"I didn't tell you this to make you sad. The memories are painful. But what would be even more horrendous would be if I forgot them completely. Each year I memorized a new star, so I wouldn't forget. And every year I made the same plea. 'Please send me my mate. I just want someone to hold'. That's all I wanted. So even though I have lived thousands upon thousands of years, you fulfill every dream I have ever had for a mate, just by being here. Your compassion, and your blossoming love is more than I have ever wanted." He reached down and held her face between his two large hands. She had never wanted someone more in her whole life. She wanted to erase every moment of pain and replace it with one of pure pleasure.

She reached up and pulled him down by the collar of his button down shirt. She feasted on his mouth, sucking his lower lip until he groaned. Seconds later he took control. He forced her mouth open and laid his claim. He dipped and teased. He traced her lips and dominated her completely. Shaken by his urgency she felt her knees give way and he simply held her to him.

When he pulled back he was breathing hard.

"I have to stop now, or I won't be able to stop at all," he admitted. She stepped back and he let her. Smiling she pulled her shirt over her head and his eyes widened.

"Then don't stop," she whispered. She turned to walk to the bed and in an effort to be sexy tripped over her own feet and landed hard.

"Beth!" He was by her side in an instant helping her sit up.

"Just ignore me. I'll sleep in the bathtub," she mumbled, too embarrassed to look up. She licked her lip and tasted copper. She had busted her own lip open. Perfect.

"My walking disaster," he said and using his hand lifted her chin so that she was looking up at him. The second the scent of her blood hit him she saw his jaw tighten.

"Beth, go! Aiden's suite is down the hall on the left." Breathing hard he scooted away.

"Not a snowball's chance in hell. You're going to bite me again whether you like it or not. Don't think I've forgotten the pleasure you gave me earlier. That is happening again, mister." Not only was she aching for the pleasure only he could give her, she also needed to feed him. She had noticed how much better he had appeared after he fed from her that morning.

She flipped over on her back and tried to shimmy out of her jeans. When they wouldn't go down any further she began cussing as it dawned on her that she had forgotten to take her boots off. She tried to pull her jeans down over her boots but they got stuck. She tried to pull her jeans back up but they were wrapped around the rubber soles of her boots. In a growing sense of horror she realized how ridiculous she must look.

When she glanced up she watched as Gavriel's red eyes shifted back to grey. He stared at her with a shocked expression on his face. Feeling completely humiliated she covered her face with both hands.

"Don't look!" she cried.

The sound of ripping fabric had her looking down. Gavriel had simply shredded her jeans. Two seconds later he looked up, a savage expression on his face. He reached forward and her body jerked as he ripped her panties from her body. In an effort to save her favorite bra she reached around behind her before his extended claw cut away the fabric between her breasts.

"What were you saying?" he asked, crawling forward on his hands and knees.

"I don't honestly remember," she admitted.

His strong hands easily unzipped her boots and it wasn't long before he had removed both and her socks as well. Sitting in front of him on his floor as naked as the day she was born, she had never felt sexier. His eyes were flickering between the color of molten mercury and deep burgundy.

"Mine!" he growled. He placed both hands on the inside of her thighs and spread her wide. She opened her mouth to protest but nearly swallowed her tongue instead. He lowered his head and began to make love to her with his mouth. He mimicked what he had just done to her in their kiss. When two fingers speared her deeply, she cried out.

"Do that again!" she demanded.

A masculine chuckle responded. He took her clit between his teeth and curled his fingers deep inside her.

"Gods! Yes! More!" She bucked her hips. He sat up and in a blur of motion began removing his own clothing. When he knelt, his body looming over her she had a moment to look her fill. The promise of his broad shoulders under his button down shirt had been fulfilled. His entire body shifted under his skin as his muscles flexed. She wanted to lean forward and trace each muscle with her tongue but he moved with a sense of purpose.

When he was poised between her legs she thought that he would plunge deep and give them both what they were desperate for. Instead he kissed the inside of each thigh.

"Elizabeth Monroe, Fate may have chosen you for me but I ask that you choose me for yourself. Will you tie your breath, your heart, mind and soul to mine? Will you place yourself into my keeping for all eternity?"

There was no hesitation in her heart. "Yes. I want you for all time," she whispered.

"Yes!" he hissed and eased himself forward. Inch by inch he claimed her. Stretching her completely, he slowly slid past every nerve ending bringing her closer and closer to what she wanted.

Without warning he pulled back and slammed forward. Again and again he sunk himself deep, making sure that he pleased her with each thrust.

"You're mine! I'm never letting you go!" He rose up over her and struck quickly, sinking his fangs deep into her neck. Her body reacted instantly throwing her into a whirlpool of pleasure. From the most hidden recesses of her soul she felt herself lift up. She felt Gavriel's soul answer in response. It wrapped around her own protectively; even in its most primal state it sought to keep her safe. She experienced the most pure moment of her existence when for one perfect heartbeat they were completely one. A second later they were wrenched apart as their souls unwound and made their way back to their bodies, each carrying a piece of the other with it. Once back in her own body, wave after wave crashed through her. His fangs claimed her from the top down and his cock from the bottom up. He owned every inch of her. Screaming out her pleasure she rode her orgasm until she had no strength left. She let it take her over. She hung on long enough to hear his roar as he found his pleasure and to feel the warm stream of cum as it filled her. She heard the pounding at the door and didn't even care. Sighing happily, she let the darkness take her.