Page 353 of Halfblood Deceived

Zeydan kissed under her earlobe.

After she was done having her little freak-out, he gently urged her to rise on her knees with one hand. Aella bit her lip as he slid out of her, creating a small aftershock. Given the way his eyes hooded, and he breathed hard, he felt the same way. She climbed off him with still shaky limbs and sat beside him.

Zeydan kissed her. “I’ll be right back.”

She nodded, watching his beautiful backside again. Once he was inside the bathroom, Aella gingerly stood, picked up his shirt, and put it on. It smelled gloriously like him—bamboo, tangerines, cypress, and clean vampire male. She padded toward the bed, feeling boneless, but not as tired as she thought she’d be after that.

Zeydan’s blood; she realized. It always makes me feel strong.

She smiled. Her fangs were still not fully up, but she wasn’t hungry for blood anymore, or at least, she didn’t think so…

A realization hit her—Zeydan hadn’t fed on her.

Her eyes widened. On autopilot, she sat on the plush bench at the foot of the bed.

In a small, logical corner of her brain, Aella knew that Zeydan had probably held back because she had been severely injured just a day before. But part of her feared he didn’t find her blood appealing.

It wouldn’t be the end of the world, right?

And he’d said he liked the way she smelled before.

But he hadn’t bitten her the day of the ball and she had changed now—

“Aella.”

She jolted, blinking at Zeydan, who sat beside her on the bench gloriously naked, brow furrowed.

“Is everything alright?” he asked, licking his lips. “Are you feeling well, my love?”

Aella nodded.

Zeydan tilted his head. “Are you sure?”

He was worried. Aella didn’t want him to be worried or to think for a second she regretted anything.

“Don’t you want to bite me?” she blurted.

He blinked, examining her expression for a second. The tension between his brows eased. “Yes, I very much do. But… You are barely settling into your change and I thought perhaps we could wait. Also, do you know what it would mean?”

Aella nodded.

“Tell me,” he insisted.

“It would mean that, if you drink from me often, you can track me down wherever I am unless there’s a strong spell at play. And I could do the same.” Aella had learned this from Kamilla and Aylana. “And it would create a bond that can’t be broken easily.”

He took her hand. “And you still want it?”

“Yes.” She realized a monosyllabic answer wouldn’t convince him, so she swallowed down her shyness. “I’ve wanted it since… Well, since the day I admitted to knowing you were the wolf. I didn’t know what it meant then, but I did know at the ball, and I wanted it then, too. And I regretted not having the courage to ask you for it when I thought I’d never see you again.”

A shadow of anguish crossed Zeydan’s jade eyes. He leaned to capture her mouth in a tender kiss, then met her gaze. “I’ve wanted it since day one.” He half smiled. “I was in denial for a long time, but instinctively, I’ve always wanted your blood. I’d be honored if you let me drink from you, Aella.”

She kissed him. “Then drink from me. Tonight. Now.”

Zeydan lifted her with his usual ease and set her on his lap, straddling him. He kissed her deeply, with that intensity that blurred any thoughts that weren’t yes-please-now. She rolled her hips instinctively, and his hard shaft brushed against the most sensitive part of her, making her moan. She was ready for him—for his fangs in her neck, for him to bury himself inside her again.

Zeydan undid the buttons of his pilfered shirt. Aella let go of him to let him slide the soft fabric down her arms and toss the shirt wherever it fell. She pushed against him again.

He smiled into their kiss and pulled back to meet her gaze. “Do you want me inside you when I drink from you?”

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