Page 23 of Taste of Forever
There was no second-guessing with blood mates. It was instant. Instinctual. I knew who it was the moment I laid eyes on her.
A woman sitting at the bar on the lower floor. Wavy hair the color of dark honey spilled over her shoulders. Lush lips parted in a soft gasp when her wide blue eyes met mine.
She recognized me too, even if she didn't know how or why yet. I saw it in how still she became. She knew I was a predator, but she wouldn’t run. Her instincts knew her blood was meant to nourish me.
My blood mate had come after all, and for the first time in many very long days, hope re-emerged.
I decided to not bother with the stairs and jumped over the loft railing. My gaze remained locked to hers the whole time. I could barely feel my feet move as I approached her. She might as we had been drawing me in with a homing beacon.
Her scent became stronger the closer I got. It felt like I had been trapped in a dank cellar and was now taking deep, refreshing breaths for the first time in weeks. I wanted, no,neededher in my lungs, my pores, on my tongue, and sinking into every groove in my brain.
I came to a stop in front of her and realized I should say something before gorging myself on her blood.
“I recognized your scent,” I choked out. Her forearm, with its odd geometrical design, caught my eye. “And you have the tattoo.”
“Oh?” She looked down at her arm like she’d forgotten it was there.
“You still have the marks.” I moved slowly to not startle her, bringing my fingertips the points on her wrist where my fangs had been. “I didn’t get the chance to heal them closed.”
It felt like a lame excuse. I was supposed to take care of my blood mate, and that included licking her wounds closed so they would heal faster and not become infected.
Her large blue eyes widened in surprise, giving her a doll-like appearance. Fuck, she was pretty.Sopretty.
“You,” she said, realization lighting up her face. “You’rethe one who fed from me?”
“Yes.”
There was so much I wanted to say, so many ways I’d imagine this moment would go. But my mind was blank with awe, filled with her delightful scent but not a single coherent thought. Her heartbeat picked up speed in my ears, making my fangs ache with the memory of her perfect blood.
“I’ve finally found you. My blood mate.” I could only marvel as I drew closer, needing another inhale of that scent like a drug.
She was finally here. Finally mine.
“I’m your what?”
A chuckle escaped as I pulled her flush to me. She was funny too. It was cute how she pretended to have no idea. Why else would she be here?
I bent to kiss her and the world melted away.
Her mouth was so soft, and the soft gasp of breath lit up all my senses. I dipped my tongue between her parted lips and tasted gin, tonic water, and a hint of lime. The inside of her mouth was a cocoon of warmth I wanted to savor and sink into.
My mate’s mouth didn’t move, so I pulled lightly at her top lip, encouraging her to explore and respond. I wanted to learn how she kissed, to find out what she liked best so I could give it to her over and over.
The next thing I knew, palms shoved hard at my chest and she broke away.
“What the fuck are you doing?” she demanded loudly.
Nearby conversations stopped and I sensed heads swiveling in our direction.
I attempted a smile, but panic stormed inside me. Where had I gone wrong?
“It’s just a kiss,” I said. “We don’t have to go any further. Unless you wanted to, that is. Which I am extremely down for, by the way.” I lifted my palms in a surrendering gesture. “But totally good if you’re not.”
Her eyes that had been wide and doll-like a moment ago narrowed into slits of anger. “Why would I do that? I don’t even know you.”
“Because you’re my blood mate.” What sounded obvious to me seemed to be lost on her. “That’s why you came here, isn’t it?”
“No. I don’t even know what that means.”
