Beyond Temptation

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN



Malec locked the bedroom door with her still in his arms. The sadness and regret rolled off her in waves. She cared for that man. Much as it is deviled him, Malec had to admit Ramsey formidable by mortal standards. The human had strong instincts, too.



The two lamps left on from earlier brought out the uniqueness of her coloring. Avery stared up at him as he laid her back on the bed. “How do you know that girl, Sophia?”



He considered his answer. “She was a plaything.”



“Your lover?”



Removing his ruined shirt, he let it fall to the floor. He knelt to pull off her boots and heavy socks. She’d painted the neat nails of her beautifully arched feet a pale pink. He took them in his hands, rubbing the bottoms strongly with his thumbs. “There was nothing loving about it.”



“Did you know the girl who died?”



The return of arousal began to heat his blood. “I did.”



“How?” Her tone made it clear she needed to talk before committing to further intimacy.



It had proven so much simpler when he hadn’t cared.



Malec released her feet, stood and then sat on the bed’s edge. He bared his own feet and then removed his trousers. Watching her regard move over him, he replied. “She was a party girl in an elite echelon. I saw her at a few social events.”



Avery turned onto her side. “Did you have sex with her, too?”



Malec removed his final garment. Her eyes fastened on his groin and widened. Taking the cell phone from her hand, he placed it on the bedside table. “No.”



Avery seemed to have difficulty dragging her gaze up to meet his. She told him, “I went into the stable this morning.”



He began undressing her. Her tunic sweater came off first. “And?” The plain light blue bra she wore emphasized her innocence, her lack of appreciation for her own beauty.



“I saw that stallion’s face.”



“Is there something you wish to ask me?” He unbuttoned and pulled down the corduroy pants she wore, trailing his knuckles over her belly and thighs. The muscles in her stomach tightened.



“I see you only at night. Dead girls and missing ones are linked to your name.” She inhaled deeply. “That horse has some serious weird. What am I supposed to think?”



“Have a question to ask?” Malec disliked having her ignorance between them. It suited him to get the truth of his nature out in the open.



She reached to touch him. Her palm smoothed down his side. “I need reassurance.”



Malec bridled. “You suspect me of something you refuse to acknowledge.” He removed her undergarments and dropped them onto the floor. His erection flexed and sexual hunger mingled in him with thirst.



Avery replied, “There’re far more questions than answers. I just know I have hurt a good man to spend tonight with you.” Shyly, she drew the bed cover across her body.



Malec gazed down at her. “I am not a good man, Avery. All the same, I will be good to you.” He could see she had begun to tremble. Fear still dwelt amid her attraction to him. He stretched out beside her, sliding his arm on the mattress under to pillow her head. She turned it to look at him. Malec stroked her face. “Do you believe me?”



“I don’t know.” A frown line appeared between her brows. “I’m lying in your bed naked, and still I have this nagging whisper in the back of my mind warning you’re dangerous.”



“Not to you.” He meant it. Most of the problem in dealing with Ramsey hinged upon her feelings for the man. If Malec had to kill him, it meant hurting her. He didn’t want to. He would have to convince Ramsey of the unhealthiness of continuing his little inquest concerning Sophia, and his more personal pursuit of Avery. He stroked her throat and shoulders, watching her warm under his touch. Slowly, he brought his face to hers. “Have you finished talking?”



Her aggressive reaction surprised him. Avery rolled on top of him, pushing him over onto his back. For several moments, he just laid there, letting her kiss him, play with his hair and explore his shoulders and chest. Then, he sensed her desire for his domination.



Malec obliged, quite happy to act in his more natural role. He reversed their positions. Her little cry of delight rewarded him. Gripping a fistful of her glorious hair, he drew back, arching her throat. He dragged the cover she’d put over herself from between them. “I’ve dreamed of feeling your breasts pressed to me, you under me and submissive.”



She moaned as he helped himself to the sensitive flesh of her neck. His blood teeth lowered partially beyond his control before he could force them to retract. The scent of receptiveness drove him almost mad as he dragged it deep into his lungs. He growled and shifted lower to taste her nipples. They had already tightened. Her hips bucked as he sucked one into his mouth and captured the other between his fingers.



Impatience seized him. He switched breasts, flicking the other even harder nipple with his tongue and pushing his hand down her body. He combed through the silky little wedge of feminine hair to the already swollen and parted petals of her quim. His erection bucked and a bolt of sexual lightning shot down his spine.



Her nails raked his back. She whimpered. He delved his fingers into her, savoring the slick, tight walls. He sank deep, finding the barrier of her virginity. It had thickened over time, and would cause considerable pain in breaking.



Avery panted, “Just hands and mouth tonight.”



He hated waiting any longer. Still, he had to remember he’d had sex for centuries. This remained new to her.



He didn’t have to wait to get his mouth on her.



She screamed and thrashed as he scooted lower and devoured her very hot sweet cunt. The flavor of her made his cock almost burn, swelling further. He closed his eyes, lost to her pleasure and his greed for her.



Her keening and crying became louder and her thighs gripped him, trembling and so silky against his neck and cheeks. He pressed them wider, tasting far up into her with his very greedy tongue.



She climaxed and the pearly wealth of it in his mouth became his prize.





Avery realized she had fainted. She jerked back to wakefulness, realizing she lay atop Malec. The evidence of his unfulfilled passion flexed against her belly. Lifting her head, she peeked up at him.



The way his black-brown irises with their gold streaks glowed made her wonder if some inner fire burned in her dark lover.



My Dark Beloved. The words from those letters caused her to tremble. She truly understood now.



Malec’s thighs separated hers. When he slid his feet up the bed and bent his knees, she scooted forward on his body. Sitting upright, her bottom on his hard belly, his rigid erection at her back, she tried to close her thighs.



He stopped her. “Don’t.” His elegant dark hands arranged her, keeping her bottom on his middle, her feet on the bed beside. Those intimidating eyes lowered and she felt his study on her suzy.



Blushing hotly, she covered herself with her hands.



He placed one of his over hers. “You must have done this for yourself. Show me.”



Her entire body flushed in a scalding embarrassment. “Don’t talk like that.”



“Why?” He temporarily looked at her face rather than female portions. “Show me, ma fetishe.”



A swift rush of arousal swept through her. His bent legs at her back offered support. She leaned back and began to stroke herself. “Malec,” she moaned, recalling the flavor of his mouth.



“Yes, I am right here.”



She stimulated her clit, lost in the decadence of this display. His big fingers pushed into her needy suzy. She knew she would orgasm soon. “Malec, I’ll get off and you haven’t yet.”



“Get yourself off and let me watch. Then make me come.”



Avery brought herself to peak with his big fingers helping. She trembled violently as she maneuvered to take his very scary-in-proportion penis into her mouth.



He tasted wild, spicy and forbidden.



Malec lie upon his back as she knelt at his side, his big penis a sweet to savor. She licked him all over, cupped his tight, though heavy balls.



He gave an unnatural roar of release. Sweet, delicious male orgasm pelted the back of her throat.