Great, I actually have to wake up for this kind of conversation. “Okay.”
“When I put my lips on you and I feed, you give me back a portion of my life that I thought I’d lost forever. I don’t know how I’ll ever be able to express to you what that means. To be able to talk? That’s a gift. I want to give the same to you. You feed me, and I do nice things for you, because it’s the only way I can make my gratitude clear.”
My cheeks heated up. That was an entirely different take than what I interpreted from what he’d said. “You’re trying to say thank you?”
“In my way. Why would you keep giving me this gift if I wasn’t doing equally nice things for you?”
It has to be a vampire thing.They didn’t believe anyone would do anything for anyone else without a really fucking good reason—like a payment. Like someone doing something nice for them. There would never be ajust becausefor a vampire.
I leaned back on my elbows which brought my face closer to his. “So, in the future, why don’t you trythank youwith me and leave it alone? Take me to a movie because you want to spend time with me at a movie and not as part of some demented payment plan? You’ll build up more good will that way.”
He blinked before he leaned down and kissed my collarbone. I shivered, my body waking up and wanting more, even though I absolutely hadn’t fed him. The thing growing between us had nothing to do with blood. “Does this feel like a business transaction to you?” he growled.
I lifted an eyebrow. “Well, I guess it would depend on what kind of business I was in.”
“You’re not a prostitute or a paramour, since I know you equate the two. You’re Maci Green. And, right now, I’m going to show you so much pleasure, you won’t know what to do with yourself.”
My heart skipped a beat. “That’s quite a promise. I think I might know exactly what to do with myself.”
Who was this person coming out of my mouth?A month ago, I wasn’t sexually active, and now I’m tempting a vampire into carnal acts like I’ve done it a million times before?I didn’t recognize myself, but I liked it just the same.
“We’ll see about that.” He rolled me over. “Put your hands on the headboard.”
I swallowed. Maybe I had gotten more than I’d imagined in this situation?What exactly is Tanner going to do?I rolled over and grabbed the headboard. He pulled down my pants, slapping me once on both ass cheeks.
I cried out, surprised when I creamed at the contact.Wow.I widened my eyes and tried to take a deep, steadying breath. My hands shook.I really, really liked that.He’d hit me on the ass, and somehow it made me even more turned on.
“Tanner.” I didn’t know why I said his name other than because I had to.
He pressed his nose against my shoulder. “You smell so fantastic. I have to remember not to hurt you, that you’re fragile.” He lifted his head to whisper in my ear, “But I want to take you hard, to claim you. I know I still have to catch up to the other two.”
“It’s not a…” I never finished what I was going to say, because he pressed his finger inside of me. I closed my eyes. From his vantage point, he had a different way to rub. Or maybe it just felt that way because it was Tanner, and I’d never felt his finger inside of me before.
I reveled in the sensations as he stroked my clit, bringing my nerve endings to life until I squirmed against him. With my back to him, I couldn’t have seen his face even if my eyes were open.Does he like this? Is this doing anything for him, or is this all about me?How did I feel about the possibility it was?Fuck. I had to get out of my own head.
That wasn’t a problem, because he pinched me on my clit and my mind went blank. Nothing beyond the movement of his fingers and what he was fucking doing to me.More. I wanted more. I ground against his hand, making sure that I kept mine on the headboard, because that’s what he told me to do.
Finally, I came. Hard. My back arched, and I almost let go as my whole body tensed, unable to do anything but react to the sizzling waves of pleasure inside of me. I panted, almost fell backwards, and only his cool finger stroking down my spine finally settled me down.
“Easy, Maci.” His voice was low. “Come back to me. I want you present in your mind for this. I want you to feel what I’m going to do to you.”
I swallowed, trying to catch my breath, but when I finally found my voice, it was scratchy.Was I shouting?I didn’t even know.
He stroked a finger over my breast, flicking at my nipples. “Don’t let go of that headboard. I love your body like this, stretched out so I can see all of you and all you can do is feel.”
Tanner slapped my ass again, and I winced before I grinned. I loved the sharp bite of pain. “I wouldn’t have thought this of you. I swear, you used to be the sweet one.”
“I don’t know what I used to be. Different life. Keep those hands on the headboard, because I told you to, and don’t let go.”
I had to push back, I just did. “What will you do if I do let go?”
He whacked my behind gently. “That’s a taste.”
I smiled as I got even wetter. What was going on with me? “And if I didn’t want you to do that?”
“Maci,” his voice was low and right beside my ear. “My senses are more advanced than yours. I can absolutely tell that you want me to do that.” He slipped a finger inside of me and I gasped. “You are just as wet as I knew you were going to be, but if you want me to slap your ass again to prove it, I would be happy to give you what you need.”
No one could deflect an answer like a vampire. I dropped it. His hand stroked over my thigh as the other hand pressed against my clit. I cried out, closing my eyes. “Yes, more like that.”