"You had to have sex dreams to purge the demon, so why not have them with me?" he asked in a reasonable voice.
She stared up at the ceiling. "There is something so wrong about that."
"You liked it."
"I didn't have much choice, did I?" she retorted.
"I never forced you in any of the dreams. You wanted me."
"What was with the Victorian clothes?"
"You tell me. I didn't do that."
She grunted. "This is insane. Get off me."
"I wanted you to crave me," he whispered, "and now you do."
"I don't!"
He lifted his head to look down at her. "I made the setting at the castle because I didn't know if you'd ever be able to visit my home. I wanted you here."
His hand skated down her body and slid between her legs. She was still slick from climax and he slid his fingers into her easily.
"Open for me, Cara," he growled.
She hesitated for a few seconds before she spread her thighs. He kissed her cheek and the corner of her mouth as he worked her. She clenched her teeth against a moan and tugged against his hold on her wrists. He didn't release her. She wanted to reach down and grab his cock, but he kept her hands well away from him.
"Aodhan!"
"Want me?"
"Yes!"
He groaned. "I can't go slow the first time."
"Me either."
Aodhan moved so fast, she barely had time to register him between her legs before he was pushing inside of her. Her mind went blank. Aodhan slid in slowly and she wriggled, determined to take every inch of him. He stopped twice to slide out and then push further in. He was a lot bigger in real life than he was in the dream and he worked her expertly until he sheathed himself completely. She felt so full, she couldn't even move. Sweat trickled down his chest and the hands that cupped her ass, shook.
"I feel like a virgin," he gasped.
She laughed, delighted by his statement, which was said in a tone of wonder. He wasn't acting like the man she saw in the visions, a man driven by animal instinct. His body quivered like a plucked bow and he was rigid, as if he was afraid she would shatter. She watched him for several moments before the images in the dream came back to her. She'd been waiting long enough. She arched her hips off the bed. Aodhan hissed and slammed into her so hard that she lost her breath. He thrust three times before he stilled.
"Cara?" he said through clenched teeth.
"I'm fine," she gasped and urged him with her nails to keep going. "You gave me those dreams, now it's time for you to deliver. Give it to me, Aodhan."
For a moment their eyes met and then Aodhan exploded. He pulled out, flipped her onto her stomach and slammed in from behind with enough force that she saw stars. His hand collared her throat and as he began to thrust, she saw their reflection in the window. Aodhan was a large shadow behind her except for the glowing eyes and glint of blonde hair.
"I
need
," Aodhan began and buried his face in her hair, shuddering.
Aodhan turned her head and gave her a gentle kiss filled with gratitude and adoration before he took her with all the strength he possessed. Cara reveled in it. She twisted the sheets as ecstasy ripped through her. Their labored breathing filled the room and she watched the shapes in the window writhe. It was too much for her. When she was close, she screamed his name and shoved back against him. Aodhan gripped her hips with bruising force as he came seconds later, roaring loud enough that anyone in the castle could hear. Cara let out exhausted laughter as he slumped over her, shaking like a leaf.
Aodhan buried his face in her sweaty hair before he slid out of her. She gasped and buried her face in the sheets as swollen tissue protested. He turned her over and positioned them at the head of the bed so he could fit. He turned on his side facing her, pulled one of her legs over his hip and slid into her again. She shuddered and dropped her head on his neck.
One large hand clasped her waist. "Did I live up to the dream, Cara?"
"Ten times better," she breathed.
"I've never been possessive of any woman," he said conversationally.
That broke through her sensual daze. She clamped inner muscles punishingly and Aodhan's smile appeared out of the darkness.
"Ready to go? Good."
Aodhan flipped her on her back, spread her thighs wide and thrust. The night was a blur of sex. Aodhan took her in every position available and she screamed, begged and retaliated. She had bite marks on her flesh and returned the favor on his chest, neck and even his wrist when the opportunity presented itself. She matched him till the sun rose. She lay on her belly and watched light chase away the darkness as Aodhan slid into her from behind. She moaned and he chuckled.
"One more time and I'll let you sleep," he murmured in her ear.
He bit her shoulder and then licked away the hurt. She was beyond sated, but her body hungered for him with an appetite that wouldn't be satisfied. If she had any trace of Aodhan's demon left inside of her, this night should cleanse her completely. She rose on her knees and he took her like the warrior he was. When she climaxed, she was blinded by beauty. When she came to, she was flat on her back again with Aodhan crouched over her. He ran a hand over her bruised breasts and settled on her quivering stomach.
"I've never been possessive of any woman," he repeated.
She tried to punch his face, but misjudged and skimmed his ear. He chuckled and kissed her, tongue sliding deep. His hand dipped between her legs and she nearly sobbed because she was so tired, but her body had a mind of its own when he was the one touching her. Aodhan pulled away and met her eyes with turquoise ones that burned.
"I've never been possessive of any woman until you."
Cara woke with her face buried against Aodhan's chest. She glanced up and saw he was fast asleep. She wanted to explore him, but she didn't want to wake him yet. He'd made her beg last night. Not even Luc had managed that feat. She slid the sheet down and felt her mouth water. Warrior, indeed. She slithered down his body until she came to his cock. She smiled and kissed it before she took the tip in her mouth.
Aodhan woke the moment her mouth closed over him. She glanced up his body and saw him watching her with a feral smile. One hand delved into her hair and tugged. She slipped her hand between his thighs and pressed her fingers against the soft skin between his legs. Aodhan bucked wildly. When she knew he was about to come, she sucked harder, but Aodhan yanked her head back savagely. She fell flat on her back and that fast, Aodhan was between her legs, thrusting into her. She clutched the arms he braced on either side of her. She had to hold onto him or be tossed across the bed. Aodhan moaned and nuzzled her face as he spilled inside of her. She smiled because she knew it would only be a matter of time before he took her again.
"You've ruined me," he growled.
"You're welcome."
Aodhan hauled her into the bathroom. He made her come twice before he let her dress. When they walked out of the bedroom with her hand clasped in his, she looked out of the window at the clear skies.
"What time is it?"
"Past lunch. Linnea should be here."
They walked to the ground floor together. Aodhan led her to the office before he went to find food. She sat behind the desk and saw the email. She tensed and the happy daze fell away. When Aodhan entered with two trays, she swallowed hard.
"Someone replied to the email. There's a phone number."
Aodhan's eyes sharpened and he came around the desk to look at the email, naked of any words. He picked up the phone and dialed. Cara got to her feet and paced. She listened to the phone ring on the other end.
"Khan?" Aodhan asked.
"Is it really you?" came the aggressive voice on the other end.
Aodhan relaxed. "I'm back."
"It's about damn time. Where are you?" Khan asked.
Cara's insides turned to ice as she listened. When Aodhan hung up, she had her arms wrapped around herself. This was it.
"He's coming here tonight?" she asked through stiff lips.
Aodhan nodded and moved towards the food. He lifted several covers and surveyed the spread before he began to eat with methodical precision. She walked toward the office door.
"Cara?"
"I'm gonna see Linnea." She tried to summon a smile as she catalogued every inch of his face and then asked, "Do you want anything else?"
He shook his head and she walked out. She didn't go to the kitchen. As soon as she was out of Aodhan's sight, she backtracked to the front door. She wrenched the heavy thing open and slipped outside. She rounded the castle and saw Linnea's car, which she hadn't bothered to lock. Shaking her head at people's carelessness, Cara put her hand on the hood and the engine fired up. She jumped into the driver's seat and dropped her foot hard on the gas.
There was no road, but there was a path that Linnea and the other staff carved out over the centuries. Her progress was slow, but it gave her time to plan. She didn't have money to catch a flight out. Okay, she could steal or hide out somewhere. She sneered when she thought of the witch coven. They would spread the word about her like wildfire. Being seen in a small village was out of the question. If she went to Dublin then maybe she had a chance-
A black blur raced towards her. Before she could turn her head, it slammed into the front of the car. There was the horrifying sound of wrenching metal and then the car was spinning across the muddy lane. The car flipped and she went airborne a moment before she slammed against the roof of the car. She heard voices and shook her head to clear it before she kicked what was left of the windshield out of her way and crawled out. She ignored the sting on her knees and hands from shattered glass and crouched behind the car.
Three men faced off against Vanity. They were shouting at one another and they were all demons. Cara looked around for a weapon, but aside from a pen, Linnea's car was as clean as the castle.
"If he finds out about this, he'll rip you to shreds for centuries," one of the demons said.
Vanity shrugged. "He can try, boys, but you know this could end a different way."
"We won't let it," another demon snapped. "Luc's our master, not the Ancients."
"Have it your way," Vanity said and pulled out a gun.
The men didn't react fast enough. Vanity shot three times and the other demons fell like pine trees. Cara got to her feet and saw that each man had a hole in the middle of his forehead. Cara stared at Vanity who put her tiny gun into a Prada clutch and tucked it under her arm before she grimaced down at her ruined heels.
"Didn't I tell you to stay with the Ancient?" Vanity said crossly and tried to clean her heels, which was useless since they were surrounded by mud.
"What are you doing here?"
"Saving your dumb ass, that's what!" Vanity stalked over to Cara and prodded her in the shoulder with sea green nails. "Look, I know you did the dirty with the Ancient."
Cara gawked and Vanity dropped the angry look and replaced it with a lascivious one.
"Honey, I lost count after ten."
Cara jabbed a limp finger at her, but couldn't find words.
"If he wasn't an Ancient, I'd be tempted to jump him myself. Unfortunately, he'd behead me before he'd let me fuck him so-"
"Vanity!"
Vanity snapped out of her perverted daydream and glared at her. "You have nine lives and they're being used up pretty damn fast. What the hell are you doing out here by yourself? Do you even have a gun or knife?"
She opened and closed her mouth and Vanity huffed.
"What part of 'Don't leave the Ancient,' don't you understand? Luc isn't fucking around. If you and the Ancient weren't so entertaining last night
and
this morning I wouldn't have been here to see you take off."
"Y-you watched-?"
Vanity rubbed her thighs together. "Damn right. Hottest thing I've seen this millennia. An Ancient doing the dirty with a-"
Cara held up a hand and Vanity sighed.
"Where do you think you're going?" she demanded instead.
"I can't stay there."
"You didn't seen in such a hurry when you went down on him this morning," Vanity retorted.
Cara flushed and balled her fist, but caught sight of the three dead humans again and held back. "Khan's coming."
Vanity stumbled back. "Holy fucking shit."
And with that, Vanity turned and hobbled down the lane. Cara raced after Vanity and caught her arm.
"You have to help me!"
"I just did!" Vanity shouted back and wrenched her arm away. "You can screw the Ancients brains out. I can't. I've gotta get the hell outta Dodge."
"He's gonna kill me," Cara whispered and her throat constricted. "I don't want it to be him."
Vanity shot her an impatient look. "From where I stood last night, he's more likely to torture you with his tongue than kill you."
"I can't take that chance. Take me with you-"
A dark shadow passed overhead and they both ran like hell for the cover of the trees. They crouched in the high grass and cowered when a monstrous shape landed near the car. Cara saw the glint of silver scales and had no doubt in her mind who it was, but she didn't approach. She stayed where she was and heard Vanity draw in a long breath. One moment they were staring at the massive dragon and the next, he was Aodhan. He looked down at the men and then turned in their direction as if they called out to him. Heat waves began to shimmer in the air between them. Vanity whimpered in fear, but didn't move. Cara understood why. Staring into the eyes of death was mesmerizing.