Page 7 of Prey

“My room?” The repetition was common. I knew her mind was trying to process an answer, but she’d have nothing register except what I commanded.

Tessa took a step to the side of me, and another. I grabbed her hand, making sure not to break our connection. Slowly, I walked with her down the hall, all the while basking in the way she stared into my depths. Here, I could make her do anything I wanted. The possibilities were endless.

The doorknob connected with my palm and I twisted, pushing it open. The light was on and I left it alone, not wanting to miss a thing. The moment we stepped through, her scent surrounded me. It was the strongest I’d ever experienced from a human. Her domain was like a treat all on its own and I suddenly didn’t ever want to leave. To smell that year after year would have been the closest to heaven I would ever get.

My legs connected with the bed and I sat down on the edge, pulling the back of her thighs so she could stand between mine. “Tonight, I’m going to make you fall in love with me, mon chaton. Then, in a few weeks, when you feel you can’t live your life without me, I’m going to kill you.”

I pulled against her hand, making her lower the top part of her body until she was at my height. “Now, kiss me.” My hand cupped her cheek and I drew her closer, brushing my lips against hers. To wait for her was pure torture. As my tongue slid over her lips, I quickly learned the true meaning. A moan left me and I crushed into her hard, unable to wait a second longer. I never broke our stare as I sucked against her tongue. My fingers buried in her long hair and I deepened our kiss, feeling myself get lost in her flavor. I could have gone a million years without food and never been hungrier than I was in this moment.

“God, you taste so good. I can’t wait to taste you everywhere.” I reached down, sliding my hand under her shirt. Smoothness, so hot it stung my cool skin, met my fingertips and I closed my eyes, savoring her heat. So easily, I could imagine my cock buried within her. She’d burn me everywhere and I was looking forward to it.

Whack!

The hit across my cheek left me in a surprise stupor, triggering the rage I kept bottled inside. It was enough to break the spell she’d put me under. And how was that even possible? She should have been under my control. Not the other way around.

Movement showed her lunging to the top side of her mattress and I grabbed her body, spinning it to slam on the bed. I dove forward, feeling pain burst into my shoulder. I looked down at the small kitchen knife she’d stabbed me with. Pink lips separated and I groaned as I lifted, pulling the blade out and dropping it to the floor.

“Big mistake, mon chaton. Big.” My knees pushed her legs apart and my fangs came down. I didn’t wait. Couldn’t.

Chapter 4

Tessa

Had I ever known pain? I wasn’t so sure as something sharp pierced my neck and what resembled fire began to seep its way into my body. My mouth opened to scream, but nothing would come except the thrashing while I fought to find air. A deep sound sent vibrations down every inch of my limbs and the stranger on top of me hooked his arm behind my knee, pulling my leg up as he moved against my most private area. Sensations shot throughout me and the pleasure mixed with the pain, leaving me fighting to decipher what I was feeling.

How did I make it stop? How did I get free?

Sucking was combined with a caress of his tongue and he arched me even more, pushing us deeper into the bed. I heard myself moan before I could process that I had. My arms shot out to the sides of me and my back bowed off the mattress until all my weight felt to be on my head. As he stole my blood to become one with his own, I didn’t have to question what was happening. Information began to filter through, leaving me crying out in agonizing noises at what I knew was feeding from me. It didn’t seem real. Or possible.

A gasp filled the room and he nuzzled into my neck, rubbing his face back and forth against me. The small sob that escaped had the creature’s head lifting. Blood was smeared across his chin and cheek. Only then did tears began to flow.

“I’m not done,” he said, lowly. “Not even close. But it doesn’t have to be like this. It can be good…for now.”

He licked his lips and glanced down at where I’d stabbed him. My hands curled into fists while I tried to stop the tears. At the fangs coming into view, my strangled denial filled the room. Anxiety had me frozen. I battled, trying to push him off or attempting to attack him again. Would he kill me? Words came rushing through and I recalled him saying he was going to—in a few weeks.

My hands shot up against his chest just as he sliced his bottom lip with his sharp fang. Blood dripped onto my chest while I fought to squirm from under his large body.

“Once I give this gift to you, you’re going to want me all the time. More so than what you would have felt from the bite alone. It’ll be better for both of us.”

I shook my head frantically.

“You don’t have a choice,” he growled. “Bend to me. Enjoy what I want to give you.”

Fingers sunk into my hair at the crown of my head while he cut his lip even more. His other hand latched to my face, holding me completely still. The steady stream that started flowing over my neck left me fighting with everything I had, but the force was immoveable. I opened my mouth to scream just as his lips massaged into mine. Blood washed over my tongue, leaving behind a metallic taste that made me ill. My teeth slammed shut, barely missing his lip, but still, he held. Pain pushed into my cheek and I tried with every ounce of strength not to cry out like I wanted. It didn’t work. I choked at the amount and texture that caught in the back of my throat.

“Swallow,” he snapped, clamping his hand over my mouth. My head turned to the side and I could feel the warmth flow down my throat. Like an electrical current, something almost alive rushed through my insides, jolting me with every zap.

“Oh….yes. Already I can feel you,” he whispered. “And soon, you’re going to know nothing but me. You’re going to love me, Tessa.”

My head was finally able to move and I turned it to the side, trying my best to throw up. It didn’t work as whatever was happening sent my body into spasms. Sensitivity heightened to almost painful portions and I felt my eyes widening as a bloodcurdling scream left my mouth. If it was from the fear or an involuntary action, I didn’t know. Suddenly, I was starting not to care.

Heat formed in the pit of my belly, growing and expanding outward with every breath I took. My gaze turned to the vampire hovering above as deep pants left me. He was attractive. More so now than I remembered before. I faded deeper into a blissful state, caught up in his full lips, now healed. Adoration had me taking in every expression he made. The sexy smile. The way he stared at me like I was the only woman he’d ever wanted.

His hand came down and his fingertips turned my face. I couldn’t stop myself from moving into his touch. A lick over where he’d bitten had me moaning and my hand blindly reached for him. How was this okay? His breaths brushed against my skin and I felt my eyes roll at the ecstasy of something so small. This was wrong…yet, my body, and now my mind, started to believe it was right.

“Yes,” he said, grabbing my wrist and pulling me to sit up. “Touch me, mon chaton. Let me feel your hands on me.”

Need surged as the fear disappeared. Had he just been looking at me fascinated? I felt in awe of the power beating against my insides. Impatiently, he shrugged off his jacket and I reached for the buttons on his shirt. With each one giving beneath my fingers, he watched me even harder. I kept eye contact, unable to break away. Not because it was like before, but because I couldn’t dare turn from him. I let the last button slide free and rose to my knees, pushing back the bloody torn material until his chest became exposed. My fingers immediately traced over where I had stabbed him. Nothing. He didn’t bear a single mark. Thoughts wouldn’t come, only actions as I slid my palm up to cup his neck.

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