How could she resist his voice? His voice was so rough with hunger. Rough with need. Sensual. He pushed deeper into her, connecting them. She took a breath and let herself take the plunge. Eyes on his, she forced her body to relax.
“Thank you, hän sívamak. Beloved,” he whispered. “You are so tight and scorching hot. I had no idea it would be like this. Did you? Did you know?”
He slid in another couple of inches, stretching her past bearable, but it was so good. So unbelievably good. She hadn’t known. How could she? Tears leaked out of her eyes. She couldn’t stop them. She couldn’t believe he was inside of her. Filling her. Taking her. Wanting her.
More, the way he looked at her filled that hollow space, the one she had never been able to fill with her love of her family. The one that haunted her every night when she went to bed. He was there. Fane. A man she didn’t know, yet she knew him better than she knew herself.
“Hold on, beloved. Take a breath. I am going to take you all the way.”
She didn’t know if she could stand so much pleasure. She took a breath and kept her gaze steady on his. Wanting him. Needing him. Welcoming him. He drew back and surged forward, tunneling through her tight channel. The slide of his cock, the stretch and burn coupled with the friction sent her tumbling over the edge into some other dimension. She heard herself scream. She felt the tide take her, throwing her out into space. He kept moving in her, driving deep, over and over, prolonging the massive wave rippling through her.
No. She hadn’t known anything could be like this. She couldn’t catch her breath, but she never wanted him to stop. And he didn’t. Fane was already building the next wave in her, taking her right back up, his rough voice turning more sensual as he encouraged.
“That is my lady,” he said. “Again. For me. Again, Trixie. Give yourself to me again.”
She was going to keep giving herself to him as long and as many times as she could all night.
10
Aleksei woke to the sound of choking. Beside him, Gabrielle’s body was hot, covered in sweat, and she was gasping for breath, clawing at the dirt surrounding them, fighting for air. His first thought was to open the earth for her. He didn’t. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her body over the top of his, his mouth finding hers, breathing for her. Into her. Filling her lungs with air.
Kessake. Do not panic. You are safe with me. You are fully Carpathian. Not human. You are not buried alive.
Her hands clutched at him, fists finding his hair, gripping hard. Holding on to him. Her heart beat so hard he feared it would explode, but she held on to him and let his mouth take hers. He was gentle. Calm. Willing her to be so.
Your heart beats too fast. Feel mine. Hear mine. Follow the rhythm of my heart and slow yours, little cat.
He actually felt her make the effort to follow his instructions and he moved one hand down her spine, following the delicate curve to the smooth slope of her buttocks. As he did, he cleaned her body and provided a slight cushion of air above them. He let his hand stay on her bottom while she slowed her heart until it matched the rhythm of his.
Aleksei continued to breathe for her. Slow. Easy. Intimately. Her body felt wonderful draped over his, her soft breasts pressing deep into his chest. He could wake up every rising just like this, although he might prefer to find his cock buried in her or her mouth wrapped around him. Just the thought had his body stirring with need.
That is what I wanted exactly. You are doing good. Now open your eyes and look at me.
Her heart lurched. Her fists tightened in his hair and he felt her body stiffen. No. No, I can’t do it, Aleksei.
What did I tell you about saying no to me? There is no reason not to open your eyes and look at your man. I have you in my arms. In my care. Do as I say.
Please. Please. Please, don’t ask me to do that.
He felt her mounting terror. She still had the idea that she was buried alive in her mind. He didn’t touch her mind, but he knew. He knew because she was so terrified and her body showed that terror to him.
He stopped breathing for her and kissed her. Gently. Very gently. He hadn’t known he could be gentle, but that was what she needed. Coaxing. Kislány. He whispered the word in her mind. Little girl. Baby. His. You are safe with me. Now open your eyes and see me. See that you are safe with me.
She struggled with obeying his command. He felt her struggle and was proud of her that she tried when clearly she was so afraid. He stroked one hand through her hair; the other smoothed over the curve of her bottom.
Finally her long lashes lifted and she looked at him. Straight into his eyes. He smiled at her. There you are. Can you see that I would never allow any harm to come to you? I may be more demon than man, but you are my woman and in my care. Kiss me, Gabrielle. Do not worry about breathing. Feel the earth. The soil. It strokes over you, feeding your body. Healing and rejuvenating you. Nourishing you.
Her lashes fluttered. He kept his mouth on hers because he knew if he moved even a breath away from her, panic would come back. She was barely keeping it at bay, but she trusted him enough to follow his instructions. She didn’t realize she was giving him that gift—her trust. But he did. And he knew how precious a gift it was.
Her eyes clung to his, but he felt some of the tension ease from her body. He rewarded her, kneading the firm muscle of her buttocks and then slipping his hand between their bodies to find her core. The moment his finger slid over her soft velvety folds, he felt the welcoming dampness. He loved that. He loved that she was scared, clinging to him, relying on him, and yet still got wet when he touched her. So ready for him. She was his lifemate without a doubt. She just had to believe it.
Do you see you have nothing to fear? The earth belongs to us. We belong to the earth. You can wake and not need air until you surface. You can open the earth above our heads with a thought. Visualize the earth open. Do it now, Gabrielle.
It was a command, but he kept his finger moving gently in her folds, slipping into her for a moment and then back to making small lazy circles. His own body stirred. Filled. Became engorged and hot and needy. He wanted her mouth there. He needed it there, but this was more important. Letting her feel her own power.
She didn’t take her gaze from his, but he felt the surge of energy and the soil around them moved. Lifted. Pulled apart. Cool air found them. He smiled against her mouth. You did it, kessake. There is no need to fear. When you do not know something, simply ask me and I will teach you.
He floated them out of the earth and closed the opening after them. All the while he kept her body sprawled over his. They lay on the same carpet. It mattered little what was beneath them. Her hunger beat at him. She didn’t know how to feed properly and he would teach her that as well. But not yet. Not until he taught her other things. Not until he gave her other things.