The sky grew slowly darker as thick, almost black clouds drifted quickly across it. Lillyanna put her hands flat against the mud underneath her and controlled the trees either side, bending them until they met in the middle. The sky rumbled and the sound of rain hitting the leaves of the surrounding trees echoed around the swamp.

“Lilly?”

“It’s natural, Jack—nothing to do with me.” Lillyanna sat up and glanced at Jack over her shoulder. She smiled when she saw he was topless and wet from the rain. And instantly grew hungry for his touch when she watched rivulets of water run down his muscled body, disappearing beneath his lose-fitted jeans.

Jack glanced up at the trees shielding her from the rain. “With your mood swings lately, you can’t blame me for pointing the finger.”

Lillyanna averted her gaze and hugged her knees to her chest. It had been a month since they had finally become intimate, and they’d decided to get their own place instead of living in the swamp with the vampires, but she’d had a hard time keeping her emotions in check and they’d been forced to stay in the swamp while she grew ill with a fever. A few weeks later, she’d lost control of her powers when she got angry for no reason and nearly blew up the swamp. Even Conner, who was so in tune with her, couldn’t keep her calm.

And no one could figure out what caused the mood swings.

Just over three months later, Lillyanna had found out. She knew what caused her to melt down every now and then, what stopped her from controlling her emotions, but she was unwilling to share it with anyone yet. Not even Jack. It had put a strain on their new relationship because he knew she was hiding something.

She glanced up as Jack neared and the trees groaned as they swung back to their original position. Rain pounded against her hard, the cold making her gasp loudly and shake.

“Lilly, why can’t you just tell me?”

I can’t, because our relationship will end instantly. I want to hold on for as long as I can.

Jack turned her around, pulled her close and searched her eyes. “Tell me.”

“I can’t,” she whispered. Thunder rumbled in the sky as her emotions rose. Once again, she was helpless to keep it down and in check. She could feel power taking control.

Power that was not hers to command.

She shook her head when Jack tightened his hold on her arms and felt her tears mix with the rain. “Don’t. Please, just don’t.”

“I thought you could trust me?” He sounded hurt, and that caused her emotions to rise even faster, as well as her breathing.

Feeling a panic attack coming, she grabbed Jack’s hair and pulled him closer until their lips met. He was the only one who could calm her enough not to blow anything up, but she needed to stop having the conversation first.

Jack responded instantly, gripping her tightly and slipping his tongue into her mouth. She moaned when he pushed her back and ran his hands over her body, easily ripping her thin, wet clothes. Her nipples were already hard, but when he ran his lips down her neck and over one of her nipples, they tightened even more, sending an aching pleasure shooting through her.

Arching to meet his lips, she wrapped her legs around him and gripped his hair tightly. The rain pounded against her face but she didn’t care when Jack moved his lips and tongue lower. She tightened her legs, wanting him inside her now, but with his vampire strength, he was easily able to push her legs apart to his viewing.

Breathing heavily, he met her eyes. “You’re not going to tell me?” His fangs peeked out from under his lips.

“Jack,” she moaned, shaking with need.

He grunted, his eyes darkening, and dived between her legs. At the first touch of his tongue, fire ignited inside her, burning her and making her moan loudly. He licked her slowly, teasingly, until he had her on the edge and ready to explode. And stopped.

Lillyanna moaned at the loss.

“Will you tell me when you need to?” Slowly, he began circling her clitoris with his finger.

“Jack,” she whispered.

“Lillyanna,” he whispered seductively.

Shit. She almost came, but once again, he stopped.

He waited a few seconds before moving his finger over her again. “Will you?”

Lillyanna wasn’t sure how much torture she could stand. “Yes.”

“You won’t keep me in the dark?”

She shook her head, feeling the pleasure rising with each circle of his finger.

“Say it.”

“Jack!” She replied angrily, panting with the need to be released.

Jack smiled and, using his free hand, released himself.

Lillyanna moaned and licked her lips, unable to look away from the hard shaft sticking out close to where she wanted it. Jack truly was the ultimate tease.

“Promise me you won’t keep me in the dark, Lillyanna, and I will make you scream without a care of who can hear you.”