He didn’twantto stop.
He wasalive, his heartbeat strong and steady, his cock rising to full attention as every exquisite drop tempted him into a deeper state of euphoria.
“Dorian,” she whispered, faint and fading fast. “That’s enough. I think you’re…”
She tried to pull away again, but she didn’t have the strength. Her muscles finally relaxed, her heartbeat slowing, the numb acceptance settling over her.
Let her go,a voice warned in his head.Release her, or you’ll kill her...
Dorian squeezed his eyes shut, desperate to drown out the voice, to focus on the craving, the hunger, the deep haze of desire buzzing through his nervous system…
“Dorian,” Charlotte whispered again.
city streets run red with blood…
“Dorian,please.”
crimson city devil strikes again…
“I can’t fight you,” she said. “I’m not… strong enough.”
no closure on unsolved murders…
“Dorian,stop!”
Dorian opened his eyes.
The reality of his situation slammed into his chest, bringing everything into sharp, undiluted focus.
He yanked her wrist from his mouth and shot to his feet.
Charlotte collapsed.
“No.No!Charlotte!” He dropped to his knees and gathered her in his arms. He’d taken too much blood; her lips were nearly blue, her skin pale and clammy, her pulse thready.
He needed to heal her. Fast.
Fucking hell, he was ready to carve open his chest and give her every last drop of blood he’d taken from her, but he couldn’t. Dorian knew death when he saw it, and she was hovering right on the doorstep. If her heart stopped while his blood was in her system, it wouldn’t heal her.
It would turn her into a monster.
“What have I done?” he breathed.
“Dorian,” she whispered, her body twitching in his arms. “It’s… it’s okay.”
“No, it really isn’t.” His throat tightened, his heart cracking in half. How could he have been so foolish? So selfish? “I won’t let you die. Do hear me, Charlotte D’Amico? I won’t let you die.”
She lifted a trembling hand, pressing it to his cheek. “You… you’ve made me feel more alive than—”
“Shh. Save your strength, love.”
He scanned the bedroom, frantic. The demon she’d blasted was still unconscious, but that wouldn’t last much longer. Dorian knew more demons were already on the way—the scent of brimstone grew stronger with every breath. And while the shove through Dorian’s penthouse window may have temporarily stunned Duchanes, there was no way it’d killed him; vampires could jump great distances and still land on their feet.
Bloody hell, he didn’t want to move her, but he had no choice. The demons were closing in. There was no telling if Duchanes would return. They couldn’t stay here another minute.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered, her eyes glazing with tears. “For… everything.”
“You’ve nothing to apologize for.”
