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"No." He gripped her harder, brought her down on him, so the resulting impact between her clit and his pelvis sent a searing jolt of pleasure through her.
She was going to get meaner about it, but then that softening happened in his eyes. "I want to touch you," he said. "Let me touch you."
He was, in far too many ways. But she let it go. She let herself go instead, going up to that edge, ready to soar. She tightened on him like a vise, felt every delicious inch of him.
"You come for me, Quinn. Right now. Your Mistress commands it."
It took a few seconds, because the man had truly worn himself out these past several days, but there it came, at last, his hips bucking up, a groan tearing from his throat as she matched it with her own cries. The moonlight played over his face, his tanned skin and rippling muscles, and she felt the imprint of his fingers, holding her sure and strong, taking them both all the way past the finish line.
When she at last slowed, she felt a little lightheaded. Yeah, she did need to feed. She'd had Turley right there in the bar cellar, had even started the process of messing up his faculties enough he wouldn't remember what would happen, had put her lips up to his throat, and the second she inhaled and didn't smell Quinn...she couldn't.
She was going to have to get past that quick, because obviously Quinn was in no condition to give her blood...unless she gave him the second mark. That mark would not only augment his strength so she could feed from him more frequently without adverse effect, it would supplement his strength on the ranch, which he obviously needed.
Rationalize much, Selene? There was no going back from the second mark. Even though the Vampire Council frowned on giving the first mark without the intent of bringing a human into a vampire's service, there were plenty of humans running around with that geographical marker who remained oblivious to the vampire world. As a result, they were left alone. A second marked human might ascribe hearing a vampire's voice in his head to special telepathy, but since a second marking usually also accompanied the blood drinking and other inroads into the life of a vampire, only a human in an advanced state of denial, or an idiot, wouldn't realize they'd been marked by a vampire. Quinn was no idiot.
If she second marked him, then eventually left him, and another vampire stumbled on him, scented the marks...it was a death sentence, unless the vampire chose to make him a full servant and complete the process.
Her fingers tightened on him, cutting into those crescent marks she'd already left. It was in these moments she knew she'd become more vampire than human, because her fangs lengthened with savage intent at the idea of him belonging to another. If she marked him, which she wasn't going to do.
"So...no blood drinking tonight? Not hungry for that kind of food?" He was teasing her. Tired as he was, he'd obviously realized something had shifted in her mood and was trying to get her in a better place. She gave him a hooded look.
"I only have to drink every several days, unless something stresses me out or causes me additional exertion."
His thumb passed over her lips, her pale cheek. "I'm guessing you had an exerting day."
"It's not your concern. You won't be my only blood source."
"What does that mean?"
In an instant her cowboy's exhaustion vanished. She wondered if he realized he'd wrapped his fist in her hair. He pushed up to a sitting position, curling the other arm around her hips.
She knew he worried that he was somehow less a man because he was discovering he liked submitting sexually to a woman. She wished he could see his expression and body language now, because the thought of another man touching her had him reacting like a rutting bull, telling every male around hands off.
She found it far too stimulating.
She laid her hand on his chest, her eyes heating, mouth firming. "I can't drain you like that on a regular basis unless you're marked in a way to compensate for it. Don't worry, cowboy. You're the only one I want in my bed. If I have to take blood from a customer, they won't remember much except a pleasant, hazy dream."
"Was that what you were doing with Turley in the back room?"
Her fingers curved inward again, a reminder of claws. "Your spies are a little too aggressive."
"You could have done that to me? Made me forget it happened, that first night?"
"Probably. It would have been harder since we're more than a passing relationship, now that I'm working for you. It means I make a bigger imprint on you." She shifted. It was getting too real. They were having a serious discussion about the specifics of the vampire world, and she didn't see that faint flicker of skepticism necessary to restore him to a state of disbelief after she left. She couldn't let him go too far down that road. By letting herself get caught up in a fantasy, she was drawing him too deeply into her reality.
"It's time to change the subject, cowboy. I'll be tempted to show you my shrine to Satan and my Dracula movie collection." She gave him a half-smile.
Quinn kept his grip on her hair, though it eased into a more caressing hold. Still, there was enough pressure she remained tight up against him.
"You're so strong. Yet, right now, like other times, I get this glimpse of something...vulnerable." Before she could stiffen up over that, he added, "How is it you make me want to be on my knees, and yet I can't think of anything but wanting to protect you?"
His bluntness surprised her. "They're not mutually exclusive, cowboy." She touched his mouth, fingertips lingering there. "You think a man who submits is weak, less of a man? Someone who needs a woman's skirts to hide behind? There are monks throughout history who will tell you there's no greater courage in the world than that found in full, willing submission."
His hand tightened again, his other one curling around her back, bringing her to his mouth. She allowed it, making a sound in the back of her throat when he closed his eyes, gave himself to the kiss. And to her, even as he held her secure in the circle of his arms. She welcomed his strength, her body melting against his. He spoke against her lips.
"Whatever you are, whatever you need, Selene...you take it from me. I don't care what you have to do to make it work."
She drew back, gave him a serious look. "I can't mark you again, Quinn."
"Yeah, you can."
"You only say that because you don't believe any of this." She hoped so, desperately, even as she worried just the opposite was true. And worse, that she wanted him to believe her. Wanted to share all of who she was with him.
"I say it because the idea of any other guy with his hands on you, with your lips on his throat, makes me want to tear him apart. It tears me apart. That's all I know."
"Just...shut up. Go to sleep." She coiled her arms around his shoulders, pressed his head into her throat, against her chest. He kissed her sternum, squeezed her, but took them both down, sinking back into the covers, holding her close. They were still joined, his cock still hard enough to stay inside her. She stroked his hair, maintaining the embrace. He didn't say anything further, but as his hands moved on her, his rhythm eventually slowed, became more erratic. When his breath evened out, a painful smile curved her lips. Exhaustion had reclaimed him.
She'd had temporary relationships where she served as a man's Mistress without him knowing she was a vampire. It had assuaged the sexual need while she sought the blood need elsewhere. It was tough to keep the two separate, but she'd learned it was smarter to do it like that. She could say her options were too limited in this more rural area, but she wasn't in the habit of bullshitting herself.
Sliding off him, she curled up next to his body and continued to stroke his hair. She wanted the soothing motion to add to his rest. She was young for a vampire, young enough to learn new things about herself. Taking care of him--giving him the massage, tending his sore muscles, watching over him while he slept--that was part of having a servant too. She realized it made her no less dominant or in control to want to care for him.
