Author's note: This is the first chapter to earn the R rating I gave this fic now. There will be more chapters to warrant that rating as well, and not just for sexuality, just to warn you. Hope you all enjoy and please, please, review!!

Disclaimer: For full disclaimer see chapter eight or a chapter before it.

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CHAPTER TEN: BRANDED

MOON PHASE - HALF MOON

Lucian trembled at her words, watching her as she reached up and pulled her dress down from her shoulders, pushing it down until it fell on its own accord, down to the floor. She was almost completely nude now, only a thin undergarment covering her elegant form now.

Wordlessly, he nodded, unable to deny her nothing, and now captivated by her near naked body and her beautiful emerald eyes as they pleaded with him to touch her. He leaned down and picked her up, his arms holding her under her shoulders and knees as he carried to her the bed. Her arms wrapped around his neck, and she laid her head on his chest, looking up at him. He saw trust in her eyes, such trust. Gently laying her down, he climbed onto the bed beside her, watching as she sat up to kiss him her lips tentative and he responded in kind, moving slowly.

They both wanted to feel the other's skin, bodies pressed against each other, but both wanted it to last eternity. Hesitation was gone, but this was their time to explore and learn and feel everything they could feel. The kiss began to deepen, tongues entering and stroking the other. Fingers wandered down to clothes still covering them, as Sonja let her hands pull his shirt up, forcing them to break the kiss for a moment.

Lucian moaned softly as she came closer, holding him to her. He could feel her fingers on his back, tracing his scars again, as she had done in the library. He shuddered in pleasure, rubbing his head against hers, a lycan trait. She responded after a moment, rubbing her own head against his before turning to face him and kiss him.

***

Sonja whimpered into the kiss as she felt his hands rub her arms lightly, teasingly, moving up to her shoulders and down her back until he reached the small of it and then pulled her up against him fully. She could feel his bare chest through the thin fabric of her remaining clothing, deliciously hot against her own frozen body.

Lucian began to pull her last garment up, sliding it over her body. She shivered as he lifted it over her head, leaving her completely bare under his burning stare. She watched his expression as he let his eyes drop from hers to rove over her. She shivered again when she saw the fire in his eyes grow, making her realized how cold she was.

He met her eyes again, and she was struck by the adoration in them. He tentatively ran a hand down her neck, her collar bone, in between her breasts, down to her abdomen and back up again. The reverence in his touch made her quiver, and she whimpered as he finally allowed his hand to wander to one of her breasts, gently, tentatively cupping it, watching her as he did.

She moaned, her body immediately moving forward into his touch,. She closed her eyes as his other hand cupped her neglected breast, squeezing it softly. She moaned again, his fingers were scorching her skin, making her somehow warm inside. She felt the warmth go to the pit of her stomach, need building. She wondered if he was as desperate for release as she was.

Meeting his eyes, she could tell he was, or at least close to. She reached over and ran her hands up his chest, toying with the bit of coarse, dark hair before. She smiled when he let out a soft groan, moving her hands to his neck. She lie down on the bed, pulling him down with her.

Lucian leaned down and kissed her again, his hands kneading her breasts before moving to stroke her sides, running his hands from the side of her breasts down to her hips, and then back again. He trailed kissed down her neck, then back to her jaw line, making her writhe beneath him, whimpering and pleading for more.

Sonja moved her hands down his chest, rubbing his abdomen, stroking him, then moving so that she gripped his pants, pushing at them teasingly. She smiled when he pulled his mouth away and groaned, instinctively grinding his hips against hers.

"Sonja," he whispered, kissing her cheeks, neck, nose, shoulder, lips. His mouth seemed to be everywhere, moving all over, as if he wanted to kiss every part of her. He looked down at her, his eyes asking her, wanting to know if she was ready.

"Yes," she told him, nodding. She helped him dispense of his remaining articles of clothing, smiling slightly when he let out a small moan as he was freed. She felt him, against her thighs. She stared up at him, her breath quickening as she truly accepted what was going to happen. She yearned for it.

"If you do not want to do this, tell me to leave now, for I will not be able to if this goes any further," he told her, his voice husky as he stared down at her, his gray eyes pleading with her not to make him go.

Sonja smiled at him reassuringly. "Never, ever leave me," she whispered again. She lifted her hips, rubbing against him, and they both moaned loudly. "Never, ever leave me." She whimpered as he moved down and kissed her breasts, one, then the other, while his hands held her hips down. "Lucian," she breathed as he kissed his way back to her mouth.

"Just tell me when," he told her.

"Not yet," she smiled playfully. Pushing him gently, he followed her lead and laid beside her, letting her straddle him. She leaned down, kissing his neck, sucking on the skin. She smiled as he moaned, his hands holding her arms tightly, yet still so gently. She moved down, kissing his chest, rubbing her hands up and down his stomach. She watched him as he closed his eyes, groaning as she raked her nails over his torso. She kissed her way back up to his parted lips, mimicking his movement on her. "Now," she whispered.

Lucian nodded, and flipped them over gently, once again above her. He positioned himself between her legs as she spread them, her eyes locked on his. He stayed there, frozen for a moment, then plunged into her, filling her.

Sonja held him tightly, biting back a cry as she felt a sharp, brief pain when he entered her. She felt it start to fade away, but the scent of blood tainted the air now, and Lucian realized she was hurt.

"Forgive me," he pleaded, moving from her, but she held him fast. "Forgive me," he repeated several times, but she kissed him hungrily, hushing him.

"Nothing to forgive, it's natural," she assured him when she parted the kiss. "I'm fine now, the pain has faded," she told him, trying to reassure him. But the lycan was not so certain.

"I never meant to cause you any harm," he whispered, his eyes downcast.

Sonja reached up, stroking his cheek, brushing back his hair as it fell over his shoulders. "Lucian, look at me," she commanded, knowing he would obey. When he did, she smiled softly at him. "I know, I should have told you it would hurt me briefly. Briefly only though," she told him. "I promise, you will cause me no more pain now." She kissed him again, grinding her hips against his. "Must I order you to continue?" she asked him.

Lucian moaned as she repeated her actions, shaking his head. He began to move inside her, pulling out and then entering her again, waiting to see her reaction once he had fully filled her a second time.

When she whimpered and wrapped her legs around his waist, he began to enter her over and over, thrusting into her repeatedly. He watched her, his eyes meeting hers as they made love, both moaning as the pressure built, heat flooding them now.

Sonja felt the heat from his body, scorching her and making her yearn for more. She pulled him down, holding him to her, letting her fingers run down his back, grazing the leftover scars, making him grunt and move faster, deeper. She whimpered and moved with him, release so close, so close her now. She felt more alive than ever, and she knew what it was like to be in the sun as his body burned her.

They kissed, their hands wandering all over the other's body as they neared release. Lucian groaned as Sonja grazed his shoulder with her fangs. Sonja whimpered as Lucian nibbled on her earlobe. They kissed again, feverishly, moving faster, deeper, so close to the building fire within them, wanted it to flame though them at last.

"Lucian," she moaned, running her hands through his hair. She moaned as she felt him pull her hips closer to his, their movements desperate, begging for release. He rubbed his head against hers, like before. She reciprocated, enjoying the strangely comforting, arousing motion.

Lucian shifted his weight and position, moving almost sideways, and she cried out as the pleasure finally sent her over the edge. She tensed around him, his furious thrusts even more wonderfully as she came, the branding heat sending tremors through her body.

The shift was enough for Lucian, his release finally upon him as well. He thrust into her a few more times, deep and staying inside her few several seconds as his seed filled her. Spent, he rolled them over, still inside her, and collapsed.

Both were panting, their hearts pounding in their chests as Sonja lie on top of Lucian. She clung to him, content and warm.

***

Lucian now lie beside Sonja, fingering the pendant resting on her chest. His fingers grazed her skin and she shivered. He watched, still awestruck, as she breathed in deeply, her eyes closing and he then began tracing idle pattern over her shoulders and breasts with the tip of his forefinger. He then stopped and his eyes turned serious.

"Do you, does it hurt now?" he asked her, almost afraid. "I never knew it would cause you pain, I would have been more careful," he stopped when Sonja placed her fingers over his lips.

"Lucian, I am fine, I promise. Perhaps a little sore later on, I will not lie to you about that, but it is a price I gladly paid and will pay. It is nothing compared to what you suffered because of me," she said, her arm wrapping around him and stroking the scars on his back. "Besides, the pleasure far overshadowed any pain I felt."

Lucian nodded, though he still cursed himself silently for causing her any pain. Why did she have to be the one who suffered while he felt only pleasure as he buried himself inside her? He would gladly be the one to feel the pain, the soreness afterwards.

Sonja kissed him, causing him to abandon his thoughts for now as he responded and moved so that he rested on top of her, his arms taking the brunt of his weight. She smiled at him when they parted. "We can,"

"No," Lucian gut her off. "I, I would rather wait. I do not want you even more sore, I can wait," he told her.

She nodded. "All right then," she whispered. "Just, hold me till sunrise, Lucian. Hold me till you must leave."

Lucian gladly obeyed, lying on his back and pulling her on top of him. He held her fiercely after he pulled her covers over their bodies. He sighed and kissed her hair as she nuzzled his chest, clinging to him. He felt her move her hand to the top of his arms, tracing his brand.

"If only I could remove this," she sighed. "You are mine now, as I am yours."

Lucian nodded. "You are my mate, Sonja. I branded you tonight. Your kind will not know it, but any lycans who come near you, they will know that you are mine."

"I know. And I would not have it any other way."