Rebecca Zanetti: Claimed

Dazed, she opened her eyes on him. Temper roared through her again. “You’ll pay for this.” Even on the heels of the orgasm, she wanted him. A hollowness echoed through her only he could fill.

He raised an eyebrow. “Not ready to beg? Well ...”

A sweep of his hand through harmless air had a stirring warmth begin under her skin, under her bones to sweep out through every pore. Her nipples pebbled into sharp points of pain. She fought to move. To leap forward and take him to the ground.

The wall turned to ice behind her, the contrast to her heated flesh forcing a whimper through her clenched lips.

“Ah, now that’s a pretty sound.” Dage stepped forward and dropped his mouth to her neck, running his tongue lightly down to her collarbone. His hands remained at his side. “Do it again.” He nipped.

Another whimper escaped against her will. Sandalwood and power tempted her nostrils and she breathed in deep.

One fang flirted with her earlobe. “I love you, Emma. But I’ll be damned if your actions will put you in danger again.” He lifted his head, his gaze deadly serious, a rock hard erection pressed against her hip.

She struggled to focus. “You have no choice in my actions, Dage.”

He smiled and her heart thumped hard. He inhaled deep. “Come.”

The climax hummed at her core and exploded through her skin, through her nerves until she screamed his name. Pleasure edged with pain while her breath caught in her throat. She plateaued and her lungs expelled all oxygen.

And yet, she craved. “Damn you.”

“Ready to beg?”

Not if the hounds of hell nipped at her ankles.

“We’ll see about that.”

His broad hands cupped her breasts and he tugged, rolling both nipples between his fingers. She gasped, her knees began to tremble, and a desperate ache set up in her womb. Her nails bit into her palms, and she fought to keep from moaning.

He lightly pinched and she lost the fight, a low moan escaping from deep within her. His smile combined arrogance and need. His gaze captured hers while his hand slowly slid down her body to tap three fingers against her clit. Hard.

Her knees buckled. He grasped her waist with one hand to keep her upright. He leaned in, his breath hot on her temple, two fingers slowly entering her. “Emma?”

“What?” she gasped, her eyes fluttering closed.

“Your hands have been free for several minutes.”

Damn it. She dropped them to his shoulders, clutching into his heated skin with all of her might. She began to ride his fingers, no longer caring about anger. Or fear. There was only need.

She moaned, increasing the friction. So close.

“No.” He released her, both hands going to her shoulders. He pressed down, applying pressure until her knees reached the floor. Her skin rested against hard stone as she knelt before the king, his muscles bunched, his hands clutching her hair to free her face.

His stance widened. “Open your mouth.”

Her breath caught in her throat. The dark command sent a spark of intrigue through her she’d certainly deny later. His hands tightened and erotic sprinkles of pain cascaded along her scalp.

He wasn’t playing.

His erection jutted out hard and demanding. She inhaled the musky scent of male. Licking her lips, she didn’t protest when he pressed forward, pushing his cock past her lips, into the heat of her mouth.

They both groaned deep.

She smiled around him and hummed low, enjoying the power. They’d see who begged.

He chuckled deep. “Oh, you’ll still be the one begging, Highness.” Desire dropped his tone to a husky growl that made her clit ache even more.

She clutched one hand into the front of his muscled thigh, while the other cupped his balls. Her fingers playing, she increased her movements, slowly taking him deeper and increasing her speed.

His breath panted out and his hands began to direct her movements, encouraging her to take him even deeper. She breathed out through her nose, the king’s pleasure wafting over her.

With a low growl, he jerked her to her feet.

“Wait,” she protested, not even close to being finished.

“Later.” His head descended and his mouth took hers, kissing her with a demand that echoed within her own heart. He grabbed her hands and put them beside her head just where they’d been earlier, his knee sliding between her legs to press up.

Oh God. His erection throbbed long and hard against her stomach and she wanted him inside her. Now.

His hard chest flattened her breasts, his mouth devouring her. He lifted her by the waist, carrying her to the kitchen table, his mouth still claiming. The hard oak slapped against her ass when he sat her down. He lifted his head.

A primitive desire lit his eyes, and his need slammed into her. She grabbed his hair and tugged him down to her, kissing him even as she lay back on the table with her legs dangling over the edge. “Now, Dage. Now.”

He lifted his head and balanced on his elbows, those dangerous eyes holding hers. Slowly, ever so slowly, he slid inside her, giving a hard shove halfway to fill her completely. Then he stopped.

She clutched at his shoulders, wrapping her legs around his waist. He wasn’t going anywhere.

He raised an eyebrow. “Come.”

The orgasm whipped into her, waves beginning to cascade out through her skin.

“Stop.”

The climax halted. “No.” Her legs clutched him harder, her fingernails digging into his fierce biceps. “No. Please ...” A frantic, desperate need had her seeing stars.

He leaned down, his breath hot against her ear. “Beg.”

Tears filled her eyes and she struggled against him, struggled to get him moving. She craved .

Determined silver eyes met hers. She gulped in breath. “Please, Dage, please ...”

He gave a short nod. “Feel this, Emma. Remember it.” Digging his fingers into her hip, he pulled out, then thrust in, setting up a cadence that reached her soul. He pounded for several moments, sweat dripping off his chest, his body bound tight and keeping her on the edge. Finally, his fangs flashed bright and strong and he licked her neck. “Now.”

The force that whipped through her had her back bowing and her voice shrieking his name, surpassing anything human. Her release cascaded through her, and his fangs pierced her neck.

Emma slowly opened her eyes, her entire body loose and relaxed in the big bed. She inhaled the scent of sandalwood and snuggled her nose into Dage’s hard chest. She felt totally relaxed.

Her wrist caught on the pillow. Or rather, the intricate golden cuff manacling her wrist caught on the pillow. Dage’s cuff. She frowned, trying to yank the ancient jewelry off. When the hell had he put this on her? The band didn’t move. With a sigh, she glanced at the king.

He breathed evenly next to her. Even kings needed rest. She fought a yawn and closed her eyes, letting peace waft over her. She’d argue about the cuff later.

Dage growled low.

Emma frowned, opening her mind to him. Pain. Agony. So much hurt. She gasped, fighting to draw in air, and anger surged. He’d held back. As devastated as she’d seen him while reliving the moment he thought she’d died, he’d held some of the pain back. Protecting her.

In his dreams, he failed to shield. She could feel every desperate thought to the second when he decided to die too.

Without her, life stopped.

The king ended.

The man perished.

Tears pricked her eyes. Responsibility straightened her spine. She’d protect the king. She’d cherish the man. And if she needed to keep herself safe to do so, she would.

Cara and Janie had Talen now. Emma would always be there for them, but the king needed her more. She’d keep him safe.