Bound by Revenge (Guardian Series) (11 page)

It was a hope he’d never considered too seriously. He knew how likely it would lead to utter disappointment and an ego crushed beyond repair. Now he just had to get beyond the disbelief and accept that she’d made the first move and that she wanted him as much as he wanted her. They were going to have a shot at happiness that was so rare, it was almost impossible.

Sam’s seat belt strained to hold her back as Vance wrapped his arm around her back, pulling her even closer. All of Sam’s muscles failed as he used his tongue to gently open her mouth to dart inside. Sam groaned in response, giving herself over to him completely.

Vance’s body willingly took her cue to move forward no matter how hard it was for his mind to accept. Her desire mirrored his and fed the flames of his passion. He needed to touch her and to feel the body that he had admired from afar. Even through his desire, he watched her for any sign of regret, any move to pull away, as he slid his hand down her back and around to her hip and savored the feel of Sam’s body under his fingertips. Her fit frame curved gently and provoked Vance’s lust with her femininity. There was no sign. No reason to stop himself. No reason to pull away.

Sam held her breath in anticipation, only to feel his hand slip off of her and onto the buckle holding her down. The soft click released the belt. Vance cradled the buckle gently, pulled the belt around her, and let it roll back into the car, careful not to let the metal scrape against her delicate skin.

“Come inside.” Vance’s voice was rough and breathless as he commanded her. Normally, Sam wasn’t the kind to let someone take charge, but this was different. Letting Vance take control, allowing herself to submit to him made the situation even more erotic. She followed him to the front door, waiting impatiently, her body throbbing with desire, while he unlocked the bolt.

Sam all but stumbled through after him, stopping in the unexpectedly bright living room. It was just as she would have pictured it from the outside, nothing like she would have imagined for Vance before today. It was a home she would have been proud to call her own. Inviting and comfortable. Homey, like you’d see in a home and garden magazine.

“You like it?” He studied the way her eyes darted around, from the pillows on the couch to the flowers on the mantel, from the lamps to the artwork.

Vance stepped back to give her the chance to look around and take everything in.

“I love it.” A tear rolled down Sam’s cheek, obscuring her view of the room and of Vance.

“Leave it to me to kill the mood.” Vance’s hearty laugh shook his chest. He pulled Sam into his arms and held her tight against the solid muscle.

“No, you didn’t.” Sam sniffed. The tears flowed freely now, something that had never happened to her as an angel. Not naturally, at least, she frequently resorted to using them as a tool. Now, just the thought of manipulating people with such a powerful emotion made her heart clench.

“You just don’t know how much I needed to see this. This changes every single thing I’ve ever known. My whole life. Everything I was ever taught in sanctuary was a lie.”

“I’m sure it was.” He softly stroked her hair and eased his finger through the ends that had tangled from the long night. “You wanna enlighten me. What in particular was the lie?”

“Which one? Let’s see. Immortals don’t have emotions. We can’t have normal lives. We can’t get close to anyone. We can’t have a permanent home. Oh, and the biggest one, demons are nothing like angels.” Her fingers gripped onto him like he was going to suddenly disappear now that she knew the truth. She regretted every second she wasted buying into their lies. Just to think she could have been with Vance so long ago, tore her up. She’d felt that connection when they first met but she denied her instincts, choosing to rely on her training instead.

“You’re trusting. That’s not such a bad thing.” Vance pulling her down onto his inviting lap on the couch.

“It was probably for the best. I’m not really the norm among the demons. You’ve met Morgan. She’s worse than most, but she’s still a better example of a demon than I ever was.”

Sam curled up in his arms and snuggled her head to his chest.

“I still should have been able to make my own decision.” She pouted.

“I know.”

The words floated through Sam’s head as she drifted to sleep in Vance’s arms.

Unlike her last wake up call, this one was perfect. Sam was stretched out, taking up the whole couch where she had fallen asleep on Vance a few hours before. But he wasn’t with her now.

There was a sandwich and a can of Coke left on the coffee table right in front of her. Sam’s stomach rumbled as the comforting aroma reached her nose.

“I hope you like grilled cheese.” The question came from behind the couch.

She sat up to see Vance coming in from the kitchen. She didn’t even have the chance to answer before her stomach growled again, more loudly than before.

“I’ll take that as a yes.” His laugh rumbled through the room, echoing the noise. “Mind if I join you?”

“No, of course not.” She tucked her legs under her, set a pillow on her lap as a makeshift table, grabbed the plate from the coffee table and settled it on the pillow.

Vance sat down on the couch next to her with a sandwich of his own. Neither said another word until their matching grilled cheeses were devoured, with nothing but crumbs left on the paper plates.

Sam licked the last trace of butter from her fingers and savored every taste.

“Haven’t eaten for a while?” He prodded and nudged her gently.

“Actually, I haven’t. Thanks.” Sam reached over and snatched Vance’s hand and licked the remnants of his sandwich slowly off of each finger.

The move was intended to be playful but the sexual nature hit her like ton of bricks. She’d never been so comfortable anywhere or with anyone else, as she was here with him.

And now that she was rested and well fed, there was that one last nagging impulse that she needed to tend to.

Sam pulled Vance down on top of her on the couch, continuing where they’d left off a few hours before. He tasted just as good as she remembered.

Vance was glad they were back on track. Back where they ended off earlier before emotions got everything sloppy. Now that she was on board again, there was nothing to stop him. He wrapped his arms under Sam’s back and pulled her up to her feet, lavishing her with the kisses that yearned to escape for so many years. He tore himself away, breaking that connection, just long enough to grasp Sam’s hand and lead her into the room just off to the right of the living room.

The focal point of the bedroom was a king-sized four-poster bed. It sat prominently in the middle of the room, framed by small mahogany tables, one on each side. Vance lifted her at the waist and slid her across the red silk duvet that covered the bed, stopping right before the cascade of red and black pillows.

Taking his time, he slowly undressed Sam, starting with her shoes. He caressed and massaged every inch of Sam’s skin. Acting as though he’d never be able to experience such sensual contact again. His hands memorized her curves and the indelible images burned into his mind as he exposed more of her body with each passing moment. When he’d finally completed the initial discovery, the business outfit that Sam had put on the day before lay in a heap on the floor.

Sam looked up at Vance. She now only wore her black, lace underwear and bra. He never broke eye contact as he lowered himself onto her body. All of his attention had been on Sam this whole time and he was still fully clothed when he finally started exploring the most intimate parts of her body with both his hands and his mouth.

His rough hands pushed aside the cup of her bra, letting the lace gently scratch against her breast that was swollen in anticipation and softly teased her with his fingertips until her nipples stood hard and longing for more. Nipping first at her collarbone, then slowly down the center of her chest, he seemed to lap every inch of her breast before his mouth finally took the place of his hand, sucking her taut nipple into his mouth, making her hiss in delight.

Reaching behind her, Vance unlatched Sam’s bra and pulled the straps down her arms and discarded the cloth across the room. He lavished equal attention to her other breast before moving his mouth down to her abdomen. He kissed circles around her belly button as his fingers began exploring lower. He gently parted the fold and slid his hand down over her wet core. Sam writhed in response, begging Vance to go deeper.

Wanting to tease out every bit of pleasure, he flicked his fingers over her. He refused to give her what she wanted until she couldn’t hold back. Finally satisfied that she was on the verge of orgasm, he plunged two fingers deep into her core. He watched as Sam threw her head back, her jaw clenched tight and her teeth ground together involuntarily.

Before she could gather herself again he lowered his head and began to gently suckle the moist heat. Sam ran her fingers through his thick waves. She guided his mouth to help him keep the pace she needed. Her hips rolled back and forth responding to each flick of his tongue. She couldn’t imagine anything better than the feeling of Vance’s warm mouth on her tender core.

Sweat began dewing up on her forehead seconds before droplets started rolling down her neck. Nothing deterred Vance as he coaxed her body to the brink until she couldn’t stop herself from losing control. Clenching hard onto the rough fingers she adored so much, Sam came for what seemed like an eternity.

Vance continued lapping. He didn’t pull away until he was sure the last shivers of orgasm held Sam breathless on the bed. Only now that she laid limp and panting on the bed did he release her and step back to undress himself.

Sam watched him move. His tie was undone and hanging off the edge of the bed in one fluid motion and his fingers nimbly undid each of his buttons in record time. He was quick and efficient. Vance didn’t make a single unnecessary motion, as he finally undid his pants, letting his erection stand tall as he crawled onto Sam. He lay flat atop her, his erection folded up, hard against her stomach.

The skin to skin contact launched his desire. The animal inside him charged to the forefront. Gone were the moments of tenderness that had led up to this point. He kissed her hard and rough, biting her lower lip. Sam’s hormones surged at the change in pace and she reacted with a raw passion. She took Vance’s body in with all her senses. Clawing her nails down his back, she broke through the skin, releasing droplets of blood, right before the wounds closed themselves, leaving no marks behind.

Unable to stand the wait any longer Vance pulled himself away from her tight grip. Balancing his weight back onto his knees, he separated their bodies just enough before he drove himself deep inside of her. Sam gasped at the size of him filling her up completely. Her body reacted immediately, swelling and pulsing, begging for more.

Vance moved slowly, at first, covering himself with her slickness. Sam’s breath quickened with each thrust; her heart pounding as she came closer and closer to release. He leaned down, darting his tongue once more into her mouth before each of them screamed out in unison. Their muscles collapsed and they lay entwined in the silk blankets, panting and indulging in the calm.
 

Chapter Seven

Arriana was Leus’ world. For almost two hundred years, he doted on her and took care of her every whim. He made sure that there were no limitations to what she could have or achieve, despite being leanthan. It was a difficult task since the leanthan community didn’t develop at the quick pace of the human world.

Ten years after they met, the two married in the traditional leanthan way. They made a blood bond in front of their high priest and all the members of the leanthan colony and vowed to love each other, stay faithful, and take care of each other for all time and to have a family and to help the species grow.

Leus preferred to spend all his time with his beloved wife. He would leave the colony only to procure supplies or to take his bride out on the town in the human world, always during the day under the guise of sunglasses. Time ticked by this way with nothing to disturb their happiness, as they made a life for themselves and raised a family. They had three children, two boys, Marius and Aron and, their youngest, a beautiful girl named Deanna, the spitting image of her mother.