NocC 004 - The Ancients 03 - Bonnie Vanak - Hunted by the Jaguar - Harlequin 2011-12 by Nocturne Read Free Book Online Page A

lower lip, watching his hungry gaze track the move “—so good, but consuming. Everything inside me rose up, including the demon.”
    His fingers caressed her skin slowly. “I’d never hurt you. Why are you afraid?”
    “I promised my mother, long ago. You don’t know what she gave up for me, Daimon.” Ariana closed her eyes, the tightness in her chest swelling. “I was the last triplet born, and almost died. My lungs weren’t developed enough. She gave me her sweetest gift. Her breath. She breathed life into me, and gave me her music, so I would live.”
    “She was a beautiful soul. I kept my promise to her as well.” Daimon leaned close so their foreheads touched. “She always worried about you, being alone when your sisters played. I was prowling the forest one day—”
    “When I freed you from that nasty snare.”
    “Which I could have freed myself from, but couldn’t resist your kindness. But you didn’t know your mother met me afterward. She knew who I was, and made me promise to never hurt you. I made a solemn vow I’d always be there to guard your steps, Ariana. To be there when you needed me.”
    She lifted her gaze to study his solemn face. “I never realized how much I’d need you, either. Not just your body, not just for sex. Not your powers. It’s something I hate admitting to myself, but I do. All of you.”
    Wonder filled her. For the first time, she longed to let go, find release instead of locking herself up..
    Daimon bent his head, nuzzled her neck. “I can smell him on you. Wolf. You must shower.”
    “A shower sounds good.”
    The main bathroom was shining white marble, with a glassed shower big enough to host a party. She gave him an inquiring look.
    “Nice bathroom, but the bedroom…”
    “Ah, that.” He grinned. “I think the lodge’s decor was part of the Society’s punishment. I renovated extensively, except for your bedroom. Theo liked it. It reminded him of his daughter.”
    He turned on the spray. “She was only ten when he was imprisoned.”
    “And the mirror?”
    Another wicked grin. “That was my special touch. I installed it before tracking you down.”
    “You’re so bad.”
    “Yes.” He nodded at the spray, stepped out of the enclosure and began to strip.
    “Daimon, what are you doing?”
    He shot her an innocent look. “You’ll need someone to wash your back. I need to ensure all of Lawson’s scent is off you.”
    Ariana tried not to look. Useless. First the shirt, showing a firm chest darkened with crisp hair, feathering down to a narrow line that vanished below the waistband of his tight jeans. Muscles studded his flat stomach. His biceps flexed as he tugged the shirt over his head.
    Daimon unbuckled his jeans, pulled them down past narrow hips.
    She averted her gaze, shed her clothing and stepped into the shower. Warm water cascaded over her. Dipping her head beneath the spray, she closed her eyes.
    The shower door closed behind her. Sounds of soap squishing into hands, lathering…
    Two wet, soapy hands cupped her shoulders. Daimon began to wash her thoroughly. Shivers raced through her as he soaped her breasts, palming the nipples until they puckered, begging for his touch. Daimon bent his head to her shoulder, licking her.
    His tongue followed the trail his hands had.
    Damon licked her back, dipped lower. She felt him spread her buttocks….
    A wet tongue stroked between her legs. Ariana pressed her palms flat against the tile, a moan escaping her. He slid a finger between her cleft, teasing, lightly flicking.
    He kissed every inch of her skin, ran his tongue over her thoroughly. As they stepped out of the shower, he reached for a huge towel to dry her off. It felt warm against her cooling skin. Ariana watched Daimon as he towel-dried his own hair, his muscled legs spread slightly apart, his sex strong and erect. A humming began deep inside her, tension vibrating like a tuning fork. She was the fork, drawn to the sensuality of this big cat.
    “I