Even from their distance, she heard Jax's moan of pleasure. The sound jarred Rose all the way to her toes. She'd never seen or heard anything more arousing in her life.

Taking a deep breath, she nodded. "Okay, I'm ready now."

"Are you sure?" Duncan asked.

She squeezed his thighs once more to let him know she could handle it.

Rose gasped at the onslaught of emotions that began flowing through her. She felt Ian's fangs in her neck, the intense pleasure Jax experienced from his bite. Rose's hips rocked and her lower stomach muscles bunched as she experienced a slight fluttering within her own walls as Jax began to climax.

Rose gritted her teeth at the sensations rocking through her, but she maintained control. Barely.

Then Jax bit Ian's neck and Rose felt Duncan tense behind her. She heard his deep groan, felt his desire spike. Rose used her own powers to intervene, cutting off the flow of emotions between the brothers. Duncan would only experience that kind of pleasure with her.

She turned halfway in his arms, her voice trembling. "All I ever wanted was to hear you say you loved me. Just once."

Surprise lit Duncan's amber gaze. He cupped her face. "How could you question it, Rose? I love you more than life itself. You are everything I want in a mate, my match in all ways."

Rose gave him a sheepish smile. "Sometimes it's nice hear it...to be certain."

Duncan's gaze searched her face, his golden eyes turning tender. "I thought that constant control meant I was strong. That if I didn't show my emotions, no one could ever hurt me. What I've learned is the strongest men don't fear letting their emotions show." He gave her a devastating smile. "In case you're wondering...now I'm seducing your heart. Ta gra agam duit, Roisin. That means, 'I love you'. Your Irish lessons will start tomorrow," he finished with a wink.

Rose wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him, speaking in his mind, I love you too, with all my heart. You are my one true mate.

Duncan kissed her hard on the mouth, then handed her the tank top he'd pulled off earlier. "Let's go."

Rose grinned at his serious expression. Excitement shot through her as she faced forward, shrugged into her top and grabbed her helmet. Placing the helmet on her head, she asked, Where to now?

Duncan put his helmet on and clasped her waist. To my place in town.

A chill shot down her spine at the knowledge he wanted to take her home. Excitement made her hands shake and her heart rate elevate as she started the bike.

Rose didn't know what to expect when she entered Duncan's home. While Duncan shut the front door, she took in the contemporary decor. The black furniture and chrome accents made his place appear cool to her, untouchable, at a distance-like the image Duncan showed the world.

He wrapped his arms around her waist from behind. Nuzzling her neck, he whispered, "You bring life to my place."

She glanced up at him. "I admit I like your other home better. It has a cozier feel."

"That's my getaway house. That house no one sees but Ian and me."

Rose smiled at the pride in his voice. "You picked out all the furniture at that house, didn't you?"

Duncan moved his hands to her thighs and laid a kiss on her neck, mumbling, "Mmmm-hmmm."

Shivers shot down her body when he laid his hand on her lower belly and pushed her backward at the same time he nudged his erection against her rear end.

While he nipped at her shoulder, Duncan waved his hand and the fireplace in front of the leather sofa and chair came on.

When the flames roared to life, Rose teased, "It's a bit warm outside for a fire."

She watched in amusement as Duncan flicked his wrist near the wall beside him and she saw the digital readout on the thermostat go all the way down. When the air conditioning kicked on, his husky voice entered her head.

I want that night by the fire, Rose. The one we should've had together.

Rose remembered how that night ended, how sexually frustrated she'd been. She'd been so desperate to maintain control.

She turned in his arms and wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing her hips against his. "You think you can handle the flood of emotions that'll be coming your way, a ghra?"

Duncan's amber gaze burned, turning darker. He gave her a cocky smile and grabbed her rear, yanking her close. Rocking his hips against hers, he said, "I'm looking forward to the onslaught."

Rose's heart beat harder when Duncan pressed his lips against her neck, his voice a husky purr against her skin. "I smell your blood under your sweet skin. I hear it rushing through your veins." He nipped at her neck. "How much do you want it?"

Rose lowered her lips to his cheek, then ran her tongue along the five o'clock shadow that had formed on his jaw, enjoying the rough texture. She clasped his hard erection through his leather pants at the same time she nipped at his neck. "How bad do you want it?" she responded in her sexiest voice.

Duncan growled low in his throat and walked her back against the side wall. As his mouth descended to hers, Duncan's fingers dug into her hips, his hold tight, possessive. Rose reveled in the controlled urgency that emanated from him when his lips covered hers in a hungry kiss.

He pushed her miniskirt up her hips then slowly rocked his erection against her sex. Rose felt his heat through their clothes and her pulse skipped to a faster beat. Blood rushed to her sex, making it throb.

When he thrust his tongue against hers, she wrapped her arms tighter around his neck, returning his intemperate kiss. With deliberate movements, his hands slid past her underwear to cup her bare cheeks. The sensation of his fingers massaging her ass made Rose moan in anticipation.

Duncan's fingers flexed on her soft skin, then he swiftly lifted her in his arms. He ground his cock against her entrance through their clothes, then groaned into her mouth as he spoke in her mind, I'm so damned horny. You make me ache, I want you so much.

Their heated breathing mingled as she nipped at his lower lip, replying, I've never wanted to be taken so bad in my life.

Duncan turned and carried her over to the rug by the fireplace. Setting her down on her feet, he lifted his shirt over his head and tossed it on the floor. Rose began to pant as she kicked off her shoes and unzipped her skirt, pushing it and her underwear down to the floor.

As Duncan lifted her shirt over her head, she stepped out of the pool of clothes at her feet and moved them out of the way with her foot.

Duncan slipped his boots, pants and underwear off, then straightened to face her, an intense expression on his face.

The fire's flickering light highlighted the dips and hollows of his muscular chest, but the flames' reflection off the silver necklace on his neck drew her attention.

"This is new." She lifted the coin-like medallion that hung on the necklace in her hand. She ran her finger along the flat circle of silver. It was a couple of inches in diameter with black tick-marks along the edges. They were similar to the ones on the outer edge of her mother's locket.

Duncan stepped close and reached around her neck to remove her mother's necklace. Rose stared at him in confusion as he laid her mother's locket down on the coffee table.

"Duncan, I don't under-" But she gasped, cutting herself off when Duncan dangled another silver necklace in between them.

Rose lifted the charm hanging from it to see it was a Celtic trinity knot. It had similar tick marks along the smooth circular edge surrounding the knot.

Duncan hooked the necklace around her neck, then lifted her chin so she met his serious gaze. "I had these made while we were in Ireland."

Sliding his fingers along the cool chain that dangled in the hollow between her breasts, he lifted her charm and placed the trinity knot from her necklace on top of his medallion.

Rose's heart hammered as he turned the knot until the markings along the edges perfectly lined up with the markings on hers. She jerked her gaze to his as he continued, "I want to be the only man in your life, the only Guardian you'll ever need."

Tears filled her eyes as she clasped the two charms together in a tight fist. Her heart thudding against her chest, she said, "I know you said the markings were Ogham. What do they say?"

Duncan turned her tight fist over and placed a kiss on her wrist, his amber gaze full of love. "It says, 'I love you'."

Deep emotion rushed forth, stopping in her throat. Rose couldn't speak. I love you, too, she replied as she wrapped her hand around his erection and ran her thumb across the plum tip.

Duncan groaned and let go of her hand to kiss her neck.

Rose released the necklaces and bent her knees as she trailed kisses down Duncan's sculpted chest and hard stomach.

Then she licked his cock all the way around, her method slow and thorough. Duncan slid the rubber band out of her hair. He fisted his hands in the mass and rocked his hips as she took his erection deep inside her mouth.

"The next time we do this, I'm buying some ice cream," he breathed out, his fingers digging into her scalp.

Rose swirled her tongue around the ridge under the tip of his cock and Duncan growled, his hips moving faster.

Putting his hands on her shoulders, he pulled her away from his cock then tugged her to the floor with him. Rose sat down facing Duncan.

The firelight reflected off his burnt amber gaze as he traced his fingers down the chain around her neck. His hungry gaze followed the seductive trail his fingers took.

Duncan lifted her hands, kissed one palm and then the other and set them on the carpet beside her hips.

"Don't move them."

Rose chuckled, remembering the last time he did this to her. Her eyebrow elevated. "Do I have a choice this time?"

You had a choice that night, too. He smiled, displaying his fangs. The sight made her heart pump faster.

Rose sat with her hands by her sides waiting with bated breath to see Duncan's plan.

The air conditioning was doing its job. The room felt cool around them, but the fire's warmth penetrated her skin as well as the flame of pent-up desire burning within her.

Duncan bent her knees and put her feet flat on the floor, then crawled on hands and knees between her legs and over her body. The hungry look on his face was intense and so full of desire her body ached for his touch.

He put his hands flat on the floor beside hers, his mouth a breath away from her lips. Placing a kiss on her jaw, he spoke in her mind. Tilt your head back. I want to see that gorgeous long hair touching the floor.

Rose's breathing turned shallow at his request. She closed her eyes and obeyed.

"More," he said, his voice gentle, yet demanding. Her stomach clenched in anticipation as she moved her hips forward slightly and arched her back, leaning her head back farther.

Rose gasped when she felt his stubble graze the insides of her breasts. He planted a kiss on her charm as he spoke in her mind. Mine to protect.

Then his lips moved to her nipple, sucking hard. Mine to take.

The ache between her legs turned to a burning throb when she felt an openmouthed kiss on her sex. Mine to love.

Rose whimpered.

Then she felt Duncan move along her body until his teeth clamped on her throat and his cock pressed against her wet entrance. And mine to mate, he finished in a determined tone in her head. She felt his strong, yet loving presence in her consciousness, waiting outside her mind for her to let him in.

Rose's arms began to tremble. She felt so much love for this man, she couldn't contain it any longer.

She wrapped her arms around his neck and clasped him to her, lowering them to the floor at the same time she let down her mental barriers, allowing him free rein inside her mind.

She felt Duncan tense at the emotional onslaught that flooded his way. His hips jerked forward and he spoke in her mind, his tone barely in control.

I-I can't hold back...wanted to take it slow.

I don't want you to, she replied. I want you out of control, Duncan. Rose lifted her hips, relishing his forceful thrust. She keened her pleasure when Duncan's fangs sank deep into her neck. He groaned and began to suck hard on her throat as he withdrew and pistoned inside her once more.

Rose moved her hands to his rear, clasping the hard flesh to pull him deeper.

Her heart pounded at the sensations running through her, the white-hot energy that seemed to flow between them, zinging back and forth as her impending orgasm built. As she came, she forced heat to her center and below, groaning at the molten sensations vibrating in her core. Wave after wave of pleasurable sensations rippled through her, making her gasp at the intensity.

"Holyfuckingshit!" Duncan hissed out as he withdrew his fangs. He rammed his cock deeper inside her again and again as if he wanted to brand her his very own.

When her climax stopped, Rose rolled them over and pulled herself off Duncan's erection. His eyes darkened and his breathing came out in harsh bellows as she sat on his stomach and shoved his shoulders down on the floor.

Rose gave him the sexiest "fuck me" look he'd ever seen as she lifted up on her knees and rubbed her sex against the head of his cock, teasing him with her heat.

Duncan dug his fingers into her hips. Take me as deep as you can, he whispered.

Rose leaned down and kissed his mouth, rocking her hips. The tip of his cock entered her and Duncan thought he was going to explode. Then she grasped his shoulders and shoved all the way down on his cock, surrounding him in her slick, warm channel.

Duncan's hips jerked and he gritted his teeth to hold back his orgasm. Rose pulled off him once more, cock-teasing him with her wet lips as she rubbed against his erection.

Rose, he warned, clenching his jaw at the same time he moved his fingers to her rear and palmed the soft flesh. His fingers inched closer between her cheeks as he applied pressure to that sensitive spot between her entrance and her anus. Duncan relished her moan of passion and the sound of her heart rate stuttering. She wanted him.

Rose pulled him to a seated position and ran her tongue up his neck. Duncan stared into her aqua gaze as he cupped her sexy ass and guided her sweet body right over his cock. Then Rose sank down on him again, groaning in ecstasy. His shoulders tensed as he felt her muscles clenching around him in the throes of her second climax.

A deep growl vibrated within his chest. He expelled the breath he'd been holding in a long, low groan as Rose slowed her rocking movements to whisper in his ear.

"Is this what you want, a ghra?" she panted out right before she sank her fangs into his neck.

Duncan had never felt anything more erotic than Rose clamping her teeth on his throat.

He rolled them over and began to shaft his Anima to the rhythm of her long, hard sucking draws as she fed from him. With each swallow she took, his heart swelled and his groin tightened. Gritting his teeth, he purposefully slowed his thrusts, wanting his arousal to build to an even higher pitch, to make it an explosive union.

When Rose grabbed the back of his neck and pulled him closer as she sank her fangs even deeper, he almost lost control. But he held on until he felt her walls clenching his cock once more. Feeling her orgasm was all it took to send him over the edge. Duncan roared through his own soul-deep climax. He relished all the sensory sensations hammering through him as he rammed his cock into Rose harder, faster, deeper than he ever had.

As much as he'd fantasized about Rose and him together, nothing could have prepared him for the reality of a full vampire mating with a woman he loved. He'd never get enough of this...of Rose taking his blood.

When he was finally spent, he realized she still had her fangs embedded deep in his neck. Roisin? he asked.

Shhhh, she spoke in his mind, her heart hammering beneath his. Let me enjoy the sensation a little longer. It feels so primal.

Duncan chuckled, then jerked his hips against her, thrusting deep once more. And this doesn't?

Rose withdrew her fangs and laved his wound closed. She laughed. "Is that 'male satisfaction' I hear in your voice?"

Duncan kissed her long and hard, tangling his tongue with hers. Damn right, baby.