When Darkness Comes (Guardians of Eternity #1)(51)

Reaching up, she cupped his face in her hands.

"You started this, Dante; you finish it," she murmured with a gleam in her eyes.

Dante chuckled as she tossed his words back into his face.

Oh yes.

He intended to finish this.

To both their satisfaction.

His chuckle became a groan as he pressed himself into her ready heat. She lifted her hips to meet his thrust, and he knew if he wasn't already dead, she would surely kill him.

What man could endure such bliss?

Thank God he was a vampire.

He intended to endure the bliss several more times before the day was through.

Some time later, Abby lay wrapped in Dante's arm in the middle of the vast bed.

She felt pleasantly weary and sated. Just as a woman should feel after a great bout of sex.

Unfortunately she also felt more than a little creeped out.

She cringed as she lightly stroked her fingers over Dante's shoulder, which was still reddened from the steam.

Who knew?

She had reached climax before. Well, at least what passed for a climax, considering the jerks she had dated. She had even reached climax with Dante. Glorious, wonderful, mind-numbing climax.

More than once.

And while she might have felt as if she were on fire whenever he touched her, she had never actually put out enough heat to boil water.

It was… unnatural. And embarrassing.

And, most of all, frightening.

Sensing Dante's curious gaze, Abby reluctantly lifted her head.

"I'm sorry," she said softly.

His brows drew together in puzzlement. "For what?"

She grimaced. "Nearly boiling you like a lobster."

A slow smile curved his lips as he pulled her even closer.

An instant jolt of excitement raced down her spine at the feel of his stirring body.

Jeez. Vampires seemed to be insatiable when it came to sex. Not that she was complaining. In fact, her first thought was, Yippee.

"A very, very happy lobster," he murmured. "I assure you that it was worth every singe."

She bit her bottom lip, her self-disgust returning with a vengeance.

"Dante."

He stroked a finger down her flushed cheek. "It wasn't your fault, Abby. You have powers now you don't even understand, let alone control. It's bound to cause a few side effects. Some of which are more pleasant than others."

Her flush deepened as he deliberately reminded her of her brand-spanking-new strength and seemingly endless endurance.

All gifts of the Phoenix, it seemed.

And incredible bonuses when it came to making love.

"I'm glad you can find some humor in the situation."

The silver eyes glinted with amusement. "Trust me, lover, you can laugh or you can cry. It changes nothing."

"Easy for you to say," she grouched. "You don't know what it's like to have your body taken over and…" Her words abruptly trailed away as he arched a raven brow. "Oh."

"You were saying?"

"Something incredibly stupid," she muttered wryly. "I guess you do know."

He gave a slow nod. "Too well."

She blew out an exasperated breath. "You'd think if some being was going to take over your body, they'd at least have the decency to leave you a handbook. I could kill myself or, worse, someone else with my blundering about."

He absently toyed with a curl that lay against her cheek. "I suppose a higher being assumes that you should simply know the rules and regulations."

"A higher being?"

"The Phoenix is worshipped as a goddess by those who battle the dark lord."

Worshipped. Well. A girl could get used to something like that.

"A goddess, huh?" She attempted what she assumed to be a regal look. It had a lot of thin lips and flared nostrils. "Does that mean you have to bow down and pray to me?"

He chuckled softly, that wicked glint returning to his silver eyes.

"I don't battle the dark lord, lover," he murmured, his lips brushing her temple, her cheek, and down the curve of her neck, "but I don't mind bowing down and tasting this glorious sweetness."

Abby didn't mind his bowing down either. In fact, if she wasn't so freaked out, she would have told him to get on with the bowing down right quick.

Instead, she lightly touched his face. "Dante…"

Nibbling at her collarbone, he was already distracted. "Hmmm?"

"I don't want to hurt you," she said softly.

Dante stilled before he pulled back to regard her with a puzzled expression. Her heart gave a faint flutter. God, he was so beautiful. So perfect. She could spend the rest of eternity simply staring at him.

'You won't hurt me, Abby," he assured her in low tones.

"How do you know? When I…" Abby awkwardly hesitated. "When we're together, the powers just burst out of me."

His lips twitched at her shyness. No surprise there. She was lying naked in his arms after a three-hour bout of sex.

Now she couldn't say the word orgasm out loud.

Go figure.

"I'm willing to take the risk."

Her lips thinned at his hint of amusement. 'This isn't a joke, Dante."

His eyes slowly narrowed. "Abby, what is it?"