Page 15 of Claim of Blood
When Leo glanced behind him, Adam stood watching with predatory intensity. Already zipped up, he looked disheveled in a way that made Leo’s spent cock twitch with renewed interest.
Leo shifted uncertainly, mind fuzzy as he tried to figure out how to clean up, when Adam suddenly yanked him to his feet. Leo watched through heavy-lidded eyes as the vampire reached for his briefs and jeans, muttering what sounded like ancient curses at the tight denim. A single nail extended like a blade, and before Leo could process what was happening, Adam sliced through his briefs, tearing them away and tossing the ruined cotton aside.
Leo’s breath caught. Would Adam fuck him again? The thought floated through his pleasure-addled mind, unbidden.
Adam roughly yanked his jeans up, fastening them with quick, efficient movements. Then Leo was being dragged toward the back of the garage, stumbling slightly as Adam’s cum continued leaking from him, creating an obscene image that the vampire noticed with satisfaction.
A steel door appeared in the shadows. Adam wrenched it open and shoved him through. The world tilted as Leo all but tumbled down a flight of stairs, his knees hitting concrete hard at the bottom.
Strong hands hauled him up before he could catch his breath. Leo looked back up the stairs just in time to see the heavy door swing shut with an ominous double click and the electric hum of locks engaging.
Adam dragged him down a wide hallway, the space oddly comfortable despite being underground. Leo’s mind began to clear with each step, awareness creeping back. Minutes passed, and full clarity slammed into him like a freight train. Oh god. He’d let an ancient vampire fuck him against a wall. His thighs were sticky. Every step made him feel it—Adam’s cum leaking down his leg, seeping into the denim. It was obscene. It wasownership. He should’ve been ashamed, and he was—but not enough. Not enough to stop the heat curling low in his stomach all over again.
Terror seized his chest as reality set in. This powerful, ancient creature was dragging him deeper underground, to god knows where. Leo’s heart began to race for entirely different reasons than before. He tried to pull away, but Adam’s grip remained implacable.
“Are you back with me now, beauty?” Adam’s voice was calm, almost clinical.
Leo stared at him. “What?”
“The compatibility.” Adam’s pace didn’t slow. “We’re highly compatible. The first...” he paused, seeming to search for the right word, “...claiming can be overwhelming. Especially for the human.”
Leo’s mind spun. “What are you talking about?” He tried to jerk free again, but Adam’s grip held firm.
“It’s a biological response,” Adam continued, as if discussing the weather. “Your body overrides the natural predator-prey fight-or-flight response through pleasure. Blood-drunk, if you will. Makes humans more receptive to a vampire. Less likely to panic.”
Leo would have laughed if he weren’t so terrified. This sounded insane. But then again, he’d just submitted completely to a creature he’d been trained since childhood to kill. Had all but begged for it.
Leo’s mind tripped over one word. “Claiming?” His voice cracked. “What does that mean?”
Adam sighed, the sound seeming to carry centuries of weariness. He stopped them abruptly, turning to face Leo. “The mark on your neck will never fade. I...” For the first time, the ancient vampire seemed uncertain. “I apologize for that. I hadn’t intended to make it permanent. The mating got away from me.”
“Permanent…” Adam started walking again, but Leo’s mind had frozen.
A permanent bite mark.
On his neck.
Anyone could see it.
Panic clawed up his throat as he imagined his family’s reaction. Uncle Stefan would want to kill Leo himself. His breathing became erratic, body trembling.
Adam spun around, one hand gripping Leo’s jaw and forcing their eyes to meet. “Calm down,” he commanded softly.
The panic... dissolved. Leo’s heart rate settled, and the trembling ceased. When Adam released him, they remained standing still in the wide hallway.
Leo stared at him. “What did you just do?”
“Compulsion,” Adam said matter-of-factly. “It typically requires significant magical effort, but with high compatibility...” He shrugged. “It’s as natural as breathing.”
The implications hit Leo like a cold shower. This vampire could command him to do anything, and he’d have no choice but to obey.
“You know I’m a hunter,” Leo murmured.
Adam’s response was to grab the hem of Leo’s shirt, yanking it up to expose his ribs. His eyes fixed on the tattoo there—a sword crossed with a crossbow. Three hash marks scored the blade.
Three kills.
Adam let the shirt fall, his expression grim. “Yes. I know exactly who you are, Leopold von Rothenburg. Your bloodline hasn’t changed much since your ancestor killed my sister.” His voice caught slightly on the name. “Helena Konstantin.”
