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“What did you say about the Preacher?” he asked, not releasing his hold.

She smiled and snuggled closer into his embrace, absorbing the heat from his body to stave off the lingering chill from her nightmare.

“It isn’t nice to eavesdrop on other people’s private thoughts.”

“I wasn’t eavesdropping,” he replied as he stroked her hair, letting it spread across his chest like silky fingertips, exciting and arousing him. “You were broadcasting loud and clear. You need to watch your barriers to protect your thoughts from any interlopers that may be lurking about.”

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She frowned. He was right. Losing her mother the way she did, she never did learn to control her gift. That was why she had chosen to live so isolated from others. She couldn’t block her own transmitting thoughts, let alone block those that others transmitted to her.

“Don’t worry,” he assured her. “I will teach you all you need to know to conceal your thoughts.”

“Where are we?”

“My home in the city.”

“Yes, I assumed that, but where?”

“A loft in Royal Oak—just one of my homes.”

She smiled and snuggled against his chest. She stroked the skin over his heart as she sighed in contentment.

“I don’t really know you, Valya. I was a child when you took me to Duncan. I’ve only seen you in my dreams. Yet, I feel so very safe with you, as if I’ve known you all my life.”

“I have always been near, watching you,” he admitted freely. “I only wish there was more I could have done to protect you, keep you safe.” She sensed his guilt as he remembered his failures, each a regretful occurrence driving her further and further away from him. His inability to save Adelaide, leaving her to grow up without a mother’s love, was for him unforgivable.

But for Richelle, who was able to feel his sorrow and regret for his failure and her isolation, forgiving was as easy and natural as breathing.

“You’ve done more than many men would do.”

“I’m not a man—I am a Guardian and I should have been able to protect you.”

She placed a kiss in the center of his chest as he held her tight.

“You are here now…and I feel safe.”

She felt his guilt melt away like winter snow with the coming of spring.

He had to stop dwelling on the past. She was with him now…that was all that mattered. In almost every way, her life had been as empty and colorless as his. Yes, she had achieved her goal of becoming a veterinarian, but she had no family, no friends, and no fun in her life.

Not only did her sparse life lack emotional intimacy, there was also no physical intimacy. She stroked her hand over his bare chest, and his body hardened beneath her touch. She found she enjoyed touching him. There

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was still some part of her mind cautioning her to run and hide, but she, too, would have to stop dwelling on the past.

“What time is it?” Richelle mumbled, her eyes still closed.

Valya glanced at the clock by the bed.

“Eight o’clock.”

Yawning, Richelle pushed herself up from Valya’s chest to sit up.

“It feels later than that,” she murmured a little louder, wiping the sleep from her eyes. She barely remembered their journey, but it was still dark when Valya had picked her up and tried to comfort her. With the way she felt, she was surprised she had only slept a few hours.

“It’s eight
p.m.
,” Valya offered, answering Richelle’s unspoken observation. “You slept through the day.”

Richelle stared at him incredulously, absorbing the information. While she had adapted her lifestyle to that of a second shift, she had never slept an entire day. She would rise around noon, have her breakfast, and prepare to face the outside world. She was so amazed, all she could manage to say was a half-hearted “oh” before she cocooned herself back under the covers and nestled her head against Valya’s shoulder.

* * * *

Despite the outward appearance she portrayed as she lay in his arms, her head resting upon his chest, she still exuded an air of distance. Though she appeared relaxed and rested, he could feel an agitation festering beneath her skin like an infection that needed to be cut out.

She kept everything bottled up inside. He could sense her fear in reaching out for an emotional lifeline and her fear of losing another person she loved. Valya recognized he would need to go slow, take his time, and earn her trust, no matter how he ached for her. He would give her a legendary courtship, taken from the pages of a fairy tale. She deserved to be romanced. Seduced. He would give her all he had before he took her for his bride. He wanted her desperately to the point of pain. He hoped it wouldn’t take so long to erase all her nervousness and fears. While he didn’t want to take a nervous bride to bed, he wasn’t sure how long he could hold out, especially when her fingertips skittered over his skin, leaving a tingling trail in their wake.

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“Do you wish to sleep longer?” Valya asked as he absentmindedly stroked her back. He had noticed the dark circles beneath her eyes, barely fading after a long sleep, and was concerned. It had all been a shock to her, and she was still adjusting to the newness, the profound changes she had to accept in a very short time. And the changes yet to come.

“No. I’ll get up in a moment.” She lay quietly as he continued to stroke her back. As her breathing became more even at his soft caress, his became harsher, more erratic. Just feeling her skin beneath his hand was enough to have him wanting more. He wanted more than to touch her. He needed to absorb her very essence into him, her taste, her smell.

His body trembled at her nearness, her innocence. He had vowed to take things slow with Richelle. He needed to give her time to adjust, but he didn’t know how much longer he would last.

The ancient instinct to take first claiming, to take her virgin’s blood in the cave, had been almost overwhelming. His skin was on fire at her touch and his canines ached to descend and fully taste her, to truly become life mates.

Lying with her as the evening rose, he could feel an aura of serenity surrounding them and instilling him with a peace he had never known. He knew Richelle could sense it as well. The vibrating power coursing through his blood evened out and became steady as he continued to hold her. .

“This is nice,” she remarked idly as she closed her eyes and let the security and peace wash over her.

“Nice?” he chortled. “With you in my arms, the last thing I feel is nice.”

She smiled at his sentimental words.

“What I meant is I’ve never felt this safe before. Not ever.”

His throat clenched at her blunt words.
Never felt this safe before?
It was a cardinal law among Immortals to protect and cherish their women and their children, but above all else, their children, as they held the future. No child should ever live in fear, afraid of the world and those around them. He held her closer, letting her sweetness seep into his pores and trying to squelch the desire to go out and destroy those who had hurt her.

“You will never be haunted again. I give you my promise.”

She pulled away and looked up at him, her eyes misty, and filled with admiration and trust.

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“I know.” She raised her hands and let her fingertips trace along his lower lip.

Who knew a man whose muscles had the feel of steel would have lips as
soft as velvet.

His body hummed at her thoughts. Her skin was so soft against his lips.

The slip she wore was for her modesty, but was a thin barrier as he felt her hardened nipples against his chest. She pressed her body to him as she tipped her head back. Her lips were slightly parted, inviting him to kiss her.

His stomach tightened at the appetizing vision—her peaches-and-cream complexion tinged pink in maidenly virtue and her strawberry red lips lush and plump, ripened sweetness he had to taste.

He accepted her invitation with nibbling kisses. He nipped and sucked her lower lip while he licked along the upper. Parting her teeth with his tongue, he delved into her mouth. His tongue swept in and around, tickling her palate and cheeks before it touched the tip of her tongue.

He reached up, capturing her hair in his grasp, and covered her mouth with his. She held perfectly still as the kiss deepened, his tongue stroking hers. She sighed softly, tilting her head to the side, giving him better access to her mouth. He took advantage of her movements to ravage her mouth, his tongue twining with hers.

Without breaking their kiss, he sat up and moved her to sit upon his lap, wrapping her legs about his waist. She gasped into his mouth as his cock nestled into the juncture of her thighs. He didn’t give her a moment to think as he ardently kissed her. She raised her arms in shock and then, as he continued to slant his mouth over hers, she rested her hands upon his shoulders.

Rumbling in satisfaction, he slid his hands along the sides of her throat.

She shivered when he lightly traced down to the straps of her slip and slid them off her shoulders. Slowly, he trailed lingering kisses to the underside of her chin, down her throat to her shoulders. Richelle tipped her head farther allowing her hair to drift along her back.

Valya pulled his head away to look at her. Her slip stretched across her full breasts, outlining her areoles. He bent his head and sucked her nipple into his mouth through the silky fabric. She moaned as she ran her fingers through his hair to pull his mouth closer to her breast.

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He flicked his tongue over the fabric, bringing her nipple erect. Opening his mouth, he ran his tongue over the bud before enveloping it. He sucked hard, eliciting a squeal from Richelle. She gripped his hair tighter. He sucked her teat harder.

When he had her panting, he switched his attentions to the other breast, repeating his actions until her nipple was fully erect as well. He pulled his head back to admire his handiwork. The wet fabric clung to every bump and showed the slight pink coloring of her areole.

Using his pinky, he tugged the fabric down to reveal her breasts. They were luscious and deliciously inviting. He bent his head to suck the sweet treat into his mouth while his hand cupped her other breast. Her hips rocked against his erection as he continued his suckling. He bit down on her nipple and Richelle yelped, thrusting her hips forward.

Valya smiled and switched to her other breast, treating it to the same pleasure as Richelle continued to moan and thrash in his lap. Reaching between them, he placed his hand over her pussy. She jumped at his touch.

“Valya!”

He didn’t respond—he just rested his hand there as he flicked his tongue over the very tip of her nipple. It didn’t take long for her to relax into his touch. He began to toy with her damp curls. He slid his finger along her slit, aided by her dewy desire, until he found her hidden nub.

“Valya, what are you…oh, oh.”

He growled and she shifted faster against his rigid proof of desire. She moaned louder, throwing her head back. He flicked his tongue faster as he played with her clit. His cock began to leak. He desperately wanted to be in her as she came, but he wanted to give her this moment even more. He wanted her to know the pleasure he would give her for eternity.

“Oh, please…please.”

“That’s it, that’s it. Reach for it and I promise I’ll teach you to fly.” He opened wide, covering her fleshy mound, and sucked hard as he squeezed her clit. Her body began to shake

“Oh, my…oh, Goddess,” she yelled, clinging to him. He released her breast to watch her as she came. She wore an expression of sheer bliss as beads of perspiration formed on her forehead. He opened his mind to share her pleasure. She held her breath through the waves of ecstasy he created within her.

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He rocked his hand against her pussy to bring her down gently from the pinnacle he had taken her to. When her aftershocks subsided, she dropped her forehead to his.

“I never…” she panted, trying to catch her breath.

“I know,” he replied and then kissed her quickly. He pulled his hand away, her cream sticky on his fingers. He brought them to his mouth and sucked her sweet taste while she watched. Her eyes grew large as he licked his fingers clean.

When he was done, he stared at her mouth. He wanted to kiss her.

Actually, he knew what it was like to kiss her. He wondered what it would be like for her to kiss him—to have her take the lead and show him how she wanted to be kissed. His hunger grew at the thought of how she would press her lips to his—would she be sweet, or demanding, or curious. He growled at the thought.

“Kiss me,” he commanded. Tentative at first, she did as he ordered. She leaned in and touched her lips to his.
Such a shy little temptress,
he mused.

He remained still as she mimicked what he had done, licking and sucking his lips before covering his mouth with hers. She parted her lips as she gently wriggled her tongue between his lips. Their tongues met, dancing slowly together.

Her kiss was soft and delectable, yet she could stir the beast within him.

Wanting more, he sucked her tongue into his mouth, inviting her to explore his mouth in much the same way he had explored hers. She was an avid student, copying the movements of his tongue as she traced his palate with the same tickling wriggles, tasting the sides of his mouth before running her tongue along his teeth.

It was when she ran her tongue over his extended canines that she pulled back with a start.

* * * *

She expected to find sharp fangs, but was surprised when she actually felt the points at the end of the incisors. She still pulled away from Valya, as nervous as a cat in a rocking chair factory.

They were so different…he was an Immortal. But more so, everything was moving so fast. These new experiences left her wanting more from

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Valya, from life. But how does a child who never learned to walk learn to run? Her body craved Valya in ways she’d never imagined; her mind rationalized to back off and think things through; and her heart needed time to catch up.