NocC 004 - The Ancients 03 - Bonnie Vanak - Hunted by the Jaguar - Harlequin 2011-12 Read Online Free PDF

light surrounded her in a shimmering aura. Ariana gently reached out and touched the first man, who looked pale as death.
    “Don’t lose hope,” she said softly. “Please, stay with us. Feel my strength in you.”
    One by one, she wandered among the jaguars, touching each in turn. The softness of her skin, the sweetness of her spirit stirred his men. They brightened, and looked up with shining eyes at her as if she were indeed an angel.
    Ariana was flesh and blood and bone, with a generous heart and a sweetness that stilled him. Her scent of wildflowers and spring rain intoxicated him. With each press of her delicate-boned hand upon his men’s arms, he hungered for her attention. Daimon wanted her hand upon his flesh, her gentle smile of reassurance feeding his weary spirit.
    Hearing her voice soothed the beast inside. He strained forward to catch the purity of her intonation, the soothing cadence of every syllable.
    Darkness forgotten, he yearned to sink into her arms and remain there. A different hunger seized him as he studied her rounded breasts, the way the jeans cupped her rounded hips.
    As his men stirred and looked to him, Daimon signaled for them to return to their lairs. Ariana joined him as they shifted into their cat forms, prowled across the meadow and vanished into the forest.
    “They don’t live with you?”
    “They prefer hiding in the forest and solitude as that allows them to collect their strength.” Daimon took her hand, marveling at the strength in the fragile palm, the long, slender fingers that could soothe and stroke.
    “Thank you,” he said quietly. “It means a lot to me and them.”
    He brought her hand to his lips, brushed her knuckles with a reverent kiss. But as his lips met her skin, he caught the musk of her arousal. Her eyes widened and she moistened her pink mouth.
    “Getting cold out here, better get inside,” he said roughly.
    Cold his ass. Daimon was hot as molten lava, fire eating through his veins. His little half demon was burning him with lust. His entire body tightened and responded to her stimulation. Dragging in a lungful of air, he inhaled her scent.
    Ariana followed him into the lodge’s living room. When he closed the door behind them, Daimon pounced.
    He meant to hold her, absorb her sweetness and let it wash over him. But the intense need was too great. Fisting his hand in her hair, he tipped her head back and took her mouth in a drugging kiss.
     
    The scent of her own arousal alarmed Ariana. At first she stiffened, resisting.
    Then, his tongue lazily prodded her mouth, demanding entrance. Encouraged by his need, she opened her mouth. Daimon deftly slid his tongue into her mouth with bold strokes. Passion collided with common sense.
    Sex was a bad idea.
    But it felt so good.
    Daimon stroked her thin shoulders with a frown. “You’re undernourished. I must fatten you up.”
    “Like the fatted lamb? A sacrifice for you?”
    He regarded her with a heavy-lidded gaze. “We all sacrifice something, sunshine. You gave me your virginity. And after you did, I gave you a chance to leave without following my instincts and hauling your sweet ass back to warm my bed.”
    Unbuttoning her shirt, he unclasped the bra and pulled both aside, baring her breasts. A flush rose from her throat to her flaming cheeks. A tide of warm air caressed her breasts, the nipples growing rosy and hard little peaks. Daimon cupped them, his gaze fierce. He flicked his thumbs over the cresting peaks. Ariana threw her head back on a low moan. The hot throbbing intensified. It felt like he stroked between her legs with each slow stroke.
    “Remember?” He bent his head, gently bit her earlobe. “Remember how good I made you feel? Even that first time. This time will be much better.”
    Daimon fastened his mouth about a rosy nipple. The soft suckling increased a sharp ache between her legs. Blood thrummed in her veins, sang with wanton need.
    His tongue flicked over the cresting hardness, and