This Blood that Bonds Us (This Blood that Binds Us #4)

26. Twenty-Six

Twenty-Six

Kimberly

I shivered as I entered the shower. The water was warm, but the heater was never enough to thaw the chill in the bathroom. The glass shower door and the white tiles lining the floor were always cold. I huddled under the water, reciting my new list of things to do. A full moon was coming, and I’d been anticipating it all week, clawing at the chance to place my hand on that dagger again.

I wet my hair, and the door clicked open, then I turned in time to see Aaron opening the shower door.

“Aaron? Did tonight go okay?”

He pressed his chest into mine and pushed me back while shutting the door.

“What are you—”

“Kim.” His voice was drenched with longing. The whites of his eyes were tinged like black ink. “I found you.”

“You need blood,” I said breathlessly.

His trembling hands vibrated my arms. “I need you.”

I nodded and wrapped my hands in his hair, pulling him toward my neck. That’s all the invitation he needed to sink his teeth into my skin. After a few seconds, his lips were on mine. It was forceful but not too hard. Every second that passed, he took a little more. His tongue explored the inside of my mouth, and his hands tangled in my hair. He was kissing me like he hadn’t seen me in weeks or like he thought I might die.

“Aaron.” I could barely get his name out. The combination of the water running off his body and the ecstasy of his touch left me speechless.

He reeled back, with his irises overtaken in darkness. “Sorry, is this okay?”

He panted, and his fingers dug into my skin with desperation. Human blood wouldn’t fix what was wrong with him—what She was doing to him, and I’d do anything to free him from it. I answered by pressing my lips to his.

A groan echoed around us as he pressed me up against the shower door. The fog on the glass made it impossible for me to get a grip. I gasped and wrapped my bare legs around him as he lifted me effortlessly.

Every second, I fought to gain control of the growing tension building in my core.

The new position gave him greater access to the bare skin on my chest. Like a feather, he used his tongue to wipe any remnants of blood from my neck and down my chest. My heart beat in my ears as he followed the trail of water down to the top of my breast and bit me again.

The soft lightheadedness combined with the steam of the shower had me melting into him. It soothed every stiff muscle, and I realized how much I enjoyed being there for him. I used the railing on the inside of the shower door to keep me steady as I gave him everything he needed. For once, I wasn’t cold and everywhere was burning hot.

He didn’t see how tamed he was, even when he felt out of control. The pressure was never too much. He held me perfectly. Slowly adjusting for his own pleasure and for mine.

Every time he dug harder, I bit my lip to stifle the sound threatening to leave my mouth. He dropped me to my feet and kneeled before me as if I was an altar. With every touch of his lips and tongue, he sealed his devotion. He kissed my legs all the way up until he reached the apex of my thigh. It was quick yet perfect. Then he placed one leg over his shoulder and sank his teeth into my inner thigh. This time, I couldn’t hide the whimper escaping my lips, then pushed my hands through his hair. I’d come to enjoy the feeling of being the thing he needed more than anything else.

My core was on fire, tight and yearning for release. He moved over the bite with his tongue and didn’t stop when he grazed over my opening.

Everything in me grew tighter. The feeling of his tongue sent shivers of pleasure through me. He held me to the tile wall more firmly, and I rolled my hips into him until I was certain I would go over the edge.

He didn’t have to, but he wanted to. It had never been like that before. Ravenous perfection, like every inch of me was the best thing he’d ever had the pleasure of tasting.

“Aaron, I—”

Something deep in my stomach crested and my knees buckled with pleasure that cascaded through my whole body.

He steadied me as he stood to face me. The darkness was gone, and all that was left was his soft-brown eyes devouring me. I sighed. He was back.

Swiping the water from his face, he realized what he had done—gotten in the shower fully clothed.

“I—”

I pulled off his jacket and his shirt. “Don’t. Just stay. Shower with me.”

He complied, letting me help him strip, then he drew me into a hug and held my head to his chest while the water ran over us.

“Is this working?” he asked, his voice still filled with worry.

“Yeah. It’s good.” His heartbeat fluttered in steady cadence beneath my ear. “This is perfect.”