Prologue
Valencia Fabelle clung to Dameon LeBeau’s shoulders, not ready for the night to end. Obviously sensing her distress, he ran a soothing hand down her spine.
“Two days, chérie. Just two more days and you will be mine forever.”
Valencia buried her face against his neck, relishing the words, the husky sound of his voice, his strength. He was everything she’d ever wanted in a man, a lover, a mate. Strong on the outside, gentle inside, protective and caring. The fact that they were equally matched in look, wealth and passion made their union perfect.
She hadn’t expected to fall for the man her coven had betrothed her to but fallen she had. Hard, completely, wholly to the point she couldn’t stand being separated from him for a single moment. But it was time to part again and she would spend the next two days thinking of him and their future together.
She angled her lips toward his ear so he’d get the full effect of her words.
“I’m already yours. I always have been. I always will be.”
A tremor ran through his body and into hers. She closed her eyes, memorizing the feel of his hips pressed against her and the way his fingers tightened around her waist. No matter how old she got, she wanted to remember these precious moments where they were just Valencia and Dameon. Lovers.
In love.
He was her everything. Her breath, her blood, her salvation, her heart.
“I don’t want to let you go,” he whispered into the crook of her neck and his arms tightened around her back like unbreakable leather stirrups.
“So don’t. I can stay here until the wedding.”
His body’s response indicated that he liked her suggestion. “What am I going to do with you, Val-dear? You make it so I cannot think straight.”
His honest words seduced her and she couldn’t help but fall further, deeper in love. “That makes two of us.”
She could stay locked like this forever, away from the world. Their little sphere was safe, quiet, and theirs alone. Here the world and their covens didn’t intrude. Didn’t even know that they’d been silently meeting over the last few months.
Their betrothal had come as a shock and their first meeting, anything but smooth. But now, now she couldn’t wait to become his wife. To seal their fates publicly as they already had privately.
He sighed and eased back. As his arms loosened, she wanted to protest but she didn’t. Dameon would never respect a clinging, silly sort of woman. Even though that’s exactly what he’d turned her into.
The fire he’d once admired as backbone and strength had turned into a raging passion, a desire so deep she didn’t think she’d ever surface again.
“Two days,” he murmured.
He cupped her face between his hands and stared hard. There was a wealth of emotion in his blue gaze: love, longing, pride, happiness, impatience. She traced a thumb along his jaw and tucked her other hand against his heart.
“Two days and I will finally sink my fangs into your beautiful neck and taste you.”
Her lips parted on a sigh and he groaned. A delicious shiver raced over her skin just before he claimed her lips. Even though he was only a few years older, he was a master at seduction. Taking everything she had to give and stealing more.
As usual, time stood still as he drank from her lips. Giving, taking until they were both short of breath and moving against each other like waves on a shore. Damn the restrictive dress. She needed more, needed him, skin against skin.
They could solve this.
She trailed her lips down his jaw to the hollow of his throat. “Let’s run away. We can get married in the chapel before the sun comes up.”
He groaned again.
“You are to be the death of me, chérie.”
“Then we will die together.” She kissed the edge of his mouth, awaiting his answer. Fully expecting him to take her hand and rush off to the chapel, to make them one.
“What about our families?”
The wedding was planned. The guests had arrived. The union would take place as planned, she knew. Their marriage was to end the fighting, the death, and the chaos.
“We get married again as planned.”
He tipped his forehead against hers. “You tempt me beyond words.”
“So follow through. Let’s—”
She quieted at his soft curse. Pulling back another fraction she saw what set him off. They’d taken longer than they’d meant to, to say good-bye. The sun was rising.
He jerked her against his body, slanted a firm kiss across her lips and then stepped away. Even as he was retreating, he made sure she didn’t fall. That was the kind of man he was; careful even as he was being a little reckless.
As his hand dropped away from her cheek, he blew her a kiss. “Until tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow,” she repeated softly and they both flashed.
★ ★ ★
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Three hundred years ago their covens arranged for them to wed, hoping to end the infighting. He was strong willed and she was hot headed. Their love was instantaneous and passionate. But the night before their wedding, Valencia heard him utter the words that would shatter her heart and send her running.
Now, all these years later, they come face to face at a masked ball at Mystic Isle. Her memory is long and she’ll never forget his betrayal…no matter how much her body might crave his touch now.
He has his work cut out for him where she’s concerned and only four days left to change her mind. His thirst for her is undeniable. Luckily, he has in his possession the one thing she’s always wanted but never been able to possess.