Page 27 of Rescued By the Vampire Assassin

As she stood, marveling at the fluid grace of her movements, at the strength she could feel coiled in every muscle, Keri caught sight of herself in a nearby mirror. She gasped, taken aback by her own reflection.

The woman staring back at her was both familiar and strange. Her features were the same, yet somehow enhanced, as if an artist had gone over them with a fine brush, perfecting every line and angle. Her skin was pale, almost luminous, and her eyes... Keri leaned in closer, fascinated by the swirling depths of crimson that had replaced her former brown. Keri turned away from the mirror, her mind reeling with the implications of her transformation.

Keri took a deep, fruitless breath. "This is... a lot."

"Having second thoughts?"

"No," Keri said quickly, turning to face him. "God, no. It's just — where do we go from here?"

Joshua's lips quirked into a half-smile. "Well, that depends. What do you want?"

Keri laughed. There was a slightly hysterical edge to it. "What do I want? I want to see Chrissy. I want to know if I can still do my job. I want to know if I have to hunt people in order to feed." She paused, her voice softening. "I want you."

Joshua kissed her neck, grazing her with his fangs. "In that order?"

"Shut up," Keri said, her nipples tightening. "I'm serious, Joshua. What happens now?"

"Now?" Joshua's expression turned thoughtful. "Now, we take it one step at a time. Chrissy's doing well, by the way. You'll see her soon."

"Yeah?" Keri felt a wave of relief. "That's good. She and I can figure out this vampire thing together. It’s not the first time we’ve started over together."

"As for your job, you might be surprised how useful an investigative reporter can be to a vampire clan."

“I’d have to work nights,” she said. “And keep vampires a secret.”

Joshua nodded. "As for hunting, we don't hunt humans for sport or sustenance anymore. What you drank earlier was synthetic blood. We have connections in medical fields that keep us supplied. Some vampires still prefer fresh blood, but it's either obtained ethically, from willing donors, or it’s taken to punish the guilty. The Nicolau clan is very conscious about adapting to the modern world."

Keri felt a wave of relief wash over her. "That's good to know. I was worried about that part. So my life doesn’t have to change at all. With the exception of having you in it.”

“Is that going to be a problem?” he asked gruffly.

“Remember the ‘I want you’ part?” Keri asked.

“I seem to recall you saying something along those lines.”

Grabbing his hand, she pulled him back towards the bed. “Chrissy and your clan can wait a few more hours while we solidify the mate bond again, don’t you think?”

“Darling, I thought you’d never ask.”

Chapter 9

JOSHUA'S EYES GLEAMED in the dim light, filled with a predatory hunger that sent shivers down Keri's spine. The thick, corded veins on his arms stood out, pulsing with the power that thrummed beneath his skin. Keri's breath hitched in her throat as she took in the sight of him. She was acutely aware of the intoxicating scent of their mingled desire that permeated the air.

"Once we begin, there's no going back. We'll be bound for eternity."

Keri met his gaze, seeing her own certainty reflected there. "Eternity with you? Sounds perfect to me."

He reached out to gently trace the curve of her cheek with the back of his hand. Keri's breath caught in her throat as she felt the rough pad of his thumb brush across her bottom lip. Her body trembled with anticipation.

"You're mine," Joshua growled, his voice a deep, guttural rumble that made her so very wet. "And I'm going to make you remember that, over and over again."

With a swift, fluid motion, he crushed his lips to Keri's in a fierce, demanding kiss. Her lips parted in a gasp as she felt his tongue delve into her mouth, exploring every inch of her with a ravenous hunger that left her dizzy and disoriented.

Keri gasped as she felt the first tendrils of Joshua's emotions seeping into her mind. It wasn't just lust and love she felt from him, but a complex tapestry of feelings – admiration, protectiveness, joy, and a depth of commitment that took her breath away.

She responded in kind, her tongue twining with his, teasing against his fangs. She surrendered herself to the onslaught of sensation that threatened to overwhelm her.

Joshua's hands roamed her body, his fingers tracing patterns of fire across her skin as they explored every curve and hollow. Their clothes were just in the way, and they mindlessly ripped them off so they were skin to skin.

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