Passions Released

He stood before me like a deer caught in headlights. His eyes were wide with shock as his body thrummed with energy. Energy that I had created. I knew I was purposely taunting him. Every action I took was made with the intention of seducing him further, though it was quite obvious that seducing was no longer necessary. Every inch of him was tense with wanting me and it only increased my boldness. I willed his clothes off of him with my mind, remembering how to do so instinctively. As I realized that we were both naked, a cloud of doubt drifted into my mind. What if I wasn't what he wanted? What if I couldn't be what he needed? But when I looked into his eyes, my doubt was washed away by the intensity of his black gaze. It smoldered and burned through my skin, making me feel like he was looking straight into my soul.

I felt slightly apprehensive about making the first move, but knew that I had to do it to make him believe everything that was happening was real. My hands had been hanging loosely at my sides when I had willed his clothes off, but as he stood before me bare, I couldn't resist touching the defined muscles along his chest and so I raised my hands there once more. My fingers were light and hesitant and his body trembled under the strain of remaining submissive to my touch. When I merged my mind with his I saw what a struggle it was for him to not become dominant. Seeing his inner struggle gave me chills, realizing how much power I truly had over him.

I slowly inched my hands lower and his breath sawed in and out in harsh gasps. I myself, took a deep breath before I traced his hips and his erection, which grew harder and thicker when my hands neared it. I closed my hand over him, feeling like a wicked woman as he desperately began to writhe against my hand. He groaned with need as I began to caress his chest with my mouth as my hands worked diligently.

"Nathalie…" My name was a moan escaping from his throat.

"What is it Christian?" I toned my voice an octave lower, matching it to the emotions that were coursing through me. "What has you so distraught?" I laughed to myself, his body tensing even more as my breath beat against his skin.

"Nathalie, what on earth do you think you are doing?" He said it as his hips bucked against my hand, his head thrown back and eyes closed.

"I was seducing you, though, from the way you feel right now, I do not think it takes very long to make you want me…" I said, smiling to myself once more as I realized that there was no reason for doubt at this point. He wanted me, that was one thing I could know for certain.

"You have no idea." His reply was terse but full of amusement. I laughed softly at him, which turned out to be a mistake. He ripped my hands away from him, and pinned them to the tree trunk behind my back. My heart picked up its pace a few beats as his gaze devoured me like a starving man.

"You are damned right I am a starving man, and right now, you are my feast. As it is, as much as I was adoring your attentions, I cannot allow you to give me all the pleasure. I am, after all, your lifemate."

He pressed his body against mine, allowing me to feel the tree fully against my back and his body stretched out against mine in the front. I was aware of every inch of him and his body was so hot it was burning a whole through my flesh.

He immediately crushed his mouth to mine, attempting to devour me in one moment, his hands beginning a slow, steady massage of my body. His mouth soon left my mouth, the action somewhat reluctant until he began caressing my neck and pulse. "Christian, I am not going to disappear….you don't have to rush." I said, my laugh turning into a gasp as his mouth began moving over my breasts.

"I would hate to take the chance…" He whispered against my skin. I suddenly felt his palm pressed tightly against my very core and I gasped, not expecting him to thrust his fingers deep within me. He took my mouth again with his swallowing my gasp as if it had never been. He took advantage of me, his tongue probing and caressing the inside of my mouth, matching the rhythm of his fingers perfectly as they moved within my body. I gave myself up to the pure sensation of his mouth and hand working simultaneously to bring me into a world that was pure feeling, nothing but pleasure and love. My body took on a life of its own as I began to move against him, throwing my mind into his, wanting to know his thoughts and emotions as he shook the very foundations of my world.

I had first thought he was rushing but as I looked into his mind, I realized it was only my heart that was frantic. He was, in fact taking his time with me, fully intending to make me feel the amount of sexual frustration I had caused him when he remained submissive to my touch. His thoughts were purely of me, and I felt smug knowing that he very much wanted to crawl up inside of my body and stay there for all eternity.

As I eased my mind out of his I felt bereft, noticing that as phenomenal as the sensations he was creating were, I still wanted more and only his body within mine could bring me the sort of fulfillment I needed. I suddenly felt Christian's presence within my mind and I knew he was well aware of what I needed from him. For one glorious moment, I thought he was finally going to take me as he withdrew his fingers but a second later I screamed as his tongue replaced his fingers, thrusting and probing deep within me until my mind shattered and my body fragmented. Colors swirled around me, lifting me up and taking me soaring above the heavens, to a place where only two people existed, Christian and I.

I could feel my nails digging into his shoulders, the sensation of his body under my hands the only thing keeping me anchored to the earth. As I began to regain control of my mind and body, I grasped his hair within my fingers and hauled him up to me, forcing his clear, burning eyes to meet my hazy ones.

I love you Nathalie. You may doubt many things foolishly, but in this matter you must never doubt my love. His voice was like velvet as it engulfed me with warmth and love.

"Christian," I whispered desperately, not wanting to be completely mindless, though it was clear that that was where I was headed.

"Yes, say my name, Nathalie. Know it is me who loves you and no other…I am the only one for you, as you are the only one for me!" One hand traced my bare thigh and I felt a surge of burning passion begin. He pressed himself intimately against me once more and I was instantly aware of how thick and hard he felt pressed against me. I swallowed any remaining fear as his mouth met mine and he pulled my legs up to wrap around his waist. I willingly gave up all control to him, and not a moment too soon.

A second later he thrust deep into me, stealing the breath right from my already starving lungs. For a moment I thought I saw lightning crackle in the sky over his shoulder but as I glanced again I realized the night sky, though sparkling with a thousand flaming stars, was calm and serene and only our bodies were electrified.

My hips met his every thrust and I couldn't help but lose all sense of time and space as he drove me to an even greater threshold. I held on to him for my life, my fingernails scraping across the spans of his broad back. He groaned in response, his pleasure heightened by the mere feel of me clinging to him desperately.

"Nathalie…" He said my name as if in a dream. "Please…taste me…take my blood into your body…I need you to…I need it so badly, mon amour!" He continued to drive himself into me, his slow drugging pace quickening to a frenzy, and then slowing once more.

I wanted to scream, whether out of pleasure or fear, I am still uncertain. "Christian. You know I cannot do such a thing," I breathed, attempting to keep a level head as he was assaulting my mind from every direction. "I haven't for years and I do not intend to begin feeding off others now!" I could barely get the words out. I began to wonder if my words were true as I noticed that his throaty voice begging for me made my incisors lengthen.

"Nathalie! Please!" He groaned, unable to say more. It is not the atrocious act you think it to be…

I don't know Christian. I don't know if I can.

He continued to make love to me, but leaned down closer to my body, rubbing his hands along my hips and sides while he leaned his head against mine. His lips skimmed my ear as he spoke. "Do you need persuasion?"

I let out a pent up breath. I cannot imagine you being able to persuade me for too much longer… I joked back, desperately trying to ignore the way my body began to twist onto itself in a kind of pleasurable agony, wanting release and knowing he could and would withhold it. As the tension grew within my body, I began to lose control of myself, raising up just enough so that my mouth could reach his chest. I swirled my tongue over where I could feel his heart beating in his chest, trying not to think about what it was I was setting out to do.

Before I could talk myself out of it I gave up every part of me to Christian and sunk my fangs deep into his skin. A harsh hiss escaped his lips as he surged into me harder and faster, throwing all tenderness to the wind. My mind merged with his as I fed off of him. The taste of him was like nothing I could have ever imagined. The essence of his life coursed through my body, combining every inch of us together all the while I felt him within my mind, sharing everything that was him with me, so that there could never be a moment when I did not know what he was thinking or feeling. I clung on to that, not wanting my mind to return to the present only to realize that I was feeding like a barbaric vampire off of a man that I thought I loved.

Some Carpathian you are! He laughed into my mind. This is what we are meant to do, mon amour…do not fight it. This is how we are meant to be! You, me, the two of us coming together, our bodies, out minds, our hearts and our souls, all one. Your blood is to be of my blood as mine is of yours…take me into you, do not think of it as a vampiric action…it is a Carpathian ritual and there is beauty behind it, only beauty. Much like you.

Oh can it! You can stop with the courtly gentleman persona now, you have already seduced me and you have what you want, so there is no need.

"How can you say I have what I want? Yes, I have your body at the moment, but I want so much more from you. I know you haven't been one of us long enough to know, but Carpathians are incapable of having meaningless sex, especially if it is with our life mate." He groaned aloud as he continued to drive into me, "I could never be apart from you. Do you believe me?" I closed the wound with my tongue and he growled aloud, driving me to the edge of madness. Suddenly, a change overcame him. He began ramming himself into me, losing all sense of control or compassion. I began to feel a mix of pain in with the pleasure he was giving me. I whimpered softly, and the only response I heard was the roaring of the beast within him. The growing vampire fought the chains that held it captive deep within Christian's heart. I gasped from this discovery and even though the gasp was no different from those I had let out earlier, his eyes met mine in alarm. He crashed into my mind and upon seeing that I had glimpsed his darker half, he gentled his actions, tears gathering in his eyes as he met my gaze, clearly waiting for me to condemn him to the hell of a life alone.

Without my companionship, he would become untamable, the wild beast rising up and taking his soul, fully turning him vampire. As I looked into the depths of his soul, I saw within him the urge to maintain his honor and meet the dawn. My stomach lurched at the thought of his body burning up into ashes but regardless of that longing within him, I also knew that it was hopeless for him to desire his honor, for if I forsook him now as he so clearly thought I would, he could never meet the dawn knowing that I was still living.

And his death would certainly mean my own. I knew it in my soul as if it had always been there. I had only known him for a few days, but as it was, I felt connected to him in everyway. If he were to die, I would not want to live in a world where his hot and hungry gaze would not look upon me again. I thought this over as he continued to thrust into me, but as he increased the friction, I had no choice but to let go and leave that revelation for later. As I finally met his gaze, I could see the defeat and sorrow in his endless black eyes and my fear dissipated instantly, leaving only compassion.

Never fear, my dark knight! I shall not condemn you for something you cannot control, just please, I beg you…do not allow it to take you. I need you with me…and I need to know I am safe with you. I have lived my entire life in fear and I do not wish to continue that way.

His eyes changed intensity, from extreme sorrow to absolute elation, and he drove into me with new found tenderness. Finally, he took me over the precipice, colors exploding as our bodies soared, through the timeless skies until only both he and I existed. A moment later we were still clinging to each other, our bodies damp, my hair clinging to my shoulders as he nuzzled my neck with his face, his body still buried deep within mine.

"Christian," I said softly, wanting to hear his name said aloud; something tangible within the reality of the present.

"I am here, Nathalie. Always here."

"I know…I just…I never thought it could be like that…"

He laughed aloud, "Which part?" Clear male amusement echoed in his voice.

"All of it," I smiled up at him.

"So what if I told you I wanted you again?" He asked, pressing soft intimate kisses along my jaw line, moving himself just slightly so that I could feel him moving within me.

"I think I would have to tell you that you are crazy!" I laughed. "I cannot imagine even moving right now…I am so very tired." I purposefully forgot to point out the bruises that were now upon me, marking the places where he had held me still for his assault; not to even mention the soreness in muscles I hadn't known I had.

"You don't have to move." He cooed against my breast, taking it into his mouth. I melted into him easily, as if my body was its own living being, taking over my mind with one instant of decision. I tried to push him away but all my strength could not even threaten his balance. He stood as a brick wall, pinning me to the tree without even noticing that I had attempted to get his attention. His eyes were closed as he continued to caress my body.

"Hey! You! I'm talking to you!" I demanded, wanting to stop him before he had me too far gone.

Well, stop your talking! It will do you no good here! He raised his hand to my jaw and tipped it up just as he brought his mouth up to capture my lips with his. His kiss stole every last thought from my mind as his tongue traced the seam of my mouth. After a moment I was forced to take a breath but as I opened my mouth, his tongue surged in, increasing the intimacy even more.

I grew frustrated at my inability to control him. But then, I came up with a wicked idea, knowing full well that there was one sure way to make him pay attention. I eased my hands away from his face and quickly took hold of his hips, grinding my own over him determinedly until he growled aloud, eyes meeting mine with a blazing intensity.

"So now I have your attention…" I smiled, feigning innocence.

"In more ways than you know," he replied hoarsely as he grabbed hold of my waist. I winced as he encountered one of his previous bruises and his eyes immediately darted to inspect my body. "I have hurt you." He said, the sorrow in his voice beginning to take over all other emotions.

"Do not do that. Your chin stiffens when you are worried. Let me kiss away your worry." I raised myself up to kiss along his jaw line, lingering at the corner of his mouth for an extra moment. He turned so that his mouth was fully on my own, gentle yet devouring. I am so sorry for harming you, mon petit Coeur. You cannot know how horrible it is to know that I had inadvertently caused you discomfort.

There was plenty of comfort to make up for that discomfort, my love. You have done nothing wrong.

Perhaps not, but I can remedy the situation regardless. He took a few steps back effectively disconnecting our two bodies. Both of our faces fell for a moment, the two of us feeling the separation down to our very souls. He smiled in an attempt to overcome the momentary ache that swept through us, demanding that we unite once more.

With a single kiss, he scooped me up into his arms as if I weighed no more than a small child and took to the air. It felt so good to be in his arms and I relaxed against him, burying my face against his strong chest. I began to wonder what change had come over me that I know trusted this man entirely, and desired to pleasure him more than I desired anything for myself.

I ignored my doubts and allowed my body to mold into his, hugging him close. He turned his head against my neck muttering incoherent words against my skin, placing kisses behind my ear and against my hair.

I am sorry for hurting you. I deserve hell for what I almost did to you… He said as we flew over the vast woods below.

No you do not! You did nothing wrong, as I said earlier.

If I had kept going the way I was Nathalie, I would have ended up raping you…It was only your gasp and the thoughts in your head that brought me back to reality.

I cannot believe you would have gone through with the act, but I would refuse to blame you even if it were true. It's a part of our species. I just didn't know the demon was so strong within you.

Nor did I. I wonder why it has not been fully subdued. I am with you, I should not be able to give in to the beast.

Do not worry about this now… I attempted to console him, but to no avail.

I do not want to have to worry about my inner beast every time I am turned on by you… and it would be a lie to say I am not thinking about making love to you even as we speak.

Always the gallant gentleman aren't you?

"Very funny," he said as he set me down on the front porch of his cottage.

I looked around me curiously, not having inspected the actual house before. "Is this your real home?" I gestured towards the log home.

"No, it is another Carpathian's but since we all move around a lot, this was not in use. When I had originally found you and needed a place to take care of you, I sent out a call for help and one Carpathian male and his lifemate offered me this small cabin. It's not as extravagant as we usually go for, but it is useful for not drawing unwanted attention to ourselves."

"Oh. Are you sure they do not mind?"

"I'm positive."

"Shouldn't we ask?" I didn't want others of my kind to automatically think I was greedily taking advantage of them.

"As I told you, it would be more disruptive to ask. Carpathian pairs have things they do in their alone time, not so unlike us, and disrupting is rude, unless necessary." I'll take advantage of someone, and I'll give you a hint, it's not them.

I'd say you shouldn't be in my thoughts, but I am sort of amused by you knowing how sexy I think you are.

I'm sexy am I? Must I show you what I think about you…? He began to back me up against the door to the cabin. I thought about stopping him, but his mouth on mine was a force to be reckoned with and so I simply allowed him to kiss me passionately. Besides, at least he wasn't worrying a bout his demons. I felt the door against my back and I closed my eyes, savoring the way he made me feel, like I was the only woman in the world. He took hold of my hip with his right hand while the other reached around and began grasping for the door handle. He grew impatient when his hand could not find the handle and the door finally swung open as he mentally turned the knob, not for a moment lessening the pressure of his lips on mine. His hand then took up residence upon my lower back as we glided into the house, his grace making up for our eagerness that should have resulted in clumsy movements.

We were in the bed chamber within a few moments, neither of us being able to recall how exactly we had gotten there. Christian switched our positions, allowing me to take the lead and I took it in strides, one hand going to his chest to press him backwards while the other tangled in his long damp hair. I broke off our kiss, glancing down for a moment before tracing the lines and contours of the lower half of his body. He was hard already and it was completely evident that as I took hold of him, I was in full control.

If I had demanded anything of him at that moment, I had no doubt that he would do it. I had to smile at how quickly it took for him to want me so badly that I was in complete command of him. I had always thought that Carpathian men had power over their lifemates, but I was now beginning to understand that there was a mutual amount of control. The men lived to please the women and so their wants would always be first, and if that didn't suffice in an argument we could always turn them on, until they had to obey.

Such naughty thoughts within my innocent angel! What makes you think you are in control? It was obvious that he had meant to sound arrogant, but the only emotion that was expressed by his betraying voice was his longing for me to end the blissful torture of my hands.

I don't know, perhaps it's the fact that when I look into your mind, I see your desire to please me. And I demand that you allow me to give you pleasure for once!

If you only gave me pleasure once, than there would be no feasible reason for me to believe that you are my lifemate.

You know very well what I meant you little fake! That arrogance of yours is a growing problem. If you do not learn to control it, you shall regret it!

Will I now? And how is that?

I smiled sweetly at him as I let go of him and jumped away simultaneously, evading his outstretched arms as he tried to recapture me. "Ah ah ah! I told you I could punish you, and punish you I will!"

"As I asked before, how's that?"

"You're experiencing it, my beloved." I cooed, as I paced around him. He tried to catch me each time I passed, positioning himself directly in front of me. But I was in his thoughts and I saw his movements before he made them. I purposely brushed up against him and moved so that he could best imagine what he was missing by not touching me or having me touch him.

I saw him grow harder while watching me. He groaned softly, verging on a whine. "Nathalie…What…-"

"Christian, if you are so in control of me, make me come to you," I challenged.

He glared at me for a few moments and I stopped to take a few shallow breaths, attempting to pull in more air, realizing that his gaze was robbing me of that comfort. My body desired his, that was no surprise, but I ignored the urges, wanting to see him as weak in the knees for me as I was for him.

"You must already know that I am…" He said, his voice hoarse and needy.

"You must not have lied when you said that you hadn't had much experience with women. Allow me to educate you, my love. Women are self-conscious creatures. You may say romantic and seductive things to us day and night, but we still need proof. Tangible proof. Some solid and unyielding way for us to believe full heartedly that you are ours and ours alone."

"Nathalie, please. Allow me to touch you! I need to touch you. If only just to hold you in my arms. I have lived many a century without feeling anything. Now that I do, I do not want to let go of you for a moment, in fear that I may never feel again if you are not next to me."

I sighed, knowing that he was ensnaring the worst emotion he could, my love. I walked towards him slowly, raising my eyes leisurely to meet his as I reached for his hands with my own.

He groaned softly as I placed his palms upon my face and framed his face with my hands simultaneously. "Nathalie…please…"

"I belong to you Christian. I can tease you all I like, but when it comes down to it, I know I am your lifemate in everyway. There is no other explanation for it. I love you."

"And I you Nathalie." He reached forward and moved his mouth over my own. His tongue darted into my mouth with a rhythm that stole my very heart. He was unusually tender and affectionate; no trace of the beast reaching the surface.

He pushed me back so that I had no choice but to recline on his bed. I did so silently, finding no protest within me. Once there, he broke off the kiss and began to move his mouth over my hips, shoulders and anywhere else he had bruised me. He swirled his tongue diligently over each and every mark, intending to erase all possible discomfort from my body.

I took a swift breath. "Daylight will be upon us shortly."

"I do not care. I could do this to you for all eternity, to hell with the sun!"

"Christian?"

"Hmm?" He looked up to meet my eyes.

"Do you really still think you are dangerous to everyone? Including me?"

"Never to you mon amour," He smiled solemnly, "but truly, I do not know and it scares me more than anything. The thought that I might have it within me to change and then harm you is both barbaric and horrifying."

"We'll work through it together, my love. I will always be by your side. Do not fear yourself anymore, because I do not fear you anymore." I consoled as he kissed me again.