Page 37 of Kiss of Blood and Sin

“What’s your desire tonight?” Dimitri’s voice was low and husky in my ear.

I lean against the bar, trying to steady myself.

My pulse quickened as Dimitri’s eyes darkened, a predatory gleam flickering in their depths.

“Something strong,” I managed to reply, my voice barely audible over the crashing waves outside.

He signaled the bartender, never breaking eye contact with me. “Two whiskeys, neat,” he ordered.

The bartender slid two glasses toward us, amber liquid sloshing gently against the crystal.

Dimitri raised his glass, that infuriating smirk still playing on his lips. He winked. “To getting burned.”

A thrill of anticipation coursed through me, mingling with the fear and desire already churning in my stomach.

I clinked my glass against his, the sound ringing out like a warning bell I chose to ignore.

The whiskey burned a fiery trail down my throat, but it was nothing compared to the heat of Dimitri’s gaze. He set his glass down, stepping closer until I was trapped between him and the bar.

“Are you sure you’re ready for this?” he murmured, his breath hot against my cheek.

My heart hammered wildly, a mix of terror and exhilaration flooding my veins. I gripped the edge of the bar, my knuckles turning white.

“I’ve never been more ready for anything in my life,” I whispered back, sealing my fate.

He slipped his hand around my neck. “Then I say we disappear.”

I glanced nervously over at Louise. “But…”

He pulled me close and whispered in my ear, “I promise we’ll be back before she blows the candle out on her cake.” His warm breath sent tingles across my skin, making it hard to think clearly.

He ran his hand down my arm. “Come with me.”

Like I puppy dog, I followed him through the crowded party and outside.

The cool night air hit my flushed skin, a stark contrast to the heat building within me. He led me into the shadows where the water lapped up onto the empty beach. The stars and moonlight reflected off the ocean. My breath caught in my throat at the beauty of the scene, mixing with the anticipation coursing through my veins.

Dimitri's hand trailed down my arms, leaving a trail of tingling sensations dancing over my skin. His slightest touch sparked a primal hunger that made my predatory instincts surge. It was as if every nerve ending in my body suddenly came alive, hypersensitive to his proximity. The familiar ache of my fangs pressing against my gums intensified, a sweet pain that reminded me of my true nature.

A low growl, barely audible, rumbled in my chest as his fingers traced patterns on my skin. The scent of his blood, pulsing just beneath the surface, filled my nostrils, intoxicating and maddening all at once. I could almost taste it on my tongue, rich and vibrant, a promise of ecstasy.

My muscles tensed, coiled like a spring ready to snap. The urge to claim, to bite, to mark him as mine overwhelmed me. My vision sharpened, the world around us fading away until all I could focus on was Dimitri—the curve of his neck, the steady rhythm of his unnecessary breath, the knowing glint in his eyes.

Time seemed to slow, each second stretching into eternity as I battled against the rising tide of desire. This wasn't just lust—it was something deeper, more primal. A dance as old as our kind, the delicate balance between predator and prey, lover and beloved.

I knew, in that moment, that a single word from him, a single gesture, would be enough to shatter my control completely. And part of me—the wild, untamed part that lurked beneath centuries of civility—yearned for exactly that.

He pulled me close, his arm wrapping around my waist,and planted kisses down my throat. Each kiss sent a jolt of electricity through my body, making my knees weak.

I clasped his jacket with my fingers to brace myself. My fingers tightened on the fabric, desperately seeking stability as the world seemed to spin around me. A dizzying blend of desire and nervousness swirled in my stomach, making me feel both lightheaded and hypersensitive to every touch.

I gasped as he slipped his hand behind me, unzipping my strapless dress. My flesh tightened with a mixture of excitement and nervousness as the dress whispered down my body. A rush of vulnerability and excitement coursed through me, my skin hypersensitive in the cool night air.

I instinctively crossed my arms over my chest, trying to hide my half nakedness.

He gently clasped my arms, pulling them apart. “Don’t hide anything from me. You’re beautiful. And you’re mine.”

His words were like a sweet caress, my nipples budding. Mine? I wanted to argue, but the truth was, I wanted the devil.

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