“I can’t ask that from you,” Harlan whispered, looking paler than she’d ever seen him, and that was saying something.

“You’re not asking. I’m offering,” Ruby said firmly, despite the fear building in her gut.

The last time she had been a vampire’s meal had not turned out well for her, and here she was, volunteering to go through that again. She knew Harlan was different than Grant, and that he would most likely die if she didn’t give him her blood, so that made the decision a little easier.

You don’t abandon your partner when things get a little tough. Besides, he took those bullets I dug out of him for me.

Harlan still looked hesitant, but Ruby knew they didn’t have time to argue. The veins on his body were starting to become more pronounced, turning an alarming shade of blue. It looked like he was withering away right before her eyes, with dark circles appearing under his eyes and the last bit of color draining from his lips.

Ruby was surprised at the emotions rolling through her. By all accounts, she barely knew this man, but she had already grown way too attached to him. Watching Harlan die was not an option.

“You’ve saved my life more than once. Now shut up and drink up,” she said, tugging down her turtleneck and leaning closer to him, her heart beating wildly.

“No, not there,” Harlan sighed, reaching for her arm.

Confused, she pulled back as Harlan gently rolled up the fabric of her sweater. His thumb grazed over the veins of her wrists, and the soft touch sent a shiver down her spine.

“Thank you,” Harlan said, looking up at her, before he bent his head down to her hand.

Unable to look away, Ruby watched as Harlan started by softly kissing her wrist. His fangs were already out, as she felt them poke at her skin from between his lips. His tongue snaked out, slowly sliding over her wrist as his mouth sucked the veins there closer to the surface.

Taken aback by how intimate the whole process felt, Ruby’s breath hitched as she felt a sharp pressure against her wrist. Feeling Harlan’s fangs sink into her skin a moment later, she was surprised at how it barely even hurt.

And when his mouth started to work, sucking at her lifeblood, whatever twinge of pain she had felt melted away. An odd warmth spread across her limbs, making her hands and feet feel like jelly. She was all too aware of how soft his lips were against the skin of her wrist, even if his touch was a little cold.

Oh my… she thought, as her head started to spin in the most delicious way. I get it now, Roberto.

Looking down at Harlan, she could see the dark circles under his eyes disappearing. He let out something sounding like a small moan as he drew more of her blood into his mouth, and Ruby gasped when the sensation carried over straight to her core, making her thighs clench.

Harlan’s eyes snapped to her, and their gazes locked as his soft lips pressed against her skin. She could feel it when his fangs retracted, but he kept his mouth on her wrist, circling the wound he’d made with his tongue.

There was a dangerous glint in his eyes that Ruby found sexy as hell, and when he pulled away to kiss her wrist, his gaze still glued to her face, that was the last straw for her. Without even thinking, Ruby jumped into his lap, her hands locking behind his neck as she brought her mouth down on his.

All the sexual frustration she had been feeling since meeting Harlan bubbled up to the surface, clamoring for an outlet.

Harlan’s hands slid up her back, slowly and deliberately, until he was holding her face in his hands. Ruby felt out of control as she kissed him with a passion she’d never felt before. He responded, teasing and coaxing her with his tongue in a way that only added to the heat pulsating through her.

“Ruby,” he mumbled against her mouth. “Do you know what you’re doing?”

Pulling away, she blinked at him. He looked healthy again, with even a slight flush to his cheeks, and his eyes were more intense than ever, twin emeralds burning right into her.

“I know I want you,” she replied, surprised at the words tumbling out of her mouth.

Harlan groaned softly at that, brushing his thumb over her jaw.

“Don’t say that unless you mean it, little gemstone,” he said softly. “Because if I kiss you again, I won’t be able to stop.”

A thrill went through Ruby as everything the two of them had just been through melted away. They were both alive, despite valiant efforts by Grant to put them both in the ground. And she didn’t want to waste a second of her life on trying to talk herself out of what she craved.

Harlan was sexy, confident and powerful. And even though he liked to act like he was just some carefree party boy, there was a lot more to him. He had a strong sense of right and wrong, and he kept putting his life on the line for her even when he didn’t have to.

She didn’t want to feel the way she did about him, but trying to deny the crazy attraction she felt toward him wasn’t working either. And why couldn’t she just go for what she wanted, for once? Wallowing in all she’d lost and pondering her uncertain future definitely wasn’t making her feel better.

But being around Harlan sure does.

“Then don’t stop,” she whispered, her hands sliding down to his chest.

He was still covered in blood, but the skin beneath her hands was now smooth, no sign of his injuries remaining. It seemed her blood had really done the trick. She smiled when Harlan’s mouth came crashing down on hers, devouring her until she was breathless and needy, shamelessly grinding on his lap.

The feeling of having Harlan want her as much as she wanted him was heady and powerful. Her hands roamed across his body, over his hard, sculpted chest, powerful shoulders and thick, muscular arms. She couldn’t get enough of him.

His hard cock was now pressing into her slit as she rocked back and forth on his lap. Her insides were already throbbing with need, her nipples hard against her bra. Harlan’s hands tangled in her hair, pulling lightly and making her scalp tingle.

The rush of all these different sensations was overwhelming and intoxicating, and to think, it all started with a bite… The way Harlan had drunk from her couldn’t have been more different than when Grant ripped into her.

But she didn’t want to think about Grant. All Ruby wanted was Harlan to make her his, to melt away in his arms and enjoy this reprieve from reality. His hands trailed fire down her body as he moved to cup her ass.

The next moment was a blur, as Ruby suddenly found herself on the backseat, with Harlan on top of her. He held himself up with one hand, the length of his body softly rubbing against hers as he kissed her deeply, drinking her in.

Ruby sighed as his free hand outlined her body, taking special care to linger near her breasts and hips. Arching her back to get closer to him, she moaned into his mouth. The sound of her clothes ripping filled the car, and she was momentarily grateful she’d parked it in a secluded alley.

Harlan broke the kiss to stare down at her, now clad in only her underwear, grabbing at every part of him she could reach.

“You’re beautiful, Ruby Danvers,” he said, as he used his knee to part her thighs. “I can’t wait to hear you call out my name.”

Already soaking wet, Ruby could only whimper as Harlan’s knee pressed against her throbbing clit, applying just the right amount of pressure to keep her on edge and have her body screaming for more.

“Then what are you waiting for,” she whispered, squirming against him. “I’m ready.”