Authors: Jean Murray
“Daisies! They’re so beautiful.”
“Parvana,” he said and cupped her face with his palm. “It is you that is beautiful.”
She diverted her gaze when the warmth flushed her face. His eyes trained down the front of her gown and paused on her lower half. The edges of his nose flared. He jerked his gaze to meet hers. Her legs weakened at the sight of the hunger in his silver pools. No man had ever looked at her with that amount of desire.
“Shall we heal you?” he asked hoarsely.
She nodded, her throat suddenly dry.
He swept her up and carried her to the bed. The down duvet created a soft landing. His jacket didn’t fare as well. He jerked the material off and threw it to the floor.
Bakari starred down at her lips and licked his own. The glint of his fangs flashed below his upper lip. She couldn’t take her eyes off of them. The fire bloomed in her chest and rushed down through her belly.
“How will this work?” she asked breathlessly.
He rubbed his jaw, most likely wondering the same thing. “I want you to be comfortable.”
“How much will I have to drink?”
His expression softened and he leaned over her. “As much or little as you like.”
She swallowed. Why would she ever want more than was required to heal? “Okay.”
A wicked little smile rose up on his lips. “Would you sit on my lap? That way you can control where things go.”
Her mouth dropped open, remembering she had no panties on. Her entire body flushed hot.
“I love everything about you.” He chuckled.
She wrapped her arms around his neck. “Kiss me,” she demanded. He pecked her on the lips. His warm hands slid under her bottom and hoisted her against his torso. Without thinking she wrapped her legs around his slim waist.
“I plan on doing a lot of kissing,” he growled.
His silver eyes dilated, not unlike the time of his bloodlust. He pivoted and sat against the headboard. She settled over his hips with her knees on either side. The soft silk of his pants pressed against her bare privates. The hem of her nightgown road up and exposed her thighs. His hand tightened on her bottom and he coaxed her tighter against his hips.
She gasped both at the needles of pain in her chest and the tingles of pleasure the movement bloomed between her legs. He slid his hand down her thighs and then retraced their path, but this time his fingers strayed underneath her cotton gown and reclaimed their hold skin to skin.
He brushed his lips up her neck to her ear. “You feel and smell wonderful.”
“Do I?” she sighed when he continued to kiss her neck. The pain in her chest warred with the pulsing heat of his touch.
“I can’t take this,” she groaned, but exposed more of her neck for his exploration. How was this going to work anyways? She didn’t have fangs and couldn’t quite visualize herself biting his neck.
She worked her fingers into his hair and down the back of his neck. He trailed his seduction to her mouth. His full lips brushed gently against hers. She had expected him to be forceful, based on the amount of desire in his eyes, but he kissed her slowly. She groaned when he finally penetrated her mouth with his tongue. He retreated much too soon. Unhappy with the sudden abandonment, she breached his mouth to resume the erotic dance. He teased her ever so lightly and urged her to probe deeper.
A warm and rich flavor flourished with each swipe. She leaned in tighter wanting more of him. His tongue darted in her mouth. Not wanting him to leave again she sucked him in deeper. More of the dark heady taste filled her mouth.
Blood.
Despite it registering in her brain, she drew harder and swallowed the thick seductive serum. She grabbed a rung on the headboard, tightened her other hand on his neck and rose up on her knees. Pain buzzed through her chest, but it was a faint echo compared to the smoldering fire in her belly with each succulent gulp.
He squeezed the round curve of her bottom. Unwilling to break from his mouth, her lungs burned with each breath through her nose. A growl vibrated through her chest when she sucked harder. A pitch that was certainly not Bakari’s.
The flames in her belly shot hot tendrils of pleasure through her veins. The trembling started in her hands and cascaded through her entire body. She arched back with only Bakari’s hands to steady her. His power exploded through her chest and consumed her on a level so deep, she would be forever changed.
Dazed, she settled down onto his lap, wetness pooling between her legs. Blood the color of dark cherries coated his lips. Without his prompting she yanked her nightgown over her head. His fingertips traced the now silver line on her chest and then strayed over her breast. She rose to her knees and tugged at the silk material that separated them. He pushed and kicked his pants away.
His hardened shaft greeted her warm moist sex. She had waited for this moment all her adult life. More importantly, waited for him. He gripped her hips and guided her down over his arousal. The pleasure from the blood surging through her body muted the pain of his penetration.
“I love you,” she gasped. The deep pools of his silver gaze shined clear and true. No barriers separated them. Bakari claimed more than her innocence this day. He claimed her heart. They were united because of their love for each other, not because of Kepi’s curse. A fresh start to forge their own future.
“My soul is yours, Parvana.” He kissed her deeply.
“Forever and always.”
The rain pouring down from the heavens did not diminish the stench of rotten trash in the alleyway, but it was a good enough spot to materialize. No human witnesses. Bomani pulled his hooded coat tight to obscure his face and moved through the dark abandoned buildings.
This particular area had been quarantined by the human government because of the reven infestation. Unusable real estate was an opportune place to remain undetected, but the humans were the least of his worries. The Creation Pantheon would not approve of a dark warrior among the living—especially one who had blood on his hands.
Best to stay hidden until he figured out what to do with himself.
Unable to muster the motivation to take another step he found a dark corner and hunkered against the wall. He closed his eyes trying to will away the memories of Kendra and Bakari. For the first time in his life he had lost.
“I warned you in the beginning. She was not made for you.”
He shot out of the darkness and seized the thin throat of the intruder. “Bast,” he hissed.
He contemplated what the punishment would be for killing a Protector god.
She smiled. Despite all his strength, she easily peeled his fingers from her throat. “You are in my world now warrior, so tread very lightly.” She tapped his chest and he stumbled, making it very clear who was in charge. Her heat burned through his layer of clothes, despite the dark of night.
He never backed down from a fight, but that was before. He had no use for it, especially if he expected to stay in her realm. There was nowhere else to go. He turned and walked away from the goddess. Time to get lost.
“It is time to return home, warrior,” she called out. “I cannot have you lurking about unsupervised. Unless…” Her voice trailed off and left him to fill in the rest.
He stopped and glared over his shoulder. Bast was right— Kendra was not made for him. The goddess saw what he could not.
Conditions can change
, Bast had said and they had.
Bomani turned to face his new master. The time had come to find out the cost of his freedom.
First and foremost, I want to thank the readers, bloggers and fellow Crescent Moon Press authors that have made this journey so enjoyable. The friendship, support, and camaraderie are amazing! My sincerest thanks go out to the founders of Crescent Moon Press, Steph Murray and Marlene Castricato, for allowing me to continue the Key to the Cursed series. Many thanks to my editor, Kathryn Steves, who identified my strengths and weaknesses, and helped me elevate Soul Awakened to the next level.
Lastly, to my husband—you have always seen the horizon and believed that I could get there. I am forever grateful to you for believing in me!
In her pursuit of a nursing degree, Jean Murray aspired to see the world and joined the Navy. At the end of 2011 she said a heart-breaking goodbye to her Navy family and retired after twenty years of military service. Although her dreams of writing full time have yet to come true, she continues her writing journey and draws inspiration from her travels abroad. She enjoys spending time with her family and of course, writing about the “Carrigan sisters and their mates, Gods of the Underworld,” to bring you the next installment of the Key to the Cursed series.
Visit Jean Murray at her website and blog:
jean-murray.com
wickedromance.wordpress.com