He needed a woman strong enough to accept that he would always need his ropes. They anchored him. Centered him. The moment he touched them, those dark shifting shadows inside him subsided.
She looked at him as if she could see inside him, past the glacier, penetrate deep and see the man he could have been.
His body was settling over hers, his knee nudging her thighs apart so he could press against her soft, welcoming body. “I think you should just stay naked and waiting for me,” he growled, stroking her to ensure her readiness.
Vittorio had recognized early on he had a gift. His voice could be compelling, or commanding, and those in a room reacted to it. He could calm others down, arouse or infuriate, all with his tone.
His entire body shuddered with pleasure. He caught her hips in his hands, surged forward to to bury himself deep inside of her. A safe haven. His world was changed forever. He no longer walked the earth utterly alone. He would never be alone again. Antonietta changed his world. Brought him light in his unrelenting darkness.
Want me enough, Shea. Want me with more than just your body. Let me into your heart.” His mouth fastened on hers, not gently but wildly, hungrily. The hunger was in his eyes when he raised his head to look down at her. “Open your mind to me. Want me there, as you want me in your body. Want me coming to you wild with a need only you can satisfy. Take me into your soul and let me live there.” His mouth was roaming every inch of her face, the column of her neck, the hollow of her shoulder. His.
The first touch of her hands nearly had him coming off the bed in alarm. Her eyes were closed, but her hands lay against his skin lightly, palms down. Every muscle in his body tightened. Every cell responded to her touch. The feel of her skin against his skin took his breath away. He’d felt a woman’s hand on his body many times, strokes and caresses meant to inflame him, to arouse him, yet not a single one had ever affected him the way her touch did.
Soleil. Sunshine. Yeah. He could see that.
He learned to always keep his hands steady. It didn’t matter how much blood was in the room, or who was giving orders, or if he knew what was coming, he’d learned absolute control. Absolute.
I cannot lie to you,” he whispered. “You know my thoughts. You know the beast that dwells inside. I try to be gentle with you, to listen to you. Always that wildness breaks free, but you tame me. Raven, please, I need you. And you need me. Your body is weak, I can feel your hunger. Your mind is fragmented – allow me to heal you. Your body cries out for mine as mine does for yours. Kiss me, Raven. Do not give up on us.
I give you my word. You’re totally safe with me.
He needed to keep this woman with him. He didn’t even know why the compulsion was so strong, but that need was relentless, bone deep. Soul deep.
Ice wanted her. For whatever reason, he might even need her.
Love for her welled up so strong, so intense, the pressure in his chest made him feel as if he might be having a heart attack.
She knew, more than any other reason, it was the way Steele touched her, the way his hands moved over her and the look on his face when he stared down into her eyes that kept her tied to him. He couldn’t hide that.
She put her hand in his, and he smiled. It was as if for her, the sun came out. His smile took her breath and made her inexplicably happy because, she sensed, he rarely smiled and it was like a gift.
Gregori wanted her. More than that, he needed her. That particular revelation changed everything. It put control back in her hands, gave her back her life. She squared her shoulders. She was no longer a child running from a nameless fear. She was his lifemate, chosen by God to walk with a man of power, of honor. A sensual, strong male who needed her more than anyone else on earth ever could.
He needed to know she wanted to be with him. He needed to know someone loved him. He didn’t believe himself worthy of love, so he had a difficult time believing she really wanted to be with him.
Nicolas didn’t want the couple there. It was petty of him and made him feel ashamed and even stupid that he wanted more time alone with Lara. He had always been so self-assured, but now he feared losing her, feared she would leave him – or stay with him because of the lifemate bond, but never find it in her heart to love him.
Ask any of my brothers, nothing stops me. No one stops me. I got the name Steele because I’m unbending.