Silence grows between us again as he continues to run his fingers through my hair. It feels so good, it’s all I can do not to purr out loud in contentment.
My face flushes at the question that’s really burning inside me.
I hesitate to ask him, but it's killing me not knowing the answer.
“What is it, my angel?” Stephan asks me—again, as if he can read my thoughts.
I tilt my head to look up at him. “Okay, can you read my mind or something?”
He blinks with surprise before his lips tip up into a grin. “Oh, that I could, love.”
“So that's a no?” I ask him, just for clarification.
He chuckles again, his mouth pulling into an even wider smile. He's devastatingly handsome when he smiles—so much so that it causes my breath to hitch in awe.
“No,” he confirms.
I relax just the tiniest bit at the confirmation.
“However, that doesn't mean that I can't read the questions on your face.”
When I just look at him, he adds with a soft smile, “I've had centuries of practice at reading people Elena.”
“You should work for the FBI then,” I comment drily. “You'd be great at helping them crack cases.”
“Hmm, a monster putting away other monsters.” His voice is both thoughtful and self-deprecating.
I’m still studying his handsome visage when he locks me in his gaze and holds me captive once again.
“But that's not what you wanted to ask me,” he aptly notes.
My face turns a brighter shade of red, and his eyebrow quirks up questioningly. “What is it?” he prompts me.
I just bury my head against his chest to hide my face, but he's having none of that. He tilts my chin up to make my eyes meet his before he tells me gently, his tone soft, “When I brought you here, I decided there would be no more secrets between us, and there haven’t been—not on my end, anyway. I've been transparent with you about my feelings for you. About the things I've done. I would like to ask the same of you, please.”
It's the “please” that does me in. Something about this big, strong, powerful, immortal vampire asking me so gently instead of ordering me has me melting into a puddle at his feet.
“Okay,” I bite my lip as I look up, feeling shy and unsure. I take in a deep breath before I decide to just blurt it out.
“I was just wondering why you didn't...you know...take my virginity.”
Stephan goes completely still in my arms.
I rush to add, “Not that I'm saying what we did wasn't nice or good enough or that I didn't enjoy it or anything, but...I thought you wanted me. I mean, you know, inthatway.”
He shushes me with a harsh kiss on my lips, his tongue delving desperately inside my mouth as he presses his huge erection against my thigh.
Oh.
“Fuck, Elena, you’re killing me here,” he groans against my lips while humping that huge part of himself against me.
He finally forces himself to stop with a pained groan. “I'm aware I could have taken you, but I can't allow myself to do it.”
My cheeks burn, my pride stung with his rejection, though I’m confused. It certainlyfeelslike he wants me.
I turn my head, but he turns it back to him. “Make no mistake, little angel. I want you more than I've ever wanted anything.” His voice is rough with his admission.
My brow furrows, but he goes on to explain, “But if I bite you, you'll become a vampire too.”