His arms pulled her closer, squeezing her tight. "Don't say such things," he said, his voice breaking.

She pulled back and raised her hands up to cup his face. "There is no other for me and no life without you, so make the decision. Are we to live or die?"

She saw a flash of fear in his eyes before it was replaced by resolve. "You're not going to ever back down are you?"

"Nope." She popped her lips on the letter 'p'.

He smiled gently. "Then I guess all I can do is stay by your side for eternity."

"It's good to have life goals." She was smiling so much her cheeks hurt.

Shaking his head, he swept her up in his arms. "I can't, in good conscience, claim you yet, I want to see if being around my mate is enough to pull me from the edge."

"Then make love to me." She laughed at his shocked expression. "If being around me helps, just think of what making love to me could do?"

He laughed out loud and her heart soared. When he looked down at her, he wore the same roguish expression she had fallen in love with as a child. "I came in here tonight to tell you to stay away, but I can't fight temptation anymore. I cannot refuse your offer of paradise; I'm not strong enough." He laid her down gently on the bed.

"I've been waiting my whole life for you," she said sitting up. She reached around and unzipped her dress. When she looked up, he was staring down at her, his eyes wide.

"What do you mean you waited? You can't be a..."

"A what? A virgin? Let me break it down for you: I have three extremely overprotective older brothers and three extremely overprotective half-brothers. Their moral compasses tend to break if they are pissed enough. I have six units of warriors who would happily destroy any guy I dated who made the mistake of hurting me. To top everything off, I have been dreaming of you since I was six. Dating has never really been an option for me.

"So yes, I am a virgin, but that doesn't mean I haven't been taking care of business myself, if you know what I mean."

Darian's mouth opened and closed, then open and closed again. He blinked once before a sexy smile appeared. "Does that mean you have toys?"

Amelia kicked her shoes off and dropped them over the side of the bed. "Maybe." She shimmied out of her dress and threw it on the floor. When she was down to her bra and panties, she lay back on her elbows and crossed her legs at her ankles, getting comfortable. "You going to keep me waiting much longer, princess?"

With a low growl, Darian slowly began to unbutton his dress robe. "Lie back and close your eyes."

Amelia relaxed, lay flat on her back, and closed her eyes. She waited and listened carefully, trying to figure out what he was doing. She heard the rustle of fabric and assumed he had removed his robe. She wanted to open her eyes.

"Keep them closed." His deep voice came from her right. He'd walked around to that side of the bed. She shivered at his tone.

After a couple minutes, her mind had worked itself into a hectic mess. Where was he? What was he doing?

"Are you thinking about me?" His words now came from the foot of the bed.

"Darian, I don't understand, what are you doing?" She wanted to open her eyes and manhandle him onto the bed. Her body was coiled in anticipation of his touch, knowing that she was about to make love to her mate.

"Being with a lover is very different than 'taking care of business' on your own. The fact that I am the one to teach you the difference humbles me. I am going to take my time and introduce you to lovemaking."

She felt his fingers at her ankle. Casually, lazily he began to run his fingers up her leg to her knee and back down again. She felt completely out of control even though all he was doing was touching her leg.

"Darian..." Even to her own ears, her voice sounded strained.

"I bet you never took the time to explore every inch of your own body. How could you? Did you ever stop to appreciate the way your body changes as it prepares itself for loving?"

She shook her head. Her insides were shaking. All she wanted was for him to drive into her as fast and as hard as he could. She needed him desperately. She squirmed, squeezing her legs together.

"Are you imagining what I will do to you? You saw my cock when I was getting dressed. Are you wondering what it looks like hard and dripping for you?" His voice came from her left. He was circling the bed.

She swallowed hard, her throat dry. "Yes."

With the lightest of touches, she felt his fingers at her hips as he pulled down her panties.

"You wanted to give me a reason to live, and now I have one. Fate has given me my own piece of heaven, and I will guard it ferociously." He spread her legs and she nearly came unglued when she felt his tongue slip between her folds and nibble her gently.

"You taste like the sweetest of nectars. If we could stop time, would you let me stay right here? I could feast on you for hours and never get enough." He began deliberate strokes over her clit, pushing her climb toward madness.

"Darian! Please! Don't tease me anymore," she begged.

She felt his body move between her legs as his hands slipped under her body to release the clasp on her bra. He pulled it from her body, exposing her breasts.

"How can one woman be so perfect?" His voice was louder now that he was closer.

His hot mouth wrapped around her nipple, and he tugged and twisted mercilessly. When his hand reached between their bodies to circle her clit, she cried out and bucked against him wanting more, needing more.