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His arm clamped around her waist to prevent her from backing away. Marek ran his nose along the curve of her neck. Mouthwatering.
“Do you want me to drink from you?” he asked, his voice hoarse.
“No!” she protested immediately. Her confused gaze met his. “Maybe?”
Marek couldn’t suppress the growl. His fangs dropped of their own accord.
Do it. When have you ever denied yourself?his father taunted him.
“Damn it!” With every ounce of his centuries-earned control, Marek leaped away from her and shut off his sense of smell.
“Marek, what’s wrong?”
“Stay there!” His sharp command froze her in place. Regret instantly sliced him at the flare of hurt in her eyes.
“I mean, a simple no would’ve sufficed.” She let out a soft gasp. “Wait. Do you think there’s something in my blood? Like my mental shield? Maybe my blood is poisoned.”
He scrubbed a hand down his face. “I hope not,” he said just loud enough for her to hear.
A tense silence hung between them. He didn’t move from his spot.
“Are you going to stand there all night?” Olivia asked.
“I’m debating if it’s a good idea for me to be near you right now.”
“Why won’t you feed from me? You want to. I can see it.”
A knife twisted his gut at the pain and confusion in her voice. “You’re not making this easy on me.”
“I don’t make things easy on most people.” She sat straighter, her gaze direct with strength of steel behind them. “What is it? We’ve already slept together. I thought sex and feeding went together for vampires.”
“It does, but with you, it’s different. You’re my mate.” He leaned back against the wall and crossed his arms.
“You say it as if I should know something.”
“Are you sure you want to know?”
“Marek, I’m a scientist,” she said, shooting him an annoyed look. “It’s in my nature to want to know things. Besides, I have enough mysteries in my life without you hiding something else from me.”
Marek licked his dry lips. No point hiding this from her. Maybe, once she learned the truth, she would say yes. One could always hope things would be that easy.
“If I feed from you, it’ll complete the mating bond,” he said, his voice dark.
He heard her heart skip a beat. “What do you mean? There’s a ritual to bind us?”
“Not a ritual, necessarily. But yes, I must drink your blood for the mating bond to fully solidify. It’s also when my soul returns.”
“So you’re still soulless until that happens? What happens if you never drink my blood?”
Marek shook his head. “That’s not possible. The urge for me to drink will grow stronger as time passes. Even now, it’s all I can think about. I can hear your heartbeat, hear the flow of your blood. It’s taking all my control not to bind us together.”
“And why not? If we’re fated to be together, why are you fighting it? Do you want another mate? Is there someone else?”
Her vulnerability shredded his insides. In a blink, Marek was kneeling beside her. Her delicate fingers were chilled as he tucked her hands in his and brushed his lips across her knuckles.
“There is nobody else,” he assured her and hoped she could hear the sincerity and truth of his words. “You are the one I want, with my body and soul. Now you know about the mating bond, say yes, and I will bind us.”
Olivia released a shuddering breath. He waited, telling himself to be patient, knowing she needed time to process everything.
