‘We are?’
‘Yes.’ The word is a sensual hiss. ‘Both of us … heirs. It’s a lonely place to be, at times.’
It is. And I’m tired of feeling lonely.
He turns me to face him, then traces a long finger down my cheek, a slow caress. ‘I had a sister like you, you know.’
‘Like me?’ It’s hard to breathe.
‘Human.’ His finger circles my ear, and I shiver. ‘You do not want to know what my people do to children like her.’
‘My father wanted to kill me, when I was born. He’s glad now that he didn’t.’
‘As am I,’ Joaquin murmurs. His finger slides under my chin, lifting my face to his.
Then he kisses me.
ChapterTwenty-One
JUST A KISS
The kiss is gentle, at first. Then it deepens, our tongues tangling as he pulls me closer, his mouth slanting across mine. I tilt my head as his lips trace my jaw, kiss along my collarbone.
It’s pretty fucking nice.
But it’s not warm. Joaquin is as cool as the stone statues nearby and, even though his touch awakens fire in me, it lacks the heat, the rasp of callus I had with Michael.
This is not the moment to think of Michael.
Joaquin’s hands trace my corseted sides, then one slides inside my dress, his thumb rubbing across my nipple as he deepens the kiss further. I gasp, arching into his touch. My tongue slides across his teeth, then catches on one of his fangs, which are fully dropped. I taste blood. It’s like a cold shock.
‘I’m sorry.’ Joaquin pulls back, his hand coming out of my top. ‘I can stop, if you like.’ He licks his lips, his tongue flicking across his fangs. Tasting my blood.
I blush, hotter than flames. Bloodplay during sex is part of things for vampires, and I can’t deny that I’m turned on. But this is madness. I literally just met him, and now I’m alone in a garden, kissing him? I shouldn’t be doing this. I turn away, adjusting my dress, not wanting to tempt him any further.
Yet there’s a part of me that’s tired of doing what I should. The part that led me to run away with Kyle, to witness the Moon Harvest, to find the strength to kill him. Varin told me to listen to the song I carry, the intention in my heart. And I can’t deny I’m attracted to Joaquin; I’d have to be blind not to see how sexy he is.
‘Is there something wrong?’ Joaquin waits, panther-still in the dark.
‘No. Nothing’s wrong. I just … there’s a lot on my mind.’
‘Like what?’ His lips graze my cheekbone, cold fire.
Like why you’re all over me, when we’ve just met.I take a step back.
‘Why are you here?’
‘In these gardens, with you?’ He smiles. ‘Or here, at your ball?’
‘Both.’
‘I’m in these gardens with you because I want to be. I’m at the ball because you invited me, remember?’
All of this sounds perfectly reasonable. He takes my arm again, steering me along another path, all coiled strength, his presence protection enough for anything that might be out here. Yet something in me is still wary. I’ve trusted too quickly before, and it led to betrayal.
‘What I’m interested in, though,’ he continues, ‘is why you invited me.’
I pause. ‘I invited you because I wanted you to come.’
