Chapter 12 #2
I thumped his chest. “From what your friends insinuate, you’ve got all the discrimination of a greyhound when something small and furry runs past. It can’t help but chase whatever it is.
” My eyes widened and I clapped a shocked hand over my runaway mouth.
“What is it about you that makes me just say shit out loud?”
“Instead of in your head?” I nodded. “Must be catching.” Edwin was laughing openly now.
“Don’t ever censor yourself on my behalf, love.
I’ve told you, I want you to be honest. And y’know, I was a total manwhore and happy about it, no lie.
Anyone who smelled good enough to feed from and/or fuck, I was there with my hand on my zip, looking thirsty.
” He waggled his eyebrows. “In both senses of the word.”
“I got it,” I muttered, shoving him again.
Which was a wasted effort because he’s made of fucking stone or something.
Feeling worn out by our exchange, because for all his joking, Edwin really did seem serious about wanting me in all ways and I knew I wasn’t ready for that, I slumped against him and offered quietly, “If you want to…with Trace, I won’t mind.
” I would mind, quite a bit, because I wanted it to be me giving Edwin orgasms that made him shout my name, leaving him a gasping, sticky mess on the mattress we shared.
Another smaller part of me that hadn’t known it was even considering the matter, wanted him to be happy and fulfilled.
And, I released another giggle-snort, filled.
“You really mean that, don’t you?” Edwin said.
I nodded.
“I could test it out a bit.”
I sat up. “How?”
“Maybe we could kiss.” His blue gaze seemed to be searching me for a reaction. I tilted my head in an invitation for him to go on. “And then, I could hold you while I kiss him.”
Oh. Apparently I was on board with that idea. Heat of a different kind crept over me. My cock, which had no business getting involved, thickened in my boxer-briefs. I swallowed.
“That might work,” I croaked. I tried to inhale, but my lungs felt compressed by the weight of anxiety that came racing over me along with smaller but definite flickers of lust. “But…But we would have to tell Trace I can’t do any more.” I dropped my gaze. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t you dare apologise!” Edwin put that weird thrall into his voice and his eyes darkened to an almost navy.
“You were kidnapped and savagely—” He made a strangled choking sound and shook his head fiercely.
“Don’t you ever apologise,” he repeated, his tone gentling as he cradled my face and loomed so close it made my eyes cross.
“You do not get to apologise for that bastard’s misdeeds, ever.
” He blew out a frustrated breath. “Why the fuck doesn’t thrall work properly on you?
You bloody freak of nature.” His broad smile clued me in that he found this trait of mine fascinating rather than annoying.
I slid off his lap and began collecting the dirty dishes.
“Worked fine on me when Sorley fed from me,” I said over my shoulder.
I had no recollection of meeting Edwin’s friend until the day I’d turned up at his Leeds flat, beaten and bruised, with a message from the FWNN.
But, I trusted Sorley wasn’t a liar, and his man mountain of a boyfriend, Gethin, had agreed with him, so yeah, thrall did apparently work on me some of the time.
I flashed Edwin a saucy grin as he followed behind me; he would take a cloth and wipe down the table, I would wash up.
Another little routine we had going. “Maybe your thrall is faulty, oh mighty one. Ever think of that?”
“You cheeky fucker, I’ll have you for that!” He darted towards me.
My squeal echoed in the tiny kitchen as Edwin’s fingers dug into my sides. “Oh God, no tickling…” I was already weak from laughter at the prospect, one hand out to clutch at the sink.
“Make it worth my while to stop.” His cool breath swept over my shoulder while one bony digit stroked across my rib cage and my heart went into freefall.
He really does want you. Distantly, I applauded my brain’s good sense in being able to distinguish a play threat from a real one; the FWNN had pounced on me from behind and it had never ended well.
Pushing all thoughts of that abusive wanker from my head, I turned around slowly, luxuriating in the drag of that same finger as it kept contact with me as I spun. I met Edwin’s blue eyes with my own, gulping a bit at the hunger I saw in them. “W-w-what’s your price?”
He took a hasty step back, his finger not leaving my side. “Am I crowding you, love?”
I shook my head. “No. Yes, but it’s okay, because I like it.
Not really.” I dropped my gaze and swore.
“Fucking hell, I am so fed up with being like this.” I sucked in a determined breath and raised my eyes.
“Edwin, please tell me what penance I have to pay so you won’t tickle me.
” At this rate, I would even take the tickling if it meant he kept touching me.
“I’d like to kiss you.” His smile was tentative, hopeful.
“Not like the other week when I fucking mauled you. But a proper kiss, to show you how much you’ve wormed your way into my cold, dead heart.
” His smile cracked. I’d never seen him so unsure.
“Maybe even a little exchange of feelings? You like me a bit, don’t you? ”
I couldn’t speak. Edwin Marsh was — and I cannot emphasise this enough — a fucking catch.
Tall, blond, athletic, funny, smart as fuck, and generous to a fault.
Did I mention supermodel hot? And he’d just told me he had feelings, for me?
Jeez, it was all I could do to remain on my feet.
I might have swayed a bit, but I remembered to nod, vigorously. I like you so much, Edwin.
“So, I can kiss you?” Another frantic nod.
Without delay, he captured my face in gentle hands and his lips descended on mine.
I made some kind of embarrassing whimper as the taste of him rolled across my tongue, and my cock went from zero to sixty in a millisecond.
In a shameless burst of confidence that came from God knew where, I grabbed for his waist and hauled him to me, so he was effectively pinning me against the counter.
Face to face, I didn’t feel hemmed in, but rather protected, needed, claimed.
Edwin shoved his leg between my thighs, the length of his hard-on evident as it pulsed against mine.
My vampire was all in proportion and every inch of him seemed very interested in me.
We stayed this way, rocking slowly, groin to groin, as our tongues tangled and explored; sweet and lazy, but with an undercurrent of desperation that finally had me pulling away to catch my breath.
“I…I can’t… Not any more.” My cock hurt, it was so hard, but I had to call a halt before panic overwhelmed me and ruined the moment. “You’re a really good kisser, Eddie.”
Edwin’s blue eyes shone with some emotion I couldn’t identify. “You called me Eddie,” he breathed, his lips ghosting over my cheekbones, my mouth, my neck, as if he couldn’t bear to stop touching me.
“Is that okay?” I’d heard Sorley and Baxter call him that, but maybe I should have asked. I hated my own name being shortened.
“It’s more than okay. I love it. Feels intimate when it comes from your mouth. Like you see me, all of me.” He drew back to look me in the eye. “Thank you for stopping me. I will always listen to your limits and heed them.”
“But…” I gestured between us where the ridge of his cock was making a frankly obscene tent in his trousers. “You didn’t—”
“You said stop, James. Edwin won’t die from blue balls. Or do you think relieving his mild discomfort is more important than protecting your boundaries?”
We both swung to face Trace, who was standing in the corridor with an intense, hungry look on his face.