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I yelped then bit my lip, trying to keep my voice down. “I thought you were going to stay away from me from now on.”

“I was wrong. It’s already too late for me. I cannot stay away from you.”

At his admission, my heart swelled.

His fangs extended before my eyes, and he dragged them along the inside of my thigh. The sensation was so erotic, I almost came from that alone. A tiny prick breaking skin, and the euphoric sensation from the bite we’d shared only hours ago flooded me.

Throwing my head back, I groaned, hoping to gods my mother and sister wouldn’t hear me. Julian’s bite was light this time, barely drawing any blood, but the feeling was just as strong. His fingers worked inside of me as his thumb pressed against the bundle of nerves seeking attention. I bucked my hips beneath his ministrations, climbing higher and higher until I came apart for him.

His tongue ran up my thigh, closing the wound and tasting me once again with a growl. Then he climbed over me, positioning himself at my entrance, still slick and wanting.

“I am a weak man, love. You should tell me to leave—”

Him calling me love ripped away any lingering hesitation. “Fuck me,” I ordered, pulling him to me by the hair.

He gasped and thrust into me, burying himself inside and nearly bringing me to the brink all over again.

“Harder,” I said, rolling my hips.

He adjusted his position and slammed into me again and again.

“Julian,” I moaned, head thrown back in ecstasy.

“Charlotte,” he answered with reverence that didn’t match the roughness and speed I’d demanded of him.

I gripped the sheets, pulling them free as he lifted me off the bed with his body, holding inside of me while slipping his hand between us yet again, coaxing me over the edge and roaring his own release.

We collapsed in a tangle of limbs, sated and smiling.

“There’s a sound dampening spell on the walls and doors,” he said, brushing my hair from my face. “I asked Hazel for a favor.”

“Phew,” I said, snuggling closer. “What time is it?”

“Four,” Julian said. “I had to check on you. I felt terrible about leaving things the way I did, and you were having a disturbing dream, so I lay with you. I swear I hadn’t intended—”

“I call bullshit,” I said, smacking his chest. “You had every intention. You were in my bed decidedly not leaving me alone.”

“You are the one that kissed me,” he said as innocently as one could while stroking my breast.

“I wasn’t the one that wanted distance,” I said, reaching down to cup his sensitive parts and finding him hard and ready.

“I can’t bear to hurt you again, but neither can I resist you,” he admitted before taking my nipple in his mouth.

I rolled on top of him and slid my core along his length, watching his eyes roll back in his head. The feeling of power delighted me and sent my pulse back into overdrive. “I don’t plan on being hurt, and if I was, it wouldn’t be because of you. Unless you’re afraid the general would be angry that I’m screwing my boss?”

“Fuck the general,” Julian said, leaning up to nip at my mouth.

“I’d rather fuck you,” I said, peppering him with teasing kisses.

“Hasn’t anyone told you,” Julian took my hands in his and flipped me so I was beneath him. “That it’s dangerous to tease a vampire?” He held my wrists at the sides of my head and nudged open my legs with his knee.

I shrugged, and he grinned before sliding inside of me again. Moving deep but torturously slow as I wriggled against him, trying to get him to go faster. I was about to command it when he lowered his mouth to mine and kissed me savagely, taking his sweet time until I shuddered and groaned with release. Then he sped up again until we both peaked once more.

Thoroughly relaxed, I snuggled into his still warm chest and held him close as he played with my hair. I’d had lovers before, but never had I peeked so many times in one night or felt such an emotional connection being in someone’s arms.

“I told you I planned to pleasure you all night when we did this again. Don’t tell me you’re ready for sleep so soon?” He kissed the top of my head and inhaled my scent.

“Mmm,” I mumbled into the contours of his chest. “We can do it again tomorrow. And the next day.”