by Ginna Moran
“Thanks for saying this. I worry about what will happen. Corona knows about me,” I say. “He thinks I’m the key to getting power.”
He closes his eyes in thought. “We’re going to take care of him. I promise. We just have to go along with him for a bit longer until his suspicions diminish. Today was a little too close for comfort, but your idea about telling him we have information on a rebel nest worked perfectly. I’m proud as hell, to be honest despite Mikkalo freaking out a bit over falling through.”
“You’re not going to fall through. I have one for you.”
He frowns. “But—”
“They’re not my people, and I don’t want to think about it anymore right now.” I hug myself.
“Me either,” he says, grazing his fingers over my leg. “Not with your eyes flashing at me like that.”
I blink a few times. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. I let my nerves distract me.” He offers me the thermos. “Here. Drink.”
The second I take the thermos from him, he disappears off the bed and stands near the couch. He offers me a small, almost shy smile. He’s more nervous than he lets on. The distance between us nearly steals my breath away. I want him close more than I want to drink his blood.
I wave the thermos. “And you say I torture you. This space? Come back here.”
He raises his eyebrows. “Drink first. In case.”
Bringing the thermos to my mouth, I take a long sip, savoring how delicious his blood alone tastes. My body tingles, my heart picking up speed the longer Bronx gazes at me in anticipation. I finish the whole thermos and set it on the nightstand. Glancing into its mirrored glass top, I check to make sure it’s not all over my face.
Bronx’s soft footsteps draw closer, and I remain still, letting him close the space. “Well?”
I grin to myself, but I don’t turn to look at him. “I’m not sure. I think you need to come closer. Don’t be scared. I only bite if you ask.”
He releases a soft laugh, his shadow moving in on me. I wait until I can feel the subtle shift of the bed, and then I make my move. Twisting, I grab onto Bronx’s shirt, using it to pull myself toward him. His dark eyes widen, the golden flecks catching the light just right. He freezes as I land on top of him and press my hands into his chest.
I just couldn’t resist messing with him. He’s super sexy, just bracing himself for what might happen next. He looks fully prepared to let me bite the hell out of him. “Not even going to put up a fight?” I tease, smiling wider. The warmth of his blood settling in my stomach does all sorts of crazy things to me, but it’s not as intense as before...or maybe I already was tense with desire. Either way, I’m not throwing myself at him. I still have control.
“Not unless you try to devour me.” He relaxes beneath me, hooking his hands to my hips. From his growing erection, he realizes the same thing I do about my control and how I’m not acting this way due to the side effect of his blood. This is all me.
Bending down, I brush my lips to his, kissing him harder. His hands slide to my ass until he digs his fingers into my ass cheeks to tug me an inch higher so that I can really feel his desire for me. I hum under my breath and pull back only enough to speak. “What about if I kiss you until you beg for mercy?”
Flipping me off of him, he rolls over, holding his weight above me while lying between my legs. And hell if I didn’t wish we weren’t both still dressed. I can’t stop my rebellious hands from trailing down the length of his back until I reach the hem of his shirt to touch his skin.
“Pin me again, and I’ll let you,” he says, leaning down to suck my bottom lip into his mouth.
My hips arch up in response, and I rub my body to his. “And if I can’t?”
He caresses his lips to mine again like he can’t resist, not that I’d want him too. “Then I get to do it to you.”
Tingles burst between my legs, and I moan at just the thought, the idea sounding like the best thing ever. I don’t know if it’s because Corona took me or what, but Bronx lets his guard down for me, letting himself risk losing control. And I love it. So does my body.
I flop deeper into the pillows and pull his hips to mine so that he presses harder between my legs. “Okay, you win.”
My words surprise him, and he studies my face, searching my eyes. “Maybe we should put on a movie or something. My blood—”
“Was delicious, and Everett was right,” I say, trying to keep my voice even. I guess I was wrong. He still clings to caution at my attempt to drive him wild. “I don’t feel any more out of control than I did. Your playfulness helps distract me.”
“From what? Are you still hurting?”
Shit. His desire morphs into concern. I shouldn’t have mentioned anything.
“Oh, no. I’m fine. I feel great actually.” I smile with the words because it’s true. “All I meant is that I really needed to get my mind off things. Helps me suppress all the bullshit of my life before you.” I groan and tip my head forward to rest it on his shoulder so that he can’t see my face.
He shifts onto his side, stopping me from hiding my face for long. “You remember more?”
“I do. The nightmare earlier—it was a memory. The worst. You were right about Laredo, but I don’t know to what extent. I guess it doesn’t matter much. What he did to me...I just, I don’t want to think about it.”
“That’s why Everett needed to clear his head,” he whispers to himself.
I frown. “I don’t understand. Why would my memory mess with him?”
He groans. “I should really let you two talk about this.”
“I will when I see him, but I want you to tell me now.”
Bronx’s jaw tightens as he looks away, not allowing me to lock him in my own stare. I link my fingers through his and let him work through his thoughts without pushing.
“I’m not sure you know this, but a vampire can put a sort of block on a human’s mind to ensure long-term manipulation. It takes a lot of power to do something like that, and it seems Laredo had. I don’t know exactly what Everett saw opening your mind, but it was enough to have him ask me to take you.”
“What do you mean that Everett saw something?”
He brings my hand to his mouth and kisses it. “There are different kinds of mind manipulation. Everett used what I can only describe as a mental link.”
My mouth forms an O. “Shit. This is awkward.” If he somehow saw my memory as I had, then he got to experience me sleeping with Nathaniel. Biting Laredo. Ah, hell.
Bronx runs his fingers over my shoulder, his closeness helping to ease my nerves. “And it’s fine if you don’t feel comfortable telling me. Just know that you can. I won’t think differently of you.”
I press my lips into a line and close my eyes. “But Everett might.” I mean, if he saw what I remember. It wasn’t good.
“No, I can promise you that. I know my brother. He might not show his empathy like Jameson, but he’s probably the most empathetic out of the four of us. It’s what makes him good at his job as the head of the Donor Division and also mind manipulation.” Bronx shifts again, looking at the side of my face.
“Laredo manipulated my emotions so that I wouldn’t hold things against him,” I blurt. “He murdered an elder’s son out of jealousy because I—we—ugh. If Everett saw...”
“He’s fine, really. I promise.”
“Apparently I was supposed to be a virgin or some bullshit.” I groan, unable to keep the thought to myself. “He made an agreement with Grayson.”
“But you’re not a virgin.” I can’t tell if it’s a question or statement, his voice remaining even.
My cheeks burn like the gates of hell, and I sit up and gawk at him. “No, I’m not. I never slept with Laredo, though.”
“So with a Blood Rebel’s son?”
I don’t answer him. Instead, I say, “And now I know why Porter hasn’t even looked at me. He wanted to call me out as a traitor then. Told me some things that Laredo didn’t like, so h
e manipulated him too.”
“I hate to say this, Gwen, but he probably manipulated all of you.”
“Yeah. It’s not like I drank his blood all the time either.” I sigh. “And there’s something else.”
He hums under his breath, letting me know that I can continue if I want to.
“I don’t think my dad was a Blood Rebel. Not the kind you think about. He knew how to fight vampires and kept records of our history and the back-world, but he kept us—me—in the bunker to hide me.”
He doesn’t respond.
“I still can’t remember much else, but I think it was Laredo who pursued my brother to get Grayson to bring him to me. I think he was trying to free me before the elders found out. He said something about my place and what they think of me.” I close my eyes, trying to summon a memory that refuses to come. “Ugh, I don’t know. I wish I could ask Grayson.”
“When we find him, we will,” he says.
“What do you mean? Corona—”
“Didn’t kill them. Our sources say they were separated among the different regions.”
“Really?”
He nods. “Don’t worry, dandelion. Now that we have you back, they’re our next priority.”
I throw my arms around him and kiss him. “You have no idea what this means to me. I know my family isn’t easy, and I’m sure they’re going to put up a fight.”
“But they’re your family,” he says.
I kiss him again. “Thank you.”
He smiles. “Anything for you.”
“Even though I’m a dhampir and might accidentally devour you?”
He chuckles. “I don’t think you realize how hot that makes me. Just thinking about your mouth on me.”
I snap my teeth at him. “Careful what you say. You might just think that because of what I am.”
Reaching out, he touches my cheek, tracing his finger to my chin. He gently holds my face and leans in but keeps an inch of space between our lips. “I’d be lying if I denied that I find that part of you appealing. But not because of why you think. You’re feisty yet soft. I don’t know how to explain it.”
I grin at him. “Just admit it. You just like how delicious I am. Your edible dandelion.”
“That’s still up in the air,” he says, closing the space completely to suck my lip into his mouth, just teasing me for a second.
“Is it now?”
He shrugs, pressing his lips together to keep a straight face. “Maybe after I get the chance to taste all of you.”
My. Damn. Vagina.
My smile disappears with the look of desire that crosses his face, his gaze leaving mine only to drink in my body, my boobs totally showing off their excitement without my bra. I can’t stop myself from sinking deeper into the bed, curling my fingers around the sheets, trying to get myself in control.
“Gwen,” Bronx whispers. “Will you look at me?”
I tip my head slightly to meet his eyes.
“I’m sorry if I got carried away.”
“You didn’t.” I inch closer to him.
His eyes flash silver, but he doesn’t say anything.
“And I’ve missed you. More than I knew possible.”
My words ignite something wild inside Bronx, and he rolls me on top of him, sliding his fingers under my shirt. I lean in and kiss him, dragging my fingers down the hard planes of his stomach until I link my fingers to the hem of his shirt and get him to sit up enough for me to take it off. My shirt lands with his on the floor, his desperate movements prickling tingles over my skin.
“You’re so enchanting,” he says, his voice deepening, his hands gliding up my sides until they brush over my breasts. “I want nothing more than to kiss every inch of you.”
I release a breathless moan and scoot back until I can kneel between his legs. “Me first.”
The sexiest noise ever escapes his throat, and he sits up and grabs for me. I laugh and move out of his reach, tugging his workout pants with me. One second I’m kneeling in front of him and in the next, my back hits the fluffy pillows.
“Those aren’t the rules of the game,” he murmurs, sucking my throat just hard enough to quicken my breathing.
“I’m a rule breaker, remember?”
I shimmy lower, tracing my tongue over his chest and to his abs. The hardness of his boner grazes against my pelvis and then my stomach as I work my way lower while he holds his weight over me, remaining utterly still until I can’t go any farther because of his knees. He rolls off of me, taking me with him, and I press against the length of his shaft until I lace my fingers around it and stroke him, watching him as intently as he watches me.
His lips part slightly with his deepening breath, his heartbeat thumping as hard as mine.
“Is this okay?” I ask, licking my lips.
He reaches down and combs his fingers through my hair to push the stray strands from my face. “Only if you want to.”
“I have to warn you—”
“I’m not afraid of your teeth.”
Blush warms my skin, and I can’t control my nervous laughter. “I’m a little afraid of yours. But also...I’ve never done this. And I don’t know why I just admitted that.”
He doesn’t react to my words, just keeps playing with my hair. “Like I said, whatever you want. I love being with you.”
I smile and lick my lips, suppressing my nerves. Bronx intakes a soft breath when I bend forward and graze my mouth to his tip, just tasting him with my tongue, drawing a slow circle around the ridge until I finally mold my lips over his erection and suck him into my mouth.
“Gwen,” he whispers, my name coming out with his moan.
I rest an arm on his thigh and tighten my hold just enough to draw him in and out of my mouth, tasting the building sweetness of his excitement trickling across my tongue. I don’t know what I was expecting, but it wasn’t for him to taste similar to his blood, sweet and sugary, almost like the vanilla frosting of the first cupcake I ever got to eat on our first official day together.
“That feels amazing,” he says, playing with my hair, the intensity of his gaze sizzling over me though I don’t look at him. I can just feel the weight of his stare, his desire, and I feel so incredibly sexy in this moment, any nerves I had now gone.
I suck a bit harder, working my mouth up and down, listening to his breathing and soft moans. His fingers turn desperate, combing through my hair until he props himself up to run his hands over the length of my back. He reaches down my sides and grazes his fingers over my breasts, the sensation drawing a moan from me.
“I’m going to cum soon,” he murmurs, tightening his hands around me.
The click of his fangs sounds in my ears, and I shiver as tingles wash over my skin. I dig my fingers deeper into his thighs, holding him still when he tells me I can stop if I want. But I don’t stop. Excitement builds inside me, his breathing quickening even more. He moans my name again, easing to lie back. I peek up to watch his expression, his eyes flashing crazy silver at me. He pants, arching a bit, moaning as I suck and lick, feeling his hard-on flex in my mouth.
Closing his eyes, he scrunches his face in pleasure, tightening his hold on my shoulders as he finishes in my mouth. Sweet flavor bursts over my tongue, and I ease my mouth away and automatically swallow. He tugs me up to straddle him, kissing my throat and hugging me, wanting more of my affection that I gladly give him.
“I want to taste you,” he whispers against my shoulder. His fangs so close to my skin send my heart racing in a good way.
I ease away from him to meet his eyes. “Will you be careful?”
“Always with you.”
I swallow my nerves and shift my hair from my shoulder to send it cascading down my back. Bronx inhales a small breath as I expose my skin to him. His eyes flash silver again, his hunger and desire hardening his features as he trails his gaze from my eyes.
He licks his lips and leans forward, sliding his hand down the front of my body to touch me between my legs. I m
oan and close the space at the pressure of his finger slipping inside me to feel exactly what he does to me. He hums from his throat, enjoying my reaction to the pleasure he elicits with just his touch. Grazing his mouth to my shoulder, I tense a little, but then he only kisses me, drawing his tongue over my heated skin, pulling me to lie back with him in the process.
And then he’s on top of me.
“I’m not going to bite you unless you ask me to. Even then, I’m going to savor you inch-by-inch first if that’s okay,” he says, kissing me softly.
I nod, squirming a bit at his words.
Leaning down, he kisses me again, sliding his tongue into my mouth with a fervent passion that leaves me gasping. He breaks away and glides his tongue along my jaw, sending my skin buzzing. He was serious about kissing every inch of me. His slow, almost torturous pace makes me pant and moan and squeeze my legs together until he draws his hands to my thighs and guides my legs open for him.
Hooking his fingers to my panties, he slides them down and kisses each of my hips until he undresses me completely. He licks his lips, devouring the sight of my body as I lie before him. He retracts his fangs and smiles at me, massaging his fingers into my thighs as he makes his way to my hips to guide me onto my side.
He positions his body diagonally and bends my knee toward the ceiling to rest my leg on his shoulder. I clutch the blankets between my hands, feeling him use two fingers to spread me open so that he can trace his tongue over my clit in such a way that I accidentally squeeze his head between my thighs and gasp.
He hums deep in his throat, moving his hand to massage the back of my leg, getting me to relax. I moan so embarrassingly loud as he sucks and licks, creating sensations unlike anything I’ve felt before. My whole body trembles as he works me up with his mouth, murmuring his enjoyment every time I moan.
Bronx shifts me from my side and onto my back, pulling both my legs over his shoulders while he lifts my hips higher, curling my body slightly as I lie against him. Heat flushes my skin, and I can’t stop wiggling under the incredible sensations he creates with his tongue and lips.