Chapter 17
The knock on the door came at eleven that night. Alex had spent the day in her room. Glenn found her earlier and mentioned both men would be unavailable to join her for dinner. He’d brought her a tray of chicken and steamed asparagus. She’d been glad for the reprieve.
She’d fantasized about what she’d say when Collum came to her. About what she’d do. But fantasy was altogether different than reality. In her fantasy, she retained some control, but Alex knew he would not be the guy to let her lead. He’d sweep her away until all that was left was her core melting.
She opened the door. He stood there looking larger and more beautiful than she thought a man could. It was in his eyes. The way he looked right into her. It was haunting.
“I can't do it,” she told him when he moved to come in.
He stood before her with his legs parted and his eyes taking on the red glow again. His voice ragged. “Don't say no, Alex. Let me kiss you, like you want to be loved.”
Her breath caught in her throat and she backed into the room. Collum followed. Stalking. Predatory. With a wave of his hand, the door shut and the fireplace roared to life. He backed her into the wall, placed her arms above her head.
“Tonight, you're mine . . . One night, Alex.”
He covered her entire body with the length of his, driving heat over her skin.
She leaned in.
“That's it, baby.” Collum dipped his mouth and licked her lips. He held both her arms in his one hand. He grabbed her hair and brought it to their mouths. “Catch fire,” he exhaled on to her tongue.
Alex erupted. Jolted against him and moaned. Her tattoo writhed against her skin as sparks burst along her flesh.
Collum stroked the pulse at the base of her neck while grinding his body in a steady rhythm against hers. Her arms still held tight above her body, his tongue still tasting her. He hadn't even kissed her yet and Alex could barely think. His hand moved lower, pushing aside the fabric of her bathrobe.
She moaned louder, breathless. There was no way she could speak. The ends of her hair caught fire.
“That's it, let go with me. I've been thinking about this all night. Thinking about your little sounds.”
Collum pulled the robe off her body. She felt the muscles in his arms clench against her. His eyes turned completely red. He gripped her waist. Hands dipped to her thighs and back up. She shivered as he lightly traced over the fur at her core. His palm rough as it continued up to cup her breast. His teeth scratched against her flesh before taking her nipple in his mouth.
Her strength gave out just as Collum placed his knee between her legs. He let her arms go. She clutched his shoulders like a lifeline. Each suckle on her breast drew fire up from her core. She gripped the tattoos along his chest and arms.
When he raised his head, he was a man possessed. He smashed his mouth to hers and fit both hands in her burning hair. Their skin burned each other. As their tongues fought and their mouths fit together, Alex ignited. Liquid flame poured from her flesh.
She screamed into his mouth. Collum dragged one hand from her hair to stroke her passion higher. It was almost brutal—the intensity, the need to join. He pressed his fingers inside her and rubbed his thumb across her clitoris before letting go of her tongue to rake his teeth along her neck and push her harder against the wall.
Alex was lost to everything but his hands on her and the fire raging over her body. She knew nothing but the need to be claimed and to claim. Abruptly, he lifted her into his arms and laid her on the floor as he removed his clothing.
She watched greedily, took in the specimen before her. He was dark, untamed. His arms and legs thick with ropes of muscle. His chest carved from dragon bone. She'd never seen anything as brutal, as erotic.
“Alex,” he said, in a guttural, inhuman voice. “You are mine.”
She looked at his glorious, battled scarred body—a fallen angel who was going to take her to the edge of insanity. “I want this as much as you. Don't stop.”
He fell to his knees and traced the outline of her flames with his finger. The fire followed his touch.
“You’re going to come for me now.” He leaned down and took her clit in his mouth.
She thrashed on the floor. Her nails scored his scalp.
His hands forced her hips into place, as he tasted more. Thrust his tongue deeper.
Alex was burning up. Her blood turned to lava. She screamed in agony as she came. Waves of fire poured from her body on to Collum’s tongue. He sucked harder, breathing in her fire, consuming her. As her final waves pulsed onto his tongue, he lifted his head and roared. She reached up to grab his face and he thrust into her body. Ecstasy raged through her as their bodies joined.
As she pushed her hands into his hair claws exploded from her fingers. Flame climbed from her to wrap around them. Smoke from his body covered them.
“Collum?”
“Let it happen, baby. You can't hurt me.” He slowed his thrusting to match the tempo of her tattoo. It had begun crawling against him the moment they joined.
Nothing had prepared her for the sensuality of what was happening. Her blood was lava beneath her flesh. She ached. Breathed into his sinuous strokes. Could feel the waves of another orgasm beginning in her toes.
“Easy love,” he said. “I need more of you yet. Let me take all of you.”
Alex stared hard, lost in him.
“Give me your mouth, Alexedria.”
She leaned into him, confused for a moment, waiting for his lips to touch hers.
“Don't think Alex . . . feel.” Collum drew her tongue into his mouth and blew smoke from his body into hers.
The smoke moved inside her, found the nerve endings of her tattoo. She felt the aching, a calling to her fire. Her flame pulsed against his flesh, bit in, branded him.
With a final thrust they both shattered. As Alex lost control the room around them caught fire, their skin singed in the heat. For a moment, it seemed they were nothing but molten energy in a room aflame with their passion.
As they came back down, Collum pulled his hands from her burning hair, and pushed through the flames to touch the floor. She watched him, fascinated as he closed his eyes. His breathing calmed, a blue light flowed from his hands. The flames on the floor faded. Alex's tattoo slowly released its hold on his skin and curled back to her body. Her skin cooled.
She reached up to touch his shoulder where the tattoo of a perfectly formed flame lay seared into his skin.
“What just happened?”
“Our fire claimed us.”
“But how did you stop the fire in the room?”
He shrugged. “I envisioned what I wanted to happen.”
“Is it always like that?” She groggily curled into him.
Collum stood, lifted her into his arms and carried her to the bed. “No, babe, it is never like that.” He stroked her hair and lay beside her.
“But how did you know I wouldn't hurt you? Did you know my fire would brand you?”
One side of his upper lip curled. “I am where fire began. Flame will always reach for me.”
Collum stretched out, caressed her. She let him, finally feeling safe and utterly full.
As she let go of the night, she remembered what he'd called her. “Wait, why did you call me Alexedria?”
She caught his grin as her eyes drifted shut.
“Because, baby, it's your name.”