Chapter 3

Kendra woke with a start, her eyes searching through the darkness frantically. "Lucian?" she whispered.

There was no answer in the darkness. She rose slowly, picking up her robe and pulling it over her shift. She went to the french doors, pushing them open and staring out into the garden. The moon had risen, reflecting in the still water of the pond that had been dug at the edge of the garden. It was a pretty sight and she sighed. "Lovely."

"You are," a voice said from next to the door.

Kendra managed not to scream but she did taken an involuntary step backward, her hand going to the throat of her robe and clutching it together. Her eyes were wide with shock.

"Lucian?" she whispered again

"Yes, it's me." He took another step forward and she could see him clearly. "How are you feeling?"

He sounded so caring as if her health were the most important thing to him. She nodded then shrugged. "A dream woke me."

"A dream? Do you remember it?" He took another two steps toward her, almost able to touch her.

"It's a bit hazy." She looked up and into his face, shrugging her shoulders. "You were there."

"I was?" he asked, a smile touching his lips. "Was I a hero?"

Her brow furrowed, a line forming between and above her nose. Her eyes shut as she tried to remember. "You told me to run," she said slowly.

"Now why would I tell you to run?"

"You were warning me. It's all hazy," she repeated.

He reached out, his fingers smoothing over that line on her forehead so that she relaxed it. She smiled self-consciously. "I'm sorry."

"Sorry?" Lucian queried. "What do you need to be sorry for?"

Kendra glanced down at her feet letting her thoughts process. It was a jumble of nonsense that ran through her mind and she sighed again. "I can't remember."

"Oh, Kendra, it's not terrible that you don't remember your dream. There are lots of times I wish I didn't remember mine. Think of it as a blessing." He lifted her chin gently, smiling down at her.

Her face was pale, her eyes shadowed. The small light of the candle he'd brought with him shone in the strands of her hair, making her seem even more pale. He couldn't help but touch her, his fingers running down the line of her throat. He could see the pulse in her neck and hear it as it grew louder, picking up its beat.

"I'll do that," she whispered, wondering what he would do if she gave into her desire and stepped even closer to him. She wanted to be close enough to smell his masculine scent and feel the hardness of his body against hers. "Is that why you're out here? You couldn't sleep?"

"I was concerned for you."

A blush rose to her creamy cheeks. "I didn't mean to worry anyone. But thank you for your concern." She shrugged, dropping her eyes from his. "It's been an unusual day."

"Yes, it definitely has." His fingers pushed through the hair at the nape of her neck, rubbing lightly. He could hear her sudden intake of air and felt the pulse of passion that the sound sent spiraling through him. He wanted her. No, he needed her, close to him, with him, under him.

The thought seemed to sink his inhibitions and he took a step closer, feeling her warmth through the thin fabric of her nightwear. "I want to kiss you."

It suddenly grew hard for her to breathe. "You want to ... to kiss me?"

"With every fiber of my being, Kendra. I want you to be mine."

His, the idea of being his sent her blood rushing through her veins. She couldn't move, she couldn't speak, all she could do was stand there and stare up at him, her answer in her eyes.

He saw it and a moan was ripped from his throat. "God," he growled. "Hold still."

She did and saw his eyes glowing as he stared down at her. His hand touched her chin, slowly tipping her head the way he wanted and then he was dipping his head, his eyes fluttering closed just before they reached hers. She closed her eyes as well, gasping at the thrill of pleasure that sang through her veins. Heat grew deep in her belly and she felt the flesh between her thighs dampening.

His hands moved over her back, pulling her that last step until she was pressed up against him, her softness a daring contrast to his hardness. His lips were cool, warming from the pressure of hers. He twisted them, carefully opening her mouth to the ravaging of his tongue, the sound of her pleased moan had him pulling her even closer. His hands slid over her hips, tilting them up, to fit against him more seamlessly.

She loved the hard feel of him, the almost roughness of his hands on her body. She wanted more and then more still, her hand twining into his hair, holding him to her. Her body throbbed with desire though she no clue what he was doing to her. She could feel the pulse between her thighs, feel that most private area of her body grow wet with her need.

Her kiss grew as desperate as his, her hands roaming over his chest and shoulders. She didn't know how to tell him that she wanted more, the she wanted it all. Her breasts were flattened against his chest and there was not even room for a breath between them. She could feel the hard ridge of him against her lower stomach and she daringly let her hand fall to his thigh.

She had him groaning, his mouth tearing from hers, dropping to the wonderful line of her throat. "Yes, Kendra," he moaned. "Touch me."

She did, her hand going to his chest to push him back far enough that she could. She was pressed against the doorjamb, her hands shaking with the need and desire that his kiss had given her. She trailed her hand against his thigh, moving it ever upward until she found that turgid proof of his maleness. The size of it shocked her, the hardness, even the small spot of wetness fanning the flames of the need she felt. Her eyes opened and she stared up at him, the look of disbelieving pleasure on his face making her even more daring.

"I want more," she moaned. "Teach me?"

"Yes," he agreed. He bent and lifted her in his arms easily, taking her back into the room she'd just left, kicking the door shut behind them. The moonlight shone through the uncovered glass, shining brightly on to the mussed bed. He laid her down carefully before sitting down on the edge of the bed and kicking off his shoes.

Then he turned back to her, moving over her so that she could feel his body against hers. "I want to make love to you, Kendra."

Her eyes were wide but she managed a small smile and nodded her assent. "Yes. I want that too."

"I'll make it good for you," he growled huskily. "I promise."

"Yes," she whimpered, feeling his lips against her throat. The feel of them there gave her a sudden case of déjà vu. "Lucian?"

"Hmm," he answered, his mouth busy on her skin, tasting her flesh and smelling the blood that ran beneath it.

"I feel strange," she whispered, desperately trying to remember if they'd done this before.

"Passion," he answered. "It's natural to be nervous." His lips touched the ridge of her collarbone and he suckled a bit of her skin into his mouth. "You taste so good."

The sound of his voice, growling his pleasure, had her forgetting the strange sensation. She would believe him, she decided, running her hands over his head and down his shoulders. Her hips were undulating under the weight of his body, her back arching with joy. "More," she moaned.

He reached down, his fingers tangling in the soft, oft washed shift she wore, pulling on it to rip it down the middle all the way to her feet. The sound was shocking to her, the avid touch of his gaze heating her flesh. "Lucian?"

He could hear the nerves in her voice and smiled against her skin. "You're incredibly beautiful, Kendra. I want to see and touch every inch of you." He moved his lips lower, following the soft roundness of her breast. He heard her gasp when he reached her puffy nipple and felt it tighten in his mouth. His tongue flicked at it and he heard as well as felt her response.

"Oh," she cried, her hands digging into the thickness of his hair, holding him to her. She cried out again when he covered her other breast with his fingers, taking her nipple and twisting it. He pinched it carefully and she began to beg. "More, Lucian. Please ... I want more."

"I'll give you more," he growled, lifting his head to look into her heavy lidded eyes. "I'll give you everything, Kendra." His hands slid down the ladder of her ribs, moving over her abdomen and cupping his hand over the softness of the hair covering her mons. She jumped as he combed through it with his fingers, her eyes meeting his as he touched her woman's flesh for the first time.

His mouth moved over her stomach even as his hands felt the wetness of her cunny. She was hot and wet, her cries proving how anxiously she wanted what he wanted to give her. He lifted up carefully, taking her hands and putting them on the buttons of his shirt. "Take it off," he ordered, his tone not brooking any nonsensical virginal reactions.

She did, her hands sliding over his chest and down his arms to strip him of the light weight linen. His body was beautiful, more impressive than the Greek statues she'd seen in many parks and gardens. His arms were muscled, hard and strong, his chest wide and thick. His nipples were flat, about a quarter in size, the centers growing hard as she flicked her fingers over them. She could feel the ridges of muscle on his stomach, her fingers running over the ripped flesh, wanting him to know that she thought him as gorgeous as he seemed to think her.