Page 45 of This Blood that Bonds Us
“I will. I’m right here.”
He went deeper. Filling me and stifling that part of me that was burning out of control. I wanted to thank him because it was perfect. Blissful. This need was new, and it felt good to have him fulfill it. The thought only opened me up further. Aaron paid more attention to my face, leaving soft kisses along my jaw and up to my forehead.
With one arm, he lifted my leg up, and the moan that escaped me was louder than I’d expected.
“Right there, huh?”
I couldn’t think. All of the power I’d had in my body, I’d freely given to Aaron, and now I was weak and woozy, yet whole and content with his arms wrapped around me.
My gasp echoed in the cabin, followed by another incoherent scrambling of sounds.
His name lingered on my lips and only got louder and louder.
“Yeah?” He kissed me with each thrust. “You’re so pretty like this.”
The pulling in my stomach built with the friction. I gripped his shoulders desperately.
“Aaron. Just don’t—”
“I won’t. I’m here. Right here.” He held me perfectly, keeping a perfect pace.
If I were human, it might have broken bones, but it was perfect. The perfect pressure. The perfect everything.
“Kim,” he choked out.
We let go together. I tightened around him, and all that pressure released. Waves of pleasure rocked through my lower body, and we rode every shiver of ecstasy until we were spent.
I didn’t know it could be that good. I was full of warmth and happiness.
Suddenly, I was aware of how tired I was. I was sore everywhere, but content. Happier than I’d been in weeks.
He moved the hair from my face while his hips stayed firmly pressed into me. There were no words at first, just kissing and the watchfulness of his gaze.
Our world had changed. Something between us had shifted. It had been different every time he’d touched me, and now . . .
“Hey, Burns.”
“Hey,” I said, settling into the bed. All I’d forgotten came back. The crackling of the fire, the chill of the wind pressing in from outside, and the cedar smell of our room came rolling into the back of my mind.
“Has anyone ever told you that you’re literally the perfect girl? Smart, gorgeous . . . you’re everything.”
“You’re the only one who’s ever told me that.”
“They’re missing out.”
Eighteen
Aaron
I lay awake all night staring up at the ceiling. Kimberly was more than enough to look at, but the stars in our skylight helped keep me from boredom. I’d warmed some water, helped her clean up, and held her while she dozed off.
I hoped she dreamed of something good. A place far away that was warm and sunny. If only I could have slept too. Anything to get a break from being in my head. With one arm, I squeezedher to my chest. A soft sound left her lips, and she gripped me tighter.
I’d bitten her. Not only did I bite her. I kept biting her. It made me a little nauseous to know I’d taken enough blood from her that she needed to sleep, but the gnawing in my stomach was gone. My body was satiated in every sense of the word. It was nice to have a clear head again.
The need to protect her was stronger than ever. It was the best night of my life, and as I kissed the top of Kimberly’s head, I thought of my brothers again. Of every night they too were stuck in bed looking up at the ceiling and not able to sleep.
When Zach slept next to Ashley after he was changed, did he ever watch her sleep and wonder how he would ever tell her? Was he scared when he realized what was happening to him?
