Page 49 of Veiled Yearning

As I swipe my tongue across the tiny bite marks, Gavril swells beneath me, hard and prodding at the apex of my thighs.

A delicious ache blossoms inside me; a desperate need to be filled.

His hand moves under my shirt, across my stomach, leaving a searing trail behind. Then he palms my breast, caressing it, lightly plucking and stroking my nipple. I arch toward him, wanting more, and Gavril lets out a low, satisfied sound.

My body is flooded with sensations—pleasure, desire, need, and something stronger than affection. This thing with Gavril is beyond anything I could have imagined.

I’m shifting around on his lap, rubbing against him, the ache in my womb intensifying.

Gavril angles my head back, so my neck is exposed, and he trails his lips down the length of my throat. At my pulse, he pauses, and I think I might explode from the sensations flooding through me.

In a low, strained voice, he asks, “Can I? Just for a moment? If you don’t—”

There’s no hesitation. “Yes.”

“Chiara…” He kisses my neck, gently suckling, before twin points press at my skin. Then a pause, waiting for me to change my mind.

“I want you to,” I whisper, “Just you.”

On a groan, his incisors sink deep, piercing my skin. And unlike the other times I’ve experienced this, it’s not painful, but perfect.

A second later, Gavril’s lips are back, drawing my blood into him.

It’s incredible.

This feeling. Everything is just more. How my body feels. My heart. It’s as if I wasn’t truly alive until now.

Gavril’s arms tighten around me, cradling me to his chest as he feeds. But this doesn’t feel like a taking. It’s a gift I’m gladly giving to him.

I never knew. All these years, I had no idea it could be like this.

All too soon, he seals the small wounds with his tongue. Pulling back slightly, he inspects my face carefully, and asks, “Are you alright? Was that—”

“It was… amazing.” I hold his gaze, not masking anything I’m feeling. “I’ve never… Not like that. Not as a vampire. I never had a choice until now.”

“Oh, Chiara. I’m sorry.”

“No. Don’t be. I’m so glad my first time, really, was with you.”

Raw emotion is written all across his face. The real Gavril, who cares too much. The man who captured me when I was least expecting it.

“Gorgeous…”

But once again, Frederick interrupts us. Calling Gavril’s name well before he arrives at the solarium—thank goodness for small favors, so I have a chance to fix my rumpled shirt before he gets to us.

Gavril grumbles under his breath, “Is he doing this on purpose?”

“I’m sure he’s not.” I try to wiggle off his lap, but his very muscular arm holds me still.

A little smile quirks his lips. “Don’t move. As soon as Frederick leaves, we can continue this.”

Except as soon as we see Frederick’s expression, it’s pretty clear we won’t be.

Frowning, he says, “We have a problem.”

Gavril stiffens, his gaze fixed on Frederick. “What is it?”

“It’s Sam. Larkin just received a call from him. He’s on the run, with at least four Custodians pursuing him.”

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