Free The Circle by Stella Berkley Page A

,” I thought at him. “ Will we be alone…you know…when it happens? Whatever it is.”
    His finger traced the edge of the window next to him, his eyes following their path. If he’d heard me, it didn’t show.
    “Will I have to greet Malachi?” My hands clamped onto the upholstery on either side of my knees. I hated that Devin’s master could affect me the way he did and cause a dark titillation capable of making me lose control if I allowed it. Would his touch affect my marks the way Devin’s did?
    Stifling a shudder, I leaned forward and begged Devin with my eyes for an answer. My mouth opened, but I closed it again. I wanted to reach for him. My hand even made it a few inches toward his knee before I pulled back. He’d asked me if I trusted him, and I did. I only needed to relax and allow him to take care of me as he promised, to lead me toward a sexual awakening I needed like air.
    A new calm eased the tightness across my shoulders and my grip on the seat. I could be patient. I would be patient if he could teach me more, take me deeper into whatever reality he spoke of that waited beyond the climax we would soon share.
    Eyes closed, I concentrated on my heart to slow its rapid pace. My thighs, slick with my arousal, slid against one another as I squirmed under the throbbing heat within. The vibrations from the car only made matters worse, tickling my backside and teasing my aching clit.
    Something touched my cheek. A tiny scream burst from my lips as my eyes flew open to Devin on the seat beside me.
    “Forgive me, I didn’t mean to startle you. You looked so peaceful it pains me to disturb you.”
    After swallowing the giant lump in my throat, I nodded and patted my chest. “Have we arrived?”
    “We have.” He slid two fingers over the top of my hand, flipped it over in a gentle motion, and brought my wrist near his lips. His cool breath fanned across my mark, sending a zing over my stiff nipples and across my belly. “You have impressed me tonight, Katharine, and I don’t impress easily.”
    My brows knitted together. “Why?”
    “I’ve been hard on you, and in the grips of such need and uncertainty, I’m surprised you’re showing such restraint.”
    Intense joy bloomed in my center at his approval. Tingles rose to the surface of my skin.
    He opened the door, took my hand, and we exited the car. His fingers brushed a stray lock of hair from my cheek and tucked it behind my ear. “Tonight you will understand everything, my love. We will be as one. One mind. One soul. One pleasure beyond anything either of us has ever known. I’ve been waiting so long for you.”
    I gasped under his intense stare while it invaded me like a siren’s song. Every part of me screamed out its approval, that I was his and my wait would soon end. Somehow I’d been waiting for him, too, even though I’d never been consciously aware of it.
    His mouth sought mine, lips and tongue locked in a moist embrace. I found a tender promise in that kiss. If we would be together, then I would endure any discomfort. I would wait lifetimes if that’s what it took. In that moment, I finally understood addiction in its rawest, most viral form. Beneath the fear my revelation sparked in my gut. Excitement sent tremors through me in rolling waves.
    “Come, we mustn’t be late.” When Devin released me, he held out his arm. “Our game has now begun. I am your Dom, and you are mine. Do not speak without permission, and obey me no matter what I ask of you.”
    Uncertain if my legs would carry me anywhere, I slipped my shaking hand over the crook of his elbow and concentrated on putting one foot in front of the other. Would I wake up and regret meeting him one day? Wind up in rehab because I couldn’t function without Devin’s touch? A frantic giggle slipped out before I could catch it as I imagined how the therapy sessions would go: “Yeah, I’m addicted to sex and blood play with an immortal .” I’d be committed for