Not like her.
She was priceless and special, a rare treat he wanted to savor. It was that fire in her that warmed him. That fire that drew him in even against his will.
Tabitha paused as she felt an odd sensation from him. "What's wrong, Valerius?" she whispered, rising to stand before him.
"I'm just trying to understand why you're with me."
"Because I like you."
"Why?"
She bit her lip seductively before she shrugged. "You're strangely amusing and you're kind."
He shook his head. "I'm not kind. I only know how to be cold."
She buried her hands in his unbound hair and let the silken strands caress her fingers. "You don't feel cold to me, General."
Tabitha ran her tongue along the edge of his bottom lip before she kissed him.
Valerius's head spun at her actions and her words. Starving for her, he reached behind her back and unhooked her bra. Without breaking her kiss, she lowered her arms to let it fall to the floor.
He pulled her up against him so that her bare breasts were flush to the heat of his chest. Her silver moon-shaped belly button ring brushed against his hip, bringing a foreign thrill to him. His groin burned in need of her.
As did his heart.
He'd never made love to a woman who really liked him. As a man, his lovers had been political alliances. Women who only sought to claim him as a well-connected, wealthy husband or lover.
As a Dark-Hunter, his liaisons had been with women who didn't even know him.
But Tabitha...
Growling low in his throat, he finished undressing her as quickly as possible. The glow from streetlights drifted in from her shades, cutting across her bare body. She was beautiful. Lean, muscled. He'd never wanted anyone more.
Valerius lifted her from the floor and pinned her against her door.
Tabitha laughed at the strength of him. At his raw, earthy passion. No, her general wasn't frigid. He was hot and exciting. Delectable.
Holding her with nothing more than the strength of his arms, he slid himself deep inside her.
Tabitha moaned deep in her throat as he filled her to capacity. "That's it, baby," she groaned. "Give me all you've got."
Valerius buried his head against her neck and inhaled her warm sweetness as he thrust against her. She had one leg wrapped around his waist. He'd never made love to a woman like this. It was animalistic and fierce.
And he loved it.
She arched her back, drawing him in even deeper as she met him stroke for stroke. She had one leg on the floor that she used for leverage against him as she raised and lowered her body on his, heightening the depth of his penetration. It was all he could do to wait on her as she took from him the same pleasure he felt with her.
Valerius cupped her breast in his hand while he savored the sleek wetness of her body welcoming his.
He watched her bite her lip as she wrapped her other leg around his waist and squeezed him tight between her thighs. She was incredible.
She licked and teased his neck as he continued to thrust for both of them.
Tabitha couldn't think past the sensation of his hard thickness inside her. Her body burned and ached for him. She could feel herself clutching him, needing him.
And when she came, she had to stifle her cry.
Valerius growled as she scoured his back with her nails and moaned in his ear. Yet it wasn't painful.