~ SIXTEEN ~

TOBIAS ACHED TO TOUCH her, to hold her. “You’ve never really been alone. You’ve always been a part of me. I’ve always been a part of you.”

“You’re immortal. You’re amazing. You don’t just have power. You are power. I swear you’re invincible. I’m just me. I’m an average human.”

“You are perfect for me in every way imaginable.” He forced himself to remain perfectly still, his heart thundering in his chest. “You belong to me. Only me. And I belong to you. Only you.”

“We’re so different, Tobias. I am not saying I don’t want you.” Her lips parted in a full, tantalizing smile, a smile that went straight to his heart. “That would be the biggest lie I’ve ever told. I am crazy about you. I’ve never wanted, needed anything more than you. I don’t think I could ever get enough of you. As a matter of fact, I’ve given it some serious thought. I’m one hundred and ten percent sure I’m going to end up addicted to you for life. And I’m going to like it. Too much. I just don’t see how we could belong to each other.” She let her breath out slowly, watching him. “It can’t work. Sooner or later, any relationship we form now will crash and burn.” 

“You’re wrong.” Frustrated, he raked his hand through his hair. He didn’t know how to combat her doubts.

“I’m human. I can’t offer you anything meaningful and lasting. You’re like a…like a damn god, Tobias. You’ve been around since forever and you’ll likely be around after forever ends.”

Taking a deep breath and releasing it with a sigh, he shook his head. “I’m not a god.” He paused. “Far from it.”

“You have so much power and strength. I swear you’re indestructible. You don’t even age. In twenty years or so I’ll look like your wrinkly old grandma. And…and you have really hot wings.”

“Twenty years is a very short time. Our bond is timeless. It’s eternal.”

“That’s funny, Tobias. For me, twenty years happens to be a good chunk of my lifespan.” She rubbed her palms up and down her arms, turning her head slightly to avoid his gaze. “Do you plan to continue a relationship with my gravestone after I’m gone?”

“There are things you don’t understand, things I can’t explain to you right now. For now,” he closed the distance between them, “I want you to focus on one day at a time with me.”

She tipped her head back to look up at him. “What do you plan to focus on?”

“You’re everything to me. You’re the substance of my most cherished dream. You’re a miracle to me and you always will be. I plan to spend my time coming up with brilliant ways to make you believe it.”

Rather than give her a chance to argue, he cupped her face between his palms and bent his head to capture her mouth with his. Wanting more. Craving more. Needing more. He caressed her trembling lips with his tongue. She opened her mouth. At first, her tongue met his guardedly. Then, pouring herself into the kiss, her tongue danced with his. She kissed him tenderly, but passionately enough to further kindle the fire of lust burning in him.

Reaching up she tangled his hair in her fingers and held him to her as he fed from the sweetness of her mouth. A fire smoldered in his veins. His cock already thick and hard ached to be buried deep inside her body. He felt her mind reach out to his, touch his. Her presence growing stronger deep inside his mind as her soul merge with his. He embraced the gift of her presence. It was the most incredible, intimate experience ever. He celebrated her desire to connect with him, to hold his mind, body, and soul to her.

His kiss, a long, slow, passionate kiss swept her away. His lips and his hot velvety tongue tasted of desire, of so many wickedly wonderful things to come. He was stopping time, making her crazy with lust. He wasn’t rushing her. He was a wild, powerful predator with an insatiable hunger. An alpha male. But he wasn’t attempting to prove his masculinity by dominating her, by commanding her to surrender to his will.

Merged deeply and completely with him, she knew his intent. While remaining in control was near impossible, he was building a fire methodically, little by little adding fuel to increase the intensity of the flames smoldering all around them. She would never forget the way his mouth made love to hers. She could taste desire on his lips and feel it on his tongue as it dipped and swirled in her mouth.

Hot surges of lust raced through her body, through his body. They were burning together, flames of their desire for each other joining and cleansing her mind of doubts and fears that caused her to question the validity of their bond. Her body didn’t simply react to his kiss. Her mind, body, and soul were entirely focused on his kiss, on the depth of the intimacy and physical sensations it created. She’d never felt so entirely wanted and needed by anyone. She belonged with him. He belonged with her. They belonged to each other. And she knew, beyond any doubt, that he viewed her life as a miracle.

“My miracle,” he whispered against her lips, his sexy southern drawl deepening. “You will always be my miracle.”

He kissed her again, his tongue stroking her mouth to ecstasy. Returning his kiss, she moved her hands over his strong, powerfully muscled chest, savoring the feel of his muscles bunching beneath her palms. When she reached beneath his shirt, needing to feel his bare skin, a deep groan of satisfaction rumbled in his chest.

She felt his heart thundering against her palms. “I love to touch you.” She loved to torment the hell out of herself as she explored his body.

He tore his mouth away from hers and met her gaze. “I love to feel your hands on my skin,” he confessed, the sensual heat in his eyes echoed in his voice.

“Your skin is so hot, Tobias.” His muscles tense beneath her fingertips as she ran them from his chest to his belly. She lifted his shirt and started to pull it up his body. “I need to feel every inch of your body against mine.” She leaned forward, her lips and tongue exploring, savoring the taste of his skin. 

He grabbed his shirt, lifted it over his head, and dropped it on the floor. She raised her arms when he reached for the hem of her tank top. His gaze never leaving hers, he lifted it over her head and let it fall at her feet. Her nipples hardened, and her breasts began to ache as he worked to unfasten her bra.

Cupping the soft weight of her breast in his hands, he bent his head and flicked and swirled his tongue over her right nipple and then her left. Arching her body and pulling his hair as if to bring him closer, she threw her head back and moaned as he drew her nipple into his mouth. “oh, god, Tobias. I can’t wait. I need…I.” She gasped, obviously alarmed when he removed the rest of their clothing with a thought.

“Too fast?” he asked, as he pushed her hair back to gently, tenderly kiss his way across her shoulder and up her neck to her ear. “It’s okay. We can slow down.”

She took a breath and released it with a sigh. “No.” Wrapping her arms around his neck to pull him closer, she got up on her toes and tipped her head back to kiss him. “I don’t want to slow down.”

Her kiss was passionate, aggressive, unchaining wild, delicious sensations until his need for her defied reason. His heart thundered. His body ached. Her tongue tangled with his, explored his mouth. Impossibly swollen and hard, his shaft throbbed against her belly. Each time she took a breath or moved, his cock jerked, threating to burst. He gripped her thigh and lifted her leg around his hip. Her soft moans of desire, of pleasure vibrated in his mouth as she moved her hot, damp core against him.

“I need you, Jessie.” His breathing was ragged, and his voice was deep and hoarse with lust.

“Good.” She bit his chin, and trailed her lips along his jaw to his ear. “I need you now. I can’t wait any longer.”

He lowered her leg, gripped her hips, and lifted her. “That’s wonderful because I need to be inside you.”

Kissing him deeply, she wrapped her legs around his waist as he carried her to the bed. He lowered her slowly, covering her much smaller body with his. Shattering his fragile hold on staying in control, she reached between their bodies and slowly, gently ran her fingertips over the length of his engorged shaft. His breath rushed out of his lungs in a harsh groan.

 He bent his head and feathered kisses down her throat to her breasts. “Your mine,” he murmured. “Only mine.” His deep, raspy voice combined with the hot, sensation of his mouth created smoldering sensations that burned deep in the core of her being. He lifted his head to meet her gaze. “You are forever mine to love, to protect, to cherish, to worship.”

“Then your mine.”

Grinning wickedly, he reached down between her legs and pressed his palm against her hot, silken mound. “Forever yours.”

She lifted her hips and moved her body against his hand. “Only mine.”

“That’s right, sweetheart.” He gently stroked her clit, bending his head to suckle the hard bud of her nipple. “Only yours.”

Moaning, she arched her body, rubbing herself against his hand, riding his hand. Feverish and damp, every inch of her flesh, every cell in her body burned for him. More than anything she wanted him to take possession of her body. She needed him to bury his cock inside her.

Her inner muscles clenched his finger as he slowly nipped and licked his way from her breasts to her navel and continued until he reached her hot entrance. He grabbed her hips and brought her closer, pinning her to his mouth. Her body trembled at the first touch of his hot breath. He licked her once. A quick stroke of his tongue. It nearly shattered her. But it wasn’t enough. Desperate for more, she grabbed his head to hold him in place as she arched her body against his mouth.

Growling, he stabbed her with his tongue, gripping her hips more firmly. Mind-blowingly wonderful currents of pleasure raced through her entire body and over every inch of her skin. The pleasure was unbearable and marvelous all at the same time. Wanting more, needing more, she bucked against him.

 Suckling her clit, he slid two fingers inside her. She was so hot and slick, eager for him, her inner muscles clenching tightly around his fingers causing his cock to jerk, swell, and harden even more. He loved the idea of having the ability to cause her to become so entirely aroused. He suckled greedily, savoring her, devouring her sweet essence, bringing her far past the point of simply wanting him, to the point of needing him.

“Stop!” Getting his attention, she yanked his hair hard. “Come here.” She pulled his hair as if to force him to move up her body. “I need you inside me.”

“Not yet.” He bent his head, keeping his gaze locked onto hers as his tongue lapped at her.

“Damn it, Tobias.” She yanked his hair again. Much harder. “When I tell you that I need you inside me you’d better damn well listen and obey.”

He licked her again. “What am I to you?”

“Everything. You’re everything to me. You’re my mate.”

Growling, he licked her once more. Then, pulling her legs apart, he wedged his body between her thighs. “Your eternal mate.”

He groaned loudly, his cock nearly bursting as he pressed against her entrance. He was going to need a damn miracle to last beyond one thrust. Impatient, she wiggled and bucked beneath him. “Be still for a minute.” Since she didn’t listen and obey, he gripped her hips and held her still.

“What are you waiting for?”

“We need to work on your patience.”

“The hell we do. You need to get inside me or roll over and let me get on top.”

He moved forward, pushing the broad head of his cock inside her. “Damn it, Jessie,” he gasped. “You’re so fucking tight.”

“Is that bad?” She dug her nails into his biceps and lifted her hips, attempting to force him deeper.

“No,” he whispered between clenched teeth, pushing deeper, stretching her tight, scorching hot sheath. “And you’re fucking hot.”

He pulled nearly all the way out and thrust hard, plunging deeper, burying his cock to the hilt and catching her scream with his mouth. He kissed her deeply, thoroughly savoring it, his tongue tangling with hers. Her body was his home. Her body was his haven. Gently rocking his hips, moving slightly, giving her body a chance to get used to his size, he fought the urge to pull back and slam into her. She was so hot and tight, wrapped around him and very quickly annihilating his control.

He paused to look down at her, wanting to make sure she was ready for more before he allowed himself to get lost in the pleasure. “Are you okay?”

She smiled and, her fingernails digging into his hips, she pulled him to her and lifted her body to take him deeper. “You know you’re huge, right?”

“Is that bad?”

“Don’t worry. From what I’ve heard size doesn’t matter as long as you use it right,” she teased.

“I will thoroughly enjoy proving it to you.” He kissed her, a long, tender, passionate kiss, making love to her gently, moving slowly, maintaining a steady, sensual pace. He needed her to know he cherished her. That he loved and valued her above every person or thing. She was the very center of his universe. It was amazing to recall the many long centuries he’d waited for this moment. He knew he wasn’t worthy of her, his miracle, his priceless miracle. But he knew, no matter what happened in the future, he would never give her up.

She loved the friction, the heat, the sensation of his cock stretching her and filling her. Fully. Completely. Gasping, struggling to catch her breath, she called out his name, her voice desperate and hungry. Arching her body, meeting his every move, she kissed him deeply as pleasurable sensations rippled through her body.

He thrust harder, ramming his cock deep, creating hot friction, building the fire, pushing her further, taking her far past pleasure. 

The combination of the heat of her body and taste of her flesh was completely overwhelming to each and every one of his senses. Pleasure unleashed his dark nature until he was no longer in control. He began to thrust deeper. Harder. Faster. His pace was as ferocious as his hunger for her.

Every time her gaze met his, he took her breath away. She’d never seen anything as sexy as the hungry look in his eyes. She was blown away by the depth of their physical and spiritual connection. Before that moment, she wouldn’t have believed a bond could feel so strong, so…oh, damn. Realization slammed into her hard. She was his one and only true love. No other woman could please him. He wouldn’t even consider giving himself to another woman. When he’d claimed they would be together for forever, she thought it was an exaggeration. Their bond was truly permanent.

“Eternal.” At some point the color of his eyes had darkened to nearly black, each casting a six-rayed star. They reminded her of a gemstone, black star of India, that she’d carried around for luck as a child. “You are my eternal mate,” he whispered. “I crave you, Jessie. Only you. Forever you.”

“Tobias, I…oh, damn.” She was going to explode. The hot friction, the blazing currents of pleasurable sensations were more intense than anything she’d ever thought possible. He took her mouth more aggressively, kissing her deeply, ramming his thick cock into her, stretching her, filling her.

The pleasure was so damn intense. It was more than anything he’d ever imagined. It was too damn great, bordering on pain. He felt his control slipping away with every thrust of his hips. He slowed the pace, wanting to draw it out, needing to make sure she climaxed with him.

“No. Don’t slow down.” Her fingernails scraped and dug into his hips. “Harder, Tobias.”

He pumped his hips faster, harder, ramming his cock deep inside her body again and again. “That’s it.” She grabbed his face, bringing his mouth to hers. She lifted her hips, meeting his every thrust as she kissed him deeply, pouring her need for him, her love for him into the kiss.

“Jessie,” he breathed her name, against his lips. He was too close. His cock was so swollen, so impossibly, painfully hard. He wouldn’t last much longer if he didn’t slow down. “I am so…”

She screamed his name, her inner muscles clamping down on his cock, violently convulsing around his cock. He roared, burying his cock as deep as possible inside her body, as his orgasm ripped through his entire body.

They stayed absolutely still for a few moments, gazing into each other’s eyes.

“I am in serious trouble.”

“Why?” he asked.

“That was spectacular.”

He wrapped his arms around her and rolled over so that she was straddling his hips, making sure he stayed lodged inside her body. He cupped and massaged her breast. “Isn’t spectacular a good thing?”

“I will never have enough of you. I will always want more of you.” She slowly, savoring the moment, moved her hands up his broad, heavily muscled chest to his shoulders. “You have an extremely sexy masculine body.” She moved her hips in a circular motion. Gripping her bottom, he moved with her. “And…oh, and your still hard. How is that possible?”

“Beats the hell out of me.” He gripped her hips, lifting her and then lowering her. “It has been a problem I’ve been forced to silently suffer since we first met.”

 Breathing his name, she leaned down to press her lips to his. Her moans of satisfaction vibrated against his lips as her tongue danced with his. He would never get enough of her deep kisses, of her touch, of her body. “I am having trouble viewing it as a problem,” she whispered against his mouth. “But I am concerned about your language. I hope it will not prove to be a problem.”

“How so?”

She stretched out over him, brushing her breasts, her overly sensitive nipples, over his solid, muscular body. She kissed his neck, along his jaw, his chin, and then she slowly kissed her way to his ear. “You said fucking two times.”

He frowned, narrowing his gaze on hers. “You should’ve been too distracted to count.”

“Don’t be upset. I’ve always been a gifted multitasker.” Sitting up, she began to rise and lower her body over his, riding his hard cock slowly. “You feel so damn good, Tobias.”

“Compliments won’t save you from facing the consequences of claiming you’re able to multitask while we’re making love.” He gripped her hips and moved with her building a fire until flames of pleasure spread throughout her body and centered at her core.

Skin to skin, his hot shaft filling her, he lifted his head and, grabbing the nape of her neck, he pulled her head to his. He kissed her hotly, roughly, his teeth biting her lips and his tongue soothing each sting. She kept moving, picking up her pace. His large calloused hands moved down her back to her hips, his mouth made passionate love to hers, and his hard shaft created the most delicious heat.

His kiss incited the darkest, most primitive desire in her. Her body, her soul belonged to him. The idea of his ability to completely possess her was nearly as alarming as it was thrilling. She felt something rising in him. Power. Dangerous power. A wild part of him rising to claim her, to meet the passion building in her. His kiss slowly gentled until he broke it off. He held her hips in a firm grip to halt her movement and stare into her eyes.

She tried to move, but he held her still.

He shook his head. “Not until I know you’re unable to think of anything other than making love to me.”

Clearly, he wanted to die. “You aren’t funny.” She wanted … no, she needed to move. She was so close. His cock was so hard. So hot. So big. She wanted him deeper, filling her. She bit his chin to distract him and lifted her hips slightly.

His midnight blue eyes turned to black. Not a dull black. His eyes generated a glow as if he were staring at sheet lightning. “Your temper is about to get you into trouble.”

She pressed her mouth to his and kissed him. “I like trouble.” She settled over him to bury his cock as deep inside her body as possible. “In fact, I might love it a little.”

He moved lightning fast, flipping her over onto her back and positioning his body between her thighs. “You might love it a little?”

He was driving her insane, rocking his hips too damn gently, his cock just inside her entrance. “Maybe more than a little.”

He bent his head and kissed her long and hard. Then, pulling back to lock his gaze onto hers, he held his weight on one elbow. “Just maybe?” He massaged her breasts and teased her nipples with his other hand.

“You’re evil.”

He smiled. “I’m a demon.”

She raked her nails down his back to his hips and arched her body as she pulled him toward her. He groaned as he sank into her slowly, burying his cock deep. He very slowly pulled back and plunged into her again. “Tell me what you’re thinking about.”

“You. I am thinking of you. I want you to lose control. I want you to feel the desperation, the need I am experiencing right now.”

He couldn’t fully lose control. Not yet.  She was still human. Her body simply couldn’t handle it. He was naturally stronger and more powerful. But he didn’t see any reason to dampen her mood by pointing out their differences. “I feel everything you’re feeling.”

He kissed her and began to move, pumping his hips, making love to her, embracing the hot passion burning between them. Locking her ankles behind his back, she met his every thrust. His heart had never been so full of love and light. He knew her feelings for him couldn’t be as deep as his for her. He was in love with her. Fully. Completely. Until the end of time. Eventually, she would fall in love with him, and he would be able to give his eternal breath to her. Until then, he needed to be careful with her. He needed to always consider her natural human weaknesses and limitations.

“Oh, Tobias,” she whispered against his lips. “You feel so…damn…oh, damn, Tobias.”

“You’re so hot, sweetheart.” He bit her lip. “I swear your body is on fire.”

“You feel wonderful.” Her nails dug into his shoulders and her body clamped down on his cock. He thrust a few more times and buried himself as deep as possible. Her inner muscles squeezed his cock with a vengeance, taking him over the edge with her.  

Closing her eyes, she forced air through her lungs as her body continued to ripple around his for several seconds. Not wanting him to leave her body, she held him to her. For a moment, she couldn’t find her voice. “That was crazy intense.”

He moved to look at her. “Are you okay?”

“I thought you were killing me.”

He frowned. “I hurt you?”

“No.” She shook her head. “Not at all.”

“You’re sure?”

“I might be sore in the morning. But I can assure you that I will be walking around with a smile on my face remembering how I got sore.”

He kissed her gently, tenderly. “I don’t want you to be sore.” He pulled out of her and laid next to her on his back.

“You’re upset?”

He turned onto his side and pulled her into his arms. “No.” He pushed her hair from her face and kissed her forehead. “I think you managed to wear me out. I might not move for a week. Maybe two.”

“Does that mean it was good for you?”

He smiled. “You know damn well good doesn’t even come close to describing what we just shared.”

“I’ve never imagined anything close to it.” She took a deep breath and sighed. “Making love with you tops everything. I wish…”

“What?” he asked.

“I just wish you didn’t have to worry about staying in control.”

“What are you talking about?”

“We were merged. I know you wouldn’t allow yourself to lose control because you knew…”

“I am bigger and stronger. That’s a fact. I didn’t lose control because I love you too much to risk hurting you.”

“It would’ve been better for you if you hadn’t felt the need to stay in control to protect me.”

“It was perfect. It couldn’t have been better.”

“But…”

“I said it was perfect.” He was an idiot. He should’ve been more careful with his thoughts. “If you hope to get any rest you’d better fall asleep before I feel the need to prove to you how perfect it was for me.”

“You failed miserably if you were trying to scare me off.”

And so, after he proved to her how perfect it was for him a few more times, they fell asleep in each other’s arms.