Kresley Cole - Dreams of a Dark Warrior

“Aidan, say something.”

“They tried to keep me from you.” He backed her into the table, cornering her, predatory.

“Who? The vampires?”

“ No one keeps me from you. Not immortals, not men, not a god. Nothing can keep me from you.”

“Aidan, wh-what are you doing? You’re on the very edge. You must calm yourself.”

“My life passed before me, Reginleit. I’d rushed to battle because I want you forever—only to fall without a single night inside you? The idea sent me into a frenzy!”

She’d never seen him this far gone when not fighting. They both worked to keep him from reaching his berserkrage, knowing he’d lose control to the beast within.

The beast that roared inside him to claim its mate.

“I left a wake of death to return to you”—his hand shot out to cup her nape, yanking her close—“to make you mine in all ways.” He dipped his head to nip her breast, making her gasp. “Tonight I’ll ride your little body till you scream with pleasure.”

“Have you fever? Are you maddened?” She shoved him away, but again, he stalked closer. “You know why we can’t!”

“We can! You are mine to claim. Ohalla is mine to take! I demand it all—mine by right.”

“This is the berserkrage speaking … speaking nonsense . Think about what you are saying! We’ve set our course, and we will be steadfast.”

Regin knew that the hotter his rage, the faster and stronger he’d be. If she didn’t make it out of here with a burst of speed, all would be lost. She feinted left, then ducked to the right, sprinting past him—

He caught her dress, snatching her back.

“Aidan, nay!”

He seized her in the cage of his arms, carrying her to their bed, dragging her down with him. “’Tis unnatural to deny this fated need. You know this—you feel it too!”

Before she could escape, his hands fisted in the front of her dress. With a roar, he rent the material clean from her body, his smoldering gaze raking over her breasts and lower to her sex.

He was going into that mindless state, his muscles bulging even more. “You wanted me to claim you before. Is that no longer true?”

“Of course I want you to, but not yet!”

He tore off his boots and breeches, rising up above her. His mighty shaft swelled with lust, moisture beading the proud crown.

Raw male. Against her will, the flesh between her legs dampened, her breasts growing heavy.

Whenever the spirit of the bear quickened inside him, she responded—as if he’d imparted some of his beast, imprinted it upon her.

Because once it rose, she grew desperate to answer its call.

Now she fought the growing need. “Nay! Do not do this!” She pummeled his chest, but when he was like this, she was no match for his strength. He caught her wrists, easily pinning them over her head.

“Aidan, I-I am pleading, just wait—” The words caught in her throat when he dipped his head to one of her breasts, his lips closing over her nipple.

As he sucked, his finger slid into her core. “Wet for me,” he growled around the peak. A second finger delved as he moved his hot mouth to her other breast, suckling with greedy lips, his tongue swirling.

Her nipples were damp and throbbing, her sex quivering to his touch. “Aidan!”

“You’re ready, nigh coming.” But he slipped his fingers from her. She whimpered, undulating for them.

With her arms still captured over her head, he covered her body with his own. “You are mine, Reginleit!” He rocked his hips between her thighs.

She felt his thick manhood pulsing, seeking …

And gods help her, she tilted her hips so it could surge home.

“Mine!” he roared.

“’Tis done now, brightling,” Aidan said, his voice hoarse from his bellows of pleasure, his body warm and relaxed over her. “No going back.” He put his forehead to hers.

She could hardly stem her tears. Over the last few hours, she’d experienced more ecstasy than she’d ever imagined. But now sand in the hourglass had begun to flow. Only so much remained. “Do you have regrets, warlord?”

“That I was not doing this every hour for the last several months.”

Somehow she forced herself to smile. “You had better make this the best twenty years of my life.”

“You think I’ve given up on eternity with you?” He stood, rising before her, naked, big and bold. So beautiful she wanted to weep. “If you knew my feats, the clashes I won to escape those vampires. Don’t you understand? Nothing can keep me from you! Nothing could touch me. With you as my woman, I feel immortal already.”

And gods, he looked it.

“Wóden should be honored to have me as a son.”

“Aidan!”

“Will he deny me when I win a thousand battles bearing his mark?” He pounded his tattooed chest. “I will win the entire world in his name if I have to!”

The power of this warlord’s body. The strength of his will. The might of his sword …

He was so confident that even she began to believe it. If they were together, why couldn’t they do any-thing?

He rejoined her, covering her once more. “And you will wait for me. I do not ask this of you. I demand it.” His lips descended on hers, his rough kiss brooking no refusal.

As she arched up to him, she knew she would wait forever. Something about this male had always drawn her, captivated her. She couldn’t explain it, but she was through fighting it. Love or not—this was her man and always would be. …

More hours of blissful coupling followed, more unimaginable pleasure.

And afterward, as she began drifting to sleep with their bodies still joined, he cradled her face with his callused palms, brushing kisses over her forehead, her cheeks. “I promise you eternity, Reginleit. And each day I will love you more than the one before—”

Suddenly pain stabbed in her torso like fire. “Aidan!” A blade had sunk into her? How? In a panic, she pushed up against him. Blood poured as she disentangled them.

“Reginleit?” he bit out in confusion. A sword tip jutted from his chest.

“Aidan!” she shrieked. “Ah, gods, no!”

A vampire loomed behind him; the assassin had traced into their home and stabbed Aidan from behind.

The vampire wrenched the sword free, raising it to finish Regin as well. “For the lives you took yesterday, berserker! For your wars … now you and your woman die!” He swung; Aidan shielded her with his body, taking the blow across his back.

Just as the vampire readied to strike once more, Brandr burst inside, cleaving through its neck with his ax. The vampire collapsed.

Brandr cast one look at Aidan and fell to his knees. “ Nay, Aidan,” he rasped. “The fiend must have followed you back.”

Still struggling to protect her, Aidan rolled onto his lacerated back, reaching for his sword.

Brandr hastened to hand it to him, but said, “There are no more, my friend. R-rest easy.”

When Aidan turned his head to her, shock threatened to engulf her. Even as she numbly curled up beside him, in her mind she was still shrieking, still hungering to slaughter the thing that had done this.

Aidan’s mighty chest labored for breath. “Brandr will earn ohalla and watch over you.” He faced his friend. “Vow it.”

His voice ragged, Brandr said, “I vow it.”

Seeming relieved, Aidan turned back to her. “I love you, Reginleit.”

She swallowed back a sob. This cannot be happening. “I-I love you, too.”

“Nay. Your heart is … still your own.” He raised a bloody hand to her face, and she knew he’d lost sight in his eyes. “ I but needed more time .”