Desire Untamed (Feral Warriors #1)(67)

He sat up until he faced her and slid his palms over her cheeks, cradling her face in his hands. His eyes spoke of fervent need. And sadness.

"I want to be chosen to be your mate more than anything I've ever wanted in my life. Anything."

Tears sprang up in her eyes. "Really?"

"Don't Kara. Don't be happy about that, because it doesn't matter. It's not my choice to make any more than it's yours. The Pairing will decide. Only that. And I fear the results will be no different than they were the first time. Perhaps not Vhyper. But someone. Someone who isn't me."

He leaned in and laid a gentle kiss on her brow. "That may not be a bad thing."

"How can you say that?"

"You deserve someone who can make you happy, sweetheart. Someone like Tighe, who will make you laugh and smile. I'm not that man. I don't have that laughter inside me."

"You're wrong, Lyon. So wrong. You're the only one I need."

His thumbs feathered across her cheekbones. "What happens, happens, Kara. The Pairing will decide, and we'll both live with that decision. The goddess always chooses the best Feral for her Radiant. The one absolute is that once you accept her choice, you'll be happy. And you'll ascend safely. That's all that matters."

"What about you?"

He pulled her onto his lap and tucked her head beneath his chin. "Knowing you're happy will be enough."

Kara pulled away to look at him. "It's not enough for me. Knowing you're unhappy will destroy me." She leaned in and kissed him on the mouth. "But, we're getting ahead of ourselves, don't you think? The Pairing may still choose you. And right this minute, I'm free to choose my lovers."

She looped her arms around his neck locking her fingers as she looked into his eyes. "I want you. Even if you can't promise me forever, you can give me now. Please, Lyon. Please let me love you as I want to. If only this last time."

Her body tensed, knowing him well enough to know his honor would probably send him stalking from the room. But to her amazement, he kissed her with all the passion of a lover, intending to see the act through to the end.

He pulled back, his mouth damp, his eyes glowing with a fierce, carnal light. "Yes," he growled.

"Really?"

His mouth gave a self-deprecating twist. "I've been ordered to bring you to release to cleanse you of the magic. A full-penetration release."

She shivered at his words. "The Shaman's orders?"

"Yes."

Kara grinned. "I think I love that Shaman." He glowered at her with mock severity. "I don't know what the future holds, but for this moment, I don't want you thinking of anyone but me. You're mine, Kara MacAllister. Mine." His hand slid beneath her shirt to cover her breast, staking his claim.

Lyon covered Kara's sweet mouth in a deep, drugging kiss while his fingers sank into the softness of her breast. She shifted on his lap, swinging her leg around until she straddled him, exploding his senses.

Goddess, he wanted this. Wanted her. Today, tomorrow, every day for the rest of his life.

Passion erupted as he shoved his tongue into her warm, welcoming mouth, desperate to get inside her. As their tongues slid against one another, creating a sensuous friction, Kara moaned and ground her hips against his growing erection, her passion rising. With one hand, he cradled her head, with the other he cupped her bu**ocks, pressing her hard against him. When she shattered on a low cry and clung to him, he held her, keeping her pressed tight as his beast gave a rumble of hot satisfaction.

What would he do if the Pairing gave her to another yet again?

Kara pulled back to look at him with eyes alight with a sexy, slumberous fire. His gaze dropped to her lips, full and damp from his kisses. His chest ached with an overwhelming tenderness.

"You're so beautiful," he murmured. "I need you, Kara." He kissed the corner of her mouth, her jaw, her neck, while his hand cupped and kneaded her breast. "I have to be inside you, sweetheart."

Her eyes melted with heat and tenderness as she laid her palm against his cheek. "I want you inside me. Always."

His conscience rose from the fires of his passion, reminding him what happened last time he'd touched her prior to a Pairing. Did he really want to foul a second one?

His beast growled. The Shaman had ordered Kara penetrated, and he'd kill anyone else who tried to touch her. This was the only way.

Praise the goddess.

Kara kissed his mouth, a gentle peck. "You're waffling. I can see it in your eyes. Tell me you're going to make love to me, Lyon. I want to hear you say it."

Her hand slid down his chest to his abdomen and lower to stroke his growing erection. The need in her eyes shimmered. "Say it, Lyon."

His body shuddered, and he kissed her hard. "I'm going to make love to you, Kara."

"Say it again."

"You doubt my word, woman?" He found himself smiling at her and felt a strange and wonderful lightness he couldn't explain. And had no desire to. All he wanted to do was fulfill the promise he'd just made to the woman in his arms.

She grinned at him. "Just making sure." Her lips landed at the corner of his mouth, teasing him with infinite gentleness. "I'm going to make love to you, too."