Darkness Avenged (Guardians of Eternity) Page 0,65

but the feel of the satin smoothness sent licks of flame through his body.

“It’s not supposed to.”

Her gaze lowered to his lengthening fangs. “Santiago.”

He stroked his thumb over her lower lip. “I need a shower.”

“Don’t let me stop you.”

He smiled at her stiff tone. She could glare daggers if she wanted, but he could already catch the sweet musk of her arousal.

“You don’t expect me to wash my own back, do you?”

“I’m annoyed with you.”

His thumb tugged at her lower lip, allowing him to view the tips of her fully extended fangs.

The thought of them sinking into his flesh was enough to make him so hard it was painful. Dios. He needed to be inside this woman.

Now!

“Can you be annoyed with me in the shower?” he demanded thickly.

She nipped his thumb, her eyes darkening with the same hunger that thundered through him. “You’re impossible.”

“Agreed.” Santiago lowered his head, touching their lips together in the lightest of caresses. “Jasmine silk,” he murmured as he caught her lower lip between his teeth. “It’s no wonder I can’t think straight. You have me completely befuddled.”

“You blame me?” Her lips moved against his as she spoke.

He gently outlined her mouth with his tongue. “I’m not complaining. I like it very, very much.”

“Santiago . . .”

Her hands lifted as if she was going to put a swift end to his seduction and Santiago gave a low groan. Dios. He could feel her need. He could feel it tugging at things hidden deep in his soul.

But she was so determined to remain isolated behind her barriers that even accepting his desire became a battle.

Braced for her rejection, he wasn’t prepared when her hands instead slid beneath his sweatshirt to trace over the tense muscles of his chest.

He clenched his jaw in delicious agony. Her touch was little more than a brush of her fingers, but it was enough to send a white-hot jolt of pleasure through his body.

“Nefri,” he whispered, his kiss deepening with blatant greed.

A tiny voice might warn this was a hollow victory, but his body was eager to accept whatever she was willing to offer.

Trust, loyalty.

Genuine emotion?

He had never wanted or needed those things from a lover before. So why now?

Impatiently ripping off his shirt, Santiago wound his fingers through the satin softness of her hair and pressed impatient kisses over her upturned face. He wanted to taste every inch of her slender body. To wrap himself in her jasmine scent until they were both drowning in satisfaction.

“Nefri, I need to have you naked,” he muttered. “I want to feel your skin against mine.”

“This is madness,” she muttered as he peeled the sweater over her head and tossed it onto the floor.

He regarded her with a wry smile, his hand cupping her full breasts and his thumb gently teasing a nipple into a tight bud.

No bra. He liked it.

A lot.

“Madness perhaps, but I no longer care,” Santiago muttered as he lowered his head to close his lips around the tip of her nipple.

Nefri made a soft sound of surrender as she dug her nails into his shoulders, her body instinctively arching in silent invitation.

Santiago didn’t hesitate. Tormenting her sensitive flesh with his tongue, he skimmed his hands down the curve of her waist. She tasted of cool power and sweet woman. An intoxicating combination, he decided as he easily dealt with the zip of her jeans and slid them down her hips.

With a last lingering taste of her nipple, he trailed his lips down the curve of her breast. Then, with a fluid grace he lowered himself to his knees, allowing the tips of his fangs to lightly caress the skin over her taut belly. She shivered, her fingers roughly tugging his hair out of its braid as he pulled her jeans downward, surprised to discover the tiny wisp of lacy . . . what were those under-thingies called?

Panties. Yes, his fogged mind acknowledged. That was it.

Panties.

Hmmm. Tasty.

Reaching down he yanked off her shoes so he could get rid of the jeans. Tossing them aside, he paused to simply appreciate her exquisite beauty.

The bit of lace only served to wet his appetite. Like a bow on a much anticipated gift.

And it was a gift.

The most precious gift.

Grasping her hips, he leaned forward to nibble along the edge of the panties. He smiled as she yanked at his hair, her soft groan sweet music to his ears.

“Good lord,” she muttered.

Tilting back his head, he met Nefri’s smoldering black gaze, her features tight with a