And that was her fault. He had been so busy worrying and watching over her that he had not been taking care of himself. Guilt tugged at Cassie as she became even more desperate to be the one to ease his torment.
Grasping his head, Cassie knew she would have to make the first move here. He would not go forth otherwise. Gently guiding his head down, she turned her head to allow him better access to her neck. He hesitated for a moment, his mouth hot against her skin. His body stiffened against hers once more. Cassie’s heart thumped loudly in anticipation, each beat pounded like a drum in her ears.
She waited breathlessly; scared to move for fear he would pull away. Then, with a small moan, he brushed his lips lightly against the tender skin of her neck. Cassie’s hands tightened in his hair as she felt the fluttering brush of his fangs. Another light kiss stroked over her, and then he struck.
Cassie arched off the bed, a small gasp of pain escaping as her hands clenched upon him. His hand entangled lightly in her hair, pulling her head back as he sank deeper, drinking forcefully in long, greedy gulps. His other arm locked firmly around her waist, pulling her against him. Cassie groaned, falling back upon the bed, turning her head to the side as the pain faded away and pleasure rushed forward to engulf her in waves that left her breathless and limp. Her tight grip eased on him as she became suffused in a world of ecstasy and pleasure.
It took her a moment to realize that it was his pleasure she was feeling. It surrounded her, wrapping her within a tight cocoon of warmth and need. His love consumed her, swallowing her completely. It was so true, so pure that it robbed all logical thought from her. It pounded against her, over her, through her. It ended all her doubts, and any lack of self confidence she had ever experienced in his presence.
She suddenly saw herself through his eyes, and to him she was beautiful, loving; strong. He knew that she was not perfect, and he loved her even more for her faults, accepting every one of them. However there was nothing about her that he would change, or would even think about changing. Tears burned her eyes as her heart swelled, feeling as if it were going to burst with joy.
She could also feel his hunger. The thirst that was constantly with him, that plagued him at all times. The battle he fought with himself constantly, especially around her, to maintain control of his murderous instincts. The depth of his need and want for her was staggering. It shook her thoroughly. And something she had never thought could be possible began to happen, her love for him grew. The control it took for him to be around her was far more than she ever could have imagined, and she loved him even more for his ability, and desire, to do so.
Cassie tried desperately to relay her own pleasure and love to him, praying fervently that it reached him as easily as his reached her. She held him tighter, cradling him against her, unaware of the tears of joy and love that slid down her face. “I love you,” she whispered over and over, just in case her thoughts were not reaching him, she wanted her words too.
Even when he bit deeper, harder, she felt no fear. She simply allowed herself to drift inside of his love, gratification, and delight. Her fingers curled tighter into his hair, pulling him closer to her. Though she knew he could kill her, she didn’t want this to ever end, and there was no fear that he would do so. This bond was so intimate and wonderful that she never wanted it to stop.
He broke away suddenly, shaking as his head dropped onto her shoulder. Cassie stroked him gently, trying to ease the tremors wracking him. Though he was no longer feeding upon her, she was surprised to realize that the bond had not been broken. His emotions still thrummed against her, his love still enveloped her.
“I’m fine,” she said in response to the worry she felt pouring from him. He lifted his head slowly, turning toward her. His eyes gleamed as they rapidly scanned her face, trying to assure himself that she was not lying to him. More power than she had ever seen radiated from him. A jolt of satisfaction and pleasure filled her at the realization that it was her blood that had caused the influx of power in him. “Did you take enough?”
A muscle jumped in his cheek, he bent his forehead to hers. “Plenty,” he whispered hoarsely. “Are you sure you’re ok?”
Cassie stroked his face lightly, wishing to soothe him. “I’m perfectly fine, better than fine even.”
He searched her face a moment longer, doubt creased his forehead. Seeming to finally believe her, he rolled to the side, drawing her tight against him. Cassie sighed contentedly as she rested her hand on his chest. He rubbed her back gently, idly playing with her hair. “That was wonderful,” she murmured, her eyes drifting closed as serenity enshrouded her.
“Yes, it was.”
Cassie yawned, burrowing herself tighter against his hard side. “Is it always like that? Can you always feel other people’s emotions?” she wondered.
Devon was silent for a moment, his hand tightened briefly upon her arm. “Only if we want to. We can keep people shut out if we choose, but the exchange of blood opens pathways between the two minds.”
“Do you always let people in?”
“Not in a very long time. I never cared what they felt when I thought that it might be good. But sometimes…” he broke off for a moment, seemingly hesitant to continue on, but eventually he did. “Sometimes I enjoyed feeling the pain.”
Cassie closed her eyes, trying not to think about what those words said about the monster he had once been. Tried not to think about the fact that though he didn’t say it, she knew that he had once taken great pleasure in viciously hurting others. “Is it painful to some for long?” she whispered.
He stiffened against her, not liking this line of questioning, but he would not keep anything from her. “It can be,” he admitted.
She shuddered as thoughts of her grandmother blazed into her mind, but she quickly shut them down. This moment was only about the two of them, she was not going to let the outside world intrude upon the ecstasy she had found here.
“Why wasn’t it for me?”
He turned into her, his nose gently nuzzling her ear. Shivers of delight racked her as she cuddled closer, burying herself against him. Though his body temperature was lower than hers, he never failed to heat her. “Because you were willing. It is only painful if you fight against it, which most people do. But if you are willing… well things are different if you give your blood freely.”
Cassie yawned again, her hand curled tightly into his shirt, lying over the place where his heart no longer beat. That fact had once slightly unnerved her, it no longer did. His hand curled up the back of her head, gently cupping her skull as he dropped a soft kiss on top of her head.