Page 34 of Last Shot at Love

Frustrated with my raging sex drive, I closed my eyes and shifted back to my less provocative human form. It was time to focus on the important things in my life.

Moving to the desk, I flipped open my laptop and began scanning the list of emails I’d received since I’d fallen asleep.

My assistant, Sara, was doing an amazing job of keeping up with them, but that didn’t stop my anxiety from flaring to life. Why had I thought I could sneak away for a week in the middle of handling multiple company acquisitions?

Oh yeah, because this was the week I’d been assigned to meet my mate, and P-Harmony had a nonnegotiable policy when it came to those dates.

I had to admit, it was going to be a relief to attend the after-signing celebrations with a plus one. But at that moment, I was questioning my priorities.

My phone chimed with a new message, and I flicked the screen to read it. It was Sara confirming that everything was being handled, and she knew my phone number if something popped up.

Still feeling off balance and as though I should be doing something productive, I slowly closed my laptop.

My eyes drifted out the open patio doors to the azure blue sea. What was I supposed to do now?

The growling of my stomach reminded me it was time to eat and find some caffeine before I did anything else.

Grabbing my room key and slipping into a pair of low-heeled sandals, I left the room in search of sustenance and the only thing vampires liked more than blood…Coffee.

My body hummed as I propelled myself through the water. Just the small taste of Beryl’s blood had energy flowing in my veins as though I’d injected myself with pure caffeine.

I wanted more… and I wanted it with a craving so powerful I feared myself.

Octopus shifters didn’t drink blood, nor did our bodies need it to survive like a vampire. However, we were known for our intense curiosity. My species was driven to touch, taste, and explore anything we could get our tentacles on.

I’d been captivated by the bright red drop of blood that had beaded on Beryl’s lip. When she’d smeared it with her finger, the desire to taste it had been irresistible.

If it had tasted like normal blood, my curiosity would’ve been sated.

But when I discovered her blood was spiced with cinnamon and honey… I’d wanted more. I’d lost myself in her taste, and the feel of her body pressed against mine, and my beast had taken advantage of it. He’d surged forward with a strength that made it impossible to hold back the shift to my split form.

When the little minx had purposefully cut herself a second time, and her crimson nectar coated my tongue, I’d nearly mounted her on the spot.

Little did she know how close I’d come to impaling her on my mating tentacle. Only by pinning that tentacle to the bed had I managed to stop myself. My actions—or lack thereof—had annoyed my beast, but he’d turned his attention to exploring her body.

And oh, what a body it was!

In both human and vampiric form, she was completely and utterly built for mating. I’d met more than a few sirens over my long life, and they had nothing on my sex-kitten mate.

And her taste….

My body slowed to a stop at the memory. Did Beryl know that octopuses possessed the ability to taste through their suckers?

This morning had been more erotic than anything I could have imagined. Her blood had coated my tongue, tasting like fine red wine from Poseidon’s table, while the suckers busy between her legs discovered the sweet nectar hidden there.

Would it taste the same on my tongue as it had on my suckers?

The beast in my mind stirred, his curiosity roused.

This is vital information. We must return and demand to taste her.

No, I was not returning to the room until I wore out my muscles and felt sure I was too tired to get us into trouble.

I desperately wanted to give Beryl time to adjust to having a mate. She’d been clear that she was open to attending to all my biological needs, but just hearing her refer to intimacy in such cold terms had reinforced my resolve to not take things all the way until she could view it as I did… that we were making love.

Resisting my alluring mate was painful. I wanted to take her gentle and rough, slow and fast, tender and hard. But not until I knew it would mean something to her.

Because right now, she still viewed our marriage as a business transaction.

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