Purebreds and Power

“In time.” Han swung the axe with precision. His muscular forearms flexed as he piled wood to bring it inside.

Lilly stood motionless–her cheeks beet red before she darted around the house. The front door slammed shut in the distance.

Han chuckled.

Wood in hand, Han entered the small, cozy cabin and admired its spacious simplicity. Lilly crouched in front of a stacked stone fireplace as tinder sparked to life, and Lilly placed a larger log. Forked flames crackled, warming the whole room with a soft glow.

Without a word, Lilly stood and crossed to the window.

“You could have told me.” Lilly picked at her nails as she stared out into the night.

“Told you?” Han walked over and sat on the bed.

“Told me that you preferred a more experienced partner.”

“Is that so?”

“Don’t be daft, Master.”

Han lept from his seat, spinning Lilly and grabbing her chin so that she could focus on nothing but him. “Lose the sarcasm, Lilly.”

Lilly blinked a couple of times and then pushed Han’s hand away before breaking his hold on her. “I’m dead serious, Han. I’m pissed off, and I was turned on. And you rejected me again.”

“Rejected you? I think not.”

“There you go with your wordplay.” Lilly fisted and unfisted her hands before dropping them to her side. Then she took a seat on the bed and flopped back. “I know what you said.”

“Do you?” Han stood beside Lilly, looking down at her. “Think.”

Lilly closed her eyes and took a deep breath, slowly exhaling. “I told you I wanted to sleep with you. And you said ’in…” Then her eyes shot open, and she bolted upright.

“Ah. There it is.”

“Time. What do we need time for? Time for us to get to know each other? Never pegged you as the waiting kind.” Lilly grabbed Han and pulled him down next to her. “Time to establish our mate bond? We’ve done that. Time for our relationship to…” Her eyes grew wide. “Ohhhh. Our relationship.”

“Mmm.”

“Despite what you saw tonight, Dax and I aren’t together.” Lilly took both Han’s hands in her own. “I called the whole arrangement off before coming to your castle.” She rubbed her thumbs over Han’s palms. “He is still holding out hope, I think. He hasn’t told my dad, and I took advantage. I’m sorry.”

“He’s lucky to still be breathing.” Han scooted to the head of the bed and shifted Lilly so she rested comfortably on his chest. “I was more concerned about your back and scent.”

“My back? Rinsed it in the shower, and good as new. And my scent?” Lilly fiddled with the green stone hanging from a dainty chain around her neck. “My friend Rhia gave me this and told me to wear it right away.”

Han picked the stone up between his fingers and examined it. “Her gifts must be powerful.” He then reached around and removed the necklace, fully inhaling Lilly’s delightful aroma as he closed his eyes and buried his nose in her silky curls. “Is that how she stays hidden from me?”

“Oh, no, you don’t.” Lilly played with the buttons on Han’s dress shirt, popping one open and dragging her finger across his smooth skin. “I’m not revealing her heritage.”

“I didn’t ask you to.” His fingers brushed Lilly’s chest, right above the edge of her collar. “You’ll tell me what I should know.”

“You trust me that much?” Lilly undid another button.

“Indeed.”

“I trust you too.” With one fast move, Lilly straddled Han’s hips and untucked his shirt. “Will it hurt?”

“You were made for me. My joy, my pleasure. And I was made for you.” Han switched their positions, pulling the bottom of her t-shirt up and rubbing her belly with his thumbs as he circled her waist.

“I want this.” Lilly squirmed under Han’s gentle ministrations. Her eyes drifted closed. “I want you.”

“Open your eyes.” Han trailed his fingers up Lilly’s sides, just touching the edge of her breasts. Lilly sucked a breath in, and her eyes shot open. “Tell me that you are only mine. Mine to touch. Mine to tease.” He softly brushed her pert nipple. “Mine to love.”

“I’m yours.” Lilly grinned, tugging Han down towards her. “Only yours.”

“Then I will take what you freely give.”

Han paused for a beat. Lilly’s heart pounded in his ears. He had waited an eternity for this moment. He knew as he tasted her breath that soon enough, she would give him life. Her perfect lips parted in anticipation.

But he waited.

The sparkle of her eyes danced in the firelight, and her hair curled across the cotton sheets.

And he waited, cherishing her everything.

Then he kissed her. The tender flesh of her lips brought his own to life.

Softly at first, with each passing second, he took more of what he wanted, what he yearned for. His hunger could not be sated without her. And he was a being starved.

Lilly clung to him, twisting the back of his shirt in her fists. Han’s demanding lips took all that she had to give as she kissed him back, wrung from the dizziness that surely enveloped her.

For a long time, Han enjoyed the dance his fiery beloved had begun. She drew him in, then pushed him back. Each time, he was more enthralled, more enamored with the whole of her. She ruled him in her stubborn submission. And he loved it.

Lilly’s back arched as Han broke the kiss and began to suck, peck, nibble her chin, ear, neck. The crackling of the fire intermingled with Lilly’s heavy breaths, just as the faint smell of its smoke competed with her sensuous aroma.

Han’s mouth watered.

Han inhaled and sat up, still straddling Lilly’s hips. A beautiful blush covered her cheeks as he lifted the edge of her shirt. “Are you sure?”

“More than anything in my life.”

He dragged the backs of his hands up her sides–slowly…slowly. He held her eyes as he pulled her shirt over her head, finally baring her to him. His hands went to her breasts as his mouth went to her neck. Her buttery soft skin tasted like redemption–raw, real–under his reverent exploration. Her chest. Her breasts. Her nipples. Her sternum. Her belly.

Lower he went, worshipping his goddess.

He inhaled, pressing his nose into the junction of her hip.

Her floral fragrance mixed with a pungent musk, and Han smiled.

He scooted down, then stood. Button by button, he removed his dress shirt. His pale skin covered his muscled chest. Lean, sensuous.

Lilly looked at him, admired every part of him, biting her lip before she smiled.

Han abruptly pulled Lilly toward the edge of the bed.

Lilly gasped.

Han smirked, rubbing his thumbs over the inside of her thighs before pulling her legs apart and kneeling between them. His lips followed his fingers, slowly reaching closer, slowly moving inward, but never quite reaching.

Kissing, caressing, blowing, biting. Han sought to set Lilly’s nerves on fire. She was twisting, moaning, kicking with every tongue tickle, as his fingers and mouth played.

And Han knew Lilly was nearly there.

With one final, suckling kiss, Han placed his hands on the sheets, effectively caging her movement.

Then he bit down on the top of her thigh. Sweet nirvana burst forth, and Lilly’s warm life-essence coated Han’s throat, flooding his senses. Each second he took from her, he filled her with the venom that would change her irrevocably.

She shuddered in satisfaction as she enjoyed her first orgasm.

And he drank.

Her blood tasted sweeter than the finest champagne, the rarest breed. Nothing would ever compare. He closed his eyes.

And he drank.

He would never get enough.

That’s when he felt it. Lilly had bitten him in return. She slowly licked his forearm clean as she leaned up on her elbows.

Han pulled away and wiped the dripping blood from his chin. The skin on Lilly’s thigh began to change, leaving behind a unique mark that even the deepest magic could not undo. He then looked at his beautiful beloved. “Mine.”

“And mine.”

Han stood, dropped his pants, then stepped to her and plunged deep into Lilly’s ready and waiting body. Her body engulfed him entirely–her warmth wrapped around him. In a frenzied attack, lips met lips. Hands plundered flesh.

Higher and higher they went. Han had waited a lifetime for her. For this. Their joining brought the promise of eternity, the promise of dreams previously unfulfilled. He was unrelenting in his pursuit of their mutual satisfaction.

As Lilly wiggled her hips, rocking to change her position, Han knew he had brought her to the edge of insanity. With one final push, he brought them over, sending them sprawling in ecstasy, and he bit down once again. This time on Lilly’s shoulder. Lilly screamed as Han pulled a second and third orgasm from her, shuddering in the aftermath.

Han would never tire of this. Of her.

From her ample curves to her cupid’s bow.

Her warmth. Her smell. Her taste.

Perfect. His.

As the fire slowly died, Han and Lilly relaxed in the glow, the night slowly turning to day. As the sun finally peaked from the horizon, Han reluctantly pulled himself from a sleeping Lilly. He didn’t want to go. But he had to. Things needed to fall in place before this could be his forever.

Han searched the floor, stifling a chuckle at the absurdity of it. Never had he fully undressed for sex. Never had he knelt before a female. Never had he stayed with a female through the night.

But for his beloved, he would. He did.

Only for her.

When Han finally tugged his cufflinks in place under his jacket, he bent down and kissed Lilly’s cheek. She wiggled, pulling her pillow closer.

He paused for a second, staring at his future. Her long lashes begged for his touch.

And he inhaled, then slowly exhaled.

His eyes turned a deep crimson, and he leaned in to Lilly’s ear. “You will stay here with your pack until I come and get you.”