She made use of the luceria, sending him an image of him holding their child.

The instant, potent emotional reaction that caused in him was completely unexpected. He needed what she showed him. Craved it. He hadn’t realized until now just how long he’d been rejecting the notion as impossible. Not only had there been no woman in his life, but also all of the Theronai males had been cursed with infertility. A child of his own was an impossible dream.

Until now.

“That’s right,” she said, her tone coaxing as she lifted her hips and slid back down onto him again. “Give me what we both want. Give me a child.”

She began to move in earnest, riding him with purpose. He was bathed in her slick heat, and every nerve ending was lit up with pleasure.

His hands spanned her waist, urging her on. She dug her fingernails into his chest and tossed her head back with abandon. Delightful, sexy noises echoed against the wooden walls, reminding him of just how beautiful she sounded when she came.

He needed to hear that again.

Her breasts jiggled, begging for his attention. They filled his hands perfectly, her hard little nipples grazing against his palms. He had to taste, so he rose, arched her back against his arm and drew one nipple into his mouth.

Sweet heaven, and the moan his suction pulled from her went to his head. His cock jerked inside her, demanding more.

He rolled her over onto the cushions and pulled one sleek leg over his shoulder.

She let out a sound somewhere between a sigh and a command. “More.”

With each stroke, he drew closer and closer to orgasm. His skin tingled, his balls drew up tight and sweat broke out along his spine.

If he didn’t stop her now, he was going to lose control and fill her with his seed. And why not? It’s what she wanted, what she’d begged him for. Wasn’t it?

You don’t understand. But you will.

That’s what she’d been trying to warn him about. Whatever the full moon did to her, it was artificial—some bizarre Slayer insanity that would pass. And when it did, her life could be altered forever if he didn’t protect her.

Joseph gritted his teeth and pulled his cock from her body before he lost himself in the moment and forgot what she really wanted. “I have to stop now, before I can’t.”

Lyka went berserk. She screamed in frustration and came at him, launching herself from the floor.

“You will fuck me, Theronai,” she growled.

His erection was in wholehearted agreement, but he was too busy controlling her body to give in to it.

He didn’t want to hurt her, but she was strong. It took all his combat ability to pin her to the floor without breaking bones or skin.

“You don’t really want this,” he told her, giving her a little shake.

“I need it. Please.” Her fury turned to desperation and left tears pooling in her eyes. “It hurts.”

He couldn’t stand to see her cry, see her in pain. Not his Lyka. He’d made a vow to protect her, and if that meant never coming again, then he’d find a way to do that, too, no matter what it cost him.

Her arms were pinned by her ears. His body held the rest of her down. She was squirming beneath him, but it had migrated from a way to escape to something sinuous and needy.

He didn’t dare let go of her, for fear she’d attack him again. The last thing they needed was for someone to draw blood and alert every demon for miles that there was prey up in this tree. But he also couldn’t simply hold her down for the rest of the night.

“I’m going to put you to sleep,” he told her. “Don’t fight me. Just let go. I’ve got you.”

“No. Please. Don’t leave me like this. The dreams . . .” She swallowed hard, and her pupils narrowed in fear. “The pain.”

He touched her mind just enough to get a hint of what she meant, and wished he hadn’t. Pain had been part of his world for longer than he could remember. What she suffered now was shorter in duration, but more acute. He couldn’t leave her to deal with it on her own, not when he could ease her.

She needs sex. That wasn’t exactly the kind of thing a brother would tell a man about his sister unless it was important.

Joseph wanted nothing more than to give her what she needed. All he had to do was find a way to maintain control and keep all those pesky sperm of his to himself.

She squirmed against him, grinding his hot cock against her soft belly. He nearly came right then, but managed to pull himself back from the edge.

Joseph tightened his grip on her wrists so he could hold on to her if she tried to bolt. “Spread your legs, Lyka. I’m going to make you come.”

She obeyed eagerly, writhing against him until their bodies meshed seamlessly. So fucking good. So perfect.

He closed his eyes and savored being joined to her for a moment before he put on his game face.

Joseph was a man on a mission. He used every bit of sexual skill he had to gauge her reactions and find just the way she liked it. Unfortunately, the way she liked it was also what worked for him, and he was biting his lip just to hold himself back while he pushed her toward release.

She fought against his hold, but he didn’t dare let her up. Her pupils were elongated and that feral light was glowing in the depths of her golden eyes. The animal in her was steering the ship now, and he didn’t trust her not to do something she’d regret later.

Her breathing sped and her heart pounded hard, making her pulse beat in her wrists. A pretty pink flush spread out across her face and throat. The little panting breaths she took became soft cries, wordlessly begging for more.

Both parts of the luceria sparked in the darkness. The tiny strands of lightning joined forces in a miniature display in the air between them. Pale golden slivers of heat and light spread out over their skin, caressing them with tingling energy.

She arched her body beneath his, catching and holding her breath as she did. Her pussy fluttered around him, and her abdomen clenched hard as she peaked. She cried out as her orgasm rushed through her in waves.

Joseph had never seen anything more beautiful in his life. It was so fucking sexy, he felt his balls tighten in anticipation of release. He used every technique he could think of to keep from coming right along with her. Instead he kept doing what had set her off, stroking just the right spot, nice and deep inside her.

Finally, as her body relaxed beneath his, he pulled out from her silken depths and let go of his seed, spilling it onto her soft stomach. His orgasm went on for fifty years, and by the end of it, he could barely hold up his head.