those lips. Nothing more precious than her small, heart-shaped face.
Erin was overwhelmed by the passion in his kisses. Each one seemed to be even more possessive than the last.
Then he moved his lips lower, over her breasts, where he paused to take his time savoring each mound. As he teased her, white rose petals fell from the sky, covering her.
Erin laughed. "What is this?"
"My gift to you," V'Aidan said. "I want to bathe you in roses."
"Why white?"
"Because, like you, they are pure and beautiful."
Then he kissed her lower, across her stomach, her hip, down her leg, and then up her inner thigh until he kissed her where she ached.
Erin moaned at the feel of his mouth against her, his tongue sweeping across her nub, then down to where she throbbed. He growled, the sound vibrating through her.
He seemed to delight in giving her pleasure first. He never took his own until she'd climaxed at least twice before him.
She shook in the throes of her first release. When she was finished, V'Aidan pulled back with a devilish grin that made him appear boyish. "I love the way you taste. The way you smell."
She smiled warmly at him. "I love being with you. I don't even want to wake up anymore. I just live moment to moment, wishing I were asleep and waiting until I can see you again."
A dark look crossed his features.
Had those words hurt him? She couldn't imagine how or why they would, and yet... "V'Aidan?"
He moved away from her and his black clothes immediately returned to cover his body.
"V'Aidan, what is it?"
V'Aidan didn't answer.
What he was doing was wrong, and not just because it was forbidden. He didn't care about rules.
What he cared about was Erin.
And every time he pulled her into his realm he was robbing her of the pleasures of her own world. Of her life.
This was wrong, and for the first time he understood exactly how wrong it was.
"V'Aidan!" the howling shout echoed through the trees surrounding them.
He knew that angry bellow. "You must leave," he said, sweeping a quick kiss across her lips.
"But - "
He gave her no time to argue before he sent her back to her world and rolled over onto his back to appear nonchalant.
She had barely vanished before M'Ordant appeared to stand over him. Dressed in the same black clothes, M'Ordant looked very similar to V'Aidan. Same black hair, same silvery-blue eyes. The only thing they differed in was height. V'Aidan stood a good four inches taller and he wore the look of a deadly predator.
M'Ordant looked like a person the humans called a Boy Scout.
"What are you doing?" M'Ordant asked.
"I am lying in the sun," V'Aidan said, placing his hands behind his head. "You?"
"Is that an attempt at humor?"
V'Aidan shrugged as he looked up at his brother. M'Ordant was one of the oldest of the Oneroi and was one of Morpheus's most favored sons. "If it were an attempt, it would be wasted on you, now wouldn't it?"
"More humor?"
V'Aidan sighed. "Why are you here?"
"I have heard distressing news about you."
"And to think I thought all news about me was distressing."
That was lost on his brother as well as M'Ordant stared down at him. "Did you learn nothing from your punishment?"
Yes, he'd learned to be more careful seeking out Erin. To tell no one of the precious time they spent together.
"You're boring me, M'Ordant. Go away."
"You can't be bored."
"And a good thing, too, since I'd no doubt perish from it while in your company."
M'Ordant stared at him blankly. "I am merely here as a courtesy. As of this moment, the woman is tagged. Summon her again, and you will deal with me."
"Well, it certainly wouldn't be the first time you and I have crossed."
"True, but I have permission from Hypnos to make it the last time if you interfere with her again."
Erin went to sleep that night and waited for V'Aidan to show himself.
He didn't.
When she woke up in the morning, she trembled with loss and worry. Had something happened to him?
He'd acted so strangely yesterday. And that shout...
What could have happened? Could the Skoti have found him? Hurt him because he protected her?
"V'Aidan," she whispered. "Where are you?"
V'Aidan ached as he heard the plea in Erin's voice. He stood at her side, so close all he had to do was shift slightly and he would touch her. "I'm here, Erin," he whispered. "I've been here all night."