Chapter 2
I lit candles, placing them around the studio, casting a soft glow on the subject. She was a beautiful woman, already bare for our session. The scent of her blood mixed with a floral fragrance of her perfume. I ran my fingers over paint brushes, calm settling over me, the beast within quiet. Painting had always created a sense of peace, holding my feral nature at bay. In the last century, it had become harder to control, so I’d sought to paint more in the hopes it would still work.
“Are you comfortable?” I asked.
“I didn’t realise it would be this dark,” she murmured. “How can you see what you’re painting?”
The candlelight showed enough of her shape, reflecting over her cheek, and the curves of her neck and breasts, for what I would paint. Blonde hair lit up like a halo around her head. Even if it were pitch black, though, I would still see her perfectly. I moved towards her with human slowness, so as not to startle her.
“I’m focusing on light and shadow.” I brushed my fingers across her cheek. “We don’t need to see every detail for it to be sensual. The way the light touches you here.” I lowered my fingers to her throat, my canines aching to sink into the soft flesh. “From the curve here,” —careful not to touch her breast, I lowered my hand again. “To the softness of your body. The candles behind you help create that silhouette, while the others cast enough light and shadow for what’s needed.”
My eyes lifted to her throat again, the feral part of my mind stirring. I returned to my easel to put distance between us.
Soft breaths whispered from her lips, and her heart thumped with a quickened pace, sounds that even across the room I could hear as if she were right next to me, my head to her chest. I used the strokes of brush upon canvas to focus on, letting myself relax into the mind of an artist. The outline of her body started to take shape on the white background as my hand moved in slow rhythms. Bristles slid over canvas, and contentment bubbled up, allowing me to smile.
In dark colours, shadows played across the planes of her face and body, the background completely black. Softer colours in paint showed light dancing in her eyes, highlighting one side of her. The rise and fall of her chest became hypnotic, but the pulse in her throat was impossible to look away from. I yearned to caress her cheek, murmur to her until she begged me to bite her.
I sucked in a breath, hit both at once by two hungers. We’d met only three days before, but it was obvious she desired me. Her perfume did nothing to hide that distinct fragrance of arousal, which awakened my own lust.
“Would you like to take a break?” I asked, my voice husky. “You’ve been still for a long time. Perhaps you’d like to stretch.”
She rose from the seat, stretching out her body in such a way that it was clear that she wanted me to see her. I’d been staring at her naked body for a while, yet she still wanted to draw my eyes to her. But it was still her throat that pulled me in. I considered giving in, letting her desire be what overrode mine.
She met my eyes, and I averted my gaze quickly.
“You don’t have to be polite,” she said with a smile on her soft lips. “I’m naked. I think we’re beyond the need to look away.” She glided towards me with a deliberate movement of her hips.
There was no denying what I wanted. The hunger that had long since taken root inside of me. I could hide behind the artist all I liked, but my feral nature would always rear up. I should have been more careful, fed more before I’d allowed her into my home, my studio. She stopped in front of me, unaware that her attraction to me was a simple part of her human brain responding to my presence. The allure of the vampire. She couldn’t resist me if she tried.
I reached for her, stroking the soft flesh on the underside of her breast with my thumb. Her lips parted with an intake of air. Rising to my feet, I pulled her to me. Fangs lengthened, at the promise of her blood. A low growl rumbled from my chest as my lips brushed hers. Inside me, the beast stretched out, knowing it was about to get what it wanted.
“Offer me your throat,” I murmured, waiting for her to say yes. “It won’t hurt; in fact, you’ll quite enjoy my vampire’s kiss.”
Her eyes widened. “Vampire?” Fear surged in her, reaching to me.
I lifted her chin to meet my eyes. “Do not be afraid. You’ll know nothing of this afterwards, just that you posed for an artist. I will not take much.”
“I’m not afraid,” she said, under my sway.
I had no desire to hurt her, and my hunger rolled out as she tilted her head, exposing the long vein in her neck, blood pulsing beneath her skin. I wrapped my arms around her, running my tongue over her throat, coating it with my venom.
A shiver tore through her. “Did you mean it when you said it wouldn’t hurt?” she asked.
“All you’ll feel is pleasure.” I sunk my fangs in, letting my venom into her system.
She let out a moan, and when her blood hit my tongue it took everything to hold back my own. I stroked the back of her head, forcing down the part of me that yearned for the chase, the screams. Her heartbeat thundered in my ears, quicker than my own.
Once I’d taken what I needed, I lifted my head. Her eyes were closed, and she clung to me.
“More,” she whispered, her voice heavy with desire.
“I’ve taken enough,” I told her, but I kept my arms around her. If I was to release her, it was likely she’d fall.
“No, not that. More .” She ground herself against me.
I wanted to take her body, as hungry for that as I had been to feed. But I wouldn’t force myself. “Is that what you really want?” I asked her.
She laughed. “Do you honestly think I volunteered to pose naked for you without wanting that?” Her hand pressed against the crotch in my jeans, rubbing over my erection. “Looks like I’m not the only one.”
She reached for my belt. Satisfied that this was her desire, and not an effect of my sway over her, I let her. Soft lips pressed against mine. She tasted like strawberries, her lip gloss. I lifted her effortlessly and took her to my bedroom, laying her on my bed. She looked around. “Do you have protection?”
It was my turn to laugh. “That’s not something I’ve had to worry about for a long time. Worry not, we don’t need it.” I pulled my tee-shirt over my head, then removed my jeans and briefs.
Her eyes widened as they darted over my chest, down my torso, stopping on my cock. I dipped into her mind, curious.
‘ Holy fucking shit, he’s built like a god. ’
I didn’t try to hold back my grin as I crawled over the bed towards her, a growl rising from my chest. Her hands slid over my abdomen, her arousal overpowering. I lowered myself over her, letting myself slide in slowly. With gentle motions I thrust in and out, her sounds of pleasure fuelling me on. She clung to me, her fingernails digging into my back. I maintained the rhythm, sinking in deep and eliciting gasps and moans from her.
My own pleasure rose in waves, warmth spreading through me as I became aware of every little movement and breath. I felt all of it. The feel of her skin against mine, soft as silk. Her muscles clenched around me as I moved in and out, her head thrown back. As I rocked against her, unable to take my eyes from the softness of her throat, I couldn’t resist. I struck fast, taking pleasure again in her sweet blood. Delicious, hot and satisfying as I drank.
In that moment, her blood filled me, and her body belonged to me. My own moans filled the room alongside hers. I grabbed her arms, pinning them above her head, and I lifted my mouth from her throat to her lips. I raced towards my release and quickened my rhythm, chasing it. Her moans increased in volume, her eyes on mine as we came together.
Her heart raced, and I let her catch her breath, pulling out of her.
“Wow,” she breathed. “I could get used to that.”
I stiffened. There would be no getting used to it. I tended to avoid taking a human’s blood or body more than once. Humans sought out connection, often desiring more. I saw no reason to continue any kind of relationship, happy to feed and move on. Blood and sex went hand in hand for vampires, but we were not suited for humans or their lives in the light. We were meant for the shadows.
I held her in my arms, giving her time to recover.
Her eyes remained on my face. “Strong silent type, huh?”
I gave her a smile. “How about we get back to the painting?”