Read Savage Possession (Temple of Luna #1) for Free Online Page A

name, maybe just
noise. Her fingers clenched around the bedding as if it would
anchor her, keep her from losing herself in the shuddering waves of
heat that accompanied every fierce spasm.
    Rais drove into her one final time and
shouted his release. His fingers dug into her hip, holding her
close as he ground against her, riding her through both their
orgasms.
    The hand on her hip was the only thing
keeping her on her knees. Avani closed her eyes and let her cheek
rest against the rumpled sheets, unable to gather the voice to say
more than his name. “Rais.”
    He heaved a shaky sigh and rolled them both
to the bed, still joined. He brushed her hair away from her neck
and panted against her skin. “What is it, Avani?”
    She’d noticed him for years. He’d noticed
her for a day. The girl might have fooled herself into believing
their attraction was deep and lasting, but the woman knew better.
Kings did as they pleased. Loved as they pleased. A moment of
impulse now could bind her to him forever, but Rais would never be
similarly bound. Not unless he wanted to be.
    His body felt warm behind her. She couldn’t
make a foolish promise on the hope of a day of sex, but she could
enjoy the way he felt and pray the need for him would fade. So she
rubbed back against him with a quiet, contented noise. “I feel
very, very good.”
    She had to have imagined the way he tensed.
“I’m glad. You should get some sleep.” Then he kissed her neck and
slipped away.
    It was the last thing she expected to hear.
She rolled over, and her stomach twisted when she saw him reaching
for his pants. “You’re leaving?”
    “ I’d planned on making this
a short visit.” His face was inscrutable. “Have to get back as soon
as possible.”
    The high priestess had made it clear that
Rais was overdue a visit and needier than usual. Avani had been
prepared to spend several days secluded with him while he worked
out his frustration.
    She was supposed to
have time .
    He pulled on his pants, and
some tiny, terrified part of her considered the possibility that
she’d failed. She was twenty-three and still a novice, and he could
be leaving because her magic hadn’t been enough. Because her body hadn’t been enough.
It took no special skill to lie passively while a man took his
pleasure, after all.
    Her chest ached as she sat up and gathered
the blanket against her body, as if modesty would make her feel
less like a failure. “Did I--Will you be all right? If I
wasn’t...enough, you should find someone else. So you won’t be in
danger.”
    “ No, you were...” He looked
at her for a long moment, his eyes dark. Then his lips curved into
a gentle, sad smile. “You did well, little one.”
    Nothing had hurt this much in her pampered,
sheltered life. And even knowing Rais could break her heart, even
knowing it was foolish, she couldn’t stop herself. “If you were
still interested--”
    “ Stop.” He dragged his
hands through his hair. “Don’t apologize or compromise your
decisions, Avani, least of all for me.”
    Because she’d offended him beyond repair. Or
because a taste of her when the beast wasn’t in control had been
enough to kill any desire to possess her. He had his pick of women,
ones more beautiful, more talented, more innocent, more whatever he
could possibly want.
    Avani closed her eyes so she wouldn’t have
to see him leave, and tried to tell herself it was for the best. “I
hope you’ll be safe, Rais. I’ll give your regards to my uncle, and
I know my aunt is hoping you’ll favor her with a visit again
soon.”
    His silence was deafening. “Thank you for
your kindness and concern. Please tell them I’ll--I’ll see them
when I can.”
    The stilted, miserable conversation was
worse than the pain of losing him. But she’d have no one to blame
but herself if she let him go without telling him the one thing
that mattered. “I was truly blessed to have you as my first. I’ll
never forget it.” Not even if she wanted