Eternal Breath of Darkness

“I need to feel every inch of your skin against mine.”

She rushed him and, with a burst of lycan strength, took him down onto the floor.

For a few seconds, she sat motionless, her gaze not once wavering from his. He’d never even imagined a more exquisite woman. From the moment he’d first taken her hand at the cemetery six months ago, she’d become as essential to him as the air he breathed. For many years he thought he would never find a love as strong and as pure as her love. Now, he couldn’t fathom a life without her. He never wanted to try.

Too afraid to move, to touch her, to do anything that might stop her, he kept his fists clenched as his sides. He watched. He waited. He hoped for more. The sight of her on top of him, looking down at him with so much love and lust in her eyes, stole his breath away. It was his perfect fantasy made reality. He’d never experienced anything nearly as glorious until she reached down to touch him.

Her fingers never stopped touching his body, moving over him, exploring him with such obvious fascination and hunger that he was trembling with pleasure, with anticipation for more. “I really want to hate you right now, Joseph. I can’t believe I’m burning up for you like this. I’m going crazy. I’m not even sure of what to do with you.” Moving slowly, she leaned down, stretching her body over his. “I’ve never needed anything more than I need you right now. I have to touch you.”

Her breath was deliciously hot against his skin as her lips moved from the base of his throat to his jaw. “Oh, damn, Mia.” Closing his eyes, he savored the sensation of her mouth and tongue playing over his skin. He knew he needed to stop her. “Mia.” Her name came out sounding like a strangled groan. Her teeth gently teased his chin, jaw, neck, and ear. “Wait.” His pulse thundered in his ears. Nothing inside him wanted to detour her from touching him. How the hell was he going to regain control of his body’s demand for her?

“I feel alive when I’m with you.” Her fingers worked on unknotting his tie until she’d pulled it off. She framed his face with her hands. “Look at me, Joseph.” He opened his eyes. “Stop holding back. I need you to touch my body, every part of my body. Lose control with me. I need to feel every inch of your skin against mine. Need me, burn for me like I’m burning up for you.” Her mouth felt heavenly in the most sinful of ways feeding on him as her fingers worked to undo his shirt buttons. “Touch me, Joseph.”

She was on fire for him …

Every inch of her flesh screamed for more

He looked at her as if she were his world. When he pressed his lips against the corner of her mouth, she felt and heard a low growl rumble deep in his chest. The sound of it wrapped around her body and gently pulsated over her flesh in ways that made her feel delicious, intoxicating sensations she’d never even imagined experiencing.

Rising onto the very tips of her toes, she slipped her arms around his neck and then, without any other thought than needing to get closer to him, she arched her body into his. He gently teased her lips with his, and then he kissed his way to her neck. She let the pleasure take her, let it wipe out all thought other than his hands and hot lips moving over her flesh.

She was fully clothed, but his hands wandering, massaging, caressing every inch of her body, felt as if they were touching her bare flesh, wreaking such glorious havoc that her breaths were coming in short, ragged gasps.

She felt something dark, powerful, and dominating shift inside him. It didn’t frighten her at all. In fact, it excited her. She moved her body against his as his teeth scraped her neck and his tongue soothed the sting. His hand gripped her thigh and lifted her leg to wrap it around his thigh. The feeling of her hot, throbbing core pressing against his was so unexpectedly erotic it nearly caused her to climax. Moist, beckoning heat gathered, pooled between her legs. She felt so empty, so needy.

She ached to feel the weight of his body on top of hers. She ached for him to fill her.

By the time he took possession of her mouth and his tongue parted her lips, she had completely forgotten that they were standing on a busy sidewalk. He wasn’t simply kissing her. His lips, his tongue, his hands were making love to her, worshipping her. The hot, passionate desire he displayed as he feasted her on mouth was the single most extraordinarily sensual experience she’d ever imagined. And she’d imagined many.

On a breeze of hot, sensual bliss, she was soaring so incredibly high. She was on fire for him. Her entire body was so entirely aroused. Every inch of her flesh screamed for more. She wanted more. She needed so much more from him.

Then, he went completely still. His arms briefly tightened around her, nearly crushing her to him. She felt deep, terrible anguish. She felt regret. Every muscle in her body tensed. She felt anger and frustration. But they weren’t hers. Somehow she knew the emotions belonged to him. She felt them for only a few seconds before he released her and took a step back.

“I’m sorry.” She saw a mixture of pain and love in his eyes when he reached out for her as to take her in arms again, but then he stopped. “I shouldn’t have kissed you.” His arms folded behind his back, he looked down at her hand for a few seconds. And then, his expression void of any emotion, he met her gaze. He held out his hand for her. When she didn’t take it, he took her hand and led her into the restaurant.

She could feel her heart racing. A kiss? It was only a kiss to him? In a state of shock, she followed his lead. To her it had been so much more than a kiss. If they’d continued, she would have … oh, God. It wasn’t just a kiss to her. It was so much more. It was a magical moment of … of sweet, decadent fires of desire merging.

The interrogation room was bright with harsh florescent lighting, hardly an atmosphere conducive to relaxing a suspect and taking him off guard. The white clinical walls gave one the impression that they were about to undergo some major surgery.

None of this penetrated Jenna’s shocked consciousness at the sight that greeted her when she entered the small room. The man who sat on the other side of the table appeared to be tired, but instinctively alert.

All the hurt, anger, and passion of that long ago night reached its ghostly fingers through the wall of time to wrap around her throat. Jenna had to make a conscious effort to breathe. It was finally the amusement in those dark eyes that broke through.

“Do you find something funny Mr. Silver Wolf?” Jenna’s words held a razor sharp edge.

Brody shook his head slowly. “Only that you seem to be following in your father’s footsteps. How ironic is it that ten years ago I was staring at him from across a table.”

“Indeed, Mr. Silver Wolf. Why don’t you tell me what did my dad arrest you for?”

“Oh, just about anything and everything that went wrong if I was within miles of town. I guess something about me seemed to rub Officer Claremont the wrong way.” Brody gave her a crooked smile.

“I don’t believe that.” Jenna’s voice held a note of bitterness. Brody knew nothing of her father.

“Relax Agent Claremont.” Brody leaned back in the chair as if relaxing was exactly what he intended to do. “I didn’t realize it at the time, but I suspect that he must have guessed his little girl’s very grown up interest in me.” The look in his eyes told her much louder than words that he hadn’t forgotten their night by the lake and her indiscretions.

Heat flooded Jenna’s face, sending a torrent of humiliation through her that was quickly replaced by anger. “That was a very long time ago and has absolutely no bearing on either of our lives at this point.” Jenna’s voice was soft, but unyielding. “I would have thought that you have a much more serious matter to occupy your thoughts.”

Brody’s gaze traveled from her eyes to her mouth and down the curve of her neck. His eyes glazed over as if his thoughts had ventured to a place that Jenna dared not remember.

A new Dragon has come to protect Isabelle's village. However, the dragon has one demand that must be met: a wife. A young virgin, dressed for a wedding.

Isabelle has been chosen to become the Dragon's wife. She has no idea what to expect when, one dark autumn day, the Dragon comes to take her.

18+! Contains graphic sex scenes.

Private investigator Grace tracks a kidnapped child to middle-of-nowhere Iowa. Encountering a strange creature she knows can't be a local animal, she doesn't need her psychic abilities to figure out the sleepy town is not what it seems. When she meets the intriguing Aiden, she's plunged into a world of Norse gods and fire demons where the Wild Hunt still rides the night.

Aiden needs Grace's help to cross the portal between worlds and rescue his daughter. Grace is unlike any woman he's ever met. He's drawn to her courage, distressed by her vulnerability and doubtful of her motives. But he knows that her visions are the key to defeating the enemy and bringing everyone home alive.

Grace wants a future with Aiden, even if it means she'll never have a normal life. When a test run to the portal takes a terrifying turn, they must learn to finally trust each other or Aiden's daughter, and their chance at love, will be lost forever...

76,000 words

THIRD IN THE EXCLUSIVE E-BOOK TRILOGY

by the author of the Dark Sword and Dark Warrior novels
DONNA GRANT

DAWN’S DESIRE
A Dark King Story

For centuries, the immortals known as the Dragon Kings have hidden their shapeshifting powers from the world. But when a mortal enemy threatens to expose them, the warrior Banan must leave his secret lair in the Highlands, risk his life for the dragons within—and resist the temptations of human love…

Jane Holden has never considered herself beautiful. But when the impossibly handsome Banan casts his gaze upon her, smoldering with sensuality, she feels like the sexiest woman on earth. Banan, however, is a man on a mission. He refuses to succumb to this modern woman’s charms—or his own desires. Two of his warrior brethren have already surrendered to forbidden love. But as the danger closes in, Banan realizes that he needs to possess Jane—mind, body, and soul. For she is more than his match. She is his destiny… 
 

This is a story of destiny and desire, magic and mystery, warriors and lovers.

These are the forbidden cravings of the Dark Kings.

DARK CRAVING (Dark King #1)

NIGHT'S AWAKENING (Dark King #2)

DAWN'S DESIRE (Dark King #3)

Don't miss the connected series The Dark Warriors:

MIDNIGHT'S MASTER (#1)

MIDNIGHT'S LOVER (#2)

MIDNIGHT'S SEDUCTION (#3)

For the last fifteen years, vampire queen Iona has been dead to the world. Trapped under the power of a brutal curse, she has been helpless. A prisoner, locked within her own still body. Then alpha werewolf Jamie O’Connell fights his way to her side. After defeating the guards that surround her, Jamie gives Iona his blood…and she rises.

The world has changed a great deal in the last fifteen years, and Iona has changed, too. Once known as the Blood Queen because of her dark reputation, she now finds herself longing for the blood of only one man…only he isn’t just a man. She wants the blood of her werewolf—Jamie’s blood. But Iona doesn’t realize that Jamie has been keeping secrets from her. Very dark, dangerous secrets. And Iona may have traded one curse for another.

Now that he has Iona, Jamie vows to never let her go. He needs his Blood Queen in order to defeat his enemy, he needs her to make his own beast stronger, and…he just needs her. Jamie has risked his life to claim Iona, and he won’t let anything break their bond. Not time. Not spells. Not even a wild and reckless vampire queen…

Warning: This is a hot vampire and werewolf romance novella...so in this story, you will find danger, lust, adult language and adult sexy times.

The word count for this story is 31,000.

Cynthia Eden's other BOUND novellas are also available for .99:

BOUND BY BLOOD

BOUND IN DARKNESS

BOUND IN SIN

From the moment he saw the pale-haired beauty, Draicon werewolf Etienne Robichaux vowed to claim Cindy Parker as his mate. Nothing will stand in his way. After learning she’s targeted by a Columbian drug mob, the former Navy SEAL will do everything in his power to protect her.

His touch ignites her passion and his tender concern touches her soul. But Cindy has a deadly secret she hides from Etienne, one that not only risks losing her heart to handsome shifter, but her very life.

SECOND IN THE EXCLUSIVE E-BOOK TRILOGY
by the author of the Dark Sword and Dark Warrior novels
DONNA GRANT

NIGHT’S AWAKENING
A Dark King Story

Fueled by dragon magic, the dark immortal warriors were never meant to feel human desire, much less fall in love. But when Guy, a member of an ancient order of shape-shifting warriors, meets Elena Griffin—a mere mortal whose beauty and blind ambition shakes him to his core—all bets are off…

Having left America to explore the Scottish Highlands, Elena suddenly finds herself lost in a dark cave—alone, injured, and utterly hopeless…until Guy appears from out of nowhere. Is she dreaming her own rescue when she falls into his arms? A man—and a passion—this strong is too good to be true. It’s only a matter a time before she learns the truth about the flames in his heart. And the dragon in his soul…

This is a story of destiny and desire, magic and mystery, warriors and lovers.

These are the forbidden cravings of the Dark Kings.

DARK CRAVING (Dark King #1)

NIGHT'S AWAKENING (Dark King #2)

DAWN'S DESIRE (Dark King #3)

Don't miss the connected series The Dark Warriors:

MIDNIGHT'S MASTER (#1)

MIDNIGHT'S LOVER (#2)

MIDNIGHT'S SEDUCTION (#3)

Christian Lefevre broke Trisha’s teenage heart, but twenty years later she must seek him out to identify a rare Egyptian artifact. The fire-filled pyramid holds the secret to the danger that caused Christian to send her away, the secret to his roots buried deep in the mythology of ancient Egypt. Where warriors gifted with power from the ancient gods battled to protect the innocent and claim their special women. Trisha might be one of those women, but she has no intention of becoming the property of any man, even a wealthy, titled man. She wants love on her own terms. And when help comes from a surprising source, she might just get love and a power that she has never dreamed of.

This is a novella of 14,500 words originally published in The Mammoth Book of Paranormal Romance 2.