A Conquest Like No Other (10 page)

“Tatts
…
the idea of trusting scares the
hell out of me,” she said, her dislike for Paul Watson suddenly increasing
impossibly further. “It hurts too much to trust.”

“I know, and I intend on working
hard to prove myself worthy of it. I would never throw it away like that
asshole who hurt you. You are already too special to me,” Viper said, pecking
the tip of her nose.

“You’re willing to wait for me?”
Once again tears tried to escape her eyes.

He moved them both back to the
sofa and pulled her into his body before looking down at her and saying, “I
have waited my whole life for you. I refuse to stop now that I have finally met
you. You are perfection personified, and I wouldn’t have you any other way.”

“Scars and all?” she said, trying
to lighten the mood.

“Your scars, whether they’re
visible or not, prove to me that you’re mine. You’re a warrior, like me. They
have made you the person you are today, which is someone who has a heart of
gold, even after everything you have been through.”

She had no idea how long they sat
there holding one another. Time became inconsequential. She had never felt
safer in her life. Her head on his shoulder, snuggling into the nook of his
neck, while suffocating with others, allowed her to breathe for the first time.
His scent filled her lungs, holding her captive in its intoxicating smell. It
lulled to sleep, a place that was often filled with nightmares. But with Viper
holding her, it offered her hope.

Chapter
Twelve

The next morning, she woke in
Viper’s arms, in his bed, and again her unease was absent. She lay there, not
wanting to move for fear she would wake him, thus breaking the spell that had
her feeling safe and secure for the first time in three years.

But her worry was unjust. As she
took in this man’s beautiful face, his eyes popped open. She was rewarded with
a smile and her heart lightening. Just with his presence, Viper was slowly
ridding her of the heavy burden that clung to her heart, suffocating her in
fear.

“Morning, sweetheart. How did you
sleep?” he asked, his voice gruff from the lack of use overnight. It was the
sexiest thing she could ever remember hearing.

“It was the best night sleep I’ve
had in a long time,” she replied honestly.

“That’s what I like to hear.” He
kissed the tip of her nose. “Now how about
brekky
?”

With that, her stomach spoke.
Viper pulled away from her and got out of bed. He was wearing only sweatpants.
Before he pulled a t-shirt over his head, she took great pleasure in admiring
his body. Her hands ached to squeeze his firm backside hidden below his pants,
while her gaze took in his solid back. His hard swimmer’s frame had her mouth
watering and her pussy leaking. He was a stunning creature. A stunning creature
she wanted to know more about.

Over breakfast, she pushed for
more information about the man sitting opposite her. “That beach scene from
last night, is that how you got into my dream the other night?”

“No, sweetheart, that was an
illusionary trick, whereas mind-melding allows me to see, feel and hear what
the recipient does. So what you felt in your dream, so did I,” he explained.
“It also comes with side effects, as I think you noticed.”

“What, the throwing up?” To this
she received a nod. “Huh! I just thought it was the dream that caused that.”

“No, it occurs due to the
disorientation caused by my withdrawal from your mind. For that reason alone, I
refuse to use that sort of magic unless necessary.”

“And the other night it was?”

“Yes, sweetheart, it was. None of
us could wake you. Jewel had tried before I arrived home, then I tried.”

“I think I heard you, but I felt
so weak and helpless,” she admitted. Not wanting to dwell on her nightmare or
Paul, she asked, “What else can you do?”

“Are you sure you’re ready to
hear this?” came his cryptic question. His eyebrow raised as he held her gaze.

“Why wouldn’t I be ready?” she
asked, worried. She tried to break away from the stare, but his hold on her was
too strong. “Is it something bad?”

“I don’t think it’s bad at all.
In fact I have loved every minute of it,” Viper replied, smiling.

“Then why wouldn’t I want to hear
it?”

“Because it has to do with your
fantasies.”

“What about them?” she asked
hesitantly.

“I have been pulled into your
fantasies every night after leaving your house,” he admitted. Anyone else
confessing that would have at least had the good sense to look sheepish. But
not Viper, not if the shit-eating grin he was wearing was anything to go by.

“What?” she shouted, standing.

“Don’t be embarrassed. I too have
had fantasies about you.”

“I’m not embarrassed, you idiot!
Pissed off would be a better word for it,” she said, placing her palms on the
table and leaning toward him. Though she had to admit, considering what her
fantasies had consisted of, she was definitely feeling embarrassed as well.

“Why would you be upset,
sweetheart?” he asked, still smiling. “They had to have been the most intense
sexual experiences I have had, and we weren’t even in the same room.”

If Nikki was being honest with
herself, she would have to agree with him. Her fantasies of late had been
incredible. Even her experience with a partner lacked what her fantasies had.
Every nerve ending in her body felt alive during them, while her orgasms were
beyond anything she had ever experienced. And even after, her whole body still
tingled, which led into a glorious ache that spoke to her throughout the next
day.

The fact that Viper had a similar
experience should have at least pleased her a little. And it did, but it was
the thought that went along with his intrusion into her fantasies. How many
other women had he shared this experience with?

So she asked him. “Do you do that
often? Encroach into women’s fantasies.” She tried to keep the sudden hurt out
of her voice.

“No, sweetheart.” Viper’s smile
softened. “
Faes
can only fantasy fuse with their
mate. Which means I can only do it with you. I only want to do it with you.”

That admission took the wind out
of her anger and hurt. He was once again highlighting what she already knew
about mates through Gabby. She had control over Viper’s future happiness. Now
that he had found her, his mate, no other woman would be able to fulfill him.
Rejecting him would sentence him to a lonely existence. Could she do that to
him?

Could she really be happy living
in a world in which someone like Paul had so much control over her life? In
short, the answer to both questions was no. Fear and panic accompanied Paul’s
presence. Whereas with Viper, the man who was offering her a future, she felt
only strength, comfort and safety. What girl wouldn’t want that kind of future?

Over the last few weeks, Viper
had somehow become the center of her universe. Her happiness and sense of
security revolved solely around him. It was her fear alone that was preventing
their joining. Her supposed need to know more about the man was just an excuse
created by her fear of allowing another man close. In her delusion, she had
missed the fact that she had already allowed him closer than any other male. If
she was honest with herself, he was already in her heart. Her body would
probably also invite him in, given the opportunity. It was her mind that was
holding her back. Her mind’s constant reminder of her previous failure, Paul.

It was a fear that, while just,
disrespected everything that Viper was. Her fear had allowed her to be
blindsided by the assumption that all men were the same. Viper had already
proven, time and time again, that he was nothing like Paul. Sure she suspected
Viper was the kind of guy who would expect control over her body, but she also
knew in her heart that he wouldn’t force anything upon her that she didn’t
want. His honor was as plain to see as Paul’s evilness. That asshole didn’t
deserve to be compared with someone like Viper. They were leagues apart.

With that realization came a
sense of confidence and inner self that had long ago been quashed. No longer
would she allow Paul to have power over her life. He’d had it for too long now,
and it had to stop. He’d never deserved any control over her happiness. This
amazing man in front of her was offering her a future that promised to be
filled with joy and, if she was lucky, maybe love one day. There really was no
comparison between the two men.

“Are you okay, sweetheart?” Viper
asked, worry evident in his voice and eyes. Thus highlighting to her that she
had chosen correctly. This man was deserving of her attention. The question
was, could she act upon this newfound inner strength.

Walking around the table to stand
in front of where he was sitting, she tested her resolve. Wedging herself
between his open legs, she said, “Since you’ve seen some of my fantasies, how
about showing me one of yours.”

The surprise in his eyes was a
beautiful sight. “Are you sure? We’ve got all the time in the world. I don’t
want you rushing into anything you’re not ready for.”

Taking his concern seriously, she
thought about his question. Where she had expected at least a little fear, she
only felt desire. Desire for this man. He had done that to her, and instead of
continuing to push him away, she had every intention of ensuring he finally
knew how he affected her.

“Yes, Tatts, I’m sure,” she
replied confidently.

Staring at her for a moment, he
read her, taking in what her aura was telling him, if she had to guess.
Finally, he spoke. “Okay, sweetheart. But if at any time you feel even the
tiniest bit of panic, I want to know about it. We will then talk it though, and
either stop, or continue at a slower pace. Okay?”

She nodded eagerly. She soon
found herself sitting on the dining room table, with his hands gently easing
her body backward. Like the day before, she wore only one of his shirts. It was
a fact that made itself known when he lifted her legs, placing her feet upon
the arms of the chair he sat on. She could almost feel his gaze on her bare pussy.

Holding her breath, she expected
fear to assail her. It didn’t come. Maybe a little insecurity, but no fear. She
desperately wanted to close her legs. It had been a long time since a male had
seen her naked.

“Are you okay, sweetheart?”

“Yes, it’s just been a while.”

“I know, and I’m honored that you
are trusting me with this. I won’t let you down.” His hands moved over the
shirt she wore. “Now, why don’t we take this off? I want to see all of what’s
mine. Is that okay?”

His possessive words had her juices
flowing and her head nodding. His deft fingers glided over the shirt, popping
each button. Cool air hit her nipples, pebbling them even further.

“Now I must warn you, I have
fantasized doing many things to you,” he said, pinching her hard nipples. “Is
this what you had in mind?”

“Yes,” she groaned, arching off
the table. Followed by a moaned, “No.”

“Or maybe this?” he murmured, his
fingers whispering over her clit. Using her feet to lift herself up and push
herself into his touch, she moaned. “No, sweetheart, not yet. You owe me an
apology before I can give you what you want.”

“I’m sorry! I’m sorry,” she
cried, suddenly desperate for what he was offering.

“Not good enough. What are you
sorry for?”

Oh God, what was he doing to her?
The throbs in her pussy pounded through her whole body, awakening every nerve
ending, and he was wanting her to form words. Her body ordered she do as he
asked, but her scrambled brain refused to focus long enough to allow her to bow
to his demands. His next move forced the issue.

Leaning back in the chair, he
removed all contact from her body. “What’s it to be, sweetheart? Apologize for
calling me an idiot or stay like that?”

“Please, Viper, I need—”

“I know what you need, but I also
need you to apologize.”

“Okay, okay, I’m sorry for
calling you an idiot.” She groaned as another wave of heat ran through her
body. “Oh God, I can’t take it.”

“I’ve got you, sweetheart. I’ll
always have what you need,” Viper said before placing his hands back on her
body.

But instead of returning his
fingers to her needy clit, his hands moved back to her chest. Hot air rushed
over her pussy. It was the only warning she was given before his tongue flicked
her clit. Her body shot off the table. Pleasure swam through her as her climax
drew near.

His tongue circled her clitoris
before he sucked it into his mouth. Her pussy pulsed, releasing more juices.
With a gentle nip to her little bud, he moved his mouth further down,
collecting every drop that had escaped her pussy. Then his tongue ventured
toward her anus. He circled it, providing her with the most erotic pleasure
she’d ever had. Again he pushed her closer to orgasm. She was so close, she
wasn’t sure she could handle too much more.

She groaned when he lifted his
head. She needed to come, and he had removed his mouth. He replaced it with his
finger. It followed the same path his tongue had taken. She pushed into his
touch, needing something else. She just didn’t know what that was. Viper did.

“I’m going to take you here one
day. Would you like that?” he asked, pushing his finger into the tight ring.

“
Ohhh
,
yes!” she moaned, moving closer to the most glorious orgasm she had had so far.
Two thrusts of his finger into her ass sent her falling over the edge,
fireworks exploding behind her eyelids. As she came back to earth, relief and
contentment swamped.

“Are you okay, sweetheart?”

“Wow!” was the only word she
could form.

“I’ll take that as a yes,” Viper
said, chuckling.

Lifting herself up onto her
elbows, she looked down at him. A look of satisfaction resided on his face. She
couldn’t believe it. She had been the one to experience the earth-shattering
orgasm, and he appeared to be the one sated and content. Her own body, while
feeling exhausted, wanted more of what this man had to offer.

A beeping sounded off in the
distance. Viper’s face fell. He stood and headed toward the incessant beeping.
“I’m sorry, sweetheart. While I would love to continue exploring that decadent
body of yours, business calls. I have a meeting that I can’t get out of. But if
you’re up for it tonight, we might share a couple of other fantasies we have.”

She lay on the table where he
left her until she heard the shower being turned on. While the new confident
Nikki wanted to join him, she moved to the sofa to contemplate what had just
occurred between them. What she had allowed to occur.