Touching him, running her hands along his chest
was like touching power itself. He was
electric
;
the vibrations emanating from him flared
Layla’s
desire higher, brighter. Madden was huge, so tall and broad compared to her smaller frame,
and
his muscles bulg
ed
as his arms moved to stroke her. He was power. Together they were magic.
The heat inside her was growing more intense. She couldn’t still her hands
and
want
ed
to touch him everywhere
.
S
he pulled at the soft tresses that came down along his neck
.
She
pulled
at his shirt
until it was
over his head and
out of her way and then ran her hands across the
firm ridges
of his chest around to his shoulders and his muscular back.
Light sprinkles of hair tickled her fingers as they floated across his skin.
Everywher
e she touched was hard hunky male
.
* * * *
Madden
pulled away from her, just slightly, and she whimpered in protest.
He chuckled and kissed her nose when he saw her wrinkle it.
S
truck by the flush of her cheeks,
Madden noted
the same flush running down her throat and to the very top of her breasts. As s
he took deep breaths
to calm herself,
he placed his forehead against hers.
But
Madden
only
paused
for a moment because he had no intention of letting t
he emotions he was pulling from
Layla
subside. He would not let her gain the control she was wrestling for. A woman off-balance was what he needed her to be.
As part of the Valendite Breed, Madden had been raised to know the prophecy, to appreciate the significance of finding your mate and claiming her. He planned to worship Layla until the
day they died. The sharing of blood so sacred, nothing could tear them from one another. Not only would their blood bond them together but it would also sustain Madden and prolong Layla’s life so she lived as long as he did.
Madden
moved his hands to frame her face and drew her head up to meet her eyes.
He
brushed a so
ft kiss against her full lips before speaking
, his voice husky with desire
.
“Take your tongue, Layla
l
ove, and touch it to my sharpest teeth
.
The blood exchange will bind us and I can take you then.
Ho
bisogno
di
te
.
Please don’t
make me wait.”
Madden’s
words were barely finished when he took her mouth again.
Gently his tongue drew hers out, slow
ing
to let he
r catch up
to his need
.
W
hen he felt the puncture wounds and tasted the first drop of her blood, he moaned low inside himself.
He felt
Layla
tense at first and then soft
en
her body as it settled into his own. H
er moans began to mirror his
. He could feel her
desire
as if it
was
his
own
,
and it
multipl
ied
the urge to
claim
her
and
demand she submit to him as
his
mate
.
Madden held back with every piece of control
he had
been trained to possess. This moment
required
him to remain in control, to
ease
her
in
the mating. He felt her pull away
.
H
er body shutter
ed
and a small whimper
bubbl
ed
up
from her throat.
He was suddenly struck by her vulnerability.
“What’s happened, Madden?
Why do I feel this way?”
His
Layla was frightened
and he wanted nothing more than to comfort her
.
Her feisty golden eyes now appeared
panicked
. Madden couldn’t bear it.
“
Layla
l
ove, we
’
re bonded now.
You will forever feel what I feel
just
as I will feel the emotions inside of you.
It is a powerful thing for mates.
It will make the next act we perform even richer than any romance book you’ve
ever
read.
”
He rose then from the floor between her legs and pulled her to him, carrying her out of the room.
“Which way to your bedroom, Layla?”
As she guided him, he took in the house she would soon leave. Eclectic was certainly the best descript
ion
of the home with each room they passed
differing greatly
from the one before it. Layla’s head remained on his shoulder
, and
her eyes
were
half closed.
“I feel nearly weakened. I’m
scared
.”
“Everything is as it should be. Your energy will bounce right back once your body is replenished. For now, just let me take care of everything. Allow me to take care of you.”
Chapter Two
Layla directed Madden to her bedroom and w
ill
ed
the door open,
if for no other reason than to show off her own powers a bit.
Madden paused to take in the serene room.
There was n
o clutter
and
no mess
.
With
everything in its place, Layla’s room was just as
its owner.
He suspected much of th
is
home drove her to madness with its clutter but
this was
obviously
her sanctuary. He could feel the peacefulness himself the moment he entered the room.
Placing Layla
on
the middle of the bed,
Madden
leaned over her to remove the rest of her clothing. While simply willing
it
off would’ve been easier, he couldn’t fight the urge
to place his hands on her body, to run the tips of his fingers along the curves that had been calling to him as he
had given
her time in the library to become ready.
She was magnificent
a
nd she was all his.
She belonged to him. H
e
thanked the Goddess
he
had
been so fortunate to find her.
Madden had enough of the one-night hook-ups he knew would go nowhere. Neither did he have time to travel around the world hoping to find his mate. Once his breed began moving their families all over the world, it wasn’t as easy to find your mate.
His parents had prepared Madden and his siblings for the real
possibility of
never
mating while
still
encouraging
the
m
to
commit
themselves to the search for
possible mates.
F
or Madden to happen upon his mate in
his
own hometown
was unheard of in this day. It was
a sign that this mating, this claiming,
was
meant to be. He had someone precious in his arms and he had every intention of making certain she knew it
.
Madden
was abundantly aware of
Layla’s
virginity in this moment.
Not only did she seem la
c
king in her understanding of Breed mating, she was unschooled in intimacy. He planned to fix that this very night.
The scent of her virginity was intoxicating, like rich chocolate begging to be devoured.
Madden
moved away to remove his own clothing, this time simply willing
it
from his body before laying down next to Layla. He turned her so they both lay on their sides facing one another. “You are the most beautiful gift.
Ho
un
debole
per
te
.
I will always care for you.”
“Madden, I…” Layla was stopped from speaking another word by the touch of Madden’s lips pressing gently to her own. Madden indulged in her sweetness, licking along the seam of her lips until they invited him in again. His tongue swept along her teeth, gently persuading her to stroke her tongue to his own.
T
he satisfaction he felt
when
her tongue move
d
to touch his
created a
n even
greater need in Madden. He was assured she wanted him as much as he craved her.
Madden
allowed his hands to explore the curves of her body, slowly and gently running from her shoulder along her waist to the luscious
curves
of her ass. He rolled then, pulling her on top of him so that he could feel the full length of her small body against his much larger one. S
he was heat to his cool skin, a fire that burned him as he worked to keep himself in check
b
ut never had his control been so undermined. Her body called to him
,
and he fought a war against
his desire
to keep this first encounter slow.
He intended to make her first time more than she may ever have imagined it could be
. Easing her into his lifestyle was best
.
H
e understood this
b
ut in the moment, he wanted nothing more than to sink inside her heat.
Layla moa
ned as he continued exploring her body
.
T
heir mouths never separat
ed
,
and
no words
were
necessary
a
s they
shared
emotions
through their joined tongues. Madden could feel everything she felt
,
and when
combined with
his own
desire
, their joining
—
that bond all Valendite Breeds share with their mates
—
was the most powerful thing he
ha
d ever experienced.
Madden
rolled them again to place himself above her
; b
alancing on his elbows
so
his body wouldn
’
t crush her. He watched her golden
eyes flutter open and look into his before a soft smile tilted the side of his
mouth.
“I need to taste you, Layla. This time is for you.
”
“Yes,” Layla’s voice was just a whisper of sound. He dipped his mouth to hers, kissing the corner of her lips.
“We will go slow and learn each other’s bodies.” Madden spoke as he moved his mouth along her cheek.
”
“Yes, please,” Layla’s voice grew rough, her breathing more labored.
“
I will give you everything I am
and you will see just how perfect we will be
,” Madden’s raspy voice was strained as he continued to hold himself ba
ck from the fast
claiming
he desired. That would come later, after she was more used to him as her lover. For now, he’d promised her
he would go
slow
.
Madden lowered himself to her breasts, greedy for a taste of the sweet berries he
had seen
straining through her shirt from the moment he
had
entered
her home. His tongue licked along the most perfectly pink nipples, swirling them
,
and then ever so gently
, he
nibbl
ed
them with his teeth. Layla pushed up against him seeking more of the sensation that shot through her. He obliged and gave her what she sought, sucking her nipples into his mouth and releasing them with a loud pop each time.