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"Vlad?" a voice calls out to me.

My muscles are coiled with tension as I open my eyes, every fiber in my body charged with violence as the memories ring in my mind. Miles had had me wrapped around his little finger.

I'd failed Vanya and I'd failed myself.

One arrogant taste of blood and I'd succumbed, leaving everything behind in exchange for the pursuit of twisted knowledge in gratification of my pseudo-superior intellect.

There's a nothingness inside of me that echoes in my chest, the imprint from the memories too strong, their hold on me even in my waking state too powerful.

I turn to look at the source of the noise, my own mind a derelict place filled with screaming fragments and weeping bells, the ability to recognize reality dim.

Her hair is so light, it looks like a ray of sun aiming to blind me, the urge to shield my eyes increasingly strong. A few strands of hair fall lightly down her forehead, framing a heart-shaped face.

I feel another pang in my chest as I stare at her, a painfully beautiful sight that makes me suffocate, my lungs strained as air becomes trapped inside.

She blinks, her eyes unusually light and quite possibly the most alluring sight I've seen in my life. Leaning forward, she places her hand on my cheek, her voice still ringing in my ears as she keeps on repeating my name.

That small touch activates something inside of me.

My nostrils flare as I take in her scent, a mix of clean soap and something that's inherentlyher.Like flowers on a new spring day, there's a sweetness that inundates my senses, my entire body shuddering as I close my eyes, simply inhaling.

"Vlad," she calls out again, and my eyes snap open, narrowing as they move lower over her body.

She's wearing a skimpy top that leaves nothing to the imagination, her tits full, her nipples pebbled. Moving lower, I note a small expanse of stomach peeking out from tight pants that accentuate shapely hips.

My own pants become painfully tight, my mouth dry as the desert as I swallow uncomfortably.

Need.

There's a mounting need inside of me, and I only know I need her more than I need my next breath. There's something achingly familiar about her, and in a sea of nothingness, she's that small wave that crashes against my being.

I only know that Ineedto own her, to make her so irrevocably mine that she can never escape me.

And so without thinking, I let instinct take over, my body already knowing what it wants even as my mind struggles to keep up.

My arm shoots out, settling against the small of her back and dragging her on top of me. She comes naturally, her legs on either side of mine as she straddles me.

Eyes glazed, I can only watch her in fascination, my nose buried in the crook of her neck as I trail it up and down, wanting to imprint myself with her scent.

Surprisingly, she doesn't put up a fight as I bring her even tighter against me, my senses overwhelmed by her presence as I seek to get my fill of her.

I move my face up her neck, inhaling. Reaching her lips, I let my tongue trace the seam, licking my way to her cheek.

My chest expands with unbearable tension, my cock so hard it could burn a hole through my pants. And she's not helping, squirming ever so slightly and aligning her pelvis right on top of my shaft.

One hand on her nape, my fingers digging in her flesh, I bring her close to me, raising my gaze to let her see the storm brewing inside of me, a savageness waiting to be unleashed—with her the only target.

Her pupils are dilated with desire, her rosy mouth parted as she breathes hard, her ass moving slightly over my erection, her lashes fluttering up and down in a hypnotizingly seductive move.

Holding eye contact, I lower my mouth to her chest, taking one nipple between my teeth, letting my tongue wet the bud through her shirt.

She pushes her tits further into my face, practically begging me to lavish them with attention. A pained, guttural sound escapes me, needing to be closer to her. No,demandingto be closer to her.

Her soft whimpers caress my ears, her little movements only serving to make me more unstable.

Using my tongue, I leave a wet trail from the valley of her breasts to her neck and finally to her face. She's at my mercy as she gives me those pouty lips, allowing me to sample everything she has to offer.

Taking her lower lip between my teeth, I nibble at it, all the while watching every play of emotion on her face, attuned to everything that isher.