Dark Song полностью

The sound of the rain woke Elisabeta, but this rising, there was a new note in the beat of the earth’s music. Entwined with that dark, persistent drumming was a sensual call that tugged at every one of her senses, bringing her entire body alive whether she wanted to feel those sensations or not. The moment she was aware, he poured into her mind. Ferro. Her lifemate. There wasn’t room for anyone else. He was larger than life, an invincible warrior of old. An ancient Carpathian hunter calling her from the soil, where she would have stayed to avoid having to learn what was expected of her in her new existence.

Trepidation filled her, yet at the same time a thrill of anticipation such as she’d never felt before. She actually looked forward to this rising, and she could honestly say she couldn’t remember feeling that way in all the centuries of her past. She wanted to go to him the way a lifemate would go to her spouse, but she knew little of the concept or what was expected.

They hadn’t gone over any other clothing, as they had discussed they were going to do, mostly because so many unexpected things had happened the rising before. She was uncertain what to wear and still couldn’t make the decision to clothe herself, especially after seeing how Julija, Lorraine and then Joie dressed. She’d paid particular attention, trying to figure out if she would feel comfortable in their modern attire, but she didn’t think so.

The soil opened above her and then she was in Ferro’s arms, her body clean, her heart beating too fast, her lungs dragging in air and his wild scent. He was as naked as she was, and she’d never been so aware of herself as a woman. Her breasts rose and fell in time to her ragged breathing. She couldn’t seem to control the way she reacted to his closeness, as much as she tried. He felt so strong and in control. He smelled good, filling every one of her senses as they floated together somewhere he wanted to take her. She didn’t care, as long as she was with him. Once they settled, she was on his lap, his arms around her, cradling her close.

“Look at me, sívamet.”

His commanding voice sent a shiver of need down her spine, arrowing from her breasts to her feminine channel. The reaction was shocking. She lifted her lashes immediately and found herself looking into his strangely colored eyes. One moment they seemed bluish-gray and the next a gray-rust. Right at that moment they were a deep blue-silver and so intense, so focused on her with a dark hunger, she could barely breathe.

“Always remember, te avio päläfertiilam. You are the keeper of my heart and soul.” He drew his palm very gently, very slowly and very possessively down her body, from her neck, over the curves of her breasts, to her mound and then the junction between her legs. His touch was barely there, but it was definitely a claiming.

Her sex clenched, a liquid heat, an awakening of a hunger she hadn’t known existed, as if by touching her, claiming her, he’d suddenly awoken the woman in her. Need spread through her, a strange tension coiling deep. Her hips would have squirmed restlessly had she allowed it, but she was far too disciplined for that. She lay passive, looking up at his face, wanting to touch him, to trace the lines carved deep, the strong jawline. He could become an obsession if she wasn’t careful.

“Every rising, when you wake, know that you are in my keeping. As my lifemate, you are first in my thoughts on rising and last when I close the soil over our heads. There are no lies between lifemates. You can hear them, Elisabeta. Believe in your ability to hear lies. You are Carpathian and you are powerful in your own right. You can hear anyone lying to you, especially your lifemate. I want you to have confidence in your ability to hear lies always. Once you know that, once you believe that, you will recognize all lies told to you in the past.”

He was beautiful. His face was so rough no one else would ever call him that, but she knew he was. She knew Julija didn’t altogether approve of him and would never have accepted him as her lifemate, nor would Lorraine. She also knew that she was seeing only one side of Ferro. He was showing her unfailing kindness and it was all very real. Eventually, she would reach further into his mind and see more of him. She wasn’t ready. She wasn’t strong enough yet; she would have to build up to that. For now, he didn’t seem to mind caring for her, and while he did, she would learn. She learned fast.

“Piŋe sarnanak.” His voice was soft. Amused. The sound played over her like the touch of fingers. His hand slid back up her body to cup her breast. “I love the way you look at me, as if I mean something to you rather than being a man to be afraid of.” He bent his head toward her, his eyes on her face, and then she lost sight of him as his lips touched her chin and then her throat.