Malek growled, his senses coming alert all at once as the curse let him free from its grasp.
Her scent infused him; she smelled of desire and need. Her lips tasted of eagerness and something he hadn't tasted in decades...
Innocence.
Could it really be? His eyes snapped open. Could Sharra still be an innocent? The thought excited his senses and deepened his desire.
He rolled over pinning her to the mattress. She'd been warned to stay away until he rose for the evening, yet the stubborn woman refused to obey the simplest of commands. If his Sire hadn't given him leave to take a keeper of his very own, Sharra would be in serious danger for the stunt she'd just pulled. Raven House law stated that a woman had no rights of her own. Any woman found in the house after the sun set was fair game for any vampire male who found her, obliged by rules older than time to obey their every wish and whim.
He'd decided within moments of being granted permission to choose a keeper that Sharra would that person, in effect keeping her safe under his protection from the other men in the house. As his keeper she would finally belong to him, but until the ceremony she was at risk if found in his bed.
A slow throaty chuckle escaped his throat. He'd always wanted a human lover he could bite into orgasmic bliss and she had just granted his wish with one bold move. Seeing her surprised expression he grinned evilly. "Good evening Sharra."
"Malek, you're awake!"
"You sound surprised pet. I must say this is definitely the nicest way I've been woken in ages. But you know this isn't where you were told to meet me."
A frown caressed her lips at his grin. He knew she hated being ordered about.
"I'm no one's slave Malek and I missed you."
"No you certainly aren't that Sharranna. But you could be mine. I wouldn't object in the least."
"Why you vile, disgusting, despicable excuse for a man."
"You have no idea my pet, none whatsoever, how vile I can be." He released his hold on the desire he felt for her and kissed her again. He expected no resistance since she'd entered his chambers and his bed freely, and he didn't receive any.
Five years of waiting and wanting were set free in her one act of defiance. His hands roamed eagerly down her side to her thigh, slipping under the dress she wore and climbing back up to rest on her hip. Her dress bunched above his left hand, his right holding her chin steady while he plundered her mouth kissing the breath out of her.
Every available area on her body was kissed and licked, tasting her while she moaned pinned to the bed beneath him. Her hands clawed at his back frantically trying to latch onto something, anything to bring them closer together. Frustrated, she grasped the blanket separating them, and ripped it away from his naked body, her hands greedily caressed his ass urging him to finish what she'd started. Malek rested his head on her chest hiding the fangs she wasn't yet aware of, and couldn't learn about until the pledge ceremony binding her to him as Keeper. The desperation in her actions had almost made him forget himself.
He growled low in his throat, eager to enter her willing flesh. His animal sounds pulled her gaze to his and her desire for him, burned in her blue eyes.
But Malek had to make certain she was willing, hear her agreement spoken aloud, as it was clan law. Punishable by death at the hands of Mikael De Wohlf, the head of all the houses if he were to force her against her will. "Do you wish this?"
"Yes, oh dear God, yes, Malek."
His fangs extended at her throaty reply. His Sire would not be pleased with him, yet he couldn't control himself in her presence.
A pity he'd have to fog her memory after their night together to keep her safe. The thought repelled him. He wanted her to remember. If she accepted him as he was, he would allow her to retain her memory of his true nature.
Screw the rules, his Sharra deserved the truth.
Leaning on an elbow, he ran a lone finger along her jaw, tracing a path down her throat into the cleavage of her dress along the swell of her breast. "Are you afraid of me Sharra?"
Rich throaty laughter caressed him while her hands ran silkily up his chest. Malek cupped her breast in his hand, pushed it out of her bra and gave the tender flesh a nip. Her answer pleased him, and he wished to bestow the ultimate honor upon her a human could claim.
Leaning over her, he grinned wolfishly allowing his other self to emerge. Fangs extended, he nipped the buttons off her dress one by one, loving the way she continued to run her hands over him. He peeled the material away from her body, leaving her luscious body exposed before him.
Christmas had come early for him this year it seemed. The look of complete trust and desire showing in her eyes pulled at a part of him he thought long dead. A flick of his wrist and her undergarments were ripped away then tossed across the room. The sight of her naked and willing before him pulled a low growl of appreciation from his throat. "Perfect."
"Yes, you are," she said breathlessly.
He laughed with delight at her praise, and dipped his head taking one perky nipple into his mouth. Sharra arched her back beneath him wanting more and pulling a chuckle from him at her enthusiastically wanton response.
"Malek, don't you dare stop now!"
He bit her nipple in response, drawing just enough blood to send waves of ecstasy through her body and allowing himself a taste of her sweetness. Sharra cried out in pleasure, her nails digging into his shoulders. He moved his mouth to her other nipple giving it the same attention he gave the first, reveling in her response to his ministrations.
"Malek, please!"
Grinning at the plea in her voice, he rained kisses down her stomach to her hip. Teasing her, nipping her inner thigh, her hands tangled in his hair urging him to do what she craved. Malek looked up at her teasingly, slowly trailing kisses back up her body, until he reached her lips. The kiss was pure fire and heat. He'd never get enough of her and he wanted more than he'd intended to give.
)
When young vampire Malek selects his keeper, he makes love to the woman before the official ceremony. For Daemor, Malek's error will provide him with a nubile human to feed from as well as a way to destroy powerful vampire and clan leader Mikael de Wohlf. Familial devotion, honor, and love are at stake for the three men.
