Brenna’s heart swelled. She had to be the luckiest woman on earth to have a man like Finn love her.
“We could be neighbors,” Lily said hopefully.
While Dom and Finn continued talking logistics out in the hallway and Xian cleared the empty tray, Brenna hugged Lily. “I cannot thank you enough for all your support. Without it, I’m not sure Dom could’ve been swayed.”
“It’s nothing. You’d have done the same for me. Dom is stubborn, but he’ll eventually make the right decision regardless of how difficult it will be.”
Brenna watched as Lily smoothed her blond hair into a high ponytail. She hoped her friend would soon find the same happiness that she and Finn had. God knew Lily deserved it.
After everyone left, Brenna heard Finn running water into the tub. She entered the bathroom, planning to sit on the counter and talk to him while he soaked. He had to still be sore and aching after his long ordeal. But Finn evidently had other ideas in mind.
“Come on in,” he said, reaching for her hand. “The water’s fine.”
She laughed at the sight of this fierce warrior—her man—sitting up to his neck in a tub full of fragrant white bubbles. Surrounding the tub were equally fragrant candles. Would he ever stop surprising her? She hurriedly stripped and stepped into the tub, but instead of her sitting across from him as she had planned, Finn pulled her into his lap, slopping eucalyptus-scented bubbles over the side and extinguishing one of the pillar candles on the tile ledge.
“This way, you’re up a little higher and can get used to the water temperature. Besides, this gives me something to play with.” His large hands came out from the water, traveled over her waist and caressed her breasts. His palms were warm on her skin, and she wanted to arch her back like a cat. When he rubbed his thumbs simultaneously over her nipples, a chill of pleasure snaked down her spine. Although she couldn’t see through the bubbles, she was pretty sure he was aroused under there. So she repositioned herself a little closer. Yep, he was.
“So, what were you and Dom talking about so intently out in the corridor after the two of you finally worked out the helipad details and made nice?”
“Oh, nothing.”
She splashed him with water. “I can totally tell when two guys are talking about sex.”
Finn went all wide-eyed and innocent. “What do you mean?”
“He elbowed you and the two of you laughed like teenage boys with a secret.”
“Okay, fine. No secrets. You want to know what he said?”
“Yeah, I do.”
“Evidently, having sex with a sweetblood—and I’m talking a lot of sex—actually can make the scent of that blood less potent to other vampires.”
She splashed him again. “You are such a liar. You’re making that up to ensure you’re always getting it from me. ‘Woman, I’m in danger. Ye must make love to me,’” she drawled in an exaggerated burr.
He threw his head back and laughed. “Oh my God, I love it. You sound just like my cousin.”
“I’m serious, Finn. I still need to be careful. This is nothing to—”
“Not if I become a changeling. Dom told me all about it.”
Was he serious? She sank deeper into the water and looked over her shoulder to scrutinize his face. Becoming a changeling was a procedure that involved blood-draining and the transfer of blood from two born vampires. “That’s a big commitment, Finn. I couldn’t ask you to do that.”
“You’re not the one asking. I am. Besides, I know approval from the Council takes a long time. And until then—” He slid his hands down her waist, resting them on her hips “—it’s called conditioning. Like an athlete. You get exposed to something over and over until it becomes a habit. Pretty soon, it’s not a big deal.”
“Yeah? So what if I slip up? All it takes is one time, Finn.”
“That won’t happen.”
“And how can you be so sure?”
“A couple of the guys agreed to stand guard outside our door when we…you know…make love.” Her mouth dropped open, but he kept going. “And I let you take my blood.”
“Excuse me? A bunch of oversexed vampires are going to be listening to us? As we— You and me— Finn McKentry! I won’t agree to it.”
“I was afraid you’d say that. Guess that means we’ll need to go with plan B.”
She didn’t like the sound of that. “And what is plan B?”
He shrugged nonchalantly. “I’ll tie you to the bed so you can’t attack me. Dom has some strong rope that he said will work.”
“You’re going to tie me up?”
“The choice is yours. I’m just preparing you ahead of time so that you’re not surprised at what I’m planning to do.”
“Some choice.” She’d never been tied up during sex before—never even considered it. She ran her hands over the bubbles clinging to his muscular chest and a warmth that had nothing to do with the water pooled low in her belly. He could have his way with her and she’d be powerless. At his mercy. The thought was definitely intriguing.
“Our relationship will be give and take,” he said teasingly, his eyes glittering with that mischievous expression she’d always loved. “I’ll give you a taste and then I’ll take you. Just think. I’ll be your own personal blood slave.”
“You will?”
“Yeah, but only if you promise to love me forever.”
She leaned forward and kissed him. “Now that I can do.”
Don’t miss Lily’s story,
EMBRACED BY BLOOD,
coming in July 2011 from HQN Books.
And be sure to check out BONDED BY BLOOD,
the Sweetblood adventure that started it all,
available now!
ISBN: 978-1-4592-0593-2
Hidden by Blood
Copyright © 2011 by Laurie Thompson
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