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She pulled his head down and gently pressed her lips against his.
Warmth bloomed where their mouths met, and River gently suckled her bottom lip, nipped it, and kissed her oh so slowly. Within seconds, an unfamiliar flutter began in her lower belly. One that warmed her from the inside and made her breasts ache a little.
Nora did her best to mimic his movements, but when her fang grazed his bottom lip, he groaned loudly. She immediately licked the small slice to seal it—the barest taste of his blood was like the finest wine she'd ever drank—and after a few beats, River laid his forehead against hers.
She whispered, "I'm sorry. I need to practice not letting my fangs get in the way."
He chuckled softly. "Don't be sorry. Have you forgotten what happens when a vampire's fang breaks the skin?"
Her entire body burned as she remembered the basics of being a vampire—her fangs secreted a substance that would make the person receiving her bite or graze orgasm.
River's long, drawn-out groan now made sense.
Humiliation burned through her and she tried to pull away. However, River kept a firm yet gentle hold on her, one hand stroking her neck and the other cupping her face. "It's okay, baby. I'm the one who should be embarrassed, coming in my pants from a mere nick. Bates is never going to let me live it down."
At the thought of everyone knowing what she'd done to him, she whispered, "You aren't going to tell him it was me, will you?"
River leaned back and searched her gaze. With a finger, he traced her brow, the bridge of her nose, and her cheek before he replied, "No. What happens between us stays between us, okay?"
Even if he was a fae witch and could lie if he wanted to, Nora believed him and nodded.
He kissed her gently and leaned back again. "The bigger question is how are you doing? Seeing stars from the best first kiss of all time? Ready to faint from pure pleasure?" He waggled his eyebrows. "Ruined for all other males?"
And just like that, her unease faded and she laughed. "I'm not sure I'd go quite that far." She searched his gaze. "But I liked it, River. Very much."
"Good."
They stared at one another, something passing between them. Silly as it sounded, Nora had a feeling things had shifted irrevocably between them.
Whether it would amount to anything long-term, she had no idea. But the thought of staying away from this male and avoiding him as much as possible left a sour taste in her mouth.
And not just because her instinct called out to claim him either.
As Nora tried to think of what to say next, someone knocked on the door.
Not ready for anyone to see how River affected her, she fled to the far end of the settee. And even though less than a foot lay between them, she felt a bit colder with the distance.
River rearranged his jacket over his front—Nora willed herself not to blush yet again at what she'd done to him—and he shouted, "Enter."
Yesenia entered. "Ambrose said I'd find you here."
The fae witch female stopped, looked between them, and raised her eyebrows. "Should I leave?"
Needing a bit of distance from River and time to digest everything she'd done with him this day, Nora shook her head. "No. I have some letters to finish before supper." She stood. "Will you ensure someone helps River back upstairs? He needs a nap."
Yesenia swung her gaze to her brother. "Yes, he does. Although he might have time for a little talk with me beforehand."
River frowned but Nora spoke before he could. "Then I will see you both at supper."
She waved and rushed out of the room.
Yes, it was a tad bit cowardly.
And yet, feeling anything for a male, let alone wanting to kiss one and enjoying it, was new to Nora. If she didn't want to walk around with a perpetually red face, she needed some time alone.
She retreated to her study and attempted to write her letters, but failed abysmally. No, she spent the time reliving their kiss, recalling River's heated and tender looks, and wondering if maybe, just maybe, she could endure River's touch in all ways, maybe even for more than her single claiming.
ChapterEleven
