“I like the look of jealousy on you.”
“Jealousy is for people unsure of their place in someone’s life. This is territorial. I know enough about vampires to know that’s how you think. In terms of what’s yours to protect and defend.”
“You admit you’re mine then?” he asks.
I tap his nose. “Pay attention. I’m admitting you’re mine.”
He gives me a rare dimple revealing smile. “They’re mutually exclusive.”
“Better be.”
“I had something made for you.” He sits up and reaches into his pocket, pulling out a shiny circular item. He places the ring in my palm, and I recognize the Cortez C that will mark me as one of his court.
“It’s beautiful,” I whisper.
“Let me place it on you.”
I hold out my hand, and he slips the band on the ring finger of my left hand. The action is a silent pledge between us. As binding as any wedding ceremony, it drives home the bond. You can’t get divorced from it. I scrap the things I know about bonds together.
“Our bond is different from other blood bonds, isn’t it?”
“Yes, situations like ours are rare. That the two of us would meet, recognize one another, and be compatible enough to initiate the bond beats rather considerable odds. When you add the fact that we are both so powerful, it complicates things even more. I’ll be honest, I’m still learning what our bond can do. There aren’t many documented cases, and it’s not something we talk about among ourselves often.”
“It wouldn’t be when our people spent so much time as enemies.” I admire the shimmer of the ring in the sunlight. I don’t know if I ever felt like I belonged in my family. There were moments of kinship, but it was obvious I was different. Now, I’m carving out my own space between both worlds.
He runs a finger across my hand, and my body tingles. With the barrier between us toppled, a new kind of tension arises. I lick my lips.
“I should dress. We need to work on finding that witch.”
“Louella.”
“I’m afraid of what she might try.” His voice is unyielding. Stern and commanding. I ignore him and continue to ramble on, desperate to get out of the room that feels too small and away from the tempting man sitting beside me. “Louella.”
“I’m sure the others are getting antsy.” I clear my throat.
“Look at me.” Three words are spoken. I comply. The emotion visible sucks the air from my lungs. He places two fingers under my chin, and moves in, pausing when we’re millimeters apart, breathing the same air. I place my shaking hands on his chest, with every intention of holding him at bay. His lips brush mine, and I’m clutching his lapels, and pulling him closer.
He tastes like honeyed whiskey, sweet and powerful. He melts on my tongue, setting me on fire from the inside out. I have a sudden, intense craving, and he’s the only way to sate it. Moving my head this way and that, I drink him down, exploring the slick smoothness of the inside of his cheek as our tongues lazily circle around each other.
I rise to my knees, and he scoops me up, pulling me onto his lap. Twining my arms around his neck, I run my fingers through the silken strands of his hair and press my breasts to his hard chest. He swells beneath me, straining against his slacks. The muscles in my stomach tighten. I press my thighs together to ease the ache between them. His throaty growl has my panties even damper.
“Your arousal is an intoxicating scent. Like an exotic flower in full bloom, it begs me to bury my nose between its petals and breathe deeply.” He spins me carefully to face the wall. “Lift your night grown. There you are, my darling, now spread your legs.” Every command heightens my pleasure. He palms me, massaging me gently, grazing my bundle of nerves and fanning the flames of desire. He nuzzles my neck and trails his fingers down my side. “Are you ready to feed your man, dove?
“Yes.”
He sets me on the bed, pulling the gown over my head and tossing it aside. I reach for his belt, and he evades my hands.
“Tonight is for you.” He pulls me to the edge of the bed and kneels. Smirking, he slowly removes the scrap of material separating us in a torturous manner.
“Wicked man,” I whisper.
He flashes me a devilish grin before he leans over to kiss the inside of my thigh. Tracing patterns with his tongue, he works me higher. I slip my legs over his shoulder and lean back, enjoying the sight of his dark head between my thighs.
“If you’re hungry, you should eat.” I arch my body, pushing my core in front of his face.
He swipes me with his tongue. The look of ecstasy makes my belly quiver. No man has sampled me as if I’m a delicacy. Only this masculine being with amber eyes lit with possession. He pushes deep, and I slowly unravel as he devours me, leaving nothing untasted or unexplored. Breathing heavily, I peer up at the ceiling completely sated and drained. My throat is hoarse from screaming, and my body has a warm glow flowing through my heavy li
mbs. We’ve begun an avalanche. There’s no going back. I don’t think I want to.