Suzette’s shrill voice stopped them as they entered the living room, her face white with anger. “No! I don’t believe you’re doing this to me.”

Victor stopped, frowning at her as he snapped. “What the hell are you talking about?”

“What am I talking about? What am I talking about?” She stamped her foot dramatically. “Flint just told me you’re leaving to go to the lake house tonight and asked me to reach out to the caretaker to ready things. Is that true?”

He bristled at the tone of her voice and being questioned on his actions, even by Suzette. She had no idea of the reasons behind his change of plans but that didn’t matter. “Since when did I have to ask your permission to do anything? Don’t forget who’s in charge here, Suzette, or who pays your salary.”

Suzette stepped back, her face paling as her eyes dropped to the floor briefly before rising to lock on his once more. Her voice firm as she spat out. “I’m perfectly aware of who you are, Mister Strong, however, it appears to have slipped your mind that I’ve scheduled an interview with you and Kimber for tomorrow morning. The one interview that you deemed to grant to stem the PR nightmare that’s been taking hold since you and your bevy of guards made a spectacle for the entire world to see. The one that’s been viewed millions, no, make that billions of times across every damn social media outlet there is. Your escapade was captured on so many mobile devices and uploaded within minutes that it’s been impossible to stop it going viral. It’s been on just about every news channel too. This interview was the only chance to set the record straight and try and get another angle across. But forgive me for trying to fucking save your ass, boss, just tell me what the hell I’m supposed to do now?”

Kimber stepped toward Suzette, her head spinning between them. “I’m sorry. I forgot about that too. Is it really that bad? Are we really all over the news?”

“Indeed you are,” Suzette replied in a softer tone. “I was hoping to get your story out and calm things down. You know, something along the lines of a ‘love at first sight’ sort of thing.”

Kimber’s lips tugged up as her cheeks blushed, her eyes seeking his. “That’s not far from the truth. Is it, Victor?”

He’d taken the few moments as they’d spoken to calm himself, realizing the position he’d placed Suzette in and knowing there was only one solution. The first being something he rarely did. “That’s right, baby.” He joined Kimber, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her back against him, peering over at Suzette. “I’m sorry. I did indeed forget about the interview but I’m not changing our plans. However, before you kick off again . . . how fast can you set it up? Can you get them here today? If you can then we’ll do it before we leave. That’s the best I can offer, Suzette.”

Suzette’s hands came up, clapping wildly. “Yes! I’ll make it happen. I’ll get on it now and let you know the time.”

“Fine,” Victor replied, none to happily. It wasn’t his idea of fun, or what he intended to do today, but it was better to get it out of the way and the sooner the better. “The quicker the better, Suzette. I want it over and done with.”

“I’m going.” She spun around and ran down the hall toward his office, pausing to ask, “Oh, do you need me to come to the lake?”

“No, Suzette, you stay here and take care of business.”

“Thank goodness, I’ve got far too much work to do,” she retorted before turning and carrying on.

“I doubt we’ll have time for our swim,” he moaned as they carried on upstairs.

“Maybe not, but we can still have a shower,” Kimber quipped, dashing ahead and looking over her shoulder to give him a wicked grin at the same time as she started to tug her top off.

She sped up, flying toward the bedroom with him chasing her, he allowed her the freedom to reach their bathroom first but as soon as she entered the room he pounced, snatching her up into his arms and kissing her with such force it took her breath away and left her in no doubt of his intentions. Backing them up toward the large shower, he kept their lips locked together, one hand slipping between them to undo her jeans, pushing them down far enough to enable her to kick them free while she untied the belt of his robe. Her hands sliding it from his shoulders where it hung briefly before he released her to shake it free, reaching to switch on the water and then take her back into his embrace.

“You’re amazingly beautiful, Kimber. I’ll never get enough of you.” His head lowered to taste her skin before the water diluted her unique flavor. As it exploded over his sensitive tongue he savored the taste . . . her taste. The one that was Kimber and he knew it would never be enough, she would never be enough: her scent, her flavor, her crimson liquid. He craved her more each passing hour and wondered how much his heart could bear. How much his heart could take before it exploded with the enormity of his feelings for her: his Bloodmate.

It was all-encompassing and wonderful. It was out-of-this-world miraculous the depth of his feelings for her and he would do anything, go to any lengths, any depths of depravity to keep her from harm. He cared not for the consequences of his actions. He didn’t give a flying fuck for anyone or anything other than killing anyone that would do her harm. His fangs erupted, desperate to feel her blood drip down his throat . . . not to feed. He wasn’t hungry. He just needed to savor her and connect with her once again. Running his tongue across her neck first he quickly sank inside, taking only a few mouthfuls before pulling back and covering her mouth once again.

The more he drank from her the more he became joined to her. It had started slowly but it was growing stronger now and she was beginning to feel it now too. He could sense her now—her feelings, thoughts, her mind—so clearly it was as if he were inside her head and it was a link he was determined to unite both ways. He hadn’t retracted his fangs, allowing them to remain free for a reason and he carried that out now, allowing them to slice the inside of his mouth. His blood flowed freely for mere seconds before healing but it was all that was required as they kissed. Kimber moaned, reaching up to tug on his hair but he held her in place until he felt her swallowing before releasing her.

She coughed then looked up at him with a frown marring her beauty. “Are you all right? Did I taste blood?”

“I’m fine. Sorry, I cut myself on my fangs.”

“That’s not something I’d expect. Kinda a rookie thing to do, isn’t it?”

She was right, of course, but he didn’t want to explain right now. He would. Later. When he had the time to tell her what he hoped would happen if she ingested his blood. It would bind them together, prolong her life even more than a Dragon’s already long life, have her by his side for eternity as all Bloodmates should be. “I had my mind on other things.”

He didn’t give her time to think, moving them both further into the water and spinning her around quickly. “Hands on the wall, darling,” he whispered against her ear, nipping it for good measure as he nudged her legs apart, his cock pressing against her ass cheeks.

Kimber moaned, looking over her shoulder with lust-filled eyes, doing as he asked, her tongue caught between her teeth. Damn. This was going to be hard and fast. His arm reached around, holding her firmly as he bent his legs so he could position himself between her thighs, his rock-hard length searching for her warm wet opening. She wiggled around and voila . . . he slid inside with one deep thrust, Kimber exhaling loudly at his quick intrusion.

Victor pulled out immediately, setting up a quick pace, pounding inside her as his arm dropped and his fingers deftly slipped between her folds to find her clit already throbbing with need. He circled it mercilessly, bringing loud gasps from her, her head falling to the side and giving him a perfect view of her throat . . . he couldn’t resist. His fangs falling free once more as the call of her ambrosia beckoned. Once again, he used venom so his bite was painless, infusing it to enhance her orgasm and bring her the utmost pleasure. Her body shuddered beneath him as soon as his fangs pierced her delicate skin, her groans growing louder until she was screaming his name and her walls tightened around him as a frenzy of rapture overtook her body.

He released his fangs, swiping his tongue over the wound to seal it as she continued with her orgasm, her forehead now on the wall and her legs giving out beneath her. Victor held her up as he thrust once, twice, and then a third time before his own release stampeded forth, a roar erupting when he buried himself to the hilt inside her. “Kimber!” Her name the only word he could muster as pure, unadulterated ecstasy overtook him, body, heart, and soul.