27. What We Share
WHAT WE SHARE
Alex
Irene’s bedroom was finally warm after I’d applied my expertise to starting a fire as quickly as possible. Her room had been particularly cold and damp, and even the logs were humid.
She stretched out her hands towards the flames. “That’s lovely.” She wriggled her fingers and giggled, a lovely, intoxicating sound.
Growing up on the streets had cured me of my shyness and scruples. There was no room for insecurity in the life of a street thief. But as I was about to ask her if I could drink from her again, I became as shy as a debutante at her first ball.
The fog and the reversed spell had drained me, but my own desire to taste her delicious blood again was another reason to feed.
“We can dance together now.” She wrapped her arms around my neck, and not an ounce of pain bothered me. “We’re going to give so many balls you’ll grow tired of them.”
“I don’t know how to dance.” I stroked her back.
“Never mind. I’ll teach you.”
She reclined her head and arched her back as I spun with her in my arms.
“I love it when you’re happy and laugh.” I caressed her silky hair.
Her gown left her neck bare, and desire stirred in my veins. She must have sensed my thoughts because she tilted her head to the side, exposing the main vein in her neck. My gums tingled.
The hunger roared, sudden and unbidden, but it wasn’t simply that. I wanted more than just to satisfy the thirst. I wanted to make her happy and to hear her free laughter again. I wanted to hear her sigh with pleasure and feel her tremble with my kisses and writhe underneath me.
“Yes,” she whispered, stroking my hair with a slow hand.
I didn’t need to ask what she meant. “Are you sure?”
Her heartbeat raced, and her veins swelled. The scent of orange blossoms wafted in the air.
“I want to feel it.” She exposed her neck to me.
So did I. “I won’t take a lot. I just need extra strength to regain my energy.”
“I trust you.” She undid the first few buttons of her shirt and pulled the lapels apart, uncovering her silky skin.
Her scent became so intense it was the only thing I breathed.
“Please. May I touch you?”
“Yes.” I was shivering with anticipation.
She dragged a hand down my neck and chest to slide it under my trousers.
I released a groan when she touched me.
She paused, a blush colouring her face. “Am I too bold?”
I shook my head. “Too beautiful.”
My fangs came out, and my senses sharpened.
She stroked me again, and I couldn’t contain myself. I sank my teeth into her soft skin as gently as I could. Rising on her tiptoes, she gripped my shoulders and moaned.
The warm rush of her delicious blood and her gentle touch shot hot pleasure through me. Her blood reached every remote corner of my body and energised it with love and care.
Through our connection, her pleasure became mine, and she shivered with it. We became one, joined by blood, pleasure, and love.
I didn’t dare let myself go, though. I was in control, but the ordeal had left me drained, and I wasn’t going to take any chances. One moment of distraction could lead me to drink too much, and I’d rather have a holy stake in my chest than hurt her.
With another moan, she sagged against me. I cupped her breast and took a last sip before sealing the punctures with slow strokes of my tongue.
The space between us was gone, and we breathed each other’s scent. The pleasure gave way to something else. Something deep, sweet, and warm. Something that lasted longer.
She breathed against my chest, shaking with her release. But I wanted to give her more because she gave me everything.
I laid her on the bed and took a moment to admire her stunning beauty, her shiny sapphire eyes, creamy skin, and plush lips.
“You’re perfect,” I said, caressing her breasts.
Her embarrassment was like a sting on my skin.
“It’s true.” I rubbed her nipples through the fabric of her shirt until she writhed underneath me, rocking her hips. “If you don’t believe me, I’m going to prove it.”
I pinched her nipple lightly until she moaned again.
“Please.” She widened her legs and raised her hips. “I’ve waited so long.”
Her simple request overwhelmed me. It was too real, raw, and intimate.
I was dying again. Never would I have dreamt of being so lucky as to be with her.
Her fingertips danced over my sensitive skin, and not an ounce of pain or doubt bothered me. There was only her.
I swallowed hard, tasting her blood on my tongue. “That’s a different kind of intimacy, which I’m more than eager to provide if you want it too.”
She trapped her bottom lip between her teeth, looking even more beautiful. “I want to feel you now when my body is so alive and sensitive.” She caressed my neck, and the shift in the bond was immediate as her sadness flooded it.
“Why are you sad?” I stroked her lower lip with my thumb.
“Bethlen hurt you so terribly that I feared I’d lost you. Now there isn’t any trace of that horrible wound.”
“Darius’s blood did wonders, but your love healed me.” In more ways than she could ever imagine.
She trailed her hand down from my neck to my abdomen, leaving behind a trail of fire on my skin. “I love feeling your muscles.”
She unbuttoned my waistcoat and slid her hand under my shirt, and I hissed a breath at her curious touch.
Her confidence and gentle strokes were a powerful combination. Letting her explore my body without stopping her was a lesson in patience and control. And I wasn’t talking about my restraint in biting her.
“Your skin is different from that of humans,” she said, sprawling a hand over my chest.
“In what way?”
“It’s tauter, smoother, and has a leather-like quality.”
“As long as you like it.”
“I do.” She ran her fingertips over my ribs and toyed with the waistband of my trousers.
And I didn’t resist. I kissed her as her lips trembled under mine, and a wave of pleasure coursed through her. Through us. It moulded us together with heat and desire. The sensation was burning and familiar, and I didn’t want it to end.
“Please,” she whispered again.
I unbuttoned her shirt and unfastened the hooks on her corset, keeping my gaze on her face. The little buggers took a few minutes to yield. When I finally conquered the last one, I tossed the corset aside and inhaled.
Her tempting rosy skin was visible through the thin fabric of her chemise. I ran a hand over her full breasts; the pleasure was doubled by our connection. Her taut nipples pressed against the fabric. I lowered the chemise, revealing her naked breast.
She arched her back and rolled her hips, looking like a siren enchanting me. I closed my mouth around her nipple and sucked gently. I tongued and rolled it until she was panting.
Moans and whimpers came out of her as I drew a hand lower, tracing her curves slowly. She widened her legs in an invitation I eagerly accepted.
We kissed and touched and caressed each other in a rhythm that was both slow and eager as if we’d done this a thousand times.
I found the slit of her drawers and paused before stroking her. We both gasped when I touched her. She was wet, silky, and warm and so precious I would do anything for her.
“Hell,” I muttered under my breath.
She trapped her bottom lip between her teeth when I rubbed her gently. I dipped my head to kiss her neck, and the urge to bite her rose once more, but I didn’t need to feed, and I wanted her to experience the pleasure coming from my touch, not the bite.
I scattered kisses over her breasts, trailing my lips down. The skirt and petticoats didn’t fight me when I untied them. There was the sound of fabric ripping, but I didn’t pause to see what I’d done.
With a quick yank, I removed the skirts and tossed them to the floor. Then she lay in front of me, in her drawers, looking like a fierce goddess.
Vampires could enthrall their victims, but no charming power would ever compare to Irene.
I spread her thighs wide and nestled between them, pausing only to savour the contact with her skin, something I’d thought impossible a while ago.
How had I renounced her touch for so long? It was the most intoxicating sensation in the world.
For a moment, I only stayed there between her shapely legs, surrounded by her warmth.
I dipped my head, filling my lungs with her scent. That was how I would spend my days if I could—close to her heat, surrounded by her softness, staring at her beauty.
She cried out and grabbed fistfuls of the bedsheets when I kissed her deeply.
Her hips rolled and lifted, and I had to hold them in place to slide my tongue deeper.
Her scent surrounded me, and the sound of her pounding heart was the only one in my ears.
The deeper I kissed her, the faster her pulse went.
She said my name among breathy moans, and if I died in that moment, I would die happy.
The wave of pleasure coursing through her shocked me as well. We were one and the same. Our emotions were intertwined. Our bodies were welded by heat.
Her release became mine, too, and we held each other as two desperate lovers, shaking with the strength of the release. I kissed her inner thighs and her breasts until I reached her neck and jaw. She was a vision, a goddess with sapphire eyes and golden hair I wanted to worship.
She wrapped her arms around my neck and squeezed me tightly. I scattered kisses on her face until she giggled.
“You’re the guardian of my soul.” I held her. “You’re my shield of light against the darkness.” I didn’t mean to sound so solemn, but it was true.
Her mood shifted. Tears threatened to drop. “I sense it through our bond. I sense your fear of losing your soul, of losing me. You aren’t a soulless monster. You’re my precious love, and if I can help you by keeping your soul safe, then I will.”
We held each other, sharing heat, breaths, and tears.
I propped myself on my elbows, needing to see her face. “I swear I’ll protect you with my life and do my best to make you happy.”
She put her hand on my cheek. “I trust you, Alex.”
Those were the best words she could ever say to me.