“I don’t know if I can do this.” I said looking myself in the mirror.

“Yes you can My Lady. If you don’t do this then princess Klara will.”

Irene had made me wear a beautiful white gown with nothing underneath.

“But isn’t this too much?”

Irene smiled.

“You are not naked, My Lady. You are still wearing a dress, just showing a little more than usual to make him want to see the rest.” She winked.

I didn’t even know if this was a good idea. He had only yesterday warned me to not seduce him, but I wasn’t seducing him really. I was just going to brush my hair and put oils on my skin, just as I do every night before I go to sleep. The only difference would be that I would be doing it in front of him now, which Irene thought would make him want me.

I was doubtful but Irene was convinced. Well, she knew more about men then I did so I decided to take her advice.

“You don’t have to do this if you don’t want to.” She said putting her hand on my shoulder.

“I do want him. I am just not sure if he wants me.” and that made me scared of wanting him.

“He does want you and if he doesn’t, then make him.”

Yes, I had to make him want me otherwise Klara would.

“Is he even coming tonight?” I asked.

“Yes, he is.” She said with a frown. “I’ll leave you now.” On her way, she blew a few more candles off and gave me a reassuring smile before closing the door behind her.

***

As soon as Lucian walked into the room a wonderful smell penetrated his nostrils. It smelled of roses and fresh air and… Hazel. He looked around. The room was mostly dark, the only light coming from a few lit candles and the full moon that shone outside the window.

His eyes searched the room until they found Hazel who was sitting in front of the mirror brushing her hair. She stopped for a while and looked at him.

“You came.” She smiled.

That smile, that weakness of his, tugged at his heart in strange ways.

“Yes,” was the only thing he managed to say and she went on brushing her hair.

She looked more beautiful than ever in the dim light and smelled of honey and coconut. He inhaled deeply, he wanted more, more of her scent, more of her. He wanted to run his hands through her hair, hold her tight, kiss every inch of that honey scented skin. His body urged him forward while his brain screamed at him to turn around and leave before he lost control.

Hazel stopped brushing her hair and looked at him questioningly.

“Lucian?” her voice so sweet, called to him, woke his deepest desires. “Will you just stand there?” She asked.

No, he wanted to turn back and leave but found himself taking a step forward. Cursing quietly he walked past her and to the bed. He began to take his armor off deciding that he would go to sleep as fast as he could.

“How was your day?” She asked using that same sweet tone.

His gaze traveled back to her. She had her leg up on the footstool and had lifted her dress up above her knee.

Swallowing Lucian quickly turned his gaze away.

“Good.” was all he said. He should have asked about her day but he was fighting a battle inside his head, a battle between his body and brain. He could feel how his demon was slowly clawing his way out.

“I have made a new friend.” She continued. He could hear the joy in her voice but he got worried. Who could this friend be?

“Who?” He asked turning to her but regretted it immediately. She was now rubbing something into her skin, slowly running her hands up and down her bare leg.

He had warned her. He had warned her not to seduce him, why could she never listen?

“Her name is Irene?” she smiled swinging her legs down and standing up straight.

His eyes scanned the length of her body, taking in every detail. She was wearing a form-fitting white dress that enhanced the curves of her body. The fabric was thin but not revealing, still, he knew she was wearing nothing underneath.

While enjoying the sight he could feel her body warming up under his gaze and her heart began to beat rapidly. She seemed to contemplate whether to approach him or not. God help her and him if she did because now he was losing all sense. The only thing he could focus on was the deep and raw hunger that rose within him.

***

I felt my cheeks flush as his gaze moved over me, the intensity in his eyes clearly telling me that he liked what he saw.

Slowly he lifted his gaze to mine and our eyes locked. Heat blazed from the depths of them, warming me from the inside, drawing me to him like gravity and I found myself taking a few steps forward but stopped, afraid he would draw back. But he didn’t.

Instead, he stalked toward me, slowly, his eyes never leaving mine and it took all my strength to stand still and not run away or fall on my knees. I don’t know what it was about him, about the way he moved or the way he looked at me that made me both frightened and excited at the same time.

I forget to breathe as he neared and stood right before me, so close I could feel the warmth of his body, wrapping itself around me like a blanket, making me yearn to be in his arms.

As if he knew what I wanted he wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me close.

“I have waited too long.” He said his voice rough with suppressed need. “I can’t hold back anymore.”

“Then don’t” I whispered.

His hold around my waist tightened pressing our bodies together while his free hand grabbed my hair roughly and brought my face dangerously close to his. I closed my eyes waiting for him to kiss me as roughly as he grabbed me, but I felt the softest brush of his lips on mine sending shivers down my spine. Then another soft brush and my breath hitched.

He was making me wait, but I didn’t want to wait. I wanted him, I needed him. I wrapped my arms around his neck but before I could press my lips to his he pulled my hair and tilted my head back.

“Patience wife, I want to savor this moment.” He said his tone like a hot wave against my throat.

I clung on to him, unable to stand on my own as his lips skillfully moved over my throat kissing and nibbing. His hands moved down my back, grabbed onto my hips and pushed me even harder into his body as if I wasn’t close enough. His scent wrapped itself around my mind making me unable to think.

I was lost, drowning in an ocean of pleasure. I felt myself float on air, my feet no longer touching the ground and suddenly I lay on the bed with Lucian on top of me, pinning my hands above my head. Desire and hunger blazed through his eyes and he crashed his lips on mine. His kiss was raw, intense sending a wave of heat through my body. His hands slipped under my dress and caressed me to heights that were both frightening and arousing.

Lucians kisses turned from sweetly intense to painfully intense almost bruising my lips. Before I could protest I heard the tearing sound of fabric.

“Lucian…” I began breathlessly as I pushed him away.

“What did you…” the words died in my throat as I looked into his red eyes before he shut them.

“Hazel, leave quickly before I hurt you.”

His voice sent chills down my spent and I considered running for a moment but something in me refused to run. Something that heard the pain in his voice.

He opened his eyes and his gaze burned into mine.

“I said run.” He growled.

“No, I don’t want to.”

“I can’t control myself anymore Hazel.” He said with clenched teeth as his body shook violently. “You don’t want to see me like this.”

I had already seen him like this and he hadn’t hurt me. He had saved me. I refused to be scared of him, I had no reason to.

***

Lucian was trying everything in his power to make his body move, take himself as far away from Hazel as possible, but his demon was too strong, too hungry. It had tasted Hazel and it wanted more. He was no longer in control and he feared for Hazel but she wasn’t listening to him.

He shut his eyes and fought his demon once more but to no avail.

“Lucian, open your eyes.” He felt Hazel’s hand on his cheek.

No! He didn’t want her to see him like this but he found himself opening his eyes.

“Look at me.” She whispered.

Raising his gaze slowly, he looked into her eyes. It was as if his body listened to her instead of him.

There was no fear in her eyes as he gazed into them, only curiosity and… tenderness. He wasn’t used to this. He was used to seeing fear and disgust in people’s eyes. To see Hazel look at him the way she did warmed his heart and without thinking, he leaned down and kissed her again. She parted her lips invitingly and wrapped her arms around him.

A familiar feeling he knew as love filled his heart. It warmed him, calmed him and slowly he felt the color of his eyes returning to normal and his nails retracting.

He had no time to think of what was happening as he was consumed by the desire that pulsated through him.

Slowly he drew back and took his shirt off while studying her face. Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes hooded with desire. He could hear the fierce pounding of her heart as her gaze traveled down his bare upper body.

Knowing that she wanted to touch him he took her hand and placed it on his chest. She hesitates for a moment but then her hands slowly began to explore his body.

She ran her hands down his chest, stomach, up his arms and shoulders her eyes showing nothing but admiration as she touched him. Then her fingers traveled down his spine and he groaned with pleasure that burned so deep it was nearly painful.

Although he was in a sweet agony he waited patiently, letting her satisfy her curiosity and getting acquainted with his body.

When she was done it was his turn.

He pressed his body intimately into hers, holding her down with his hips while his lips claimed hers in a kiss. His tongue swept across her lower lip and she writhed beneath him creating a sweet friction that made him groan deep in his throat. Knowing the effect it had on her he repeated the deed and she moaned in response.

Taking her dress off smoothly he began to explore her body using his hands, lips, and tongue. He savored the feel and taste of her skin, relished the sound of her moans.

“Lucian!” She gasped as he grazed his finger down her inner thighs coaxing shivers out of her. He did the same thing again but this time with his tongue making her quiver uncontrollably. He couldn’t help but smile at her reaction as he continued teasing her with his lips and tongue.

“Lucian please…” She said breathless as her hands fisted in his hair bringing his face to hers.

He gave her the kiss she wanted and she kissed him back with a hunger that both surprised him and aroused to an excruciating level. His hand slid between her thighs and she cried out in pleasure as his he touched sensitive, aching flesh.

She was his now and he was going to show her that no other man could pleasure her the way he was going to.

***

I was mindless, nearly breathless as Lucians hand stroke me slowly, rhythmically making the pressure in the pit of my stomach increase with every stroke. I dig my finger into his hair as the feeling became overwhelming, making my muscles tighten and then a spasm went through my body and my head fell back with a cry.

I just lay there, my body limp, astonished by what just happened. Whatever it was I didn’t want it to end.

“This is just the beginning, wife” Lucian whispered in my ear.

And then the kissing and stroking began and my body was on fire once again.

Lucian grabbed my hips and I felt a sharp pain, but it was only brief. Next came the incredible feeling, our skin moving together, the friction igniting a fire that burned to my core.

Yes, I was on fire. A fire that no amount of water could quench.