At first unyielding, he let her pull his head down. She combed her fingers through his silky hair and brushed an airy kiss over his lips. His eyes popped open, gleaming bright with desperation. Need.
Still not moving a hand to touch her, he said, "You should rest."
"No." She unbuttoned his top button, then worked her way down in a slow line. His gaze followed her fingers. "I died, Nikolai. And by some miracle have been brought back to life. I do not need rest." She tried to pull his shirt off, but he wouldn't move his arm from the mantel. "I could use your help here."
"What are you doing?"
"I thought it was quite clear. I'm trying to remove your clothes so I can take you to my bed."
"Sienna … " He clenched his jaw and deepened his frown. "I won't take you. Not so soon after Volkov, after-"
She stopped him with a finger to his lips. "He didn't violate me in that way. He took only my blood." She glanced down at her bare body. "As you can see, my body is healed. But my heart is not. And here I am, begging you to touch me. To make good on your promise."
"What promise is that?" he asked, voice a husky roll of thunder, his body so rigid and his arm so stiff on the mantel as if he were holding up the wall, the world, and gravity itself purely by sheer will.
"In the widow's house. You promised to give me pleasure to take away the pain."
He released a shaky breath, his expression crashing into sorrow. Perhaps she shouldn't have reminded him of that moment, the last precious moment they shared before their nightmare began.
"I'm raw, Sienna. Scraped from the inside out. I held your lifeless body in my arms a few hours ago."
"Then hold me alive … now. And let me heal you, Nikolai."
"I can't be gentle."
"Who said I wanted gentle?"
"I don't trust myself."
She smiled and closed the space between them, wrapping her arms around his waist and under his unbuttoned shirt, his body taut, unyielding. She pressed her soft curves against his hard frame. "I trust you."
He breathed her name on a long sigh. "Sienna." Then he finally moved. He swept her hair off of one shoulder where he grazed an open-mouthed kiss, hot and wet. Sienna angled her head in the other direction, inviting him to taste, to bite. But he didn't.
"More, Nikolai."
She knew he still held himself back, fearing to hurt her in some way. What he didn't understand was that she was stronger than she'd ever been. The hartstone had breathed fire into her veins, which now lit up her senses to a heightened level. Her skin ached, craving the sensation of friction, hungering for him to heal her in the only way he could. But the man-obstinate, with willpower of iron-would not give in to the passion simmering between them, begging to be released.
"Fine," she whispered. She'd have to show him she had determination of her own to match his. She needed to do something dramatic, to make him understand. Dropping to her knees, she undid the lacings of his trousers.
"Sienna," he warned.
She flicked him a glare. "I want you, Nikolai." She pulled free the last lacing. "I need you." She freed his cock-full and thick. He couldn't deny he didn't feel the same desire. She had no experience in this realm at all, but instincts took over, the innate need to taste him overriding all sense and reason. Gripping him at the base of his shaft, she opened her mouth on the tip.
"Fucking hell." He clenched a fist into her hair. Instead of pulling away, he urged her on, pumping forward slowly on a hiss.
She moaned, staring up at him and holding his burning gaze. His mouth gaped, the tips of his sharpened fangs long and protruding.
Volkov had filled her with fear and loathing with his toxin, but the hartstone had washed that all away-death and fear in one. She yearned for Nikolai to mark her deep. She surged forward, sliding her mouth on a groan.
Before she knew what had happened, she was off the floor and on her back in the bed. Nikolai knelt above her and stripped away his shirt, revealing his sculpted abdomen. His trousers hung loose on his hips, his cock protruding straight up against his belly.
"Put your hands behind your head under the pillow."
His command was rough and razor-sharp. She obeyed.
"Spread your legs for me, Sienna."
Already breathless, she crooked her knees in obedience.
He shook his head, gaze wandering south to her sex. "Wider."
Heat flushed up her chest and into her cheeks.
"Wider, sweetheart. You're going to lay yourself bare and give it all to me. Then I'll give it all back."