Page 87 of Only Human in Strangeville

Katsuro leaned over and kissed my forehead. “You are more powerful than you know, and your powers will grow as you practice. In time, you may surpass me. I want to watch that discovery and aid you in any way I can. And even if you were simply a human, well, remember, I started pursuing you before you unlocked your powers. I want you, for you, Hannah.”

I let myself be convinced. I knew I’d always be able to come up with excuses and reasons why he shouldn’t want me no matter what he said. It came down to, this felt right, and I wanted it. I just hoped I knew what I was getting into.

“Okay. Let’s do this.”

Katsuro’s smile was possibly the happiest expression I’d ever seen on his face. He gently cupped my jaw and kissed me.

My magic took that moment to flare up, winding between the two of us as it had with Bridger and Oliver. Instead of pulling away, Katsuro stepped closer, deepening our kiss and letting my magic flow into him.

The bonding took longer, as if my magic had to feel its way through Katsuro’s own powers before finding a place to anchor, but I sensed the utmost patience and perhaps even a bit of joy from the vampire through that tenuous thread of connection as he let it penetrate to his very essence.

I kept my feet this time, but only because he was holding onto me. The elastic snap that traveled back through that thread of energy and slammed into me, binding us together was like getting hit with a rubber band. A massive one that pulled his love for me with the band of energy and sent it crashing through me. I had never felt anything quite like it, and it turned my limbs to jelly as the sensation sent tremors of pleasure radiating out from my core.

“Holy crap,” I breathed.

Katsuro helped me over to his bed, and I lay down and stared at his ceiling.

He lay next to me, trailing his fingers over my stomach where my shirt had pulled up and exposed skin. His touch sent little tendrils of electric pleasure zinging through me.

“That was quite intense,” he agreed. “Ready for round two?”

“Yeah. Should we get naked first?”

“If you would like, then yes, we should.”

“You’re going to have to help me. I feel like a wet noodle.”

Katsuro shifted, planting another kiss on my forehead, before helping me undress. Then he lifted me into his arms, somehow managed to pull back the comforter and his sheets and laid me down.

“Oh my god, I need to get some of these.” I was momentarily distracted from everything else by the absolute softness of his sheets.

“That can easily be arranged,” Katsuro assured me.

“Cool. You want to get naked, too?”

He pulled his shirt off, shed his pants, and joined me on the bed while I marveled at how comfortable I was.

I sensed his amusement through our connection and poked him gently on the shoulder. “You know, I was reasonably well off before, but not so much that I could indulge in whatever this is.” I gestured toward his bed. “These sheets must cost a fortune.”

“We shall have to get you spoiled on some of the finer things in life, Hannah.” The vampire shifted until he was propped up on one arm, looking down at me.

“I’d like that. So, how do we do this?”

“I will bite my wrist and let you have a taste of my blood.” He grinned when I wrinkled my nose. “It won’t be as bad as you think. Then, once you’ve had a moment, I will take a small amount of yours, and then, I assure you, we’ll very much be in the mood for sex.”

“Great!” I was onboard with that plan. “I’m already in the mood, if that wasn’t clear.”

He inhaled deeply, as if scenting the air. “Abundantly clear, sunshine.”

Before I could delay us any longer, he put his wrist to his mouth and bit down. I winced in sympathy, but I didn’t sense any discomfort through our connection. Only joy at finally having someone to join with.

More because of his happiness than anything else, I didn’t hesitate when he offered me his arm. I licked the blood from his forearm and fastened my lips over the wound he’d created, drinking the blood he offered. Katsuro shuttered his eyes, a soft groan escaping his lips as I did. This quite obviously was not causing him any discomfort.

The coppery tang of his blood wasn’t as unpleasant as I’d imagined, perhaps because his pleasure already filtered through our first connection, and I could feel the power in it as his magic mingled with my own and spread a warmth through me. The power wandered through my body much as mine had with his, not quite taking purchase, but still very noticeable.

I released his arm, and he laid me back on the bed, leaning over me, hunger in his eyes along with a burning desire.

“Still okay?” he asked.

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