“Wonderful.”
We didn’t move or speak, yet the situation wasn’t awkward. His gaze caressed my face as his hand couldn’t, and a new type of power rose within me—the power of seduction, something I’d never experienced.
He scratched the back of his neck. “I’d better search for Myrtha.” A clean, soapy scent wafted from him. “I would like to borrow one of her wilis. To feed,” he added in a hurry.
“I’m a wili.” My conversation skills were unimpressive. The money Papa had spent on my governess had been wasted.
His mouth twitched. “Indeed, you are.”
“You could feed from me.”
He frowned. “No. You’ve just recovered.”
“I’m fine. Truly. I wouldn’t mind helping you.”
He looked torn. “Don’t you find me frightening?”
“Not anymore.” Quite the opposite. I wanted to hold him and protect him.
“Are you sure?”
I stepped into the hallway. “Let’s go to your bedroom.” I almost winced at my boldness. “But let’s be quick. I don’t want to be seen in my dressing gown.”
A combination of anticipation and anxiety knotted my stomach. I changed my mind a dozen times before finding myself alone with him.
Seemingly reading my mind, he asked, “Have you changed your mind?” He tilted his head, and his dark hair caught my attention.
“No.” I lay on the bed as Fiona had done and started to expose my neck better, but he stopped me.
“Roll up your sleeve.”
He hadn’t touched me yet, but I was already breathing quickly.
He sat next to me and focused on my arm with deep interest. “I’m going to bite you here.” He drew a circle in the air over the crook of my elbow. “I’ll be gentle.”
The husky way he said that tempted me to beg him not to be.
The muscles in his neck contracted and strained in the effort to control himself. My breath caught when he brushed my skin with his lips. It was a simple, light gesture, but it sent a tingle through my body.
Then the tip of his tongue darted over my skin, and I reclined my head as pleasure hummed through me.
“Why not the neck?” I whispered, shamelessly all breathy.
“Not this time. The neck is too intimate.” His dark eyelashes fluttered up as he gave me an intense stare. “It’ll be more difficult for me to stop when I should.”
“Oh.” Another quick shiver slithered down my back.
He kissed the soft spot before grazing my skin with his teeth, but I wasn’t frightened. Quite the opposite.
“I’m going to bite you now.” His breath caressed my skin.
I nodded, not trusting my voice to remain steady.
The warmth of his mouth stroked my skin. There was a light prick, which I’d barely noticed. The sting of a rose thorn would be more painful.
He started to drink with gentle, slow pulls. A soft sound came from him, halfway between a cat’s purr and a moan.
The sensation of Alex’s silky lips around my arm while he drank my blood was like being kissed and caressed and worshipped on every inch of my body at the same time. It was pain and ecstasy rolled up together, both light and darkness.
