Page 41 of Blood On His Lips

I opened my eyes again. The Prince studied me with his impassive expression. Danger still hovered at the edge of his gaze, but he’d controlled it.

“You have not even begun to understand what you are,” he said. “You are young. Inexperienced and ignorant at times. You wallow in rage and indulge in self-pity, and some of your decisions are nonsensical, but all of that is more a symptom of your youth than any true character defect.”

I balled up my fist and punched him in the shoulder, glaring.

A tiny smile curved the side of his mouth. “You will grow out of it. Mostly. Baroun is, and he’s had more centuries than you to perfect his foolishness.” A shadow flitted across his face, but I wasn’t stupid enough to chase it.

I rose on my knees, pressing against him, and lowered my lips to his ear, my hair blanketing his shoulders as it curled loose down my front.

“I don’t think I like you.”

As I spoke, I reminded myself that I couldn’t afford to mindlessly indulge. I had a goal, and our desire must serve it. I’d bargained for protection already, but what I needed was a promise of independence.

“Oh, you like me.” His deep tenor voice took on a melodious quality, his hands sliding down to grip my waist again. “You like me more than you should, far more than is wise.”

“Finally, we agree on something.”

This time I yanked his head back, my lips curving when his eyes widened a bare fraction in surprise. Tendrils of slick blue-black hair were plastered against his face, on those exquisite cheekbones, the rest of it pulled back. Gods, his beauty made my heart ache.

“How aboutItake you,” I said, lowering my voice to a husky croon, “rather than the other way round, Prince? I feel I am due.”

His eyes darkened, the smile on his lips as dangerous as the fingers now sliding between my thighs, plucking sweetly at my clit. “Then allow me to offer obeisance. How shall you have me?”

I inhaled sharply, biting my bottom lip, and realized. . .my incisors had sharpened as well. Any other time, I would have been pleased at that subtle sign of development, but right now I was distracted. Play with new adult teeth, or the hot, aroused male?

This wasn’t a hard decision.

I wanted control, to controlhim, and was fully aware said control hovered on the precipice of his indulgence.

I wanted to dance on its edge.

ChapterThirteen

A timeor two in my past, I’d had to accept a significant wound in order to walk away from a fight with my life.

So I’d walk this edge with Renaud, and take the cuts that came from playing this particular game with an Old One, but my blood wouldn’t be the only blood spilled.

The wildness that had risen in me to fight off the invader rose again. I angled his head and took his mouth. His lips parted, and I slipped my tongue between, beginning a slow duel that morphed into something frenzied. His hands slid up my torso, and he cupped my breasts. I let him play, and each time he tried to control the kiss, I punished him.

My grip in his hair wasn’t gentle. My nails pricked his scalp. My teeth scraped his lips. I drew blood, felt pain as he returned the loving gesture in kind, with interest.

Damn. I hadn’t meant to draw blood.

Renaud pulled his head away from me, his eyes flashing purple for one preternatural second. I blinked, but perhaps I was imagining it.

“What are you offering?” The words were guttural.

Blood stained his lips, and as I watched he licked it away, the movement slow, sensual. Taunting. Definitely warning. We both knew this particular game was above my skill level—for now. I was a quick study when I wanted to be.

But I couldn’t peel my gaze away from those lips, the stain of crimson. I wanted more. His taste on my tongue, his breath in my lungs.

Leaning forward, I intended to take more of him, but his hands left my breasts, and he halted me with a firm grip on my jaw.

“You haven’t earned my blood, Aerinne,” he said.

I almost snarled, but checked myself despite the growing haze of lust. This was a game. I had a goal.

“You’ve tasted mine.”

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