CHAPTER 6
Rue
A yawn escapes me, and I already feel myself drifting off, even under the hot stare of the vampire lord. Forcing myself up on my elbows, I mentally shake off the sandman’s caress, knowing we need to talk, but my eyelids are still heavy.
My shoulder protests from the effort of holding my body up, so I roll onto my good side instead.
The compounding loneliness in my chest I’ve been ignoring creeps in as a thought crosses my mind. “Slade, why did you bring me here? I mean, I appreciate it, but I’m surprised you brought me to your home and didn’t take me back to the wolves.”
The thought of them sends a fresh spike of agony through my chest. I hope they’re okay.
Slade hesitates for a moment before answering. “Because you’re safer here. With me. Because those sacs à puces allowed you to be taken. And because...“ He trails off, as if unsure how to continue.
“Because what?” I press, suddenly wide awake.
“Because I want you here,” he finally admits, his ice blue eyes intense and unwavering on mine. He clears his throat, and the bed dips as he sits beside me. “Parce que ta place est avec moi.” I have no idea what that means, but gah, he can speak French to me any time.
He reaches out a hand to brush a strand of hair behind my ear. I can’t stop the wince when he grazes my cheek. Another injury from being tossed around in the van, it seems. His expression turns thunderous, eyes flashing red as his temper flares.
“I’m fine—“ I begin.
“You are not fine,” he growls, interrupting my false statement. I hate that he’s right. I’m not fine. But I am doing a hex of a good job at keeping it together when all I want to do is fall apart.
There’s a moment of silence between us before he breaks it. “You need to heal. You need my blood.”
Images from the last time I tasted Slade’s blood flood my thoughts. The intense heat, the undeniable pleasure, the raw desire. Would it feel like that again? Because I’d welcome the distraction with open arms.
He watches me closely as I puzzle through everything in my head, and releases a pleased sigh when I shift closer, drawn to him like a crow to the shiny objects they often steal.
“There’s something you should know first,” he says, gaze dipping to my lips. My tongue darts out to wet them, and he tracks the movement. “Your wolves aren’t here to interrupt us this time, so, if you feed, we will fuck. Is that something you want?”
Is that what I want?
A shiver runs down my spine at his blunt words, but the heat pooling between my legs makes it clear what my body’s answer is. A million things race across my mind, but I don’t want to think them through. I want to feel. I want to experience something entirely for myself for once, without fear of the repercussions. I’m technically still single, though the wolves own a piece of me, heart and soul. But I’m not theirs, and who knows if I ever will be now that Kathan severed our connection.
That’s a dagger straight through the heart if I’ve ever felt one.
Not only does my body need to heal, but my heart needs mending too, and something tells me Slade holds the bandage.
The tension between us is palpable as he waits for my response, his gaze burning into mine. My heart races with anticipation, and I don’t even have to think about it before I answer. “Yes,” I whisper, almost breathless with need. My body trembles with adrenaline, a mix of nerves and desire that I can’t deny.
There’s something so intoxicating to the idea of drinking Slade’s blood. A thought I normally push away any time it creeps into my mind. And it has on many occasions since that first night. But in this moment, there’s no room for hesitation or fear.
To finally feel this man inside me, his essence merging with mine... there’s no other answer.
The relative darkness around us only heightens the intensity of our connection, and I can sense his hunger for me growing by the second. And yet, I’m not afraid. Not one bit.
A breathtaking grin overtakes his lips, his sharp fangs on display. “Excellent,” he all but purrs. Next thing I know, I’m straddling his lap. It’s a strange feeling being on this level with Slade. “Then let me take care of you.”
His response sends a surge of excitement through me. I lean into him, my lips searching for his. He meets me halfway, his mouth hot and demanding on mine. His tongue slides past my lips, exploring every inch of my mouth. The taste of him floods every single one of my senses. It’s a mix of sweetness and power that makes my head spin. He responds immediately, deepening the kiss as his hands tangle in my hair. I moan into his mouth, wanting more, needing more.
He breaks the kiss abruptly and moves his mouth to my neck, trailing his lips to the point where my pulse is pounding. He nips at the skin, causing me to gasp and arch into him. My hands roam over his muscular body, feeling every inch of him I can. I want him closer to me; I want all of him.
But suddenly, he stops and pulls back, breathing heavily. “I don’t want to accidentally injure you further, mon amour. Will you allow me to heal you?”
“Yes.” My answer is firm, conveying my seriousness.
My heart pounds a little faster as he brings his wrist to his mouth and bites, drawing two small beads of blood. When he presses his wrist to my mouth, I’m a goner—powerless to resist. The taste explodes on my tongue, more decadent than any sweet known to man. Euphoria takes over, and I let go of all inhibitions as I grind onto his lap.
“That’s it,” he coos, watching with molten eyes as I drink from him, taking what I need.
Every sensation feels warm and perfect, like everything is settling into place. The pain in my head fades away, and my shoulder no longer throbs. But most importantly, that emptiness in my chest begins to fill.
The pressure in my core builds and builds with each sip of Slade’s blood I take. An orgasm rips through me, my hips bucking as his meet mine in a heated rhythm. The evidence of his arousal against me sends aftershocks of pleasure through my body as I continue to rub myself against his clothed cock. But even as the intensity grows, I can’t help but crave more of him.
He pulls his wrist out of my desperate grasp, and I let out an unintentional growl, the sound of a wild animal defending their meal. My frustration boils over, a primal instinct taking control as the need to consume and be consumed by him takes up every inch of my thoughts. But he only smirks in response to my struggle, a glint of amusement and arrogance shining in his eyes like a spark in the dark as he keeps me pinned in place.
“Can’t get enough, can you, my little witch?” he asks, tone brimming with satisfaction.
My breath catches in my throat as I struggle to find a response when I can’t even make sense of the emotions crashing into me. I simply shake my head, unable to form coherent thoughts with his blood swirling in my veins. He flashes me a knowing smile before reaching for the hem of my shirt, tugging it up and over my head in one swift motion. My bra follows suit, leaving my upper half completely uncovered.
His nose nuzzles against my neck as he teases the sensitive area with the sharpness of his fangs. A soft moan escapes my lips as his hot breath tickles the area, causing goosebumps to rise and my nipples to harden.
“Nuit, you are perfection,“ he murmurs against my skin, sending a jolt of electricity through me.
“And we have far too many clothes between us still,” I reply, feeling all too exposed with a compliment like that. My fingers tremble as I reach for the buttons on his crisp white shirt, eagerly undoing each one before shoving it off his broad shoulders as quickly as possible.
Once he’s bare before me, I drag my nails down his sculpted chest, reveling in the way he groans at my touch. Every inch of him is a work of art—chiseled muscles and silky skin that seems almost unreal. No freckles or blemishes or pores. Perfect in a way that’s unattainable for most.
“Much better,” I whisper, savoring the sight before me.
His strong hands glide along my back, gently tracing every curve and dip of my body, leaving a trail of heat in their wake. With one swift motion, he tugs at my pants, urging me to lift my hips so he can remove them. As he tosses them aside, his gaze lingers on me straddling him in nothing but my black lace panties.
“Tu es magnifique.” His voice is filled with awe.
His gaze lingers on me for a moment longer before his hands caress the exposed skin of my thighs and hips. Goosebumps chase his touch as a fire ignites deep inside me. I feel desired, wanted, and it’s truly spellbinding.
In this moment, I know that there is no place else I’d rather be than in his arms, basking in the heat of our moment.
He slides a finger higher, stroking me over the soaked lace. And like he can’t stand even a sliver of something between us, he uses his vampire strength to rip them off in one fluid motion.
For a second, a pang of sadness hits me when I remember this is one of the pieces Kathan picked out, but the thought quickly flies out of my head when he brings the fabric to his nose and inhales deeply before letting out a moan. “Ton odeur me rend fou.”
Holy crow, that should not be as hot as it is.
“Slade,” I all but whine.
He moves to capture my mouth in a searing kiss. The intensity between us is palpable, and soon all that matters is satisfying this desperate need we have for each other. We move together like two puzzle pieces fitting into place.
I gasp into his mouth when his finger finds my clit and expertly strokes me. He takes the opportunity to deepen the kiss, causing another wave of desire to crest over me.
“Mon chaton, you’re so wet,“ he growls when he dips that digit inside my core. His tone is low, almost gravelly. Full of his blood, our connection is deeper. I swear I can feel traces of his obsession and devotion.
Reaching between us, I grip his hard length in my hand. The silky skin of his cock glides along my palm, each stroke giving me more confidence. Once, twice—it’s enough to have his eyes rolling into the back of his head. I love the effect I seem to have on him.
That’s it. I need him inside me like I need to hexin’ breathe. I bat his hand away and line him up at my entrance, not wanting to play around anymore.
He seems taken aback for a moment. I’m sure he’s not used to anyone bossing him around, but the protest dies on his lips when I sink onto him.
“Tu as été créée pour moi,” he rasps. “I’ve wanted you since the moment you tried to stake me.”
Even though it’s hard to think through the lust coursing through me, I ask, “What does that mean?”
“It means—“ he pauses long enough to lift me slightly, “—you were created for me,” he finishes, hips thrusting upward. I see stars and moonlight behind my eyes as we move together as one.
Everything is too much: the stretch of him filling me up, the way he moves his hands from my thighs, trailing along my waist to cup my breasts. The fullness spreads up into my chest, strengthening our connection. I’m not sure if I’ll ever be able to contain this cauldron of emotion threatening to boil over.
Suddenly, the invisible string that ties us together glows, amplifying every sensation. Every time his dick slides against my walls, a shudder wracks through me. It’s as if every nerve ending is alive.
Desire, lust, reverence. His emotions echo my own. It’s a strange sensation to be able to experience someone else so completely. Relative strangers we might be, but it’s like I’ve known him forever. I’ve only ever heard this kind of phenomenon described when talking about a soulmatch.
Me.
A soulmatch to Slade Dumont.
My neck tingles as if awaiting something, but I’m too far in the moment to be confused. Slade growls and takes control of our motions, slamming into me at an angle that has me screaming and begging for more. My hands fall to his shoulders, nails digging into his skin as I use him for balance.
Slade fucks me until I’m a boneless, mewling mess. And still I want more.
I angle my neck, offering it to him and instantly, he presses a kiss there before licking a line to my ear. “If I bite you, mon amour, you will be mine forever. Is that what you want?”
His pace never falters, but he does pull back to study me. His eyes are the darkest I’ve ever seen them, yet there’s a certain vulnerability there. He’s more beast than man at the moment, yet he’s holding back for me.
My heart flutters in my chest as I think about the reality of being Slade’s forever. His world is rife with danger and deviance, but my short time with the wolves has proven I’m stronger than I ever thought possible. Plus, with my blood, I’ll be hunted my entire life, anyway. And being his would offer more protection.
But that’s the thing. I don’t want him for protection, or his status, or anything so material as that. I want him because being around him makes me feel alive, because my soul is splintered, and I’m not sure if it’ll ever be whole without him.
Without the wolves either.
“I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life,” I respond, breathless. “But I want the wolves too. They’re mine.”
I expect him to snarl an objection, but instead he says the one thing I least expect. “Then you shall have them, mon amour. Anything for my soulmatch.”
Our movement slows as the gravity of the moment settles in. “I don’t know anything about the bonding process for a vampire. Will it hurt?” I ask, voice barely above a whisper.
“No,” Slade responds confidently, his intense gaze never leaving mine. “You will feel a small prick when I bite and taste you, then nothing but pleasure. You’re a part of me, mon trésor. I could never intentionally harm you. Unless you asked,“ he adds, flashing me his fangs.
That pet name I do know. My treasure. It’s almost like he’s whispering it straight to my heart as a promise.
Slade’s hand leaves my hip and gently guides my fingers to his chest, where he presses my palm firmly against the area above his unbeating heart. For a moment, nothing happens, then I feel it. A fluttering sensation beneath my fingertips.
Thump thump. Thump thump.
To my utter amazement, Slade’s heart beats, slowly but surely in his chest. Something that isn’t possible until a vampire meets their soulmatch. Bubbling cauldrons over a crackling fire. This is actually happening. It’s true.
My gaze snaps up to meet his, only to find him already watching me with a mixture of tenderness and possessiveness. “It only beats for you, Rue. Are you ready for forever?”
“Yes.”
His fangs descend right before he sinks them into the soft flesh of my neck. There’s a sharp prick like fire and ice are injected into my veins exactly like he described, but it quickly tempers into an incredible combination of bliss. Like I’m burning, but I don’t want the flames to ever go out.
A primal noise escapes from deep within Slade as he swallows a pull of my blood. His cock jumps inside of me in response, somehow managing to get even harder than before. It throbs against my sensitive nerve endings, causing me to arch my spine as I try to bring us impossibly closer.
You taste divine, mon trésor, he says, though his lips never move. But his hips do, and their urgency draws a gasp from me.
Wait, did he just speak into my mind?
Yes, he confirms with another mental whisper, his grin evident against my neck before he retracts his fangs and seals the wound with a gentle lick, officially marking me—no, claiming me. Mind, body, and soul.
“Mine.” This time, the words are spoken out loud, his tone possessive and feral. And as he pulls me in for a bruising kiss, I know without a doubt he means it. His mouth is rough and all consuming against mine, our minds entwined as we chase our release, our rhythm unwavering.
Slade’s movements pick up, increasing beyond what a normal human or wizard could achieve. “Slade!” His name erupts from my throat in a desperate plea as I cling to him, managing to hold on as he fucks me wildly.
“Your body can take me so well,” he coos. “See? You were made for me, little witch. Now come for me, Rue. Come for me and scream my name,” he pants, his movements becoming erratic.
I moan his name again, this time in surrender as my body comes undone around him. The magic of our bond courses through me and into him, solidifying in stone. It leaves a permanent connection between us, flowing through us like an invisible stream, amplified with each thrust.
“Shit,” he curses as he bottoms out spurting ropes of hot cum deep inside me. The sensation has my eyes rolling back in my head.
Slade wraps his arms around me, holding me close as we bask in our collective afterglow. The longer he remains inside me, stroking my hair and whispering sweet nothings in my ear, the heavier my eyelids become. Hexes, I’d forgotten how tired drinking his blood made me last time. I almost want to fight sleep and savor this a little longer, but find myself dozing off despite my effort.
A soft chuckle escapes Slade as he kisses my cheek. “Sleep, ma douce goutte. I’ll be here when you wake up. Je le promets.”