Craved

Renee:

Outside North Henderson Hospital, their cab screeched to a halt. Renee rolled down the window and caught a whiff of lilies and hospital astringent. Darkness filled the night, and the hospital lights were blinding. "Thanks." Adeline climbed out of the cab, then extended cash through the front open window.

When the driver took it, Renee noticed it was a wad of hundred-dollar bills. She knew Damon had money since he funded his excavations, but were all of his kind loaded?

"Take them wherever they need to go, then come back and pick me up. Please." She seemed to add the last word as an afterthought. Why not use her succubus powers to convince him to follow her commands? When Adeline rushed into the hospital, Damon looked exhausted as if he might collapse. His clothes and golden hair were still wet from the pool. She still couldn't believe that she had saved him from drowning. A month ago, she'd call anyone crazy if they told her she would willingly dive into a pool. But she'd done it. She'd overcome her terror of the water and realized her courage.

Delight filled her like she'd ridden a roller coaster and not only survived but won a prize. She and Damon were together. Well, until her short mortal life extinguished, and like that, the fire blazing inside her dwindled. He would live after she was gone, even if it were as a demon, and it made her feel helpless and obsolete. He'd forget her and drift to many more loves. Just as he said he couldn't keep the years of his actual age straight and his kind didn't count them, he probably didn't tally or miss his lovers either.

Angrily, she wiped away her tears. She was being sentimental and pitying herself. There were no guarantees in life. Two men pushing a gurney dashed outside with Adeline. They loaded up Cynthia and hurried her inside. Renee spoke to Adeline through the open window. "Want us to wait for you?"

"No, I'll think of something," Adeline said. "In the meantime, I'll stay here until Dax and a few of the elders complete her memory wipe."

"What about the crystal?" Damon needed it but looked like there was no chance of getting it from Adeline. Did it affect her the way it had Renee?

"Sofia might be able to help or know some way to expel the crystal."

Damon kissed Renee's palm.

With goodbyes, she and Damon left Adeline outside the hospital as the cab drove away.

"I need to check on my mom." She shuddered.

He handed her his cellphone.

"Mom?" she asked when the phone stopped ringing. "Is everything okay?"

There was a muffled noise, then her mom cleared her throat. "Sorry, just the paramedics and police are here. Nothing to worry about. We had a break-in, but I'm getting fixed up." Renee blinked back tears. "I'm glad." Her mom couldn't say more with people around. "I'm glad you're okay. Thank you. I'll call you tomorrow?"

"Love you, baby girl."

"Love you too." She ended the call and returned Damon's cellphone. At least her mom was getting treatment and was taking all this better than she thought she would.

The cab pulled up in front of her apartment and Damon offered his hand to help her out. "We've got some things to talk about," he said.

Renee kept pushing aside the thoughts of losing Damon to his full demon nature. Focus on the here and now it's all any of us really have. Enjoy the time. A serious talk is the last thing on my mind. Her nerves danced across her spine as they climbed the stairs to her apartment. What would he think of her meager one bedroom? Well, if he didn't like it, his loss. She'd paid for everything herself. Flicking on the lights, she strode forward. Damon shut the door behind him. Before he turned around, she grasped him around the waist and hugged him from behind, taking in his masculine scent. "Wha-"

"Thank you for believing in me, in us." She let go of him, and he turned to face her. "I saw how your kind craves one of these crystals at any cost, but you never once came after it or me. And we got away from those maniacs. Not many in your place would've done that."

"I could do no less." His hands squeezed her shoulders. "But it's not safe for me to be around you. You saw what the madness did to Clive. I don't want you to see me that way. Now that you don't have a crystal, my kind won't be after you. You're safe and if I go, you'll remain that way." He took hold of the doorknob.

"Wait, you're leaving? Now?" Did these last days together mean nothing to him? No, he said he loved her.

"I have to, my power could kill you."

"You didn't before, at Sofia's." She clenched her fists and refused to allow her lip to tremble. She wanted this man in her life. With him, she felt stronger, more alive, and appreciated, loved.

"The first time, you had a crystal and it helped control my feeding. Without it, I could overwhelm you." He gently forced her chin up and she met his shifting colored eyes: a mixture of gold, azure, and emerald. "In four days, I become a full demon. I can't risk it. I can't take the chance and lose you."

"Then don't." She grabbed his hand. Remembering what she knew of his fiancée who died, she laid a hand against his chest. "If something does happen-" When he scowled, she said, "it's not your fault. Don't blame yourself, and I don't think Belinda would want you to either."

He jerked. "How did you know her name?"

Heat rushed to her face. "Sorry, during the balloon ride, there was a note in your jacket pocket. I was wrong to read it."

"No, I held onto my grief too long, blaming myself." He kissed her knuckles softly. "These last weeks with you have helped heal me. I don't carry around the guilt anymore. But I couldn't bear it if anything happened to you because of me." "Earlier at the pool, you said you claimed me." After a moment, she continued, "What does that mean exactly?"

"When an incubus or succubus claims a lover, it's a vow. Stronger than love. I've never claimed anyone until you. It means, even if we break apart, I will forever love you. That I would walk the line of demon for you if it meant you would live." She grasped his head with both her hands. "I believe in you. My trust is in you. Make love to me, Damon. I know you won't hurt me."

"I've never loved anyone as much as I do you." He took a ragged breath. "Not even Belinda compared to what you do to me. So how could I put you in harm when I'd rather die before I let anything happen to you? Don't you see, Renee? This is my way of showing you how much I love you."

Her eyes stung, but she wouldn't cry. "Then sweep me away, one last time."

Pressing her lips to his, she kissed him with all the love and yearning she had inside since she'd met him. For the first time in her life, she gave over everything. Laid it at his feet with a kiss that said, take it or leave it, but here I am. Breaking away, he rested his forehead against hers, his breathing rapid. "You must tell me if you feel as if you are floating or flying. Anything unusual, tunnel vision, anything."

His mouth claimed hers, and she met his ferocity with her own. She grabbed his damp shirt and ripped open the buttons. She had to have him. Now. Unable to wait, she ran her hands across his smooth muscled chest as her tongue stroked and danced with his.

His response, at first, was hesitant. But she would allow him time. As much as her gut twisted, she knew if she'd been Belinda, she'd let him love again. Just as deeply or even more so.

When he growled against her mouth, Renee shuddered. His mouth claimed hers and she met his ferocity with her own. She grabbed his damp shirt in her fists. She had to have him. Now. Unable to wait, she ran her hands across his smooth muscled chest as her tongue stroked and danced with his.

When he lifted her off the couch to carry her into the bedroom, she ended their kiss. It was her turn to drive him mad. "No. Not this time. I'm in charge."

A mischievous glint lit his eyes, but he sat her on her feet. "Where do you want me?"

"Anywhere, I can." She glanced around the room. Too many of her boyfriends hadn't liked her aggressiveness in bed. Often, she stifled it or pretended she always liked the same positions they did. "There. On the ottoman bench. Strip." His lips twisted into a sexy smirk as if he liked being ordered around. Like an expensive male stripper, he swaggered to the ottoman, pulling his shirt over his head then flinging it. His shirt landed in a pile at her feet. She bent and picked it up, inhaling his aroma of musk, vanilla, and orange before tossing it to the rocking chair. He ran a hand down his abs and kicked off his shoes. With a smile that teased and promised so much more, he inched open his button-fly pants in slow motion.

"Tease."

He winked. "That's me."

How could she not have known he was an incubus? He was perfect. And for now, he was hers. His noticeable arousal made her ache to have him inside her. Deep and hard. She doubted she'd need much warm-up time. Despite craving him, she wasn't quite ready to relinquish her control over him. Not yet.

He eased down his pants and boxers, tossing them onto her rocking chair over his shirt. He was lean muscle all over. His girth was long and thick. Hell yeah, anytime he could press her against the wall and be deep inside her while he danced like that. She couldn't get enough of him and he was all hers.

"Now lay down." Her voice was dry and hoarse. Good God, had she left the heat on in here?

He did as she bid, and his penis pointed skyward and his legs hung over the side. She followed him and kneeled next to him. With slow strokes, she caressed his chest, then his arms and finally his legs. He studied her through slanted bedroom eyes. When his breath hitched, she moved back up kissing, licking, and tasting every part of him, except the most sensitive, which now seemed to pulse each time she brushed against it with her hand. His skin tasted like crème brûlée. "Please."

"Close your eyes," she said, and the power of him obeying her zinged through her. Hot and confined, she took off her damp clothes. "Hmm... better."

She kissed her way up the side of one of his thighs, and he took a shuddering breath. Then she lightly sucked the tip of his penis. Iron wrapped in rose petals. She kissed his stomach. He ground his teeth. "Patience." Easier said than done because she ached to sate her hunger with him.

Even though he seemed like he'd take all the teasing she'd dish out, she was salivating to feel him in the deepest part of her. She throbbed with the temptation to simply jump onto his lap and take him.

Returning to his cock, she licked along his length before opening her mouth and sucking on his velvet tip. She tasted him again-, and her heartbeat sped up at the realization this gorgeous man desired her. Her hand cupped his balls, the other stroking his chest. She sucked him hard, loving the moans he let out. Since she wasn't sure how much time an incubus would take to recover if he came in her mouth, she gave him a final kiss and then straddled him. When he entered her wet, ready body, she mewled in pleasure. "You're so big. I love it."

"May I please touch you now?" His voice sounded strained.

She rode him in fast movements. "You better."

His grin told her he'd been waiting for her response. When one hand stroked her nipple and the other stroked her clit, she threw her head back. "Damon!"

It was too much, but at the same time, it wasn't nearly enough. Time paused. Pleasure welled up inside of her, building slowly. He sped up his motions, and it was all too much. She closed her eyes, allowing a moment of pure joy to wash over her.

Still, he didn't stop, his fingers dipping inside her, and she shattered. Ecstasy poured through her. She shook with an orgasm, and any movement sent shudders through her. Stars and colors exploded. He continued to stroke and caress her. He drew her mouth down to his, kissing her so deeply that the pressure of another climax started to build again. Passion burning between them. The entire time, his gaze never left her.

Her hips pumped up and down, harder and faster. Waves of pleasure crashed over her and took her away from everything. Her breaths raced and her pulse quickening. Ripples of the second orgasm coursed through her, knocking down her resistance, drowning her. For several strokes, she couldn't move, barely breathed as he gripped her hips tighter and with a growl bringing pleasure through her, he came. This sexy, intelligent guy was all hers.

His hand stroked her back, and she shivered. A sudden chill brushed against her skin. Their bodies collapsed on top of each other. When Damon hugged her, she giggled. He frowned. "My lovemaking is funny?"

"Not at all." She traced a finger along his jawline. "I've just never been this content before. Thank you."

"By the way, thank you for saving me from drowning."

His breath tickling her face sent shivers through her. She couldn't stop staring at his mouth. Earlier in the pool, kissing him to exchange breaths was a necessity. Now she yearned to taste him again and revel in the fact he was alive-they both were. She had saved him! Excitement filled her.

"Don't put your life in danger on my account. Now I'm inclined not to let you go." His kaleidoscope eyes twinkled.

Her heart raced. "What do you mean?"

"I've been drawn to you since you argued about all the holes I dug in the ground in Turkey."

Her breath hitched. Damon's expression held either amazement or admiration. "I couldn't admit my attraction to you, until recently." Like in the caves when he calmed her anxiety and later when he invited the rock-chess game. He laughed. "Ah-ha, so you admit you are attracted to me now?"

Before she answered, he brushed a kiss over her lips. A whisper. A promise of more to come. He tasted a hint of chlorine. Her tongue swept into his mouth until the two connected and she couldn't feel him apart from her.

They made love again, and she was deliciously sore. Both of them laid on the bed in their afterglow, her hair draped over her face, and a pillow tucked under her arm, her back exposed to the air circling from the ceiling fan above. "Ready for a shower?"

She peeked up at him through her dark hair. "Uh, I don't think I can move, much less stand."

"Then I'll pour you a bath." He chuckled, and the vibration sent delicious aftershocks through her. "Maybe this time you'll allow me to watch you."