Page 95 of Kiss of Light

She focused her night vision and tried to see among the trees.

“Lemar?”

Nothing. But the hair rose on her arms and she was convinced she was being watched.

She started moving forward again, keeping the trees to her right. But the feeling of being observed grew, and suddenly she knew he was stalking her. Keeping pace with her.

Hunting her.

Her throat went dry.

Maybe she’d seriously underestimated how far gone he was. Maybe she’d just signed her own death warrant by stupidly provoking a starving Vetali.

The cut she’d inflicted on herself had long since healed but the dried blood was still on her chest. A thin rivulet had run between her breasts. She closed the shirt, buttoning it up.

As if that would help.

“Lemar, I’m going back to the Spider now. I shouldn’t have done this. I’m sorry.”

She kept her voice steady, knowing the tiniest hint of nervousness would mark her out as prey.

Another growl of thunder broke the stillness. A low rumbling snarl. Except, she realised belatedly, it wasn’t. It was Lemar.

She ran.

This time she wasn’t faking it. This time she ran for her life, arms pumping, breath coming in short spurts as she put as much distance as she could between her and the trees.

She shimmered every other step, her goal the safe, welcoming light of the Spider. Impervious to weapons, Shade had said. She fucking well hoped that included blood-crazed vampires.

Lightning forked overhead, closely followed by thunder. She felt the first small spots of rain on her face. The air felt heavy, sultry, as if it was waiting to burst.

She started to believe she’d make it. She had never moved this fast. There were no sounds of any pursuit behind her. The Spider was just up ahead, she was nearly there, just a few more…

He took her from the side. She was knocked off her feet as he slammed into her in a full body tackle. They flew across the grass at dizzying speed and she braced for the impact. At the last second he twisted in mid air so that he took the brunt of the landing on his back.

They rolled several yards before coming to a stop. He was naked, his smooth muscled body lying heavy on hers and pinning her to the ground. His mouth was at her throat before she could speak.

She felt the smooth edge of his fangs slide along her skin, the sensation both sinister yet sensuous.

Panicked, she started to shimmer.

“Don’t.” His voice was hoarse. He lifted his head and let her see his eyes. “Stay.”

She searched his face. She had never seen him so wild, so feral. Veins pulsed beneath the surface of his skin and his fangs gleamed white.

But he was holding himself back with every last vestige of control he had left. Waiting for her permission.

He was still in there. And he needed to feed.

She turned her head and offered him her neck.

Forty One

With a groan he sank his teeth deep into her. She cried out as he sucked at the first rush of blood, unable to help himself. His throat worked as he gulped again and again, her taste like nectar to him. Honey and wine.

Tala bit her lip as the first stab of pain eased, to be replaced by languid warmth that spread through her body. She didn’t resist as he growled and bit deeper, holding her so tightly she could barely move.

Her nipples tightened under the shirt, the friction of the cotton making them unbearably hard. Heat bloomed low in her belly, wetness spilling between her legs even as her blood spilled into his mouth.

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