Free DarykCraving by Denise A. Agnew Page A

you think it is right and just.”
    Her eyes burned with raw intent, so beautiful they cut his
heart. Draconus, if only those eyes would look at him with love, with passion.
    “You have driven me mad since the first moment I laid eyes
on you, Marc Gampia.”
    “And you have vexed me until I am at a loss for words. All I
know is what I feel. All I know is that I want you and need you more than
anything or anyone in my life. If that isn’t enough for you…so be it. You must
do whatever you must do. Whatever is in your heart. I cannot demand anything
from you.”
    Her expression changed by degrees, as if sunlight first
touched her face and created a new dawn. Softness entered her eyes, her lips
parting on a sigh. Her sword lowered and slipped from her fingers. It clanged
to the floor.
    “I’m sorry,” she said so softly he almost didn’t hear. “I’m
so sorry.”
    Hardness melted from his soul. He felt renewed, light, his
body relaxing. “So am I.”
    His sword slipped from his fingers and joined hers.
    She burst into motion, throwing herself into his arms.
Without hesitation, no longer so afraid he’d scare her away, he tunneled one
hand into her unruly hair and held her as if he’d never let her go. She tilted
her chin up, her gaze locking on his. Tears swam in her eyes, and it undid him.
Still, he hesitated. He wouldn’t kiss her. Wouldn’t frighten her away again.
Whatever it took he’d resist her until—
    She cupped the back of his head and brought his mouth down
to hers.
    Fire erupted within Aknada as Marc’s mouth met hers. His
taste drew her in—clean and cool and sensual as any spice or aphrodisiac. This
kiss, oh this kiss was far different than the sweet and swift brushing of lips
years ago. His intimate embrace swept her straight into bliss. His fingers
clasped the back of her head, his arm bracketing Aknada’s waist. She couldn’t
escape him, but best of all found she didn’t wish to leave. Whatever
precautions she’d felt before had swiftly dissolved under this force called
passion.
    Oh Draconus. Yes.
    His tongue drove deep into her mouth, and the swift taking
started a firestorm in her stomach, driving away fear and uncertainty as she
met his invasion. She parried and dueled, her tongue taking him as swiftly as
he did her. She met him on equal ground, giving as much as he took, receiving everything
sweet and exciting he gave her. And by the god, he gave and gave. Her hands
plunged into his hair, for the first time feeling the silky strands coiling
around her fingers. Marc’s hard chest teased her nipples, his cock aroused
against her belly. Oh, the fact he wanted her—it felt good. Right. As it never
could have before this moment. Arousal swept her up, a firestorm of need and
emotion that had started as a flicker and exploded into a flame. His tongue
teased her senses, his single-minded attention to her needs consuming and
fueling the firestorm building between them. She’d seen so much pain, felt so
much hate and confusion—he took it all away. Here was a man she could trust,
who put his trust in her. He’d shown her so much, asked her to step up and
understand what he’d experienced the last three years without her.
    She drew away from the kiss, her breath coming quickly. His
eyes burned into hers, the ocean blue hot with need. She knew what he wanted,
and by the god, she wanted it with a ferocity that shocked her.
    He stepped away and looked around. No one watched them.
    “Do you trust me?” he asked.
    She shivered, but not from cold. Heat coiled in her belly.
“Yes. Do you trust me?”
    “I do now.” Desire sparked high in his eyes. “Your kiss says
you want me.”
    His self-assurance didn’t turn away her craving but made it
rise higher. Still, she couldn’t resist teasing him. “Do I?”
    When his eyes met hers again, she saw a question. She knew
the answer she wanted to give, and it quivered low in her stomach, a seedling
flame ready to grow.
    “Please,” she said,