Page 40 of Make Me Bleed

Hank’s Adam’s apple bobs nervously. His tongue darts out, dabbing the corner of his mouth, but before I can shift my position and draw away from him, his big hand lands carefully on the middle of my back. He gives a gentle push, just enough to have me arching, before he lowers his head, slanting his lips over mine.

He’s hesitant at first. So am I. His mouth shares that same spiced honey scent as his blood, but it’s been so long since I kissed someone, I want to make sure I’m doing it right. I also don’t want him to think this is some ploy of mine to take his blood by accidentally cutting him with a fang.

Hank is even less practiced than I am. I find that charming, and I moan a little in encouragement.

That’s all he needed. As though everything snaps into place for us, we’re kissing each other, me clinging to Hank’s t-shirt while he keeps his hand a possessive brand on my back.

You know what one benefit to have a giant grizzly bear for a mate? All it takes is Hank sliding his palm over the curve of my ass before he hefts me right up, urging me to wrap my legs as far as I can around his thick waist without even breaking the kiss.

He growls into my mouth, low and deep, pulling me close even as he allows me to guide the kiss. Now that he’s lifted me up, our faces are right in front of each other. I lay my hands onhis cheeks, pinning in place as I pepper small kisses across his lush lips.

It’s hot. Possessive.Wild. Our bond is thrumming between us as he drops down on his bed, holding me on his lap as he takes control over the kiss, deepening it.

When he breaks enough to breathe, I whisper his name, obvious proof that I’m choosinghim.

“Hank.” I nuzzle his cheek with mine. His stubble is scratchy, but Ilikeit. “Mybeloved.”

“There’s no rush,” he pants, breath warm on my skin. “No pressure, darlin’. I’m yours. No matter what. You take all the time you need.”

I love how, even with his fated mate basically writhing on his lap, his only concern is for me. I’ve been with countless males who would’ve already had me flat on their back beneath them, using my mindlessness against me to take what they wanted.

Not Hank. Not my honey bear.

He’s not just some lover who fed me and now I’m slipping away so that he could bounce on top of me until they finish. He’s my mate, and if I take him and he really is a virgin like he said before in jest, I’ll be the only one who ever has.

That’s a sobering thought in the middle of the pleasure I’m finding with him. There’s no rush for him, either. No pressure.

I don’t tell him so. I don’t need to. He already knows, though if this is going to go any farther right now, I need to hear it from him.

Leaning back so that I can search his ruggedly handsome face, I ask him, “Before, when you said you were innocent… is it true? Have you ever…?”

I don’t even have to ask him point-blank. He knows exactly what I mean.

He shakes his head. His cheeks are flushes, his lips plump from our kissed, but though he seems rather matter-of-factabout it, there’s something hotly intense in his gaze. “Shifters usually wait for their mate. I’ve been waitin’ for mine in the wilds a long, long time.”

Just not as long as I’ve been waiting formine.

I nibble on my bottom lip, reveling in his taste even as I admit, “Vampires don’t. I wasn’t kidding, either, when I said I wasn’t innocent.” I wait a moment for him to understand that while I’ll be his first, he won’t be mine. “Does that bother you?”

Pure honestly reflects in his pretty eyes as he says simply, “No.”

I exhale, and he holds gooses my side before adding, “As long as there won’t be anyone after me, that is.”

“There won’t be,” I promise. “All I’ve ever wanted was my beloved.” I stroke the underside of his jaw. “I found him.”

“Beloved,” he echoes. “That’s a vampire’s fated mate, ain’t it?”

I nod.

He grins. “I like the sound of it. Never though my mate would be a sweet li’l vampire like you, Lise, but you’re my beloved, too.”

That’s just another reminder that, though I feel like I’ve known him my entire life, that’s no true. It’s never bothered me that Hank is a bear shifter.

Can he say the same about my type of supe.

I flash my fangs. “Your mate is a vampire. Is that okay?”

Hank drops his head, pressing a kiss to the tip of the nearest one. “Of course it is. Not only do you have me just about comin’ in my jeans when you feed on me, but in case you haven’t noticed it, I’m a big fella, darlin’. You’re such a wee thing. If you were human, I’d be afraid to mount you. Knowing you’re a supe, whether you’re a vampire or a shifter like me, it’s just a relief that you’ll be strong enough to take me. I won’t have to worry about accidentally breakin’ ya.”

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