Page 33 of Vampires of Eden: Oliver
“Wh-what can I have?” I whisper, lifting my head a little to see him. He smirks in that way where I know he’s pleased with something I’ve said. I haven’t known Aries long, but I notice his different smiles. The varying depths and intentions behind them.
Aries brushes his nose into me. My heart is so light that I might fly away—just levitate right up and off of this stage.
“Hm, I do like that answer,” he whispers. “Very much. You make me nervous, Oliver Blakeley, but you keep surprising me. I’m not sure what to make of you.”
“Why do I make you nervous?” I ask, matching his hushed tone, completely absorbed in his presence and nearness. His earthy, delicious scent and the warmth and firmness of his hands. I close my glowing eyes and I can sense my nature bubbling and swelling with joy.
Aries tilts his head, then softly, his lips touch mine. My shoulders tense as I inhale. He pulls back, noting my hesitation and looking into my eyes. “No?”
“Yes, but… I don’t know how to kiss.” My palms clench his hands at the mortifying confession. “Well—it’s like, I’m not good at it. Or anything like this, honestly.”
I’m anxious as words like “cold fish,” “nerd” and “stiff” slam to the forefront of my brain despite the rosy-pink cloud of desire and excitement I feel for this vampire.
I want to kiss him—to at least try—but I don’t want him to be disappointed.
Aries lifts his hands to cradle my head, lacing his fingers in my hair with his thumbs cupping my ears. The heat of his palms against my skin is divine. “I don’t believe you.” He bumps my nose again. “Just… move with me, slowly. Taste me.”
My cock stiffens at that. I would definitely, absolutely love to taste him. Every bit of him. Inside and out.
As I nod, he brings me to his mouth once more. His lips are parted as we connect, so I part mine a little as well. His are so full and soft, and they playfully dip between mine as he moves. My heart is in my throat and I’m insanely nervous, but I really like this. So much.
Carefully, I move with him, taking a chance and sliding my tongue forward to taste his bottom lip. The second time I do it, our tongues touch and it surprises me. I gasp, and when my mouth opens wider, he glides his tongue against mine and I swear my mind ascends to a higher plane of existence. The sensation is warm, wet and perfect.
My shoulders drop. I relax, and as I kiss him, I realize that he tastes like the woods. When the air is clean and I can smell the flowers floating on the breeze. He tastes like summer, sunshine and freedom. Lazy, peaceful days and reading in the shade. I don’t know how, but all these sensations overwhelm me as I relax and our mouths dance in a new rhythm I’ve never known.
The movement and flow between us feels completely natural. Innate.
Aries’s hands hold my head captive. The kiss is getting so deep that I’m losing my grip on my nature. It’s swirling, telling me it wants to be free and radiate outward—to let this vampire know that we want him.
Only him. He is my choice.
My palms rest at his hips, and I want to slide them up his spine and truly let go, but he pulls away from the kiss. Breathless, surprised, my eyes are still burning like fire when I open them.
“You lied to me,” he says, brushing his lips against mine. He tilts his head and kisses my cheek. “You’re very good at this.”
My heart pounds hard in my chest and my nature feels electrified. I can barely speak but I want to kiss him again. I want more. “I have been told otherwise.”
“They were wrong.” He lifts his head and stares into my eyes for a long moment. Watching. Examining.
Then, he sighs, blinking as if he’s awakened from a dream as he steps back. “I should not do this with you. We can’t do this.”
ChapterTwelve
“We can’t do this.”
The searing heat behind my irises fades out. The sudden seriousness in Aries’s tone sobers my mind and body.
“Why?” The question comes out timidly. I’m not even sure what he means by “this.” Kissing? Talking candidly and being alone together?
“Why?” he repeats, and there’s an incredulous edge to his voice that makes me nervous. “Let’s run down the list, shall we, my young lord? You’re an Eden purebred—engaged to be married to a literal prince in less than a month. And yet, your eyes keep alighting for me. You are discreetly seducing me even though, by all accounts, I am ‘beneath’ you and there’s no future between us. There’s no chance for anything other than a quick thrill before your wedding day. Is that what you want from me?”
The dark, twisted miasma of shame coils itself around my ribcage and slinks into my throat, making it harder to breathe. How could I be so stupid?
I step back, shaking my head. “I’m not trying to—I’m so sorry I—”
“No, Oliver.” Aries reaches out and takes hold of my wrists to pull me back into his space. His grip is firm as he looks into my eyes. “An apology isn’t what I want. What I need is an honest conversation. Because if I give in to you… if I submit to the seduction of your nature, I’m the one who will be hurt in the long run.I’mthe one who will suffer.”
He breathes in, slowly working his jaw. “I have to decide if I’m comfortable with that.”
