He hums, dropping cool lips onto my forehead. “It’s been a strange week.”
We stay like that for a long time as I finish my drink, and then justbe—exactly what I envisioned when booking the trip. Easily an hour passes in which neither of us talk, but we don’t need to.
Eventually, he pulls me down onto his lap and strokes fingers through my hair until I doze off, only waking when he lowers me into bed and slides in beside me.
In the final minutes as I readjust and get warmed by the comforter, his low tone fills the room. “To think, silly mortal, you believe you’ll be rid of me. Like you haven’t already given yourself over, heart and soul.”
Wakingup is a repeat of yesterday, with Lucian draped around me and his touch resting possessively on my lower stomach. I stretch without shifting, keeping myself tucked tightly against him while sense and rationality lose to the rockslide of desire.
“We’ve reached Christmas day.” While exciting, it feels like my insides are frosting over. There’s only one more day left of my trip after today; I booked the place until the twenty-seventh, when I’ll begin my journey home.
He hums against my shoulder. “Christmas afternoon, if you want to be really specific.”
“My schedule is flipping into yours. Returning to my old one will be hard.”
I’m yanked beneath his body, his weight pressing me into the bed. It erases any thought that doesn’t have to do with him. “So don’t leave.”
At first, I laugh, but his grave expression tapers my amusement into an awkward chuckle. “What…like never? Lucian, I can’t not go back. For one, this isn’t even my house. Two, I have jobs.” Multiple.
“You hate your jobs. Besides, arguing about this is pointless, since I’ll win.”
Who the fuck does this vampire think he is?I’m about to tell him that too when his hands meld with mine and bring them up beside my head, pinning them to the pillow and effectively distracting me from everything else. This trip has proved how all my survival instincts are essentially non-existent, so whywouldn’this touch distract me from the serious conversation?
“It’s Christmas. You’re supposed to get everything you want today. Let’s not talk about this.”
“I’ve already gotten everything. I got my drink in front of the fireplace, a moment’s peace, and a Christmas tree. The rest is bonus. Oh, and minus that walk, but maybe it’s warmer today.”
“It’s warmer,” he confirms with an odd amount confidence. “I’d really rather you stay inside where it’s safe. Where bears don’t roam.”
“Bears are in hibernation.”
He grins wickedly and drops his head into the space by my neck. “Wolves, then. It’d be a shame if they got to bite before I did.” Playfully, he drags his human-like teeth along my shoulder, catching on my shirt. With a quirk jerk, he rips it. “Better,” he whispers into my skin before his mouth creates magic along my chest again. “Your skin was so exquisite last night?—”
It was coloured from his mouth.
“—but it’s back to normal now, and we can’t have that. I want my marks on you. Ilikeyou marked as mine.”
I think I want them too.
He clamps his teeth around my nipple over the shirt as he shuffles down the bed. My legs fall to the side to make room for him. He reaches the waistband of my pants before meeting my eyes, his black flashing to red.
“Unless you tell me no, I’ll be tasting my holiday treat now.”
All the previous reasons I pushed him away last night and yesterday morning melt into the utter need that instantly consumes me. Desire and arousal stronger than every element beyond these four walls eviscerate me. Out of some misplaced sense of righteousness—and perhaps a bit of disbelief—I haven’t let myself have him, but none of that matters any longer. It seems too unimportant compared to what could be.
“Merry Christmas, Lucian.”
His eyes darken into a molten pool with my consent. He releases my hands to divest me of my clothing, tossing it all tothe side of the bed until I’m naked. His hands, cool to the touch, stroke my thighs, parting them farther.
He makes a noise that’s entirely male and one hundred percent unearthly before inhaling deeply. Black flashes to red, and fangs slide from his upper gums, making his grin devilish. If being with him is considered a sin by religious standards, then it’s a good fucking thing I long ago decided religion isn’t for me. Let me be a sinner, so long as he’s the altar.
His nose slides up and down my thighs, exploring but not touching. Sparks of electricity and irritation arch through my back until I’m fisting the sheets on either side of me, demanding with my body that he give me what I crave.
When he doesn’t, I revert to begging, precisely as he said I’d one day do. “Touch me. Stop teasing.”
“You tease me every minute of the day, Sawyer. Everything you say, everything you do—your blood’s fuckingaromataunts me. Believe me, my actions are much kinder than yours.”
His tongue flicks out, sliding in the space at the very top of my thigh. My insides clench as I twist in his hold, trying to reach his mouth. Immortal strength pins my hips to the bed, his chuckle a backdrop to my whimper.
