Chapter 34
T he kiss was deep, searing, and my heart soared. I wanted it to go on forever, and for the first time since seeing his red eyes and fangs, I let go. Of my fear, my worry, and my mistrust. I was alone in the dark with a vampire, listening to the ocean, and for the first time, I wasn’t afraid of what he was. As we pulled apart, I struggled to focus my thoughts.
“Wow,” I murmured.
He took in a deep breath, and I somehow knew he was breathing me in. My heart skipped again. He’d told me what his bite did, and curiosity got the best of me.
“So your bite really doesn’t hurt?” I asked.
His fingers brushed my throat. “It really doesn’t hurt,” he promised.
I could tell what he wanted. We’d been very close earlier in the limo, and I had been about to ask him.
“I want to,” I admitted. “Even if it’s just once.”
He responded by pulling in for another kiss, this one ravenous where I could actually feel his hunger for me. The interior light of the limo reflected on his face, and I could see his eyes were red.
“Quinn.” His voice changed, as if he were struggling to speak. “What you’re asking…”
“I know. I told you I’d never ask for that. But I’m asking for it now.”
He lifted my hand. “I won’t bite your throat. The way I’m feeling, that is likely to lead to other things.”
Other things. I hadn’t had proper sex in months, so I certainly wouldn’t complain about that. I also didn’t want him to lose control while his teeth were buried in my throat. But I nodded. His eyes locked on mine as he turned my hand over and brought my wrist to his mouth.
He paused. “Don’t tense.” He slid his tongue over my wrist.
I forced myself to relax as his fangs pierced my wrist. It only hurt for a second before I was engulfed by sheer pleasure. It swept through me, and my entire body went limp. My eyes rolled back. Heat swelled within me, and I let out a moan before I could stop it.
Then it was over. His fangs withdrew and I opened my eyes. He was holding me up.
“Um.” I breathed out. “Wow.”
His teeth flashed, fangs still extended. “My thoughts exactly. ”
I reached a hand up to his mouth in wonder. “That was intense.”
Waves of warmth still flooded through me.
“Do you want to go home?” he asked.
“Now? I…” I stopped blurting out what I really wanted. “Sure.”
“Give me a minute, I’ll wake up the driver.” He moved to the driver’s door. It dawned on me then that he hadn’t hired the limo like I’d initially thought. With the ability to compel people, he’d likely taken the driver and car in an attempt to impress me. He was from a time where money created the kind of impression he was accustomed to. But it was not any idea of money that had drawn me to him. It was him.
I stepped away from the limo, the sounds of the ocean loud, filling me with calm energy as it always had. I had avoided it too long, and all it took was for Matteo to bring me out here. I started to sing a few notes. It took me a while to realise I was singing a song I’d written a year ago. It came out of me quietly at first. As if I was hesitant. Then the words and power flowed through me, through my voice. A farewell to Niamh. I felt like the sea was listening as I finished. She stood beside me staring in wonder.
“I’ve missed hearing you sing,” she whispered. “You wrote a song for me.” Tears slid down her face. Then she was gone.
Matteo’s hand barely touched me. Comforting. “Your voice really is something,” he said. “But that was haunting. Beautiful.”
“I should have sung that at her funeral.” I wiped my eyes. “Bringing me here tonight was the best thing you could have done. Thank you.”
I kissed his cheek, and he held one arm out. “Should I get you home now?”
I took his arm, and he led me back to the limo.
He sat close to me the entire ride back, not that I was complaining. The effects of his fangs had only opened up how much I wanted this man, and I hoped he wouldn’t just leave when we arrived back at my building. I leaned against him, head on his chest, his arm around me, holding me close.
As we arrived, he released the driver. Much to my delight, he walked me inside. As I opened my door, I turned to face him, finding his eyes on me in wonder. I knew what another kiss had the potential to lead to. For the both of us. I knew I wanted his kiss. His ‘vampire’s kiss’. I reached up, both hands on either side of his face, and brought his lips down to mine.
Somehow we made it through the door, and he nudged it closed without breaking our kiss. His arms were gentle as he wrapped them around me. I wanted more, and desire swelled again. I reached for his pants, and he stopped, pulling back.
“Don’t stop now,” I said, shrugging his jacket from my shoulders.
His eyes glinted with hunger and desire. He pulled his suit jacket off, removing his shirt. I ran my hands over his bare chest and down to his abs, muscles beneath my hands defined. I reached for his trousers again and heard a ripping sound. My dress fell from my body.
“Wasn’t that expensive?” I asked against his mouth.
“It would have taken too long to get you out of it,” he replied. “I am not a patient man. I can always sell a painting and buy you a new one, or a hundred.”
I chuckled as I undid his belt. He quickly discarded his trousers and lifted me in his arms. In a split second we went from my front door to my bedroom. He threw me on the bed and followed, a wicked gleam in his eye as he crawled up the length of my body, a deep growl in his chest.
His lips brushed my navel, moving up as his hands caressed me. My entire body was on fire from his touch. I reached for Matteo, wanting my hands on him, wanting him.
“Oh my god,” I gasped. “I want you inside me, now!”
He lifted his head from my stomach long enough to smile before moving towards my breasts. His tongue flicked over my left nipple, teeth adding to the pleasure that he’d lit within me. Every nerve felt exposed, and I let out a moan, sensitive to his touch. My fingers dug into his back while I squirmed under him, aching and eager. I whimpered, breathing with need, his movements painfully slow.
“Please, Matteo,” I groaned. “I can’t take it anymore, I…”
My words cut off when a deep growl resonated from Matteo. He moved up again, lips brushing against my throat and jaw before finding my mouth. I clutched at him, every part of my being quivering with need. The sounds he made went straight to my core.
Finally, he pushed into me, thrusting deep. His hips rolled forward, my muscles pulsing around him. As he slid in and out, his body against mine, I lifted my hips to meet his rhythm.
His eyes turned bright red, raw hunger shining through. There was no shock or fear at the sight of his vampiric nature anymore. Only a deep yearning. I’d already experienced the effects of his venom earlier that night. I craved his bite as much as he hungered for me. My blood and my body. With one hand I cupped his cheek, pressing my thumb to his canine. His fangs lengthened, long and sharp, drawing blood from my thumb. He froze.
“It’s okay,” I whispered, smearing my blood on his lips. “I want you to.”
His gaze became fervent, and he licked his lips, a rumble vibrating from him. The sound and action lit a new fire. One that threatened to engulf me.
“Are you saying what I think you’re saying?” he asked with a hard thrust that sent a deep wave of pleasure through me.
I nodded. “I want your bite,” I breathed. “I’m asking you, just as you said I would. I’ll beg for it, if it’ll help.”
For once I didn’t want him to wait, to be the gentleman. I tilted my head, baring my throat, pulling him down. He dragged his tongue over my neck, and I braced myself. His lips brushed against flesh, soft, barely touching but scorching. Then with a growl that made my muscles tighten, he bit down. I gasped. Warmth and euphoria spread across me and sent me soaring. His tongue slid over my throat, tasting me, drinking me.
A shudder passed through him. His grunt of pleasure vibrated against me.
“You taste of desire and music,” he murmured and bit again, deeper.
Light-headedness swept over me. A sliver of panic was drowned out by the waves of bliss that carried me higher. A scream broke free and my orgasm hit hard, leaving me breathless and trembling as he fed from me.