Please?”
Bas was stunned. She was begging him? For sex? What in hell happened to her in her lifetime that such a gorgeous woman felt she had to beg for sex? Any man would take her in a heartbeat. He didn’t feel right. Pushing her hair back, he pulled her to him. He wouldn’t reject her, but he wouldn’t take advantage of her, either. He was a beast, he’d admit that, but he wasn’t a monster.
“I would. You’re lovely, I’d take you, no hesitation, absolutely. But for now, we have to do this.”
He moved in close to her neck, breathing softly on the sensitive skin. She moaned again, the light touch, his breath… It meant she was a very passionate woman and that she would be an amazing lover. He would have her, but for this moment, they had to sleep. Still… He ran his tongue around her neck, then from her throat he licked down, down, until he pulled a nipple into his mouth. It was hard and ready and he tugged. She moaned again and rolled toward him.
“I’m already wet for you. Bas, let me take off your pants…”
He returned to her throat, licked again, and then bit. She gasped, but he knew it didn’t hurt for more than the second it took to breach the skin. Her head dropped back on the pillow and he moved back in to feed. Her blood flowed smoothly, like it knew it belonged to him. It was sweet, tangy…fiery…and like nothing he’d ever tasted before. She was a mystery to a vampire who had walked this entire earth for over three hundred years. And that was something new.
He took a little more than just a taste test this time, enough to restore his energy and make him feel strong enough to get them through whatever was coming. Her blood surged, he could feel it move inside him. It was something he’d never felt before either. He would have to find out what she was.
Her hands had found him, now tightly pressed against his jeans, caused an erection he knew she wouldn’t ease. Not tonight. Damn! Back to business. He pulled her hands away, to a low murmured objection, and slid closer again after tearing his own skin once more. He held his wrist up to her mouth, and she struggled again. He fed her, made her drink. She gagged once more, but then started to draw. It went easier after she stopped fighting him, and when he pulled his arm away, he was shocked when she protested. This wasn’t pleasant for the blood-bonded humans. They never liked the taste of blood. But she did? Blood was the stuff of life…it meant life to any living thing. It brought life to his kind. But she shouldn’t have enjoyed it. One more mystery.
He laid her back and put his hand on her cheek.
“Sleep. I will wake you when I need you. Sleep until then.”
Park took another deep breath, then went into a restful sleep, her breathing even and quiet in moments. Bas ran his fingers down her chest like she did to his a few minutes earlier, fingers curving over perfect breasts, rolling her still erect nipples between his thumb and index finger. It didn’t do anything to help his hard-on. For a week that started out like a piece of shit, things had gotten very interesting. Little could surprise an old vampire. He pulled her soft body up against him and willed himself to sleep for the first time in more than two weeks. No worries tonight. Tomorrow would bring them again.
144
Chapter Four
Park came awake slowly, her eyes adjusting to the darkness. She could barely see anything in the room. She could feel she was on a bed and that there was someone next to her. It took a moment to come fully alert and realize where she must be. Somehow, she must have ended up in the hotel room the kidnapper had her drive him to. And in the bed with him. Her hands moved along her chest when she realized it was cool and bare. Oh. She moved her hands over to him. So was his.
Regina Bartley, Laura Hampton