.

“I love you. Please forgive me,” he pleaded.

She wrapped her arms around his neck as he drew her into a tighter embrace. His tongue explored every inch of her mouth. A slight breeze passed over them and she knew he had traced them somewhere. It didn’t matter where.

He lifted her higher in his arms. “I’ve missed you so much.”

He groaned against her throat while he kissed his way down to the hollow of her neck. His strength had always delighted her. His fingers gripped her shirt and fabric tore. She didn’t care that he was impatient—so was she. Her nipples were hard and sensitive. She reached up to kiss him but he pressed her down and kissed a swollen peak.

“Yes…” He brushed his lips over her collarbone, nipping his way over to her other nipple. He grunted as he tore his own shirt off as well. He pushed her arms back over her head and rested against her. The touch of his skin nestled against hers drove her passion higher.

His warm mouth bent to her neck, his tongue darting out to lick slowly down her throat, and quickly descended to a taut nipple, nipping and sucking it. She moaned, arching her back to give him better access. He pushed her breasts together to tease one, then the other, his teeth grazing back and forth.

She enjoyed his lips moving over her flesh. He had placed her on his bed and she noticed the wooden beams above her head. “We’re back at your cabin…”

“Our cabin. What’s mine is yours.” He lifted his chin and stared into her eyes.

“You mean that?” She cupped his cheeks.

“I do.” His tone was serious. “I meant what I said earlier.”

“Make love to me.” She wanted him inside her right now. It had been so long since she’d experienced her lover’s touch.

Without words, he moved over her and kissed her lips, gently at first. It was such a decadent kiss, passionate and all-encompassing.

He broke away and stood up. She watched him as he took the rest of his clothes off. The man was perfection. He climbed back on the bed and positioned himself between her legs, reached for her pants and swiftly yanked them off, panties and all.

“So beautiful.” One hand pushed her legs apart while the other rubbed the inside of her thigh.

Her heart pounded with excitement. Desire flooded her senses. He slid his palms underneath her bottom and lifted her to his mouth. The first sweep of his tongue made her cry out. He teased and coaxed her. She grew even wetter as he buried his mouth against her inner folds.

“Dane, please….” She wasn’t beyond whimpering. Her body had a mind of its own and began to move against the soft caress of his tongue. She thrashed and moaned loudly. He was merciless in his possession.

He splayed her apart and she jolted from the intense sensation. He teased her at first with biting kisses then sank his fangs into her tender flesh, causing her to cry out. He held her open to him while he sucked deeply and ran his tongue up and down her clit. She twisted her fingers in his hair as her hips rolled. Without warning, hot pleasure made her hips buck to his lips as she came hard.

He released his hold and lifted up to press his straining cock against her entrance. His eyes rolled back as he buried his entire length with one powerful thrust inside her clenching heat. She screamed his name as he groaned with pleasure. Shudders rippled through her while he pounded his steel-hard cock deep inside her velvet sheath. The tightening pressure was building. He stifled her cries with his lips on hers, moving with exquisite precision, knowing just the right spot to hit that brought the most pleasure.

“Please, Dane. Oh god…please.”

He drove deeper, sending waves of incredible ecstasy through her. She wrapped her legs tightly around his waist, holding him captive. He lowered his mouth to claim hers once again. She could taste her essence on his tongue.

He plunged in and out, his muscles bulging and straining from the forceful way he dominated her. She let her mouth find the vein in his neck and sank her fangs into the side of it. His whole frame convulsed and writhed, his muscles locking down with pleasure. He moaned into her shoulder, grinding his hips as he shot his release deep inside her channel.

“Mm…” The taste of his blood flowing down her throat—nothing compared to it. She felt him shudder with each greedy suck.

He let out a low rumble as her vaginal walls clamped down around him. He slammed that heavy length wickedly inside her, drawing out the climax that seized her body. She released his neck when the spasms subsided, licking the last drop away. He collapsed on top of her, their hearts beating fast.

He lifted up and stared into her eyes. “I love you,” he said gently.

“I know.” Tears stung her eyes as they threatened to spill over at hearing those three words again.

“You never answered my question.” He caressed her cheek with his knuckles.

She bit her lip and glanced at him nervously. “I know. I’m scared. What if you leave me again?”

“Shh…I vow to be by your side forever. Marry me, please.” His voice cracked, so full of raw emotion.

“You have to promise me two things.”

“Name it.” Wow, he really did want to marry her. There was no hesitation.

Hmm…maybe she could use that to her advantage. Her demands were simple. “Where you go, I go, is the first promise.”

“That’s easy. You have my word. And the second condition?” He smiled down at her.

“I want you to convince the Order to let Marley and Harris live in peace. No more hunting them.”

He regarded her with a pained expression and sighed. “That’s a tough one but I will see what I can do.”

“You have to promise me you won’t give up their location either.”

“I believe you said two promises, not three.” He wiggled his eyebrows.

“Dane, this isn’t funny. I need you to promise.” She nudged him.

He was silent for a moment until finally he placed his lips next to ear. “You have nothing to fear. Their secret is safe with me. I would never betray you, my love.” He caressed her cheek again. “Anything else?”

“Those are my only conditions.” She blushed as she stared into the depths of those magnificent eyes.

“So is that a yes, my sweet Jenny?” He watched her with a hopeful expression. She sensed he was full of apprehension. Did he think she’d say no? She guessed it was understandable. She’d made him wait long enough for an answer.

“My answer is yes. I’ll marry you.” It was as if a dam broke and her emotions swirled around. Jenny dabbed her eyes and tears spilled over. She was a mess. All choked up.

“Don’t cry…I hadn’t meant for this to make you unhappy.” Dane froze.

“I’m not unhappy. In fact I’m quite the opposite.” Her voice shook as she reached for him. She tried to regain her composure and not ruin this special moment between them.

“I have something for you.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead as he held her against him.

“You do?” She snuggled closer, not wanting this moment to end.

“I want you to wear this.” He reached for her left finger and slid a ring into place.

She gasped. “When did you get this?”

“I’ve had it for a while. Do you like it?” He rolled to his side and Jenny sat up to inspect her finger.

She noticed he watched her, studying her reaction to his gesture. But he didn’t have to worry—the ring was exquisite. Her future husband had impeccable taste. “You have no idea.” Her voice hitched. It was perfect. Just like him.