CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

The waves splashed against the side of the boat as the sun crested the horizon. Turquoise waters sparkled in the morning sun, while dolphins danced in a celebration of life. Samantha sighed in relief, knowing she was finally safe. She was looking forward to a new, hopefully calm, life. She silently reminisced about how much her life had changed. Once she’d spent hours in a cubicle, her only excitement driven by catching errors and breaking codes with co-workers.

It wasn’t just that she felt different; she was different. She could no longer deny the magic within her. No longer a desk jockey, she needed to find a new calling. Or perhaps the calling had found her. A newfound witch, she resolved to do something positive with her powers. While she longed to have better control, she knew that would come with practice. She wanted to train with Ilsbeth but knew for certain that she wouldn’t live in the coven.

She could not deny what she was any more than she could deny Luca was vampire. It was time to face the music. Either she’d have to accept Tristan’s offer or move to New Orleans. Given that she didn’t know the witches in Philadelphia, and she had a perfectly good mentor ready and willing here in New Orleans, in that moment, she decided to stay and learn her craft. She hoped that Luca would ask her to stay with him at his home, but wasn’t going to pressure him.

No matter what he’d said about bonding and love, she knew men didn’t always mean what they said in the heat of the moment. Since they’d left Léopold’s, Luca had seemed distant, quiet. Samantha was utterly exhausted and didn’t press him to talk. Now wasn’t the time.

She glanced over at the deck clock, and realized they’d been on the boat for at least seven hours. Léopold’s captain sailed the vessel down the Mississippi to the open Gulf of Mexico. Within minutes of boarding, she’d passed out in bed as soon as her head hit the pillow. After taking a hot shower, she made her way up to the back deck. The boat slowly bobbed and swayed to the rhythm of the ocean; she surmised they’d anchored. Peering out to sea, she wondered where Luca had gone.

When she’d woken to a cold bed, she’d missed the warmth of him. She hoped he wasn’t having second thoughts about their relationship. She wasn’t the clingy type, but was somewhat insecure about where they stood.

Love. Samantha had thought she’d known love before Luca. But she realized now that it had only been a shadow of love. Maybe infatuation? Maybe just her need to be close to a man? Regardless, Luca had shown her time and time again, through his actions, what real love was. He’d shown her what a real man was.

He’d cared enough to fly across the country and find her, to save her from her own foolishness. He’d let go of his inhibitions to earn her trust, swimming with her in the lake and sharing his past. He’d showed her the bliss of tender lovemaking and then pushed her limits to explore her sexuality. He’d fearlessly opened up to her emotionally and declared his love. He’d helped her discover what the amulet was and had fought with his life to protect her. And even though she’d seen him ferociously attack the wolf and kill, she didn’t fear him. Respect for his courageous act swelled in her heart. Captured and tortured twice over the past weeks, the man seemed indestructible and had an unbreakable spirit.

Reaching in the pocket of her robe, she fingered the small sack Léopold had given her. The older vampire was somewhat of an enigma. Dominant and sexual, she felt drawn to him. Deadly as he was, she trusted him like an older brother. She knew he wanted her, but he didn’t take what wasn’t his. Nor was he the type to take women against their will. Given his dark and mysterious good looks, she knew someone like Léopold could have any woman, and had probably already had hundreds of lovers over the years. Even though he’d made attempts to put her at ease, she also knew he could be cold and calculating, remembering how he’d burned the cabin to get her to do his bidding. Encouragement, he’d called it. She smiled. Only in the paranormal world would someone call torching a cabin an ‘incentive’. After watching Rowan bring Luca to his knees, she was certain Léopold had done what was necessary to protect his kind.

She looked down at the satchel with anticipation. Samantha couldn’t wait to dump the dreaded contents, so she could finally be free. Looking around the spacious wooden deck, she hoped Luca would return soon. She wanted to tell him about her decision to stay. Butterflies danced in her stomach. She prayed he felt the same way about her as she felt about him. In the heat of passion, he’d said he loved her, but she longed to hear him say it again. She wanted a life with Luca and could not imagine loving anyone else. She was his.

Luca briefly spoke to the captain, explaining how they’d make a brief stop and then return to New Orleans. As much as he’d like to take a Caribbean cruise with Samantha, trouble was brewing with the wolves. Earlier, he’d slipped out of Samantha’s arms to go call Kade. Both Kade and Sydney were at the pack house strategizing with Marcel. Apparently, Jax Chandler, the New York Alpha, had not taken kindly to Marcel’s message refusing him access to Kat. Although it may have been typical in some packs for an Alpha to pick a mate of his choice, Tristan and Marcel, both unmated, refused to take a mate who wasn’t in agreement. Once mated, wolves could seldom separate without physical repercussions. The brothers fiercely protected their sister. Although she had a wild side, she was deeply loyal to their packs.

Ever since Luca had rescued Kat, he’d kept tabs on her over the years; ‘friends with benefits,’ but friends nonetheless. He was concerned for her safety, knowing how independent she could be. She often went missing for periods of time only for them to find out later she’d been on holiday with friends somewhere on the other side of the world. She lived life to the fullest, but now someone wanted her to be his. Someone, an Alpha, like Jax, who wouldn’t take no for an answer.

He regretted that the wolves at Rowan’s mansion had escaped them. Interrogation would have yielded critical information about their true purpose in causing a war. Sköll had insinuated that he was there because of Kat, but it could have been a ruse. He wasn’t even certain Sköll knew Jax or was in his pack. He could have been lying to protect another wolf.

His thoughts turned to Samantha as he dug into the ice box and located a bottle of champagne. She was a feisty little witch, and actually a little scary now that he’d seen her powers. Petite and fair, she’d stolen his heart. He rolled his eyes in disbelief and laughed to himself. All these years he’d been so insistent that he’d never fall in love again, let alone with a human. When he reflected on his young love for Eliza, he realized that he’d never been in love with someone as deeply as he loved Samantha.

Fearless when faced with the unknown, she stood her ground. And she was smart as a whip, amazing him with her knowledge of cryptic code breaking and how she reveled in the challenge. Samantha had never backed down to Léopold either. When he was captured, she’d risked her life with the ancient vampire just so she could find Luca. Strong-willed. Beautiful. Intelligent. His.

Luca’s thoughts drifted to their lovemaking and how passionately she had embraced the experience. He loved watching her climax, letting go of her inhibitions. He grew long and firm thinking of how she’d taken him into her mouth, teasing him endlessly. She trusted him, a vampire, to take her to places she’d never gone before. Remembering the sight of her tied to his bed sweetly moaning and writhing in pleasure, he smiled. Lascivious and loving, she brought him to a new level of felicity that he’d never known in his long life. He couldn’t imagine what life would be like without her. It wasn’t just the bonding. It was everything about her. He loved her more than life itself. He wanted her here, building a life together. Forever.

A broad smile broke across Samantha’s face as she felt Luca’s strong arms encircle her waist and a kiss to her ear. She turned in his arms to face him and smiled. God, she loved this man. The sight of the gorgeous male took her breath away. Shirtless, he wore white cotton drawstring pajama pants and padded around barefoot. He was confident and comfortable no matter his surroundings. Over her shoulder, she noticed the champagne and glasses he’d set on the glass end table.

“Hmmm…champagne? So early in the morning?”

“Yes, darlin’. This is New Orleans,” he drawled. “Think of it like mimosas without the orange juice.”

“Well, when you put it that way, how can a girl refuse?” She gave him a flirty smile, turning around to face him.

“That’s what I’m counting on. But before we toast, let’s get rid of the remains, shall we?” he suggested. “Would you care to do the honors?”

“Nothing would make me happier.” She carefully opened the packet, and turned it upside down. Red, gray and black ashes floated downward, falling gently into the sea.

When the pouch was fully emptied, Luca raised a knowing eyebrow at her and held up a lighter. “Just to be on the safe side.”

“Just to be on the safe side,” she agreed as she watched him light the bag on fire.

Tossing the lighter aside, he pinched the end of the sack and held it up to the air to burn. Devoured by flames, he cast it into the waves.

“I can’t tell you how relieved I am to see that thing gone,” she sighed.

“You and me both,” he concurred. “Now for something really important, a toast and a proposition.”

“A toast sounds wonderful. But a proposition? Sounds cryptic, but then again, I do love a good mystery.”

“Ah, but you are good with puzzles. First, the toast.” He held his flute to hers. “To finding more than just an amulet. To finding you, Samantha…the love of my life.”

“And to finding you. To us,” she countered.

Clinking glasses and then taking a sip, Luca took her slender hand in his and led her over to the open-air deck bed. He pulled her onto his lap and held her.

Samantha’s cheek rested on his bare chest. The masculine scent of him piqued her desire. She wanted to make love to him again over and over. Sensing he wanted to talk, she resisted the urge to slide her hands down into his pants. Instead she caressed his chest and played innocently with his flat nipple.

“You are making me lose my train of thought, you naughty girl,” he groaned at her touch. His arousal grew, but first, they needed to talk.

“Samantha, look at me.” He placed a finger under her chin, tilting her head toward his.

“Yes,” she said lazily.

“I told you about Eliza. She was my first love...long before I was turned. I was only a young man when I met her. When we were attacked that night and she died, I was devastated, just filled with rage. I swore never to love again. And for all these years, it’s been fairly easy to do. In truth, I never met anyone who could make me feel. Sure, lust is something that comes and goes like the wind. But finding someone, someone like you; it is rare.” He absentmindedly rubbed her palm with his thumb.

“What I’m trying to say is that I want you here with me. Not just now, but forever. I know this must seem sudden, but I can tell you that I am certain of my feelings for you. I want you as my wife. I want a family. I want a real home, not just a museum full of antiquities. Please. Stay here with me,” he whispered as his words trailed off.

Samantha regarded him for a minute, stunned by his proposal. Her heart bloomed at the prospect of spending her life with Luca. She placed her hand on his cheek and looked into his eyes. “Yes, I’d love to stay with you. I know we haven’t known each other very long, but over the past few weeks we’ve been through more than most people have been through in a lifetime. And now, I can’t imagine my life without you. I don’t think I ever really knew what love was until I met you. And I never knew what it meant to have a man love me back. There is only you. I am yours.”

Luca gathered her red locks in his fingers and drew her soft, pink lips to his. He gently kissed her, slowly, deliberately. Savoring the sweetness of her mouth, his tongue found hers. She opened willingly, intoxicated as he sought to send her into ecstasy.

Samantha’s blood raced in anticipation of his touch. She wanted all of him now, and couldn’t hold back the urge to strip him naked and take what was hers. Sensually releasing his lips, she rose off his lap and straddled his legs. Leisurely, she untied the belt to her robe. As the panels revealed her skin, she seductively peeled the fabric down her shoulders and let it pool at her feet. Standing bare before him, she smiled as he tried to reach for her hips.

Luca marveled at the way her ivory skin glowed. She was a magnificent creature. The blonde highlights in her curls reflected off the sunlight and flowed over the soft, ripe swell of her breasts.

Flipping her hair aside, she exposed her pebbled pink tips. Flush with arousal, she held his hands firmly to her hips, teasing him, driving him mad with desire.

“Luca, I’m in control this morning,” she purred. “Will you let me take care of you?”

“Darlin’, you’d better do something soon. You know, I can’t resist you for one minute longer,” he said, hanging onto a thread of control. His rock hard erection was straining to be released.

“As you wish.” Samantha agilely dropped to her knees, letting her fingernails graze his chest all the way to the fine trail of hair that led into his pants. Gripping the sides of his pajamas, she yanked hard until she tore the pants down off his body. Animalistic, she planned to take him in every way she could. She wanted to possess him, to be possessed.

Luca’s breath startled as his cock sprang free. Samantha was rough, wanton. He’d never seen her so aggressive and loved every minute of it. He extended his arms backward, laying his palms flat to support his weight. Completely nude to her, he patiently waited as he watched her graze a path with her nails to the apex between his legs.

Excited by the sight of his exquisite musculature, Samantha grew wet, yearning to have him inside of her. Meeting his eyes, she leaned forward and attentively licked the tip of his firm flesh. She delighted in the spicy taste of him. He hissed in delight as she swirled her tongue around it, lavishing the head with long, wet brushes. Wrapping her fingers around him, she parted her lips and devoured the full length of his aroused manhood.

Luca thought he’d explode; her warm moist tongue caused his shaft to bob in eagerness. Unable to restrain himself any longer, Luca sat up and plowed his hands through her hair.

She mercilessly plunged him in and out of her hot mouth. She felt him grow close to climax and backed off. Still stroking his hard male heat, she lifted him up with one hand as she felt for his scrotum. Opening widely she sucked him into her mouth rolling them one at a time, licking and teasing.

Luca moaned out load at the intrusion. The vixen was going to make him insane. “Aw fuck, that feels so good. Please,” he begged for release.

Hearing his plea, she grinned and once again began to suckle his hot swollen flesh. Slightly twisting her grip, she built the sensation within him. He was so very close and bucked his hips upward into her warm sweetness. In and out, her head rose and fell, sucking him harder and harder.

“Samantha, I’m gonna come.” He didn’t want to release in her mouth without her permission.

Ignoring his pleas, she held onto him tight and increased her pace. “Mmmm, come for me.” She resumed her assault, sucking him deeply.

Luca groaned as he lost control, stiffening as he exploded into her.

Greedily, she took all of him, milking his essence until he collapsed backward onto the bed. Licking her swollen lips, she stalked over him. Her naked body straddled his belly.

“Samantha,” he panted. “You’ll be the death of me, woman. My God. That was unbelievable.” She quietly smiled down on him as he caught his breath.

“Tired, vampire?” she challenged.

“Not on your life, witch. It’s my turn to feast!” With preternatural speed, he flipped Samantha on her back.

She giggled uncontrollably. “Not fair! Not fair!” she feigned a protest.

Luca captured a rosy taut nipple in his mouth and sucked it. “Mmmm….it’s more than fair. You taste delicious. I love your breasts, so soft and so very ready to be plucked.” He pinched a firm peak while laving the other with his tongue. “I plan to kiss and worship every inch of your lovely body.”

“Um…Yes. That feels so good. I love you so much. I’ve never felt like this in my entire life. No one has ever…” Her words trailed off as she felt his lips kiss down her stomach. Her sex ached in need, awaiting his mouth on her core. She yearned to feel him on her, in her.

As he dipped into her sex with his tongue, she lost track of all thoughts. Biting down on her lip, she resisted the urge to scream, knowing the captain was somewhere on the boat. Not one for public sex, she almost forgot they weren’t entirely alone. Yet she was too far gone to stop now.

As he parted her folds with his fingers, she sucked in a breath. Tendrils of magic wisped over her naked body; he swept around her most sensitive point. She pushed her hips up into his mouth, seeking what she needed. But he continued to tease her, licking, tasting but not directly licking her clit. She felt like she was almost there…almost. But she needed more. “Please,” she begged.

Luca laughed a little as she wove her fingers into his hair, attempting to guide him to where she wanted. He planned to make love to her slowly. Her honeyed essence tasted so delicious on his lips. Feeling her quiver, he knew how close she was to going over the edge. Sensing this, Luca halted and began to leisurely kiss her pink mound. He wanted to bring her up to the precipice and back down, over and over until she was ripe with need. Teasing and tantalizing.

“Luca, please, don’t stop. I need…I need…” She couldn’t finish, feeling as if she was riding a roller coaster of passion, up and down.

“Mmmm….what do you need? Do you know how delectable you are? I could stay here all day,” he joked as he began to create a crescendo of sensation once again.

She smiled, realizing he was purposefully driving her crazy. “Luca, please…please lick me,” she pleaded.

“You mean here?” He playfully sampled her clitoris and started to build speed and pressure with his tongue.

“Yes, there. Oh my God!” She realized she was starting to scream. Oh well. Fuck the captain. She gave up on worrying about being seen or heard.

“Or do you mean here?” Luca inserted a thick, long finger into the heat of her sex, quickly followed by two. He pumped in and out of her core, sweeping his broad flat tongue over and over her clit.

“Yes!” She screamed again. Samantha was starting to shake. She fought for breath; her head rolled backwards as her body tightened like a spring.

“Or did you mean here?” Luca put his soft, firm lips around her swollen pink bead, sucking. At the same time, he stimulated the stretch of skin inside her by slightly crooking his fingers upward toward him. He loved hearing her scream in pleasure, loved making her feel good. It was music to his ears. Unrelenting, he kept up the torturous delightful invasion, bringing her into a rapturous state of frenzy.

“I’m coming! Yes! Luca! Luca!” The crest of an incredible climax broke over her. Samantha felt as if she was floating out of her body as a zenith of pleasure rocked throughout every cell of her being. She grabbed tightly on his hair, holding him to her. Quaking under his touch, she gasped for breath.

Relishing the sweet taste of Samantha and the sound of her climax, Luca was hardened in arousal. He climbed over her, resting his forearms next to her head. The tip of his erection pressed against her wet entrance. Belly to belly, he reveled in the feel of their flesh as one. He smiled down on her as she slowly opened her eyes.

Every inch of her skin was hypersensitive after the amazing orgasm Luca had given her. Feeling his weight above her, she gazed at him through heavy-lidded eyes, and smiled back. “Did you enjoy teasing me? Because I sure enjoyed it. That was unreal.”

She couldn’t get over how incredible he made her feel. She’d gone years never being able to come during intercourse, yet this man knew exactly what to do to make her body sing. It was as if he’d known her forever.

“I love you, Samantha,” he affirmed. “You have no idea what you do to me.”

“I love hearing you tell me that. I love you. I want to be your wife, to be with you, forever. I guess I just want to keep saying it and hearing it to make sure this is real.”

“Oh, this is real, all right. So is this.” Luca dipped his head and passionately kissed her. Their tongues danced together as he drove his velvety steel shaft into her hot center. Samantha was slick with need and ready to take all of him as he sheathed himself in a single, smooth stroke.

Luca stopped kissing Samantha so he could look into her eyes as he possessed her. She was so responsive to his every move, and he could not seem to get enough of her. Unhurriedly, he rocked in and out of her, enjoying her tight heat. Rolling over onto his back, he brought her with him so she was on top.

“That’s it, baby. Ride me, good and slow,” he directed. He placed his hands on her waist, letting her set the pace.

Samantha hadn’t been on top very often, but it was something she had yearned to do. Writhing on Luca, she closed her eyes and let the sensation take over her body. Arching her hips, her breath hitched as her clit brushed against his pubic bone. She pressed down to meet his every primal thrust stimulating her sensitive nub.

Luca was lost in her rhythm. His heart beat for this woman. She was resplendent and sensual, so open to discovery. He took his time, provocatively surging into her again and again. Luca splayed his hands across Samantha’s ass: massaging her, guiding her. The sight of her perky breasts mere inches from his face teased him. His tongue darted out to capture one. She accommodated his silent request, leaning toward him so that he could suckle her tightly beaded point. Taking it between his teeth, he bit down slightly, then sucked it once more.

Samantha moaned in blissful pain; his bite tingled down to her aching sex. She could feel the rise of her orgasm evolving. So close, but she needed more of him. As if he could read her thoughts, his fingertips approached the crevice of her bottom. The feel of his hands on her so close to her ass, where she’d learned to experiment, thrilled her. She couldn’t explain her urge; it felt like a driving primal pulse within her. Encouraging him, she pushed herself further into his hands.

Luca sensed that she craved the touch of him inside her. Reaching around her mound, he glided his forefinger over her wet folds. Lubricating his hand, he moved around her back again. Softly, he feathered his moist digit around her rosebud. He felt her shudder under his touch, yet she pushed back again, seeking more.

“Is this what you need?” He continued to circle her bottom.

She shook her head, not wanting to voice her desire.

“Come on, Samantha. Let go. It’s okay to let go. Tell me and I’ll give you want you need.”

“Inside me. Please,” she panted. As the pace and tension increased, her heart raced. She wanted it, needed it.

“Yes, so nice. I love how you open for me,” he whispered. Slowly and gently he slid a digit into her untouched need. Feeling her clench, he guided her. “That’s it baby, let me in. Relax, feel me and push back a little. Ah yeah, you’re taking me.” He felt his finger slip all the way into her tight hole. Her core began to quiver and clench down around his cock. She was going over the edge.

A thrilling awareness ripped through Samantha upon Luca’s dark invasion. She felt deliciously full. As soon as she’d felt his finger enter her from behind in conjunction with his engorged masculinity, a mind-shattering orgasm slammed into her. Rocking feverishly, she thrashed above him, riding the glorious climax. He was thrusting up into her hard; the sound of flesh meeting flesh rang through her ears. Her senses had never felt so abundantly bombarded. She screamed Luca’s name wildly as she came. “Yes, Luca, fuck me, please,” she cried.

Luca thrust up into her over and over, possessing her, taking her. Hearing his name, he reveled in how easily she submitted to the throes of passion. As soon as he’d filled her, she fisted his swollen shaft in a tingly hold, pulsating around him.

Seeking to bond with her further, he extended a claw, slicing his own wrist. He held the beaded blood to her pink lips, and she instinctively captured it, sucking greedily. Shocking her into another climax, his powerful blood filled her mouth. She came fast and hard and took him with her. Losing every last shred of control, Luca jarred and spilled his hot seed deep within her.

Lying still beneath Samantha, Luca’s body celebrated the simultaneous wild release they’d experienced. Their bodies mingled as one as they drifted into a relaxed state of euphoria. Samantha rolled off Luca onto her back. He wrapped an arm around her, pulling her close to him. She lazily draped her leg over his and placed a palm on his chest. An awareness of calm settled between them. Having sated both their physical and emotional selves, they silently touched and luxuriated in their newly blossomed love.

Samantha immediately felt Luca’s blood whirr through her veins. She loved everything about Luca and realized that after weeks of turmoil, she simply was at peace. She loved him more than she’d ever thought was possible. He’d helped her transform from mere mortal to witch and soon she was to be his wife.

Tracing a finger on his chest, she looked up to meet his eyes. “I want you to know that in this moment, I’ve never been happier in my entire life. These past few weeks have been life-changing for me. I felt horrible about what happened, not knowing. I was scared about being a witch…actually I hated being turned into a witch. And maybe my gifts still do scare me a little bit,” she admitted. “But I don’t care if I never remember what happened to me. I am who I am now. There’s nothing but the future ahead of us, and I can’t wait to marry you, to start our life.”

He kissed the top of her head. “Me too. It’s strange. I’ve been living for hundreds of years, but ever since I met you, I’ve realized that I haven’t really been living. Or loving. Don’t laugh, but I feel kind of reborn, so to speak. I need you in my home, my bed. You’re already in my heart.”

Samantha and Luca lay naked in each other’s arms for over an hour on the deck, talking and planning for their future together. A lazy ride back up the muddy Mississippi eventually brought them back to their port. The sounds of street players ripping jazz tunes along the waterfront welcomed them home.