rving, aren

them, heavy as storm cl

too fiercely. Her tongue felt thick, her breath ragged. Lucian's v

ving

only f

of his body, a strange contrast to the chill that had settled deep in her chest these past da

piercing-studied her

ant from me?"

expression. "Everything you'

ed. "You spea

tray strand of hair from her cheek. His fingers li

, dangerous, awakening. Her knees weakened. She reached bl

epped for

how you,"

eath c

liberate. She should've pulled away. Should

reverent. Then, without breaking eye co

oed through

ng with something wicked and alive. She stared a

wrapped steel. "This

I don't understand wh

re wa

wh

ward him, his hands sliding around her wa

hen her cheek. "Tell me to sto

aid n

didn't want

e was his

ainst the shelves. His mouth found her

ot gentle. It

ers with devastating precision, coaxing, claiming. His hands gripped her hips, thumbs cir

n kissed before. Not

uldn't name. Her body moved instinctively, moldi

gh to whisper, "You feel it too,

sped. "God he

es down to the soft hollow above her collarbone. Each

oat, needing him clos

. The curve of her waist. The line of her back.

ng the neckline of her gown aside. When his lips brushed th

ath was ragg

he warned himself.

im, sweet and warm and thrumming with something ancien

akness. But she-Selene Duval

atop the oak table behind them. Books s

kirts rode up as his hands slid beneath, his touch reverent and searchi

n't-" she

murmured against her

rs slippe

drowning in sensation. Her body no longer felt like h

cia

thighs clenched around his hips. His fingers found her center, and

l, he he

more. Ne

ot yet time.

slowly, his b

lips swollen, cheeks flu

ip. "Because if I take you now, I won't stop. And

a drumbeat aga

she whispered.

ze dar

sound echoed through the corr

loud, blinking as if

n sti

tst

soft and tenta

ay, adjusting the collar of his coa

er skirts, pulse racing. Her heart war

ow. "You'll have to

to him. "Ch

like mercury in t

t's inside you... or le

that, he