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Instead of experiencing shock or doubt or fear at Winnow’s admission about us beingsoulbound,a deep sense of rightness settled within me. Filled me with an inner knowing, love, and gratitude. The only thing I’m in disbelief about is the fact that I’ve been given the gift of calling this woman mine.

“I’ve never done this before. I’m terrified I’ll hurt you…”

Even as she says it, I can see her little fangs have lengthened. They do look awfully sharp, and the sight of them sends a thrill through my body.

“I trust you with my life. As you said, we’re bound by our very souls. In this life and the next.”

Winnow smiles, brows knitting with emotion, as her eyes water.

Even though I had no idea it would happen, knowing that I’m the cause of the wound on her arm makes me wanna stick my fucking hand in a fire just to punish myself.“Please, angel.”

Her throat works, and I know her resistance is waning. “I’ve heard the bite can be quite pleasurable, because of the uh…venom.”

“No need to threaten me with a good time.”

Taking hold of her arms, I pull her onto my chest and then cradle the back of her head to guide her mouth to my neck. Her tongue gives an exploratory swipe against the curve, and it sends her fingers sinking into the flesh of my shoulders as a tremor works through her body. She gives me one of those soft little moans that always seems to speak directly to my cock.

My heart thumps wildly in my chest with excitement.

How fucking crazy is life. If someone had told me a month ago this is where I’d be now, I’d sooner laugh myself to death than believe them.

“Perhaps we should use a safe word,” she whispers against me.

“I know I’m safe with you, angel, but if it makes you feel any better, I promise if I want you to stop, you’ll be the first to know.”

I expect her to hesitate, and my heart’s already in my throat. So, when I feel her fangs pressing against my flesh, my breath catches in surprise.

Jesus Christ, those things are sharp.

My flesh gives no resistance whatsoever, and her fangs sink like a paring knife through butter.

Winnow’s jaw firms around my flesh, sinking further in, which provides negligible pain and pressure. As my blood spills into her mouth, she moans a sound of pure ecstasy as she pulls on my veins and swallows down her first gulp of my blood.

And that’s when I feel it. Her venom. It feels like a tingling warmth trickling directly into my veins. My heart thumps so fiercely I can feel it in my throat as a certain euphoria andrightnesswashes over me like steady waves on a lazy shore. The tension in my muscles wane, and the cord I feel between us flares to life and fills with every ounce of love and connection between us. As it does, it feels like something inside me is awakening, transforming, and shifting. The sensation is so powerful that it steals my breath.

It almost seems at odds with the way my cock thickens and my hands are sliding over Winnow’s thighs to grip her luscious ass. Winnow gives a needy sigh, as her hips hitch against my length, and I cursethe jeans she’s wearing.

Winnow’s hands slip into my hair, gripping as she continues to drink, taking only a few gulps more before she withdraws her fangs. After licking the wound at my neck, she sits back, her eyes scanning every inch of me in front of her as if to make sure I’m okay.

Her eyes are brighter than I’ve ever seen them, and there’s a restored glow to her skin. The wound on her forearm is completely gone.

There is an undeniable and otherworldly luminosity surrounding her, and I can’t help but stare at her in complete and utter awe. If the look in her eyes and her rapid breaths are anything to go by, she’s a little overwhelmed by the experience, too.

“Was that okay?”

The tension in the air tightens as I give her a dazed nod. “I’m gonna need you to do that again sometime.”

Breathless, she nods in agreement as my thumbs stroke idle circles over her hips. Each swipe seems to crank the tension higher, but my mind is reeling at everything that has happened in the span of the last fifteen minutes. Something has changed, and this is all too surreal for me to fully grasp at once.

Winnow is the only thing grounding me in this moment. That and this tangible, visceral thing connecting us; that demands I claim her and has me pulling her against my chest.

I need to be near her.

Twined with her.

Be inside her. Our bodies and souls in union.

“You feel better now, angel?”