Chapter Twenty-nine

 

Stefan felt odd as he walked back to the house with Laurel Rose clasped snugly in his arms. He immediately scanned the area, searching out any danger that might be lurking there, but felt nothing.

A quick scan of the house insured that it was empty. Stefan found he was grateful to his family for tactfully leaving them alone for the evening to sort out their problems. He knew they’d planned to be there this evening, to meet Laurel Rose and spend time with them. All their plans had changed.

Most likely his brothers had heard them in the woods and tactfully withdrawn to give them privacy. He expected his family to be back in full force tomorrow.

Stefan scanned the area again. They were completely alone, but he couldn’t shake the unfamiliar feeling. It persisted and he studied it carefully, trying to understand the cause. It was only when he was climbing up the steps to the porch that he realized what it was.

For the first time in his life, he felt utterly content.

Stopping by the back door, he took a deep breath, inhaling the sweet, cool scent of the forest. Intermingled with the fragrance of the trees, flowers and rich, dark earth was the sweet smell of sex and blood. But underneath it all was the one scent that he found more intoxicating than them all. It was the unique perfume of Laurel Rose.

“Is everything all right?” Her soft voice, filled with concern, whispered in his ear.

He shifted her higher in his arms and mentally commanded the door to open. The thick panel swung open and he carried her inside. He didn’t pause as he strode toward the stairs. The door slammed shut behind him.

“You’ve got to teach me how to do that.” Her breathy laugh tickled his skin, making him smile.

“I will teach you everything. There is so much you can do now that you could not before.” He carried her into the bedroom and tossed her lightly onto the bed. She bounced once and laughed. “But that is for another night. I still have things to do this night.”

“And what things might that be?” She playfully batted her eyelashes at him. He loved this teasing side of her.

“I plan to fuck you senseless,” he promised.

She licked her lips and her breathing got faster and shallower. She was excited and willing to try whatever he wanted. Her willingness had his cock throbbing and his balls aching. No matter how many times he had her, he would never have enough of Laurel Rose. He wanted to claim her in every way possible. Wanted to touch and stroke her, bring her pleasure.

Sprawled across the plain white sheets, she was pure temptation. Her black hair flowed long and free, framing her beautiful face. Her blue eyes, a dark indigo, shone with desire and some mysterious feminine power that drew him. She licked her lips again in a nervous gesture, coating her plump mouth with moisture. Her long legs moved restlessly on the mattress. He could smell her rising need, tinged with a minute amount of fear. She wanted him but, as much as she did not want to admit it, she was still afraid. Not of him so much as of the intensity, the yearning that flowed between them.

The connection between them was so deep he sensed all of this without her having to voice a single concern.

Now that his immediate cravings had been satisfied, Stefan felt more relaxed. Laurel Rose was his and he would cherish her forever. He wanted to introduce her to all kinds of pleasures they could share together. His body was as hard as steel as he watched a pretty pink blush steal up her pale face, giving color to her otherwise white skin. Her eyelashes fluttered downward, the dark lashes resting against her cheeks like soft black fans.

To him, she was simply the most perfect woman in the world.

He wanted to wrap her in satin sheets and give her everything she’d ever desired. But he knew it wouldn’t be easy. Laurel Rose was not a greedy woman. How did you spoil a woman who was content with what she had? Stefan was looking forward to many long years of discovering her desires and making sure every last one of them was filled. Happiness and pleasure had been in short supply in her life, but he planned to remedy that.

“I can bring you such pleasure, Laurel Rose, but only if it is what you desire. I will never do anything to harm you.”

Leashing the beast within him and ignoring the desire thrumming through his body, screaming for release, Stefan sat down on the bed next to her. Placing his hand over her stomach, he stared in fascination at the sight of his large fingers resting on her soft, silky skin. He could feel the muscles jump beneath his palm.

“Let me pleasure you.” His voice wove around them, pure seduction in its tone. Stefan was not opposed to using what skills he possessed to get what he wanted. He could see her visibly relaxing as his words washed over her.

She stared up at him and smiled. “I want to please you too.”

“You please me simply by existing, my love.” Stefan captured her fingers in his and raised them to his lips, placing a soft kiss on each knuckle. But he didn’t stop there. Stroking his tongue over her hand, he licked between each of her fingers, paying careful attention to the slightly webbed skin at the base of each. Laurel Rose’s low moan made the hair on his body stand on end. Her pleasure fed his, multiplying it tenfold.

Moisture seeped from the tip of his cock. He was hard and ready for her. His balls were hanging low, heavy with need and aching for release. But this time, he would go slower and draw out the experience for both of them. “Roll over onto your stomach.”

She glanced down at his lap and licked her lips. She almost undid all his good intentions with that one simple gesture. He wasn’t even sure she realized what she’d done. Or perhaps she did. Her lips curved up in a satisfied smile as his cock flexed toward her.

Tugging her hand from his grasp, she rolled over onto her belly. But it wasn’t quite right yet, not for what he had in mind. He grabbed one of the pillows, lifted her slightly, and stuffed the pillow underneath her. Sitting back, he appraised his handiwork, but shook his head. He took another pillow and tucked it under the first. That raised her luscious bottom higher in the air.

Stefan knelt behind her, wrapped his hands around her ankles, and slowly slid them up the backs of her legs until he was gripping her thighs. Ever so slowly, he separated them, widening her legs and pushing her knees slightly forward. Sitting back on his haunches, he stared at the pretty picture she made lying facedown on the bed. The white globes of her behind were spread wide, exposing her completely. Perfect.

He leaned forward and gently blew on her sex. She shivered and then moaned when he dipped one of his fingers into her slick passage. His balls clenched when her inner muscles tightened around it. Growling deep in his throat, he carefully inserted another finger and then a third.

Stefan closed his eyes and savored the feeling of her body gripping him. His hand was wet with her juices. The perfume of her arousal filled the air, leaving him no doubt she enjoyed what he was doing. It was with great reluctance that he drew his fingers away. He could touch her for hours, never tiring of watching her reactions. He loved the sounds of her moans, the tiny cries she made when he touched a sweet spot, but he needed more. Already desire had dug its claws into him, demanding he take her once again.

He withdrew his hand and shifted closer, making a space for himself between her spread legs. He gripped her hips to hold her steady as he stroked the hard length of his shaft over her slick folds, coating himself in her cream.

He growled with satisfaction when even more juices slipped from her core. He slid one of his hands around to her front and found the small nub of nerves at the apex of her legs. He teased her clit as he continued to rub his cock over her.

She was whimpering now. Her hips rocked as he stroked his cock over her heated flesh. He ached to bury his shaft in her welcoming heat but held off. He wanted to make Laurel Rose climax and coat his cock in her essence. She was close if her frantic movements were any indication. She bucked against him with each stroke.

“This isn’t fair,” she wailed.

“You don’t like it?” he teased. He squeezed her hip with his free hand while he continued to use the other to play with her clit.

She was panting hard now. “It’s not enough.” She shoved her bottom against him and this time he drove his cock deep. Laurel Rose screamed and shattered when her orgasm struck.

Stefan gritted his teeth, his fingers digging into her hips. Her inner muscles grabbed his shaft, squeezing and rippling around it, desperately enticing him to join her in her release. It took all his concentration not to come inside her then.

 

• • •

 

Laurel Rose wanted to sink into the mattress. Maybe melt into it was a better description. She hadn’t known her body was capable of having so many orgasms in such a short period of time. Every touch, every stroke of Stefan’s fingers or tongue, the rub of his cock against her heated flesh, was exaggerated a hundred times more than it had been before.

If she was still human she’d undoubtedly be sore tomorrow. But she was no longer human and could already feel her body healing itself.

There were definite benefits to being a vampire.

She loved the way he saw to her pleasure first, the way he touched her gently and then just rough enough to send her senses soaring. She just plain loved him.

He was still hard inside her, his cock pulsing deep within her core. He hadn’t come yet, was holding on for reasons only he knew. Maybe he was afraid to have this evening end, afraid it was all just a dream.

She understood. She’d been through so many difficult trials she didn’t quite trust this new happiness she’d found. Maybe over time she’d begin to believe it was real.

And speaking of real, she squeezed her inner muscles, clamping down on his hard shaft. Stefan swore and his fingers dug into her hips hard enough to leave bruises.

“Shit. I’m sorry.” He yanked his hands away. “I’m so sorry.”

She shook her head. “I’m not. I don’t even feel them.” She knew they were already healing. She was well fed from their earlier tryst in the woods. And after everything she’d been through with her leg over the years, a simple loving squeeze was nothing. Laurel Rose felt stronger than she had in her entire life.

He rubbed his palms over the areas he’d squeezed. “I never want to hurt you.”

“Then never leave me again.” She was still reeling from earlier this evening when he’d walked out on her. She swallowed hard. “That hurt more than you’ll ever know.”

He leaned over her and kissed her nape, sending shivers of desire skating down her spine. “Forgive me. I only sought to do what was right for you.”

“I forgive you, but next time argue with me. I’d rather fight about our differences than watch you walk away.”

“I promise.” He rocked his pelvis and they both groaned. “But can we talk later, I’m a little busy right now.”

Laurel Rose laughed. She’d always thought sex was serious business, but Stefan made it fun too. “By all means.”

He gave her nape one last kiss and sat up. The motion drove his shaft deeper. She didn’t know whether to laugh or moan. “Will every night be like tonight?”

“We can only hope.” The hopeful tone of his voice made her laugh.

“We’ll never last. It will kill us.” Honestly, she couldn’t imagine making love every night with such intensity.

“What a way to go,” he muttered. He reached around and cupped her breasts in his hands and began to thrust.

She was past talking but silently agreed with his assessment. What a way to go.

He quickened his pace, his hips beginning to slap against her faster and faster. She dug her fingers into the sheets, tearing them in her frantic attempt to find something to anchor her.

Their emotions mixed and mingled as the mental barriers between them fell. Lust, desire, and love were in every thrust, every touch, and every thought.

He drove deep. “Come for me, Laurel Rose,” he commanded. “Now.”

Like all the other times before, she couldn’t stop the explosions that rocked her. She let herself fall over the edge of passion with total trust that her lover, her man, would catch her.

 

• • •

 

Stefan tipped back his head and howled. The long, eerie sound filled the room and spilled out into the night. Laurel Rose was truly his. It wasn’t a dream. She knew what he was, what he’d done, and what their life together would be like.

And still she welcomed him.

He was a selfish bastard pushing her so hard so soon after her conversion. It was as though he was testing her to see if she would stay once she saw the worst of him.

Totally spent, he managed to pull out before collapsing onto the bed next to her. He wrapped his arm around her and dragged her against his body before he turned them so he was spooning her from behind. “Mine,” he uttered with absolute authority.

Laurel Rose was gasping for breath, her body shaking and shivering. He might no longer be inside her but they were still mentally joined. He could feel her pleasure and it sent another spasm shooting through him. Their connection would continue to grow stronger over time. They were truly part of one another now.

Laurel Rose squirmed against him until she found a spot she liked. She grasped one of his hands in hers and placed it over her heart. The frantic rhythm slowed to a steady beat before growing even fainter. When her breathing evened out, he knew she was close to falling asleep.

He knew he should ask her if she was all right, but thought and speech were beyond him. Nothing in his life had ever felt as right as being with her. Using the last of his energy, he mentally checked every window and door in the house, making sure they were all closed and locked tight. With the heavy curtains closed and the extra blanket over the window, the room was pitch black. Satisfied that they were both safe, Stefan relaxed. Dawn was yet a few hours away, but he was content where he was. Cradling his woman in his arms, Stefan allowed sleep to take him.