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  "We should have the rest of the clan here for dinner,” Lucinda said, clapping her hands together as if it were the most marvelous of ideas. “It can be an engagement party for Marshal and me and also introduce Marissa to the clan."

  "That's not necessary,” Marissa began to say, staring at the tall, voluptuous brunette. But she was interrupted.

  "Of course, it's necessary,” Lucinda said, waving away her protests.

  "Lucinda, stop it,” Lukah growled. “Come, Marissa, let's get you settled. Uncle,” he said, “I shall leave you to deal with this."

  "Deal with what, Lukah? I just wish for Marissa and me to be friends, that's all. Maybe we could ask her to be part of the wedding?"

  Lukah felt Marissa's hand sneak into his. He knew his cousin could be hell to deal with and he gave it a small squeeze. “Come,” he said quietly, smiling down at her. He picked up her suitcase, starting toward the stairs, ignoring the rest of what Lucinda had to say.

  "She can be loud and obnoxious but she won't hurt you,” he said gently. “She's threatened by you."

  "Threatened by me?” Marissa asked, her tone incredulous. She glanced down at her jeans and tee shirt and then back at Lucinda's flamboyant dress, her thick hair free around her shoulders like a satiny black cape. She had curves to kill for and an exotic beauty that drew men's eyes. “She's gorgeous. There's no way she's threatened by me."

  "You really don't know, do you?” Lukah said, stopping at the top of the stairs.

  "Don't know what?” she asked, confused.

  "How absolutely breathtaking you are,” he finished, his hands going to her face to hold her still. He kissed her gently, his lips brushing over hers, his palms cupping her cheeks. “You make my heart pound in my chest every time I set eyes upon you. I can't look away. I'm afraid if I do, you'll disappear and be nothing more than a figment of my loneliness."

  "You're lonely?” she asked, startled.

  "Only when you aren't with me,” he said before kissing her again, carefully, slowly. Even though they'd made love and been as intimate as two people can be, he still didn't want to frighten her away. “Now, we have a matter to discuss.” He drew her further down the hall and opened the door to the room she'd stayed in the last time. “You can stay here or...” he waved towards his own room.

  "You're giving me a choice?"

  "Of course."

  "Hmmm,” she hummed, her finger tapping against her lips as if pondering a huge decision. “I can sleep in this beautiful room, amidst all the fine things that are in here, in that heavenly bed, or,” she looked up at him, “I can sleep in your arms. I choose your arms,” she whispered. “Just don't hurt me, please Lukah."

  His smile didn't fade but it didn't shine as bright, hearing those last words from her lips. Would she consider it a betrayal when she found out about his secret, when she found out about the clan? Would she understand that he didn't have a choice?

  "I don't ever want to hurt you,” he said, pulling her close to him. “I'd rather tear off my arms than hurt you.” Wrapping his arms around her, he kissed her gently. Then he picked up her suitcase and slid his hand down her arm, finding her hand and twining her fingers with his. He lifted her hand to his lips, trying to hide the worry in his eyes and pulled her to his room.

  "I had my housekeeper empty out a couple of drawers for you,” he admitted sheepishly as he showed her the dresser.

  "That sure of yourself?” she asked him, a sparkle of mischief making her purple-gray eyes dance.

  "No, that hopeful,” he said, a grin lighting his face. “Can you blame me?” He pulled her against him, his arms wrapping around her waist to lift her off her feet, twirling her around until she laughed, begging him to stop. Letting her slide down his body, he bent his head, his lips finding hers, showing her how hungry he was for her.

  Heat slammed through him, followed quickly by a fierce sense of want that almost brought him to his knees. The panther inside of him struggled for control, wanting desperately to show her his true self. It screamed its fury at being trapped, making him a bit rougher then he wanted to be.

  Tearing himself from her, he sank down on the bed, his hands in fists, his shoulders tightly held. Tension emanated from him like heat.

  "Lukah?” she asked, her voice husky with her own need.

  "Give me a minute, Rissa,” he growled, refusing to look at her. He knew his eyes were glowing, he could feel the change in them. “I want you too much. I don't want you to fear me."

  He could hear her move; he could smell her scent and knew an instant before she touched him. Her hands were soft, warm and gentle on his skin, making him feel cherished, showing him her tenderness. Like a flower to the sun, he raised his head, wanting more of the compassion and affection that she showered upon him.

  "I can't fear you,” she whispered. “I've never felt like this with any man.” She slid her arms around his neck, bending down to find his lips. “Make love to me,” she moaned.

  He spun, dropping her to her back on the bed, following her down. His hands were in her luscious red curls, holding her still as he devoured her mouth, his tongue exploring her, tasting her, demanding her response. She gave it, holding on to him, pushing him back on the bed to rise above him. He felt her hands on his shirt, her nimble fingers running over the buttons, loosening them one by one.

  He sat up, shrugging out of his shirt, her hands going to his wide shoulders. Barely breaking the heat of their kiss, he pulled her tee shirt up and over her head. His hands explored the lace and silk she wore under the plain cotton, finally pulling away to gaze upon her pale curves. “What is this?” he growled, his hand sliding over the silk that covered her slender waist.

  "A teddy,” she breathed. “You weren't the only one who was hopeful."

  Heat blazed through him at her answer and his eyes glowed with need. “I want to see it all,” he rasped, his fingers going to her jeans. He fumbled with the button and then the zipper, feeling the silky material beneath his hand.

  Marissa helped him, kicking off her shoes and lifting her hips so that he could pull her tight jeans off her long legs. A flush of warmth rose to her cheeks, turning them pink as his eyes caressed her body like a physical touch.

  The bit of silk and lace that covered her slender form was almost the same color as her eyes, just a bit darker. It made her skin look so fair, a perfect contrast to the wealth of fiery curls that fell like an aura around her face and shoulders. He ran his fingers over the soft silk that was curved to her shape, flicking over the bits of lace and the tiny buttons that ran down the front of the sexy underwear.

  "If I'd known you were wearing this earlier,” he growled low in his throat, “we wouldn't have made it here.” He traced over the small vees that hid her breasts from his sight. Her nipples were erect, making small bumps in the material. He bent his head, suckling them in his mouth, wetting the fabric until it was almost transparent.

  Sucking hard, he pulled his head back, drawing a long moan from her. Then he switched to the other breast. The air, cold on the wet fabric, sent shivers of response curling from the abandoned breast into her belly. Her hands went to his hair, tunneling through the silky soft waves, holding his head to her.

  He loved the way her hands felt in his hair and he moved his big head, rubbing against her palms and her fingers as if stroking her. He purred around her nipple, sending tiny shock waves through her system. She arched beneath his mouth, gasping his name.

  "Do that again,” he ordered, lifting his head.

  "What?” she asked, shaken by the pleasure zinging through her system.

  "Say my name like that, like you can't get me out of your head, like you'll die if you can't have me. Let me hear the want in your voice,” he said huskily, tracing his fingers over her face. Then he moved them, sliding his hand between her thighs and stroking two fingers over the thick swollen lips of her sex.

  She sighed his name again, closing her eyes as blissful sensations stole through her.

  "Ye
s, just like that. Was this expensive?"

  "No, not really,” she moaned.

  "Good.” He grasped each side, pulling steadily until the material shredded in his powerful hands. Yanking the tiny straps from her shoulders, he pulled the ruined teddy from under her, leaving her naked.

  Marissa squeaked, staring down at the shredded teddy in his hands before he tossed it over his shoulder. She opened her mouth to speak, only to find his lips on hers, desperate, needy, filling her mouth with his tongue.

  He kissed her, long, ravenously, as if he'd never have enough of her taste. His hands cupped her breasts, flicking his thumbs over the hard nipples that stiffened even more under his touch. Taking them between his fingers, he rolled and pulled on the torrid buds, hearing her whimpers and moans, feeling her squirming under him.

  Lukah tore his mouth from hers, burying his face in her neck before slowly moving down her slender form. His lips moved over her collarbone, laving sensitive flesh, nibbling at the upper curve of her breast, using his tongue to draw circles on her skin that grew smaller and smaller until he curled it around one hard nipple.

  * * * *

  Marissa felt as if she were being devoured. His mouth was hot, hard with passion. Lukah seemed wild in his need for her, drawing an equally wild response from her. She couldn't stop touching him. His head, his shoulders, sliding her fingers as far down his back as they would reach.

  Her head fell back against the pillow as he chewed on her sensitive nipple, ripples of contracting pleasure exploding in her womb. His jeans rubbed against her legs, the rough fabric another kind of caress as she wrapped her thighs around him, holding him close.

  She felt his pressing knee, bumping rhythmically against her sex. Groaning, she rubbed against his denim-clad knee, dampening the material with the juices that flowed copiously from between her thighs. “Lukah!” she cried, frustrated at feeling so empty.

  He slid down her slender body, his hands holding her hips, his tongue exploring the slight hollow of her navel and making her squirm. “Stop teasing,” she ordered, her hands on his shoulders, fluttering there uncertainly, as if she didn't know whether to yank him up or push him down.

  Lukah solved her dilemma, slipping between her thighs and burying his mouth in the wetness of her sex. His tongue slurped as he collected her juices, humming at the sweet taste of her.

  Every time his tongue touched her clit, she jerked as if struck by lightning, her body shaking with the need to climax. Pleasure hovered, so close she could almost touch it, but just out of her reach. Her hips jerked, and she tried to thrust them toward him, frustrated by the hands that held her still.

  He played for a few moments, teasing her, smiling up at her when she moaned or cried, laughing when she angrily demanded his attention with her thrusts. “Do you want to come?” he asked her finally.

  "God yes, please,” she begged, her hands coming up to squeeze her breasts, pulling and tugging upon her nipples. “Please, Lukah. Make me come."

  His smile was hard. “Hold on to me,” he ordered, barely waiting for her hands to dig into his hair before he began again, in earnest. He attacked the hard knot of flesh, licking, biting, pinching with his fingers. She screamed above him, her hips thrusting wildly into his face. But he didn't stop there. Pushing two fingers into her heated folds, he fucked her with long, hard strokes, changing his rhythm until he found one that suited her.

  A keening whine came from between her lips as he found erogenous zones she never knew she had. Pleasure built wave upon wave until her nails dug into his skin, a flush of fiery heat bursting over her, leaving behind shivery gooseflesh. Her muscles grew taut, her toes curled, her heels dug at the mattress, trying to get closer and then it was done, small aftershocks trembling through her.

  Her eyes were closed, a small smile upon her parted lips. She tried to draw air into her heaving lungs. She groaned when he pulled free of her, felt his weight leave her body and opened her eyes.

  "I wish I could take a picture of you like this,” he sighed, staring at her from where he stood next to the bed. “There's just something so incredibly sexy about how you look after you come."

  "Now I know you're sick,” she mused. “It's just wrong to find blotchy red spots and smeared makeup sexy. I don't even want to know what my hair looks like.” Marissa sat up with a groan of effort, scooting to the side of the bed, just that tiny bit of friction upon her sex making her shiver. “Come here."

  "Is that an order?” Lukah said, a sexy smile hovering over his lush lips.

  "Yes,” Marissa said, grinning at him.

  He stood in front of her, his jeans unable to hide the long ridge of his cock. “Poor baby,” she said softly, stroking her hand over that ridge. “You give and give and haven't received."

  "I get a lot of pleasure from watching you come,” he said, his hips moving under her caress.

  "I wasn't talking to you,” she spouted with a smile, glancing up at him.

  "Oops,” he smirked. “My bad. Go on."

  Her hands were running over that long bulge, squeezing him through the heavy denim. She reached out, pulling open his belt buckle and then the buttons on the front of his jeans until she could slide her hand inside. “Oh, now I feel really bad,” she cooed. “All slicked up and no place to come."

  Lukah chuckled even as his cock seemed to respond to her words and touch, growing even harder if that was possible. She'd made him into putty in her hands and he wouldn't have it any other way.

  Tugging on his jeans with one hand, she kept the other inside his shorts, stroking him, teasing his shaft, tickling under the flared head. His hands came to help her, yanking down his jeans and his shorts in one harsh move.

  His cock laid on her hand, throbbing and hard, tiny drops of glistening liquid looking like dew upon its shaft. She wrapped her hand around him, her fingers barely meeting around his girth. Pulling him closer, she leaned forward and let her tongue lap at the spongy head.

  His moan was sweet in her ears, his taste hot and heavy in her mouth. The desire to please him beat like a heavy heartbeat through her veins. With hands that trembled, she slid her palms up the back of his legs, trailing her nails over his taut ass. He jerked and swore, his curse sounding more like a plea. With a smile, she opened her mouth, taking him in, slowly suckling on every inch she drew between her soft lips.

  "God,” Lukah groaned, his hand twining in her fiery hair. His head fell back, his muscles tightening under the pleasure of her lips. “That's so good."

  Her tongue swirled, teasing the underside of his cock, sucking him in until she felt him touch the back of her throat. She swallowed, tasting him with a joy she couldn't hide.

  She moved her mouth over him, his moans urging her on further. She wanted to taste him, she wanted to feel him come in her mouth, to taste of his seed. But he had other ideas, pulling away from her.

  His chest heaved, his eyes were liquid gold. Growling low in his throat, he pounced on her, pushing her down on the bed. Lukah's lips came down upon hers, his hands insistent upon her skin. He pressed between her thighs, spreading them wide, his cock rubbing with intimate intentions against her thick lower lips.

  With one hard thrust, he pushed inside of her. Marissa gasped, pleasure spreading through her loins, surging into her thighs. She grabbed hold of his arms, holding on to him with desperate insistence. Her nails dug into his arms, his hands gripping her hips harder in response. She knew he'd leave bruises when he was done, but she didn't care. The wildness of him called to her. It was as if he'd opened a new part of her, a part that had been shoved so far down inside, she hadn't known about it.

  He was up on his arms, his stomach brushing against hers with every thrust. His golden gaze swept over her before he bent his head, kissing her as if he couldn't get enough of the taste of her lips. Marissa wrapped her legs around his waist, moving eagerly against him.

  "Mmm, yes,” she moaned. Pushing against his shoulder, she forced him to his back, coming above him to ride astride h
is loins. Her hands rose, running over her body, stroking her breasts. Her hips moved hard and fast, her breath coming in harsh pants. But it still wasn't enough. She pulled herself off of him, turning onto her hands and knees.

  "Fuck me,” she begged him.

  * * * *

  Excitement slid through his stomach as he watched her wiggle her ass in anticipation of his possession. Did she know what she was asking of him? She couldn't, there was no way she could have any idea what it could mean to them, to her. “Marissa,” he groaned, rising up on his knees behind her, “I can't take you this way."

  "Why not?” she groaned, unable to help but reach between her legs and stroke the wet folds of her sex.

  "In my clan,” he began, his eyes on her hand, “if I take you in this way you become mine."

  "Yours?” Marissa's tone was confused, her eyes dazed with need. She reached back, grasping his thigh and pulling him closer. “I am yours,” she sighed.

  "Marissa ... no, wait,” he groaned, feeling the intense heat surround his cock as she pulled him into her. “We can't ... ahhh!” He yanked her up, pulling her back and into his chest, his cock slowly filling her. His hand skimmed up the front of her body, his palm sliding hotly over her skin, holding her tightly to him. He growled, his tongue sliding around the whorl of her ear. “I can't stop."

  "Don't stop,” she moaned, shivering in his arms. “Don't ever stop."

  Behind her back, Lukah lifted his head, his eyes glowing golden fire. His teeth grew, fangs sprouting. He moved against her, sliding out of her sweet flesh before slamming back in. He could feel the beginning of the bonding. If he came in her, the ritual would be complete; her body would change and they would be mated, for life.

  Elation shot through him at the thought of keeping her by his side for always. He pushed her down on all fours, his eyes roaming over her. All he had to do was to bite down upon her neck, hold her still for his possession and come inside her sweet pussy. Then they would be together for ever.