Keeping her arms locked around Lucian’s waist, she scooted around until she stood behind him. Lucian had his hands on his hips and he shook his head at his brother. “Now you’ve embarrassed her.”

  Stefan snagged the towel off the floor and held it out to her. “From what I’ve seen, she has nothing to be embarrassed about.”

  Delight didn’t know whether to scream in frustration or laugh. This scene was getting more ludicrous by the second. She grabbed the towel from his outstretched hand and wrapped it around her body, thankful for its meager protection. She started to thank Stefan but got sidetracked when she noted the bulge in the front of his jeans. The man was seriously aroused. Her mouth went dry, so she licked her lips before she tried to speak. “Thanks,” she managed to croak out.

  “My pleasure.” There was a warmth in Stefan’s voice that caused Lucian to stiffen. He’d obviously noticed his brother’s problem and wasn’t happy about it.

  Stefan stiffened and turned to leave. He got as far as the door but paused before he opened it. “I cannot help but want what you have, my brother, but I would never take that which was yours. She is now family and under my protection.”

  She sensed underlying emotions pulsing around her, almost as if they were communicating on some other level.

  “Thank you, my brother.” Stefan relaxed the moment Lucian spoke, his shoulders dropping from their tight, slightly hunched position. Delight found the tension seeping out of her own body as well. It was only when the friction between the two men was defused that she’d realized how anxious she’d become.

  The sun had finished setting while they’d been talking and they both watched Stefan as he walked out the front door and into the gloom of early evening.

  “Now.” Lucian’s tone turned serious as the door closed behind Stefan. His chest was bare and it was obvious he’d only taken time to haul on his pants before coming after her, as they were zipped but not buttoned. It was a reminder that she’d left before he was awake.

  Delight faced him, determined to ignore the faint stirring of guilt welling up inside her. She had every right to do whatever she wanted to. She had a life and responsibilities. Just because they were spending time together didn’t mean those things went away.

  She opened her mouth to tell Lucian just that and closed it abruptly. There was more than just concern in his eyes. There was hurt as well. She’d hurt him with her actions and that hadn’t been her intention.

  She heaved a sigh and closed the distance between them. “I’m sorry.” She wrapped her arms around his waist and hugged him tight. “I guess it’s going to take me a while to get used to having someone worry about me.” Miss Nadine and Chase loved her, but she was used to being the one who worried about everyone else.

  His sigh of exasperation ruffled her hair. “It is more than just worry, Delight. You are my very heart. My whole purpose in life is to keep you happy and protected.”

  That was a whole lot of pressure for him to put on himself. “That’s not very fair to you.” She wasn’t sure she wanted to be that important to anybody.

  “Fair,” he muttered as he buried his face in her hair. “What is fair? I have lived hundreds of years without you. Maybe that was fair, maybe not. I have you now and I will not lose you.” He kissed her forehead, her nose, and her lips as he traced the curve of her cheeks with the tips of his fingers. “Come live with me. Share my life with me.” He punctuated each sentence with a kiss on her lips. “Will you?”

  It was impossible to make that kind of commitment, to give him an answer without first thinking about it. They barely knew one another.

  “Yes.” The word slipped past her lips. It was instinct with no rational thought behind it. Lucian was an immortal. She was not. But she wanted whatever time they might have together. She’d have to totally change her life, and her brother’s. This was a huge commitment.

  “You won’t regret it.” Lucian pulled her so close she could barely breathe, but she didn’t care. She’d made him happy and his happiness had become very important to her. But there were still a lot of logistical problems to be worked out.

  “We still have to talk. I need to know how the whole vampire thing works. What can you do? How does it affect our life together?” Delight’s head almost hurt, she had so many questions. “I also want to know all about your brothers and your sister-in-law. Then there’s the matter of my brother and Miss Nadine. They both need me. I can’t and won’t abandon them.” That wasn’t happening.

  “We will figure it all out.” He was smiling when he scooped her up into his arms. “I will tell you everything you want to know, but first I want to celebrate.” He carried her up the staircase and into his bedroom, kicking the door closed behind them.

  Chapter Fifteen

  When Delight awoke, she was alone in the large bed. She rolled over and buried her face in Lucian’s pillow, breathing in his scent. The man was insatiable.

  As his smell filled her nostrils, a low throbbing began to pulse between her legs and her nipples drew tighter. If she could bottle Lucian’s unique essence, she could make a fortune. The man smelled good enough to eat. She licked her lips at the prospect.

  Delight laughed and flung the covers back. And she blamed Lucian for being insatiable. She wasn’t much better. She was becoming as bad as him. She sat up, raised her arms overhead, and stretched, working the kinks out of her muscles. She was unused to the demands of Lucian’s voracious lovemaking and her body ached, but it was a pleasant feeling.

  She eased off the bed, onto the platform and down the step to the floor. Ignoring her own dress, which was nothing more than a crumpled heap on the floor, she padded to Lucian’s closet and tugged it open. Not surprisingly, his closet was huge and filled with the best-quality clothing. Delight glanced at a couple of labels and shook her head in disbelief at the sheer extravagance of it all. Lucian certainly liked to dress well and obviously had the money to do so.

  She forced herself to ignore the fact that one of his shirts probably cost as much as half of her wardrobe. She selected one, tugged it from the hanger, and slipped it on. The fabric was soft and luxurious against her skin and she wrapped her arms around herself, reveling in the feel of it.

  Buttoning the shirt as she went, she left the bedroom in search of Lucian. A clock struck the hour as she walked down the dimly lit hall and she was surprised to realize that it was one o’clock in the morning. She must have dozed for an hour or so after they’d made love.

  Her plans to go home just after sundown had been waylaid by Lucian. The man was insatiable and very enthusiastic in bed. She shivered and paused at the top of the stairs, wondering where Lucian might be. She knew he wouldn’t have left her without telling her first.

  A faint noise caught her ear. She peered down the long hallway. She had no idea what was down there. It was cast in shadows, but a faint light shone from a doorway at the end. The only rooms she’d seen upstairs were Lucian’s bedroom and bathroom. Curious, Delight crept down the hall and peeked inside.

  It was Lucian, but a Lucian she’d never seen before. This was the warrior in the flesh, the man who’d lived hundreds of years. Clad only in a pair of fitted black pants with his feet and chest bare, his torso gleamed with sweat and every muscle in his body bulged as he swung a huge ornate sword in a series of intricate maneuvers. He moved with a grace and speed that was surprising in a man of his size.

  The room was empty of furniture and one entire wall was covered with a floor-to-ceiling mirror that reflected Lucian’s fierce image as he trained with his sword. The far wall was filled with a collection of blades and other instruments of war, some of which Delight didn’t recognize. There was no doubt that this was a workout room, and from the skill with which Lucian wielded the massive weapon, it was apparent that he used it frequently.

  She couldn’t tear her eyes from him as the sword dipped and thrust and his body moved in a lethal dance of advance and retreat. His long hair flowed over his shoulders and his face was a mask of concentration as he glided and lunged effortlessly, swinging the heavy sword as if it were nothing more than a toy. The steel of the blade was reflected in the light and mirrors—a deadly yet beautiful weapon, much like the man who wielded it.

  Her mouth went dry. She licked her lips and leaned against the doorjamb for support. She made a small sound of disbelief when he executed a series of movements so fast he was little more than a blur. He heard her and whirled toward the doorway, his stance battle-ready, the sword poised midair and ready to strike.

  His cold, hard gaze changed in an instant, becoming molten hot in the blink of an eye. He smiled a small, knowing smile filled with sensual promise as he looked his fill of her.

  Delight’s nipples hardened, poking at the front of the silky shirt. She clamped her thighs together to try to stop the ache that had begun to throb at her very core. Lucian’s smile grew the longer he stared at her chest. The devil knew she was aroused and was enjoying her discomfort.

  He causally lowered the lethal four-foot blade and propped it against the wall. Before her very eyes, his erection began to grow until there was a huge bulge in the front of his pants. There was no mistaking that he wanted her.

  They should both be sated after their earlier lovemaking. She shouldn’t want him again, not so soon, but her body obviously had a mind of its own.

  “Come.” His deep voice vibrated through every cell in her body. Before she could even think whether she should comply, her feet were closing the gap between them.

  She stopped just out of reach, determined to have a sensible conversation for once. “That was amazing.”

  “Thank you.” Lucian didn’t move, but she felt as though he was crowding closer to her, his large body taking up most of the space between them. It was hard to concentrate when her fingers itched to caress every inch of his muscular chest. The man was turning her into a sex fiend. She shook her head to clear it, forcing herself to pay attention to what he was saying.

  “Skill with the sword was once a way of life.” He shrugged. “Not useful now, but Stefan and I enjoy it and practice often to keep sharp.”

  She sensed that it meant more to him than he let on. “It’s a link to your past.” She knew she’d struck a chord when his gaze became shuttered, as if it was too personal to share.

  “It was a simpler way of life then.” He kept his explanation short and sweet, leaving her feeling shut out.

  Lucian slipped his finger inside the open collar of the shirt she wore and ran it lightly over her collarbone. “Might was right and if you wanted something you took it.” She wondered if he was simply sharing or if he meant it as a warning. She suspected the latter.

  He loomed over her and she had an image of him tossing her over his shoulder and dragging her back to his big stone castle, where he’d keep her locked naked in a tower room like some sex slave awaiting his pleasure. It wasn’t as farfetched as it should have been. The idea should have been abhorrent to her. Instead she found it enticing and arousing.

  He skimmed his hand down the front of the shirt, pausing to cup one of her breasts in his palm. She leaned into his caress, but he had already moved on, the heat from his large hand almost scorching her stomach as it continued to move lower.

  He leaned in and traced the outside of her ear with his tongue. “You’d be a much prized sex slave, my love. A man would kill to keep one such as you.”

  Delight’s breath hitched in her throat. He’d read her thoughts. How was that even possible?

  His words set her skin on fire. She whimpered when he stroked his tongue behind her ear and nipped at the sensitive earlobe. She swayed toward him, but he pulled back before she could touch him.

  He ripped open the shirt she wore. The sound of fabric rending filled the air. Buttons popped and scattered across the floor. “A sex slave should always be naked for her lord and master.” He slid his hands under the cloth and pushed it down her arms, the silky fabric as much a caress as his touch.

  Delight was secretly appalled by how turned on his words were making her. Visions of her naked and kneeling at his feet, awaiting his pleasure, filled her mind.

  “Kneel.” Her entire body shook at his command. There was no longer any doubt that he was reading her mind, knew her thoughts. Her every desire.

  Just how powerful was he? And how far would he go to keep her?

  He frowned and started to turn away. She knew he’d caught her thoughts of fear and confusion. Just knowing he’d walk away, would never force her to do anything she didn’t want to, made her want to continue.

  Delight slowly lowered herself to her knees.

  Lucian stilled and studied her, searching to make sure this was what she wanted. He was very aroused, his erection straining against the front of his pants. When he hesitated, she reached out and wrapped one hand over his shaft and squeezed it through the fabric.

  Lucian hissed in a breath. “Are you sure?”

  “Yes.”

  Lucian shucked his pants in the blink of an eye, moving faster than her eyes could follow. Naked, he waited for her to take the lead. His cock was huge, the flared tip darker in color. It bobbed in front of her, demanding attention.

  Delight reached for him, wanting to touch his hard length, but he caught her hand and stopped her. “Put your hands behind your head and spread your knees.”

  Her lover was in the mood to play conqueror. She was more than willing to be his sex slave, at least this one time. Her breasts bobbed and thrust forward when she clasped both hands behind her neck. Her core ached and throbbed. She felt vulnerable and exposed. She wanted to close her legs so badly over the empty need pulsing within her, but did as he asked. Unconsciously, her hips undulated. She could sense his satisfaction. What would he do next?

  “Open your mouth.”

  Delight licked her lips, making him groan, before she parted them. He gave a low, sexy and very satisfied male laugh. “Such an obedient little sex slave you are.” They both knew she was nothing of the sort. To show him just how disobedient she could be, she leaned forward and licked the tip of his shaft. His laughter quickly turned to a groan of pleasure.

  He dug his fingers into her hair and guided his cock into her eager mouth. Delight licked at his length as it filled her.

  Their image was reflected in the wall of mirrors. The sight of her naked and kneeling on the floor in front of him was enthralling. She was totally exposed to him. There was no way to hide the effect he had on her. Her nipples were puckered, their color deeper. Her sex was moist and pink. Her blood sizzled as her excitement grew with each passing second.

  She watched in the mirror as he slid his cock past her lips, pushing deep to the back of her throat before withdrawing. His butt flexed and tightened with every thrust of his hips. Muscles bunched in his shoulders and arms, as if he were working hard to restrain himself.

  An unexpected movement in the mirror startled her. Delight continued to suck Lucian’s cock as she fixed her attention on the outline of a man in the doorway. The harsh desire and raw need stamped on his face was frightening. Her cry was swallowed as Lucian thrust deep.

  “Shhh.” He pulled his erection from her mouth and came down on his knees in front of her. He captured her lips in a searing kiss and thrust his tongue into her mouth, using it to duel with hers.

  Delight no longer cared that Stefan was watching from the shadows. Lucian overwhelmed all her senses until nothing else existed but the touch of his hands on his hips, the feel of his lips against hers, the heat from his skin, their mingled moans of pleasure, and the scent of their arousal.

  Delight slid her hands up his chest and wrapped them around his neck. She leaned closer and rubbed her swollen breasts against the hard planes of his chest, seeking relief.

  Lucian broke away from their kiss and turned her so that she was facing away from him and toward the doorway. Lifting her, he pulled her onto his lap so that her legs were draped over his and spread wide. Both his hands came around her sides and cupped her breasts. As his fingers stroked and teased her nipples, she pushed her bottom back against his erection.

  The sharp sting of his teeth on the nape of her neck jolted a moan of pleasure from her. He lightly pinched her nipples between his thumbs and forefingers. She bucked her hips, needing more from him. Giving in to her silent plea, he buried one of his hands between her legs and stroked her clit.

  Delight moaned and opened her legs wider. Despite the overwhelming sensual cocoon Lucian created around her, her gaze strayed back to the doorway. Stefan’s eyes gleamed in the darkness and she sensed his growing excitement as he watched.

  With Lucian’s hands arousing her and Stefan’s eyes devouring her, Delight thought she would explode with desire. It felt wicked and wanton, but she didn’t care. Being watched by one man while being sexually engaged with another was an incredible turn-on.

  Stefan unzipped his jeans and his large erection sprang from the opening. Never taking his eyes from her and Lucian, he wrapped his hand around his cock and began to pump up and down.

  Delight couldn’t take it any longer. “Take me, Lucian. Now.” Breaking free of his grip, she tried to lever herself up to draw him inside her.

  Lucian swore softly and gripped her waist in his hands, lifting her up easily. The head of his cock probed at her opening. He pushed inward, not pausing or giving her body time to adjust. He pulled her down hard, impaling her on his hard length.

  As he filled her, Delight closed her eyes and tipped her head back to rest against his shoulder. She squirmed on his lap and tried to pull him deeper inside her. Lucian came up on his knees and bent her over until her hands and knees were planted on the floor in front of him. She barely had time to catch her balance before he pulled back and began to hammer into her.

  As Lucian fucked her hard from behind, she raised her head and watched Stefan watching them. His expression was one of carnal pleasure as he observed them mating on the floor in front of him. His hand continued to pump up and down at a frantic pace as Lucian continued to pound into her pulsing sex.