Fear gripped Tatiana’s heart, and it felt as though it would beat out of her chest, but looking into those orbs of fire, Tatiana knew she could trust him. She glanced at his outstretched hand, slick with rain and mud, and nodded.
I trust you. Tatiana placed her hand in his, and as a black tornado approached, they leapt off the cliff and into the crashing sea below.
Chapter 5
Tatiana shot out of bed, tumbled over the side, and landed on the floor with a butt-bruising thud. Her sweat-soaked sheets were tangled around her legs, and it took her a moment to get her bearings. Her breath came in quick gasps as she looked furiously around the bedroom of the guest cabin and was greeted by a series of warm licks on her arm from Cass.
“I’m okay, buddy.” She rubbed his head reassuringly and whispered to him soothingly, knowing it wasn’t just for his benefit. However, the little dog was a rather empathetic little creature. “It’s going to be alright.”
Pressing a hand to her chest, she let out a slow breath and squeezed her eyes shut as a sense of calm flooded her, and the effects of the dream faded. Still shaking, she unfurled the sheet from her ankles and tossed it onto the bed as she stood on unsteady legs. Casanova trotted over to the pile of pillows where he’d been sleeping and settled back in, but kept a watchful eye on Tatiana.
Seconds later, static electricity filled the room, and Dominic materialized next to her in his half-naked, shirtless glory. His face was etched with concern, and his glowing amber eyes shone brightly in the dimly lit room.
Without saying a word, he gathered her in his arms, and within seconds she could feel his heart beating in rapid time with hers. She should protest, or at the very least, admonish him for coming into her bedroom uninvited, but as her cheek pressed against the smooth, warm skin of his chest every coherent thought was driven from her.
“I’m so sorry,” he whispered.
One hand rested on Tatiana’s hip with tender strength as he kissed the top of her head and sat with her on the edge of the bed. He leaned back, looking at her intently. Holding her face in his hands, he tenderly brushed his thumb along her cheek. It was the same look that made her stomach flutter and her heart race, but this time it wasn’t from panic or fear—it was lust.
White-hot-pin-me-to-the-wall-and-make-me-scream kind of lust.
“Are you alright?” He let out a deep breath, and the dog tags he wore glinted. “I know it can be a little rough getting torn out of the dream realm like that.”
She nodded and held his hand against her cheek but couldn’t bring herself to say anything. Tears fell, and she sniffled as she wiped them away quickly, feeling embarrassed for getting so upset. The truth was she wasn’t sure if she was upset about the frightening end to the dream or her reaction to him.
Everything was spinning out of control, and she didn’t know what was real. Was she truly feeling something, or was it some stupid legend? Was it hormones or was there something more?
“It’s okay.” He leaned his forehead against hers and threaded his fingers through her short hair. “That freaked me out too.”
Tatiana allowed herself to float in the comforting warmth of his touch. Their combined energy signature surrounded her like a blanket, and one word came to mind—safe. Dominic, against all odds and contrary to everything she thought she would feel, made her feel safe.
That was a first. She’d never felt safe before. Even growing up on the farm with Rosie, Raife, and Layla, she lived as though she was waiting for the other shoe to drop. Once Layla found William and they knew more about the Amoveo, she thought she’d feel better, but she didn’t. She still lived with the unknown… until now.
Tatiana opened her mouth to tell him how she felt, but when her gaze locked with his, her eyes tingled and shifted intensely into the golden eyes of her wolf. A low, barely audible growl filled her head. Her grip on his hand tightened, and as Tatiana leaned in and brushed his lips with hers, she realized the growl was her own.
“That’s it, Tatiana,” Dominic whispered. “Show me all of you.”
In one swift movement, he flipped her onto her back and devoured her mouth with his. Tatiana moaned as he settled his weight over her, and heat pressed against heat. She wrapped her legs around his waist and held him to her as she licked and nibbled at his firm lips. Her hands wandered over the broad expanse of his back and down to the perfect curve of his rock-hard ass.
Tatiana slipped her fingers beneath the waistband of his gym shorts and pressed him harder against her as he kissed his way down her neck. She let out a soft cry of pleasure as he tugged the top of her nightshirt aside and flicked her nipple with his tongue. He peered at her over the curve of her breast as he ground himself against her, eliciting another gasp of pleasure from her.
“You’re gorgeous,” he whispered. Dominic squeezed her other breast and ran his thumb over the sensitive nipple. “I can’t decide which part of your beautiful body I want to feast on first.”
Sliding off the edge of the bed onto his knees, he pulled her toward him, which sent her short nightie up to her waist, leaving her covered only by skimpy purple underwear.
“So many options,” he murmured. Dominic tugged her closer still and placed warm, wet kisses on her quivering belly, while his hands paid thorough attention to her breasts. “Like here.” His hot tongue flicked along her belly button. “Or here.”
Pleasure washed over her as he rolled her nipples between his fingers and kissed his way down to her hip.
“But I love this spot, right here,” he said, licking a trail along the edge of her hip. He grabbed her underwear in his teeth and started to pull.
“Not yet,” Tatiana said as she pushed herself onto her elbows and met his wicked grin with her own. “I want to kiss you some more.”
Sitting up, she grabbed his face with both hands and kissed him deeply, enjoying the primal, carnal reaction her body had. There was something liberating about this experience, throwing caution to the wind and acting on instinct, but through it all she reminded herself that this was purely physical.
Tatiana’s heart, life, and freedom weren’t at stake—only her celibate streak was at risk of being broken. Even as she repeated it to herself over and over, she knew it was a lie.
Dominic pulled her off the bed and into his lap, so she straddled him on the floor. She explored the hot cavern of his mouth and curled her body around his, moaning as his erection pressed against her most sensitive spot, sending shuddering waves of pleasure through her.
Dominic grabbed the hem of her nightie and whipped it off her in one swoop. She groaned and suckled his lips as flesh met flesh, and her breasts crushed deliciously against his chest. He dragged his fingertips down her back and slipped them beneath the top of her panties, cupping her bottom.
“You feel so good,” she whispered against his lips. “Maybe the universe is on to something.”
Tatiana arched back, allowing him access to the sensitive skin of her throat. She held his head to her and floated in the exquisite pleasure of his skin melding with hers. They fit together in a frighteningly familiar way, but she shoved that thought aside, allowing herself to focus only on the physical.
Sex with no strings, she reminded herself. Its just sex.
That’s what Tatiana wanted to believe, yet she couldn’t escape that sensation of feeling safe… and cherished.
A rap at the door cut through the hot haze of lust, and both of them froze. The room had brightened considerably as rays of early morning sunlight streamed in through the window, picking up bronze highlights in Dominic’s hair. He lifted his head and locked eyes with her just as Matt’s muffled voice came through the door.