Page 81 of Queen of Darkness
Goosebumps flowed down my spine and across my chest at the promise of what would come next.
“I know,” I said, stroking the back of his neck. “You’ve shown me that.”
“I promise to keep showing you, for all time,” he whispered into my ear, his hot breath causing me to gasp. I’d never been this on edge before, antsy and nervous about what was to come. Not the first time with him, not my first time ever. This was something new, something different.
And I couldn’t imagine sharing it with anyone else.
A giggle slipped through my lips at that thought.
Aaron pulled back, frowning slightly. “What’s so funny? What did I miss?”
“I was just thinking,” I said, still smiling. “All this time, you’ve been the experienced vampire who knows everything, helping me find my way in this new world. We’ve gone from partners to friends to lovers, and now, something more. But you’ve always known what was going in the world around us.”
“And that’s funny?” he asked, looking at me like I might have lost a marble or two.
“No, what’s funny is that, for once, this is a first for you as well as me.Neitherof us has done this before. I like that.”
Aaron considered my words for a moment, then nodded in agreement. “I do, too, Jo. I’m glad that I never claimed Elenia. That my first time is with you.”
“Thank you,” I whispered, stroking his cheek.
“For what?”
“For trusting me,” I said. “For trusting, in general. After the way she hurt you, betrayed you. To open yourself up to me, it’s very flattering.”
“Of course, I trust you. I love you, Jo,” he stated as if that answered everything.
“What did you say?” I gasped, stunned.
Aaron suddenly looked away. “Um, I mean, if you don’t, that’s fine. I just, I didn’t mean to make things weird. I—”
“I love you, too,” I said, grabbing his chin, forcing him to look at me.
The words feltrightcoming off my tongue. Not only that, but they felt appropriate, given what we were about to do. This wasn’t the sort of thing we’d do if we didn’t care that strongly about one another. All of a sudden, I was glad he’d said it. That we’d brought it out into the open.
“You do?”
“Yes,” I said. “I love you, Aaron.”
“I love you, Jo.”
He swept me up in a giant, crushing hug. I returned it with force until he grunted and set me down, both of us chuckling at the reminder that I was just as strong as he was and could give a mean bearhug myself.
Not that I’m going to let that stop him from doing things like picking me up … or other things.
We settled on our feet, laughter slowly fading, though the smiles stretched to our ears.
“I’m ready,” I whispered as the moment lingered. I turned my head to the side. “I’m ready to be yours.”
Aaron stroked the side of my head, kissing my lips tenderly, the edges of his fangs brushing against them and my face as he kissed lower and lower. I trembled, nerves abruptly getting the better of me until he held me tight in his arms.
This was it. I closed my eyes as his fangs pierced my neck. There was a momentary burst of pain, but then I only felt warmth.
The shadowy Hunger inside me swept forward toward the site of the attack, a rush that left me heady and weak-kneed. Aaron didn’t let go, continuing to feed on me.
Toclaimme.
My Hunger found something in my neck and rushed forward. Ifeltit happen, like the click of plugging something into an outlet. My body lit up like a Christmas tree, and I moaned loudly as my pleasure centers were instantly overloaded. There was only one outlet, and I shook and gasped for air as I climaxed in his arms.
