Claimed by Desire (9 page)

When Rafe’s gaze shot to hers, full of confusion and wonder, she leaped into his lap and threw her arms around his neck. He caught her, wrapped his arms around her as if she’d disappear if he held too loosely.

“You’re alive,” she breathed into his neck. “I thought I lost you.”

“Never.” Rafe slid his cheek along hers until he found her lips. He kissed her, his tongue achingly soft as it slid against hers. His hands ghosted over her hair, her cheeks, finally cupping her chin.

Love filled Misty’s heart, exploded from her chest, flooding the space between them. It was too much to bear, coming at her from all angles—everywhere at once. It flowed from his heart to hers. She whimpered into Rafe’s mouth, her body going languid in his arms. He massaged her back, his hands skating desperately over her curves like he’d never explored them before.

For the first time, Rafe wasn’t holding back. Misty could feel his love surround her and envelop her heart like floodgates burst wide-open.

When their lips finally parted, Rafe pulled back, their gazes meeting over the letters that claimed Misty as Rafe’s rider. The glowing light stemming from the carving had dimmed, revealing a beautifully scrawled, sacredly claimed name:
Misty.

Sighing, Rafe laid his forehead against hers. “How could you do it? How could you give up your life to be with me a handful of years?”

“I would rather live ten minutes in your arms than a lifetime without you.”

“This is crazy…you’re crazy.” His shoulders drooped like he’d just returned from a lifelong journey that had sucked the blood from his veins and the life from his soul.

She smiled. “Yeah, but I’m
your
crazy.”

“You’re mine. You’re really mine,” he sighed. “Never thought I’d live to see the day that you’d become my rider.”

“Technically, you didn’t.” Misty laughed as she kissed him again, darting her tongue past his lips. This time Rafe was the one who moaned into her. With a swipe of his arm behind her back, Rafe picked her up and spun her over. He laid her on the ground, pinning her with the wide span of his body, stealing her breath.

His Draco specks had returned, shimmering bright shades of emerald and evergreen. More brilliant than Misty had ever seen. She eyed each speck carefully, wondering how long it would take her to memorize their unique size, shape and shade.

“I felt you,” he mouthed against her lips. “When you came into the castle…before you dropped at my side…I felt your presence around me, inside me.”

Rafe pressed his hips against her center and made slow circular motions, causing dampness to warm the space between her thighs.

“I didn’t think it was possible for a Draco to sense things like that,” she said, her hips beginning to wiggle beneath him. “But I feel different, too. Like I can draw on the energy of the Draco stone at my whim.”

“Mmm-hmm.” Rafe nipped at her ear and leaned in for another kiss. “Some of the energy from the Draco stone is probably still rushing through you.”

Misty definitely felt energy lingering in her body, but Rafe’s body hovering over hers was a damn fine distraction. “If that’s true, how long would it stay in my system?” She reached her hand between their bodies and stroked his bulging shaft through his jeans.

He hissed through clenched teeth and rolled his eyes back. “Not sure. There’s a legend that says some empaths can harness the energy of the stones.” His voice was hoarse, jagged. “That’s why no Draco had ever claimed one—it’d potentially give them too much power over our race. You could be in touch with our energy for days, years…maybe even indefinitely.”

“Well, that’s quite the spread.”

His gaze slithered over her body. “Exactly what I was thinking.”

Misty unbuttoned her jeans and shoved them off her ankles, then followed with her panties. With Rafe’s help, she shimmied out of her sweater, unhooked her bra and cast them both aside. Rafe was practically salivating by the time she was undressed. He kicked off his pants like they were on fire and settled between her legs again.

“Do you think—I mean—” she fought the words out “—if I could harness the energy of the Draco stone, do you think I could live longer than other riders?”

“After the spark show you performed earlier, I’d say anything is possible.” He slipped inside her. “God, you’re perfect. Absolutely flawless. I love every sweet inch of you.”

She moved against him, arching back with each slow thrust. Her nipples pressed against his chest, brushing the newly raised ridges of her name.

“I’m yours.” Misty planted her feet on the ground and raised her hips, then sank low, maneuvering higher and lower, to take all of him in. “I’m never leaving again.”

As his pace sped and their hips collided with each thrust, Misty began to tremble, her core clenching around him with little tugs.

“And, good God, I must’ve been out of my mind to tell you to.” He groaned and plunged into her, taking what she offered. He slid a finger between her legs and teased her tender spot until she shattered beneath him. “Tell me you love me, Misty….”

“I love you, Rafe.” She bucked, relishing Rafe’s body pushing against her, as orgasm after orgasm fluttered through her core. “I’ll love you forever.”

Rafe removed his fingers from her tender flesh and suckled them into his mouth, licking her sweet juices with swirling draws of his tongue. Rafe pulled out to the tip then sheathed himself inside her again, letting the whole length of him slide into her warmth. With a groan that sounded borderline painful, his muscles seized as he released his seed.

When the tension finally left his body, Rafe snaked his arms around Misty’s neck and collapsed on top of her. The pressure of his body felt good. Right. Perfect.

He sighed, keeping his shaft buried deep inside. “I’m afraid if you love me like this forever, I may wind up being your sex slave.”

As far as Misty was concerned, forever could come as slow as it liked.

“That wouldn’t be such a bad thing.” She raked her fingers down his back.

“No…
far
from it.” Rafe caressed her forehead, her cheek, melting Misty’s heart. “Just tell me it can be this way,
every day, until our last breath.”

“It’ll be exactly like this,” she said. “Our perfect slice of forever.”

*

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ISBN: 978-14592-2275-5

Claimed by Desire Copyright © 2012 by Kristin Miller All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or
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