Page 105 of Stalk the Dark
“Sanctuary means protection. I can feed from you and not end you. I can make it pleasurable. I can make you want it.”
Loopholes. Fucking loopholes. “I know you can. But it would be a lie. You’d still be forcing me. Do you want to violate our relationship that way?”
His eyes narrowed, and a low growl vibrated in his chest. I forged on. “I don’t think that’s who you are. You’re not a monster. You saved my life twice. You wouldn’t intentionally hurt me, and forcing me would be hurting me.”
He rubbed me through my clothes, the pressure sending delicious shocks of promise through me. My thighs parted, hips rising to meet his hand.
“You say you don’t want me, but this…” He slipped his hand into my shorts and dipped a finger into my heat.
I cried out, then clamped my mouth shut, moaning against my lips as he circled my clit. “This says differently.” His eyes glowed in the gloom, mouth parted, his breath as quick and labored as mine as he worked me.
I should make him stop. I should…Oh, fuck. Oh fuck. I turned my head to the side and pressed my mouth to his shoulder as I came, hips grinding against his hand.
His lips brushed my ear. “And that is without me being inside you. Imagine what I could do with my tongue or my cock.”
Another jolt went through me, pressing me to his fingers and sending me over the edge again.
He chuckled, low and raspy. “I can do this all night. Weaken you. Make you beg for me to fill you. To feed on you. You can’t fight me. You want this.”
Anger licked at my throat. Anger at myself for being weak. For liking this, wanting it. Damn the Order and their no sex rule. Damn them for making me so pent-up that the slightest sexual touch could set me off. I met his gaze, swallowing past the tightness in my throat.
“My body might want it, but my mind doesn’t. I’m saying no, Ezekiel. No. No. No. And you’ll leave now, because you’re not the kind of monster to take what isn’t freely given. You’re not the kind of monster to violate someone.” His eyes flinched. “You’renota monster.”
I had to believe that. I needed to believe it, because otherwise what hope did I have of saving him…
Save him.
Iwantedto save him, not just the people.
Ancient shadows peered down at me from his eyes, and the crimson rivers dried, leaving me staring into agolden abyss, and in the next moment, he was gone. Leaving me cold, alone, and sated.
He’d retreated.
I was right.
He wasn’t a monster, which meant that this year…This year might not be so hard after all.
Chapter 33
There was no sleeping after Ezekiel’s visit. I was wired and a little hungry. I grabbed a robe, shoved my feet into boots, and headed down to the kitchens.
The corridors were silent and creepy, as usual, and a couple of times I was sure that I was being followed. And yes, I might have jogged a little, but I made it to the kitchen, the heart of the castle which I’d only been in during the daytime. It was dark when I entered, but before I could reach for the lantern by the door, the room flared to life with light, and Ingrid materialized by the stove.
“Well, hello there, dear. What can I get you?”
“Oh, you don’t have to get me anything. I can probably find something to nibble on myself.”
She gave me an indulgent smile. “I’m sure you could, but wouldn’t it be much quicker if you let meserve you? After all, that is what I’m here for.” My stomach growled, and her gaze dropped to it. “Your stomach agrees, I see. Sit, sit, I have just the thing for a late-night treat.”
I pulled out one of the heavy wooden chairs and sat while she bustled about lighting the stove and getting some containers from the fridge. A few minutes later, the room smelled meaty and delicious. She popped a bowl of chicken and dumpling stew in front of me with a hunk of richly buttered bread and a cup of tea.
“Eat up, dear.”
My stomach growled, this time in anticipation, and I set to work on the meal. I looked up after a minute to find her standing by the stove, hands clasped in front of her.
“I don’t suppose you need to eat, do you?”
A dark look crossed her features, and for a moment I caught the impression of a pointed chin and sharp teeth. It was fleeting but left me unsettled.
