breed, and supposedly they were more aggressive than humans. Except, Richard hadn’t seen any evidence of that. No one got into fights in the village, vocal or physical, and if they got vicious when fighting an enemy, he had no problem with that.
Good for them.
“What are you thinking about?” Stella put her fork down. “You’ve been uncharacteristically quiet for the past five minutes or so.”
“I wondered how come I haven’t seen any fights in the village. Aren’t immortals supposed to be aggressive by nature?”
“We are. But we are also civilized.” She sounded proud.
“How does that aggression manifest then?”
Her eyelids dropped, and she looked at him from under her thick, dark lashes. “I’m sure that you’ve experienced it with the females you’ve bedded. We are sexually aggressive.”
Was she coming on to him?
Sweet.
He wasn’t sure, though, and it was safer to stay away from the topic of the clan females who’d won his gigolo services in auctions.
“Just sexually? That’s not a big deal. I was given the impression that immortal males are fierce warriors.”
“The Guardians are trained to be the best in the world. The other males are a different story, though. They don’t have the skills or the inclination, but if provoked, I’m sure their instincts would take over.”
“Define provocation. Are we talking insults or physical threats?”
“If their family is threatened, especially their mate, the animal that’s inside each immortal male takes over, and even the mellowest, gentlest poet can become a fierce fighter.” She leaned forward. “And the same goes for the females. We don’t have built-in weapons like the males do, but even without fangs and venom, we would fight to defend our family.”
Richard could believe it. Stella’s eyes were blazing from the inside, and her body was coiled like it was ready to pounce. Apparently, Vlad had inherited his fierceness from his mother.
She was so damn hot.
“You look extremely sexy when you get riled up like that.”
Stella smiled, revealing her tiny fangs. “I’m glad that my assertiveness turns you on and not off. When I reveal the fierce side of me, some males back off.”
“Not this one.” Richard pushed to his feet and offered her a hand up. “And if you don’t believe me, you are welcome to check.” He glanced down at his bulging erection.
As Stella followed his gaze, a wicked grin spread over her beautiful face. “Oh my, that’s one hell of a proof.” She let him pull her up against his body.
Evidently, her stress had nothing to do with the anticipation of their first time together. She seemed just as eager as he was to get busy, which was good because Richard doubted that he could summon the patience to go slow.
He was too hungry for her.
Still, he started with a soft kiss, but it wasn’t what Stella wanted. Taking over, she held him by the neck and kissed him back with unsuppressed hunger. It was as if a switch had flipped inside her, and she let her inner animal roar to life.
Was he the luckiest bastard on earth, or what?
Stella let go of his mouth. “Take me to bed, Richard.”
Definitely, the luckiest.
He grinned. “With pleasure.”
In a quick move that surprised them both, he lifted her into his arms and smashed his mouth over hers.
With a throaty moan, Stella wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back.
Their mouths remained fused all the way to the bedroom and continued as he sat down with her still cradled in his arms.
16
Sari
They’d made love again in the shower, and the only reason Sari hadn’t gone for a third round was her fear of exhausting David.
Already, she feared that she’d overdone it.
Torn by conflicting emotions, she’d vacillated between wanting to preserve his energy and to squeeze out every last bit of joy with him until the start of his transition.
Each moment was precious.
She’d committed to memory every little detail, every sensation he’d made her feel because their moments together could be the last.
How was she going to survive this?
If she weren’t an immortal, surely her heart would have given out already.
Emerging from the walk-in closet wearing a pair of faded jeans, a T-shirt, and no shoes, David looked sexy as sin.
“Unbelievably, I’m hungry again.” He pulled her into his arms. “Do I need to get dressed for dinner? Or can I go like this?”
She didn’t plan on sharing him with anyone tonight. “I’ll order dinner to be delivered here.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and forced a smile. “I don’t want you to change.”
He lifted