Galen

Watching Reese through Sariel’s vision is pure torture. He could do anything to her. He could rape her, and she wouldn’t be able to stop him. I feel every touch as if through a veil, and jealousy tears into me that she knows it’s him and still lets him put his hands on her. But, as I observe, I sense his pain. He aches for the love he lost, for the possibility that Reese shares her soul. How could I not have seen it before? He’s not some demon who only craves destruction. He has spent millennia trapped living a half-life.

In the blink of an eye, I’m holding Reese tight against me, her soft vanilla scent overwhelming my senses. He’s given me my body back. I stroke her hair, loving the silky feel of the strands under my fingers.

“A ghra, are you all right?” I ask her.

She stiffens when she realizes Sariel has relented. Turning her gaze up to mine, she blinks as tears spill down her cheeks, a guilty look coloring her features.

“Don’t cry, please. I’m sorry.”

She shakes her head. “He’s not bad, Galen. He’s heartbroken.”

Taking her cheeks in my hands, I lower my lips to hers. The familiar burn of lust begins to build when she presses her body against mine. A sigh escapes her, and I take the opportunity to slide my tongue into her mouth, tasting wine. She moves her hands down my back and over my hips before slipping her fingers under my shirt. I stop her, pulling back and staring at her with wonder. Her irises are drowning blue pools, deep and fathomless.

“We don’t have to do this,” I say, voice hoarse.

“I want to. He won’t take too much. You won’t let him.”

Her hands grasp my shirt and pull it over my head. Sariel’s hunger spreads through me like a fire. Needing to see her body, I tuck my fingers under the small straps of her dress and slide them off her shoulders. Unable to stop myself, I run my tongue over the flesh I’d uncovered. Her sun-kissed skin is warm and tastes like fresh air and daylight. As I nip and lick her shoulder, I push the dress off her body.

“No bra? Good choice.”

She moans in answer when I find a breast with my lips. Pulling the taut nipple into my mouth, I move my other hand down her belly and under the scrap of lace covering her pussy. I need to know if she’s wet for me.

“God, Galen. Keep doing that.” She groans when my fingers graze her clit.

“So fucking wet,” I say between kisses to her breasts. “I love how you respond to me. Like you’re always ready for my cock.”

Without warning, my fangs descend, and in addition to physical lust, my bloodlust has reared its ugly head. Pulling back, I close my eyes and try to will it away.

“Are you okay?” she asks, her words a breathy sigh.

“Aye. I just need a minute.”

Her hands grasp my hair and pull, bringing me up to her. “What can I do to help you, Galen?”

My hunger overtakes me, and I drop my head to her shoulder. “I need to feed.”

“Isn’t that what we’re doing?”

Shaking my head, I grip her tightly. “No, I need to feed.”

She stiffens slightly. “Oh.”

“It’s okay. I can control it. I just need a minute.”

Taking my hand, she leads me to her bedroom. “Lie down,” she orders.

I do as I’m told, liking her newfound dominance. I’m hard, straining against my jeans. Just the thought of her hands on me makes my balls ache. She slides her panties down her legs and stands bare before me. Beautiful.

“Take off your pants.”

Again, I comply. When I’m lying nude on her bed, she crawls on top of me, her pussy hovering over my rock-hard erection. As she runs her hands over the muscles of my stomach and chest, my hips involuntarily buck, a futile attempt to penetrate her.

Her breasts are heavy when I palm them. I love the feel of her velvet soft skin. Her folds brush against the head of my cock as she straddles my hips. I’m wound tighter than a drum. Fucking hell, I need to be inside her.

I groan in relief when she finds my erection with her hand and places me at her entrance. Lowering herself slowly down my length, she sighs, her lashes resting on her cheeks as she keeps her gaze from me. Electric bolts of pleasure race through me at the feel of her around me. I belong here. She is mine. Then she starts to move, rocking her hips forward and back as she slides up and down. I think I could die happy at this moment.

“A ghra, slow down. I need to … I need …” I can already feel my balls tightening, the orgasm building in the base of my spine. I’m not ready for this to be over. I want to savor her, love her.

“Sit up,” she tells me as she stills her hips.

We’re chest to chest, her legs wrapped around my waist and our lips crushed together as I push up into her. She throws her head back on a long moan when I hit just the right spot inside her, over and over again. I can feel her clit brushing against my skin and know she’s closing in on her pleasure. Leaning her head to the side, she pulls her hair back from her neck, exposing a long expanse of perfect skin.

“Feed, Galen.”

I stop moving, unsure of what she said. “What?”

“I want to feed you both,” she murmurs in my ear.

The feel of her hot breath on my skin paired with her words makes me harden even further. “Fuck.”

Shifting her hips forward, she begins moving again, sending shallow waves of pleasure down my shaft. I can feel her pussy begin to pulse and clench around me and know this is the moment.

Do it. Sariel pushes against my control, and I lose it. My teeth sink into the unmarred skin of her throat, and she screams in pleasure as the orgasm hits her. Her pussy floods my cock with impossible warmth as she comes. As her orgasm rolls over her, I can feel mine hovering on the edge. I feed, pulling what I can without hurting her. I’m so close, but I need a little more from her. Freeing my fangs, I flip us so she’s on her back and I can thrust harder.

“Bite down, a ghra. Hard.” My voice is a harsh rasp, and when her teeth hit my skin, I’m gone, exploding from deep within my body, filling her. “Fuck, Reese, oh fuck.” The pleasure is so intense, it almost hurts, wave after wave starting in my toes and washing over my entire body. Dropping my forehead to hers, I kiss her, long and slow. She’s smiling under my lips, and when her fingers slide into my hair, impossibly, I start to harden again.

No more, Galen. She can’t.

Thankful for Sariel for the first time, I pull out of Reese’s body and lie beside her, tracing patterns on her skin as she basks in the afterglow of our lovemaking. I watch her hover on the edge of sleep as I toy with her nipple, lick and suck, my fingers moving down her body and finding her wet again. We stay like that for hours, loving each other in the dark of her bedroom.

“Are you feeling okay, Reese?” I ask as I watch her for signs that she’s struggling.

She takes a deep breath and turns to her side, facing me. “I think so. I’m tired, but that’s probably due to the earth-shattering orgasms. I think I blacked out for a minute.”

Looking down my body, she grins at the sight of my cock, hard and ready. “Really?” she asks, raising one eyebrow.

I shrug. “It’s what you do to me. I think I’ve walked around with an erection more often than not since we met.”

A soft laugh escapes her. “Sorry.”

Shaking my head, I stroke her cheek. “Don’t ever be sorry for making me want you.”

The wound on her neck is still an angry red. Absently, I prick my finger and heal the punctures with a drop of my blood.

“This one will be more noticeable than the other two. I’m sorry about that.”

A frown creases her brow. “Two?”

Dread creeps into my gut at her question. Like a coward, I stay silent.

“Did you feed on me before you told me you were a vampire?” She scoots away from me, pulling the sheets tight over her breasts.

I consider the idea of lying to her for a fleeting moment, but I can’t. “Once.”

“Without my consent?” I can hear the anger in her words.

“I … it was just—”

“You took advantage of me.”

Frustration takes over, and I speak without thinking. “You didn’t complain when I was in the middle of it.”

Tensing, she balls her hands into fists. “I can’t fucking believe you. I just gave you everything you needed, my body, my blood. But you think you can take either whenever you want. Is that how you felt when you fed from Trisha? Did you even stop to think about what that would do to me?”

Trisha? What the fuck is she talking about? “What do you mean?”

With a sigh of righteous indignation, she stands, pulling all the sheets off the bed with her. “Get out of my apartment.”

“A ghra—”

“No. Stop it with the fucking Irish charm. I didn’t think you’d feed on me without my permission, and I certainly tried to convince myself there was no way you’d feed from Trisha. Even when I saw the bite mark on her neck, I reasoned that you couldn’t possibly have done it. I’m such a naive idiot.”

I rise and pull on my pants. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

A slight tingling takes hold under my skin, and I let out a frustrated breath. Sunrise is close. As much as I want to stay and fix this, I have to leave her.

“I have to go. Please don’t do anything before we talk. I will fix this.” Closing the distance between us so quickly, she can’t avoid me, I take her into my arms and kiss her, trying desperately to convey my feelings, but she’s cold and unfeeling in my arms.

“Good. Get out. I don’t want to see you again, Galen.”

My heart breaks at those words. The tingling builds to a buzzing, sending me bolting for the door. If I’m not safely underground in the next ten minutes, I won’t be able to fix anything ever again.

* * *

Reese

I really shouldn’t be driving. I’m so tired, I can barely see straight, but I need to put some distance between Galen and me. Driving to Portland during the morning hours gives me plenty of time to get away. I yawn hugely as I pull into a gas station. My car needs fuel, and I need coffee. I’ve been awake for over twenty-four hours, and six of those were spent lost in passion with a vampire. Damn it all to hell. Why did I think he’d do anything less than take what he needed when he needed it?

As I wait in line to pay, the local news is playing on the radio next to the cash register.

“Now to a gruesome murder in Seattle last night. Early this morning, the body of a female believed to be in her early twenties was discovered dumped in Green Lake. The body was discovered by a jogger who says the woman’s throat was cut, suggesting foul play. The woman’s identity has not been released, but sources say she was a University of Washington student.”

I feel sick. With a hand over my mouth, I race to the bathroom and retch until I have nothing left. What have I gotten myself into? After splashing some water on my face, I pull myself together and make my purchase, heading quickly to my car. I have to get far away. Maybe Portland won’t be far enough. I know I’m being a coward, running from him. But honestly, if I don’t put distance between us, he’ll pull me right back to him. I can’t think straight when he’s around.

He killed that girl. I don’t want it to be true, but if he’d feed on me without permission, what would he do to a stranger? How many people has he killed?

My phone chirps, and I flinch so hard, I bite my tongue. Fuck. Instead of checking my message, I continue driving. I’m twenty minutes away from my aunt and uncle’s condo. I need to settle, clear my head, and figure out my next move.

The condo is a good size. Palatial, if you compare it to my shoebox of an apartment. As I walk through the pristine foyer, I smile at the photos of me, my cousins, and the rest of my family. My heart gives a squeeze at the sight of me and my parents, smiling and pretending life was good. Blinking back tears, I head into the living room, tossing my bag on the couch. My stomach growls, reminding me I haven’t eaten since yesterday. Unfortunately for me, the kitchen cupboards are mostly bare. I’ll have to go shopping. The idea of going out adds to my exhaustion, making my limbs ache with fatigue.

Checking the time on my phone, I let out a sigh of relief when I realize it’s still early afternoon. I’ve got hours until sunset. Until Galen will start trying to find me. My belly gives another grumble, and I’m overcome by waves of queasiness. Searching through the pantry, I scrounge up some crackers and peanut butter. That’ll have to do for now. My phone vibrates on the marble countertop as an email comes through, startling me as I spread the peanut butter on my final cracker.

Reese,

I’m so glad you emailed me this morning. You know you’re welcome to stay at the condo any time you want. I hope you’ve arrived safely. Make yourself at home, darling girl. Stay as long as you’d like. Your uncle and I won’t be back from Crete until the end of August.

Love,

Aunt Lacey

Smiling, I do as she says and make myself right at home, slipping off my Toms and sprawling across their big leather couch. Balancing my plate of cracker sandwiches on my belly, I channel surf, settling for an episode of a reality baking competition. My stupid phone chirps again, and I see I’ve got three missed messages from Trisha.

WTF? Where are you?

Your room looks like a tornado hit and your luggage is gone. Seriously, where are you?

The latest text isn’t as concerned as it is pissed off.

Bitch, you’d better get in touch with me ASAP.

I wince as I’m hit with a fresh wave of guilt. I start typing furiously, hoping to catch her before she calls and starts screeching at me.

Visiting family. Don’t know when I’ll be back. Sorry.

Boo. You could’ve at least told me.

I hover over the screen, trying to figure out how to explain why I left.

Sorry. It was unexpected.

Everything okay?

No, not really. I can’t talk about it right now.

Fine. Her response is slow. When I read the single word, I know she’s mad.

Taking a deep breath, I type a cryptic message in an attempt to warn her about what’s going on.

Don’t go out alone at night.

I wait for her to reply, hoping I don’t have to explain or press the issue.

Thanks, Mom.

I sigh and sit back in my chair. I hope she’ll listen to my warning. It’s not like I can tell her vampires exist. I can imagine how that would go. “Hey, Trisha, that guy I fucked is a vampire. I’m pretty sure he killed the girl who was just on the news … oh, and I think he sucked on your neck the other night too.”

I settle back onto the couch. My crackers are gone, and my eyelids are heavy. Before I know it, I’m asleep.

It’s dim in the room when I wake. The sun has set behind the buildings, and I can see stars winking to life from the skylight above my head. A deep ache takes hold in my chest, forcing me to press the heel of my hand against my breast bone in an effort to stop the pain. As if he knows I’m thinking of him, Galen calls. His name flashing on the screen of my phone sends a sharper pain through me. Picking up the phone, I almost answer, but push away the urge to hear his voice.

No. No. No. He’s not safe. He’s a killer. I tell myself why I left over and over, standing up and pacing the house in an attempt to ignore the chimes of text alerts and phone calls. The rational part of my brain tells me if he’s a vampire, there must be more. Maybe there’s another vampire roaming the streets of Seattle, preying on innocent college girls. But it all seems a little too coincidental. Finally, my phone is silent, and I let out a sigh of relief. Pouring myself a generous glass of wine, I call for a pizza and put my phone on Do Not Disturb. I should have done that before I’d fallen asleep.

Interview with the Vampire comes on while I wait, and I want to laugh at the irony of it all. At least these vampires have the balls to be honest about what they are. Then again …

The doorbell rings, and my stomach responds, eager to eat. Rifling through my purse, I collect the cash I need and head in search of my dinner. As I swing the door open, my mouth runs dry and my heart catches in my throat. Galen stands on the other side, pizza box in hand.

“Stalker,” I mutter, trying to hide my fear. Of course he found me. He probably used some secret vampire superpower to track me. “Did you kill the delivery boy?”

He looks awful. Well, no, that’s not true. He looks amazing—healthy, vibrant … well fed. It’s his eyes that betray how he really feels. Their dark depths hold anguish and something else … hurt, maybe.

I start to slam the door, but his strong arm stops me. “Reese, please.”

Reaching out, I yank the pizza box out of his hand and turn on my heels. “You took my blood without my consent. You fed from Trisha while I was sleeping in the other room. You murdered that girl in Green Lake after you left me last night. Am I not supposed to think these things are a big deal? Well, guess what, Galen? They’re big fucking deals. I can’t be with someone I’m afraid of.”

His hand rests gently on my shoulder. Of course he followed me inside. Damn him.

“I’ll admit I shouldn’t have fed without asking. But as to the rest of your tirade, I have no idea what you’re talking about. You couldn’t pay me to feed off that horrible woman you live with, and I left your apartment only minutes before sunrise. I couldn’t have murdered that girl, or I would have fried in the sun right afterward.”

Throwing up my hands in frustration, I grab my wineglass and down it in its entirety, feeling vaguely sick. “So who left those marks on Trisha if it wasn’t you? It seems awfully convenient that you were in my house the same night she comes back bitten.”

“Did you ever stop to think that I’m not the only vampire in the bloody world? There are hundreds of us in Seattle alone.”

The wine rushes straight to my head, dampening my inhibitions. I let him have it. “How can I believe that? You could charm the panties off a nun. And how did you find me here? I came here to get away from you. Who’s to say you’re not going to kill me when you’re done with me?”

His expression goes stony. “Listen to me. I’m never going to be done with you.” The hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. From fear or excitement, I can’t tell. Never is a long time. As if that admission wasn’t enough, he continues. “I’d rather die than see you hurt. Why do you think I stayed away even though it physically hurt me to do so? If I’d wanted to kill you, I’d have done it that first night.”

“How many people have you killed?”

Pursing his lips, he runs a hand through his dark hair. “Let’s not do this. It won’t help.”

“How many?” I ask, my hands shaking.

“Hundreds, thousands, who knows? You’re the first I’ve fed on who I didn’t kill.”

“Is it always sexual?”

He nods. “For them. Feeding triggers an orgasm. They died knowing the greatest pleasure they’d ever felt.”

I let out a sardonic laugh. “Thank God for small favors. That’s so considerate of you.”

His hand slides down my back, and I have to fight off the moan trying to escape my lips. No. He’s not getting to me. Fingers snake around my waist, gripping my hip and turning me toward him. God give me strength. His sensual mouth is inches from mine, a nearly painful pull between us keeping me on pins and needles. And he smells so fucking good. I strengthen my resolve and push him away.

“No.”

A frown pulls his eyebrows together. “What?”

“I said, no. This …” I gesture between us. “This is not happening. You’re too complicated for me. I can’t think straight around you because everything is sex all the time. Besides that, you’re a murderer. I can’t trust you.”

His hands grip my arms, just a little too tight. When I wince, he loosens his grip, apology in the small gesture. “Say the word, and I’ll never kill another person. You showed me I can feed without killing. Reese, I didn’t know that was even possible until you.”

Disgust fills me in one huge rush. “So, you thought you were going to kill me the first time you fed from me?” Wrenching myself free of his grasp, I walk to the other side of the room. “That’s just awesome.” The sarcasm drips from my words.

“I … no. That’s not how it was. I just knew … I knew I wouldn’t kill you. I knew I could stop.”

Letting out a shuddering sigh, I will away the tears that are burning behind my lids. “Pretty words. That doesn’t excuse you taking my blood without asking. I can’t forgive you for that. Now get out of my life.”

My stupid lower lip is trembling. I don’t want to cry in front of him. His hand catches my chin as I try to turn away from him.

His gaze burns with some unnamed emotion. “As you wish, a ghra.”

Heart aching, I watch him turn and leave. The door slamming with a finality I’d hoped would be comforting. Instead, I’m left feeling broken and confused. My knees give out, and I crumple to the floor, finally letting the sobs I’d been holding back break free.