Jesse moaned as she bit him again, those sharp teeth sliding effortlessly through his skin and into the vein. When she sucked, he felt it all the way to his balls. His arm tightened around her back, pulling her closer.

If he were to die by vampire, he didn’t think there was any better way to go.

Somehow, he managed to yank his towel the rest of the way off and get them both onto the bed without breaking her hold on his throat. The blood he had remaining concentrated in his cock, and he pressed his hips into hers. The softness of her skin was warmer than he’d imagined, the feel of her feeding from him the most erotic thing he’d ever experienced. But it wasn’t enough, wasn’t nearly enough. “Let go, love. Just for a second. I need to be inside you.”

She made a sound of protest, but released her bite.

Jesse wasted no time in getting her pajama pants off. Tossing them onto the floor, he took a few seconds just to gaze upon her, part of him wondering what he’d ever done to deserve her. She was all soft curves and long legs. He wanted to take his time—explore her, make it last—but even though he’d already come once, his body had other ideas.

Kneeling between her legs, he pulled her up until her face was inches from his and moved her into position on his lap. With one hand around the base of his cock and one hand on her hip, he found her entrance. As soon as she figured out what he was doing, she sank down without pause. Jesse slid into her warm sheath until he was entirely inside of her. Her husky voice cried out in his ear, and he worried for a moment that he’d hurt her. But she was wet and ready for him, her body squeezing him tight as she rose up and came down again.

He threw back his head as she moved her hips, exposing his throat, and Shea struck. Gripping her hips, he let her feed while he started a steady rhythm, not rushing, enjoying the feel of this female he’d waited so long for. His heart thumped with strong, steady beats, pumping his blood through his veins for her while his breath came in short bursts of air.

But too soon, he felt his orgasm rising. Taking her with him, he rose up and leaned forward. None too gently, he laid her on her back and moved into position. Her teeth tore through his skin until she had to release him, but he barely felt the pain. Bracing one arm on the headboard and one on the bed, Jesse fucked her as he’d dreamt about ever since that first day in the altar room—fast and hard and quite thoroughly. His balls tightened up against his body and his cock swelled, filling her until she was almost uncomfortably snug around him. He gritted his teeth, but there was no way he could hang on, or wait for her. It was too late. He couldn’t stop.

Turning her head, she bit his wrist. Jesse grunted at the slight pain and pumped harder as she strained beneath him, her hips meeting his thrust for thrust. She drank, sending electric shocks straight to his groin. Her fingers dug into his hips, urging him on. He memorized every sound she made, every look, every touch. And when she came, with her body arched and her fangs bared, it was the most erotically beautiful thing he’d ever seen. Her name tore from his lungs as he joined her, burying himself deep until he was spent. Catching his breath, he collapsed on top of her.

When he could finally lift his head, he gazed down into her green eyes. They were filled with concern.

“Are you all right? I didn’t mean to take so much, I was just so thirsty.”

His head buzzed like a swarm of bees had taken up residence, and his body felt weak and satiated. “I feel wonderful, Shea.”

She scowled up at him. “Then why are you slurring your words? Get off me and I can help you.”

“No. I like you right where you are.”

She stopped wiggling around and settled underneath him with a sigh. She searched his face, and he suddenly felt exposed, like somehow by taking so much of him inside of her she saw right through to his black soul. With a soft kiss to the tip of her nose, he hugged her to him for a minute before he rolled away and sat up. “Shea, I need to tell you some things. Things I should have told you right from—”

“No, Jesse. Don’t.”

He looked over his shoulder. Her long, dark hair spread over his pillow, and those mysterious cat eyes fixed on the ceiling. She didn’t try to cover herself, or hide from him.

One slender hand slid across the comforter until she touched his hip with the tips of her fingers. He understood her need for the contact, and didn’t want to say anything that would ruin this moment between them, but she needed to know. Needed to know who exactly she’d mated. Especially now that things between them were changing. This female was a gift he didn’t deserve. He may not be what she’d always dreamed of, but he never wanted there to be a reason for her to mistrust him.

Anyone else. But not her. “I have to. I don’t want secrets between us anymore.”

She sat up and pressed against his back. He closed his eyes at the feel of her soft breasts. The simple gesture was nearly his undoing. She dropped a kiss onto his shoulder. “I don’t care who you are.”

“Yes, you do,” he whispered.

She sighed. “All right, I do. But, there’s not much to do about it now, is there? Fate has chosen you for me, and I don’t seem capable of fighting her whims or controlling myself enough to commit a slow suicide. I need your blood to live. And I want to live. It is what it is.”

Her words cut him to the quick. She sounded so matter of fact, so resigned to her fate. Twisting around to face her, he dove into her thoughts. She was lying, her casual attitude hiding what she truly felt. It was much more than that to her. “Don’t hide from me, Shea. Don’t do that.”

She pulled back and narrowed her eyes. “If you don’t like what I’m thinking, then get out of my head.”

“I can’t. Not when you insist on lying to me. How else will I know how you really think or feel?”

Getting up from the bed, she marched into the bathroom and slammed the door.

Jesse gave her some privacy. He could use a little himself. Pulling on a pair of boxer briefs, he went to the window. The sun was just cresting the horizon, and he quickly dropped the curtain back into place. It worried him that Shea was so exposed up here. The slightest breeze from the ventilation could take her away from him forever.

Taking a deep breath, he quieted his thoughts. Speaking to the dark souls that hovered around him, he ordered them to guard the window. When he looked again, a large dark shadow blocked the sun’s rays from coming into the room, just as they’d done in the small cave. He turned away as the bathroom door opened, a bit easier than it had been closed.

Shea leaned in the doorway, gloriously nude, and regarded him with a guarded expression. Her hands twisted in front of her. “I don’t want to hear what you have to tell me. Not right now. I’m still trying to get used to this. To us.” She paused and looked down at her bare feet for a moment. Her dark hair hid her face, and Jesse resisted the urge to move it out of the way. When she lifted her head, she gave him a small smile. “Can we talk tonight? And just take today to enjoy being together?”

A sense of relief filled him. “Yes. We can do that.”

She nodded. “Good. There are things I need to tell you, too.”

Ah. So, they were getting to that. “I know.”