She glanced back and gasped softly. He’d turned to face her. His eyes were closed, and he was leaning back to rinse his hair. His hands glided over his hair, biceps bulging. Rivulets of water ran down his chest and stomach to the patch of dark hair that surrounded his manhood.
He was aroused. Jutting out. Her mouth went dry, and moisture pooled between her legs.
He stepped toward her, and with another gasp, she realized his eyes were now open. He’d caught her ogling him. She stumbled to her feet.
“Is that my underwear?” He pointed downstream.
“Oh!” In her shock, she must have dropped it. It was tumbling down the creek, halfway to Frederic’s cabin. “I’ll get it!” She ran along the bank of the stream, then plunged in to grab it where it had caught on a tree branch.
Suddenly, Zoltan appeared in the middle of the creek, right in front of her. With a squeal, she fell back, landing on her rump. Cold water enveloped her to her chin.
With a laugh, he plucked his underwear off the branch, then pulled her to her feet. “Now that you’re all wet, you might as well shower with me.”
“I—” Everything went black again, then she stumbled in the pool by the waterfall. “Stop doing that!” She shoved at him, but he didn’t budge.
He untied her sash, then pulled off her robe. She was still wearing the sheer white silk shift underneath.
Zoltan tossed her robe onto the grass, then squeezed some shampoo into the palm of his hand. “Is your hair wet?”
She leaned into the spray of water to dampen her hair, then he led her over to a rock.
“Sit.” He stepped behind her. “Close your eyes.”
She sat with a huff. “You shouldn’t order me about.” She swiveled on the rock to glare at him but found her nose inches away from his manhood. Her jaw dropped. The cold stream had doused his arousal a bit, but the shaft was still thick and heavy, swollen with desire.
“You should close your mouth,” he said softly. “It’s giving me ideas.”
She snapped her mouth shut and glowered at him. “Are you smirking again?”
“Are you ogling again?”
She scoffed, then turned her back to him and squeezed her eyes shut. But even with her eyes closed, she kept seeing his manhood.
His hands moved over her scalp, his fingers massaging her temples and the back of her neck. It felt heavenly. Sensual. She gripped her knees.
“Come.” He pulled her to her feet and led her back to the waterfall. Then he arched her back to rinse her hair.
When she straightened, her silk shift was soaked and plastered to her body. And his eyes were red and glowing.
He palmed her breast, kneading it gently. “Neona.”
She shuddered. “Why do your eyes turn red?”
“It’s a sign of how much I want to make love to you.” He nuzzled her neck as his fingers teased the hardened tip of her nipple.
Her thighs pressed together.
He kissed a path up her neck to her ear. “Are you ready?” he whispered. He gently tugged at the tip of her nipple, making her moan. “Ready for your little climax?”
She clutched his shoulders. “We mustn’t have intercourse. I mustn’t get pregnant.” Even though she suddenly wanted it more than anything. She wanted to take him deep inside and feel his seed gushing out, filling her with heat. And giving her hope for a little girl with long dark hair and amber eyes. But would the child have fangs?
“I’m only going to touch you.” His hands slipped under her shift and squeezed her buttocks.
She wouldn’t let herself worry for now. She’d live for the moment and pretend that she had an eternity to spend with Zoltan. Even if it was impossible.
He nuzzled her ear. “Do you agree?”
Her heart felt like it was going to burst. She wrapped her arms around his neck. “Yes.”
Chapter Seventeen
Zoltan’s heart swelled. She’d said yes. He cradled her face in his hands and rested his forehead against hers, savoring the moment. This would be the first of many yesses, he vowed to himself. He would not give up on her, not allow their future to be sabotaged by an ancient lifestyle that had forced her to live alone and secluded for centuries. Whatever pact she’d made, whatever her sacred duty was, he would not lose her because of it. She would be his. Forever.
He kissed her thoroughly until she clung to him, breathless and trembling at his touch. As she gasped for air, he moved his hands slowly. The white silk was soaked through till it was practically transparent. He could see the color of her nipples, a dark, dusty pink. He could feel the pebbled skin and the tip that grew harder as he gently tugged.
“Wait,” she whispered, stepping back.
For a second he feared she’d changed her mind, but she gave him a flirtatious smile. With one smooth move, she pulled her shift off and tossed it onto the grass.
His breath caught. The first time to see her totally nude. His groin reacted, growing hard.
Her eyes widened. “You don’t seem to have trouble getting in the mood now.”
“I never did.” His red glowing eyes tinted her beautiful body in shades of pink. He gritted his teeth to stay in control. “I wanted you from the first night you clonked me on the head and demanded my seed.”
She gave him a wry look. “I didn’t realize I was seducing a vampire.”
He stepped toward her till the tip of his erection was a mere inch from her. “Each time we meet, I want you even more.”
Her blue eyes sparkled with passion. She lunged toward him just as he pulled her into his arms and claimed her mouth. She kissed him back, delving her hands into his hair. He moved down to her breasts, suckling on the hardened tips, tugging at her until she writhed in his arms. His erection pressed against her stomach, growing more strained as her lithe, supple body rubbed against him.
When he slid a hand between her legs, the amount of moisture there made him growl with satisfaction. His warrior woman was no shy maid. With a groan, she rocked against his hand. His fingers were drenched, making it so easy to slide between the folds. He stroked her, and she whimpered, her knees buckling.
He smiled. At this rate, she was going to melt into a puddle. He spotted the rock nearby with the towel on top. “Come.” He sat on the towel and grasped her hips, pulling her down till she was straddling him, sitting on his thighs, facing him.
She held onto his shoulders, her eyes clouded with passion. “Zoltan.”
He stroked her wet, swollen flesh and she whimpered, her fingers digging into his skin.
“You’re so wet. So sweet.” He quickened the pace, rubbing her harder.
She groaned, her hands slipping up to his head to grasp handfuls of hair.
He spread his legs forcing her to open wider. When he pressed on her clitoris, she shuddered. He fondled her faster and faster, applying vampire speed, till she stiffened and squealed. She fell against him, her swollen flesh throbbing against his fingertips.
He held her close with his free arm, keeping his right hand pressed against her drenched skin so he could coax more aftershocks from her. Each time she twitched, he smiled. She was so responsive, so highly charged that the slightest flex of his fingers sent a shudder through her entire body. Unfortunately, it also made him so painfully swollen that he was about to burst.
She moaned, her head buried in his shoulder.
“Are you all right?” he asked.
She sat back and frowned at him, her eyes bleary and unfocused. “You lied.”
“I didn’t bite you.”
She pushed lightly at his shoulder. “You said it would be a little climax.”
He grinned.
Her eyes softened. “You’re smirking again.”
“You’re ogling again.”
“I am not. I can hardly see straight.” Her gaze lowered and she gasped. “Oh
, my God.”
There was no hiding the fact that he was engorged to the max.
“I proved that I can make love without biting you.” He grasped her hips, moving her closer to the tip of his rigid penis.
“But I don’t want to risk getting pregnant.” She splayed her hands on his chest to stop him. “Everyone would want to kill you, and you’d have to leave. I don’t want to lose you.”
Her declaration made his heart rejoice. It also made him more desperate to make love. Maybe it was time to tell her the truth. “Neona, you don’t have to worry about getting pregnant.”
She was still studying his erection. “It looks so uncomfortable. Are you in pain?”
“Yes. If you would let me inside—”
“Maybe my healing powers could help.” She wrapped a hand around his shaft. When he flinched, she loosened her grip. “Did that hurt?”
“I-it’s good.” He moaned when her hand tightened around him. “So good.”
“I’m not sure I’m helping. Look how your blood vessels are sticking out.” She stroked a finger along a vein.
He shuddered. “Let me inside you before I explode.”
“But—”
“You can’t get pregnant! My seed is—” He gasped when she caressed the crown with her thumb. “Is coming!” With a loud groan, he climaxed and ejaculated on her stomach.
“Oh, my!” She released him, watching him with a stunned look as he kept pumping till he was spent.
“Oh, shit.” He grimaced. He’d lost control like a young pup. He ventured a look at her face to see how horrified she was.
She was gazing at her sperm-covered stomach, her eyes wide with wonder.
“I’m so sorry . . .” he mumbled.
She looked up at him and grinned. “You have so much seed! It’s amazing!”
“No, it’s not.”
She dragged her fingers through it, collected a glob, then rubbed her thumb against her gooey fingers. “I’ve never seen a man’s seed before. To think this can cause life to form—it is truly astounding.”
He drew in a shaky breath. It was strange, but the way she was fondling his semen was turning him on. “Neona, I have to tell you—”
“Your seed is wondrous.”
“My seed is dead.”
She blinked.
His heart sank. Would she reject him now, like all the other women he’d ever grown close to? God, no. Not Neona. She had to be the one for him. “I’m a vampire. My sperm is dead. I’m sorry.”
She looked at the glob in her hand. “How can it be dead? You’re alive right now. Your heart is working. Your brain is working. You’re alive.”
“I’m sorry. But the good news is we can make love all we want without worrying about you getting pregnant.” He gave her a hopeful look, but it soon faded at the sight of her tear-filled eyes. “You want children.”
She blinked away the tears. “I know it’s selfish of me, but I wanted a daughter with your hair and eyes.”
But Neona’s eyes would be so much better. He imagined a little boy and girl with Neona’s black hair and bright blue eyes, and for the first time, he understood the pain. Always before, he’d resented the women who had wanted a child more than they had wanted him. He’d wanted to come first in a woman’s heart. “You could mate with a mortal—”
“No!” She looked aghast. “I want you! Only you.”
His heart swelled and he gathered her close in his arms. She wanted him first. “Then what you said to the others about wanting me as a sperm donor—”
“I said that so my mother would accept you. It is the only reason she thinks a man exists.” Neona sat back, frowning. “I guess it is just as well we cannot have children. What if they had fangs and attacked people?”
“They wouldn’t. The half-vampire children I know are all surprisingly normal. They’re awake during the day and eat normal—”
“What? You just said it was impossible.”
“I said my sperm is dead. But it is still possible.”
Her eyes widened. “How?”
He gripped her shoulders. “You would seriously consider having a child with me? A vampire?”
She bit her lip, then nodded.
“We would have to teleport somewhere to have a procedure done.” He could probably talk Roman into taking a vacation at the castle with his family, then Roman could do the work there.
Her shoulders slumped. “I cannot leave Beyul-La.”
“It would be for only a short time. Nobody would even have to know. They don’t know we’re here now.”
With a sigh, she glanced down at his manhood. “Maybe I can heal you.”
“Sweetheart, my sperm has been dead for almost eight hundred—” He sucked in a breath when her hand curled around his shaft and squeezed. “But you could always try.”
“I will try.” She stroked him gently.
Damn, he ought to let her know it wasn’t going to work, but her hand felt so good.
A clap of thunder sounded in the distance, and she stopped. “We should go back. Storms can happen very quickly here in the mountains.”
“We’ll teleport to your house.” And start on climax number two. He still had nine to go, and he never quit till a job was done.
He gathered up their belongings while she washed off his semen in the waterfall. As soon as they returned to her house, she stretched the wet clothes on the backs of the two chairs in front of the fire so they could dry.
“We should—” they both said at the same time, then laughed.
“You first.” Zoltan hoped she wanted to jump in bed like him. She was still nude, and her lovely body was making it hard for him to think of anything else.
“We should join the others at the fire pit,” she said. “So they’ll know you’re cooperating. It is the best way to earn their trust.”
He sighed. She was right. He needed the whole group of women to trust him. “All right.” He shuffled over to the wooden chest to retrieve some clean clothes.
She gave him a sympathetic look. “It won’t be for long. I think it will rain soon.”
After they dressed, she led him outside. The wind had picked up, whistling through the valley. The fire in the central pit provided the only light. Thick clouds were covering the stars and moon.
He spotted the five women seated around the fire. They exchanged looks, then eyed him with disdain. Great. They still wanted to kill him. He bowed. “Good evening.”
The queen scoffed. “Don’t speak unless you have permission.” She motioned for them to sit.
Neona sat, then patted the ground beside her. He sat and crossed his legs, aware that his every move was being frowned upon.
“You were late for dinner,” the queen announced. “We saved you some food.”
“Thank you.” Neona accepted two plates that were passed to her. She handed one to Zoltan with a wary look.
He glanced down at the plate in his lap. Some kind of meat. Rice. Flatbread. Neona tore off a piece of her bread, then used it to scoop up some meat and rice. He followed suit, tearing off a piece of bread. When he looked up, the other women were still scowling at him.
What had he done wrong? How could he ask if he wasn’t allowed to speak? He spotted Neona’s pet leopard lounging nearby on the grass, watching him with narrowed eyes.
The queen grumbled something in Tibetan, and Neona nearly choked on her food. Then the other women joined in, pointing at him and fussing.
Cat, what the hell is going on? He asked Zhan.
They’re disappointed in you. The cat sneered. They thought you were so manly, but it turns out you’re just a weakling. Couldn’t even get it up—
What? Zoltan mentally shouted.
“What?” Tashi switched to English, staring at Zoltan. “What is he doing?”
Lydia poi
nted at him. “He was communicating with the cat! I heard him!”
“What?” Neona turned to him, her eyes wide with shock.
Gasps circled around the fire pit.
Lydia rose to her feet. “Explain yourself.”
“Very well.” Zoltan set the plate of food aside. “I’m not a weakling. And Neona can verify that I can indeed get it up—”
“That’s not what I meant!” Lydia yelled. “You were talking to the cat!”
“You can talk to Zhan?” Neona leaned toward him, her eyes intense.
“Sure.” Zoltan shrugged. “I’ve always been able to talk to animals. My mother could communicate with animals and birds, but I guess I only inherited the animal part.”
Neona sat back with a gasp. More gasps echoed around the fire. Even the queen looked shocked.
The leopard gave him a sheepish look. I guess I should have warned you. Tashi and Lydia can hear us.
Zoltan nodded. I understand. Those two women had always been away whenever he’d communicated with Zhan before.
Neona stumbled to her feet, her plate falling over and spilling food on the ground. Her face had paled, and she was breathing shakily as she faced the queen. “You told us male children could never inherit our gifts.”
The queen’s face grew pale, but harsh. “I didn’t believe they could.”
Tears glittered in Neona’s eyes as she pointed at Zoltan. “He inherited a gift from Dohna. What if Minerva’s son is gifted? How would we know when we gave him away?” Her voice rose and cracked on the last word.
“Sit down, Neona,” the queen hissed.
“No!” Tears flowed down her cheeks. “We should have kept him. What if he has Minerva’s gift? What if he can talk to—”
“Enough!” the queen shouted. “What is done is done.”
Neona shook her head. “If we had kept him, Minerva would still be alive!” With a sob, she turned and ran.
Thunder rumbled in the distance.
Zoltan jumped to his feet to follow her, but the queen held up a hand to stop him.