“He’s got a thankless job. On the rare occasion he gets help that’s actually useful, he’s very appreciative of it. The clan will protect you for life now.” I kissed the side of her neck and smiled at the resulting shiver passing over her skin. “And I just loved seeing you in your element, Science Barbie. You’re sexy as hell when you’re doing science. Will you tell me more about it?”
Her steps faltered and made the front of my body press deliciously against her backside.
“You really want to know more about what I do?”
“Hell yes I do. I want to know all about your passions and interests.” My arms tightened around her. “Everything that goes on in that sexy big brain of yours.”
A laugh bubbled out of her as she resumed walking. “Well, you might not find forensics all that interesting. And it’s definitely not sexy.”
“Oh I can definitely prove that wrong, scientifically.” I kissed her neck again as we approached the Blood ‘til Dawn compound. “Everything you do is sexy.”
“Laith…” My name left her mouth in a soft, breathy sigh that hardened me into iron. Her pulse also fluttered beneath her skin in the most tantalizing way. My fangs ached with a dull throb. I hadn’t fed in days and my self-control was unraveling.
“Heather?” It was both a question and a plea, and she seemed to understand instinctively.
“Yes.” Her head turned, mouth brushing against mine in a soft kiss. “Yes, Laith. I want to.”
Those words were gasoline on the embers I’d purposely kept low and calm while she recovered. Now my desire roared for her in every way, as a mate and a blood source. Even so, as we entered the compound and bypassed the main kitchen, I hesitated.
“Are you sure?” My question was low and husky. “Do you want to eat something first? Or rest?”
She turned to me, arms encircling my neck. Her eyes were alert and just as hungry as I felt, though not for food. A rosy blush darkened her cheeks. There was plenty of blood in her now, but I wanted to hear her say it.
“I don’t want anything but you right now, Laith.”
“Fuck.” I took her hand and made a beeline for the basement level. I wasn’t opposed to having her right there on the counter, but there was no telling when the others would show up. She was a feast for my eyes only.
We made it to my apartment and she paused at the threshold to my bedroom. My fangs were full-on stabbing my lower lip and aching painfully, but if she was having second thoughts, I would endure it. A blood mate relationship was only as good as the blood source was satisfied.
“Something wrong?” I tried to stay lighthearted, but my voice had gone low with a needy rasp. I felt like I would die if I didn’t have a taste of her soon.
Heather was looking at the bed, the covers still messy and unmade from when we’d gotten up at dusk. “Can I…request something?”
“Anything.” I pushed her hair behind her ear and stared at the curve of her neck. “Anything you desire is yours, Heather.”
Her eyes fell half-closed, head tilting slightly as if to extend her neck for me. “What if I asked you to…to act out the fantasy you told me about?”
I didn’t think my desire for her could rise any more, but it surged in me like a tidal wave. “You want me to take you as ifhewere watching us?”
She nodded, her eyes shifting to mine. “Show him and me what it’s like to be yours. What it means to win me.”
I was painfully hard and nearly panting with anticipation. My imagination ran wild at everything I could do, all the ways I could claim her. I ached to toss her on the bed right then, sink into her with my cock and fangs until exhaustion claimed us both at dawn. But clarifications had to be made first.
“Heather, I am…beyond grateful that you would want to act out this fantasy with me.” I cupped her face, fingers stroking both sides of her neck. “But you need to be aware that it’s notgentle. Claiming you is taking you roughly. I’d be biting you in various places. Intimate places. It may get messy. Your pleasure is my priority, always, but there might be some pain along with it. If you want me gentle, I will absolutely treasure and worship you in bed. But that’s not what this particular fantasy is. We don’t have to act it out. You’re already mine.”
I kissed her forehead and drew her into my chest. “If you like it rough, it’ll be enjoyable and maybe cathartic. I don’t need to prove a fucking thing to some loser human male. I won already. So I’ll leave it up to you. As long as you’re mine, I’ll always be satisfied.”
Heather melted into me as I spoke. Her cheek had rested on my chest and her arms held loosely around my waist. Now, she pulled back and gave me a challenging look.
“What are you waiting for, vampire? Claim your blood mate.”
My hesitation lasted only a moment longer before I yanked her forward. She crashed into my chest and I captured her lips with my teeth—not hard enough to draw blood, just enough to keep her in place. Heather softened, mouth parting with a little moan that threatened to undo me.
I released her lip and kissed her deeply, teeth scraping and tongue surging. My palms wrapped around her upper arms, holding her exactly where I wanted her. I fought to stay rational, constantly reminding myself to slowly increase the intensity, despite her consent. She still didn’t know what she was fully getting into because she had never been truly taken by a vampire before. All of our previous feedings had been child’s play in comparison.
This would be on another level, and if she wasn’t prepared, it could become too much.
After a few minutes of bruising kisses I angled my mouth just enough to let a fang prick her lip. Heather startled with a soft gasp, but she was not deterred. She reached her tiptoes to kissme again, and the flavor of her blood mixed with the natural taste of her was the final snap of my control.