Page 8 of Prey

Somewhere deep within, something off began to push through, but I continued, leaning forward. Our lips met and I felt his arm come around my waist, bringing me in closer. The need that consumed me had never been this strong before with a human.

As if he picked up on my thoughts, he smiled. “It’s my blood in you. Our connection is unbreakable now. Even after I leave, you’ll yearn for me.”

The words were of little importance when all I wanted to do was feel. Tingling began to take over the outside of my body and I ran my fingers up, burying them in the length of his hair. I could feel myself growing so wet. I craved touch. Wanted nothing more than to have him explore every inch of my body.

As if he’d read my mind again, he pulled at the hem of my shirt, easing it up until he joined me on his knees and pulled it off. White material blurred in my peripheral vision as he threw it to the floor and I felt a fog move in. I tried to blink it away as I stared up at the man who towered over me. He tightened in my hair, tugging it back as he bent down to kiss my exposed neck. I couldn’t stop myself from reaching for his shoulders to pull him in even more as he paused over my pulse point.

“Oh God,” I moaned. “Please.” I longed for his bite. Knew nothing but what it could bring.

The grip tightened even more in my hair. “I want to drink every drop of your blood, Tessa. To have you nearly lifeless in my arms.” He groaned, slamming me to the bed and meeting my mouth with a brutality I couldn’t have cared less about. I could taste blood. The flavor was suddenly so different from before and it didn’t matter if it was mine or his.

My nails raked along his back, the desperation within me heightening to proportions so extreme, I begged for something I didn’t even know. I liked this. Even wondered why he hadn’t found me sooner.

The hardness of his erection pushed in between my legs and I cried out, tearing at his back with a force I almost couldn’t believe.

“I’m going to make your death the sweetest of them all. God, I see it. I wish I could show you.” Dark hair fell forward as his head lifted. A battle seemed to play across his features and he gave a hard jerk, as if to make whatever he was thinking disappear.

“I need…” My hips arched and my head turned back and forth.

“Your body wants my bite, but all you’re getting right now is my cock.”

With a pull, the button on my jeans popped free and my zipper broke. I felt my hand fly up unexpectedly. Tightly, I grasped his wrist, holding it with all the strength I possessed. The vampire stopped, his eyes narrowing as he looked at me.

“Impossible.” The one word sent my eyelids fluttering. He let go, covering me with his weight. “Stop thinking. Kiss me. Let me taste you.”

A warning echoed through and I didn’t understand it. I hesitantly lifted my head, meeting his lips. At the taste of his tongue, I momentarily forgot everything. I could feel my pants being pulled down and off. And then…his. He began to position above me while I took in both of us wearing our undergarments. Regardless of the fact that I wanted him, uneasiness surfaced once again. My shoulders shifted and my eyebrows drew in, confused. The man above paused.

“What the fuck?” French broke through and somehow, I knew what he’d meant without ever learning the language. “Mon chaton, look at me.” Pressure latched onto my chin, pulling up so I had to face him. Pain registered at the force and I glared at the unexpected feeling. What had happened? I’d been so blissful. So…

“That hurt,” I ground out.

“God dammit.” More French. As I began to sit, he dove forward, locking his hand around my throat. “Perhaps the fight would be better than seduction. Thing is, Tessa,” he said, hissing my name, “if I take you that way, I’ll rip out your throat before the real fun can even begin. Do you want that? Do you want to die tonight?”

Did I want to die?

“Who are you?” The question was out before I even knew I’d thought it. It was enough to have his shoulders drawing in. Fingers wove through his hair and he pushed from the bed, grabbing his clothes. There was anger, but something else.

“I don’t want to kill you yet. If I have to fight you, I will. Obviously, you’re not going to comply. Your subconscious wouldn’t have broken through if that were the case.”

“I don’t want to die,” I mumbled.

“Too bad.”

I ignored him, feeling a little security now that he was backing off. “You didn’t tell me your name.”

He glanced up as he slid his leg in his pants. “You really want to know my name? I don’t see why. You’ll be dead in a few weeks anyway. Hell, I don’t even know why I’m explaining anything to you.” His head shook in annoyance as he worked his fingers on the clasp, adjusting the waistline at his slim hips. “Marko. Marko Delacroix. And you’re Tessalyn Antoinette Kennedy. Twenty-eight years of age. Soon to be twenty-nine. If you live that long.

“You were raised in this city and never have plans of leaving. Although, you do wish to explore New York someday. But not as a singer,” he said, rolling his eyes.

“Your best friend is Hunter Anthony Moretti. You’ve known him since you were seven. You teased the idea of marrying him someday until you lost your virginity to him at the tender age of sixteen, and your desire suddenly wavered. You graduated top of your class. Were offered a free ride to the University of Texas, yet you work as a receptionist at a car dealership. You don’t speak with your parents anymore, not that you really did growing up. You find they’re too in love with each other to share it with their only daughter, so you pushed them away long ago, never caring to try to strengthen it yourself. But you’ve always preferred to be alone so it never really bothered you. Am I getting this right?”

Tears burned my eyes at the ugly way he spoke of my life. Whatever had been wrong with me before sobered with his words and I was thankful for it. I hesitantly climbed off the bed, trying to push my own anger away. I wasn’t so naïve to know if I attacked him, it would be the death of me.

“My blood told you that?”

I slid on my shirt as he reached for his. The tears were threatening more by the minute while what was happening—what had almost happened—started to sink in.

“No. I watched your life play out. It’s deep in your eyes. The details did get filled in from your blood though, even though I already knew the majority of it.”

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