Page 94 of Love Bites

LUKE

She trembled at my touch, her whole body weak with need as I drank in her delicious scent. It was like a soft rain falling on my parched senses.

But her eyes were frightened.

I would take away her fear. Take away everything but the pulse of her need and the hum of her pleasure.

She was the only thing I could think of from the moment I ended my hunt. I had paced away the hours until the ceremony.

The moment I emerged from the labyrinth I saw her energy pulsing for mine.

But they were expecting a show - these silly witches and their ceremonies. Besides, I didn’t want to throw myself at her like a desperate pup. So I made my way around the circle, feigning interest here and there until I reached her.

She stilled under my hand, though I could feel the heat of her blush.

She was ready.

She was mine.

“Are you coming with me now?” I growled. “Or are we playing out the whole silly charade?”

She blinked at me, her eyes were darkest blue, like the depths of the ocean.

“Lord Protector,” the headmistress’s voice invaded the private bubble that had encircled the girl and me. “Bella is new to us.”

“Allwomen at the school are subject to the law,” I snarled.

“She only arrived at the school today,” Hart continued, infuriating me with her calm, unspoken plea.

New.

That made perfect sense. It was why I had not picked up her intoxicating scent until today.

“Can you choose another?” Hart asked hopefully. “This one does not even know the law yet.”

“No,” I growled. “But we’ll do this by the books.”

I gazed down sorrowfully at the object of my desire.

She blinked back at me in terrified wonder and my heart wrenched in my chest. I did not want to leave her, even for an instant.

“Be sure she knows the rules by the time I come back for her,” I said, wrenching my gaze from Bella’s to fix the headmistress with my most ferocious stare.

To her credit, Winifred Hart didn’t even blink.

“We know the rules, Lord Protector,” she said calmly.

I nodded to her, drank in one last glance at the trembling girl, and walked back into the maze, my mind pulling to pieces as if I were leaving part of it behind in the courtyard.

The beast howled in my chest.

Soon,I promised.Soon.

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