"I tried," Gabriel muttered, then he was kissing her again. Alex sighed, revelling in the feelings that coursed through her body. Her plans to flee evaporated as he pulled her sweater over her head and pushed the thin straps of her camisole down her arms.

"So beautiful," he murmured against her skin. Her shirt fell to the floor, closely followed by her bra and jeans. She was almost naked now. His hot gaze travelled the length of her before he picked her up in his arms.

"Gabriel?" She questioned, but he just kissed her in response and walked into the bedroom.

The bedside lamp cast a dim light across the king sized bed. Gabriel laid her down, then stepped back to remove his own clothes. Alex took in his broad chest, the grooves around his abs, his muscular legs...she sucked in her breath doubt filling her at the sheer size of him.

He lay down beside her, his movements slower than they had been before, "There's nothing to be scared of." His fingers circled her breasts lightly, her nipples tightening in reaction. The pleasure was sweet, but she was still nervous. How was that meant to fit?

Gabriel's eyes flew to her face, a crooked smile on his lips, "It will fit, baby, don't worry."

How the hell had he guessed what she was thinking? Alex suddenly remembered something he had said to Bertie back at Lupus Corp: I can't read her. With a sinking feeling she narrowed her eyes at him, "Are you reading my mind?"

"Yes," he bent, taking her breast in his mouth and sucking hard.

"Ah," she couldn't help the moan that burst from her lips as pleasure shot to the moist place between her legs. Wait, no, he was reading her mind? Did he always do that? Pleasure warred with panic until Gabriel lifted her hands above her head and looked down at her face.

"I can't normally read you, Alex. Only when you let me in. When you let yourself go, like you are doing now."

So she could stop him? Alex pulled herself together, trying to regain control.

"No, baby, don't push me out," Gabriel pleaded, kissing her again. "Let me hear you. I want to know what makes you feel good."

His fingers drifted lower, leaving a trail of goosebumps in their wake. He caught her gasp with his mouth as his fingers found her slick folds.

"Gabriel," she moaned, releasing her hold on her thoughts. More. She wanted more of him, of his kisses, of his fingers. He matched her desires, stroking her tongue with his own as one of his fingers pushed into her.

"Ah," she turned her head to the side, needing air. Gabriel moved back to her breasts, licking and sucking as he moved his finger out. Alex grabbed at his hair as a strange sensation began to build inside her. "Gabriel?" Her hips were moving of their own accord towards something she didn't understand.

"Let go, baby," Gabriel whispered in her ear, adding a second finger to his ministrations, "Just let yourself go."

She grabbed his shoulders, squeezing as her senses exploded. Gabriel moved his fingers deeper, holding her as she came apart.

Alex opened her eyes a few moments later, unable to recall when she had closed them. Her body felt light and there was a hot wetness between her legs. She looked up at Gabriel who gave her a strained smile.

Was he in pain? "What's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong," he pushed her hair from her forehead, kissing her nose with affection.

She put her hands on his hard chest, frowning up at him, "Let me feel you."

"Alex-" he began, but she cut him off.

"You've given me so much pleasure, but why do you look hurt?" She ran her hands down his shoulders, feeling his muscles ripple under her fingertips, "It's not fair, Gabriel. Let me take your pain."

"You're innocence is going to be the end of me," Gabriel muttered, putting his forehead to hers. "I promise, I'm not in pain. I need release, that's all."

"Then take it!" Alex said, not understanding why he was hesitating. "Didn't you tell me to let go? So, let go!"

Gabriel laughed, then kissed her lips gently, "If I take you now, it will not last long." He took one of her nipples between his fingers, rubbing. "And I want you to climax again when I make you mine."

She blushed at the blunt way he was speaking, making him chuckle.

Suddenly a dark thought broke through her haze of languor and Alex pushed at his shoulders to put some space between them. "When you say 'make you mine', this won't... you're not turning me, right? I don't want to turn, Gabriel, I won't."

"Calm, sweetheart, what we are doing can't turn you." Gabriel stroked her hair, his eyes serious as he willed her to believe his words.

"Really?"

"You have to drink my blood to complete the turning," he squeezed her breast, watching her eyes grow dark with a smirk. "What we are doing now will only give you pleasure."

The tension drained out of her shoulders as she watched him lower his mouth to hers, His lips soft but firm, claiming her lips in a delicious kiss. She trusted Gabriel, trusted he wouldn't lie to her. Perhaps it was stupid, but she felt it somewhere deep inside, that he would not hurt her.

"Tell me," she said when he leaned back. "How can I make you...feel like I did?"

He smiled at the blush that crept into her cheeks, "You don't have to do anything, baby. Just let me take care of you."

But she wanted to make him feel good. Maybe if she followed his lead... Alex slid her hand down his chest and over his waste. Gabriel held still, a question on his face as she reached lower until she was touching him gently. He twitched under her fingers, his silky smooth length, hot and hard under her fingers. Biting her lip, she took him in her hand and squeezed gently, loving the way he moaned in response. "You're so hard, Gabriel. It doesn't hurt, right?" She moved her hand down the length of him, then back up.

"Hurt? No, love, you're killing me," Gabriel groaned and yanked her hand back up to her side. Then he settled his waist between her legs and kissed her breathless. Then his fingers were back at her core, stroking her until her breathing turned heavy once more. When Alex leaned her head back with a moan, Gabriel shifted and suddenly there was a thick hardness pressed at her entrance.

"Gabriel," she sighed his name as he pushed forward slowly, stretching her. It felt good, so good.

"So tight," he growled, pulling himself out, then pushing in again, slowly. Alex felt him come up against something deep inside her, then retreat once more. His back muscles were tense under her fingers as he continued to push in and out, over and over driving her mad. She was almost there, almost at the edge, if only he would speed up...

"Faster," she begged, not knowing what exactly she was asking for. "Gabriel, please."

That seemed to break the last shred of his self control. With a low growl, Gabriel pushed all the way in, tearing the barrier inside her and sending a burning sensation across her body that lasted all of two seconds.

"I'm sorry," his voice was hoarse as he held himself still. "It won't hurt again, I promise."

Alex blinked up at the man whose eyes were closed tight, his arms shaking with the effort he was exerting not to move.

"Gabriel?"

"Just give me a moment."

"Why?" She asked, puzzled.

"Why?" He laughed, opening his eyes. "I'm trying to give you time to adjust to my size."

He was trying to protect her again? Something inside her warmed. "Alright," Alex smiled, pressing her feet into the bed. "You can hold still and I'll take charge." She tipped her hips until he slid part of the way out, then pushed back down in one greedy move. Pleasure shot through her, so much stronger than when he had played with her with his fingers. "Mmm."

"Alex!" Gabriel grabbed her hips to stop her. "Wait!"

"Why?" She asked again, pushing against his hands. "Didn't you say you wanted to watch me climax?"

"It doesn't hurt?" He looked at her with surprise. Then reading the truth for himself, he pushed himself all the way into her heat. "You want this?"

Alex groaned first in pleasure, then with a sense of loss. He was pulling out, almost too far. "No," she whispered , frustrated. She reached around him with her legs, trying to pull him back, but Gabriel was having none of it.

"Please!" Why was he making her beg?

"Say you won't leave," he commanded.

"I won't leave," she said the words readily. She didn't want to leave.

He thrust hard, pushing her further to the edge. "Say you're mine."

"No." No matter what, she belonged to no one.

Gabriel growled, thrusting into her over and over again. She was almost there when he leaned down to her ear, "Turned or not, you are mine Alex."

Alex could only hang onto him as he increased the pace and they both exploded with pleasure.