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Then he slowly slid his index finger down from the neck of my dress, all the way to the hem, moving down my body with precision. The material fell away before he flicked the front of my bra, exposing my chest.

His lips separated slightly and his eyes drank me in. His pupils expanded, almost as wide as the night he entered my apartment, and then suddenly, his lips were closed around my nipple. A sharp gasp left me as pleasure shot straight down to my core. His tongue lapped and circled my sensitive flesh, and I grabbed his hair, needing to hold onto something. I found myself lifting from the comforter, offering myself as a living sacrifice to this alien god.

Alternating between gentle suckles and dragging the tip of my nipples between his teeth, he worshipped my body, leaving me burning with want. His mouth left hot trails across my skin that cooled in the air, just to be warmed again under his fingers.

My own fingers threaded through his hair, letting the soft strands weave between my fingers while I held him to my chest. My caress wandered to his shoulders, exploring the feel of his body beneath the linen shirt that so frustratingly blocked me from touching what I really wanted to. He was exploring every inch of my skin, and I wanted to return the favor.

A ping of embarrassment tickled at me, remembering how soundly I’d rejected him and the moment I’d walked away. I shoved the thought down and then I felt it, the razor-sharp pain and sting of his fangs breaching my skin.

My pulse rushed through my veins as mortal fear filled me. Would he punish me for screaming at him that day? Was he seducing me into compliance so he could end my life with a feast? Everybody knew vampires drained all your blood—they couldn’t help the urge.

Carefully, I untangled my hand from his blond strands and raised it over my head. As best I could, I reached under my pillow, stretching until I felt the cool handle of the stiletto I’d hidden there weeks ago.

As subtly as possible, I started dragging my arm back down. Lukas was sweeping his tongue along the side of my breast with a long stroke, and he tucked his arm under my lower back. The movement helped me bring my arm down to my side.

I paused for a moment, falling under his spell again, and I let my eyes flutter closed, reveling in his ministrations. The arm he had lowered was gripping my hip, massaging my flesh. The heat of his body mingled with mine deliciously, making me languid and slow.

Then I felt the scrape of his teeth once again. Who was he to think he could just consume me? He’d left me alone for ages, acting like I didn’t exist, and then he pranced in expecting a meal.

Next thing I knew, I had the weapon pressed in the center of his chest. My heart stuttered when he stopped and lifted his gaze to my face. Multiple emotions skittered through his black gaze. Fury, bewilderment, disbelief, and finally hurt.

My brain came to a screeching halt, like a record skipping and playing the same notes over and over again. I fucked up.

Two choices were in front of me. I could either push the blade in, or I could run. There was a strong possibility, a very strong possibility, neither of those options would work out in my favor.

Guilt prickled up my spine, leaving a hollow feeling behind deep within my chest over the utter look of dejection I had witnessed. Never did I imagine he cared that much. Or had I just been blind to it?

Lukas moved a fraction of an inch closer, lowering his torso and letting the needle-like tip break his skin. A rivulet of blood bloomed around the tiny wound, beading into the shape of a raindrop. Then it fell, staining my skin red with a small dot.

“What are you going to do?” He asked, his voice softer than I expected.

My gaze stayed focused on the ball of liquid. It wobbled gently with each of my exhalations. My hand slid from his shoulder, where it had remained clutching onto him this whole time. My finger hovered over the blood and then I swiped it up, smearing crimson on the pad of my index finger. Then, I stuck my finger in my mouth and sucked the blood off.

He stared at me with a look of wonder on his face before that all-consuming heat reentered his gaze. The stiletto dropped to the floor as I set my head on the pillow again.

The whole room went dark before the flames on the candles jumped. The crackling of their wicks was the only sound before I gasped. Somehow, some way, Lukas was suddenly naked and the blankets were turned down on the bed. My bare thigh was tucked between his, sandwiched against his soft skin and solid flesh. My own clothes, all of them, had also mysteriously disappeared.

Lukas snared my wrists and pushed them back against the pillow. His mouth was open just a fraction, enough to give me a glimpse of his dangerous fangs up close. They were pearlescent from this vantage point. All of his teeth were. His canines came to such a sharp point it hurt my eyes trying to focus on their taper.

He didn’t release his hold on me, and I could have sworn I felt a slight tremor in his grip. His chest pressed against mine, his heart pounding against my skin. I wasn’t the only one vulnerable, not if I had this effect on him. It made me feel powerful, that a being such as him would let down his guard to this degree.

His cheek rubbed mine, and I breathed him in, indulging in his sweet coppery scent. It was mixed with something else, something spicy that made me think of the mountains. I memorized it, committing it to a safe place and tucking it away.

Lukas’s lips nibbled at my cheekbone, and then my jaw, the low scruff of his unshaved face brushing against my skin. My pulse was thready, my heart intermittently speeding and slowing as he let more of his weight pin me to the bed.

He was making his way to my neck, and I feared my heart would stop. The insane thought that it was a good thing it was an immortal vampire doing this to me instead of someone else crossed my mind and a nervous giggle escaped me. He gave the edge of my jaw a quick nip at the sound and then started kissing my neck.

My arms were freed, and I reached for his back, sliding my hands up and down, feeling his muscles contract as he moved. He gripped my hip before tucking his fingers around my thigh and pushing my legs apart.

A finger dragged along my seam from front to back. My core was almost embarrassingly slick, and I heard him groan in appreciation, right in my ear. My nails dug into his upper arms when he dragged two digits through my folds.

I’m pretty sure I whimpered when he found my clit and circled two fingers around it. I clawed at him, needing him closer than he was, digging into his skin until he shifted more of his weight, his body enveloping mine.

His caress teased, circling where I needed him to touch me the most. It didn’t matter how I angled my hips as I writhed beneath him. He was quick, anticipating my moves and leaving me dangling on the edge.

All my frustration did was spur him on. It seemed as if his self-satisfaction had gathered in the air all around us. I could feel his smugness. My nails dug into his back in response, and he thrust two fingers inside of me, curling his fingers just right to hit the spot.

Before I could sail over that sweet edge, he withdrew and nestled between my legs, his hot cockhead nudging my entrance. I tried to scooch down, not wanting him to delay any longer. I told myself I was absolutely insane, but I didn’t stop wiggling.