A Hunger Like No Other Read Online Free PDF Page B

legs tickled her, and his firm lips pressed against her neck as he slept. She could even feel his strong heartbeat against her back.
    She finally understood the appeal of this. And knowing what she did now, she wondered how anyone could not want a bedmate. He was answering so many questions she’d had, proving so many of her secret dreams.
    And yet he could readily kill her.
    At first, he’d squeezed her to his chest so hard it was everything she could do not to cry out. She didn’t think he held her so tightly to hurt her—he could have just hit her if that was his intention—so she was confused by his obvious need to clasp her to him.
    Now he slept at last, his breaths growing even and slow. She called up her meager reserve of courage, and little by little, over what seemed to be an hour, she eased his arms open.
    If only she could trace, she could escape so easily—but then she never would have been taken by him in the first place. Annika had taught Emma about tracing, the Horde’s means of travel. She’d warned that vampires could teleport to any place they’d been to previously. The stronger ones could even teleport others, and only a fierce struggle might prevent it. Annika had wanted Emma to learn how. Emma had tried her hardest, failed, and been discouraged. She’d stopped paying attention . . . .
    When Emma was finally able to duck from under his arms, she rose in cautious degrees. Free of the bed, she glanced back at him, and again was struck by how handsome he was. She was saddened that he had to be like this. Saddened that she couldn’t learn more about herself—and even about him.
    Just as she turned, his big hands snared her around the waist. He flung her back into the bed, then joined her once more.
    He’s playing with me.
    â€œYou canna escape me.” He pressed her back, then levered himself up beside her. “You only provoke my anger.” Even as his eyes flickered, they appeared unseeing. He behaved as if he was still dreaming, like a sleepwalker.
    â€œI-I don’t want to anger you,” she said with a shaky breath. “I just want to go—”
    â€œDo you know how many vampires I’ve killed?” he murmured, either ignoring or not hearing her words.
    â€œNo,” she whispered. She wondered if he truly saw her.
    â€œI’ve killed thousands. I hunted them for sport, stalking their lairs.” He ran the back of his dark claw across her neck. “And with one swipe of my claws I severed their heads—before they even woke.” His lips brushed over her neck where he’d trailed his claw, making her shudder. “I could kill you as easily as taking a breath.” His voice was a low rumble like a lover’s might be, gentling her, so inconsistent with his cruel words and actions.
    â€œAre you going to k-kill me?”
    He smoothed a strand of hair from her lip. “I have no’ decided. I’ve never hesitated a second before you.” He was shaking from holding his position above her. “When I wake from this haze—when this madness clears, if I still believe you are what you are . . . who knows?”
    â€œWhat I am?”
    He took her by the wrist and forced her hand to his naked shaft. “You feel me hard. Know that the only reason I’m no’ inside you right now is because I’m weak. No’ because of any concern for you.”
    Briefly closing her eyes with embarrassment, she tugged at her hand until he finally let it go. “You would hurt me that way?”
    â€œWithout a second thought.” His lips curled. His gaze seemed intent on her face, but his eyes were still vacant. “And that’s just the beginning of the things I’ll do to you, vampire.”

3

    T he next morning Lachlain lay beside her, sleep barely shaken off, as content as he’d been in hundreds of years.
    Of course, he’d been in hell for nearly two