Page 51 of Kiss of Light

He licked at her gently until she was spent. When the last of her shudders had passed, he kissed her stomach, then the skin between her breasts where her sweat was drying, and finally the curve of her neck.

“You are astonishing,” he told her. She turned with a contented sigh and snuggled into his chest.

“You were pretty astonishing yourself, vampire.” She pressed her lips to his collarbone and he shivered as he felt her warm breath on his skin. Her eyes flew open.

“Wait. What about you? Are you still….?” She reached down and touched him. He was as hard as a rock. “Lemar, let me…”

He caught her hand.

“No. I won’t take advantage of the fake emotions produced by feeding.”

“I’m not some innocent virgin, Lemar,” Tala said chidingly. “I’m a five hundred year old demon. I’m not exactly untouched.”

His brows drew down.

“Nevertheless. I will not feed and fuck."

“How romantic,” she teased.

“Trust me. You’ll thank me for it later. I know how you feel about Vetali.”

“Some of you aren’t so bad.”

“You don’t know what you’re saying. My venom is in your system.”

“Even so. I’m not the kind of woman who leaves a man high and dry.” She gave him a wicked grin and hooked a leg over his, pushing her pelvis towards him. “I’m inviting you in, vampire.”

He laughed despite himself, and Tala thought how utterly beautiful he was. Which was stupid, because all vampires were beautiful, that was their thing. But Lemar… Lemar took her breath away.

His laughter died. They stared at each other for a long moment.

“You saved my life.” He stroked his thumb across her cheekbone. “Twice, now.”

“You saved mine too. Is your back all right?”

“The wound has healed. Thanks to you.”

“And see? I’m still alive. No feeding frenzy. Throat still intact.” She pressed against him and her breasts rubbed against his chest. “So let’s finish what we started.”

He wanted nothing more than to roll her onto her back, push her thighs wide and plunge inside her. Drive into her soft folds and feel her clenching around him. Thrust again and again until he made her…

He forced himself to get to his feet.

“I thank you for the gift of your blood. But we’re done now.”

He walked to the shower room and closed the door, conscious of her hurt expression. It was for the best. She would see that when the toxins from his bite wore off.

He stripped off his trousers and stepped under the shower jet, letting the water wash away her scent. He tried not to think of her as he gave himself the release he desperately needed.

But it was her body he dwelled on as he stroked the length of his erection. Her lips as he brought himself to climax. And her face as he shuddered helplessly into his hand.

Twenty One

“Thank you again, Avery. For everything.” Tala dropped her bag into the cargo bed of the Chevy. “Especially the clothes.”

Lemar lounged against the hood of the pickup. He was wearing a clean shirt and jeans, courtesy of Avery’s extensive wardrobe. He should have been grateful; instead he felt a strange animosity to this mysterious friend of Tala’s.

Maybe it was the way he looked at her when he thought no-one was watching. Lemar knew he had no right to be territorial. But the knowledge that this fae had once had his hands all over her made him want to rip his throat out.

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