I just nod, but I don't really know how to relax. A calming sensation suddenly floods through me as I stare into his soft, warm, green eyes, and I feel my body relaxing as if on its own. His lips return to mine, making the calm all the better, as he guides himself back inside me.

This time, unlike the last, his thrust is gentle, slow, and not painful at all as he slides in to my deepest point, making me gasp in pleasure instead of pain. My legs slide up around his waist, giving him more depth, and he tugs at my back as he releases a delicious breath of his own pleasure.

"Damn, you feel so fucking good," he murmurs in a hoarse tone, his body claiming mine as he pulls out slowly and then glides back in, making me greedy and desperate for more.

My nails dig into his back as I pull him to me, and he steadily quickens his pace as my hips start rising to meet his. He grunts when he starts treating me like I'm stronger than a fragile piece of glass.

His slick thrusts are still nowhere as brutal as his first delivery, and now I sort of want that. I want to feel him claiming me the way he wants to.

Deliberately holding back, he finds a gentle rhythm that still forces my whole body to tingle. If I had known how incredible this could be, I might have turned into a slut long ago.

He holds onto me with more passion than I thought possible, and each thrust pushes me closer to the edge I'm desperate to fall off of... again. I grip him tighter as something stirs in me once more, and I feel a tear slipping out for a whole new reason as I cry out happily.

He shudders inside me, filling me with his warmth, as he lets out a low moan of pleasure before collapsing to my body and pulling me into his arms.

"You okay?" he asks so sincerely while kissing my forehead.

I'm frigging awesome.

"Definitely okay," I pant out, still unable to catch my breath after that incredible release.

"Is that a little more like you expected?"

"So much better."

He lets out a huff of a laugh, and I cringe.

Crap. I didn't mean to say that out loud.

"Good. That's what I want to hear."

He lightly kisses my lips, and then he pulls me up so my face is even with his as he slides my leg across his waist.

"I wish I had upgraded the room at least," he says somewhat humorously.

I let a laugh free, and then I roll my eyes.

"Single level motels don't usually have suites."

He chuckles lightly, and then he props up while staring down at me.

"Well, I'll see about rustling us up some champagne. There's got to be a store around here."

He's intent on making this special, but he doesn't realize how incredible it already is.

"I don't want you to leave right now. Just stay here, and we can do champagne another time."

He smiles so genuinely, as if I've said something wonderful, and then he pulls me closer to him.

"I can handle that."

My lips stroll over his collarbone, and his hand slides down to grip my ass, making me want more of his delicious body inside me.

"So... belated question... how old are you?" I muse, grimacing lightly for not even knowing that much about him before he plucked all the petals from my flower.

"Twenty-five... I think."

I pull back to stare at him with an arched brow. "You think?"

He laughs and then shrugs. "I told you we party a lot. Sometimes I forget things."

I shake my head, and a stupid smile spreads across my face.

"So, why didn't you tell me?" he asks curiously.

"Tell you what?"

"That you were a virgin."

My face glows red at this point. If I could hide under the covers all day, I would. He laughs a little at my embarrassment, but he refuses to let me hide.

"I didn't think you'd believe me, for one. Like you said, we almost did this that first night you were at my house. Also, I didn't want you to treat it like it was something sacred. Either you wouldn't have done anything with me, or you would have made me wait for the 'perfect place and time.' I didn't want to wait, and I didn't want to scare you off."

He smirks, and then he kisses the top of my head.

"Well, it'd be damn near impossible for you to scare me off, but I would have liked to plan out something better than a shady motel in the middle of nowhere. I wanted to plan out something better for our first time together, actually, without even knowing you were a virgin. You're too damn irresistible though."

I try my best not to giggle, but I do a little anyway. He strokes my cheek with his thumb, and then he slides over to start kissing my neck.

"For the record, I've never been one too concerned with the place or the decorations... It's always been about the who," I murmur softly, and I feel him smiling against my neck.

"That's good to know. Do you care if I'm your who for a while?"

The goofy grin that spreads over my face is insuppressible, and he rises up with a smile of his own as his lips lightly peck mine.

"I was hoping you'd ask that," I mutter while bringing my arms up around his neck and drawing him in for a deeper kiss.

His tongue invades my mouth once again, drawing forth that explosive heat, and then his erection grazes the insides of my thighs as he parts my legs.

"I'll be gentle," he murmurs against my mouth as he starts to slide in.

"Not too gentle. I'm not so fragile anymore," I utter with a vixen's intent, and he growls in the back of his throat as he surges in a little harder, while still showing a tender touch.

Mmm.

For the first time ever, I wake up in someone's arms, and I grin as I roll over and wrap my leg around Kane's body. He smiles down at me, looking rather alert, and I let out an involuntary giggle.

"Been up long?" I muse.

"A little while. I was going to go get us some breakfast, but I didn't want you to wake up without me."

My cheeks officially hurt. Apparently, once you have sex, you can't stop smiling like a complete goof.

"I'm glad you stayed."

"Me too," he murmurs softly while kissing my forehead.

"We can go out for breakfast," I say while sitting up.

"Definitely not. I want you to wear that sheet for a little while longer. I'll go grab us something, and when I get back, I'll distract you until Frankie gives you a call."

I smile lightly, and then I feel guilty. I'm in bed with a guy, enjoying myself, and who knows where my mother is.

"Sorry. I shouldn't have said it like that," he murmurs with a grimace.

"It's fine."

His fingers slip through my hair as he pulls me to him, and his soft lips comfort me, making me feel safe and wanted.

We're suddenly jarred apart, and I scream as the door to the motel swings open. Kane has somehow already jerked me behind him, ready to keep me safe - ironically enough - but we both exhale in relief when we see it's just Frankie.

"What the hell, Frankie?" I scold.

His lips have etched up in an are-you-kidding-me grin, and I roll my eyes as I pull the sheet to my body.

"Sorry, I didn't realize you had company, and I was just going to give you a little scare. Kane, right?" he asks with a devilish grin.

"Right," Kane says with his own sheepish grin, and then he turns to me. "I'll go get us some breakfast now."

"Thanks," I murmur, my cheeks burning.

Frankie lets out a teasing chuckle as Kane kisses my cheek, and then he climbs up from the bed with nothing but his boxers on before slipping on his jeans and shirt. He gives me a quick wink and then disappears out the door.

"Really?" Frankie says once the door shuts.

I plop down and pull the pillow over my head.

"Skip the embarrassing taunts, and tell me what's going on."

"Yes, ma'am," he snickers out, and I pull my head back out from under the pillow while using my magic to dress me under the sheet.

"So, from what I can tell, Calypso isn't in Canada. Just so you know, it's hard as hell to work with night stalkers, considering they're our worst natural enemy."

"Yeah, I know, but those night stalkers saved our lives. You'd know that if you had been conscious."

"Are you sure it was them?" he asks, his face turning more serious.

"I'm sure it had to be. It's not like there's a long list of blood drinkers coming to our aide. Anyway, what else did you find out about Mom?"

"Nothing much, kiddo. Whatever they're up to, they're covering their trail pretty damn good. Thad says he has some contacts that deal with light and dark. He's going to try and get a hold of them, see if they can help us out."

"Do you think he's really on our side?" I ask while emerging from under the sheet, my body now fully clothed.

"I think he has to be, otherwise Drackus will rip him to pieces."

Ah yes. He's Drackus's errand boy. I almost forgot about that. Just because he's on my dad's payroll doesn't mean he's necessarily on our side.

"My dad has ulterior motives anytime he helps out. I think we should watch Thad and the others closely - make sure they're not playing an angle while pulling the wool over our eyes."

Frankie thinks about that for a moment, weighing my words in his head.

"True, now back to pretty boy. Why's he in Canada?"

I smile involuntarily, blushing a little as well, and then I murmur, "He showed up and surprised me last night. He said he wanted to be here for me."

Frankie doesn't seem quite as jubilant about that as I am.

"As sweet as that is, how are we supposed to operate with a human amongst us?" he asks more seriously.

I frown. I know Frankie has a good point, but I can't just send Kane away.

"I'm still working on that. In the meantime, make sure no one does anything crazy in front of him. It's not like I can come with you anyway. All I do is slow you down. The council is supposed to call me when they have more information - though their information sucks. I'll play middle man, and then help out when and where I can - now that you have real immortals helping you out."

He shivers, a look of disgust climbing over his face.

"Changers and lycans I can handle, but night stalkers... yuk. You have no idea how hard it is not to lose my magic on them."

"I know. I hate night stalkers, too, but we need their help."

"I wouldn't do this for anyone but you and your mother, by the way."

I smile, knowing Frankie is beyond in love with Mom, and then I nod.

"I know."

Just then, my door opens again, and Thad steps inside.

"Well, look who's still in the bed," he says with a seductive tone and an animalistic twinkle in his eyes.

At least I'm clothed now.

"Yeah, yeah. Hey, Thad, there's a human here, and if any of your guys-"

"Chill. I already told you we don't eat fresh meat," he says dismissively with a wave of his hand. "Does this person know about us?"

"Hell no. It's-"

Kane interrupts as he walks in holding a bag full of diner food. He stops and stares in confusion at Thad.