Slaking the sharp edge of his hunger, he lay her down. He gentled his hold. Her soft moans translated her pleasure as he returned to suckle at her vein, savoring small swallows as his hips slowly rocked, his cock penetrating her heat in a languid way that soothed both of them.
Her fingers rested in his hair, holding him to her as he fed and used her body for both their pleasure. Small aftershocks of her release trembled over his cock and her breath caught every so often. He could fall asleep like this.
But as her heart rate slowed, reminding him of her fragility, he forced himself to pull away. She gave a needy moan and angled her neck toward his lips as if silently asking him to go on, but he couldn’t without costing her.
He licked over the twin punctures, closing the wound, and pressed a kiss to her pulse. “Later. I don’t want you so weak you can’t move.”
He pushed his weight off her and thrust his hips forward one last time. She was tired and spent, having climaxed several times and shared a good amount of her blood.
“Shut your eyes, ainsicht. Rest and enjoy.”
Her eyes closed and he carefully pulled off her cape and dress. He couldn’t bear the thought of withdrawing from her heat, so he rolled to his back and pulled her on top of him, cradling her head to his shoulder.
“Let me stay inside of you for a little while longer.”
She moaned softly and settled her limbs around him. He brushed his fingers into her hair allowing the strands to fall like silken ribbons.
His virility was no doubt a cumbersome undertaking for her. They could only repeat this interspecies sort of mating for so long, before his baser instincts took over. Eventually, his lust would become too much and it would be too dangerous. But he mostly feared the moment when they shared intimacy for the last time, part of him already preparing for her choice to return to her normal life.
She sighed. “What are you thinking? You feel ... cold.”
They were so in tune, even more so while he was still inside of her. He’d have to be more careful with his emotions. “I didn’t mean to wake you.”
“I wasn’t sleeping.”
“Then I didn’t mean to disturb you.”
She pushed herself up, her body sliding down his length in a delicious stroke of friction that had his eyes closing. Her breasts hung like soft fruit between them, begging his mouth for a taste.
“No more secrets, Adam.”
He dragged a finger up her spine, and she arched back, her body rolling against his as he lengthened inside of her. “I was only thinking of the future.”
Her hands flattened on his chest as she rocked over him. “Do we have to?”
His mouth hooked in a half smile. Unfortunately, he didn’t have a choice. “No. We don’t have to think about it right now.”
Her smile was soft, her eyes heavy, and her motions languid. “You were right.”
“About?”
She blushed, her skin a touch paler than usual. “I liked it. A lot.”
He laughed. “Perhaps that restored a bit of your trust in me?”
She held up her finger and thumb, barely any space in between. “A smidge.”
His hands lowered to her hips, his fingers pressing into her backside as she rocked over him. “So, the next time I need—”
“Yes. I’ll do it.”
He stared up at her, wondering if they would make it to a next time or if this was the last time. “Anna, I want you to remember this, the way I touch you, the adoration you feel when I look at you. This is me. This is who I am when I’m with you. Anything else is...” His lips pressed tight. “If I change, just know it’s not me.”
“I see exactly who you are, Adam. And I don’t think I could ever forget.”
He lifted a hand to her face, his thumb, tracing over her full lips as her lashes lowered. Her lips closed around his thumb and sucked softly. She bit and he grunted, his cock swelling inside of her.
She giggled and sent him a sidelong glance, eyes teasing. “Was it as good for you as it was for me?”
If only she knew. “Better.”
Her lips parted. “Really?”
He nodded. “Making love to you while feeding... It’s everything. You hold my existence in your hands. I’m completely vulnerable and yours in those moments. I feel ... utterly loved.”
“I want to feel that.”
He pulled her hand to his chest, pressing it over his heart. “You can. Right here. My walls are down, Annalise. No more secrets. My love is yours.”
She stilled. “Are you saying you love me?”
He laughed. “Is it not obvious?”
He thought the truth would make her happy, but there came a wave of sadness. When she glanced away, he caught her chin.
“I don’t need to hear the words from you. I know you might not feel the same. But that doesn’t lessen how I feel. I love you, Annalise. You’re my ainsicht, my one and only for all ewichkeit.”