Page 18 of The Vampire's Mate

Before I could lift it over his head, James broke the kiss, holding me in place by his tight grip on my hair. “Tell me all of your kisses leave you that breathless—I dare you.”

“That wasnota kiss,” I panted. “That was tongue-fucking my mouth.”

“My point stands,” he said with a smug grin. “Name one person that’s kept you coming back for more.”

My answer was instant, my heart thumping louder in my chest. “You.”

“Ah, but I’m so much more than a person. I’m a supernatural being.”

“You’re a supernatural bastard,” I grumbled, not even bothering to adjust the erection straining my underwear.

James sobered and reached out for me again. Our fingers linked, our hands fitting together like a key in a lock. As if we were…

Made for each other.

Damn it, there was that fluttering feeling again.

“You’re still scared,” James stated, his thumb rubbing small circles over the back of my hand.

Those butterflies—scratch that,hornets—in my stomach prevented me from speaking. All I could do was nod. I was terrified, but it had nothing to do with the bond anymore. Even though it was bigger than both of us, and it scared the life out of me.

What scared me even more was that I wanted to say yes.

Instead of giving a verbal answer, I brought our mouths together. James opened for me, angling his head to deepen the kiss. When I shifted to lie down, he rolled on top of me. He caged me in with his arms, his weight pinning me down. Strangely enough, I didn’t feel trapped.

I felt safe.

I only broke the kiss to come up for air, and James worked his lips down my jaw. “You’re insatiable, you know that, right?”

“Please,” I said. “Let me have you.”

“Can you be quiet, love? We don’t want to wake up our guests.”

Choosing to ignore the fact that he was using words like “our” and “we,” I responded with a whimper. His mouth sealed over mine again, taking my breath away. I grabbed his hips and tugged, moaning into the kiss when our cocks ground together. James’s tongue found the crook of my neck.

“Bite me,” I begged. “Please.” My voice was too whiny for my liking, but I needed the high—I needed the courage.

“Are you sure?”

I snarled, snatching his hand and guiding it to the bulge behind my sweats. “If you ask me again, I’ll make you watch me take care of this myself.”

He chuckled, low and throaty, and goosebumps swept over my entire body. He pressed his lips to my pulse. I arched into the feeling, exposing myself to him—submitting to him. One more swipe of his tongue, then his fangs grazed my neck. My breath hitched when they broke through the skin. At the same time, he clenched his hand around my shaft, adding enough pressure to send me into a haze of euphoric bliss. I fell into the high while rutting against his palm.

One draw, and every worry in my body seemed to fade.

A second, coupled with another squeeze from his hand,almostworked the way I wanted.

Three, and…Fuck, yes. That was it. What had I been so worried about?

My body rolled, seeking contact with every point of him it could find. I mewled when his hand let go, only for nimble fingers to find my waistband. Fabric ripped as my boxer briefs were pulled from my body and tossed aside.

James sealed off his bite with a single pass from his tongue, then rose onto his knees so he could undress. He started with his shirt, and my hands moved of their own accord, tracing over the ridges of muscle in his stomach.

Through bleary eyes I watched him work his belt, then pop the button on his jeans. The zipper practically lowered on its own. Quick as a flash, the fabric was gone and he had his hand wrapped around his glorious erection.

“That’s mine,” I said, though my feeble strength and slurring voice were anything but commanding.

Still, James shuddered when I batted his hand aside and took over. His fingers closed over mine, moving in time with me. I swiped my thumb over his leaking tip and brought the sweet liquid to my mouth. I hummed in satisfaction and turned to James’s fingers, sucking each one. I moved to sit up, only to have him guide me back to the pillows.

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