His fingers curled into a fist at her rejection. His primal instincts demanded he pounce on her and pin her to the bed. He hungered for her submission. Wanted her acknowledgment that he was her mate. It was his right to touch her. She belonged to him just as he belonged to her.

  Even though he understood her fear, it angered him. With his hands clenched at his sides, he ground his teeth together and struggled for control of his body and emotions. Every muscle was rigid as he fought his own instincts.

  “Who are you? What are you?” Her voice quavered and she swallowed hard. Scrambling into a sitting position, she pulled her nightgown over her legs, covering them.

  That she would feel the need to hide herself from him was intolerable. She was his. His body ached to touch hers even as his mind hungered for a deeper connection. But frightening her further would not aid him. Reaching for a depth of control he hadn’t even known he possessed, he mastered his craving for her body and his hunger for her acceptance. Taking a deep breath, he centered himself and drew on his centuries of training. He was both a warrior and a hunter and now was the time for patience and cunning.

  “I have told you who I am.” He kept his voice soft and as nonthreatening as possible, but there was no hiding his size or the fact that he was incredibly aroused. His swollen cock jutted out in front of him and her eyes skittered back and forth between it and his face.

  She licked her lips again and he bit back a groan as he watched her tongue swipe across her full bottom lip. Stefan wanted to taste her lips with his tongue. She would be sweet. So incredibly sweet.

  “You’re Stefan Dalakis?”

  Stefan stifled the impatience that welled up within him. It was amazing how this one special woman made a mockery of his self-control. Right now, she needed time to get to know him, and it was his duty to make sure she got whatever she required. He gave her a short formal bow, falling back on the training of his childhood. “I am.”

  She suddenly thrust her hand forward. “Laurel Rose McCaffey.”

  Charmed by the gesture, he carefully wrapped his fingers around her hand, marveling that a hand this small and fragile could hold his entire future within it. When he raised it to his lips and kissed each knuckle in turn, his thumb grazed the underside of her hand. The skin on her palm was rough, toughened by hard physical labor. Her hand might seem fragile, but like the rest of her, he suspected that it was much stronger than it looked.

  “It is my pleasure, Laurel Rose McCaffey.” Unable to resist, he stroked his tongue between her fingers. She stilled, not because she was afraid, but because she was growing aroused at the unfamiliar caress. Carefully, he drew her middle finger into his mouth and sucked on it. Pure male satisfaction filled him when she moaned and leaned closer to him. He lightly scraped his teeth over her flesh as he released her finger from his mouth.

  “This isn’t a dream, is it? This is real?”

  “This is very real,” he assured her. He climbed onto the bed, wrapped his hands around her slender ankles, and slowly tugged her toward him. Laurel Rose fell back onto the mattress. He spread her legs wider and pulled her closer to him. Her nightgown was pushed up around her thighs, and her arousal wafted through the air. He leaned closer, breathing deep, filling his lungs with her intoxicating scent. “This is incredibly real.”

  Her hands clutched at the covers beside her, but she made no move to push him away.

  Her deep blue eyes were almost entirely swallowed by the black of her pupils as they dilated in fear, or arousal or both—he wasn’t entirely sure. Her black hair was confined in a braid that reached all the way to her behind. Stefan longed to see her hair loose and feel it flowing across his skin. He wanted to bury his face in the mass and just inhale the fresh, clean scent of mountain air, soap, and woman.

  The plain white nightgown covered her from neck to thighs, but it was thin with age and wear, allowing him to see the outline of her body beneath it. The dark thatch of hair at the apex of her thighs was visible though the thin fabric. She wasn’t wearing any underwear. His cock began to throb even harder.

  Her arms were deceptively strong, the muscles long and firm, not bulky. Her torso was supple and slender with small, well-formed breasts. Her hips flared out with a slight curve and her legs were long. Even her feet were sexy. He loved the feminine arch of her foot and the way her toes curled against the mattress.

  “Let me touch you.” He loosened his grip on her ankles and stroked his hands up the backs of her legs, softly skimming the sensitive skin behind her knees. “I know you’re not ready for anything else yet. But let me pleasure you.”

  • • •

  Laurel Rose almost swallowed her tongue. This tall, dark stranger looming above her should have had her running and screaming in terror. He’d walked naked from the shadows of her bedroom, like a dark fantasy come to life. Instead, she wanted to crawl into his arms and beg him to never let her go.

  For a brief second she’d thought his eyes had glowed red in the darkness and that she’d caught the glimpse of gleaming fangs. But she’d blinked and seen nothing but the flash of the whites of his teeth as he’d spoken to her. It was simply a trick of the moonlight.

  That and a fear of the unknown.

  She admitted that she was drawn to the fact that they shared some of the same abilities. But after what she’d just witnessed, she had no doubt that his powers were far greater than hers. She still had no idea how he’d managed to hide his presence from her. She’d searched that very corner and she’d swear on a stack of Bibles that he hadn’t been there. Yet he had been.

  Where had he come from? Exactly who was he? What was he?

  Was any of this even real or was it all just a dream? It certainly felt real. How in the world would she conjure a man like Stefan? Not even in her dreams could she imagine a man as potent and attractive as him.

  Energy and power surrounded him, almost causing the air to crackle with it. It attracted and frightened her all at once. Even as she listed in her head all the reasons she should send him away, she knew she wouldn’t. The attraction and the temptation were too great to be denied.

  Stefan Dalakis was the most sensual man she’d ever met. He wasn’t handsome in the classical sense, but his rugged features suited him well and he oozed a sensuality that would draw any woman he wanted to him.

  Everything about the man was massive, from his height to the sheer expanse of his shoulders and chest. Muscles rippled under his skin with every movement, and since he was totally naked, she had a completely unrestricted view of him. Laurel Rose clawed at the sheet under her to keep from reaching out and touching him. She had the almost overwhelming urge to rub her hands all over his body and pet him much like she had the wolf earlier that evening. They had much in common. Both were male animals in their prime, strong and fit and definitely the alpha of any pack.

  His thighs bulged with muscle as he knelt on the bed in front of her. And there was certainly no hiding his aroused state. His cock was jutting out in front of him, long and thick and ready. Her womb clenched tight, contracting with need. It was the primal reaction of a female recognizing and acknowledging her need for her man.

  She’d never seen a man so aroused in her life. Johnny Mills didn’t count, as that was so many years ago she could barely remember it. Even if she could, she feared that he would have proved severely lacking when compared with Stefan. She had a feeling that no man could compare to Stefan.

  He could easily overpower her, yet she instinctively knew she could stop him with a single word. That kind of power was intoxicating. Stefan Dalakis exuded a raw, basic sexuality that excited her. His overwhelming masculinity made her feel more feminine than she’d ever felt in her life. His strength dwarfed hers, yet she was not without her own power. There was no doubt that he wanted her. That was more than evident by the state of his arousal. But he sat there with his hands caressing the backs of her legs, waiting for her to decide his fate.

  What did she want? She wanted the pleasure that he offered her. There was something about Stefan that told a woman she was in for the sexual experience of a lifetime. The thought of all that sensual energy focused entirely on her almost made her come on the spot. But still, a tiny part of her was apprehensive.

  “You’ll stop if I want you to?” She felt stupid and incredibly juvenile asking him that question, but she still needed an answer. She knew he was way out of her league in terms of sexual experience, and as close as she felt to him, he was still a stranger.

  “I’ll stop whenever you wish. Go only as far as you want.” His words were both a reassurance and a subtle threat. But she was satisfied.

  “Okay.” She relaxed on the bed and waited.

  The corner of his mouth turned up slightly, making his thin lips seem softer, not quite so harsh and forbidding. His long black hair flowed over the front of his shoulders as he leaned forward and placed a kiss on the inside of her knee. It brushed against her skin even as his moist lips touched her flesh. She shivered at the twin sensations.

  His eyelashes were long, black, and sinfully thick and she wished she could see the color of his eyes.

  “Green,” he murmured as he licked a hot path up the inside of her thigh.

  “What?” She couldn’t make sense of his words with the heat flashing through her veins the closer he got to her sex.

  “My eyes are green,” he repeated. Had she asked that question out loud? She couldn’t remember, and right now, she no longer cared. His hands were busy pushing her nightgown higher, his mouth moving steadily closer to her pulsing core.

  Her legs moved restlessly against the sheets as his warm, moist breath feathered across the sensitive flesh of her sex. No man had ever looked at her in this way before. She was surprised she didn’t feel more awkward or shy with him staring at her in such an intimate manner. Instead, it made her feel voluptuous, beautiful, and very, very aroused.

  She arched her hips, swinging them closer to his face, enticing him to taste her. He growled low in his throat, and the rumble echoed throughout the room, sounding more like beast than man.

  Then he claimed her.

  He stroked his tongue up one side of her swollen labia and down the other. The slightly rough pad of his tongue coupled with the gentleness of his caress sent shivers racing up and down her spine. This man was all about contradictions. His actions were raw and sexual on one hand, tender and sensual on the other. He was a man of massive strength, yet he was capable of great gentleness, at least with her.

  The thought was barely finished when he sat back, gripped the neck of her nightgown in his hands and yanked. The sound of cloth splitting was loud in the quiet of the room. He shoved the sides apart, exposing her body to his view.

  Laurel Rose gasped, shocked by the suddenness of his actions. His eyes devoured her and she trembled beneath his all-consuming gaze. She knew she should probably be afraid, but she was unbearably aroused instead.

  Seemingly satisfied with her reaction, he slipped his arms beneath her thighs, pushing his hands upward over her torso until he covered her breasts with his palms. Her nipples puckered even tighter and stabbed at the center of his hands. Her heart was racing, pounding out a primal rhythm that matched the pulsing between her thighs. When he buried his face between her legs, she thought she’d explode.

  His tongue lapped and tasted as he mapped out every fold and crevice of her sex. He came so close to the nub of nerves at the apex and she tried desperately to move her hips so that he would lick her swollen clitoris. He stroked her everywhere but there. The man was diabolical in his sensual torture. He’d push her to the very brink of orgasm and then retreat, petting her softly with his tongue until she started to come back down. Then he’d start to drive her higher once again.

  Sometimes he’d simply nestle his chin in her pubic hair and watch her face as he used his hands and fingers to toy with her nipples. He seemed to take great pleasure in plumping up her breasts in his hands and then lightly pinching her already taut nipples, making them ache even more.

  “Harder,” she moaned as she watched his fingers tighten around her swollen nipples. His eyes flared with undisguised lust and he did as she asked, rolling the hard nubs between his fingers, pinching them gently. Her inner muscles clenched in anticipation.

  Suddenly his hands were gone from her breasts and she was left moaning in need. Her entire body ached. She pumped her hips in the air, wanting to come. Needing to come. “Stefan.” His name was both a plea and a command.

  He wrapped his fingers around her upper thighs, gripped her legs, and spread them wide. He gave no warning as he released one thigh and thrust two fingers deep into her core while at the same time carefully capturing her swollen clitoris between his lips and sucking.

  Laurel Rose exploded. Convulsions racked her entire body as she came. He used his tongue and mouth to push her orgasm to the limits. His fingers continued to pump in and out of her core. The pleasure was so intense she thought she might pass out. Her heart and head both threatened to explode as she shook with release. Gradually, his movements slowed and her body was reduced to the occasional tremor.

  Feeling totally boneless, she lay there on the bed, completely sated. She’d never experienced anything like that in her life. The cool night breeze made her shiver as it dried the fine coating of sweat that covered her. She curled her fingers and toes into the mattress like a contented cat. With a sleepy smile on her face, she opened her eyes and gazed up at the man who had given her such pleasure.

  She froze at the picture before her. The indulgent lover was gone. In his place was the man who had walked out of the shadows earlier that evening, a man who looked more than capable of taking what he wanted.

  And right now, what he wanted was her.

  Lust was carved onto his face, making it appear even harsher. His eyes were hot with need, and they seemed to devour her while he sat back on his knees watching her. Every muscle in his body seemed pronounced, as if clenched and ready to spring into action. A light sheen of sweat made his skin gleam in the moonlight. He seemed even larger than before as he gripped his cock with his hand and pumped up and down the hard length.

  As she watched, a pearl of liquid beaded across the tip. She licked her lips, wondering what it tasted like, wanting to stroke her fingers across his shaft and discover if it was as hard as it looked.

  Her gaze flew to his when he groaned. His eyes seemed to burn into her very soul and she felt an answering pull within her. Desire began to build again where moments before sleepy satisfaction had reigned.

  As if he could read her thoughts, he answered her unasked question. “Whatever you want, Laurel Rose. It’s your choice.”

  Chapter Seven

  Stefan feared he might go mad while he waited for Laurel Rose to decide what she wanted him to do. Her deep indigo eyes widened and grew darker as she watched him stroke himself. He felt the excitement growing within her. The resurgence of her arousal where moments before she had been completely sated. She was incredibly attracted to him and was making no effort to hide the fact.

  Pure satisfaction filled Stefan. He’d had many women in his lifetime, but none of them had affected him as deeply or on as many levels as Laurel Rose. He felt ridiculously pleased that she wanted him and wasn’t afraid to show it. If she kept staring at his swollen cock and licking her lips, he was going to come without her even having to touch him.

  He shuddered as his balls tightened, drawing up closer to his body. The ache was continual now, the pulsing in his cock a driving rhythm urging him to fuck her. That time was coming. And soon. But right now, he wanted to feel her lips brush his flesh while her tongue stroked his hard length. He wanted her hands on his body, caressing him. He didn’t care where she touched him so long as her fingers stroked his skin. Flesh to flesh. Lover to lover.

  Her breasts fascinated him with their steady rise and fall as her breathing deepened and became harsher. Their tips were swollen and red from his earlier attention. They were as ripe as raspberries, just waiting to be sampled. The plump mounds were silky, as pale and smooth as cream. His fingers itched to stroke the curve of her stomach just to see if it was as soft as it appeared. He could easily spend eternity learning everything there was to know about Laurel Rose.

  She’d been so still for so long that he thought she’d changed her mind. Sweat trickled down his back from the effort it took to hold himself in check. A savage pleasure gripped him when she tentatively raised her hand and reached out to touch him. He closed his eyes, anticipating the pleasure her innocent caress would bring him.

  His eyes shot open as a familiar sensation filled him. No! He wanted to rage and howl and swear at the world. Dawn was creeping in like a silent beast, waiting to pounce and devour him. For the first time in his long existence, he cursed what he was. Damned his family and heritage for forcing him to leave her side. However, not by any word or action did he betray his feelings. He knew what he had to do.

  Her fingers didn’t even get a chance to touch him, but they were close enough to stir the air around him. He could feel the heat from her hand as it neared him, could smell her musky, exotic scent as she moved closer. His hand shot out and gripped her wrist in a vise-like hold, keeping her from touching him. Her pulse fluttered beneath his fingers before it began a galloping rhythm.

  Her gaze flew to his and he could read her growing confusion and fear. His blood boiled with anger that it had to be this way. She had begun to trust him, and if they’d been allowed to continue, it would have strengthened the bond between them. Stefan feared that after this, he’d lose whatever ground he’d gained with her.

  Raising her hand to his lips, he kissed the back of her wrist. Blood rushed through her veins and the beat of her heart grew faster, more insistent. The urge to sink his fangs into her and drink was great. He knew his eyes were glowing and tinged with red, so he kept his head averted, not wanting to frighten her even more. His tongue flicked out to sample her salty flesh—a mere taste for a starving beast.