“That’s why I’m craving more,” I told him, my hand curling around his nape. “You’re my other half. AndI need you.”
The dull tones on my fingertips had spread to my wrists, erasing my golden flare entirely and confirming my depleted energy.
I’d never experienced anything like it—the need to be healed or this gray coloring.
Normally, my skin paled during the day, then rejoiced in the evening as I replenished my spirit with stardust from the night sky.
But this ash-like quality—
Vesperus pressed his lips to mine, silencing my thoughts and bringing me back to him in a strong sweep of his tongue.
I moaned, my nails biting into his nape as I demanded more.
He responded by sinking his fangs into my lower lip. Then he licked away the pain while urging me to return the favor.
It was a violent approach. Almost feral in nature.
Yet it was exactly what I needed—a reminder that I wasn’t broken or lost, but his equal in every way.
I was just a little bruised.
And he was offering me what I needed to thrive. To survive. Torevitalize.
But I didn’t want blood from his mouth. I wanted it from his pulse.From his neck. A true taste, one I hadn’t indulged in yet.
I didn’t warn him.
I simplybithim.
His grip in my hair tightened as he hissed in response to my sharp movements and feral decision. But he didn’t try to pull me away.
No.
He held mecloser. Urging me to drink. Daring me to swallow as much as I could, just as he’d promised he would.
Only he’d been talking about a different part of him when he’d voiced that statement about stamina.
The part of him that’s beneath me. Hard. Ready. Pulsing with want.
It matched the savage racing of my heart, the intense yearning clawing at my insides and demanding to be sated.
This was downright animalistic.
A craving born of voracious intent. Whatever magic existed between us was taking on a new form of life,creatinga new way to thrive, and mandating our union of souls.
His blood wasn’t enough.
His kiss wasn’t enough.
Histouchwasn’t enough.
I grabbed his shoulders and straddled him, noting the ashen quality of my skin and how it was slowly inching upward to my elbows.Depleting my energy. Making me resemble the palest of moons. A starless night. A corpse without light.
I shivered, the deathlike appearance startling my mind and momentarily shocking me out of the moment.
Only for Vesperus to arch up into me with a reminder of what was beneath me,whoI’d just settled on top of, andwhathe was offering me.
Energy. Worship. A connection frayed by false rejections.
