When Darkness Comes

Lighting the last of the candles, Dante turned to face her with a lift of his brow.

"Mojo?"

Her breath caught.

Wearing nothing more than a black silk robe and his hair framing his alabaster face, he looked every inch the wicked pirate.

Yum. Yum. Yum.

With an effort, she battled her attack of lust. 'You know what I mean."

He shrugged. "From what I could discover among Edra's writings, it seems they were waiting for the stars to be in proper alignment."

"Oh."

"Clearly they didn't realize that the Phoenix possessed a mind of its own and that it would destroy anyone seeking to use it for such evil."

Abby shuddered. She still had nightmares of her time in the cellar with Edra.

"Not until too late."

"Enough, lover," he soothed. "We aren't going to ruin our night with thoughts of the witches."

No, they most certainly were not, Abby agreed, her gaze running over the perfect male body.

"You are looking way too sexy for anything to ruin the evening."

The silver eyes blazed as he moved to place himself on the bed beside her.

"How sexy?"

Abby smiled as she helpfully tugged the robe off. "Surely at your age you wouldn't be fishing for compliments? "

"I can't use a mirror to reassure myself, so I must depend upon you."

With the robe tossed onto the floor, Abby ran her hands over the smooth perfection of his back.

"Well, I suppose I won't be kicking you out of my bed any time soon."

His fangs flashed in the candlelight. Suddenly he looked incredibly exotic and every inch a vampire.

"Our bed," he softly corrected.

Her heart halted as she gazed into the silver eyes.

"Our bed."

With a slow motion, Dante pulled the sheet aside to allow the cool air to rush over her bare skin.

"Are you prepared?"

Her hands tightened on his back.

With the death of Edra, the spell that prevented Dante from being able to drink human blood had been broken. He was now a fully functioning vampire.

And anxious to complete the ceremony that would bind them together.

She gave a firm nod. "I'm ready."

Easing himself on top of her, Dante settled between her legs. Then gently he brushed her hair from her neck.

Instinctively Abby stiffened.

"Don't be frightened," he husked. "I promise it won't hurt."

Breathing in deeply, Abby relaxed her tense muscles. "I'm not frightened."

"And you're certain that this is what you want? Once you have mated yourself to me, there is no going back."

It was a familiar warning. Had it been up to her, they would have been mated the moment they had pulled themselves out of the cellar. Dante, however, had proven to be remarkably stubborn, refusing her demands until she had ample time to consider the consequences.

"We've already been through all this."

"Yes, but—"

She reached up to frame his face in her hands. "Dante, shut up and make me yours."

The silver eyes flared as a wicked smile suddenly curved his lips.

"Yes, my goddess," he murmured, his head lowering to her exposed throat.

For all her words of bravery, Abby couldn't deny she expected at least some pain.

You didn't need to be a doctor to realize that shoving a pair of fangs through the skin was bound to cause a bit of discomfort.

Still, she didn't allow herself to flinch as she felt his tongue tenderly stroke over the pulse at the base of her neck. Dante would halt the moment he sensed her tension.

"My love," he whispered.

And then he bit.

Abby's eyes widened in amazement. It hadn't hurt. There was no more than a slide of cool pressure and then a jolt of pleasure so intense she jerked against Dante.

"Holy freaking cow," she breathed as the heat flared through her body to pool in a blaze of desire in the pit of her stomach.

Her fingers clutched at his back, drawing blood as she arched her hips upward in a silent plea for relief.

His hands tangled in her hair as he continued to drink of her blood, and with one smooth movement, he had plunged deep within her. Abby gasped, the sensations so intense she feared she might black out.

Nothing should surely feel so good?

And be legal.

Trembling, Abby opened herself to his masterful strokes. She groaned with each thrust, her hips lifting to meet him with wild abandon.

The building pressure was delicious. Astonishing. And if she didn't come soon, she feared she might actually explode.

"Dante… please."

His soft chuckle brushed her neck, but seeming to understand her desperation, his pace quickened until she was arching beneath him and with a faint scream found her release.

Panting in exhaustion, Abby slowly opened her eyes to discover Dante regarding his arm. Slowly she turned her head, watching as the familiar crimson tattooing began to wind its way along his forearm.

A smug smile touched his lips as he turned back to regard her with a glittering gaze.

"I knew I would make you mine/' he murmured in arrogant tones.

Framing his face, she allowed her thumbs to run over the curve of his fangs.

"Dante, I've been yours from the moment I walked into this mansion and found a wicked pirate waiting for me."

"My lover… for all eternity."

"And goddess." She pulled his head down for a lingering kiss. "Don't forget goddess."

He laughed as his hands began to busily stir her body back to passionate life.

"How could I possibly forget?"