She had never understood how a woman could allow herself to be seduced. Either you decided you wanted to have sex with someone, or you didn't.
In this moment, however, she understood the power of simple lust. The stark need to touch and be touched, no matter how many warnings your mind might whisper.
"You must tell me yes, pet," he murmured softly. "I will not be accused of breaking my promise. You must tell me you want this."
His voice should have jerked her back to awareness. Back to some tiny bit of sense. Instead it poured through her like a fine whiskey.
And just as intoxicating.
"Yes."
He caught the word before it ever left her lips, imprisoning her mouth in a kiss that sent a shock of heat flowing through her blood. She was prepared for pleasure, but the sheer power of it caught her off guard.
Oh, yes, this was precisely what she needed. What her body had ached for since she had first caught sight of Viper all those weeks ago.
She arched forward, drinking of the brandy that clung to his lips, and the cool maleness that was uniquely Viper. Still, she was not close enough. Her hands lifted to his chest, smoothing over the silk of his shirt.
He growled deep in his throat as he reached down to grasp his shirt and with one tug had ripped off the buttons to spread the silk wide.
"Touch me, pet," he whispered against her lips. "Let me feel your hands on me."
Shay moved back. Not in rejection, but quite simply because she wanted to see what she was touching. She had imagined what lay hidden beneath those velvet coats and silk shirts a hundred times. Now she wanted to fully appreciate the sight.
Her eyes widened and her lips parted in a silent sigh.
In the dim light his chest was broad and just as finely muscled as she had dreamed. But her dreams hadn't included the exotic dragon that had been tattooed across the ivory perfection of his skin.
In amazement she traced the golden outline of the mythical creature before brushing over the brilliant crimson wings and dark jade body.
"What is this?" she breathed.
He shuddered beneath her gentle touch, his head lowering to sweep his lips over her cheek.
"It is the mark of CuChulainn."
"Oh." Shay found it growing difficult to think as he kissed his way to the curve of her ear. "Did it hurt?"
"The tattoo?"
"Yes."
His hands trailed up her bare arms sending a rash of excitement shivering over her skin.
"No. I didn't even feel it." He gave a small nip at the lobe of her ear. "It simply appeared after my last battle in the arena."
"It marked you as a clan chief?"
"Yes."
Whatever she was about to say was lost in a haze of pleasure as his tongue ran a damp path down the line of her jaw.
"What?" he whispered.
"I don't remember."
He gave a soft chuckle as his hands drifted over her shoulders and then determinedly moved downward, pausing at the edge of her towel.
"I need to see you, pet," he murmured as he pressed his lips to the frantic pulse at the base of her neck. "I need to touch you. Say yes."
Shay shuddered as a building pressure settled in the pit of her stomach. She found it oddly erotic to be so firmly in charge of the seduction. It gave her a sense of power that she had rarely experienced. For once she was the one in control and it was as heady as the rarest aphrodisiac.
"Yes."
His fingers briefly tightened, as if he was caught off guard by her ready capitulation, and then with a slow motion he was pulling open the ends of the towel.
She shivered as the cool air hit her skin, the faintest hint of embarrassment touching her cheeks. A thick silence filled the air and at last she lifted her gaze. Any chill was seared away by the smoldering heat that filled his midnight eyes.
"By the blood of the saints," he rasped, tossing the towel aside so his fingers could boldly cup the small firmness of her br**sts. "You are... perfect."
Shay's head tilted back at the sensation of his thumbs stroking over the hard points of her ni**les. She wasn't perfect. She was far from perfect. Too skinny. Her skin too bronzed. Her br**sts too small.
But in this moment she felt beautiful.
Beneath his predatory gaze she felt desired.
Growling deep in his throat Viper hauled her against the strength of his chest, his lips kissing a hungry path down her throat to her collarbone. He pressed hard enough for Shay to feel the sharpness of his fangs, but she made no effort to pull away.
In this moment she trusted him.
Trusted that he would not demand more of her than she was willing to offer.
Running her hands over his chest in a restless path she reveled in the satin smoothness of his skin. It was a fascinating contrast to the hardness of the muscles beneath. Like velvet draped over steel.
Intrigued with exploring his body, Shay barely noticed when Viper gently tugged her back onto the soft mattress and pressed her onto her back. Not until he bent over her to capture a nipple between his lips.
She cried out as his tongue swirled over the sensitized tip, teasing it until her back was arched in delight. Freaking hell. It felt so good. So terrifyingly good.
"Dear goddess," she moaned, shivering as his lips traced the curve between the mounds of her br**sts before moving to torment her neglected nipple.
Her fingers impatiently tugged at the clasp holding back his hair, allowing the heavy curtain to spill over her in a fragrant cloud. The satin strands brushed her skin, heightening the heat that poured through her blood.
Breathe, Shay, breathe, she fiercely reminded herself, as his hands outlined the curve of her hips and down her thighs. His touch was cool, but she was melting beneath the heat flowing through her veins.
Tugging at her nipple with the edge of his teeth Viper eased his band between her legs and sought the moist heat between them.
Her hands shifted to his shoulders, her fingers unwittingly digging into his flesh as his finger stroked over the sweet spot of her pleasure. She was falling into a whirlpool of sensations that were almost overwhelming.
"Viper."
Easily sensing the faint edge of panic in her voice Viper lifted his head to nuzzle his lips just below her ear.
"Sssh... pet," be softly soothed. "I will not hurt you."
"I'm not afraid of being hurt," she rasped.
"Then what do you fear?"
She shivered as her hips instinctively lifted to press more firmly to his caressing finger.
"I don't know."
He lifted onto his elbow and peered deep into her wide eyes. "Trust me, Shay."