His eyes flicker to amber, and my insides go molten. He crawls over me and devours my lips. I relax, allowing him to take the lead. Clothes fall to the floor, and I shiver as he peels back the final layer of who I am.
***
I feel hungover. Smoothing my hair back out of my face, I roll over onto my back. The room is full of power. More than what would come from a witch losing her virginity. Is this all from blood sharing? I sit up in the bed and find Cristobal waiting in a chair beside me.
“What happened?” I whisper.
“Do you know what happened last night?”
“If I have to explain that to you …” His face remains stern, and I know I won’t like what he has to say.
“There was a lot of energy generated last night, and it had to go somewhere.”
“What?” I ask, feeling blindsided.
He offers his hand, palms up. “Feel.” Cristobal is a rare kind of vampire. One who can do magic, thanks to his sire, Rasputin. I expect the usual tingle I receive from him. What I get is an electrical current.
I jerk my hand back. “What the hell is that?”
“That’s us. We’re bonded.”
“From one blood exchange?” The questions die on my tongue as I relive the previous night. “You did it three times on purpose.”
“I did.”
“Why? Why would you do this without asking me? I trusted you.”
“Almost losing you made me realize how vulnerable you were—”
“No.” I pound my fist on the bed. “You don’t get to make a decision like that by yourself.”
Turning his head, he averts his gaze.
“What else did you do?”
“I used the power we created to banish Soulange to another dimension.”
“You what?”
“She wouldn’t stop, and I couldn’t have her coming after you again.”
“You killed her! You know I’m against that.”
“She’s not dead—”
“You’re splitting hairs.”
“I’m protecting you. She almost killed you.”
“And … what? You’ll kill anyone who threatens me?”
“Yes.”
The bold statement spoken without hesitation or remorse chills me. “Where is this coming from?”
“This is who I’ve always been?”
I shake my head. “No.”