What a Goddess Wants (36 page)

Arching against him, she lifted up onto her knees so he could delve deeper and stroke her where he knew she liked it.

She felt like sleek, wet silk, tight and hot.

Her lips slid off his and across his cheek to his ear, where she nipped the lobe before whispering, “Oh, Cal, I missed you so much.”

He wanted to respond but couldn’t; he was too intent on soaking in her response to his every move. Her sex contracted around the two fingers he slid into her. So tight. His thumb hit the jut of her clit, and she moaned and clenched tighter.

His eyes shot open wide and he stared at her beautiful face, her expression a mask of pure pleasure. His breath caught in his throat as his body shuddered.

“Tessa. Oh, fuck, Tessa, it really is you. What… How…”

Her eyes opened slowly, and her smile made his heart pound so hard it hurt.

“Shh. It’s me, love. I’m right here with you.” She undulated, shifting her body up and down on his fingers as he remained frozen. “You feel so good, Cal. Don’t stop. Questions later. I need you now.”

No, he wouldn’t stop. Not ever.

Need built like a raging inferno, until he swore he was shaking. “I need to be inside you, Tess. Right now.”

“Then have me.”

With a groan, he pulled his fingers free to fumble with the waistband of his boxers. Tessa helped him shove them down over his hips and down his legs, his cock springing free so she could wrap her hand around him.

His groan rumbled in his chest as she pumped him with her warm hand. Ah, Christ, he could so easily go over just by her touch. He wanted her so much. Needed her so damn badly.

“Tess, come on,” he breathed against her lips. “Inside. I gotta get inside you. Please, baby.”

He didn’t have to ask twice. With a few graceful movements, she positioned herself over the tip of his erection then sank down, covering him in wet, hot ecstasy. His head kicked back against the cushion as his hips arched, seeking to go deeper. Eyes closed, he reveled in sensation.

He felt the smooth skin of her ass hit his thighs then leave again as she pulled up, working herself on his shaft. Long, slow drags up and down, the grip of her sex decadently tight.

Hands on her hips, he held her but let her control the motion. She knew just how to move to drive him insane with desire. To heat him from the inside out and make his blood boil lava hot.

He had to see her. Forcing his heavy eyes to open, he let his gaze take in her expression of longing, lip caught in her teeth, and the soft exhalations of breath with each movement.

His gaze slid down to her slim neck, where her pulse beat wildly. Leaning forward, he let his mouth settle over that pulse, feeling her life’s blood pulsing under her skin. So strong.

She gasped as he bit her, unable to help himself. She smelled too damn good; he just had to taste her.

Skin. He needed more skin.

Pulling back, he gripped the waist of the dress and drew the whole thing over her head. When he tossed it away, he had unfettered access to her breasts, full, plump, and beautiful.

He bent his head and fastened his lips to her breast. Such beautiful, tight nipples that he nipped and bit and suckled as her hands dug into his shoulders. He focused on loving her breasts while she rode him, trying not to fall over the edge too soon.

Which became increasingly difficult when she picked up her pace, slamming down on him in jerky, fevered motions.

Too much, way too much sensation, too much feeling. Too good.

When she gasped and froze, he sucked her nipple hard and used his free hand to flick at her clit. Her head fell back, her shout of completion the most wonderful sound he’d ever heard.

So fucking wonderful. He groaned as he jerked and released in her warmth. And the whole damn house shook as a blast of pure power rolled from them in a wave.

As his cock continued to pulse inside her, he tightened his arms around her warm, limp body as he tried to catch his breath.

She sighed against him, her warm breath brushing against his neck as she shifted. His arms went rigid around her, crushing her against him, terrified she would disappear.

“Oh, Cal. It’s okay.” Her arms slid around his neck, her skin soft on his, like silk. “I’m not going anywhere. Not ever.”

His heart started to race and his lungs couldn’t get enough air. Christ, he shouldn’t be having a panic attack now.

But what if he was still dreaming? What if he’d finally lost it, even though he could feel her sheath snug around his cock and her breasts pressed against his chest?

“How? Tessa… Oh fuck, can’t breathe…”

“Shh,” she whispered against his ear. “I’m right here. Cal, sweetheart, take a deep breath. You’re going to pass out.”

Yeah, that was a distinct possibility and wouldn’t that be a totally wimp-ass thing to do.

Tessa eased back from him but kept her hands on his shoulders. Her gaze shot from his chest to his eyes and held there.

Tessa. Thank the Gods, it was her. He framed her face in his hands and pulled her close to lay his lips on hers. “What happened?”

“The Involuti healed me and sent me back.”

“Just like that?”

He felt a smile curve her lips against his. “No, of course not. There’s always a price, but I would gladly pay it again.”

He pulled back so he could see her face. “What was it?”

She stared straight into his eyes, her fingers kneading the tight muscles of his shoulders. “To take me out of Charun’s grasp, they had to remove that part of me that he wanted.”

He drew in a shocked breath. “They removed your powers. Tessa, Christ—”

She shook her head, laying her fingers over his lips. “Not all of them, no. I retain my midwifery duties. That power was never as strong, and Charun didn’t covet the ability to bring healthy children into the world. He only wanted my ability to control the sun’s path.”

And she’d given that up, her control of the sun. For him.

“I love you. I didn’t want to live without your heat. I’ve been so damn cold.”

Her smile widened. “But I thought Cimmerians didn’t feel heat or cold or pain.”

“You make me feel, Tessa. Only you, and I don’t want to live without it again.”

“You won’t have to. I’m not leaving you again.”

Then his eyes narrowed. “What about Charun? Are they going to do anything to stop him from going after the other goddesses?”

“I honestly don’t know. My time in Invol was like a dream and I don’t remember much of it. I don’t even remember seeing the Involuti. It was like… they didn’t have true form. Like they were ghosts, spirits. There but not really. It’s just so hard to explain.”

“Then it doesn’t matter. It only matters that you came back to me. And if Charun decides to take another shot at you, we’ll be ready.”

Her smile brightened her expression. “I don’t think he will. You were able to defeat one of his demons. You’re strong and he knows that. I don’t think he’ll risk another demon. Especially now that I’m of no use to him.”

He brought her lips down to his again, worshipping his goddess. “Tessa, I promise to love you so much more than you’ve ever been loved you won’t miss the sun.”

Her smile would always be warmer than the sun to him. “I love you, Cal,” she said. “I won’t miss the sun as long as I have you.”

Acknowledgments

Although I may write in a vacuum, I couldn’t exist in one.

To my parents and brother for their unfailing love.

To Judi for sharing her mostly full glass.

To Deb for commiserating with my half-empty glass.

To April for more than I can repay.

To my agent, Elaine English, thank you, thank you, thank you.

To my editor, Deb Werksman, for seeing promise.

To Adele and Marilyn for much more than lunch.

To Daria and my Valley Forge Romance Writers sisters for chocolate and hugs and smiles.

To Carole and Suz and Grace because you had me first.

In memory of Sheila Conway, taken before she could realize her dream or say, “See, I told you so.”

About the Author

Stephanie Julian
is the author of three erotic romance series, Ellora’s Cave: the Magical Seduction, Lucani Lovers, and The Fringe. She is a member of Romance Writers of America and Valley Forge Romance Writers and is a freelance entertainment and lifestyle feature writer. Stephanie lives in eastern Pennsylvania.

Read on for an excerpt from

How to Worship a Goddess

Coming December 2011 from Sourcebooks Casablanca

Chapter 1

Some days, it didn’t pay to get out of bed.

Especially if you happened to be a once-powerful goddess and you’d just spent the last half hour on your hands and knees cleaning the clogged drain in your bar.

Lucy Aster, still known to an ever-decreasing circle of followers as Lusna, Etruscan Goddess of the Moon, had filthy hands, stains on her shirt, and at least one streak of grease on her face.

So, of course, the door to Howling Wolf opened and a young voice called to her.

“Lady Lucy, are you here?”

The girl knew she was. Catene Rossini Ferrante was
lucani
, an Etruscan wolf shifter whose sense of smell was ten times better than any human’s. Catene had been able to scent her from outside.

But Catene was nothing if not polite and respectful. A beautiful young woman in every way.

Stifling a sigh that Catene would also detect because of her enhanced hearing, Lucy straightened from her crouch, pasting on a pleasant expression for the girl who had the brightest smile this side of Thesan, Etruscan Goddess of the Sun.

“Hello, Catene. How are you, sweetheart?”

The girl dropped into a curtsey when she caught sight of Lucy.

Catene’s lustrous copper hair dipped over her shoulders as her blue eyes lowered in deference. “I’m fine, Lady. I just… I was in the area so I thought I’d stop to say hello.”

The girl was an absolute doll. Too bad she couldn’t lie worth a damn.

“It’s nice to see you, sweetheart. It’s been too long.”

Of course, Lucy could lie. She’d had
so
much more practice.

Lucy hated that she had to lie, but she wasn’t happy to see her. She adored the girl but Catene represented Lucy’s worst nightmare.

“I’m so sorry, Lady. I’ve been so busy—”

“That wasn’t a rebuke, dear.” Damn it, Lucy felt like she’d kicked a puppy. “Only an observation. Now, what can I do for you?”

Catene blinked and Lucy knew exactly why she was here. Sympathy made her stomach twist into knots. Young love really did suck.

“Tivr’s not here.” Lucy said it as gently as she could. “And I don’t know where he is.”

Catene tried to hide her disappointment, tried to keep her smile from faltering. She managed, for the most part. She might have fooled someone else.

But she couldn’t fool Lucy. The
lucani
were hers. More than two thousand years ago, she’d given a small village of Etruscans the power to transform their bodies from human to wolf. And for that, they continued to worship her. Even if she no longer deserved it.

Life was too damn complicated.

“Oh.” Catene bit her lip and nodded. “I’m sorry, Lady. I didn’t mean to bother you.”

At least in this she could respond honestly. “You’re never a bother.”

Only a reminder of my obsolescence.

The girl’s smile rebounded and Lucy felt her black mood lift, even if it was only a little.

“Thank you, Lady. I just… Thanks.”

With a wave, the girl headed back out the door, bright hair flowing behind her.

Lucy stared at that door for several seconds, making sure she heard the girl start the bright yellow muscle car she and her father Kyle had rebuilt from the tires up, and peel out down the lane away from the bar.

Then, with a muffled screech, Lucy grabbed the first thing within reach.

The wooden bowl of peanuts on the bar didn’t stand a chance. She flung the bowl across the room, where it hit the wall and shattered, peanuts and splinters falling to the floor in a pile of debris. She reached for a second bowl but forced herself to stop.

Great Mother Goddess, she needed to get a grip. She’d been losing control more often and—

Well, damn. She was an idiot. The full moon approached. No wonder her mood swings were worse than a teenaged girl’s.

She really needed to get laid. Sex would go a long way to soothing her mood. But like everything else in her life, sex would have to wait. At least, for now. She had a business to run.

With a huff, she got the broom from behind the counter and cleaned up the mess she’d made.

Too bad she couldn’t sweep her mistakes away as easily.