Blood Song: Refrain (Blood Song Series Book 2)

by Charli B. Rose

  “What if I can’t stop?” A tortured expression filled his eyes. He seemed unaware of my near slip.

  “I trust you. You won’t take too much. You won’t.” With gentle fingers, I rubbed the stubble lining his jaw. “You thought you couldn’t let me pleasure you without losing control, but you didn’t.”

  His resolve was wavering. I could see it. I turned to face the hallway again and tugged him down it.

  “Wait,” he croaked, stopping our steps.

  He reached into a tall silver container and took out a water bottle. “You have to drink all of this first,” he said, holding it out to me.

  “OK.” I took the bottle and twisted off the cap. After taking a huge swallow, I started moving down the hallway again. “I’ll finish it in there.” I pointed to one of the open doorways.

  Once I crossed the threshold, Toven flipped the switch, filling the room with soft light. The door shut behind us.

  I sat on the edge of the bed, which occupied the center of the room. Cool water slid down my throat, eliminating some of my cotton mouth.

  “We don’t have to do this.” Toven paced the room. “I can just wait for Kent to get here.” He stumbled.

  I jumped to my feet and ushered him to the bed, helping him sit down. “There’s no need to wait. You’re not making me do this.” I grabbed my hair and moved it out of the way, baring my neck to him.

  “Finish the bottle of water first. It’ll help. And we’re not doing this on the bed. We’re doing nothing sexual. That would make it harder for me to control myself.” He turned his head, looking around. “We’ll sit over there on that loveseat by the window.” He pointed.

  I tipped the bottle up to my lips again, taking long pulls from it until the plastic crinkled. With only slightly trembling fingers, I set the empty bottle on the nightstand. I dragged the back of my hand across my lips to remove the excess moisture. Then I stood and walked over to the loveseat and sank down on it.

  After what felt like an eternity, Toven rose and crossed the room to me. “You sure about this, my shining star?”

  “One hundred percent,” I said, my voice filled with conviction. And I was certain. I expected when the moment finally arrived that I’d be nervous, but I wasn’t. I was ready. I trusted him more than I’d ever trusted anyone. And more than that, as impossible as it should be, I loved him. It was liberating to finally admit it to myself.

  He sat next to me. His presence warmed me. Strong fingers stroked my neck. He kissed my lips briefly. When he withdrew, he peered into my eyes, searching for something. If he was looking for fear, he’d find none.

  After waiting the space of a few dozen heartbeats—which seemed like an eternity—he shifted my hair off my shoulder. My head tilted to the side, making him lick his lips at the sight.

  Leaning forward, he dropped a soft kiss on my pulse point. His velvety tongue lapped at the skin, causing a moan to slip from my lips. Other areas of my anatomy were responding to the seductive caress of his tongue against my skin. The area beneath his mouth tingled for a few moments, then a slight prick popped my skin.

  His lips latched onto the area, and a strong sucking motion tugged at the sensitive flesh. My head tipped back further. I thrust my fingers into his hair, holding him closer. Slowly, heat radiated out from where his mouth touched me, seeping into each cell and warming me.

  Euphoria started to course through my body, making me feel as if I was floating. A pleasant buzz hummed along my nerves creating some cross between being happily drunk and in an orgasmic haze.

  23

  Toven

  Warm liquid flowed into my mouth, tantalizing my taste buds and coating my throat. Instantly, the fogginess of extreme thirst subsided. Strength coursed through my veins. Her moan reverberated against my lips. She was intoxicating. The feel of her heat beneath me, the flavor of her on my tongue, the sound of her in my ears—all combined to make me absolutely drunk on her.

  Her fingers tightened in my hair. My cock strained beneath the zipper of my dress slacks.

  “Toven,” she said in a breathy tone.

  I lifted my head from her neck. Her eyes sparkled with a hint of bliss and her cheeks were pink with arousal.

  Soft fingertips dragged across my cheek. I glanced down at her neck. Scarlet trickled from the puncture wounds in her flesh.

  Quickly, I lapped up the blood, gathering the last drops from her skin while spreading my saliva around so that she’d heal up. When I was satisfied she’d have no lasting mark, I peered into her eyes. “Thank you.”

  “I knew you wouldn’t hurt me. I knew you’d be able to stop,” she said softly, smiling sweetly at me.

  “Are you OK? Don’t feel lightheaded or weak?” I pressed my fingers to her wrist, checking her heart rate.

  I got to my feet then pulled her up with me. With a thorough look, I surveyed her carefully, making sure I hadn’t inadvertently hurt her.

  “I feel wonderful. No, better than wonderful. Like I’m floating. It didn’t hurt at all,” she gushed, staring up at me with a heavy-lidded expression. Her hand rubbed the space above my heart. “Wow, your heart’s beating fast. Well, fast for you.”

  I tuned into my rhythm. She was right, my heart rate was elevated. Odd.

  Before I could ponder it any further, my phone vibrated in my pocket. I let go of her to fish the device out. A quick glance at the screen revealed Kent was outside waiting for us. Once I stowed it away, I looked up and found Celesta swaying on her feet.

  “I’m so sorry,” I said, pressing my mouth to her forehead and wrapping my arm tightly around her waist.

  “What are you sorry for?” she asked with a slight slur.

  “I should’ve had you drink more water and should’ve taken less from you. The venom in my saliva has gone straight to your head.”

  “Well, I like it.” She patted her hand against my chest.

  “I guess that’s a good thing.” I chuckled lightly. “Let’s get you back to the hotel and put you to bed.”

  As we walked down the corridor toward the exit, I kept a firm grip on her so she stayed upright.

  “You are so handsome,” she cooed, peering up at me through thick lashes.

  “Thank you.”

  By sheer luck, we made it to the door without having to stop for anything. I snagged a couple bottles of water from a server as we got ready to step outside.

  Kent stood by the open back door of the car.

  “Hi, Kent.” Celesta threw her arms around him, startling the driver with the display of affection. “You’re like our pumpkin. Taking us away before we turn into pumpkins. No, not a pumpkin. A mouse. Or was it—”

  I shook my head, biting my lip to keep from laughing out loud. Gently, I unwound her arms from Kent and shot him an apologetic look.

  “Come on, baby. Climb in the backseat with me.”

  “Ooo, are we going to make out?” She fluttered her lashes at me and puckered her lips.

  The smirk I’d been trying to hold in check, spread across my face, making my cheeks hurt from the wideness of it. “Sure, if you get in like a good girl.”

  “I’ll be good. Then I’ll be bad.” She launched herself into the cavern of the car. A flash of lavender and a lot of skin appeared before I hastily crawled in behind her.

  “Get us back to the hotel as quickly as possible,” I said gruffly and shut the door.

  Gripping her shoulders, I sat her up, propping her against the far door. With a quick twist, I removed the lid from the water bottle. As we started to pull away from the Hollywood mansion, I brought the bottle to her lips, encouraging her to drink.

  Greedily, she took it from me and gulped for a few seconds. The motion of her throat as she swallowed made me thirsty—thirsty for more of her.

  Needing to slake my thirst, I opened the bottle of B-negative Kent had left in the backseat for me. When I set it aside, green eyes stared at me. Several seconds passed without her even blinking.

  “Penny for your thoughts?” I wh
ispered.

  “I was just wondering . . . did I taste good?”

  She looked so vulnerable waiting for my answer. Her innocent question combined with the expression on her face caused emotion to well up inside me, clogging my throat. My hand trembled as I reached out to cup her cheek.

  “Yes, my star, you were delectable. The most exquisite thing I’ve ever had the pleasure of tasting.” I thumbed her plump lower lip.

  “Then why did you just drink that whole bottle of B-negative? You always drink something other than my blood type. I figured you didn’t like AB-negative.” In the darkness, her eyes shimmered with unshed tears.

  “Over the years, my reasons for avoiding the rarest of all blood types has varied. When I was first turned, I wasn’t allowed to partake of AB-negative blood. Cassandra reserved those . . . ah . . . meals for herself. Once I left her, I spent many dark years trying to starve myself then bingeing on whatever source I could find. Usually it was animal blood, which left me malnourished.” I paused as I recalled those murky days.

  She tilted her head, studying me in the flickering lights of the passing traffic. “But once you were able to afford to be more selective in donors and even bottled blood, why did you avoid the flavor everyone says is the best?”

  “I know I live well and have nice things. But in general, I’m not an indulgent person.”

  “So, you’re too cheap?” She giggled at her conclusion.

  “Something like that,” I agreed, taking her hand in mine. “And then once I knew it was your blood type, I honestly didn’t want the temptation to sample you. So, I kept denying myself of the finer flavors in life.”

  “Hmm.” She tapped a glittery-tipped fingernail against her chin. Finally, she nodded her head, seemingly satisfied with why I had avoided AB-negative. “How about that make out session now?” She eased to her knees onto the seat, then shifted to plant one leg on either side of my thighs.

  My hands dropped to her hips, holding her still. I was torn between keeping things lukewarm while she was under the influence of my venom and giving into the desire to chase nirvana with her.

  Her arms draped over my shoulders as she tried to ease her body down to more firmly straddle my lap. When she was unable to overcome my hold on her, her bottom lip jutted out in an adorable pout. Blissed-out Celesta was so cute—and bold.

  Suddenly her mouth was on mine. Maybe I could meet in the middle of the battlefield of my conscience and my desire and reach some sort of peace treaty.

  “Please,” she breathed against my lips.

  I let her body drop the infinitesimal amount of space it took to press her heat against my need. But I didn’t grant her any freedom of movement to grind against me, though she certainly tried.

  “Be still, baby,” I growled, nipping at her lip. “We’re not doing this in the backseat of a car like a couple of teenagers. Besides, I said nothing sexual.”

  She pressed a kiss to my neck, her tongue tracing the small raised pair of scars residing there. “I thought that was just in there.”

  “No, not here either. Vampire venom is an intoxicating aphrodisiac. I need you clear-headed when we’re together so you can stop me if things start to go too far. I won’t put you in harm’s way.” My expression begged for her to understand and not argue the point. If she resisted, I didn’t know if I had the strength to tell her no again.

  “OK. Just kissing then.”

  And she married our mouths in a kiss that was far more intimate than any sex I’d ever had. Walls I’d erected decades ago were cracking, tumbling, threatening to expose the vulnerable parts I’d locked away. Anytime anyone had gotten too close in the past, I’d always been able to push them away before they could see the weaknesses. For some reason, my instinct was to pull Celesta closer instead of distance myself. I was ready to hand her a sledgehammer to aid in the process. In longer than I could even recall, I couldn’t name one person I trusted in the way I trusted her.

  Her lips lifted from mine, and she gave me a sleepy smile. She pressed her body close to mine, chest to chest, heart to heart. Then she laid her head on my shoulder, sighing sweetly in my ear.

  “I think I lo . . .” her voice trailed off as her breathing settled into a steady rhythm.

  My arms tightened around her, wanting to hold her as close to me as I possibly could.

  I might have found her too late in my life for her to save the boy inside who really just longed for love and acceptance, the boy who strove to be the best so someone would notice him for himself, but I wasn’t too late to save her from the world. I’d give her everything I had so she’d be OK on her own. She’d be able to live, follow her dreams, find love. My heart ached at the thought. But I wanted her to have every good thing in the world that I hadn’t found.

  24

  Celesta

  “Wake up, baby,” a sexy voice whispered in my ear.

  My eyes fluttered open. I lifted my head from where it rested on Toven’s shoulder. I squinted, trying to make sure I hadn’t drooled on his expensive suit.

  “We’re almost back at the hotel.”

  I looked beyond the glass. Lights flashed outside the window.

  “I can’t believe I conked out like that. I only had like two glasses of champagne.” I tried to ease off Toven’s lap, but his grip constricted, pinning me to him.

  He chuckled causing his chest to vibrate against mine. My nipples puckered to attention at the small amount of friction.

  “It wasn’t the champagne. It’s an effect of vampire venom. It isn’t always so sharp and doesn’t always onset so quickly. Though the amount of vampire venom circulating in saliva is low, the direct introduction of it into the human bloodstream during feeding increases certain hormones in your body. It’s the equivalent of several orgasms back to back. The effect of two back to back can be intense, while the effect of let’s say, four would cause a fast, high floating feeling, sustained euphoria, then a crash . . . followed by . . .”

  “Followed by what?” I asked, frowning at him.

  The car stopped. Silence enveloped us. Kent opened the door for us to get out. When he peered in and saw the position we were in, he blushed.

  “Give us a minute,” I said, holding up one finger.

  The door clicked back in place quietly.

  I turned my full attention back to Toven. “Followed by what?”

  “Probably another climb as your dopamine levels rise again.”

  “Without another bite or . . . foreplay?” I whispered.

  He gave a curt nod. “Vampire scientists believe it’s to allow an intense encounter to follow-up a feeding. It doesn’t always happen. And no one is sure why. But that’s why I wanted Kent to hurry up. I wanted us back in the safety of our bungalow if that happened to you.” He leaned over and pulled the handle to open the door.

  I slid off his lap, eliciting a groan from him in the process. Excitement coursed through my body, and my heart thundered. What I felt earlier wasn’t over. It was building again. And since Toven had already drank then maybe tonight was the night. Finally.

  “You good, my shining star?” Toven asked as he stepped to the curb beside me.

  “Mm-hmm. Just feeling warm and tingly.”

  “Ahh.” He nodded and looped his arm around my waist. “That’s why your heart is racing. We need to get moving.” He turned to Kent. “Goodnight.”

  Kent tipped his head at us then got back in the car.

  As Toven ushered me up the walkway to the front entrance, movement to my right caught my attention. I narrowed my gaze, peering through the shadows. Dressed in a long, shimmering red gown, Cassandra morphed from the darkness. Her fingers lifted in a little wave then she disappeared.

  I glanced up at Toven. He didn’t seem to have noticed her. No way I was going to mention it to him. That would definitely be a buzz kill or a cock block.

  Definitely both.

  My mind raced as I considered what would happen next. Anticipation and anxiety played tug of war with
my emotions as Toven speed walked us along the path to our door.

  As soon as we were safely inside, I spun in his arms and pressed his back against the wood. Eagerly, I rose on my tiptoes to kiss him. I hoped being proactive would stomp out the fears slithering in my head, reminding me it would hurt, that it wouldn’t be pleasurable, that it wouldn’t mean as much to him as it would to me.

  Fingers gripped the backs of my thighs beneath my dress. Toven hoisted me up, still kissing me. Air movement rushed against my skin. Then I was falling. Literally.

  ♪ Fallin’ for You by Colbie Caillat

  My body bounced as I hit the mattress. A giggle exploded from me. Toven was leaning against the wall across from me. There was far too much distance between us. I sat up, reaching for the zipper in the back of my dress.

  Toven shook his head at me. He stalked over to his stuff and grabbed a gray T-shirt. I made no move to take it when he offered it to me, and it fell to the foot of the bed. His gaze dropped to it, shifted up to me, then moved back to the shirt, silently telling me to put the shirt on. Toven turned his back and drew several deep breaths. The muscles in his back shifted beneath the cotton of his dress shirt. A few seconds later, he shrugged it from his shoulders, letting it flutter to the floor.

  Without turning around he said, “I need a minute. I’ll be right back.” Then he disappeared into the bathroom.

  Hastily, I took my dress off and draped it across the chair in the corner. In just the lavender floss that Jacque considered underwear, I slipped beneath the covers. I wished I’d put on one of the sexy nighties he’d packed for me. I should be wearing something special to lose my virginity in. But with the speed Toven moved, I probably didn’t have time to find something.

  As if on cue, the bathroom door opened. A work of art stood framed in the doorway, the light behind him making his muscles much more prominent. He wore only his boxer briefs, and they left nothing to my imagination—not that I needed it where he was concerned. At the sight of him, I was like a tuning fork being struck against a hard surface.