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  He pulled away, leveling himself over her as he captured her mouth again. She lay trembling beneath him, sated, yet still aching for more. For all of him. Her hands wrapped around his back as she lifted herself against him. He teasingly rubbed the head of his shaft against her. She moaned and arched more frantically as she begged him with her body to take her. He couldn't resist her anymore as he drove into her with a loud groan. She cried out loudly as he stretched and filled her with exquisite heat.

  She met his urgent pace with her own as she rocked against him. Her hands held onto his sweat slickened back as she wrapped her legs around his waist and drew him deeper into her. She relished in the feel of his body against hers. He left a trail of kisses across her face, her ears, and her breasts causing her blood to heat everywhere his mouth touched.

  When he moved away from her neck to kiss her ear, she captured his head with her hands and guided it back to her neck. "Sera," he breathed in her ear. "No."

  "Yes," she whispered. "Yes."

  His body was trembling as he waged an inner battle with himself. A battle she was determined to win. She dug her hands into his hair, refusing to let him move his head away from her neck. She wanted this, she needed this, and she was going to get it. She had to know what it felt like. She eased him closer to her; his breath was warm and ragged against her throat. She felt trepidation trying to steal through her, but she refused to give into it.

  "Please, Liam," she begged. "I need to know. I need to feel."

  He began to slide in and out of her. She lifted herself to take more of him into her as she held his head firmly in place. She moaned; her hands clenched in his hair as she turned her head to allow him better access.

  She could feel the need driving his body savagely into hers. He still resisted. "Sera," he groaned.

  "Please, Liam!"

  Even if he wanted to fight her, he couldn't anymore. He could smell the sweetness of her blood; hear it pounding through her veins. It was too tempting, and she was so willing. He wanted her in every way. He needed to taste her, to have her. Suddenly, he felt like a feral animal, needing to mark its mate as his and only his. With a cry of possession, he sank his teeth deep into her neck.

  She let out a startled cry as pain blazed through her. She fought against it for a second, but then it began to fade, and an overwhelming mix of emotions filled her. She could suddenly feel his overwhelming pleasure as he drank from her and moved within her. She could feel his thoughts and his love. Delight spread through her body as she realized she was helping him, joining with him, and they were one. She was satisfying the deep hunger pulsing through him.

  She moved more quickly against him as his ecstasy spread throughout her entire body and his need became fevered. His urgency drove her to primitive levels she never knew existed, and never dreamed her body and mind could attain. Her nails clawed his back as shivers of delight ripped through her, causing her to arch high and tighten around him as her body shook with unending waves of ecstasy. She felt his orgasm rip through him, felt his pleasure as it poured from him into her mind and body.

  He pulled away from her neck and looked down at her. His mouth was tinged with her blood, and the hungry, frenzied look in his eyes revealed the thing inside of him. But his eyes were also filled with a love so intense it melted her heart and made it impossible for her to look away from him.

  She suddenly realized why he had never fed from her. He didn't want to hurt her. He was afraid whatever was inside of him would take control, and he wouldn't be able to stop himself. She also realized just how hungry he was, how badly he needed blood.

  She let out a breath as anguish for him bloomed in her chest. He touched her face as the turbulent look gradually left his eyes. "Do I scare you?" he whispered.

  She wanted to tell him, no, but she couldn't. "Yes," she admitted. "And no." She stroked his cheek as she sensed the distress her words caused him. "I know you would never hurt me," she whispered. "But—"

  "But, you can't help but be afraid," he finished for her. "I understand."

  She ran her finger over his lips and wiped away her blood. She held it before him, and he took it into his mouth, gently sucking on it. "You're not feeding well," she said.

  He released her finger. "It's all right."

  "No, it's not. Why aren’t you feeding as often as you should?"

  He dropped his hand away and eased himself out of her. He propped his head on his elbow so he could stare down at her. "Sera—"

  "If it's because of me—"

  "It's not because of you," he assured her. "It's just..."

  "You feel guilty," she said as realization dawned on her. She felt an acute sense of guilt, along with relief. She’d thought he also enjoyed being with other women, even if he wasn't sleeping with them. Now she realized he didn't enjoy it, he felt as if he were betraying her, and he was depriving himself because of it.

  "Don't worry about it."

  "Of course I worry about it. I worry about you. I admit it bothered me, but I realize now it's something you have to do to survive. I don't want you depriving yourself because of me."

  "I'm not."

  "Yes, you are. I can feel it in you; your mind was in mine. I could feel your desperation, your need. Don't lie to me about this."

  He caught her hand and dropped a kiss on it. "I'm not lying. Granted, I'm not feeding as well I used to, but I can handle it. Okay?"

  She studied the planes of his face and the firm set of his jaw. "Yes," she said grudgingly. "Does your mind mingle with everyone?"

  He smiled as he began to stroke her shoulder and down toward her breast. "No," he said as her body began to respond to his touch. "Only if I let it. I always keep my mind shut out of theirs, and theirs shut out of mine. It keeps them from knowing what's going on, and I don't care how they feel."

  His finger caressed her nipple and teased it back to erection. "You knew what I was feeling too?" she asked, her voice husky with pleasure.

  "Uh huh, every thought, every sensation." His hand skimmed along her body, and down between her thighs. "Did you enjoy it?"

  "Yes," she whispered. She hadn't thought it was possible after everything she had just experienced, but her body was beginning to ache again.

  His lips traveled down her neck, and then up to her ear. "Good," he murmured as he nibbled at her earlobe.

  "Did you?" she breathed, as he pushed her down and lowered his body over hers.

  "Immensely." His hands traveled over her body as his eyes burned into hers. "Do you want to try something else?" he asked as his fingers slid into her.

  She stared into his eyes as her body came alive with electricity. She ran her hands along his back, feeling the tautness of his skin, the sweat still coating them both, and the texture of his muscles.

  "What?" she asked, her voice choked with passion.

  "You can taste me," he said as the demanding movement of his hand caused her to moan. "Not enough to change you, but enough to let you inside of me again."

  He kissed her neck; his tongue flickered out to brush against her flesh. "Do you want to?" he groaned.

  He lifted his head to look into her eyes, kissing her, as his hand slipped away from her. It was the hopeful look in his eyes that made her want to do anything for him.

  "Yes," she whispered. "I want as much of you as possible."

  He lifted himself from her and stood up. She admired his naked body as he opened the closet door and searched through his bag. He grabbed something and came back to her. His body glistened with sweat and his erect prick pulsed in the dim light of the room. He moved with the elegance and grace of a powerful jungle cat.

  A shiver of pure possession ripped through her. This big, powerful man was all hers, and she was never going to let him go.

  He slid in beside her; his eyes fixed on hers as he slid on top of her, teasing her with his cock. His eyes locked onto hers as he put whatever he had grabbed on the pillow. His hands skimmed down her body, and back up to her face as he slid
into her. He touched her adoringly as his eyes burned passionately into hers.

  Her immense love for him was consuming her as she kissed him, touched him, loved him with her heart and body. He made love to her slowly, caressing her, enjoying her, and making her ache all over with need.

  He had never tasted anything so sweet, so wonderful. Her blood flowed through his body, burned in his veins, and made him stronger. He wanted all of her, everything, and he knew he would never be able to get enough of her. Her hands roamed all over him as she learned every aspect of his amazing, perfect body.

  "I love you," she whispered.

  "I love you."

  She could feel her desire mounting as he moved languidly within her. He stretched his hand over the pillow and brought out a knife. She watched nervously as he made a small slit at the base of his throat. Blood welled against his beautiful skin and began to flow forth. He guided her mouth to his neck and pressed her against him.

  The blood was warm against her lips, metallic in her nostrils. She hesitated for a moment, suddenly frightened and unsure. His hands tensed upon her hair as he waited breathlessly. She could sense how bad he wanted this, how bad he needed it. She wanted to cry for the loneliness she felt in him. She couldn't deny him this. She could deny him nothing.

  "Liam," she murmured before opening her mouth to him. The blood trickling into her mouth was warm and surprisingly sweet. She closed her mouth around him and began to drink deeply, sucking on his skin as she reveled in the taste of him. He moaned as he held her closer, urging her to drink deeper and to take more.

  His body began to move faster with his urgency. She drank deeper, her body alive with pleasure as the need building within her reached a fevered level. She moaned as she clung to him, wanting more of him, needing more as his blood, his body, and his mind filled her. She experienced the possession he felt for her, and she knew he would never let her go, that she was his. At one point in time, that fact would have frightened her. Instead, it only served to arouse her further. He may think she belonged to him, but he also belonged to her, and she was never going to let him go.

  His mind begged her to take more, to have it all. She responded by biting remorselessly on his neck and causing a fresh surge of blood to fill her. He moaned and pounded into her, grasping at her body frenziedly as an animalistic need overtook him.

  Her body arched against his with the same wild need as his blood, and mind, overtook her. She was suddenly like a crazed animal that couldn't get enough. She wanted all of him in her. Their actions became uncontrollable as their bodies ground together, and their minds whirled.

  Her body exploded in a blur of pleasure as lights filtered through her eyes. He cried out and thrust deeply into her as his body found its sweet release. She held him as she continued to taste him, and love him, and wanting desperately for him to feel her love like she felt his.

  "You have to stop," he said.

  It took her a minute to realize his words hadn’t been spoken but were floating into her mind.

  She didn't want to stop though; she didn't want him to leave her. She wanted to stay like this forever, feeling his love, and the peace it brought her. He rubbed her head as his own aching need spread into her body. Along with his fear.

  His fear finally made her pull away. She expected to feel an enormous sense of loss, but she didn't. As she stared at him, she knew she would never feel alone again. She had found her home.

  She kissed him as he licked the blood off her lips. He stared at her with a tenderness that melted her heart. "Nothing will ever separate us," he whispered. "You are inside of me, and I am inside of you."

  "Yes," she whispered.

  Her eyes drifted closed as exhaustion slipped over her body. She could barely keep her eyes open as he settled in beside her and pulled her into his arms. He kissed her, and she smiled as she snuggled into his chest. She drifted off to sleep with the security of knowing nothing could tear them apart.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Sera briefly forgot where she was as she stared at the unfamiliar rose-colored room. Finally remembering she was at Kathleen's cabin, she sat up and looked around the empty room. She was disappointed to find Liam gone already; she had planned a wonderful way to wake him up. She got up and slid on a pair of jeans, a turtleneck, and a sweater.

  Standing in front of the mirror, she pulled down the collar of her turtleneck. She was startled to see the two dark marks visible on her neck. Liam had said they disappeared almost instantly, but they were vivid against her pale skin. She touched them and winced as they were a little tender. She would have to remember to ask him why they were still there.

  Her gaze traveled to the window. Snow was still heavily falling outside. The wind was blowing forcefully, and large snowdrifts had begun to form. There was well over a foot on the ground already, and in some places, it looked to be two or three feet deep. The few inches of snow predicted seemed to have turned into a blizzard overnight. Swallowing nervously, she stared in amazement before turning away.

  Digging out her hairbrush and toothbrush, she headed down the hall. The smell of eggs, bacon, and toast assaulted her nose, and her stomach rumbled in enthusiastic response. People were in the kitchen, moving around and talking as pots and pans banged together.

  She slipped into the bathroom and pulled her hair into a ponytail. She brushed her teeth, placed her toothbrush on the sink, and left. Following the voices to the kitchen, she found Kathleen standing by the stove, happily scrambling eggs. Mike and Jack sat at the kitchen table, sipping coffee, and talking quietly. Danielle sat at the island, a cup of coffee and a plate of food in front of her.

  "Good afternoon," Kathleen called out cheerfully. "It's about time you woke up."

  Sera walked over to the coffee pot and poured a cup. She sipped it as she watched the snow falling rapidly outside. "Good morning," she replied. "I thought it was supposed to stop snowing last night."

  "No such luck," Jack said. "While we were sleeping the storm turned into a nor'easter. It's not supposed to stop until tomorrow. They're calling for over three feet of snow. We might be here for a while."

  "The ski resort is closed," Kathleen informed her as she slid a plate of eggs in front of Sera. "So are all the roads. They've declared a state of emergency."

  "Thanks." They smelled delicious, and her stomach rumbled again. "These are good," she told Kathleen around a mouthful.

  "Just call me Betty Crocker," she replied as she tossed the frying pan into the sink. "Doug and Liam went to get more firewood. By the time we need it, it should be dry. I dug out the flashlights and candles already. We'll probably lose the electricity sometime today, and the phones are already down."

  Sera shook her head as she watched the snow fall with a heavy heart. The sky was gray and filled with thick white flakes. "Looks like a mess."

  "It's going to be a real mess when the electricity goes," Kathleen said. "Hope you guys like cold food. I'm going to cook up some chicken and steak now, so we have something to eat later. I don't know what you're going to eat, Sera. I hope you like a lot of cold beans and salad."

  "I'll make myself some rice," she said. "I'll be fine."

  "Freaking vegetarians," Kathleen mumbled as she turned away.

  "Maybe we'll just eat each other," Jack said flippantly.

  Mike kicked him under the table, and a look passed between them. With horrifying clarity, she realized normal food wouldn't keep them satisfied. They had been counting on going to the ski resort, meeting people, and intermingling. "Crap," she said.

  Mike gave a barely discernible shake of his head. Jack's eyes narrowed as he studied her. Danielle paused with her coffee cup halfway to her mouth as she cast Sera a questioning look. "What?" she asked.

  "Oh, uh, nothing, I just hate it when the power goes out." She grabbed her plate off the counter and made her way over to where Kathleen was washing dishes. "The eggs were delicious, thanks."

  "No problem," she replied as she took the plate from her h
and.

  Sera pulled a pot out of the cabinet and grabbed some packages of rice. She began to cook as Kathleen scrubbed enthusiastically and hummed under her breath. The screen door on the porch opened, she listened as Liam and Doug stacked the wood they had found.

  "What a mess!" Doug cried as he shook the snow off his jacket and head.

  "There's well over a foot out there now, and some of the drifts are over four feet high." Liam rubbed his hands together as he blew into them. His eyes twinkled when they landed on her. She smiled back at him, suddenly feeling a little shy as she recalled everything that passed between them during the night. Her skin was starting to burn as he walked over and kissed her. "Good morning, sleepy head."

  "Good morning," she murmured.

  He chuckled as he tugged on her ponytail. "You think you're a little shy now, wait till you see what I do to you tonight," he whispered in her ear.

  Sera's face flamed redder, even as her body began to tingle with anticipation. "I'd suggest everyone take a shower now," Kathleen said. She closed the freezer and turned to them with a chicken in her hand. "While there's still hot water."

  "I'm first." Danielle stood and hurried out of the room.

  Liam leaned casually against the counter and folded his arms over his chest as he turned to face Mike and Jack. The heat radiating off his body was enough to get her flustered. Sera frowned as she eagerly attacked the rice and stared at the white world surrounding them to distract her mind from the yearnings of her body.

  "What is that?" Sera's attention was pulled away from the window, but she was too late. Kathleen had already grabbed her turtleneck and pulled it down. She jerked away from her and pulled it up to protect her neck. "Nice hickey," Kathleen teased.

  Sera turned and looked at Liam, but he was staring at Mike and Jack. Jack's eyes were as large as saucers as they darted back and forth between him and Sera. Mike's eyes narrowed as he stood suddenly. "Can I talk to you?" he said to Liam.