Adrian moved in front of Lavinia, hiding her naked body with his as Mark burst into the foyer. Then, he removed his jacket and handed it to her. “What happened to you?” he asked his friend.

Mark’s suit was torn, and his pants slashed in long stripes. His wounds were already healing, but blood stains covered the destroyed garments. He gave the corpses a brief glance before answering, “I suppose the same that happened to you.” His eyes cut toward Lavinia but didn’t linger, focusing back on Adrian. “I stopped the rest of the gang just outside the corner. The Directive is sending the special squad to clean up.”

“Whatever you wanted to tell us will have to wait a few minutes longer,” Adrian said, reaching behind him for Lavinia’s hand. “We need to freshen up.”

Mark smirked. “Take your time. I’ll be entertaining the Directive for you, again.”

“Do that.” Adrian turned and cradled Lavinia in his arms, sprinting for the stairs.

He deposited her inside the shower stall in the master bathroom and removed his jacket before making short work of his torn clothes. Once they were both naked, he took her in his arms once again and turned on the jets. Hot water cascaded on them, washing away the blood.

Fighting always awakened his senses, but since he had met Lavinia, his body had never relaxed and combined with the dash of danger they had just experienced, it made him unbearably hard.

His mouth descended fast on her, his tongue demanding an entrance she offered with a sigh. Her soft body melted against his, and he anchored her legs around his waist. He needed her. His hands caressed and stroked, pinched and soothed her skin, coaxing her cries and sultry moans. The stall filled with hot mist as his senses exploded. Driven by the primal instinct to possess his mate, he slipped a finger inside her. When she rocked against his hand, he added a second finger as his mouth closed on the hollow of her throat. His tongue swirled in time with the motion of his fingers.

Lavinia grinded her body against him, her frantic pants guiding his tempo until she shouted his name under the torrential water. Adrian couldn’t wait any longer to take her. He removed his fingers and thrust inside her warmth, burying himself deeply. Her still throbbing sheath spurred him into a frenzy of pushes and pulls as she pressed her breasts against his searching mouth. Her nipples grew harder from his nips and licks.

Adrian lowered his hand between them, reaching for her nub. It only took a gentle flick of his finger on the sensitive spot to send Lavinia over the edge. Her soft channel that had never stopped contracting spasmed tightly around him, pulling his throbbing hardness deeper inside. He silenced her loud shout with his mouth, riding the crest of their pleasure by slamming into her harder and faster. His fangs cut his gums and elongated. He grazed her tongue, nicking her flesh. It was less than a drop, but the scent and taste of her blood filled his mouth and spread throughout the rest of his body.

His release came like a crashing dam that obliterated everything in its course. It broke his defenses, finding him unprepared. For a moment, the extreme pleasure wiped his mind from any thought, leaving him at the mercy of emotions that were too vivid to bear. His heart expanded against his ribcage until he couldn’t breathe, and moisture filled his eyes.

“Lavinia,” he whispered against her lips, rocking against her to soothe the quakes still gripping their bodies. “You are divine.”

Lavinia languidly pushed down on him, her mouth seeking his for a torrid kiss that the water raining on them couldn’t dampen. Trailing her hands over his chest, she explored at leisure, while her tongue danced with his. She stoked his passion, and he obliged her silent request by making love to her again.

Later, he leaned against the stall, smiling at the vixen still in his arms. “We should go downstairs.”

She nodded with a lazy smile, her eyes half-closed. “We made love, and you didn’t bite me,” she said.

“No, I didn’t.” Even in the throes of the overwhelming passion she had awoken in him, Adrian’s foremost preoccupation had been to be careful about not hurting her. “You come first.”

She snuggled in his arms, her head resting against his heart. “Thank you,” she whispered, laying a kiss on his chest.

Adrian walked into the bathroom and covered her with a soft cotton robe before entering the closet.

“I’m sorry I destroyed the clothes you bought for me,” she said.

“They looked nice on you.” He smiled, placing her on top of the dresser in the middle of the closet. “I’ll order another set of that outfit.” Moving to the shelves where he had stacked her new clothes earlier that morning, he picked up another pair of designer jeans and a skirt. Throwing a glance over his shoulder, he asked, “Which one do you like better?” He held the two items for her.

“Jeans,” she answered.

Placing the skirt back on the shelf, he grabbed a fluffy white sweater and showed it to her. Before handing her the outfit, he opened the underwear drawer and picked matching underwear. The bra and panties were made of ivory lace that would hug her curves like a fitted glove.

“Put them on so I can strip them off you later tonight,” he said, offering her the change of clothes and underwear. “I’ll wait for you outside.” Grabbing a change for himself, he exited the walk-in-closet.

He dressed, pulling on his trousers over his erection that didn’t seem to abate, even though his release should have taken care of that. When Lavinia entered the bedroom, he couldn’t help but grab his bloodmate by her tiny waist and press her soft body against his.

“Don’t be scared, but I’m not done worshipping you.” He playfully bit her bottom lip, drawing blood to the surface and igniting his need once again. It was torture, and yet, he couldn’t stop.

“I want you too, again,” she said. “Is this normal?” Her hand snuck into his pants.

He moaned, pressing against her touch. “We are bloodmates. Nothing is normal about us, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

“You make me feel… whole.” Lavinia seemed to hesitate a moment before adding, “I’ve never been with anyone like you.”

“My supersized ego thanks you, while my insane jealousy would demand the names of your past lovers so that I can kill any man who touched you,” he said, only half-jokingly.

“Should I ask for your lovers then?” Lavinia asked, a naughty smile illuminating her face.

“Touché.” Adrian skimmed the sweater with a light touch that revealed her nipples straining against the soft knit. “I will settle for tearing that sexy little piece from your inviting curves on the first occasion.”

She shivered against his hand as she gently caressed him over his pants. He eyed the bed behind Lavinia and started to back her against its frame, only to remember that Mark was downstairs.