Page 26 of Beast

She considers the question for a moment. “Yes and no. Yes,because my heart will ache when you set me aside. No, because my heart alreadyaches when I think of never touching you again.”

I press my lips to hers. “Don’t think about the future.Can’t we enjoy today? And I would never cast you aside. I just think we shouldlet all of that sort itself out. Whatever happens, whatever we decide, Ipromise, I’ll take good care of you.”

“For as long as you want me,” Kaja says with a littlebitterness.

I feel the ache she talked about. I don’t know what shewants. “Isn’t that all you can ask of a man? I promise to be good to you evenif things go wrong. You won’t ever want for anything again.”

“But you will not give me your heart.” It isn’t a question.

I sigh. I can give her orgasms all day long, but I have noidea how to deal with this. “I don’t think I have one, sweetheart. Can’t it beenough that I’ll give you what I have?”

She seems to come to some inner decision. She presses herlips to mine. “Mate with me.”

Her lips are closed, but I take advantage anyway. I pressher down and cover her small body with mine. I know I should feel triumphantand thrilled because the night before was difficult. Yet all I can manage is astrange sense of awe. Her clear blue eyes are open as she looks up at me. Idon’t need to remind her what I want from her. She spreads her legs willingly.There’s so much honest, open desire in her face that I almost turn away. It’stoo much, but I want her more than I ever wanted a woman before. Looking downat her, I realize I only wanted sex before. Now I want Kaja. It’s a disturbingfeeling.

“What’s wrong?” Kaja asks. There’s worry all over her face.

I push down these unwanted emotions. This is sex. It’s justsex between a vampire and his consort. It’s the most natural thing in theworld. I give her my surest smile. “There’s nothing wrong, love. Everything isperfect now. The only problem is these pants of mine. They seem to be in theway.”

I grind gently against her, letting her feel my hard cock.

She sighs. “How do you do this to me? Already I feel somepleasure.”

“I told you, love. I know what I’m doing,” I reply, feelingsurer now. The need to fuck is riding me hard. I’m not thinking about thefuture. I’m thinking about how damn good it will feel to pound away at my wife.

I reach down to unbutton my trousers. I don’t want to takethe time to get out of them. I’ll shove them down enough to free my cock andthen work my way inside. The second time can be slow. We have all day.

Kaja stops suddenly, throwing her hands to my chest andpushing me away.

“Don’t, baby,” I say, not giving an inch. “I promise I won’thurt you.”

“Dante, something is coming,” she protests, trying to getup.

“Yes.” If she needs some coaxing, I’ll give it to her. “Youcan come first. Then I’ll come, and then I’ll rest, and we can both comeagain.”

The tent flap opens, and Meg runs in. She turns slightlywhen she sees the erotic scene before her, but she doesn’t leave. Which isannoying.

“Dante, there’s an ogre coming,” she says breathlessly. Shehas her gun in hand. “He’s attacking the marketplace.”

In the distance, I hear the screams begin. I roll off mybride and fasten my pants.

That ogre is going to suffer.

Chapter Ten

Kaja

The world seems filled with chaos. Every sense I haveis overloaded as Dante tosses back the door to the tent and walks through. Hismagic goes to work. The shirt he wears grows a hood that he pulls up to coverhis head. A strange black object flows over his face, covering his beautifuleyes.

Screams fill the air along with a terrible roar that seemsto come from every angle. There is a predator nearby. I sense it deep in mybones. And it has a strong odor. Whatever attacks the small village reeks ofdecay.

Reeve runs up to us, his hair in disarray. His eyes areflared, and he’s lost his cap. “You must run, Mr. Dellacourt. And my queen. Youmust run for your lives.”

“Which way? He sounds like he’s coming from all sides.”Dante is frowning, his face set in fierce lines. He holds his hand out to me.“Stay close to me, Kaja.”

I move to the First’s side. No. Dante. He is Dante. And I ampractical. “We need only be faster than the little ones. This beast will dineon them first. We should keep Cara close when we find her. I can run very fast.I will carry her.”

“No, miss,” Reeve says. “I have a place to hide, but it issmall. You must save yourselves—all of you. I cannot hide until I find mywife.”