“Maddox, I know you're worried, but I accepted this a long time ago, and I'd feel a hell of a lot better knowing you'd accepted it, too.”
To his surprise, she didn't yell, nor did she look away. Instead, she approached him, holding his gaze the entire way across the room—and the look in her eyes made his heart skip. It was determined, and extremely affectionate.
Taking his hands, she informed him, “You don't understand. I've kept something from you, too. Something I discovered not long after we first met.”
Somehow, he wasn't sure he liked the sound of that. “What?”
Maddox didn't mince words. “We have a blood link, Stephan.”
Unable to quickly process the information, he stared at her blankly. “What?”
“A blood link. Do you know what that is?”
“Do I know what … yeah, some. We have one?”
He didn't mean to sound so obtuse, but the news had knocked him for a loop—and Maddox wasn't done surprising him.
Seeing how dumbfounded he'd become, she explained, “Blood links aren't all the same. Some forge different relationships, and ours is a rare connection of lovers. It has benefits the other links don't, as well as drawbacks.”
Lovers? Stephan tried to let the information sink in, but it wasn't easy. There were so many questions running rampant through his mind that he had no idea where to start until he heard himself asking, “What do you mean, benefits and drawbacks?”
Maddox looked down as if trying to figure out the easiest way to explain it, then qualified, “It's stronger than other ties, and if I turned you, our bond would allow us to drink from one another without needing to feed on mortals. But if you were ever taken from me, my heart would stop, and no amount of blood would ever restore me. Eventually … I'd die.”
Stephan couldn't believe he was hearing this, impulsively inquiring, “Why didn't you—,” before stopping himself short, muttering, “I know why you didn't tell me.”
It didn't take rocket science to figure out that she'd probably intended on ignoring the link altogether due to his treatment of her when they first met. Or she may have believed he wouldn't handle the information well—and she would've been right. But now, in taking a moment to think it over, he had to admit he was intrigued by what she'd described. Learning they wouldn't need to drink from anyone but each other was promising.
Yet he couldn't get over the drawback of her heart stopping if he was taken from her well enough to really consider it—especially when there was a good chance he was going to be taken from her very soon.
The thought prompted him to ask hopefully, “This link's not binding unless you turn me, is it?”
Suggesting her answer wasn't the one he wanted to hear, tears welled in her eyes. “I don't have to turn you for it to affect me. I care for you, Stephan, and my heart slows just thinking about losing you. Perhaps I wouldn't die, but I'd never be the same.”
Stephan didn't realize he was shaking his head until she finished speaking, tugging his hands from hers as he impulsively walked toward the door. She might die without him? What the hell kind of turn around was this? She'd die with me, too!
Even if she didn't turn him, he sure as hell didn't want his death to affect her so drastically that she'd never be the same.
“Goddamn it!” he yelled, sending a fist into the wall hard enough to break some of the plaster while exiting the room.
“Stephan, wait!” she called, following him to the library and then down into the basement.
“I can't goddamned believe this,” he muttered on the way. Why the fuck did their link have to be so strong? Why couldn't she just walk away once he was dead and forget he'd ever existed?
And why did he have to love her so damned much it hurt?
Crossing the sitting room to the chaise sofa where his casual clothing lay with a need to get out of the confining tux, he tore his vest off, tossing the garment aside just as Maddox grabbed his arm and asked, “You can't believe what?”
“You know what, this fucking no-win situation. I just … ”
When he grew silent, Maddox tilted her head, requesting softly, “Don't shut me out, Stephan. Tell me what you're thinking.”
Groaning, Stephan let his head fall back to regard the ceiling. What the hell am I thinking? All he knew for certain was that he'd reached his limit of frustration.
“Even if we're linked, Maddox, why the hell do you care about me? I just don't fucking get it,” he related plainly. “I've treated you like shit, and intentionally tried to hurt you.”
“And I know why,” she whispered, slipping her arms around him from behind.
When she rested her cheek against his back, he closed his eyes, unable to believe how good the simple movement felt as she added, “Yes, you were an asshole when we first met, but since then, you've supported me, comforted me, and given me a chance to actually find Mathias. I doubt Eradin would have spoken to us if you hadn't told him of your illness. So you know what I don't fucking understand?”
At that, she stepped around him and locked her gaze directly on his, reaching up to cup his cheeks in her hands. “I don't understand why you disqualify all of that. Is it to justify dying from this illness by making yourself seem like nothing but a bastard?”
Holding her gaze, he found himself nodding before he could even think about it. “Yeah, it made things easier to accept, and I wanted you to hate me for the same reason.”
“Don't you think you deserve to live, Stephan? Or grasp hold of the things that make you happy no matter how long you get to have them?”
That was a question he'd never been able to figure out, admitting, “I honestly don't know. I had one goal these past five years, and after that, I'd planned to let everything go because I just didn't give a fuck. Then you came along and flipped it all upside down, reminded me what it was like to actually live.”
Stephan had no idea it would've felt so good to tell her the truth, and now that he'd started, he couldn't stop himself, adding, “It made me so fucking angry.”
“Why?”
“Because I wanted you more than anything, but I couldn't tell you that.”
Her breath left her in a rush, and a smile tugged at her red lips. “You want me?”
“You know I do.”
“Yes, but it's nice to actually hear you say so,” she murmured playfully.
Stephan grumbled, looking away with the thought just too bad I can't show you. “Doesn't matter, Maddox. I'd rather die than risk your life. But now I know that if I do, you might suffer anyway. Fucking no-win situation.”
The mere thought of it had him turning away. But she urged him back by placing a hand against his cheek to return his gaze, insisting, “It does matter. I care about you, Stephan, so would you really stop me from getting help?”
Staring down at her with a pained expression, he shook his head. “No, I wouldn't. I just don't like the thought of you hurting if we fail.”
Lifting his hand, he cupped her cheek and lightly drew his thumb across her bottom lip, the emotion he'd suppressed for the past month bubbling up like a font just looking at her—and now that he actually had the chance to express it, he didn't intend on squandering it.
“I've been falling in love with you since we met, Maddox. You have no idea how much I've wanted to tell you that. Or how fucking bad it hurt knowing I'd have to let you go.”
A tear tracked down her cheek, his name a rasp on her lips. But he didn't let her say more, needing to get the rest of this out.
“I fucking detest vampires. That's never gonna change. They took everything from me, including whatever chances I might've had with you. But if I had the ability, I'd do my best to make you the happiest woman alive, and I'd do it for fucking eternity if you wanted.”
His words weren't lost on her, more tears joining the first when she realized he was saying he'd let her turn him, tears he wiped away with his thumbs.
“I'm so sorry I can't, sweetheart,” he lamented softly.
&n
bsp; As if she couldn't stop herself, Maddox grabbed him in a hold that was almost too tight to endure.
“Please don't cry,” he breathed, wrapping his arms her. “You've already made me as happy as I've ever been, and that's more than I could've asked for.”
“It's not enough,” she argued, lifting her head to look up at him. “We'll find Sutrelle, Stephan, and a way to cure this illness, I swear it. I just need your promise to keep going.”
Releasing a breath, he closed his eye and leaned to press his forehead to hers. “You're the one who made me care at all, Maddox, and maybe I've accepted my situation, but that doesn't mean I won't keep going. Especially for you.”
With his promise given, he looked to see her eyes warming to a molten gold color he could've lost himself in—just a moment before she leaned up to kiss him.
Habitually, Stephan tensed and drew back.
Seeing his reluctance, she whispered, “Trust me.”
Holding her gaze, he knew he did trust her, and now that she knew how dangerous his blood was, she'd be more careful.
So he leaned in to kiss her himself—desperately.
Maddox gasped in response, then moaned. It was the most erotic sound he'd ever heard, and Stephan slowed down, trying to savor this moment with her for as long as possible. Her hands traveled up and down his sides, then over his ass, and he gathered her closer, realizing she'd yet to let her fangs sharpen.
Maddox had a lot of control, but he couldn't imagine it was easy for her, and the thought of how much she cared to contain herself only fueled his desire.
By the time he broke the kiss, he was as hard as he'd ever been, rasping on a deep breath, “I've never wanted anyone like I want you, Maddox, but we can't … uh, I mean, if you wanted, we couldn't—”
He stopped short in noticing her curious expression. “The illness transmits through sex?”
“Yeah,” he breathed. “The serum I take lessens the chances of spreading it, but there's still a risk.”
He trailed when she placed a finger to his lips and shushed him, smiling seductively. “There are other things we can do, Stephan.”
He knew all too well what they could do after spending so long fantasizing about it, inhaling a shaky breath as her hand dipped to the crotch of his pants where she cupped him, her palm rubbing over his erection.
In response, his head fell back with a loud groan as he drove his hips up for more.
She seemed to enjoy his response, whispering against his neck, “I want to make you come.” Her fingers opened the button on his pants, then slowly urged the zipper down. “I want to make your heart race, get down on my knees and taste you—”
“No,” he interrupted quickly, grasping her wrist to pull her hand away. Regardless of how breathless the mere thought of her suggestion made him, he had to deny her. “You can't do that, either.”
She pursed her lips, but he had too much trouble focusing on her disappointment when her fingers slipped into his pants and grasped his cock, pulling it free. With a delicious squeeze, she gave it a slow stroke—and Stephan was already pushing his limit, fighting not to come in her warm grasp.
But something was off, and he couldn't figure out what until she whispered, “Could you unzip the back of my dress?”
At that, Stephan regained enough thought to realize she shouldn't be the one servicing him—he should be worshiping her, giving her more pleasure than she could stand.
So he ignored her request in favor of undoing the buttons of his shirt. Her attention was rapt as the garment opened, and she had no compunctions about letting her fingers wander over his bare chest in the process.
As soon as his shirt was discarded, Stephan lifted her to carry into the bedroom, hoping on the way that he could actually give her what she needed when he wasn't even certain this was truly happening.
Once he'd reached the bed, she leaned up and whispered against his ear, “Put me down, I need something from the dressing room.”
He looked at her curiously, then nodded, setting her down and returning her kiss just before she grinned and walked away with the words, “Just wait here.”
Stephan had no idea what she needed, and was so eager to know that he almost followed her. But she reappeared in the doorway to the dressing room just a moment later, leaning against the frame in only a red corset with matching garters and pumps—and the pearl necklace he'd given her was looped around her neck.
Holy shit.
“You know, these do match the dress, but more importantly,” she drew out, twirling the strand around a finger, “they also match this lingerie I bought with you in mind.”
A lump formed in his throat with a stone of uncertainty sinking to the pit of his stomach. There's no fucking way I'm gonna be good enough for her.
As the thought repeated, Maddox approached him, urging him to lay back on the bed.
Instinctively, Stephan leaned on his elbows and slid onto the mattress as she crawled over him, meeting his mouth for a few brief kisses before she settled with her legs spread over his lap. He was just about to ask what she was doing, but the words stuck as Maddox lowered her hips so that the silk of her scarlet panties was pressing against his straining erection.
With a few slow rocks back and forth, the soft material rubbed over his shaft. Stephan clutched her hips in response, unable to say a word as pleasure engulfed him, his gaze catching sight of Maddox's now sharpened fangs, proving she was enjoying this just as much.
“How long has it been since you made love, Stephan? Five years?”
He couldn't answer, chest heaving as he lifted his hips for more of what she was doing, and finally shook his head.
“Never made love. Just … did other things.”
Maddox looked surprised, then gave a sultry smile. “One day, we'll make love for hours on end,” she whispered, unclasping the front of her corset one latch at a time, then carelessly tossed it aside, revealing a narrow waist leading up to her plump breasts with the pearls hanging around them.
He suddenly felt like a bumbling adolescent with no idea what to do—that was, until she took his hands and pressed them over each one. Immediately, he cupped them, brushing his thumbs over her pink nipples until they tightened into hard peaks that he immediately sat up to suck in turn.
“Ah! Stephan,” she rasped, grinding harder against him, “you're making me throb.”
“Fuck,” he groaned, already close to coming. That's when he noticed a line of moisture dribbling from the cap of his cock onto his abdomen, and grasped her hips to stop her from moving.
“Wait, I can't do this, baby, I don't wanna … Fuck! Maddox!”
During his statement, she'd slipped her panties to the side and pressed her flesh against his shaft, moaning, “I want you to feel how wet you've made me.”
Rubbing her bare skin over him in a hot, slick glide back and forth, he couldn't hold on. After only a few strokes, he erupted against her, but instead of pulling her in as he so desperately needed to, Stephan pushed her aside, fearing even the slightest exposure.
Immediately, he sat forward and grasped his cock to finish the job, only barely aware of Maddox watching as he masturbated. With the first line shooting into his slacks, he grunted, the pleasure intense, and it only got better when she wrapped her arms around him, slipping a hand down to help while kissing his shoulders and back.
And all he could think was whatever paradise is, there's no way it could be half as good as this.
32
♦ ♦ ♦
Pleasuring Stephan was the most gratifying experience Maddox ever had—and this was only the beginning.
It wasn't hard to believe he'd never made love considering his illness would've kept him abstinent to prevent it from spreading, just as he'd resisted his attraction to her these past several weeks to keep her safe, and she certainly admired his strength of will.
But now that she knew the truth, she wanted to give him as much pleasure as possible, silently promising to do more than grind ove
r him once they'd found a cure—and she'd make sure that day came.
His hips bucked as he moaned her name with his release, and Maddox rained kisses along his broad shoulders and back until his taut muscles finally relaxed. In his euphoria, his chest heaved with his hammering heart, and it was difficult not to think about just how good his blood would taste in that moment.
So, to distract herself, she whispered, “You sound satisfied.”
“I am,” he groaned. “Never imagined it like that before. Maddox, that was … ”
“Shush,” she drew out against his ear, then nibbled it until he let a masculine groan. “You don't have to say anything.”
“Yeah, I do, I just don't know how,” he commented, removing his shoes before standing to take off his pants, offering her a very healthy glimpse of his ass in the process of walking away in order to clean himself up in her dressing room before they continued.
Maddox admired the sight unabashedly—particularly his semi-hard shaft when he returned. Stephan was nicely endowed, though she couldn't help noticing his girth in specific. Oh my.
The curiosity of what it would feel like to take him at full force had her blood racing as he climbed over her on the bed.
“Guess I'll have to show you my appreciation instead,” he remarked—and Maddox couldn't stop smiling.
Laying back beneath him, their lips met in a hungry kiss that he soon trailed to her neck, then down over one breast where his hot mouth latched onto a nipple, sucking it.
Maddox arched her back for more, moaning his name as his hand wandered down across her stomach, over her navel, and into the waistband of her panties where he hooked his fingers in a tight grip. She shivered at his touch, expecting him to roll the garment down her thighs, but then heard a distinctive rip as Stephan tore them off.
Tossing the ruined garment aside, he inquired deviously, “How much did those cost?”
“Why do you ask?”
“Need to figure out what I'll owe you, cause if we're gonna do this regularly, you'll be out of panties before the week's over.”
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