“What of me?” she whispered, unaware she wasgoing to ask the question before she did. “What about myblood?”
His head bowed, his shoulders heaved as hisfangs extended. He craved her blood more than a dying man soughtHeaven. “You don’t know what you’re asking.”
“Don’t you want it?” She should be jumpingfor joy he’d prefer not to use her as a human blood bag, notfeeling dismayed that he may go elsewhere.
When his head lifted again, Maggie couldn’tstop herself from taking an abrupt step back. No green remained inhis eyes, only a vivid ruby red blazed out at her. She edgedfurther away when he bared his fangs. The razor-sharp pointsglistened in the hallway light. Her heart was going fast enough towin a race against a horse, but instead of turning and fleeing intoher room, she stopped backing away.
Aiden had been there for her today, and shewould be here for him now. She had no idea what this was betweenthem, but she wouldn’t turn him away, and she wouldn’t let him seekfrom another something she could give him.
“Aiden—”
“I thirst for your blood so badly I canbarely think, but you don’t know what you’re asking. It won’t beenough; I’ll want to feed from you again.”
“Will you hurt me?”
“Never.”
“Then I’m offering my blood to you.”
“You don’t know what you’re saying.”
“There are many things in this world I’llnever be able to understand or help with, but I know a smallfraction of your need for blood, and I can help. When you bit me…”She paused as she tried to think of the right words. “When you bitme, it was a rush of pleasure, unlike anything I’ve ever known. Iwantto be the one who nourishes you. Don’t go to someoneelse; come to me.”
Aiden’s hand dug into the doorway as herealized jealousy tinged her words. Perhaps she had come to carefor him too, or at least she cared for him enough to offer himthis.
“I’ll wantmore, Maggie,” he saidagain. She had to understand that.
“I’ll give you what I can, when I can, foras long as we’re in this.”
He should walk away from her. She didn’tknow what she was getting into with this, but he couldn’t resisther, and if she was willing to give him her blood, she mighteventually be willing to stay with him forever.
Releasing the doorframe, he entered the roomand closed the door.
CHAPTER 31
She wiped her sweaty palms on her jeans whenthe door closed with an audible click. The hallway light cut off,and with the drapes pulled over the windows, she couldn’t seehim.
She was in this room with a predator whorequired her blood and would take it from her. Any sane personwould flee; she didn’t move as she listened to Aiden prowlingcloser. If she escaped into her room, she believed he would let hergo, but her feet remained planted on the ground. She couldn’t denyshe was terrified, but she also couldn’t deny she’d been desperateto experience this with him again.
When he stopped before her, he stood soclose his body warmed hers and his breath whispered against herface. His hand encircling her nape caused her to gasp. She hadn’theard him move.
“You can change your mind,” he said.
The husky tone of his voice sent a shiverdown her back. “I won’t.”
He pulled her gently forward, and she bracedherself as she waited for him to strike as he had in the ambulance.Instead, his lips moved over her forehead in a tender caress. Therigidity of her muscles eased as he kissed her cheek before hislips settled on hers. Standing in the hallway, he’d appearedstarved, yet now he seemed more concerned with putting her atease.
She opened her mouth to his tongue andsighed when it slid inside. He kissed her with the leisure of a manwho had all the time in the world. He tasted of whiskey, butbeneath that, she detected the faint hint of clove. When his handsslid around to grip her ass and he lifted her, she wrapped her legsaround his waist. The rigid evidence of his erection sent deliciousshivers down her spine when it rubbed between her thighs.
I didn’t expect this to happen.Butas she thought it, she knew she lied. She’d known when she offeredher blood this is where the night would lead them.
Aiden groaned when Maggie’s legs lockedaround him and she rubbed against the head of his swelling cock. Hecontinued to kiss her, delving deeper into her mouth as she roseabove him before sliding back down his erection. His kiss muffledher sensual cry. When she repeated the motion, her nails bit intohis nape.
In two strides, Aiden carried her over tothe dresser and set her on it with the mirror at her back. Breakingthe kiss, he pulled back to take in her flushed face and swollenlips. She stared breathlessly up at him, looking so enticing ittook everything he had not to tear her clothes from her.
Take it slow; savor her.
He traced her bottom lip with the tip of hisfinger before bending to nip at it. She didn’t flinch when a beadof blood formed there. He slowly licked her blood away. That smallinflux of blood calmed him more than all the beatings, sex, anddeath he’d received and given over the years.
