Heart and Soul (5 page)

He kept moving downward, his mouth pressing burning, biting kisses against her flesh, hot licks of sensation from her breasts to her sex. His mouth closed over her clit, sucking it into his mouth. As he scraped his teeth lightly over her flesh, she screamed, coming into his mouth in one hard, near-painful climax.

The harsh, gasping scream that fell from her lips was one of the most lovely, erotic sounds Mike had ever heard. Stiffening his tongue, he thrust it in and out of her convulsing sheath, his hands gripping her hips tight as she bucked under him again.

“Damn, you’re sweet,” he rasped, circling his tongue around her clit before plunging back inside her pussy, shuddering at the rich, ripe taste of her. Leandra screamed again, and her hands fisted in his hair as she arched her hips upward.

Mike groaned against her, his fingers biting into her hips. His cock throbbed demandingly.
Can’t wait . . . not now . . .

Shoving to his knees, he tore at the buttons of his fly, shoving his jeans and boxer briefs down in one quick motion. Wedging his hips between her thighs, he caught her face in his hands, staring at her as he pressed against her. “Just the first time, kitten,” he whispered and then he pushed inside her, taking her completely with one deep, rough stroke.

She was wet; her pussy closed around him greedily, soft contractions squeezing him as he pulled out and sank back inside her again. Her eyes were wide, staring up at him blindly, the full, ripe curve of her mouth parted and open, revealing the delicate point of fang. Kissing her, he used his tongue to trace gently over her fangs before withdrawing just a little and nipping at her lower lip.

She shuddered under him, the muscles in her sheath flexing and tightening around his cock until he was certain he would come before he had two minutes inside of her.

Tearing his mouth away, Mike buried his face against her neck. He slid one hand down her body, cupping her ass and lifting her. With harsh, quick thrusts, he shafted her, taking his cue from her desperate screams, hearing her broken pleas with a triumphant pleasure. He moved higher on her body, riding against her clit with each stroke, and settled into a quick, demanding rhythm that had her writhing beneath him.

As she started to come, she cried out his name. There was a sharp pain as she dug her nails into his shoulders. Mike gritted his teeth and rode out her climax, determined he’d have more than that. That she would have more.

As she calmed, he was still hard as a damned pike, aching. Levering up on his elbows, he stared down at her. With one hand, he smoothed the sweaty braids back from her face and waited until her lashes lifted.

When she finally looked at him, the golden topaz of her eyes gleamed with satisfaction, a soft smile curving her lips. “I like hearing you scream my name,” he whispered, rubbing his thumb across her lower lip.

She flushed, the elegant arch of her cheekbones darkening just a little. He pulled out slowly, until just the head of his cock was inside her, and then he shoved back inside, hard and fast. Slow retreat, followed by a demanding, hungry thrust. Leandra whimpered low in her throat, that satisfied gleam slowly fading as a hungry, desperate light made her eyes begin to glow like jewels lit from within.

Her nipples stabbed into his chest, and Mike shifted until he could take one in his mouth. Laving it with his tongue, he rocked inside her. Cupping his hand around the plump flesh of one breast, he stared down at her, at his hand on her body. “You’re so damned beautiful,” he murmured as he flicked his thumb against the deep, deep brown of her nipple. It was tight, and as he traced it with his tongue, she arched up, her hands dipping into his hair and pulling him closer.

Her whimpers slowly became pleas, soft, demanding cries that Mike knew would haunt him. He’d go to his grave hearing the broken sound of her voice begging him to take her, to fuck her, to make her come again.

He squeezed the taut curve of her ass, slowly spreading her cheeks and pressing the tip of his finger against her. She arched against him with a sharp scream and came.

This time, Mike went with her, groaning hoarsely as he came deep inside her, his cock jerking and throbbing as the muscles of her pussy squeezed and caressed him through his climax. Each small contraction drew it out, and by the time she’d emptied him, his entire body was shaking.

Collapsing against her, he rested his head between her breasts and whispered, “When I can move, we’re going to do that again.”

 

 

AND THEY DID. THE BED BRACED HER UPPER BODY AS Leandra knelt on the floor beside it. Mike crouched behind her, pushing into her, his cock so damned hard, she felt bruised.

And each touch only made her hotter. Every time he sank inside her, she needed more and more. Her hands tore at the sheets until she’d torn them free from the bed and they were bunched around her fists.

Just as her climax started to tease her, he slowed his pace, spreading his hands wide over the flared curve of her hips. “Not so fast,” he murmured. “Not this time.”

From time to time, he’d touch her ass, tracing one finger along the crevice and pressing against the tightly clenched muscles. That felt unbelievably good, those light, teasing caresses making her belly clench with need.

Shoving back against him, she demanded weakly, “Harder—”

He laughed. “Slower,” he insisted as he continued with slow, leisurely strokes. One hand kept her hips tilted up, holding her at an angle that had him brushing against her G-spot in the sweetest way. But he kept slowing down each time he felt her climax approach.

“Bastard,” she hissed as he used his hold on her hip to keep her from rocking back to meet him.

Mike just laughed, sliding his free hand around her and circling his teasing fingers around her clit, then a little lower, stroking lightly where she was stretched tight around him. “Hmmm. Yeah, I guess so. After all, I’m being damned greedy here. I don’t want you to come again, not yet. If you do, I will . . . and I don’t want to stop fucking you.” He pressed against her ass again, and this time, his fingers were wet.

From her, Leandra realized with a jolt. He smeared the cream from her pussy against her and then he pushed just a little inside. Leandra arched back with a hoarse moan. Her skin felt too tight. Too hot. Her heart was beating too fast, so hard she thought it would explode inside her chest.

“You like that,” he murmured. There was an odd note in his voice, anticipation, satisfaction. Something she couldn’t quite define as he pushed deeper and deeper until he had embedded the length of his finger inside her ass.

“Perfect . . .” Mike stared down at her, the deep brown of her skin so dark against his. The plump, round curves of her ass pressed against his hips and her pussy gripped his cock in a tight, silken caress.

And her ass—the muscles inside her sheath there were so tight, Mike couldn’t move his finger without fear of hurting her. He would fuck her there, and she’d love it. She hadn’t been taken in the ass before—he had known it the instant he had stroked her there. Her entire body had gone stiff with shock, and for a moment, he knew she had been caught between embarrassment and want.

The want had won out—and he knew he’d have her there.

Not tonight, but soon. For now, he satisfied himself with slow, gentle motions of his finger as he fucked her sweet pussy. She arched, pushing greedily back against him when he tried to withdraw his fingers, and he grinned as she whimpered brokenly, “Please—feels so good.”

“No more,” he whispered regretfully. “Not tonight.”

“Please!”

He swore shakily at the strident demand. Harshly, he said, “No. Not yet. When I fuck your ass, you’ll be ready for it. And any pain you might feel will be because I
want
you to feel it.”

“Damn it, Mike. I need more.” She emphasized the
more
by pushing her hips back against him desperately.

Mike closed his eyes, gritted his teeth. Then he withdrew his hand, wrapping his arms around her and lifting her torso upright. He shifted back, keeping her pressed against his body as he turned and took her to the floor, pressing her into the unrelenting wood. “Then take more,” he panted as he started to shaft her deep and hard. “But not there. Not yet.”

She tried to push back up onto her hands, but Mike caught her by the wrists, pinning her down. He growled warningly against her neck, scraping his teeth against her sweaty flesh. “You’ll take what I give you tonight.” He pulled out and drove back inside her, hard and rough.

She screamed, the sound harsh, startled. Cream flowed from her like a river, bathing his cock, coating his balls. Mike did it again, again, until she closed around him like a vise, coming long and hard.

He sank his teeth into the firm pad of muscle atop one sleek shoulder as he started to come. As the ripe, hot taste of her blood flooded his mouth, he groaned.

Long moments passed before he could move. Finally, he lifted off of her, his cock still semierect and making a sucking sound as he withdrew. She moaned, a weak, exhausted little sound. Gently, he picked her up and lowered her onto the bed, grabbing a sheet and hauling it over them as he spooned up behind her.

He fell into an exhausted sleep, keeping one arm locked tight around her.

CHAPTER TWO

The nightmare came again.

It lit into her like a beast, tearing at her with claws of fear, doubt, self-disgust, self-hatred. The pain of it all was welcome, a fitting yoke of burden that she would have worn without complaint.

Until the dream changed on her.

It didn’t end with Mike lying helpless as she pumped wolfs-bane and silver into his body. He died in front of her, screaming in agony, and she turned away from him only to level the gun at another Hunter.

Lori.

Then Jonathan.

Malachi—

Agnes
. . . the frail old woman with her faded blue eyes and gentle, sad smile.
“It will be all right, love. You must do what you were born to do . . .”

She kept saying that as Leandra killed her.

Hard, strong hands touched her, and Leandra struggled away, screaming and sobbing. She hit somebody hard, heard her name—

And woke up, huddling on the floor, her knees drawn to her chest, tears choking her. Mike reached for her, and she cringed, jerking away. He didn’t back off, just ignored her futile attempts as he lifted her gently to his lap. “It’s just a dream, Lee. Just a dream.”

“It’s not just a dream. It happened, nearly all of it. It is me, it is what I am. I can’t fight it,” she babbled, fighting to get away from him. She didn’t deserve his warmth, his kindness, his decency.

“Stop it.” His voice was hard and firm, but she continued to struggle against his arms.

“Let me go. I don’t deserve this. I shouldn’t be here.”

“This is where you belong,” Mike said flatly. “This is where you’ve always belonged. Don’t let a dream control you.”

A harsh, broken sob escaped her, and the fight drained out of her. “But it’s not just a dream, Mike. I did those things. I
am
a killer.”

His heart split wide open as he cuddled her against his chest, stroking one hand down the thick wealth of braids. “You’re not a killer. Whatever you once were, you’re not the same woman any longer. And you weren’t ever the evil woman you’ve made yourself out to be.”

“I am.” Her voice was stark, and her eyes stared sightlessly at the wall. “I am.”

“You are
not
.”

A high, wild laugh escaped her, and she asked, “How do you know what I am? One night of fucking makes you an expert?” She started to struggle once more, harder this time, and with a more focused effort.

Mike flipped her to her back and grabbed her wrists. She tried to twist away, so Mike wedged his lower body against hers, his cock pressed against her belly. She continued to struggle against him, but with her hands pinned and his greater bulk pressed against her, she couldn’t do much.

Eventually, she stilled and stared at him mutinously. Lowering his head, he pressed his brow to hers and whispered, “I know—I look in your eyes, and I know. You think if you were evil, you’d feel the guilt you feel now? That you’d be so afraid? Evil doesn’t feel fear, doesn’t feel guilt. And damn it, you’re a Hunter. That alone ought to tell you something.”

She glared up at him, her eyes so full of misery and anger. “Let me go,” she said raggedly.

Instead, he shifted his weight again, holding her gaze as he brushed his cock against the warm, slick mound of her sex. “Never. Not for anything.” He pushed inside her, watching her. Her eyes widened, a soft moan slipping from her lips as she arched her hips against his.

“This doesn’t solve anything,” she whimpered. But she brought her knees up, squeezing at his hips with them.

“Maybe not . . . but it means something,” he murmured back, letting go of her wrists so he could guide them around to his shoulders. “Hold onto me. Just stop thinking for awhile and hold onto me.”