"I don't live with Preston." Erinna glanced away, her heart sinking. A passionate man like Donal wasn't likely to understand her need to mate with Preston. Nor was he the kind to permit another man to share his girlfriend.
She bit her lip. Why had she never realized how complicated finding her lovemate would be? Not only would he have to accept that she was an alien, he would have to understand how dependent she was on her sexmate.
According to Ailunnean custom, she owed Preston her body after he shapeshifted, and he would return the favor if some dangerous situation forced her into shapeshifting. That happened rarely, but it did happen.
She sighed. It was something else she would have to explain later--after she'd forged a love-bond with this man. "Preston and I are just old friends. We've known each other for ages."
Donal lifted an eyebrow and gave her a knowing look. "I have a few old friends like that myself." He popped his last few berries into his mouth and stood. "All gone," he mumbled, raising his hands to show his berry-stained palms. "I'm going back for seconds."
"Allow me." She stood up beside him and held out her hand.
Moaning deep in his throat as desire shot through his loins, he stepped closer to her, towering over her by at least half a head. He stared into her face. A teasing smile played over her lips. She raised her open palm still full of berries and took several with the fingers of her other hand. He could swear she was glowing as she lifted her fingers to stuff the three berries into his mouth.
"Yum," he said and chewed the sweet fruit. His lips burned where her fingers touched him. Her touch awakened memories of the night before, memories of a deep sensual pleasure he could not deny.
Swallowing, he caught her hand as she began to withdraw and forced her palm open to lick the small spot of berry juice lingering on the fleshy part of her thumb. He sucked at that part and then trailed kisses to the tip of each finger. She gave a small moan and closed her eyes. He followed that up by tugging her other hand closer and forcing it open to gobble the blackberries, spilling several.
Each time he touched her, more memories seemed to awaken. It was as if some energy flamed between them, mounting in intensity with every touch.
Erinna stared down at her empty hand. "You devil. I'll teach you to eat my blackberries."
With her hands freed of the juicy fruit, she pushed at his chest as if to force him into the stream. He grabbed her arms and pulled her close, crushing her body to his.
Erinna trembled as Donal's strong arms pressed her against him. His masculine heat surrounded her, stirring up her deepest desires. As she gazed into his golden eyes, the problems they faced faded from her mind. Those were the eyes she'd seen in her vision. They had to be. He was her lovemate. Surely, if they united once more, he would feel the eternal bond between them.
Filled with determination, she forced her hands between them and reached for the buttons holding his jeans shut. As she opened them top to bottom, his penis sprang free and nestled into the palm of her hand. She slid her fingers and palm along the meaty length of him, convinced he felt bigger than ever, while she cupped his rounded buttock with her other hand. He groaned deep in his throat and arched against her.
A smile touched her lips. She would seduce him, and bind his heart to hers.
He was her lovemate, the only one she would ever have. According to ancient legend, he was her twin flame, their spirits created by the sparks of Inne and Adoru making love. She wanted--needed--to experience the ultimate bliss of coupling with him.
Abandoning herself to the moment, she knelt and pulled the organ between his legs into her mouth. He tasted salty with sweat as she sucked at his hardness. With a moan, he tangled his fingers in her hair and arched his groin, pushing his cock deeper into her mouth. She fumbled for his balls while she kissed the length of him and then slid her tongue along his throbbing penis.
"Stop, or I'll come." He groaned and stiffened his body as he tried to resist the orgasm mounting like thunder in his blood. "I've never felt anything so incredible."
She let him slip from her mouth and stared up at him. "Relax. I want you to feel good."
He shook his head. "It seems to me I owe you some blackberries."
With a swift movement, he leaned down and tugged her to her feet. She gave in with a shriek of laughter. He pulled her against him and slipped his hands under her T-shirt. His palms pressed against her body, he smoothed them to her breasts and cupped her hardened nipples through her bra. He reached around behind her and unsnapped the piece of lace holding her breasts, then pulled the T-shirt over her head.
"So beautiful," he mumbled and leaned down to suck one hard nipple into his mouth. She tasted sweet and salty. Her essence stoked his sexual desire and flooded his groin with a wild craving to possess her. He fumbled for the button and zipper on her jeans, wanting her naked and writhing beneath him.
He kicked off his boots and stepped out of his jeans, then tugged hers down her legs. She stepped free of them and stood in her panties, with her bra hanging open. He raised his head and caught her lips in a deep searching kiss, while he slid her bra straps down her arms. He flung the garment aside. Next went her panties as he smoothed his hands down her belly and beneath the waistband, then the rest of the way down her body. Her skin felt like satin beneath his palms. He followed their descent with kisses pressed to her abdomen, thighs and knees, and then lower still. Her panties hanging about her ankles, she kicked away the scrap of cloth.
He moved away from her to savor the sight of her flawless body. She gleamed like gold in the bright afternoon light. The brook murmured in the background, while larks and crows called from the treetops. Another wave of desire surged through him and he knew he had to mate with her or die.
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